Album Review: Sun In My Eyes by From States Away
Review by Chloe Muñoz
Earlier this month, From States Away released their newest record, Sun In My Eyes. Undoubtedly as the writer, it’s been a process of writing and rewriting this review to be able to capture the true essence of the record. To be able to portray it in a way that will not only connect with whoever makes their way over to the streaming platforms to listen to it but to whoever reads this as well.
The record begins with “These Things You Said”; a track that when it plays it’s setting everything in motion, the pieces begin to fit together and the drums take off into what’s next. Transitioning into “Bypass”, the song the band said would be one to show new FSA fans because of the reflection it gives onto the band with its poppy intro going into the hard hitting chorus.
As a first time listener to From States Away, this record was one that instantly captured my attention and made me want to listen to it more than once. The essence of rising from something that knocked you down was evident as each song went by. A personal favorite is “Snakes”, a song of having something that keeps you so in place and settled and realizing it’s the one that is your kryptonite. The thing or person you can’t let go no matter how hard you try.
Going down the track list and getting into “Sun In My Eyes”, you start to see why the band created the record that they did. Rising to limits that in hindsight don’t seem so out of reach but in the moment, the ride to it is terrifying. Going to distances that create a new meaning onto relationships, self reflections. In Icarus fashion, we can go too close to the sun but we always have a say in what will be the one thing that drives us to that point. When going through the track lists, it typically gets picked apart song by song but while listening to this record, it all flowed seamlessly to the point of not wanting to break it apart.
From States Away created something that felt like putting something back together. Having listened to this record in my car, with and without headphones in, it always gave the same feeling of reminiscing and self reflection on who I was and who I will be. Every person who listens to this record will take away something different each time they listen to it and that’s the most powerful thing about music. We all create our own interpretations of someone else’s art and make it our own.
As the record ends with “I Know It Felt The Same To You”, it’s the final piece in the puzzle of this record. The melodic finish to a record that undoubtedly be the stabilizer to someone’s story. This record is definitely one for the books and would recommend it to anyone that sees and feels the reflection of music onto their own selves.
As a finality: what is your Icarus moment? What will make you fly too close to the sun?