Self-released, 2005
The latest release from Stars of Track and Field, You came here for sunset last year, is a five track EP that sounds as musically mature as one could imagine; composed of outstanding musical talent and intuition, this Portland three-piece seems to hold their art in high regard. With jangly guitars and smooth, flowing keyboard lines, Stars of Track and Field demonstrate the utmost regard for their unique brand of melodic pop music. They are assisted by highly esteemed producers Tony Lash and Jeff Saltzman in the effort -- much to their benefit.
It is interesting to note the apparent influence of the group's surroundings on their songwriting. For better or worse, You came here for sunset last year does not sound like it was written on a bright, clear day; you will likely not feel like bluebirds are singing happy tunes as puffy white clouds roll by when listening to this EP. Rather, tracks like "Let Ken Green" and "Say Hello" feel fog-laden and overcast, and, without a doubt, heavily atmospheric.
You came here for sunset last year is easily one of the most entrancing releases of 2005; its only major, outstanding flaw is its short length -- expectable for an EP, of course, it's just that Stars of Track and Field leave a lot of questions unanswered that would likely have been more explored in the setting of a full album release. In all, though, this is an outstanding release, and for only five tracks, its impact is immense.