Okay, yeah, it was hard to overlook Suuns’ frequently noted similarities to Clinic. I did get over it within a few listens, though, because Zeroes QC doesn’t stay in that Walking With Thee moment too long, whereas Clinic is, well, still a bit tied up.
Besides, there are many other notable influences: the barely-there guitar picking in the single “Up Past the Nursery” emulates the masterful simplicity of The xx. “Pie IX” could pass for a righteous Ween cover. In one album, Suuns (pronounced “soons”) finesses moodily droning melodies with electro anthems like “Armed for Peace” and “Arena” that sends me square down a dirt road, in a desert, in a convertible.
The latter is by far my favorite track from Zeroes QC, which I hope is more of an indicator of their sound in the future.
The band anchored the hype at CMJ in 2010 and had Brooklyn fans making it out through thigh-high snow for recent shows. I’m compelled to believe that by leaning heavily on their influences as roots, they have stronger potential to truly know what route to take next. Next up: Austin, TX.