The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DREADNOUGHTS – ROLL AND GO
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ARKELLS ANNOUNCE ‘BLINK TWICE’ TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 23 | SUMMERTIME SINGLE “DANCE WITH YOU” FEATURING CŒUR DE PIRATE AND ALY & AJ OUT NOW
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE STEENS – “WHAT A WAY TO DIE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: CHECK OUT DANCE PUNKS DATAROCK’S COMEBACK SINGLE “DOUBLE VISION” OUT NOW VIA YAP RECORDS
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SHE WANTS REVENGE’S JUSTIN WARFIELD RELEASES SOLO SINGLE “EVERYTHING TO ME”
SPILL NEWS: THE MARS VOLTA RELEASE TRACK & SHORT FILM “BLACKLIGHT SHINE” | THE BAND’S FIRST NEW SINGLE IN OVER A DECADE
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: WEIMAR – DANCING ON A VOLCANO
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: STRANGE LOT – “FUNNY SOUNDS”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE SAVANTS OF SOUL – “SPOT AT THE TOP”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: BROKE ROYALS – “ALL I HAVE TO SHOW”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: WORK WIFE & MARY HOOD – “DROWN ME OUT”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DYLAN MOON – OPTION EXPLORE
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: VOX SOMNIA – “SINS”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: MICKEY MOONE – “COME ON BABY”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: PLASTIC HARPOONS – “DIAMOND WINGS”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: LONDON PLANE – BRIGHT BLACK
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
156
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FANTASTIC NEGRITO - WHITE JESUS BLACK PROBLEMS
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ENCEPHALON - ECHOES

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE SHEEPDOGS – OUTTA SIGHT

The Sheepdogs

The Sheepdogs
Outta Sight
Dine Alone Records/Warner Music

Saskatchewan’s The Sheepdogs have been a centrepiece of the Canadian rock scene for the last decade. Their first three label-released records achieved relatively great commercial success in Canada, their 70s rock’n’roll renaissance comfortably fitting into a genre oversaturated with modern sentiment.

On their fourth record, Outta Sight, The Sheepdogs have dug their heels in and delivered on their niche ten-fold. These eleven optimistic, easy-listening tracks are laden with relics from the past – channeling The Guess Who, The Rolling Stones & even Led Zeppelin – without losing that signature Canadian country charm.

Lead single “Find the Truth” acts as an apt indication of the record’s ambition. Striking layered guitars in full-fledged theatrical step with chanting vocals become a staple for the songs on Outta Sight, each varied enough to feel different than the ones that came before it, but still part of the same cohesive whole.

Standout songs include the percussion-driven “I Wanna Know You”, whose harmonic chorus feels destined for a stadium singalong and whose twangy electrics contribute to the subtle psychedelic touches throughout the record. The Fleetwod Mac-tinged “Carrying On” relies on sweet, soothing harmonies to drift along with fluttering keys and bluesy strings. There’s an effortlessness that is so prominent on Outta Sight, epitomized by moments like these. Take the juxtaposition of the muted verses and explosive chorus on “So Far Gone”, the album’s carefree, wispy centrepiece. Guitar solos on “Here I Am” and “Scarborough Street Fight” call back to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pink Floyd, comparisons which are even further justified by Currie’s perfectly executed croon. Most impressive is the album’s closer “Roughrider ’89”, which rolls along with an erratic chord progression commonly found in old-school country music, but is elevated by some precise production to transform into a ballad reminiscent of KISS. Whether the Sheepdogs hold a reign over their own identity here is somewhat questionable, but becomes irrelevant on repeat listens because despite the very clear attempt to dress up like the past, Outta Sight still feels like something fresh and exciting.

By echoing the good ol’ days of 70s rock’n’roll, the Sheepdogs have created a jubilant rock record that stands a cut above the rest. It’s road tripping music with the sentiment of a summer music festival. Not a single song overstays its welcome (most tracks are 2.5-3.5 mins long) and each one brings something new to the table while sounding confidently in-step with the last. It’s The Black Keys without the dramatic riffs and attention-grabbing distortions. Just plain and simple rock music which, quite frankly, the popular music scene has been sorely missing for a very long time.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE SHEEPDOGS – OUTTA SIGHT

Author

Robert Defina

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
7.5
8.0
Total Spill Rating
7.5
Total Fan Rating
3 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsdine alone recordsfind the truthouttta sightthe sheepdogswarner music
album review, album reviews, dine alone records, find the truth, outtta sight, the sheepdogs, warner music
About the Author
Robert Defina
Robert Defina is an avid critic both on paper and in person. He spends more time writing album reviews than he does worrying about his future. He hopes that this sort of procrastination never grows old.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewsdine alone records
 
8.0
The Dreadnoughts

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DREADNOUGHTS – ROLL AND GO

by Michelle Cooney on June 24, 2022
The Dreadnoughts Roll And Go Stomp Records The Dreadnoughts have been baptized with a variety of classifications, from “cluster folk” to “polka punk” to “ciderpunk”. Their new album, [...]
 
8.0
Dylan Moon

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DYLAN MOON – OPTION EXPLORE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 17, 2022
Dylan Moon Option Explore RVNG Intl. Anybody who had a chance to hear Dylan Moon’s initial album Only the Blues, from 2019 might be taken aback by what is in the grooves (or bits) [...]
 
8.0
The Dream Syndicate

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DREAM SYNDICATE – ULTRAVIOLET BATTLE HYMNS AND TRUE CONFESSIONS

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 10, 2022
The Dream Syndicate Ultraviolet Battle Hymns And True Confessions Fire Records The Dream Syndicate came, dropped a few brilliant modern psych [...]
 
8.0
Wardruna

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WARDRUNA – KVITRAVN – FIRST FLIGHT OF THE WHITE RAVEN

by Samantha Wu on June 10, 2022
Wardruna Kvitravn – First Flight Of The White Raven Music For Nations/Sony Music/Columbia Germany/Bynorse Einar Selvik is the storyteller and mastermind [...]
 
8.0
The Fixx
9.6

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE FIXX – EVERY FIVE SECONDS

by Aaron Badgley on June 3, 2022
The Fixx Every Five Seconds The Orchard/BFD/JARC Records The Fixx made their debut in 1982 with their debut album Shuttered Room. Of course, they had formed earlier and paid their dues [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DREADNOUGHTS – ROLL AND GO
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DYLAN MOON – OPTION EXPLORE
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DREAM SYNDICATE – ULTRAVIOLET BATTLE ...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WARDRUNA – KVITRAVN – FIRST FLIGHT ...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE FIXX – EVERY FIVE SECONDS
8.0
9.6

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL FEATURE: CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2022 – THIS YEAR’S PROG CRUISE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
739
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PRIMUS – CONSPIRANOID
577
 
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
575
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE FIXX – EVERY FIVE SECONDS
421
 
SPILL NEWS: BARENAKED LADIES TO RELEASE LIVE TRACKS FROM SOLD-OUT ROYAL ALBERT HALL SHOW | DELUXE EDITION OF ‘DETOUR DE FORCE’ OUT JUNE 3
340
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – UNLIMITED LOVE
330
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NAZARETH – SURVIVING THE LAW
325
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “L.O.S.T.”
324
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL w/ LOLA COLETTE @ HISTORY, TORONTO
321
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: NIGHTWISH w/ BEAST IN BLACK @ HISTORY, TORONTO
303
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LUCIUS – SECOND NATURE
283
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DOROTHY – GIFTS FROM THE HOLY GHOST
269
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FANTASTIC NEGRITO – WHITE JESUS BLACK PROBLEMS
263
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES