With all the praise heaped on Canadian bands the last few years - The Arcade Fire come to mind - it's a wonder a wider audience has yet to discover Sloan.
Coming on the heels of 2006's "Never Hear The End Of It," Sloan's eighth studio offering, "Parallel Play," is another excursion to guitar pop heaven. While "Never Hear The End Of It" boasted 30 tracks over 80 minutes, Sloan pull a 180 on "Parallel Play," breezing through 13 tracks in under 35 minutes.
All four members - Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson and Andrew Scott - contribute to the songwriting while trading instruments and vocal duties throughout (their harmonizing would make even Crosby, Stills & Nash proud).
There may not be anything revolutionary here but Sloan's workmanlike approach offers a delicious variety from easygoing folk to '70s arena rock. They offer straightforward rockers in disc opener "Believe and "Down in the Basement," channel The Jesus and Mary Chain on the churning smoker "Burn For It" and get a tad punkish on "Emergency 911."
They also offer lush mid-tempo fare such as "If I Could Change Your Mind" and "All I Am Is All You're Not," the latter taking a nice swipe at selling out: "What I might lack in pizzazz/I make up in charm just as/Expensive but I can't be bought/I'm all you're not."
As always, giving Sloan a spin will not disappoint.
Check out this track: "Witches Wand" is a driving folk-rock anthem complete with delightful chorus harmonizing and hand claps that'll take you right back to the early 70's.
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"Parallel Play"'
Sloan (Yep Roc Records)
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