Search - Sadies :: New Seasons (Dig)

Sing that Simple Little Song--The Sadies Emit Pop Vibes on N

Peter Walenta | Long Island, New York USA | 11/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reading the initial reviews of The Sadies' latest record, "New Seasons" (Yep Roc YEP 2148), one could quickly compile a laundry list of named cool musical influences, that will make a dude's or a lass's head spin. Of course, that's what Toronto's Sadies do so well--weave diverse musical influences into a seamless whole and make it look easy. I could join the fray and drum up yet another list of influences in this review that would maybe further titilate the alt.country or indie music connoiseur to scramble out and buy this nifty record but I'll leave that task to the other guys.



I like this album because it sounds good, plain and simple. The guitars chime and twang in all the right places. Good, Good, Belitsky and Dean even sing harmonies on several tracks. Gary Louris's production is first rate, as he allows the Sadies to play their distinctive brand of alt.country tinged rock and roll with deftly added pop textures that will hopefully bring the Sadies to a much wider audience. I mention pop textures because when one clears away the heaps of "cool" musical references, there is solid pop at the core of "New Seasons". I hear country-rock chords of the Outlaws "Green Grass and High Tides" on "What's Left Behind". I also hear the haunting instrumental melody of Kansas's folk-infused "Dust in the Wind" on "Anna Leigh", and I hear the spooky re-verbed guitars of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well Pts. 1 & 2" on "The Last Inquisition (pt.V)". Now name dropping three seemingly un-cool 70's bands may be wacked (have I lost my alt.country credibility and otherwise general hipness in all things neo-trad?), but I hear what I hear...and I hear strong pop melodies in The Sadies' new songs. The Sadies have pulled off quite the skillful feat, since they shroud their latest record in all sorts of garage rock and cult-band sounds but at the heart of their tales of ecological doom and human despair is a rock solid pop record of the kind that was made in the 1960's and 1970's by such artists as, The Byrds, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, and Gordon Lightfoot...just to name a few "pop" musicians. Too square or dated for you? Well for all of their musical attempts to capture the far-out sounds of the then new acid-drenched consciousness that erupted in the summer of love, bands like The Byrds, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac, grounded their musical trips in road tested country, rock and blues back beats, pop vocal harmonies and hooky jangly guitar licks.



Oh yeah, this album is a trip, but don't be fooled by all of the critics who are eagerly falling all over themselves spewing out the names of as many obscure musical influences they can "hear" on "New Seasons". The Sadies are too smart a band to just splatter musical paint. No, the Sadies finally have mixed the perfect blend of pop, rock and country and created a fragile yet sturdy pop masterpiece that you can dance to and think about. Yeah, believe the other critics and reviewers when they say that these guys are that good but I believe it but for different reasons. The Sadies are that good because they have brought pop sensibilities to alt.country without compromising their unique sound and distinctively Canadian vision one bit. Mother nature's in trouble and men shall face an ultimate judgment someday, but for now just sit back and groove on the coolest music this side of Lake Ontario, eh!"

If the "Notorious Byrd Brothers"

greyhoundude | Corvallis, OR | 12/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"had stuck together and added Clarence White to the lineup, something like NEW SEASONS might have been the result. Great tunes, great harmonies, the guitars all ring true and, at just 32 minutes, this release lasts just long enough to satisfy most retro folk-rock fans.



4 1/2 stars. Recommended."

Couldn't let it pass.

J. D. McKenna | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | 04/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Up until last weekend, I had heard of the Sadies, but never heard. I saw them live last weekend and was ... blown away/thoroughly impressed. The next day my roommate bought this record at a local shop and here I am searching for this record and feeling impelled to write this review because I saw only one review and it was 4 stars. I demand 5 stars. This is like nothing you've ever heard. Psychedelic Rock, Country, Surf, and Garage mish-mashed into something gracefully soulful and awesome. That is what they do. I'm surprised this album hasn't received the heaps of critical acclaim that it deserves. It's not just the masterfully played music (these guys are all session musicians) but the solid lyrics on this release sing to me like something I'd I want to croon along with from the top of a desolate mountain. So this is my review from the top of the hypothetical mountain. Buy this album. If it disappoints you, I don't care. Go buy something else.



And for the Canadian music trivia geek out there. One of the brothers from this band played with Canada's underrated psychedelic rocking goodness - Elevator. And lo and behold. Rick White, the long haired wizard behind Elevator designed the album art and even helped out on a couple songs. Tight.



"i'll drive a thousand miles and still have twice as far too go... did i choose the right direction, so they tell me, i don't know.""