When a band decides to reinvent itself, the outcome can either fall flat or turn into something bold and memorable. In the case of LETR, their debut album The Sum of Their Actions proves that change can sharpen vision and elevate artistry. This review isn’t just about technicalities—it’s about how the trio reshaped their sound, refined their identity, and set a new bar for Oklahoma’s progressive-leaning rock scene.
This is my honest take on the record, a LETR music review that cuts through hype and focuses on the actual listening experience.
For years, CJ Rodgers and Tim Stieg played under the name CJ and Stieg, often sharing stages in Norman and Oklahoma City. They had the songwriting chops, but their sound felt like it was waiting for a missing piece. Tyler Romine’s addition on drumming and vocals in 2022 was the catalyst. The duo was no longer a duo, and with the trio came their new identity—LETR.
The evolution went deeper than a new name; it was a recalibration of focus and drive. Every track immerses themselves in the same listening universe and collectively proclaims: LETR has arrived to craft timeless tunes.
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Spanning more than an hour across ten tracks, the album doesn’t rush to make its point. It builds gradually, almost daring you to sit with it from start to finish. That patience pays off—songs bleed into one another, and the sequencing makes the record feel like a continuous piece rather than a scattered playlist.
Recorded entirely in CJ’s home studio, The Sum of Their Actions proves that DIY doesn’t have to mean lo-fi. The production is sharp and deliberate, with a polish that highlights the trio’s musicianship without sanding off the raw energy.
This LETR The Sum of Their Actions album review can’t ignore how cohesive the project feels. Every track belongs to the same world, and together they form a statement of identity: LETR is here to make music that lasts.
Accessibility and delicacy stand out in this album. The basslines move with intent, the guitar riffs are decisive but measured, and the harmonies open the sound and take it in new directions. Each element complements the other effortlessly, creating a seamless blend. Adding Romine’s drumming and vocals didn’t just thicken the arrangements, it reshaped the band’s entire sonic character.
There’s also a progressive rock influence throughout, but LETR avoids slipping into self-indulgence. Each song has intention. You can hear it in the pacing, in the way transitions unfold, and in how the vocals are placed within the mix.
This The Sum of Their Actions review shows that LETR doesn’t just play songs—they construct narratives through sound.
The opening track, “Disinterest,” eases into its delicate guitar and sets a slow, stretching tempo, and waits for the fuller rhythm section to join, setting the tone for what’s to come. It follows the same pacing, with the drums following the delay cue straight to the next section. It drills in how exquisite this album wants to be rewarded slowly. Collaboration over competition is a subtle mantra in LETR’s music, and it shines here.
It’s a bold way to start, but it works. By the time the full band kicks in, you’re pulled into the record’s orbit. If someone asked me where to begin in this LETR review 2025, “Disinterest” would be the obvious answer.
One of the strengths of The Sum of Their Actions is how it operates on multiple levels. At first listen, LETR’s music sounds like enjoyable progressive rock—dynamic, catchy, and loaded with harmonies. Upon closer inspection, though, the fear and urgency driving the music reveal LETR is a collective that has a sense of political purpose and a nuanced social critique, and the melodies they sing come from a different place than where the guitars and drums come from.
That layered quality is why this LETR The Sum of Their Actions review feels so compelling. It’s not background noise—it demands attention, whether you’re looking for motivation to get through chores or searching for something to sink into late at night.
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In a streaming era where albums often feel like loose collections of singles, LETR delivers a project designed for full listens. Transitions matter here. The bridges between songs aren’t filler—they’re connective tissue that holds the narrative together.
That’s rare, and it deserves credit. It means the album works best when experienced as a whole, which is exactly how music like this should be consumed.
LETR may have cut their teeth in the Oklahoma scene, but The Sum of Their Actions doesn’t feel bound by geography. Yes, their Norman roots are part of the story, but the sound is ambitious enough to reach beyond local stages.
Their collaborations with other musicians, like Bailey Gilbert in Baileyboy, show that LETR isn’t afraid of collective creativity. Still, this debut under their new identity feels like their most focused work yet—a project that plants their flag in a broader progressive rock landscape.
With this debut out in the world, the obvious question is: what’s next? LETR review 2025 suggests a band at the start of a bigger journey. They’ve proven they can craft an album with depth, cohesion, and polish. Now it’s about building on that foundation.
Will they expand their lineup further? Push their progressive tendencies even harder? Or lean into the political messaging more overtly? Whatever the direction, expectations are high. The Sum of Their Actions isn’t just a strong record, it’s a promise of what LETR can become.
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So, what does this LETR music review reveal? That The Sum of Their Actions is more than a debut album. It’s a mission statement. The trio redefined themselves with purpose, delivering a record that’s equal parts cerebral and visceral.
If you’re searching for The Sum of Their Actions review that cuts past clichés, here’s the takeaway: LETR managed to balance progressive complexity with emotional accessibility. That’s not easy, and it’s why their name carries weight heading into 2025.
This isn’t just an album worth hearing, it’s an album worth living with.
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