Love & Death

There's a lot to like in the Sun's debut EP for Warner Brothers, especially in such a little package. Sexy drums and fuzzy organs mix it up in "Carry It All," which is the soundtrack to the garage-new wave movement, if such a thing exists. A better reference is Spoon, but it's fun to think big about a relatively unknown band that packs so many enticing ideas into its brief debut. "Love and Death" and "Fell So Hard" reach back to the hard-charging British R&B of acts like the Pretty Things, but the Sun isn't afraid to be damn cocky about the reference. Special recognition goes to ex-Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett for production that really nails it the wall. Love & Death is analog and modern -- the Sun chomps on tinfoil when it wants, but is just as happy with the pastoral folk of "Eyelids Apart." An extremely promising debut.