Terraplane Sun: Friends EP

Terraplane Sun, FriendsTerraplane Sun: Friends EP
The terraplane was a French hovercraft built in the 1960s and 70s. Coincidentally that seems to be the era where Terraplane Sun mainly gets their sound. The California quintet’s third release is their Friends EP, a collection of six songs produced by veteran Dave Trumfio (Wilco, My Morning Jacket).

It is worth mentioning who Dave Trumfio has previously produced because Wilco and My Morning Jacket are pretty close comparisons with Terraplane Sun. Listening to the epic EP conclusion, “Friends” is steeped in the Southern rock tradition that My Morning Jacket continues. The track features a soaring guitar solo that is reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd and harmonies that evoke the Jayhawks.

Not every track on the EP is as distinctively Southern as the titular track. Opening track “Stuck in the Middle” has a classic California vibe similar to Quicksilver Messenger Service. Lead singer Ben Rothbard dominates the song with his twang which sounds like Caleb Followill attempting a Liam Gallagher impression. His accent and annunciation on the song are on the verge of distracting but the hook is strong enough to make up for it.

Nearly every track on the EP features a memorable chorus. While memorable choruses do not necessarily amount to critical praise, in the case of Friends, I think it should. Between the catchy choruses and the consistent tone of the album, Terraplane Sun prove they are a band with a plane and have the musical chops to execute.
Rating: 8.0/10
MP3: Terraplane Sun “Stuck in the Middle”
Buy: iTunes

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