***CHECK STOCK!!! Received a 7.7 rating from Pitchfork. As a writer—of songs, or plays, or short stories—SONNY SMITH has never limited himself to one style or theme. The restless trend of changing gears dramatically continues on Antenna to the Afterworld, which marks a total musical and narrative shift from last year’s Longtime Companion (a country record that chronicled Smith’s break up). On Antenna to the Afterworld, Smith likens himself to a space being visiting Earth using wry humor, gritty poetry, and a myriad of musical lenses fleshed out by drummer KELLEY STOLTZ’s Joy Division-like beats, RYAN BROWNE’s new wavish basslines, and TAHLIA HARBOUR’s deadpan vocals. The murder of a close friend of the band led Smith to think a lot about death and life after death. Shortly after, a visit to a psychic/medium brought Smith into contact with another friend who had died. This encounter with the afterworld inspired many of the lyrics on SONNY & THE SUNSETS’ new record. And what a strangely entertaining odyssey it turned out to be. LP pressed on clear vinyl with a download. (STREET DATE - 6/11/2013)