One of the most prolific musicians of the past ten years, Sonny Smith and his band The Sunsets, are gearing up for the release of their seventh album, Antenna to the Afterworld, which will release on June 11 through Polyvinyl. The record was inspired by the murder of a close friend of Sonny's, an event that caused him to start seeing a psychic and which influenced his lyrics. A followup to last year's Longtime Companion, a country record dealing with a recent breakup, Antenna to the Afterworld wrings itself out with more post-punk drums and poppy undertones reminiscent of The Beets.
The band has released a short teaser video that features the first song on the record, “Dark Corners,” and shots of the band bowling, breakdancing, using eyedrops, and running in a field. If that doesn't get you stoked for an album heavily based in the afterlife, then I don't know what will. You can stream the first track at Polyvinyl's site and if you're on the West Coast, check them out on Apr 5 at the Verdi Club in San Francisco or May 11 at the Fernwood Resort in Big Sur.
