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Nov 18 - Nov 25, 2001 |
They're Pretty Together
Canadian band Sloan deliver more perfect pop music
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2001-10-21
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Toronto-based rockers Sloan
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We last heard from Toronto-based rockers Sloan a couple of years ago. Within an 18-month period, they released two studio albums (Navy Blues and Between The Bridges) plus a double live record, 4 Nights At The Palais Royale.
Reflecting on that flurry of product, drummer/singer Andrew Scott tells Tandem that "I think that was a mistake in terms of saturating our small market. It was also the time when the boy band thing went beserk, and our type of music seemed out of vogue." In fact, the need for Sloan's melodic brand of intelligent pop-rock has never been greater. That's why it is a treat to hear the band back in fine form on new outing, Pretty Together.
Scott stresses that Sloan enjoy their current underdog status. "It's always better to be in that position. There's nowhere to go but up, so we just have to bide our time. As long as we can remain interested and keep the juices flowing, we can survive it!"
Their motives remain honest. "We're not really in it for the money. We have been in it for 11 years and I can't buy this house next door that my wife and I like. It is a good job. It's fun and we all love and hate it at different times."
Sloan are definitely ambitious in a creative sense. "We like making records. We want to continue to re-shape the face of musical history around here, or wherever. It is empowering to feel you have the ability to put something out there that is the complete opposite to the crap that is popular."
Not that the band is ignored by the Canadian mainstream. They've had their share of gold and platinum records, and critical praise and hype that has sometimes gone overboard. For example, there was the time that music mag Chart put out four different covers for one issue, each featuring a different member of Sloan. That was a good indication of the fact that the campus crowd had adopted them as something of a pretty boy band, in an alternative sense.
They still get played on commercial rock radio and seen on MuchMusic, but those outlets focus in on their more simplistic rock tunes. On Pretty Together, that includes first single "If It Feels Good Do It" and "Pick It Up and Dial It." Andrew even refers sardonically to songs chosen as "the bonehead radio singles. I have always thought the most important element in our band is the variety, because we have four songwriters. If people only associate us with the likes of Money City Maniacs, they don't really know our band. Hopefully they'll take the time to realize we have a lot more to offer than that. I think our core fan base is well aware of that, but it is hard to get the masses to appreciate your diversity."
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