Sully
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
ambient ectronica, ethereal-voiced evocative/eclectic alternative pop/rock
Status:
Most recent release, Bright Lights, 2001
See also:
Wikipedia's entry for Sully
Comparisons:
Early work like An April March, Ars Poetica, Juned, Rose Chronicles, The Moon Seven Times, My Brilliant Beast, Psychowelders, Broadcast, Seely, Laika
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
This group is a little like Seely, Broadcast, or Laika—sort of ethereal techno poprock. They seem to be growing in interesting directions, with their songwriting becoming stronger and catchier with their second album. Nice vocals with a good band. If you at all like the electronic side of things, check this band out! (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Bright Lights is a little more distinctive, though Sully/i have much to report is also a fine album
Recordings:
- Living Room (1995)
- Sully/i have much to report (1997, same album released twice under different titles/labels)
- Bright Lights (2001)
Living Room
Release info:
1995—One Handed Records—ohcd-015
Availability:
Out of print; try used places in Canada
Ecto priority:
Recommended for Sully fans only
Produced by:
Marty Jones and Sully
Comments:
While I love their later work, this collection seems a little more unformed to me. The vocals are buried in the mix and the sound is often a wall of buzz. That had its charm in 1995 but is of a little less interest to me now, as are the more experimental noise bits. It has many great moments that I like and would really enjoy if the vocals were more audible. Despite its potential, I highly recommend listening to their other two terrific discs to get the best of this. (Neile)
Sully/i have much to report
Release info:
1997—random sound—RSCD-8802; rereleased 1998—Nettwerk—67003 01232
Availability:
Wide in Canada
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Becke Gainforth—vocals
Glenn Toddun—guitars, keyboard
Scott Strachen—guitar
Kelly Wren—bass
Ian Duke—drums
Produced by:
byron and sully
Comments:
I like this more than I thought I would. Would this be considered *ambient* music? (Riphug@aol.com)there are some ambient bits to sully, but that's not their sound. they're more of a noisy pop band with blissed-out tendencies. i quite like them too and i bet folks who lapped up rose chronicles would as well. sully's sound is more, um, *smeared* than rose chronicles and becke gainforth is no kirsty thirsk but they work for me. they're on nettwerk, so i suspect that terry mcbride was looking to fill the niche that rose chronicles vacated. (woj@smoe.org)
A wonderful rocky/dreamy album. (Neile)
Bright Lights
Release info:
2001—self-released
Availability:
Unknown
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Becke Gainforth—vocals
Dan McCormick—keyboards
Ian Duke—drums
Paul Prince—bass
Scott Strachan—guitar
Produced by:
Sully
Comments:
Wow! Catchy stuff! The songwriting on this album is catchier, more focused, and just a little less dreamy than on their first album. (Neile)
