Sunfold’s Toy Tugboats Album Review

Some might think that Sunfold, which has all the same members as the Annuals, is really just a reshuffling of the latter band. But they would be wrong. Not only have these guys changed who their frontman is, they’ve also changed what kind of music they produce. Their new sound is an eclectic one, ranging from country to rock to jazz. For the most part this works, and their debut album Toy Tugboats is a playful and competent exploration of quite a few different genres. However it does feature the occasional song that sticks out like a sore thumb, providing a jolt that stops the album in its tracks. “Gnosis” is one of these songs, and even though it’s a good piece on its own, you can’t help but be annoyed by its detrimental effect on the album’s flow. Still, besides these occasional hiccups, this release is standing on very solid musical ground.
- Helen Horn-Mitchem