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October 12, 2006

MUSIC REVIEW

It’s Sorta Entertaining

Band’s album is short but sweet

Story by: Whitney Shropshire

The Shorthorn staff

It’s sorta amazing this band hasn’t left Dallas-Fort Worth for the big time.

The band’s fifth album, Strange and Sad But True, has a very mellow rock-pop sound that gives the group a deep persona.

Its opening track, “Buttercup,” sets the tone for most of the album with a slow and solemn beginning.

The song “85 Feet” has a catchy beat and chorus making it the closest to a pop song, but it still isn’t anywhere near a Justin Timberlake rip-off. Though Sorta does openly claim its pop sound on their Web site, they never fully fit into that genre.

Named the Best Act Overall at the 2006 Dallas Observer Music Awards, the band is an overall success, but their attempt at a grassroots sound fails with the track “Party’s Over.” The group adds a banjo for this song, which gives it a more country sound, but the track doesn’t work for these guys. It seems forced and sounds nothing like the rest of the tracks.

Luckily, Sorta doesn’t pursue that style any further than the single track, making the song easy to ignore.

For fans of mellow rock, “Mama,” a personal favorite, is sure to please. The slow, steady rhythmic beat carries the listener through the song peacefully, making him or her wish it would never end.

However, the entire album is short. The record flies by, which made me want to hit the repeat button on several songs.

The album probably won’t win any Grammys in the near future, but it does show potential and reassures Sorta fans that the group is sure to stick around.

Strange and Sad but True

Artist: Sorta

Label: Summer Break Records

Ranking: 3 Stars on a 1-5 scale

Sorta opens for Guy Forsyth at 8 tonight at Sons of Hermann, 3414 Elm in Dallas.