Review / 200 Words Or Less
Small Sails
Similar Anniversaries

Other Electricites (2007) Shane

Small Sails – Similar Anniversaries cover artwork
Small Sails – Similar Anniversaries — Other Electricites, 2007

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Small Sails are here to put you in a seriously great mood. Formerly known as Adelaide, this once cinematic instrumental band decided to add some vocals as an instrument and completely leave words out of the equation. "Ooohs" and "Ahhhhs" litter the album as the band traverses through ten tracks and sees them play everything from Rhodes Piano to vibraphone with very tasteful electronics backing it all. While there are some mellow moments on the album the band is at it's best when it's emitting positive vibes from all directions such as on the synth fronted "Aftershocks and Afterthoughts" or the precise sound of "Corners" which brings out the fondest memories of being a child. For fans of Sonna, the Roots of Orchis, or if you ever wanted to know what The Album Leaf would sound like if Jimmy Lavalle went his whole life without ever being heartbroken.

8.4 / 10Shane • July 8, 2007

Small Sails – Similar Anniversaries cover artwork
Small Sails – Similar Anniversaries — Other Electricites, 2007

Recently-posted album reviews

The Dwarves

Jenkem
Greedy, MVD (2026)

The Dwarves first cut me off on my path with their 1986 garage-rock debut, Horror Stories, on Voxx Records. Been a fan since. Over the forty years they've been around, some albums hit, some didn't connect as much. Their last main outing, Concept Album, bloated into a 26-song deluxe CD. Jenkem returns to familiar territory: 14 tracks screaming by in … Read more

David J

Tracks From the Attic Revisited
Independent Project Records (2026)

Sometimes musical circles take decades to close. Just ask Fleur De Lys and their catchy cover of The Who’s '60s freakbeat rarity, "Circles." For those of us digging through dusty crates at the margins of post-punk, a first introduction to mid-century mystic Eden Ahbez didn't come from a Nat King Cole hit. It came straight from the liner notes of … Read more

Physicalist

Self Titled
Dirt Cult (2026)

F.Y.P is one of the rare bands that I'd say nobody sounds like -- but in the past two months I've caught myself making that comparison twice. First while listening to the new Dumpies LP (spoiler alert: they cover F.Y.P on that same record) and now as I listen to the Physicalist debut EP. The interesting thing here isn't the … Read more