Sundowners – The Larger Half of Wisdom

Minneapolis Dirt Cult Records act Sundowners immediately brings to mind the jangly sing-along slop of Riverboat Gamblers and Dead To Me.  Songs thrive on perpetual forward motion, seldom receding from each chorus in favour of jetting along like a suspenseful narrative.  As such, their third full length, The Larger Half Of Wisdom, delivers a wholly enjoyable pop-punk sprint grounded in the sort of unconventional mainstay sure to keep an audience listening for more.

Front man Justin Hauser’s glowing slapstick delivery makes up a healthy dose of that draw.  Everything feels exciting thanks to his steady, enthusiastic vocal blowouts.  Exemplary of their goal, Sundownersreach their stylistic peak early on in “Right Down Broadway.” Coupled with a wild dose of tropical mid-track guitar, Hauser bounces between solo and harmony backed outbursts in the vein of Riverboat Gamblers’ Mike Wiebe.  Tracks like “Dig Deeper” and “Belly Up Buckle Up” soon emerge as pleasing listens, while at worst songs like “Rooted Nowhere” entertainingly fill the space between album peaks.

Time and again Sundowners offer their own stamp defined by various styles that culminates in a high level of hook heavy melody (check out “Bird World Country”).  Tracks like “Hold On” subtly manufacture into roaring examples of how to make an impression during a song’s final moments.  Likewise, the occasional off-kilter elements that punctuate the addictive verses of “Heavy Cards” keep listeners on their toes.  While The Larger Half Of Wisdom might sound familiar, the songs cannot easily be reduced to a lowest common denominator.

Needless to say, Sundowners offer a string of memorable and highly functional and somewhat familiar tunes sure to entice those on the hunt for energetic melodic pop-punk.  If Sundowners has existed under your radar for their past few releases, then The Larger Half Of Wisdom is a worthwhile hopping on point.