EP Review: Sunflower Bean - King Of The Dudes
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New York’s Sunflower Bean
Image courtesy of Sonic PR
EP King Of The Dudes ventures further into the rabbit hole of
From the get-go with opener ‘King Of The Dudes’, the record becomes a volcanic eruption of assertive egotism, with lyrics such as “I know what I want and I know how to get it.” Vocalist Julia Cumming’s altercation of her vocal style is a good move; her savage, raspy tones sitting somewhere between the incendiary bite of Courtney Love and erotic sweetness of Debbie Harry. This works to Sunflower Bean's advantage, adding more bite and sustenance to the sunny background of guitars and jolting bass line of the track. Although it sounds like an indistinguishable track from a 90s teen movie; it becomes quickly forgettable even after listening on repeat for days.
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Moving into a more muted area is 'Fear City', sung from the point of view of a pining lover, “In Fear City waiting for you to come back”. The track is tinged with the 70s Americana of motels and garish neon lights, with unapologetically meta lyrics; “You get dressed without me
Closer ‘The Big One’ percolates with seediness, and despite its scuzzy guitars and Cumming’s venomous spit (that showcases her finest vocal work on the EP), it reads like the end credits for what the band could become. Rounding up the twenty minutes, 'The Big One' feels decisively small, and devoid of any actual sustenance.
King Of The Dudes feels like Sunflower Bean reaching out for arena-filling tracks, but instead landing themselves the label of an expensive wedding band. It possesses the glamour of 70s rock and the vocal grit of Courtney