Sundress - Sundress EP (Self Released)

At six seconds into opening number “Middle of Here,” it becomes a safe bet to assume that at least one member of Denton-based Sundress owns every record The Verve ever released. A decade and a half after its heyday, it’s refreshing to hear a band so indebted to such an under-appreciated band. Furthermore, it’s satisfying to find a band slipping so naturally into its own sound; the songs sound like the work of master artisans, and they know how to vary their sound in subtle ways, without drifting too far from their core ideas, and without sounding repetitive. Vocalist Ryan McAdams has a voice that is energetic and alluring; one that can easily lull he listener to exotic places in the slower numbers like “Derelict” and the aforementioned “Middle of Here,” and yet can get the audience moving on a jaunty dance number like “Page of Wands.” All in all, Sundress proves to be a compelling reason for having grand expectations for their debut album proper.