One of the vivid memories I have as a child is the annual county fair and carnival where I experienced my first hall of mirrors. As a kid it’s a wonderment: you see yourself fat, skinny, multiple eyes, all kinds of variations of what you know is you. Philadelphia’s The Naked Sun took a very mature version of that as the thematic centerpiece of their new album, Mirror In the Hallway. Although initially inspired by singer-songwriter (and guitarist) Drew Harris’ dog Neko, the entire band soon embraced the idea as a metaphor for how we see ourselves or others view us.
The first part of the record is heavy on an indie rock sound, anchored by opener Witches, a tale of transformational help by mythological creatures. It segues smoothly into the psychedelic, dreamy, instrumental …Of Persephone. Make Believe drives a little harder and features guitarist Tim Campbell. Dreamin‘ has a laconic, lazy feel and borders on the catchiness of yacht rock. Broken Spectre also has some nice guitar work and ponders if a love was real or just a dream where the singer is “hoping I would see your shadow. The title track is a good power pop ballad and serves as a transition to the rootsier second part of the CD.
Hold On has a heavier sound appropriate for a reminisce with an existential question of “we were free, weren’t we?” Hades comes close to being a folk song, with some piano highlights. Harris wrote it to honor a dear friend who passed too early. When he sings “they caught me here and they left you there,” it’s a wistful look at the acceptance of fate they both had to realize. The closer, El Alma, gets twangy with both guitar and pedal steel. It has a good two-step rhythm and some LA canyon vocal harmonies.
The band’s 7th record took three years to make, with The Naked Sun committed to getting just the sound they wanted. It’s not just the aural experience that goes deep but I found myself catching more meaning in the lyrics from every listen. Add those together and Mirror In the Hallway rewards you for coming back to it again and again.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.