Sun-Pinned Leaves- Seven Sins Aren’t Enough
Reviewed by Duzzy Clayton
Sun–Pinned Leaves is a really great duo band from the UK, with Christopher Brown on vocals, and Neil Faulkner playing instruments plus vocals, The band have just released a great album called Seven Sins Aren’t Enough, and it is a an awesome masterpiece of music
Armed with 10 tracks, This album is one of the best albums I have heard to come out of 2024
I am about to give you a track by track play of the album and give you my thoughts why you should check this album, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself searching the album online
Track 1 Seven SinS Are Not Enough
Self Titled as the album name, Seven Sins Are Not Enough, is a real up beat song musically, It is really a great start to the album, lifting off with a big band sound musically upbeat and somewhat fun to dance to. I love songs with a story and listening to the lyrics of this song tells a cool story of a New Mexico Outlaw Son named Joey in 1861. The chorus of this song is also cool and catchy and will probably be one of those tracks that will get stuck in your head and you will find yourself humming it well in the shower or cooking dinner, I know I did 🙂
Track 2 Daughter
This is a bit more chilled number, well atleast at its introduction, I dont know my intruments to well, but it sounds somewhat of bagpipes playing but not as in your face, making it a chilled change, with this song after such an upbeat track as track 1. Then all of a sudden drums and the rest of the music come in and I realise maybe the ‘Bagpipes’ I thought was in the intro was actually a synthesizer which now seems to be leading the song. I wait to hear the vocals and wonder what this song is about, I was lucky enough to be sent the lyrics to the song so I open it as I wait for the vocals to start in hope to follow the lyrics better. Once again I can hear it’s a song with a story, I really prefer those compared to the stuff the kids are making today where it doesn’t really matter if you turn the song on or off because there is no story that you wonder what is the song about or how it ends, but that’s not what you gonna get with Sun-Pinned Leaves, we even get a date again when the story originates from, back in ’68, which they do quite often on this album.
When I first heard track 1 I thought we going to get an irish or Scotland based sound from the band and perhaps all songs are going have that unique sound that makes me think of Ireland Or scotland but as the track 2 carries on, that thought is a distant memory and I think to myself we have a real 80’s kind of vibe track here. I am loving the bass line, not as upbeat as the last track but still somehow has a great beat that keeps me tapping my foot along, I like this, without getting into the story of the song, this band and this track has everything to make it on to the radio. One thing this band can do, and this is write catchy lyrics and hooks. By the time you have reached the bridge and the chorus and if you hear it enough times, it’s not long till you going to be singing along to the track, I also like to make mention and say I love the two vocals I can hear on the track, both lead and backing vocals are nicely done and harmonies well together
Track 3 Just a little more time
And we are back to that Irish sound, I was wondering if it would come back into play, A nice violin sound starting off the song, once again another upbeat track, and once again another story telling track. I would like to make mention that the drums on this track sound really great as are all the other instruments, I do love the violin that is leading most of the song. I can’t get over how catchy this band’s lyrics and music are. I have listened to this album twice and now again while I am reviewing it, I find myself singing along, to me that is evidence of a well written song, and one that is going to do well on radio or played live, and this band has a whole album filled with hits, Once again I must mention the two vocals, especially during choruses, the backing vocals not overpowering the lead vocals but having enough presence to make an impact and show off the bands harmonizing
Track 4 See Y’all again
A slow start to this one, not in a bad way, I just mean not as upbeat of a start of track 1 and track 3, I wonder if that was intentional from the band to make you go on a bit of a roller coaster, from upbeat to less up beat then back to upbeat. It really does take you on a journey if listened to from start to finish which I advise you to do
See Y’all again has a cool piano sound starting the song along with drums and bass and cool guitar, Once again, I’m loving the drums in this song which seems to carry the song with great time keeping, I like the lyrics and story of this song, talking about being in a band and hitting the road on tour, leaving your family behind as you wow upcoming shows and auidiences, telling a story of how great it is to be able to play music and have fun on the road, something I am envy of as I cant play an instrument except learning a bit of guitar as a teen but never really being good enough to take it further, this song talks about the life I wanted and being on the road and touring. I do enjoy this number and it is a favorite of mine off the album
Track 5 Err is human,
Err is human, is the name of the next track, interesting song title I must point out, and as we half way through this 10 track album, this song is even more mellow as the last and at the start of hearing it might even be somewhat of a ballad on the album, Nice!
Slow piano and slower music all around, I am liking the softer sound of the band, I like the message in this song, that in my own interpretation that even if you been bullied or done wrong by and you want to get revenge, sometimes peace and love is the better way to take, that is just my interpretation and if you hear the track you might find something else from it but I think that is the beauty of music, we take it in different and it touches us how we need it to. This track is also one of my favorites off album, just because of the slow ballad sound it is and the sort of message it gives off
Track 6 We Run
Track 6 and I had to pause to go make some coffee, I push play and hit with a cymbal and some cool voices howling alongside a great piece of music, The lead Voice sounds a tad bit different on this song from what we been hearing and I wonder if this the alternation of both members Chris and Neil sharing vocal duties or I could be wrong but it is good change half way through the album taking at least this song in a different direction. I am also hearing in the background some lady voices (I think) in the ooh ahh howling backing vocals singing along which is a nice touch to the track. We Run is a nice catchy little tune that I feel will also do well on radio around the world
Before I move on to the next track I need to make mention through out this album, I am blown away by the production and recordings of track, the sound and engineering is really well done and all who worked on the track needs to be congratulated on a well put together album, from the song placement to the lyrics and music to the production and recording, this easy listening album is everything a fran of great music needs
Track 7 You And Me
You And Me, is a beautiful song starting off once again with a soothing violin playing and relaxing sound, just over 4 mins this song is a tad bit longer than the other songs we have heard but wow a beautiful song it is, I can picture myself in a water pool relaxing with drink in my hand whilst listening to this relaxing in the sun, that is the type of feelin this song makes me feel, How ever listening to the lyrics the song does ask some good questions and does kind of make you think a little bit, it is a nice beautiful sounding thought provoking track, I do advise you to listen to the lyrics of this track as it does creep up on you whilst enjoying the laid back music of the song
Track 8 Confession’s Good For The Soul
Another upbeat song and it is nice to hear the guitar taking the lead on this track, I am listening to the lyrics of the song and once again i like the message of the song, and just going the title alone I do think we always feel better when we do confess with something that has been weighing on our minds and its best to it get it out than keeping it all locked in, and the truth does always come out
Track 9 Never a fading star
Track 9 and we are almost done with this awesome album, Never a Fading Star is another upbeat number with a great guitar riff intro. Once again another story telling song in the early 70;s , this is once again a very catchy tune with a cool chorus and that is going to make you want to sing along. The songs speaks of being just to young to want to be with someone weather iot love or just friendship, it was like almost born in the wrong time to make it possible to be with someone we admired, We have all been there I think to myself,I do love the music of this song and its catchy rhythm .
Track 10 Alpharetta’s Rocking
An intersting song to end of the albuim with but I must say I do love it and I think each song placement of this song has been well thought out and this is a great way to end the record off, In South Africa here I am from, within the afrikaans community they have a genre called Saakie Saakie and the violin of this song reminds me of those days my parents and grandparents would saakie saakie to this kind of a sound, brings back some nice memories. This is also one of my favorites off the track and normally people have fillers on an album to make up a full album especially with the ending track, but in my opinion the whole album is a hit from start to finish with each song taking you on a fun but sometimes serious journey but one thing’s for sure, every song ios worth a listen and I don’t see many people skipping to a next track on this album
I would like to congratulate Sun-Pitted Leaves (which did I mention I think is a great band name) for a really cool album, everyone who worked on it can be very proud of being part of such a great body of songs, this one is going into my favourite bands and albums folder
Sun-Pinned Leaves have made it to round 3 in the Annual Museboat Live Channel Awards. ‘Pensacola’s Calling’ is No 2 in the Best of Country category, No 4 in the Song of The Year Top 100 Chart and The Best Song Lyric Category will be announced in December. If you would like to vote for the band as often as you like in the final two rounds please do so using these links
Best Song Lyric HERE
Song of the Year vote HERE
Best Country Song HERE
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