Record Review: Seven Summits

Fresh Baked:
The Secret Life of Sofia
Seven Summits
2008 | self-released
B

It is rare when I find myself without a real opinion about something. The Secret Life of Sofia is one of those rare occasions. There is nothing in Seven Summits that offends my sensibilities, or puts me off in any way. However, there are also no moments of awe, no songs I keep coming back to, or even many surprises to find here.

I don’t mean to imply this is banal, Top-40 music either – this is an intricately crafted record performed by talented musicians. Certain tracks, like my personal favorite “Government Lakes,” have interesting melodies, clever guitar work and sterling production – for the four minutes or so of each song, the results are pleasant. The longest track on the record, “Sheet Stealer!” is unique in its mid-song tempo and mood shift – otherwise many of these tunes set their mood and execute it ably.

The record does manage to get more interesting as it progresses, with “Sheet Stealer!” and “Weathering” making a really nice mid-album pairing – “Weathering” features a nice, droning analog synthesizer throughout that pushes the typical Sofia sound further than elsewhere on the record. “Evidence” too shines through as a real slow-burner that builds evenly to an emotionally satisfying ending. On a whole, I would have liked some judicious editing on some of the introductions and endings of various tracks that tend to meander for longer than necessary.

However, the aftertaste is non-existent. The aforementioned “Government Lakes” is the only track of the eleven featured here that I have thought back on with any sort of enthusiasm – its opening melody is catchy enough to get stuck in my head – sometimes for hours on end. This is not a good thing, nor is it necessarily a bad thing, but in the case of this record it is a singular thing – a singular memorable moment.

by Brian Salvatore

myspace.com/thesecretlifeofsofia