Sonia Dada
Day at the Beach (1995)

review by: Glenn Pfeifer
Date: 2/17/01

I first heard this CD at a party several years ago and what immediately struck me was that during every song I would listen up and think to myself "this can't be the same band as the last song." The stylings of each tune on this CD are extremely unique and original. This band has the range and power to move from funky, jazzy "Steely Dan meets Little Feat" to heavy spiritual tones mixed with sublime arrangements. You can tell from the first listen that this band is driven by an immense number of influences and all of them come through in their music.

After the party, I proceeded to buy this disc immediately and it didn't leave my disc changer for nearly 9 months. Anyone I would meet, anyone who had a conversation with me during that time, got to hear my pitch for Sonia Dada as the best band you never heard of.

When I go back and listen to the CD now, I can't even really remember what affected me so deeply at the time. The disc is still wonderful, don't get me wrong. I just can't place my finger on the hold it took on me. It may be the spiritual undertones that run through nearly all the songs (the intro to "lay my body down" at their live show nearly brought me to my first concert epiphany). By the end of the lengthy disc, you can relate to guitarist Dan Pritzker's feelings on many spiritual issues and whether you agree with them or not, they are compelling and powerful.

So when you've tired of crunchy guitars, bass lines from a single string, or exhaustive lyrics laden with ineffective profanity, turn to Sonia Dada. Their most recent live album is a fuller representation of their entire catalog, but "A Day At The Beach" is their finest work to date. Now only if smart spiritual music was actually played on the radio...this band may then find its deserving commercial success. gpfife