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We will never understand why Sloan is not the biggest band in the world right now. This group of Canadians consistently release strong albums, the weakest of which still put 98% of the world's rock and/or roll bands to shame. They've transitioned from a band of shoegazing popsters, into a '60s-tinged hit-machine until settling on their current trend of penning impeccable melodies influenced by equal parts '70s arena rock and timeless power-pop.
The band's latest disc, Never Hear The End Of It, carries on for 30 (!) tracks, and while there are a couple stumbles along the way, the journey is overwhelmingly blissful. We would still recommend their masterpiece Navy Blues to a neophyte (or their excellent singles compilation (but make sure you get the version that includes the bonus DVD with all their videos (who KNEW Sloan had so many videos?!)), but Never Hear The End Of It does an excellent job of capturing the many strengths and extreme flexibility of Sloan.
We've seen the band a number of times, and have never been let down by their live show. Since the band follows the rule of "you sing the songs you write", the four men of Sloan are constantly switching instruments and taking their turns at the microphone, and the result is a tumultuous good time. If you only see one show this weekend, this is the one that should knock all the other out of contention.
Sloan plays The Metro tomorrow at 9 p.m. Small Sins opens and Panic!'s DJ Pogo provides the between set tunes.
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I love Sloan too - no wonder we're friends.
I had never really paid much attention to them (I figured I was too young), until I stumbled upon them at SXSW. Wow, do they put on a great show! If you are looking for something to do tomorrow night, go check them out (even if you've never heard a song).
Sigh, I just don't understand music these days, I guess. Some of this stuff that gets raved about...well, I just don't get it.
Have you HEARD Sloan? I don't know how you couldn't "get" them. I wouldn't describe them as "new,' more ... "timeless."
dear tankboy,
you wrote an exceptional entry about the boys last time they were in town and i vowed to marry you.
love, gena
dear everyone,
sloan will change your life.
love, gena
it's been all downhill since 'underwhelmed' and that was what, 15-20 years ago?
I refuse to give any band from Canada a chance since Rush.
Holy crap, that was 15 years ago? Man do I feel old now... but seriously Smeared is a great album imho and still holds up 15 years later. Can't say I know much about their output since that album, I gave Navy Blues a try but didn't care much for it.
Sloan's always been huge in Canada, but in the U.S. has the reputation of being a Guster/Ben Harper knockoff. They're more in tune with Fountains of Wayne (though probably better and more interesting), but unlike Fountains of Wayne, they haven't yet had a "Stacy's Mom." I liked Never Hear the End of It, but the format was poorly designed to earn popularity (probably intentionally). It was also released right after the Christmas break, which is not a formula for gaining hype (witness the Strokes' First Impressions of Earth in 2006). I reviewed it in the Chicago Maroon here. Since they've been around for over a decade, they seem to be chasing the clock here, and will probably never get the fame they deserve.
Ethan, I totally heart this line in your review:
For one, they’re Canadian, and if the Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and the thermostat are any indication, everything’s cooler in Canada.
Right there with you guys on Smeared. And yes, it came out in '93, making it fourteen years old. Underwhelmed is a great song and still sounds good to this day.