Since receiving their big break — showcasing their music at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics — Toronto rock band the Soles have patiently been working on their sound and live performance quality.
The group's second full-length studio album, Sand in the Sun, is strong melodically and instrumentally, if not lyrically — the songs on the LP focus on social issues and personal struggles, and though they touch on serious subjects and have all the right pieces, they never fit together quite well enough to hit on an emotional level as a whole. However, as one makes their way through the 11-track album, the standout songs are clear, and they pack a punch.
The fun and catchy "Rebel Force Radio" kicks off the LP with new-wave leanings and stellar guitar riffs, joining the title song as one of the most radio-friendly tracks. "Sand in the Sun," particularly, gives the listener a feeling one might have on the brink of something new and exciting, offering a bright sound that the group should have carried on throughout the album. Meanwhile, the orchestral rock sounds, as found on "Where We All Go" and "Over the Wall," are lighthearted if not individually memorable, evoking fellow Canadian rock group and 2010 Olympics performers Paper Lions (formerly the Chucky Danger Band).
The mellow "Whisper" hints at an edge that the group had a itching to hit, but did not quite, suggesting optimism at the core of the album that hints at a bright future for the Soles.
(Independent)The group's second full-length studio album, Sand in the Sun, is strong melodically and instrumentally, if not lyrically — the songs on the LP focus on social issues and personal struggles, and though they touch on serious subjects and have all the right pieces, they never fit together quite well enough to hit on an emotional level as a whole. However, as one makes their way through the 11-track album, the standout songs are clear, and they pack a punch.
The fun and catchy "Rebel Force Radio" kicks off the LP with new-wave leanings and stellar guitar riffs, joining the title song as one of the most radio-friendly tracks. "Sand in the Sun," particularly, gives the listener a feeling one might have on the brink of something new and exciting, offering a bright sound that the group should have carried on throughout the album. Meanwhile, the orchestral rock sounds, as found on "Where We All Go" and "Over the Wall," are lighthearted if not individually memorable, evoking fellow Canadian rock group and 2010 Olympics performers Paper Lions (formerly the Chucky Danger Band).
The mellow "Whisper" hints at an edge that the group had a itching to hit, but did not quite, suggesting optimism at the core of the album that hints at a bright future for the Soles.
