Sunfall is a ray of light, The Daily Universe
4/13/01

Sunfall Festival is releasing its first album after winning a $250,000 recording contract, and the album is worth every penny.

Sunfall Festival's highly anticipated third album, Monday 23, the culmination of what drummer Chris Peterson said is "the album the band envisioned making since 1995," will be released, ironically, next Monday, the 23rd. Fans can get a preview of the new album at Sunfall Festival's CD release party on Tuesday at Johnny B's in Provo.

Monday 23, from its cover art to its music is a crafted work of art. Lead singer Amy Greetham, whose hauntingly beautiful voice helped thrust Sunfall Festival's music into the national spotlight, shows not only her vocal range and depth, but also her ability to mix tone and emotion on Monday 23. She emotes a slight rasp to her voice on her edgier songs, and sings like a mother to her sleeping child on her ballads. Because her voice is so unique it fosters a love/hate relationship with listeners. But one thing's for sure, it's hard to forget that voice.

Scott Wiley, Sunfall Festival guitarist, experiments with electronic guitar effects and even string arrangements on the majority of the tracks to show a more technical side to their casual, pop/rock style. The album's ballads feature Wiley's airy arpeggio-style playing where he lets the notes from his guitar ring and blend with a background of symphonic string arrangements. His use of distortion is impressive on track 6, "What It Feels Like," as he builds timed crescendos through increasingly distorted guitar without removing the song from its pop/rock feel.

Sunfall Festival shows its song writing maturity on track 8 titled "Wah Oh." This silly title has little to do with the catchy rhythm and harp-like guitar played by Wiley, and the steady beat by drummer Peterson. Also included on Monday 23 is Sunfall Festival's claim-to-fame song "I Walked Away," which won the band their $250,000 recording contract through Garageband.com's unsigned band contest. Sunfall Festival will host its CD release party on Tuesday at Johnny B's Comedy Club in Provo. Jamen Brooks, former lead singer of Clover will open. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $6 at the door, $5 if pre-ordered at the band's Web site www.sunfallfestival.com.

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