SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOAN – BASED ON THE BEST SELLER

SLOAN
BASED ON THE BEST SELLER
YEP ROC RECORDS/MURDERECORDS

Sloan, the iconic band consisting of Andrew Scott, Chris Murphy, Jay Ferguson, and Patrick Pentland, was a dominant force on Canadian radio and television in the 1990s and early 2000s. Hits like “Money City Maniacs,” “The Good In Everyone,” “Everything You’ve Done Wrong,” and many more, catapulted them to being household names across Canada. Their newest album, Based on the Best Seller, demonstrates that Sloan is not ready to slow down as they add another fantastic album to their illustrious career.

If you love any of Sloan’s other albums, you will definitely enjoy Based on the Best Seller. “Capital Cooler” feels like a lost gem from their heyday, showing they, without a doubt, still have what it takes to create a stunningly catchy tune. For those who adore the iconic trumpet line in “Everything You’ve Done Wrong,” Sloan has you covered, as they deliver another phenomenal trumpet part that will stick with you in “Fortune Teller.”

Since all four members are core songwriters, the record is very eclectic. “Dream Destroyer” is a ‘70s glam rock stomper meets ‘90s power pop. It has the makings of being a future fan favourite, especially with the joyously anthemic chorus, groovy bass lines, earworm melodies, and a spectacular guitar solo. “Open Your Umbrellas” is a mellow, jaunty piano number, somewhat reminiscent of The Kinks. In “Baxter,” the band goes in a fascinating psych rock direction, with a notable highlight being the exhilarating outro; meanwhile, “Collect Yourself” is a hypnotic blues rock tune, with an entertainingly twangy slide guitar riff. Lastly, “No Damn Fears” is an explosive garage rock track full of grit and has a bit of an angsty edge to it.

Overall, after over three decades of making music together, Sloan is still going strong.

SPILL FEATURE: WE DON’T WANT TO BE A HERITAGE ACT – A CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS MURPHY OF SLOAN

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