Just a few months ago, had anyone asked me whether or not I’d ever heard of a band called Sunspot, I’d have had to say no. That’s not unusual, of course; tucked away here in my little hermit’s cave of a life, I’m sure there are plenty of bands out there that I’ve never heard of. This is why, of course, when one of the editors at Blogcritics mentioned the band and asked if I might be interested in giving them a listen, I said yes.

I’m a hermit, sure, but I try to be an adventurous one. Sometimes.

Sunspot turns out to be this wonderfully talented, smart, witty, and downright fun band that claims Madison, Wisconsin as their home turf, in case you were wondering. Their latest album, Neanderthal, which Mike Huberty (lead vocalist, bassist) graciously sent to me, is just this wonderfully eclectic mash of musician- (and showman-) ship.

In short, it’s a damn righteous hoot!

Set off by the wonderfully funky harmonies and chugging rhythm of “Goodbye Good Guy,” Neanderthal crashes into your eardrums, with a giggle. “Eat Out My Heart,” perhaps my favorite song on the album, continues the trend, as it rides this wonderfully slow-burning melody. Of course, as the song prays to the heavens above that a former love has an ugly boyfriend, works in a carwash, and has allowed the best years of her life to pass her up, there exists a stain of heartbreak on the napkin that playfully hides the mouth telling jokes.

Okay. When broken down and actually written down on the page, the end result is definitely less than fabulous. Maybe there are songs that simply need to be enjoyed instead of analyzed? I think so.

“Neanderthal,” the third (and title) track, is just a wonderfully dark and catchy song, and ably anchors down the bittersweet intentions of the album itself. It’s a feeling that is continued in the lush harmonies of “Power Word, Kill,” as the song describes the achingly devastating power that one word can have, in any relationship.

“Mr. Foff” is, well… I’m not sure how to describe “Mr. Foff,” really. Maybe I should eschew any attempts at being smart and witty, as the song and the wonderfully funky groove that it follows, easily outdoes my every effort. Next up, “Morgan Le Fay” rides upon one of the better bass grooves I’ve heard this year. Smart, tinged with a hint of grittiness, it’s just a great song.

“Ephemeral,” manages to both deserve and reject it’s own name. Coming in at three and a half minutes it might have the necessary length, but the fact that you’ll find yourself constantly humming it to yourself over and over… belies the very thought of it having a short life span. It’s just another good song on a really good album.

Closing things out on Neanderthal is “Viking Funeral,” which is perhaps the most laid-back and moody song on the album. Laced through with some wonderful guitar work by Ben Jaeger, it’s a lovely closing track.