Texas Platters

Kirk Smith

Suddenly Bright Out (Man Eats Sparks)

Kirk Smith's banshee vox meet the universe on a scientific scale: comets, seasons, and planets. Dipping into Bowie territory with "All Our Own Way" and slowing down the tempo with the subtle title track, Smith exhibits a good deal of diversity and talent, not surprising coming from an inventive playwright. Prose without being poetry, Suddenly Bright Out bounces between secrets ("Anniversary," "February (Someone Hears)") and quirky rockers ("Stop Comets," "Not on My Side").