Albums often get reassessed as time passes. Historical circumstances that shaped an album's reception at its release can fade, allowing listeners to hear the music with fresh ears. This is usually prompted by enduring sales or a reissue—but in the case of The Sun’s 2005 album Blame It On The Youth, neither of those factors is at play. Yet, there’s no question that it’s an album deserving of a second look. Initially overshadowed by its novelty as the "first DVD album," it’s clear now, in the post-CD era, that Blame It On The Youth was not only ahead of its time but also a more impressive collection of songs than it was credited for.
Warner Reprise Video - 38643-2
2005
The Sun’s signing to Warner Bros. Records is one of the more unconventional major label deals in Columbus music history. In 2000, Chris Burney dropped out of Ohio State University to play bass for Columbus singer/songwriter Tim Easton. When Easton moved to Los Angeles, Burney followed, making key connections along the way. After collaborating with Wilco’s Jay Bennett on Easton’s The Truth About Us (2001), Burney recorded a demo with Bennett and LeRoy Bach in Chicago, but his attempts to pitch it to indie labels led nowhere. It was manager Brian Klein who saw potential, believing Burney's demo could attract major label interest. With Klein’s help, Burney set up a showcase with Warner Bros., quickly assembling a band that included drummer Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks, Gaunt) and members of the Flotation Walls.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Brown told Trib Live during a 2003 tour with The Flaming Lips. “But I’m not easily impressed. I knew Chris had something.”
After rehearsing for just three hours, The Sun played their showcase. Perry Watts-Russell, who had only been at Warner Bros. for three weeks, was impressed enough to make The Sun his first signing. He took an old-school approach, allowing the band time to develop their sound before recording their debut album.
“I felt like major labels should engage in the process of artist development,” Watts-Russell said in a 2003 Hartford Courant article. “They don’t have to explode onto the scene and go platinum on their first release.” Warner Bros. started The Sun with a few EPs, giving the band breathing room.
Though Burney wanted to base the band back in Columbus, the local scene wasn’t immediately welcoming. The Warner Bros. deal and their Wilco connection brought credibility nationally, but The Sun didn’t get much love in their hometown. Old friend Tim Easton noted this.
“(In Columbus), you have the punk-rock mafia making fun of a guy because you leave town,” Easton told The Columbus Dispatch. “I make an effort to be in the middle of different scenes in this town, and I wish they had a little more support for each other," continued Easton. "That's what Chris is trying to do. He brought it back for a reason. He didn't bring it back to slap people in the face. . . . It's a really brave and smart thing that he did."
Three years into their Warner Bros. contract, as the music industry was grappling with the aftermath of Napster and the rise of iPods, The Sun still hadn’t released a full-length album. No one, including the band, knew if albums even mattered anymore. But in mid-2004, they began recording the tracks that would become Blame It On The Youth.
The Sun’s creativity impressed Warner Bros., especially in their DIY approach to music videos. “For the second EP, we didn’t give them any money, and they came back with two videos,” Watts-Russell told The Dispatch. “So we gave them a challenge, really: 'If we give you $50,000, can you guys go away and make videos for all 14 songs on the album?’”
Producers Ben Hillier (Blur) and John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney) brought their expertise to the sessions, with recording taking place across various studios, including Workbook Studio in Columbus. Stylistically diverse, Blame It On The Youth showcases Burney’s songwriting. However, a standout track is their take on “Lose Your Money,” a Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee reworking from the Blind Joe Reynolds song “Outside Woman Blues,” made famous by Cream. The Sun's spare acoustic arrangement and cavernous bass drum bring a unique haunting feel to the old blues tune.
Despite its musical range, the album’s release as the "first DVD album" left critics and consumers confused, with some dismissing it as a gimmick. While the videos accompanying each track were individually impressive, there was little cohesion tying them together—a creative choice that didn’t necessarily work for an audience expecting a traditional album experience. Still, it was an attempt to offer something more tangible in an era when physical formats were becoming obsolete.
Although no singles were officially released, the opening track “Must Be You” appeared on several compilations, including one distributed at Coachella 2005. Its infectious riff and catchy chorus showcased the band’s potential, with Sam Brown’s drumming standing out. Another striking track, "Justice,” had appeared on the Did Your Mother Tell You? EP and found its way onto samplers, leaving its earworm-worthy chorus in listeners' heads.
Visually, the “2B4” video offers a horror-movie feel with recognizable Columbus locations, making it an interesting watch for local fans. In many ways, Blame It On The Youth seems tailor-made for the streaming era, though it arrived just before platforms like YouTube took off.
Though I never got to see The Sun live, I did catch Chris Burney at a Music In The Round event alongside Matt Monta and Rj Cowdery. In such a stripped-down setting, there’s nowhere to hide, and Burney’s songs held up—an impressive testament to his talent.
Surprisingly, The Sun chose to part ways with Warner Bros. before recording their second and final album, which was produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon). “I was a big fan of their first record,” McCarthy told Indie Rock Cafe. “I was surprised Blame It On The Youth didn’t become a huge deal.”
Tracklist
3 Justice
5 2B4
8 Rockstop
9 We Tried
Written-By – Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
14 Valentine
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Clubhouse Recording Studios
Mixed At – Clubhouse Recording Studios
Recorded At – Workbook Studio
Mixed At – Workbook Studio
Recorded At – Sage & Sound
Mixed At – Sage & Sound
Recorded At – Skip Saylor Recording
Mixed At – Skip Saylor Recording
Recorded At – Long View Farm Studios
Mixed At – Long View Farm Studios
Recorded At – Western Sound Labs
Mixed At – Western Sound Labs
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Published By – Strictly Commercial Publishing
Published By – Cireco Music
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Credits
The Sun Is – Bradleah Caulkins, Bradford Forsblom, Bryan Arendt, Chris Burney, Sam Brown
Producer, Engineer – Ben Hillier (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13), John Goodmanson (tracks: 6, 7)
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – John Goodmanson (tracks: 3, 9, 11, 14)
Assistant Engineer – Errin Familia (tracks: 3, 9, 11, 14), Ian Blanch (tracks: 3, 9, 11, 14), James Musshorn (tracks: 3, 9, 11, 14), Mike Lapierre (tracks: 6, 7), Richard Morris (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13)
2nd Engineer – Chris Powers (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13)
Additional Engineering – Michael Krassner (tracks: 3, 9, 11, 14)
Mixed By – John Fields (tracks: 6, 7), John Goodmanson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13), Ken Sluiter (tracks: 8, 10), Michael Krassner (tracks: 8, 10)
Mastered By – Brian "Big Bass" Gardner
Written-By – The Sun (tracks: 1-12, 14)
A&R – Perry Watts-Russell
Management – Brian Klein
Legal – Michelle Saifer
Business Management – Kramer Accountancy, Marla Doyle, Ron Kramer
Booking Agent – Kevin French
Cover Art, Layout – Will Fugman
Band Photo – Chapman Baehler
