Sono Oto
I'm In August Till July
Self-Release (December 2004)
words:
Michael D. Ayers
Sono Oto is a three-piece residing in New York City and their self-titled debut is an impressive DIY effort. Really though, this is the project of Mark Phillips, the keyboardist – singer – songwriter – producer – publicist. Despite all the effort that goes into putting out a self-release, oftentimes the music can get lost along the way. Either that, or it’s just not that great; otherwise a label would have snapped the group up.
Such is not the case here, and there is a uniqueness to this album that would easily lend itself to more widespread distribution. Phillips himself sounds a little like Jason Molina of Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. or that guy from that country-pop band, The Thrills. But these are just small reference points. Phillips departs from these comparisons in his songwriting. Because it’s a three piece, it’s rather simple upon first listen, but there are some subtle nuances that spice things up throughout. There are neat segues, off-kilter discussions of old flames and Built to Spill, and some Crazy Horse-esque guitar slinging in “Now We’re Bobos.”
As financing a self-release is costly, hopefully this will make its way into the right hands, and future releases will see some of the burden lifted off the band’s shoulders. The music here is clever and catchy in a lo-fi, Casio keyboard kind of way that surely would find a larger audience.
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