Over a decade together and, as frustrating as it may be at times, the constant evolving of Sunflower Bean is a treat to witness. They’re keen to test the waters of new sounds, of different influences on their work, and it results in projects which, even if they do fall short or foul of typical sound, are as honestly made and interesting as the band wishes them to be. That’s the case for their latest album, Mortal Primetime, a release which the band were very keen to showcase during an opening slot for Cage the Elephant on the latter’s UK tour. It’s there that many may have first encountered Sunflower Bean. Confident power pop with a rush of harsher guitar work to it, there’s a lot to love about Mortal Primetime. As a premise, it’s got real strength to it. Instrumentally sound and confident vocal performances the whole way through, which is smart in not overloading itself with too much of anything.
Doing too much all at once, even a decade into their careers, would mean Mortal Primetime is given a ruinous balance. Opener Champagne Taste sets the tone which, thankfully, lasts the whole way through. All too often, bands are confident in the first few songs but lose their interest, their pride, in the sound they worked so hard on. Sunflower Bean is consistent and that’s what keeps them enjoyable on Mortal Primetime. They build and build, occasionally bettering the preceding song, as is the case for Nothing Romantic. That’s a great example of what Sunflower Bean can do as a trio, the perfect blur of their instrumental abilities, the vocal strength, and those writing flourishes. It’s the blur of all three which separates the best from the power pop rest, and Mortal Primetime certainly has its moments. Tone is what Sunflower Bean considers most of all here. They are offering varieties of escapism but never tying themselves to one specific tone.
There are the usual rock and roll-oriented hits, and there’s also the slower, acoustic tones of I Knew Love. It’s a nice blur where the consistency and familiarity of the material is just as important as the fresh insight brought on by the trio. Songs of figuring out where you belong, of being assertive when the time comes. It’s an optimism and self-confidence many listening to Mortal Primetime will need. They find the fine line between acoustic beauty and roaring instrumental thrills on Waiting for the Rain. Some efforts found on Mortal Primetime are the best of the band to date, and the bonus tracks, particularly Watch You Walk Away, are excellent. It’s a band where, if you can connect with the image, you’re absolutely going to connect with their message, whatever it may be in the next iteration of their work as a group. It’s a project of multitudes, rather than just a one-off experience.
Take Out Your Insides is the clear highlight of Mortal Primetime. It bottles up the spirit of what Sunflower Bean aims for on their fourth studio album. We cannot replace intimacy and that connection between two people is sacred, it’s to rip out your insides, as the song makes painfully clear. What a thrill of a song it is, though, and like much of the material heard on Mortal Primetime, it comes from the heart. Album closer Sunshine ties it all together nicely. What Sunflower Bean has on their hands is a collection of songs which, while not all masterclasses in mood-setting or making you think on what else could be out there, are tremendous in their observations of what you must do to make yourself happy. Whether it’s connection with another or just solid instrumental work, there’s something for everyone in Mortal Primetime, and that may limit the album somewhat.
