In the Sun

Bos Taurus has grown up, and it shows. Now featuring an excellent lineup of local Delaware talent, the band melds Steve Chesser's indie pop sensibilities into a great set of 12 various and varied tracks. As always, the lyrics continue to deal with the loss, disappointment and regret that life has offered up so far. But laid against a set of very strong (and of course anatomically correct) indie pop/rock melodies, this record is no downer - it rocks, pops and nearly knocks your socks off at the finish. The new band members have contributed tremendously to the sound and feel of the band: Shawn O'Neill's (the Knobs) guitar work is reminiscent of that long-lost early-70s rock hero you can hear in your head but can't quite place. Sam Musumeci's (the Caulfield's, Mercy River, the Knobs) bass playing is both solid and musical at the same time; his tasteful keyboard work adds another welcomed dimension to the sound as well. Phil Young (the Cocks, the Knobs, the Rubber Uglies, etc.) adds to his unending list of album project credits here by providing a great counterpoint vocal to Chesser's every-dude tenor as well as providing additional guitar work along with that certain 'je ne sais quoi' that no album project should be without. Top all of that off with some well-placed horns and female vocals, and what do you get? Bos Taurus, In the Sun. That's what.