Sun shine through in 'Future'

If this were 1989 instead of 1999, then Colonel Sun's EP "Your Future" would be their ticket to college rock stardom. Unfortunately for this local band, the times have changed. Record labels such as Seattle's Sub Pop are losing money and diversifying their rosters. For example, the once mighty Matador Records is now investing its future in foreign electronic music instead of a stable of artists once made up solely of domestic rock. And yet another strike against college rock involves college r adio. Go ahead, turn on 88.3 FM every once in awhile. You'll too also begin to question the status of college rock.

Despite all of this though, Colonel Sun's "Your Future" EP deserves some attention. These young musicians possess an ability to record some very nifty little pop tunes with some subtle moments of brilliance. The vocals sooth the ears of the listener with melodic ramblings of romantic sentiment. A colorful background loaded with the unique sounds of Colonel Sun's dual guitar hints at the ambitious musical potential of these young college students. With proper nurturing and support, Colonel Sun may amount to something beyond college rock, something more special.

Yet even though talent can be detected, the question needs to be asked: Who really "wants" to listen to or buy this kind of music any more? The fact may be saddening, but "Your Future" can't compare with the sublime experiences most of us experience listening to our favorite music. Can ordinary pop rock really compare to the mind-altering chaos of a four-hour Phish performance, the ghetto-philosophical soundscapes of the Wu-Tang Clan, the nervous system rattling ferocity of Korn or the blissfully intense technological rhythms of Plastikman?

Even though Colonel Sun produces good music, they cannot compare to any of these types of artists. The flamboyant character-driven music of REM, Radiohead or The Smashing Pumpkins may be their best comparison. Thanks to MTV, Rolling Stone, sex, drugs and technology, most of us expect nothing less than sublime experience and artistic innovation in our music. Hopefully for this promising band, "Your Future" may be the seed from which a glorious band may emerge.

02-02-99