Following up the 2021 Outrunning EP with their first proper full length, Canada’s five piece The Sarandons deliver a satisfying mix of lush indie pop, folk and roots/Americana music that occasionally flirts with more danceable rock here and there. They also manage to incorporate more than the basic guitar, bass and drums formula for a diverse sound.
To be fair, the Toronto band isn’t exactly paving new ground on Sightlines, mining influences from bands like Wilco and The War On Drugs, but they still manage to turn in a solid set of 10 songs that vacillate between moodier tracks and more upbeat moments.
Sightlines opens with “Letting On,” a powerful slow build incorporating Killers’ worthy synths and impressively versatile vocals courtesy of Dave Suchon, leading the collection off on the perfect foot. The guitar work and commanding backing vocals here and throughout help The Sarandons stand out from their peers in the currently crowded indie rock world.
While there’s not necessarily a unifying theme tying the album together, there are definitely moments of sadness and doubt that pop up again and again in not only the lyrics but the music as well. “Maybe that’s a part of some of the reflection I’ve done over the last year,” said Suchon. “Coming to grips with autonomy. There was definitely something that shook loose in me.”
The band’s ability to switch from mellower, slower tracks, like great “State To State” and “Losing My Way” (and the more ho hum “Headlights In The Day,”) to more driving, bolder songs like “Not Tonight” with its impressive groove and “So Long,” make for a compelling listen. The album however closes on one of the weakest tracks, “Honey Then The Bee,” sounding like a stab at 1970s soft rock. But even with some uneven flashes here and there, the brighter moments ultimately save the album.
