Baby Eagle & the Proud Mothers
Bone Soldiers
(You’ve Changed Records)
3/5
Bone Soldiers, by Canadian outfit Baby Eagle & the Proud Mothers, lays claim to being the most confusing, but “okay, I’m starting to enjoy this now” listening experience so far this year.
The album starts off really poorly, with some of its worst songs up front (“Bone Soldiers,” “Strange Bodies,” “Rebel Crimes”). But, slowly, Bone Soldiers gets really quite enjoyable and displays some fantastic guitar instrumentation and track differentiation.
These guys really lay down an indie garage sound similar in tone to the Silver Jews and long-ago Edmonton rockers the Smalls; jumpy at times, but personal and soft elsewhere. Thematically, Bone Soldiers is two pieces of soggy bread in a ceramic sink, with bits of frozen corn lining the drain, lit dimly by an incandescent light bulb.
It’s not very flashy, but it’s an honest album and it gets the job done. Rather unsurprising overall, but enjoyable.
-Adam Price
Gescha
Crayon Politics
(Soul Datta)
4.5/5
Canadian indie hip-hop artist Gescha skillfully conveys his philosophy of determination and struggle on his truly genuine debut album, Crayon Politics. No stranger to the indie hip-hop, Gescha is a skilled lyricist and raconteur.
The album’s title track is a smooth and soulful reflection on the spectrum of life, from the darkest to the brightest points in his journey. The themes of personal development and progression flow through the album and are never more present than on the track “Slow Build.” The opening string solo, which continues to drop throughout the piece, brings to mind a slow, plodding parade making its way through a crowded cityscape.
Gescha’s lyrics take the listener through the story of starting at the lowest streets and then finding the brightest open roads that eventually lead home. Crayon Politics is a solid pick for anyone looking for life in all its colours.
-Thom McMahon
The Elwins
And I Thank You
(independent)
2.5/5
And I Thank You by the Elwins is the group’s first full-length album, and overall it’s not bad, but it’s also not great. Or, to put that in a more positive way, the group has room for improvement.
The Canadian indie rock band from Newmarket, Ontario started their music creation in high school in 2007 and have since grown their audience and performed alongside bands such as Tokyo Police Club and the Arkells.
Knowing that, you would think that And I Thank You would be a cool, fun album, but instead it’s retro and Beatles-esque, which may have been their goal, but still I’m left thinking that if they made their music a bit more… anything, it would be that much better.
But it is a first album, so the Elwins have their whole music career ahead of them to find their place and improve.
-Chesley Ryder
Mike O’Neill
Wild Lines
(Zunior)
3/5
Welcome to the ’60s, Mike O’Neill-style. Slot Wild Lines, O’Neill’s third solo release after a string of albums with Canadian indie rock band the Inbreds, in between your Monkees and early Beatles. O’Neill’s calm, quiet, mellow voice could just about be mistaken for George Harrison.
Although the ’60s influence is strong (the instrumentation, the vocal harmonies, the short track lengths), the songs don’t sound dated. They just sound… the same.
The songs on Wild Lines are simple, generally consisting of vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. The occasional vocal harmony is very Beatles-esque. The song structure is highly predictable; there’s no ground broken on this album.
O’Neill’s songs are charming; this is a comfort album guaranteed to mellow. Despite its sameness, at least you can’t go wrong with a moustache and a cat.
-Rose Jang
The Jealous Sound
A Gentle Reminder
(RCA) (Music Is Subjective)
2.5/5
There comes a point when your unique music begins to sound the same as the unique music of others. That’s exactly what has happened with the Jealous Sound, a group of four indie rockers from Los Angeles.
The music on the Jealous Sound’s newest album, A Gentle Reminder, while distinctly different from mainstream pop, does not stand out from the plethora of alt-rock bands competing for attention.
It’s not that the album is bad; it’s just that the music is dull and, if it weren’t for the three cups of coffee I’d already consumed, it would have put me to sleep.
-Lucas Milroy