The Album
9 April 2020- Nashville native, Briston Maroney, just released his debut album called, Sunflower. Since his EP release in 2019 titled, Indiana, this album has been long awaited. Sunflower consists of ten tracks produced by John Congleton and recorded via Atlantic Records. His four singles, “Deep Sea Diver”, “Freeway”, “It’s Still Cool If You Don’t”, and “Sinkin'” had been a promising preview on what was to come from his debut album.
The album opens with the earnest, “Sinkin'”—the last single Maroney released as the preview for the album. Heavy on guitar and unique vocals, this song sets the tone for the album’s noteworthy depth as it speaks on “emotional violence” and getting the hell out of a bad situation.
Next is, “Bottle Rocket”—a completely fresh sound from Maroney. Featuring a tasteful delay, he creates space for a rich bass unlike we’ve ever experienced from the artist. This song is all about taking your time and putting your life into your own hands, bellowing the emotions you experience while coming to accept yourself for who you are. With genuine expression and relatable lyrics, Maroney guides us through the ups and downs of this track.
Next up is, “It’s Still Cool If You Don’t”, Maroney stated that this song is about “awkward teenage crushes” and finally getting the courage to confess your feelings. Reminiscent of the jitters and sweaty palms that come with high school crushes, this song will transport you to a time you tried to forget. The next song, “Freeway”, is a confession about being caught up in being in love with someone and wanting to shout it from rooftops. This track features fun riffs and Maroney’s soft vocals, giving this this one a sense of nostalgia.
The album transitions into the first single released in August of 2020, “Deep Sea Diver”. This song is nothing short of wonderful—with passion from the guitar and Maroney’s soulful vocals, it tugs at your heart strings. It then dives into, “Why”, a familiar vibe from Maroney’s previous work. The build from the first verse to the chorus is flawless and affective. The song is about wanting to be someone else in order to fix a situation; an all too familiar feeling.
“Rollercoaster” is next, and it starts with a heavy guitar and fades into the first verse. Maroney takes you on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the song. Much like, “Bottle Rocket”, This song is much different than his previous releases, and it is a very exciting change of pace. Next is the sweet and simple, “Cinnamon”, which is all about missing the simple parts of a relationship, like singing songs in the car together. In the chorus he lists off some sing-along tracks that everyone has belted in their car at some point, making the song a tender love ballad.
The pace picks back up with the second to last track, “The Kids”, a feel good song. This song feels like a June night in the car with your friends; the sun is setting and this song is blasting. The lyrics and music are beautifully written and blended. The chorus is mantra worthy: “All for one and one for all. Together we rise and together we fall. Because other than loving, there’s nothing that matters at all”.
Sunflower closes with the quiet and innocent, “Say My Name”. We’re taken back to his 2017 EP, Big Shot, with a similar but more mature tone. The simplicity of Maroney’s fervent vocals and soft guitar strums make this track exactly what he’s aiming for: beauty. Maroney never fails to paint you a big picture in such a short amount of time. This track is the definition of longing and trying to grasp onto fading memories, but also coming to grips with reality.
Overall, Sunflower is Maroney’s best work yet. It captures heartfelt emotions from parts of your life you thought you had forgotten about (or tried to at least). This is an album that can stand by itself and be listened to from start to finish without getting bored. With this album, Briston Maroney, manages to embody summer time and asks you to take a stab at beauty. He encourages you to embrace not only the sweet but also the bittersweet travelogues of life.
The Film
Sunflower: The Visual Film
Along with Sunflower the album, Maroney released a 42 minute film titled, Sunflower: The Visual film. The film was envisioned by Maroney himself, and directed by his long time friend and visual collaborator, Joey Brodnax. The film is a moving portrayal of beauty and the components of how one views it.
Throughout the film we are reminded that “there are five ever present sources of beauty that we see everyday (landscapes, human enchantment, skilled displays, art, and the ineffable spirit) that allow us to come to know beauty”. For the last five songs we’re introduced to the inverses (meaninglessness, trash, hidden internalizations, failed alchemy, and digital spaces) that allow us to perceive beauty.
Each song off of Sunflower is represented by the resources and their inverses. Giving the songs from the album personality, the film is a visual representation of Maroney’s complex thoughts on beauty. Visually, this film is bright and full of aesthetically pleasing landscapes. The cinematography combined with the score, Sunflower, offers a safe space for the viewer to ponder their own concept of beauty.
Overall, this film illustrates a beautiful visual of life’s “ever present sources of beauty”, and encourages us to take our own “stab” at beauty. It is a delightful depiction of how people can differentiate when recognizing beauty throughout their everyday life, and it also allows them to see it through Maroney’s eyes.
Final Thoughts
Both the album and film are conceptual and breathtaking. Maroney has outdone himself—Sunflower accomplishes an incredible altitude of success when it comes to finding his sound and creating an album that is both emotionally-rich and transcendent.
You can listen to Sunflower, and Maroney’s previous releases on all streaming platforms. You can find him on all social media platforms to stay up to date on future releases.
Hypnotic Bolt 