The Bright Orange Years

They Say...

Review by Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Between Ian MacKaye and "Sherman the Tank," the thank-you list on the back of The Bright Orange Years tellingly acknowledges beer. Somewhat akin to what would follow with the remainder of the Volcano Suns' records, their 1985 debut is a messy sprawl of basement jams. Regardless of how long it took for the record to be made, the restless energy gives the feel of 12 songs written and recorded in one alcohol-soaked night. A batch of fast and furious raucous blasts form the basis of the record ("Descent into Hell," "Promise Me," "Animals"), broken up by the occasional instrumental ("Truth Is Stranger Than Fishing") and midtempo breather ("Balancing Act"). The arrangements are more straight-ahead and less experimental than Peter Prescott's former band, but they're no less interesting. Structural conventions are rarely messed with. During "Cornfield," a noisy piano comes into play that sounds like Nicky Hopkins attempting to beat a wind chime at its own game, and a couple short spates of weird interplay between Prescott and new partners Jeff Weigand (bass) and Jon Williams (guitar) break the mainly hyper-folk and '60s garage band flow. Lead-off track "Jak" is the real standout, one of the Suns' most tuneful and strummy numbers. Solid and endlessly fun, it's their finest record. [Merge reissued The Bright Orange Years, as well as All-Night Lotus Party, in 2009 -- the first time on CD for both releases. The recordings were remastered by Bob Weston. Nine tracks are added to The Bright Orange Years, such as both sides of the 1986 Homestead single "Sea Cruise"/"Greasy Spine," a few compilation appearances (like the great "Tree Stomp"), and two songs (including a rather loose version of Prince's "1999") from an appearance on Boston's WERS.]