STARE INTO THE SUN
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STARE INTO THE SUN

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Smother.Net"

Vocally it’s very nasal and sort of reminds me of the Flaming Lips for some reason. But the band plays frenetic post-indie rock with a hard flaying of drums and guitar chords. Their songs are well orchestrated in that the approach is genuine and dispels the usual notions you get with indie rockers—you know that pretentious vibe of superiority. You’d just as soon see these guys rockin in your neighbor’s basement for a party of five kids gathered around a spent keg as you would the cover of Alternative Press; and yes they’re good enough to garner praise from the indie/underground scene as well as the venerable underground mainstream scene. Be sure that you Stare Into the Sun because hard indie rock like this doesn’t come around often and Fugazi already quit being cool. http://www.smother.net/reviews/punk.php3?ID=261
- www.smother.net


"Foxy Digitalis Online"

An aggressive little drum solo from Ryan Stamman (who’s since been replaced by Mark Pankonin) opens this Detroit trio’s debut and screamer Kevin Murphy’s strangulated, David Byrne-on-steroids shouting put “Run” squarely inside a Wall of Voodoo-meets-Pere Ubu mindset. “Tollman” is more goose-stepping punk for the mosh pit crowd and “Black Dress’ is a chunkier, more polished heartpounder in the fine West Coast punk tradition of Flipper and Black Flag. The title track brings a more angular, syncopated Brit-punk sensibilities to bear, with The Clash, Ruts and Stranglers possible reference points.

The Buzzcocks and Pistols are not far from hand on “Without A Trace,” an angry slice of sputum that suggests that all is not a bed of roses in Stare Into The Sun’s universe. Cramps fans will also love the track’s swampy, horror movie surf vibe. Other influences include the mandatory, God-like worship of all things Iggy (particularly for a Detroit-area punk band) and their defiant “I love Detroit…Fuck You” anthem, “We Were Here First” fits the bill quite nicely, thank you. I also smell a very strong New York Dolls aroma swilling around my beer-battered brain, particularly in Murphy’s way-cool, Thunders-ish guitar solo! And let’s toss Gordon Gano and his Violent Femmes in one of their poppier, more accessible moods into the mix for closer “What You Think.” It’s all very hard, angry, loud and fun … and isn’t that what rock and roll’s supposed to be all about? Jeff Penczak http://www.foxydigitalis.com/foxyd/review_detail.php?id=976

- www.foxydigitalis.com


"Metro Times"

Whispers Turn to Howls isn’t out yet, but it’s such a terrific album title, we had to print it anyway. In the meantime, check out "Henrietta" on this Downriver trio’s MySpace site — it’s a heady dose of revivalist post-punk hook and crook offset with moody bridges. And listen until the end, because that’s when that electric screwdriver guitar line returns, making you totally want to tear up your art school diploma and swallow gut-rot pills.
-Johnny Loftus Music Editor 1/24/07 http://metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=10090
- www.metrotimes.com


"Real Detroit Weekly"

Artsy, loud, Talking Heads-meet Man or Astroman?- meet the Cramps weirdness. It’s music a gloomy alien with an attitude might listen to: reverb-y and dark with distorted, jagged guitar lines, and half shouted choruses. Subacultcha http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_1161.shtml (March 06) - www.realdetroitweekly.com


"Real Detroit Weekly"

A brilliant rendition of Sonic Youth, Blackouts, The Rapture, and Berlin. The vocals and guitar are very much in line with Joy Division, although far more upbeat and pulsating with explosions of energy
http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_361.shtml - www.realdetroitweekly.com


Discography

Whispers Turn To Howls LP/CD (Unreleased/TBA 2007) -Reformer Records

Nocturnal LP/CD 2005

First Hand Accounts, Theories & Their Repercussions (Compilation) - "Run" - ITAV Records 2006

Photos

Bio

Thematically similar to darker rock leanings such as Joy Division or Nick Cave, but dimensioned by art-rock explorations suggestive of Blonde Redhead or Pere Ubu, and channeling an undercurrent of fiery urgency, Detroit area trio Stare Into The Sun conjure an apocalyptic indie rock-noir of toothy cityscapes, moonlit back alleys, doomed romances, and damned souls; their songs careen from the frantic and rousing, to the subdued and detached; their live performances are fraught with fevered conviction and stirring intensity.

Stare Into The Sun released their debut full length "Nocturnal" to a capacity crowd at the Belmont in Hamtramck, MI in January 2005. They are currently preparing for the release of their new album entitled "Whispers Turn To Howls" later in 2007. Engineered and co-produced by Dave Feeny (Blanche, Thunderbirds are Now!) in 2006, the album is the first to include new drummer Mark Pankonin, whose addition fused the band into its strongest chemistry to date. Reverb-soaked three-part kaleidoscopic vocal harmonies (Safe Harbor), stabbing synth flourishes (Patrols), falling sky vocal caterwauls (Hearts of Men), and vertiginous bridges and breaks (Twilight, Henrietta) are some of the elements of the songs embodied on "Whispers".

Stare Into The Sun was formed by Kevin Murphy (vocals/guitar) in January of 2002 and have been playing live since the spring of 2002. The band has performed at the 2006 NXNE in Toronto, ON; the Metro Times Blowout, the largest local music festival in the U.S (2004-2007); the inaugural Motor City Music Conference in April 2005; and have played in and around Detroit at venues such as the Magic Stick, Lager House, Small’s, Belmont and Jacoby’s among others, and in NYC and Chicago. The band will tour behind the release of "Whispers" in the Fall.