IN REVIEW: Sloan - "12"

In terms of longevity and the level of quality contributions, Sloan have quietly become one of Canada's most dependable bands; with a career that has now stretched past the quarter-century mark and no true duds among their albums, the Maritime-born foursome have accumulated more than enough successes and accolades to all but ensure their place in Canadian rock all-time great discussions (aka "we all know The Hip reign at the top now and forever more, but who's second?").

With the appropriately-titled 12, Sloan's twelfth album doesn't seek to break new ground or introduce their undeniable knack for melody and group chemistry to a young, hip audience. Rather, we simply get yet another solid record from a band that's built a career on solid records. Like the majority of their previous output, we're also reminded that all four members are accomplished songwriters, and everybody gets their fair share here. Chris Murphy's compositions are the most radio-ready, with lead single Spin Our Wheels and penultimate mid-tempo rocker Wish Upon a Satellite offering the most effective evidence. Patrick Pentland's penchant for meatier material shines through on the frenetic and muscular earworm The Day Will Be Mine and the roaring, jangly Have Faith. Jay Ferguson pens more Beatles-inspired dreamy pop, the best of which is the piano-pounding mid-album highlight Essential Services and the airy, new-wavey The Lion's Share. Finally, Andrew Scott provides more of the psychedelic-laced rock that he's known for, resulting in colourful full-scale anthems like Gone For Good and the Floydian closer 44 Teenagers.

While 12 rarely finds its creators stepping out of their comfort zones, I'm reminded of how scattershot the results are when they do; Never Hear the End of It saw the group widening their horizons, resulting in their most overstuffed and difficult to enjoy album. "Enjoy" is the operative word there because, as obvious as their songwriting and chemistry may be, it's the sheer enjoyment that they get from creating (and we get from listening) that is the calling card of a great Sloan record. At the end of the day, if you're a fan of this band nothing I say about 12 is going to be much of a revelation because it's exactly what you would expect from Sloan; another enjoyable album from one of our nation's most cherished institutions.

April 6, 2018 • Murderecords/Universal
Highlights Spin Our Wheels • The Day Will Be Mine • Essential Services