Number 4 in the series, and my 2nd entry of "It's My Vault."
“Between the Bridges,” Sloan (1999)
Background: Formed in 1991 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Members: Chris Murphy, Andrew Scott, Jay Ferguson, Patrick Pentland.
The band is known for their sharing of songwriting from each member of the group and their unaltered line-up throughout their career.
Anyone who has read my ramblings in music threads on CF may notice frequent reference to Sloan, which I like to call “Canada’s Best-Kept Secret.”
Sloan's style range is expansive. It can go from sweet to rocking, gentle to thrashy, psychedelic to contemplative. The group’s music may bring comparisons to The Beatles and the sound of mid- to-late ‘60s, but it’s almost never retro-derivative. Through 11 LPs, 2 EPs and more than 30 singles, the songs continue to sound fresh.
A good starting point for the uninitiated is “Between the Bridges,” which I place above the critically respected “One Chord to Another” (also worth sampling). (I’m partial to the 2006 double-length “Never Hear the End of It,” but I’ll tackle that another day.)
A unique (and highly effective) aspect of Sloan: Each member writes songs, sings lead and, when the band plays live, they often switch instruments (an example appears in the video clip below for "Losing California" — they aren't just doing that as a visual gimmick). Harmonies and backing instruments serve the songs in an ego-free approach. It may be the only longtime rock band that operates as a true democracy. It’s like the universal health care of alt-rock.
I haven’t even broached the lyrics and storytelling strengths. If you dig the music, that part will take care of itself.
Enough with the analytics. Have a listen.
Key entry points:
* Don’t You Believe a Word
* Sensory Deprivation
* So Beyond Me
* Friendship
Further listening: "One Chord to Another" (1996); "Twice Removed" (1993); "Never Hear the End of It" (2006)
“Between the Bridges,” Sloan (1999)
Background: Formed in 1991 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Members: Chris Murphy, Andrew Scott, Jay Ferguson, Patrick Pentland.
The band is known for their sharing of songwriting from each member of the group and their unaltered line-up throughout their career.
Anyone who has read my ramblings in music threads on CF may notice frequent reference to Sloan, which I like to call “Canada’s Best-Kept Secret.”
Sloan's style range is expansive. It can go from sweet to rocking, gentle to thrashy, psychedelic to contemplative. The group’s music may bring comparisons to The Beatles and the sound of mid- to-late ‘60s, but it’s almost never retro-derivative. Through 11 LPs, 2 EPs and more than 30 singles, the songs continue to sound fresh.
A good starting point for the uninitiated is “Between the Bridges,” which I place above the critically respected “One Chord to Another” (also worth sampling). (I’m partial to the 2006 double-length “Never Hear the End of It,” but I’ll tackle that another day.)
A unique (and highly effective) aspect of Sloan: Each member writes songs, sings lead and, when the band plays live, they often switch instruments (an example appears in the video clip below for "Losing California" — they aren't just doing that as a visual gimmick). Harmonies and backing instruments serve the songs in an ego-free approach. It may be the only longtime rock band that operates as a true democracy. It’s like the universal health care of alt-rock.
I haven’t even broached the lyrics and storytelling strengths. If you dig the music, that part will take care of itself.
Enough with the analytics. Have a listen.
Key entry points:
* Don’t You Believe a Word
* Sensory Deprivation
* So Beyond Me
* Friendship
Further listening: "One Chord to Another" (1996); "Twice Removed" (1993); "Never Hear the End of It" (2006)
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