Reviewed by Dustin Helgeson

There’s something warm and fuzzy about Starflyer 59 that I’ve always loved. With ‘Old’, that feeling has never felt as dark and comfortable. In recent years, the band have lightened the load of fuzzy guitars in favor of a more straightforward pop rock bliss while retaining the un-emotive vocals of Jason Martin and signature guitar distortion and tone. For one who has listened to Starflyer’s ‘Americana’ album (the one with the red cover), ‘Old’ is similar in its clear departure to the brighter side. The song craft on this album is some of the best the band has created. It is clearly their best album to date. The first half-minute of ‘Old’ delivers, with an amazing and seductive guitar riff, flowing into familiar Starflyer territory. “Underneath” feels something like a sort of funky slow dance I could imagine would be quite fun to actually move with. A standout on the disc is “Major Awards”, a slightly sarcastic piece: “There’s a big time coming/I think I’ve just run out… /No major awards/That’s not fair.” Really! It isn’t fair. Starflyer 59 is one of the longest running alternative rock bands in the industry, making some of the most critically acclaimed intelligent music in the genre. There’s something magic about the way Starflyer has always been able to make meaningful songs that always feature the brilliant guitars and celebrated small bits that have made the band so special. To top it off, the added studio effects and composition couldn’t be as precise with Starflyer 59 themselves and producer Aaron Sprinkle at the helm. If you’ve never bought Starflyer 59 music, ‘Old’ is the one you should buy first, as it highlights the best of the band as they exist currently. This record is sure to bring new fans to Starflyer 59, as old fans to rejoice.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version.