Sun in the Day Moon at Night

VINYL FORMAT. Sun in the Day Moon at Night, the second LP by Austinites The Black, will immediately induce visions of beach bonfires, letter jackets and necking with your steady. Clearly taking some inspiration from the aftermath of the British Invasion, this album fearlessly delivers an authentic blend of early pop and country with just the right amount of grit peppered throughout the album to feel relevant and exciting. The Black is made up of former …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead keyboardist David Longoria (now vocals, guitar), the recycled Voxtrot duo Matt Simon (drums) and Jason Chronis (bass) and Alan Schaefer (guitar), son of noted guitar engineer Ed Schaefer. Kicking off this musical road trip is the song "Freeway (Exiled)," a memorable opening track evoking early Southern California surf culture, juxtaposed with modern guitar riffs and an edgy voice that could have easily found a home at CBGB's circa 1977. Following "Freeway (Exiled)" are the likes of "Casey Jones," "It Only Makes You Blue" and finally "Green Leaves," drifting pastoral tunes with a classic sugary twang and western bass lines. Also scattered within the album are gems like "Love Don't Need a Reason" and the title track "Sun in the Day," upbeat and waxing nostalgic with shades of Americana. The gritty, non-traditional vocal stylings and observational lyrics make it easy to imagine yourself enjoying a Rheingold in a Bob Dylan-era Brooklyn draught house." - Sandy Castoro / The Waster