“Rising Sun” has Jon McNulty’s soaring vocals on full display. At first he starts with a brisk acoustical strum and fairly nonchalant vocals, though it doesn’t take long for his vocals to increase in emotion as the twangy shimmer of the guitars become more evident. As he relays sun-related imagery during the hook, alongside his bright vocals, it’s apparent how cohesive the “light comes shinin’ through” line is — speaking to the guitar tones and vibrant melody just as much as the lyrical theme. The wordless whirl of vocal enthusiasm leading to the hook is another excellent moment, from an artist who impressed earlier this year with “Broken Leaves” and does so again with “Rising Sun”.
