Neanderthal

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Neanderthal, Sunspot's fourth album, is an exciting touchstone for the band. Collaborating with Mark Haines (Poster Children, Rainer Maria, Hey Mercedes) at Madison's world-famous Smart Studios (the cradle of the alternative movement) , Sunspot has created their most powerful album. From funny-bitter tracks like 'Eat Out My Heart' to the catchy darkness of 'Neanderthal' or the paean for broken-hearted weirdos, 'Power Word, Kill', Sunspot has sharpened the edge of their lyrical skills along with their penchant for musical precision.

REVIEW
Sunspot and their self-styled arena rock for geeks stomps out of the cave, brandishing a club of melody, equal parts brawn and brain. OK, that s stretching the metaphor posed by this albums title a little too far, but the bands chief assets are obvious. Funny lyrics (Power Word, Kill, Goodbye Good Guy, the title track) meet catchy postpunk/power pop hooks (everything) and have vigorous, joyful sex for all to see. The dry, unfancy production sounds unusual in today s radio mix-saturated media landscape, but it only enhances the music here. Sunspot couldnt be so easily, effortlessly likeable if it tried. --Michael Toland - High Bias - Austin, TX

Sunspot celebrated their 10 year anniversary in 06 and spent their holidays on the road, touring through the west and south, from Texas to California, before heading back home to release their newest album, Neanderthal. This is one of those bands that has consistently toured, consistently built their fan base and consistently had a blast creating their hilarious and satisfying blend of modern, melodic rock with the best elements of pop-punk bubbling through. Their last release, Cynical, featured gems like Scott Bakula and The Happy Song. But the album that garnered them the most attention was 2003s Loser of the Year, which nabbed a MAMA and led to their award as the WAMIs Group of the Year in 04. This newest album continues bassist/vocalist Mike Huberty, guitarist Ben Jaeger and drummer Wendy Lynn Staats adventures in humor laden, riff driven, rock n roll goodness. Sunspot digs up hooks for every song on this disc, from the frantic opener, Goodbye Good Guy, to the darkly disco-tinged title track, to the surprisingly somber and epic closing track, Viking Funeral. The riffs range from classic rock to hair metal to the more endearing side of modern punk rock. This band puts out a ton of sound, giving them a much bigger presence than you d expect from a three-piece. And with all three members singing along, the vocal hooks cut deep and stay with you. But Ive always found the incredible sense of humor that this band brings to their music to be the most endearing and ubiquitous aspects to Sunspot s charm. In Eat Your Heart Out, Huberty laments the loss of love and the reality of the inevitable emotional backlash of a breakup. I know that may not seem funny, but when the chorus is I hope you have an ugly boyfriend / I hope you're working at a carwash / I hope your life went down the drain and everything is not okay / I hope your best years passed you up, you can t help but laugh. And then, from Neanderthal, it was just one simple word that made me laug --Tim Thompson - Ricks Cafe - Madison, WI