Sorta - Strange and Sad But True

Sorta. It is an explanation given again and again, but the name says it all. The music isn't alt-country, roots rock or pop. It's sorta all of those things. With songs about love, birth, loss, loneliness and murder, Sorta encompasses everything under the sun. With a brand new album and a brand new member, Sorta is reaching a new level of sound and song writing rarely seen in todays music environment. What singer/guitarist Trey Johnson and bassist Danny Balis started as a two man band has evolved into a six-piece sonic boom of musical magic. Drummer Trey Carmichael and the three-pronged multi-instrumentalist attack of Carter Albrecht, Ward Williams and Chris Holt add so much to the vision Johnson and Balis shared six years ago. The reason the band was created was to write good songs and play the music they wanted to play, but what Johnson, Balis, Albrecht, Williams and Carmichael produced was a one of kind band. During the six years of Sorta, numerous people have taken note of the band and the eclectic sound they continue to generate. In 2004, Sorta released Sweet Little Bay to a wildfire of fanfare and critical success. The album was lauded for it's original direction in several music publications and was named the ..3 album of 2004 by KERA, landing the band a spot just behind Texas legends Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. Of course, what KERA was treated to in 2004, true fans of Sorta had witnessed for years. The band, and some of the individual members, have been nominated an amazing times for the Dallas Observer Music Awards. The most recent nomination lead to Sorta being named Best Act Overall for 2006 at the ceremony in May. In addition to the Sorta accolades, three members of the band have been recognized for their individual talents. Albrecht and Johnson were honored at the 2003 Observer music awards, winning Best Musician in Dallas and Male Singer of the Year, respectively. Holt brings an equally impressive resume to the table, having just won Best Instrumentalist for 2006 all while earning his second consecutive Musician of the Year award. Much like the songs they write, Sorta proves time and time again that they are no one-trick pony. Whether their music is pumping through amps at a theater or unplugged in an intimate setting, the hypnotic melodies always sound perfect and everything works just right. Sorta is the true definition of a band; six members who create a symphony of sound that is at the same time intricate and accessible. Make no mistake, Sorta brings the same versatility and tight-knit sound to their albums. From their first EP Plays for Lovers, to their upcoming release Strange and Sad but True, the band continues to display their diversity. Whether picking up the pace or slowing the tempo, Sorta always produces a consistently beautiful sound. With the release of Strange and Sad but True, Sorta proves that once again they are a band that no one can label, but everybody can love. Blake Reedy, August 2006.

1) Buttercup
2) Water Music
3) Tell Me a Story
4) 85 Feet
5) Mama
6) Lazybones
7) Goodnight
8) Nothing Left to Say
9) Party's Over
10) Pink and Baby Blue
11) Closer
12) Peace and Quiet