It is would be a feat to describe Stratospheerius’ sound. Nevertheless, an attempt will be made. With the bounce and spirit of Phish, the quirkiness of the Flaming Lips, and the bass lines of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stratospheerius is a mix of a many great sounds. They are undeniably funky, and their fiddle is perhaps the funkiest of all. One must hear this fiddle to believe it, as it dips in and out of the funkiest grooves known to man. The vocals are also strong throughout the album, as the lead singer’s voice often sounds like a sweeter version of Trey Anastasio and Eric Clapton. Their vocal chops are in top form on the undeniably sweet harmonies of "Sold Out." Although “Sold Out,” like many of the other songs, sounds like 4 or 5 songs in one, it is still very well done.

“Driven to Tears” is a bit more mellow, and Deninzon’s lead vocals are stripped down and his falsetto is a good territory to be in. “Yulia” displays great use of strings, and the fiddle is especially in top form. “Long Rd.” has the perfect does of hippie mentality, telling of “Elevating oneself” and referring to the journey that is life. It is a soulful song, both in the way it is played and the way it is sung. It is also has a nice chord progression throughout the song, and it has a fun bounce about it. On their final song, “Heavy Shtettle Part II: Heavier Shttetle,” Stratospheerius brings a middle-eastern sentiment, in which the fiddle plays the part of bringing this new flavor to the table. The song doesn’t let up, and although it is unclear what its title means, it brings in new and interesting material. Every song on this album offers something very different, and the energy of Stratopheerius seems to have been stored up in mass quantities, ready to be used whenever. It is an interesting album all around, and their ability to bring so many different sounds forward is incredible.

-Alexis Smith