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Never Too Loud
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Never Too Loud
Current price: $14.49
Barnes and Noble
Never Too Loud
Current price: $14.49
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Not too many people outside of Canada and Scandinavia seemed to notice, but Toronto-based trio
were responsible for some of the most electrifying, ass-kicking, fearsomely focused hard rock of the third millennium's first decade. That being said, after failing to attract a larger audience with two unquestionably stellar albums released through
, the band found itself relegated to smaller indie label
for 2008's
, meaning that not even U.S. distribution was a given. Notwithstanding this problematic setback, though,
showed they still held an ace or two in their hands by securing the services of hotshot producer
(
,
, etc.) to oversee
's sessions, and their new ally seemed to be fan enough to not attempt altering the band's sound, even while helping the group to cast a slightly wider stylistic net beyond its usual
and
-fishing grounds. Among the resulting surprises was the acoustic guitar-driven nostalgia of
and a pair of stoner rock-flavored offerings in the
-like, groove-oriented opener
and the extended six-minute head nod of
's longest track ever, by far), which culminated with guest vocals from
legend
. Beyond this experimental trio, though,
remained relatively faithful to the familiar
sound -- albeit rarely played quite as loud as on prior releases, ironically enough. Sure, the punkish pogo-fest of
and the raging hormones of teenage fantasy
both recalled some of the band's wilder, earliest outbursts, and impertinent challenges like
confirmed the enduring chip on eponymous frontman
' shoulder. But the mellower, melody-ridden
definitely valued quality over quantity, and both the album's worst and best offerings paid serious dues to the band's chief influences, the closing title track collapsing under the weight of dull repetition (akin to
's least inspired latter-day songs) while first single
reached for the heavens of perfection with that glorious blend of crunchy riffs and longing melodies (the very same ones that earned
's
his angel's wings). And so, somewhere between the same ol' and brand new, the disappointing and sublime,
proved to be yet another enjoyable LP from
, despite ranking just a notch below their most recent triumphs. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia