Sorry - Anywhere But Here
Alternative – Released October 7, 2022 – 13 songs, 44 mins
LUNDI
There’s a natural human tendency to avoid uncomfortable situations. No one likes that first day on a new job or small talk on a first date, but we do it because in part we have to. When it comes to music, people have a choice what they listen to and a majority choose to stick with what they know instead of going down the unbeaten path. This week’s band, Sorry, offer an opportunity for listeners to discover the unknown. Their second album Anywhere But Here deep dives the struggles of modernity and the uncomfortable while being musically weird yet accessible. It’s an exclamation point on an amazing year of music. Let’s break down what makes it so great.
Sorry’s Anywhere But Here is a constant mixing of genres. The band simply never feel content with the straight forward, instead incorporating trip-hop, grunge, post-punk, and acoustic balladry across the album and even within individual songs themselves. The album is shape shifting and immersive but extremely cohesive. Despite the numerous musical pivots the record always feels like the same group of musicians. The collective direction of the band is supplemented by a masterful mixing/production effort by Portishead’s Adrian Utley resulting in a salivating musical experience.
There’s just something redeeming about nearly every track that pulls you back for repeat listens. It’s the little moments that shine through. The offbeat high hat on killer opener Leave The Lights On, the 180 genre switching on Baltimore and Tell Me, the grungy emotional lyrics on Closer and the sublime guitar work on album closer Again. I can’t summarize it any better than the band do themselves:
“Quit while you’re ahead? How can I when I got winning combinations in my head?”
Is it perfect? No. While a majority of the album grows with every listen the playful Willow Tree can verge on irritable and the tender duet attempt Screaming in the Rain falls unfortunately flat. But I’m not sure it matters much. When a band is this creative, this risk forward, it will have downsides. That’s the nature of things but Sorry nail these tracks more often than not and that’s what will keep you coming back to this album. The bands ambitious effort truly makes it great.
Sorry distinguish themselves with a desire to explore and experiment. Never content with sounding like a previous version of themselves. Anywhere But Here is a shining example of just how much great modern music is being made. You just have to be willing to give the uncomfortable a chance.
Overall Rating: 8.4/10
Favourite Song: Again
REID
Mixing it up with a new approach this week. Click this link to listen as you read my review, or play below:
TSR concludes our second full year in business with review ninety-one. I’ll never NOT be amazed by that number. After several weeks of mainstream artists or those known by at least one of us, Lundi’s continuing quest for new music leads us to a band named Sorry. What part of Canada are they from, you may ask? Just kidding, the quintet is from North London, England. Anywhere but Here is just their second studio album. Hopefully we have another hit before the holidays!
Google defines Alternative as a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970’s and became widely popular in the 1990’s. It refers to the genre’s distinction from commercial rock or pop music. It’s a tricky genre to classify. It’s not punk. It’s not indie or funk. It’s not grunge. It’s not exactly rock. The beauty of it is you’re often left with an unorthodox style, without a script or boundaries. That’s exactly what Sorry offers on this album. It should come as no surprise as it was recorded with Adrian Utley from Portishead, a pioneer of electronic music from the 1990’s.
Individually the band boasts great talent. The intricacies and level of detail to the composition bring them to a whole other level. Almost every song has a distinguishable feature to elevate the final product. The piano in Let The Lights On, trumpet in Willow Tree, distorted guitar and strings in There’s So Many People That Want to be Loved and guitar-led outro in Baltimore are a few examples. While Asha’s vocals are the focal point, it’s also used as an accessory in Key to the City with very well placed ouu’s. She really shines on that track.
If you clicked the link at the beginning and are listening to Tell Me, you’re welcome! The vocal duet and instrumental transitions throughout are fantastic. It’s a perfect sample size for you to chew on and my favourite of the bunch.
Before I wrap this up, I must mention I get major 90’s grunge vibes from the album and I’m absolutely here for it.
Anywhere but Here may take a few listens to click but it’s well worth your time. Sorry’s variety of tasteful musical arrangements is a unique treat that’ll keep the album in my rotation and the band on my radar.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Tell Me
ROZ
One of the many purposes of Too Sweet Reviews as a platform since its inception in 2020 is the act of finding, and sharing with the world, new music. Whether that meant music that was new to only one member of our trio or all of us, there was simply no better feeling than unanimously agreeing that the music we were listening to at that time was something special. First it was Jungle’s sleeping giant Loving In Stereo, then it was Turnstiles breakout album GLOWN ON. If you, the reader, take it upon yourself to take a look at our thoughts on both of these albums, you’d see the unanimous praise and sense of enjoyment that we all shared. North London’s Sorry, a band very unknown to us once again, has a new album out and our sights are set. This is Anywhere But Here.
While touring as a five person ensemble, Sorry is very much the love child of the two founders and songwriters of the bunch Asha Lorenz and Louis O’Bryen. The first noticeable detail after passing through Anywhere But Here is that their chemistry is undeniable; track after track the duo takes turns pouring their hearts out, as they tread the line between melancholy and happiness and reflect on the failings of relationships - both in good spirits and bad. This reviewer hasn’t felt this connected to songwriting since TSR did a deep dive into Lacy Dacus’ 2021 Home Video, and that is high praise.
Every texture brings something new to the table; off-kilter playing styles and arrangements are implemented by the band to maximum effect. This is not only attributed to Sorry’s penchant for their own unique take on the many genres that they put under their umbrella, but also due to the fact that electronica pioneer Adrian Utley of Portishead fame helped produce the record - another band that is no stranger to creating hybrid styles of rock, hip hop and more. Speaking of genres, other than the downtempo nature of Anywhere But Here it really becomes quite difficult to put your finger on just one. More of an arbitrary exercise anyway - a cohesive album not bound by genre limitations always makes for, if anything, an interesting listen.
The buttery smoothness of Tell Me. The melancholic and ethereal nature of Key To The City. The infectious energy of Step. If this review has piqued your interest in any way, do yourself a favour and give Anywhere But Here your undivided attention. Every now and then the TSR gang takes a chance on a band outside of the mainstream and unearths a hidden gem. Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, Sorry’s Anywhere But Here offers a fresh sound that pays no heed to genres - so sit back, strap in and enjoy the journey.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Tell Me