Chicagoist: Sloan: Rock Gods of the Internal Stadium

woodlawnchuck

Sun, 20 May 2007 19:20:54 -0600

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.

tankboy

Sun, 20 May 2007 14:39:04 -0600

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.

Ethan Stanislawski

Sun, 20 May 2007 04:36:56 -0600

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.

rizzidy

Sat, 19 May 2007 13:14:46 -0600

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.

thundercougarfalconbird

Sat, 19 May 2007 01:34:31 -0600

I refuse to give any band from Canada a chance since Rush.

kt

Fri, 18 May 2007 16:29:52 -0600

it's been all downhill since 'underwhelmed' and that was what, 15-20 years ago?

gena

Fri, 18 May 2007 16:24:11 -0600

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

tankboy

Fri, 18 May 2007 16:16:59 -0600

Have you HEARD Sloan? I don't know how you couldn't "get" them. I wouldn't describe them as "new,' more ... "timeless."

J

Fri, 18 May 2007 16:14:58 -0600

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.

doppler

Fri, 18 May 2007 16:09:15 -0600

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).

Liz

Fri, 18 May 2007 15:31:33 -0600

I love Sloan too - no wonder we're friends.