Singularity, a title with a double entendre, is in fact a double disc album that has a CD and a DVD. Both the CD and DVD offer some real gems that will have the listener or viewer returning for more. Kicking off the CD is 2012, a reference to the year the Mayans predicted the world would end. Co-incidentally it is also the year when the sunspot cycle will next peak. The song talks about the world already ending and how we helped it along through such lyrics as “We're picking up the pieces, of the Baby Boom chaos, who navel-gazed in a purple haze.” Other references to destruction can also be found on the album through one of the most powerful songs, Tunguska. It is in fact one of the heaviest songs on the album with a truly resonating refrain. Although the title references a place in Siberia where an asteroid crashed destroying pretty much everything nearby, the lyrics refer to little tragedies. In that sense it is, as lead singer Mike Huberty noted, similar to Tori Amos’s Little Earthquakes. Tunguska is actually the perfect song to play when needing to be pumped up. Despite these two examples, not all of the songs are somber or serious. More Than My Degree is a perfectly sarcastic song that echoes Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher and The Police’s Don’t Stand So Close To Me even finishing with “Please stand so, please stand so, please stand so close to me”. The humor can also be seen with the line “Office hours is just clever slang for making out”. This song is also notable for being able to squeeze Bernouli’s equation and isosceles into the lyrics - “when you say isosceles it sounds so dirty”. Uncommon words and educated lyrics are actually found throughout Singularity. Much like reading an advanced book, it is helpful to have a dictionary or at least the Wikipeida on hand when listnening to it. Otherwise, it is difficult to even understand many of the titles to the tracks, such as Hypnogogic, let alone the lyrics themselves. Yet that is the angle for which Sunspot aims. One of their mottos is even “arena rock for geeks”. Musically, the band’s talent shines forth on the new album. Sunspot are at their best when they work their winning formula of power chords, smart lyrics, a mellow and sassy bridge followed by an intense solo from guitarist Ben Jaeger before crescendoing into a cathartic finale. Most of the songs on the album offer exactly that. Furthermore, Singularity shines more on drummer Wendy Lynn Staats. On previous albums, Staats has been content to let her immense talent talent speak for itself as the drums unassumingly carry Sunspot’s songs into to their next level. This contrasts with her energy during a live performance in which she plays her instrument in a technical yet erotic manner as she twirls her drumsticks. Certianly many teenage fans have swooned as she twirls her drumsticks. Singularity represents a slight change from previous albums, though. Her melodic background voice, which at times is as sensual as her live drum playing, shines through on such songs as the accoustic Square Root of All Evil. The DVD included in Singularity is full of videos of the songs on the CD that the band created sometimes even using a homemade blue screen. Highighting the DVD, even more so than Sweet Relief, is the video for Grand Guignol. Much like the over the top French puppet shows for which the song is named, the video is also over the top. Dressed in a full dress complete with high heels, the main character (Staats) pursues her former lover (Jaeger) as Jaeger hides in silly places that always seems to succeed in keeping him hidden. Music fans looking for a power charged tour de force will find many winners on this new offerring from Sunspot. Fans looking for a cerebral exercise will also find pleasure in the album and that is most likely the goal of the band - to charge up their listeners through both powerful songs and intelligent lyrics.

Singularity, a title with a double entendre, is in fact a double disc album that has a CD and a DVD. Both the CD and DVD offer some real gems that will have the listener or viewer returning for more. Kicking off the CD is 2012, a reference to the year the Mayans predicted the world would end. Co-incidentally it is also the year when the sunspot cycle will next peak. The song talks about the world already ending and how we helped it along through such lyrics as “We're picking up the pieces, of the Baby Boom chaos, who navel-gazed in a purple haze.” Other references to destruction can also be found on the album through one of the most powerful songs, Tunguska. It is in fact one of the heaviest songs on the album with a truly resonating refrain. Although the title references a place in Siberia where an asteroid crashed destroying pretty much everything nearby, the lyrics refer to little tragedies. In that sense it is, as lead singer Mike Huberty noted, similar to Tori Amos’s Little Earthquakes. Tunguska is actually the perfect song to play when needing to be pumped up. Despite these two examples, not all of the songs are somber or serious. More Than My Degree is a perfectly sarcastic song that echoes Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher and The Police’s Don’t Stand So Close To Me even finishing with “Please stand so, please stand so, please stand so close to me”. The humor can also be seen with the line “Office hours is just clever slang for making out”. This song is also notable for being able to squeeze Bernouli’s equation and isosceles into the lyrics - “when you say isosceles it sounds so dirty”. Uncommon words and educated lyrics are actually found throughout Singularity. Much like reading an advanced book, it is helpful to have a dictionary or at least the Wikipeida on hand when listnening to it. Otherwise, it is difficult to even understand many of the titles to the tracks, such as Hypnogogic, let alone the lyrics themselves. Yet that is the angle for which Sunspot aims. One of their mottos is even “arena rock for geeks”. Musically, the band’s talent shines forth on the new album. Sunspot are at their best when they work their winning formula of power chords, smart lyrics, a mellow and sassy bridge followed by an intense solo from guitarist Ben Jaeger before crescendoing into a cathartic finale. Most of the songs on the album offer exactly that. Furthermore, Singularity shines more on drummer Wendy Lynn Staats. On previous albums, Staats has been content to let her immense talent talent speak for itself as the drums unassumingly carry Sunspot’s songs into to their next level. This contrasts with her energy during a live performance in which she plays her instrument in a technical yet erotic manner as she twirls her drumsticks. Certianly many teenage fans have swooned as she twirls her drumsticks. Singularity represents a slight change from previous albums, though. Her melodic background voice, which at times is as sensual as her live drum playing, shines through on such songs as the accoustic Square Root of All Evil. The DVD included in Singularity is full of videos of the songs on the CD that the band created sometimes even using a homemade blue screen. Highighting the DVD, even more so than the award winning Sweet Relief, is the video for Grand Guignol. Much like the over the top French puppet shows for which the song is named, the video is also over the top. Dressed in a full dress complete with high heels, the main character (Staats) pursues her former lover (Jaeger) as Jaeger hides in silly places that always seems to succeed in keeping him hidden. Music fans looking for a power charged tour de force will find many winners on this new offerring from Sunspot. Fans looking for a cerebral exercise will also find pleasure in the album and that is most likely the goal of the band - to charge up their listeners through both powerful songs and intelligent lyrics.

This is an awesome CD. The lyrics range from deep to hysterically funny. Mike, the bass player/lead vocals, astounded me with his ability to sing quick and interesting melody while playing very difficult bass lines. Ben, the guitarist, does a wonderful job at making each song unique. And, Wendy adds a great backbone on the drums. She's a very solid drummer. I wish there were more women in percussion. Actually, I wish there were more mixed-sex bands. The included DVD is full of music videos that must have taken forever to put together. They're a very fun, energetic band. I've become an instant fan.

One of the hottest independent bands on the circuit today is a Madison area trio called Sunspot. They have played in music fests throughout the midwest including a stop at the famed one in Austin. Additionally, they have racked up multiple awards and nominations including a recent prestigious win for their video of Sweet Relief, a song featured on their new album Singularity. Singularity, a title with a double entendre, is in fact a double disc album that has a CD and a DVD. Both the CD and DVD offer some real gems that will have the listener or viewer returning for more. Kicking off the CD is 2012, a reference to the year the Mayans predicted the world would end. Co-incidentally it is also the year when the sunspot cycle will next peak. The song talks about the world already ending and how we helped it along through such lyrics as “We're picking up the pieces, of the Baby Boom chaos, who navel-gazed in a purple haze.” Other references to destruction can also be found on the album through one of the most powerful songs, Tunguska. It is in fact one of the heaviest songs on the album with a truly resonating refrain. Although the title references a place in Siberia where an asteroid crashed destroying pretty much everything nearby, the lyrics refer to little tragedies. In that sense it is, as lead singer Mike Huberty noted, similar to Tori Amos’s Little Earthquakes. Tunguska is actually the perfect song to play when needing to be pumped up. Despite these two examples, not all of the songs are somber or serious. More Than My Degree is a perfectly sarcastic song that echoes Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher and The Police’s Don’t Stand So Close To Me even finishing with “Please stand so, please stand so, please stand so close to me”. The humor can also be seen with the line “Office hours is just clever slang for making out”. This song is also notable for being able to squeeze Bernouli’s equation and isosceles into the lyrics - “when you say isosceles it sounds so dirty”. Uncommon words and educated lyrics are actually found throughout Singularity. Much like reading an advanced book, it is helpful to have a dictionary or at least the Wikipeida on hand when listnening to it. Otherwise, it is difficult to even understand many of the titles to the tracks, such as Hypnogogic, let alone the lyrics themselves. Yet that is the angle for which Sunspot aims. One of their mottos is even “arena rock for geeks”. Musically, the band’s talent shines forth on the new album. Sunspot are at their best when they work their winning formula of power chords, smart lyrics, a mellow and sassy bridge followed by an intense solo from guitarist Ben Jaeger before crescendoing into a cathartic finale. Most of the songs on the album offer exactly that. Furthermore, Singularity shines more on drummer Wendy Lynn Staats. On previous albums, Staats has been content to let her immense talent talent speak for itself as the drums unassumingly carry Sunspot’s songs into to their next level. This contrasts with her energy during a live performance in which she plays her instrument in a technical yet erotic manner as she twirls her drumsticks. Certianly many teenage fans have swooned as she twirls her drumsticks. Singularity represents a slight change from previous albums, though. Her melodic background voice, which at times is as sensual as her live drum playing, shines through on such songs as the accoustic Square Root of All Evil. The DVD included in Singularity is full of videos of the songs on the CD that the band created sometimes even using a homemade blue screen. Highighting the DVD, even more so than Sweet Relief, is the video for Grand Guignol. Much like the over the top French puppet shows for which the song is named, the video is also over the top. Dressed in a full dress complete with high heels, the main character (Staats) pursues her former lover (Jaeger) as Jaeger hides in silly places that always seems to succeed in keeping him hidden. Music fans looking for a power charged tour de force will find many winners on this new offerring from Sunspot. Fans looking for a cerebral exercise will also find pleasure in the album and that is most likely the goal of the band - to charge up their listeners through both powerful songs and intelligent lyrics.