Sundowner: We Chase The Waves

For the uninitiated, Sundowner is the name under which one Chris McCaughan of Chicago, IL plies his solo material. Though McCaughan is more widely known as the six-string slinger from the belovedly besotted Windy City punk trio the Lawrence Arms, Sundowner tends to be a more reserved and introspective affair. Largely acoustic, these 10 songs are darker than you’d figure, but still catchy as all get-out. Three years after his debut Sundowner release, Four Five One Two, McCaughan returns with We Chase the Waves courtesy of long-time crony Mike Park and his Asian Man Records. As is the norm, Los Angeles bandmate (and well-regarded engineer about town) Neil Hennesey plays a large role in the proceedings, manning the boards and stepping into the bass slot when necessary. Despite being recorded in their respective living rooms, We Chase the Waves has a lush, layered vibe, with doubled vocals and rich reverb-dappled tones that breed a more intimate experience than the post-Jawbreaker rock of their main gig. It’s equally apropos for quiet nights and hungover mornings.