Runner

     This album, Runner, is by a band called The Sea and Cake. The "sea" part is evident from their cover, but I can't say the same about the cake which seems to be absent. If you know me and see the robot on the left you can probably infer why I picked this; I just couldn't resist. I know I bought this with another album but I can't remember which. The cover of Runner does depict the content well, as I could guess the genre almost entirely from just the calm color choices. Nevertheless, Itunes calls it indie rock so I won't argue.

     The first track, "On and On" was probably my favorite. It had a nice jump-start to it and really provided a good first impression. The fifth track, "Skyscraper", was a close second. Skyscraper had an edgier sound than the rest of the album, making it especially interesting. Most of the album stayed pretty safe, but I wouldn't call it great; long instrumental intros, the occasional ballad, strange underlying white noise. Track 8, "Neighbors and Township" had a more eerie vibe which accounted for some healthy variety. The album ended with its title track, "The Runner", a bit long but a fitting farewell.

     I afterwards learned that The Sea and Cake was a band started in the 90's although The Runner was released in 2012. Its members were all in previous bands, none of which I'd heard of. Overall I enjoyed it, though I definitely liked some songs more than others; it brought a good end to this beautiful Sunday. It sounds a lot like what you would hear on the radio nowadays. I'm sure it sounds like one band in particular but I can't quite put my finger on it. If you decide to listen to it and think you know it, please post your educated guess in the comments.