Whatfor – Sooner Late Than Never

Whatfor mastermind Michael Sienkowski loves the Beatles. It’s all over the songs on his latest album Sooner Late Than Never. From the opening chords to the last vocal harmony, the album had a classic rock feel that never relents. There’s nothing you haven’t heard here, but Sienkowski is a more than capable songwriter.

There are two styles that dominate here. The title track offers up a “Paperback Writer” type guitar lead with production filtered through much the same grainy nostalgia that made the Strokes famous, so the song must be heard through an un-jaded ear, which is difficult to find these days. A good half of the album has this feel, while many of the other track are of the mid-tempo acoustic variety. “I Want A Girl” is probably the most notable example, which is characterized by tongue-in-cheek lyrics describing the girl of Sienkowski’s dreams; preferably one who has low self-esteem.

Essentially, your enjoyment of this album depends on how much you like this style of music. Groundbreaking it isn’t, but it’s a fine listen for anyone who enjoys the rock of the 60s.