Smother.net 2008
". . .Seattle music at its very best! Rich indie pop harmonies with art rock hooks veining throughout each tune, Back to the Sun is a pop album that Brian Wilson would be proud to call his own. Pick it up for something damn fine and refreshing." (Editor's Pick)
Waggoner, Firesideometer.com posted 9/30/06
"I admit, when the trumpet first came in on 'Back to the Sun,' I smirked. It was a “I am somuch cooler than this” smirk. I won't deny that the only reason I listened to 'You're Gonna Be a Star' was irony. I couldn't actually enjoy anything that sounded like Chicago was a major inflence. Appreciation with a wink and a nudge is the most that's really acceptable. I listened to 'I Caught a Greyhound to New York' just because I'm a completist. I couldn't not listen to the last song. And then, I rather ironically listened to it again, and again, and again. And again.
Listen #4: 'Back to the Sun' was sounding pretty sweet. It was hard to believe that, only ten minutes before, I'd dismissed the gaslight synths and atmospheric trumpets as cheesy and overblown. Now, they were a vital part of Werth's retro soundscape, a subtle wink and a nod on his part toward music that he was willing to acknowledge as an influence while still subverting its tropes and cliches. That, or he just realized that Chicago knew how to write a killer hook. Listen #13: Listening in my room. I have decided that 'You're Gonna Be a Star' is the best song Brian Wilson never recorded. And I did mean Brian Wilson, not the Beach Boys. Despite its obvious Beach Boys-influenced background vocals, it still sounded a lot more like the slightly less cool solo work of the man. Still, Brian Wilson recorded SMiLE without the Beach Boys, so it's cool to like him, right? Listen #34: Listening at work. 'Caught a Greyhound to New York' has more bouncy rhythms and an exuberant trumpet that just makes me want to smile (No pun intended!). The brass intro to the second verse conjures Copeland cum Armstrong, and Werth's delivery of “The girl on the bus let me borrow / An old transistor radio / I felt the music start to seep in / From a city that's never sleeping” just... works. Sometimes, I think we all want to catch a Greyhound to New York, and borrow some girl's radio so we can relive the 70's. I know I do. Listen #42: So, I was sitting in my truck when Sarah got in. We were meeting some friends at the Arcade Fire show. When the small talk died down, Sarah noticed 'Back to the Sun' playing in the background. She rolled her eyes.“What are you listeningto?” I just smiled. After all, it's a forty minute drive to Indianapolis. That's at least four listens."
Megin Seling, The Stranger & The Portland Mercury, 11/2006
"Compared to what his musical peers are doing, young Andy Werth is making some pretty ballsy music for these parts. On his debut three-song EP, Back to the Sun, there's no jarring guitar, guttural growling, or mood-affecting atmospheric noise. Instead there are bright horns, bouncing piano, and an undeniable '70s-pop vibe that conjures Rupert Holmes (!) and Elton John. In fact, it's so far from what's considered "trendy," it's the antithesis of what you hear being played at [insert your neighborhood hipster bar here] on a Friday night. Which almost makes it more punk rock (in attitude, not execution) than anything this city's seen in a long time ."
Abe Beeson, KEXP DJ, 11/15/06
"The debut 3-song EP from Seattle-based singer/songwriter/keyboardist/trumpeter Andy Werth is a very impressive display of pop songcraft. Impeccable hooks and arrangements evoke AM radio hits similar to Supertramp or David Cassidy, and Andy's voice couldn't be more sincere. This is music for smiling and laughing with family and friends - and if you're alone, you won't be with Andy Werth around.
Andrea Caruso for Independent Clauses, posted 11/2006
"Andy Werth’s Back to the Sun is a short but sweet EP, showcasing three catchy and poppy songs in a Ben Folds meets Vegas show music style. It’s got a tremendous sing-a-long, feel-good quality. The musicianship on this EP is really quite good. The vocals are very smooth, and a wide variety of instruments are used. Guitars, piano, drums, strings, horns- it’s got it all and it is all very well done. The EP is also really well produced and sounds very crisp and clear. Of the three songs, “I Caught a Greyhound to New York” stands out as the best. It’s a fun, catchy little number about taking, as the title indicates, a Greyhound bus to New York to catch a change of scenery. What made this song stand out was a cool little syncopated part right in the middle which is very interesting and diverse. All in all, this was a fun CD to listen to – as mentioned before, short and sweet but a great way to showcase Andy Werth and his accompanying musicians’ talents."