To call the Bay Area’s Sore Thumb surf rock would be a restrictive oversimplification. While the beginning half of their debut LP An Album By… is straight-up, 60s inspired, reverb-drenched rock, the record moves on from that pretty quickly. A few of the middle tracks, like “No Right, No Wrong” and “Meltdown,” explore darker undertones and move deeper into the territory of alternative rock. However, like a rubber band snapping back into shape, the sunny, surfy rock that Southern California has grown to love returns in “That’s Why” (streaming below) and remains throughout the end of the track list. This LP is also accompanied by a visual album that is streaming on the band’s YouTube. Currently, the LP is available for free download for anyone who attends a show or connects with the band on Facebook. Catch their next live show at Feral in Oakland on September 22nd. – Lilly Milman
