The album opens with “Stranger In A Strange Land,” its sound a delicious blast of pop. I need to revisit the Robert Heinlein book, but of course the phrase “stranger in a strange land” is quite a bit older than Heinlein’s novel. It comes from a passage in the King James version of The Bible. Likewise, most of the lyrics of the Pete Seeger song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” (from which the band takes its name) also come from The Bible. I think we’ve each felt like a stranger in a strange land in the last several years, and we are all here so briefly. Perhaps we aren’t given the time to become anything else. Check out these lyrics: “In black holes without ladders/As if it really matters/‘Cause you’re in heavy water in a paper boat.” This song features the trio’s excellent harmonies. It was written by Barb Brynstad and Adam Levy. “Stranger In A Strange Land” is followed by “Powder.” This song has a certain 1960s sound, particularly in that guitar work, and is catchy in the way many of those mid-1960s gems are (the vocal line at one point makes me think of The Monkees’ “Take A Giant Step”). Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Small distractions and accolades/Love affairs and debts to pay/Anything but looking in the mirror.” In addition to some excellent vocal work, Savannah Smith adds some whistling to this track.
In the first line of “Hymn Of The Hater,” we learn the setting is Boise, Idaho. As you might recall, Idaho is where those white supremacists were arrested in June of last year, having planned to disrupt a gay pride event. Also last year it was revealed that a retired Boise police chief was tied to hate groups. This song has some country rock elements, sounding like a song to be played at a roadside bar, though the lyrics might catch the stereotypical denizens of such places by surprise. Check out these lines: “I’ve seen them in the papers/And I’ve heard them at the gates/They’re camouflaged in glory/They’re prisoners of fate/They think they’re sober as a judge, but they’re just drunk on hate.” The song might have begun in Boise, but it concludes in Mobile. Hate groups are a nationwide problem. This track features some excellent work on keys. Scott Wenum plays drums on this one. Then “Dopamine Blues” has a pleasant sound that is immediately appealing, fitting with the idea of dopamine, though the song deals with a breakup. “Darlin’, am I on your mind?/Fallin’ for someone’s cheap lines/Why do I seem to be the one who/Lives in a dreamland fooled.” This track features more great vocal work, and that electric guitar certainly has a 1960s feel. The song seems to be concluding, then the acoustic guitar leads into a new section, in which they realize, “You just got to get through it/There’s nothing you can do but do it.” That final section also includes some playful “Ooh sha la-la” backing vocals.
One of my favorite tracks is “7 Kids,” in part because it contains some of the album’s best vocal work. Plus, I appreciate the presence of banjo, particularly as the song has the energy and vibe of a rock song. And check out that electric guitar. “We’re losing our touch and we’re losing our way/Am I losing my grip, guess I’d rather not say/One thing’s true, everything is gonna change/It feels so familiar, but damn it feels strange.” This is a fantastic, powerful song. Joe Savage is on pedal steel, and both Noah Levy and Josh Kaplan are on drums. That’s followed by “If You’re Gonna Leave Me,” which also features Joe Savage on pedal steel guitar. “We forget all the things we want to remember and we remember all the things we’d rather forget.” I love that work on organ, as well as the vocal work in that section. That leads straight into the next track, “My Eyelids Weigh Mountains,” one of the disc’s most interesting tracks. There is a John Lennon influence heard here, and there are also some country elements to this track. And check out these lyrics: “My eyelids weigh mountains/My dreams hide in cars/They drive across continents/And toward dying stars.” Plus, there is a seriously cool instrumental section. Benny Weinbeck is on electric piano. This is another of my favorites.
The album’s title track, “New Rays From An Old Sun,” takes us into a different realm, with elements of a fairy tale. It is a captivating song, featuring some pretty work on mandolin, and is yet another of the disc’s highlights. Peter J. Sands plays harmonium on this one. “The beast, she learned to be alone/Making gems from stones/She made herself a throne/And a castle from her children’s bones.” That’s followed by “Schisandra,” which has a sweet 1960s folk rock sound, and features some interesting and unusual lyrics. “Can you feel the pain, Schisandra, surrounding you?/The stories of billions, Schisandra, across galaxies in ruins/Violet, goldenrod and umber, celadon blue/Do your eyes see something, Schisandra?/Mine do too.” Then “Towards The Light” has a country rock vibe. Benny Weinbeck plays electric piano, and Noah Levy is on drums for this one. “Nobody knows where the first breath comes from and where does the last one go.” The album concludes with “Acceleration Dreams,” which has an easygoing groove and features more wonderful vocal work, plus some nice work on mandolin. “Girl cried roses, the boy cried wolf/Baby in the bath water, pennies in the dirt/Glad you had your fun, but it’s time to go.”
CD Track List
- Stranger In A Strange Land
- Powder
- Hymn Of The Hater
- Dopamine Blues
- 7 Kids
- If You’re Gonna Leave Me
- My Eyelids Weigh Mountains
- New Rays From An Old Sun
- Schisandra
- Towards The Light
- Acceleration Dreams
New Rays From An Old Sun was released today, January 27, 2023.
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