Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, solo artist, author, speaker, drummer, and one of the principal songwriters of double GRAMMY winners Hootie & the Blowfish, releases Snowman Melting: 15th Anniversary Deluxe via Vere Music, the expanded edition of his 2008 solo debut album, Snowman Melting.
The Deluxe album follows on the heels of “Sitting in the Green Grass,” the heartfelt duet with Darius Rucker, and the just-released single/music video, “No Reason,” featuring Edwin McCain, another longtime friend, musical compatriot, and former Atlantic labelmate.
Talking about the album, Soni shares, “‘Snowman Melting’ comes out of a time in my life when I was trying to figure out who I was. A period where a guy who was old enough to know better was still learning life lessons. My life was changing so rapidly – separation, divorce, the band’s last tour, and indefinite dormancy for Hootie and the Blowfish. And then a remarriage and a quickly enlarged family. The songs paint a clear picture of what my life looked like in 2006-2008. I can always look back and clearly see the pain, the joy, the transition.”
He goes on, “I continued to love the record through the years, even though it had slipped into dormancy, and possibly eternity. I recently realized, oh, my goodness, this is actually the 15th anniversary for the creation of ‘Snowman Melting.’ The idea is to celebrate something that had gone missing and never really saw proper daylight to begin with.”
Vere Music founder and former manager of Hootie and the Blowfish, Rusty Harmon says, “What an honor to work with Jim again. His heartfelt lyrics come shining through on this collection of songs.”
Encompassing 15 tracks, the Deluxe album begins with “Wine List,” an alt-rock tune tinted with aromas of pop. A funk-lite rhythm gives the tune a contagious cadence as Soni’s clear tenor imbues the lyrics with evocative timbres, juxtaposed against glowing vocal harmonies and braying brass.
Entry points include “Until I See You,” riding a light rumbling rhythm topped by smooth, sparkling harmonics and laid-back vocals backed by sweetly radiant harmonies.
The creamy, undulating flow of “Tears Fall Down” delivers gentle layers of sound, topped by Soni’s tender voice. Drenched in warm tones of country-lite, “Sitting In The Green Grass” shimmers with delicious chiming notes and scrumptious brass accents.
For some reason, “Virginia” conjures up suggestions of Jimmy Buffet, with its gliding motion and tinctures of tropical savors.
A personal favorite and arguably one of the best tracks on the album, “No Reason,” featuring Edwin McCain, reveals a gorgeous melody, dripping with infectious harmonic textures.
Speaking about “No Reason,” Soni says, “Edwin was like a little brother to our Hootie family in the early ‘90s, I just knew the energy Edwin could bring to a track like ‘No Reason.’ He’s got a fire still and I wanted ‘No Reason’ to be alive. It’s a desperate call, a plea to the universe to say there should be plenty for everybody. There should be love, attainable and reachable for everybody.”
Snowman Melting: 15th Anniversary Deluxe is a beautifully constructed album that displays the immense talent of Jim ‘Soni’ Sonefeld.
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