Hello reader,
Welcome back.
Today, we’re going to delve into Sons of the East. The indie folk trio hails from the northern beaches of Australia, having formed in 2011. The lineup has been consistent: Jack Rollins (vocals/guitar), Nic Johnston (vocals/keys), and Dan Wallage (guitar/banjo). And they have been, per their album press release, “crafting their signature blend of folk, rock, soul, and classic country since their days as schoolmates. Think soaring Crosby, Stills & Nash-style harmonies, the earthy depth of Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt, and the breezy optimism of Jack Johnson — all grounded in thoughtful songwriting and rich musicianship.” That quote alone is an excellent introduction to a band that you’re soon to add to your playlists on repeat. Whether you’re skeptical or not of that statement, please read on.
Also, according to the album’s press release, “Their journey has been anything but conventional. No label deals, no shortcuts — just good songs, hard work, and a passionate DIY ethic shared with producer-manager Bry Jones. Since their self-titled EP in 2013, they’ve racked up over 700 million streams, 75 million YouTube views, and sold more than 100,000 tickets worldwide — headlining iconic venues like LA’s Troubadour and London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and earning fans like Emma Thompson and Bill Murray along the way.”
Going a little deeper into Sons of the East’s discography, you’ll find their self-titled debut, Sons of the East EP (2013), Already Gone EP (2015), and Burn Right Through EP (2019), and their first album release Palomar Parade (2022) all on their own label. And on Friday, June 27th, for your listening pleasure comes their second full-length album, SONS.
And now for some hype for your ears and eyes via the band’s YouTube channel with the video for the acoustic version of the song “Rescue Me”:
(All credits and rights to Sons of the East)
The wonderfully gorgeous capture of everyday U.S. and Canadian land and cityscapes within the video for “Recognise”:
(All credits and rights to Sons of the East)
If you want to see the silly choreography in a non-acoustic version of the song, check out this version later. But check out the beautiful, acoustic version with the ocean backdrop video for the song “Wish I Knew,” here:
(All credits and rights to Sons of the East)
The touring adventure video that was captured during their 2024 tour of the UK and Europe within the lovely song, “Oh My My”:
(All credits and rights to Sons of the East)
The album, SONS, is a significant step forward for the band. Long-time fans of Sons of the East, in part, know the trio for their harmonies, which have been attention-grabbing and one of a kind in the past, easily becoming earworms to their listeners. And on this album, the harmonies are incredible, as is the musicianship from Johnston, Rollins, and Wallage. The songwriting is excellent from start to finish, showing growth from previous releases. There are more than a few songs on SONS that will become instant earworms for you—welcome vibes and hooks. The melodies, while based in indie folk, show a lot of variance from more gentle or stripped down to more soulful and gospel harmonies at times to more country or Americana at other times, all the while retaining the vocals and craftsmanship you’ve grown to know and love from the band and flow well from one song to the next. Kudos on the compositions to all those involved. There’s plenty of ground covered topically on this release. It’s an outstanding listen from start to finish, regardless of location – adventure playlist while driving, at home dance party, or you’re listening live at one of their shows, or anywhere in between.
SONS gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. It’s an excellent album full of good melodies and songs that will sound even better in a live setting! It is among the best albums so far this year. Add SONS to your collection on the format of your choosing. I’ll recommend vinyl first, but there is no “wrong” answer.
SONS Track listing (song length)
- It’s Alright (2:34)
- Sweet Thing (4:08)
- Rescue Me (2:47)
- Pour The Wine (3:36)
- Recognise (3:51)
- 10 Days (4:04)
- Time Will Tell (2:53)
- Wish I Knew (3:12)
- Get Even (2:21)
- Oh My My (3:20)
- Head Above Water (2:49)
- Hard To Tell (3:06)
Total runtime: 39:41
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The listening process with SONS will take nearly 40 minutes from start to finish. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, I found the songs highlighted in green font above to be my favorite songs on this album.
Parting thoughts from the band within the album’s press release, “We’ve always been about the music first,” says Johnston. “The songs, the connection, the growth — that’s what keeps us going.” As Wallage puts it: “The stage is where we come alive. This next tour is going to be something special.”
Like what you heard and want to hear more, or follow the band’s socials? Check out their site sonsoftheeast.com, their Instagram page, their Facebook page, their YouTube channel, their Apple Music page, their Spotify page, their Twitter, and their Linktree with album information and more!
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
