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| There IS hope for the younger generation, if you were to appoint this quartet of youngsters as role models. This exciting collection of memorable pop-rock ditties and melodiously intricate ballads is truly a breath of fresh air, compared to all that negative, nihilistic, profanity-infested cynicism that rules the air waves (and their young, eager-to-absorb it listeners) today. Instead of bitching about sabotaged relationships and dysfunctional families, this promising pair of songwriting guitarists (Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw, along with various other contributing collaborators) focuses on the "sunny side of the street" - the endless possibilities and opportunities that life offers to those who chose to seek them out rather than expecting them to get plopped down into their laps at the snap of their fingers. The upbeat rhythmic strum of the opening track, 'The Show Is Free' recalls Boston�s 'Listen to the Music', a classic rocker enduring to this day, and continues that Northern Pikes/54-40 feel for the next couple of songs and elsewhere on the CD, but especially on the closer, 'Sister Chardonnay' (with Danny Carr sharing in the songwriting credits). 'Raining on the Moon' (written by Jude Cole) and 'Right Here Beside Me' are good examples of the perfect harmonies present throughout Everyone Aboard. Painless, chunky guitar chords with unusual leads and rhythms abound, infused with forceful but not overwhelming drums and bass, played by Mark Branconnier and Blake Manley, respectively. Murray Pulver, also a regular member of the band, provides an extra layer of music on acoustic and electric guitar, as well as banjo (alternating with Chris on the latter). The melodies take on a more delicate intricacy on the only ballads of the CD � 'Forgive Me (For Giving a Damn)' (a bit too sulky for me) and 'Empty Man' and 'Lay Me Down' (both tracks being instrumentally and vocally outstanding!). There is a lovably quirky percussive intro to 'I Am Ready', one of a couple of country music-edged compositions, but that�s not to say it isn�t catchy as all hell � interesting banjo work on this, too! While I admit that people of a more jaded personality would find a couple of the songs a bit too sentimental (read, mushy), the lead vocals (by Chris) stop just short of being whiney, so the songs nevertheless end up being quite palatable. The last two tracks bring us back to the boys� genuine rock sensibility. 'Heroes in the Sun' has a bit of a Celtic anthem feeling about it, along the lines of Tom Cochrane (although it was actually written by Naoisa Sheridan and Bill Luther). This tribute to the innocence of boyhood is epitomized by the CD liner�s graphic art, which features differently-angled photographs (Jerry Grajewski) of the classic "little red wagon", although it�s not the original model, which was made of wood, not steel, I believe. Guest performers include Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve (bass), Bart McKay (piano, clavinet, B3), Christian Dugas and Steve Broadhurst (both on drums), and the CD�s producer, Joel Feeney (vocals, keyboards, guitar, string arrangement and percussion sequencing. The actual recording, mixing, mastering, etc. was done variously in Winnipeg, Toronto and Nashville. Everyone Aboard is an excellent work of art, which was partially financially assisted by various levels of government. Attaboys! Put that tax money to some good use! |
| EVERYONE ABOARD - DOC WALKER |
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