What is it with Canada spewing forth such an excess of sweet bands lately? The pale, awkward landmass we all used to try our best not to talk about is now called home by such indie rock royalty as Broken Social Scene, the Arcade Fire, Manitoba (now Caribou), Unicorns, the Constantines and Hot Hot Heat.
And now, with a critically acclaimed EP and full length under his belt, Montreal native, Sam Roberts, is slowly making his way onto the list as well. While he may not be nearly as innovative or genre bending as any of the aforementioned groups, the kid sure can write a rock song!
I may have just inadvertently summed up this entire album with that last sentence. We Were Born in a Flame will not broaden your horizons, change the way you think about music or make you want to grow a ratty beard, but I can guarantee it will make you want to sing along at the top of your lungs and dance your socks clean off.
This is rock & roll in its purest form... crunchy guitars, catchy as crap melodies, and pounding, clap-along drums. It's so intoxicating that when Roberts hollers "I would die for rock & roll" on the fist-shakin' rocker, "On the Run," it's hard not to believe him and (on some level) sympathize.
There isn't really a dud on this whole album. "Don't Walk Away Eileen" jams like an old Rolling Stones b-side, the throbbing, Spoon-ish "Rarefield" grooves to high heaven, "This Mess of a Life" shimmers as a nice, off-kilter quasi-ballad and "Dead End" sounds like a jittery Bob Dylan having the time of his life.
My favorite track however, would have to be "When Everything Was Alright." This is easily one of the catchiest rock songs of the year. I wouldn't quite feel comfortable comparing it to the Beatles' finest work, but let's just say that it probably would have been one of their biggest hits had they written it back in the day... and they could have... because the Beatles were good... please don't hurt me.
If We Were Born in a Flame didn't sound quite so produced or contain the handful of lyrical flubs that it does, then I wouldn't think twice about giving it four stars. Sam Roberts, like the nation from which he hails, is slowly but surely becoming a force to be reckoned with. My advice: submit.
3.5/4
Similar sounding releases
2001Daniel AmosMr. Buechner's Dream
2005GoldrushOzona
2004Creamy VelourAngel's Guise
2001The Minus 5Let the War Against Music Begin
1999WilcoSummerteeth
2005World Leader PretendPunches
