Four years ago, Bryce Avary expanded The Rocket Summer's sound with perhaps his finest album to date, Life Will Write The Words. After a long silence, he's back at it, experimenting once again for Zoetic. While Avary's fingerprints are all over it, Zoetic isn't quite like anything you've heard from The Rocket Summer in the past; where, before, we were on the receiving end of piano pop rock with mild traces of Bruce Springsteen influence, we are now hearing more from the other influences involved in Avary's craft. "Cold War" alone blends Family Force 5, David Bowie, and Queen into one melting pot. It's jarring, and it takes a lot of adjustment for the casual Rocket Summer fan. "Same Air" bears a more familiar sound, as do portions of "Get Over It" and "You Are, You Are," but overall, this is a much different project for Avary. At times, Zoetic feels too experimental, making it hard for me to enjoy it. I feel like I can recommend it to current Rocket Summer fans and people who like experimental pop rock music, but I'd prefer to go back to Life Will Write The Words for my Rocket Summer fix.

- 2/22/16, Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com