Parker - Bombshell

A few weeks ago I had gone to see a band named Parker live at The Horseshoe, and although the crowds were quite small, I thought the band had put on a pretty impressive show. The problem with Parker is that every band needs some sort of pigeonhole so that people like me can easily make a comparison or two and give or withhold a recommendation. Parker cannot be pigeonholed. They're a very unique band that really does sound like nobody else on the indie scene at the moment. That's why, upon first listen, I wasn't even sure if I liked them or not. However, several listens later it becomes hard to deny the fact that a catchy song is a catchy song and although an artist may fall out of the parameters of what a person like me usually listens to, it can still be quite enjoyable.

The first noteworthy point is that the bands' talent cannot be denied. For the most part, all of the instrumentation is provided by Thomas Ryder Payne who, if you look at his bio, has a pretty impressive list of credentials. He's no stranger to the Canadian music scene and he wrote the bulk of what is on the CD. His collaborator is Tom McNeil, who is also the lead singer and has a very polished and distinctive voice. Not every song is a home run but there are some very noteworthy mentions. The album opener "Twenty Twenty" does give off that distinct 80's soundtrack vibe, like something out of The Breakfast Club or another John Hughes-y type of film. It is a true slice of pop music gold and it continues to build as the song progresses. A slight giggle and some jazzy finger snaps open track three, entitled "Love Myself." During the verse, Tom tries to pull off a slight Jim Morrison before taking a sharp left turn into a heavily layered male-female chorus. As I mentioned in my last review, the song tends to stick in my head for hours after it's played. I can't help it, but I like it. "Just Say When" is the only song that is easy to incorporate a little comparison drop into. It's got a definite Coldplay / Snow Patrol / Pilate sound and the orchestration on the song is certainly uplifting. If there's one obvious single on the CD, this is it. By the way, at approximately the 3 minute mark, the song takes off into true anthemic territory. The other real highlight for me is "Head Down" which is the most stripped down track on the album. A simple little Beatle-esque ditty that really stands out amongst the rest of the album, which for the most part is very pristine in its production. There are other good songs, as well as a few that don't really do it for me, but the ones I mentioned are definitely enough to recommend the album. Overall, although it may take a few listens to sink in, Bombshell is a promising debut that demonstrates the power of a well crafted pop song.

Stream: The entire CD Bombshell can be streamed here.
Myspace: Parker
Purchase: You can purchase the album at Kill The 8 or at CD Baby.

Parker w/Basia Lyjak @ The Horseshoe

Last night I took a vacation, just for one night, from my pretentious yuppie indie twee holier than thou musical palate to check out a couple of bands that fall outside of my usual elitist lines of recommendation. I've spoken before about guilty pleasures, but I do not feel guilty about liking either of these artists because they are both excellent in their own way.

The members of Parker are no newcomers to the Canadian music scene, having been associated with several reputable bands for over a decade. I recently received their new CD "Bombshell", but I'll save most of the pertinent information for when I review the actual CD, probably next week sometime. But for now, let's just say that they don't really sound like anybody else on the indie scene at the moment, and because of that, their music may require a bit of a digestion period before it's fully appreciated. Last night must have been a tough one for them, because the crowds had pretty much subsided by the time they hit the stage. At times it felt as if they were playing a private show for yours truly, but if that's the case, then they must have a mad crush on me, because they were seriously playing their hearts out. Their musical talent is undeniable, and lead vocalist Tom McNeil has a certain awkwardness about him that I think, given a bigger crowd, would have made people smile. The songs are pop music gold, and his voice was pitch perfect, as he belted them out with passion and power. I was glad to see that their last song of the evening seemed to draw some attention from those who were hanging out at the bar, thanks in part to Thomas Ryder Payne's mad skillz as a wicked awesome guitarist. That song in particular ended with an all out musical jam of sorts, that would not have sounded out of place at a Dears or Besnard Lakes show. Furthermore, I've been humming "Love Myself" in my head all day, so they must have something. I hope that next time I get to see them with a more enthusiastic crowd in attendance, because I'm sure that they would excel in that type of setting.

Photos: Parker @ The Legendary Horseshoe flickr
Stream: Bombshell- The entire album can be streamed here.
Myspace: Parker

Prior to Parker was a performance by local rocker chick Basia Lyjak. I don't listen to flat out rock 'n roll all that much these days, but in my teens I went through a faze where if it didn't rock, I wasn't interested. Before she hit the stage, the speakers were blasting 80's hair metal classics from the likes of Van Halen, Def Leppard and The Scorpions. Here's a bit of a credibility crush for you (as if I haven't done enough of that already,) but there's a small part of my brain that still smiles whenever Joe Elliott belts out "Oh baby I'm not fa-fa-fa-foolin'! Oh fa-fa-foolahen!" Thankfully I'm still of the belief that only two or three people regularly read this blog, so my secret is safe right? Right?

Anyways, that music was a perfect setup for what Basia was about to belt out, because she was definitely here to rock it old school, and that's exactly what she did. Her supporters were there in full force, as I looked around and saw several people singing along and rocking out to her songs as if they had a share in the writing process themselves. She performed several cuts from her latest EP entitled "Writings On The Wall", as well as some freshly written songs and a couple of covers. Her original material can best be described as classic chick-rock in the vein of Pat Benatar meets Veruca Salt. In fact, her set ended with a cover of the former's "Heartbreaker," which gives you an idea of what she is all about. She is an incredibly enthusiastic performer who clearly loves what she does, and knows that first and foremost the goal is to rock 'n roll the audience as much as is humanly possible. And that she did.

Photos: Basia Lyjak at The Legendary Horseshoe flickr.
Stream: Writings On The Wall - The EP can be streamed here.
Myspace: Basia Lyjak

This weekend we return you to our regularly scheduled musings of indie rock snobbery.