Commonwealth isn't the best Sloan record, but it's still a quality release from a band that does power pop right.
Title: Commonwealth
Artist: Sloan
Label: Yep Roc Records
Time: 15 tracks/59 minutes
It's rare to see a band together for 20 plus years with no lineup changes, and it's even rarer to see that same band still putting out great music, even after all that time. But Sloan has managed both feats, and they continue their run of solid power pop releases with Commonwealth.
One of the reasons the band works so well is that all four members share the songwriting duties, which allows for a lot of variety, keeping the band from slipping into a rut. Past records have always been a blend of the various band members' songs, but Commonwealth serves things up differently, breaking the record into four sections so each member has his own chance to shine.
First up is Jay Ferguson, who gives us five nuggets of sunny pop rock that will leave your toes tapping. Ferguson has always had the lightest touch in the band, embracing pop influences from the Beatles to Big Star to the Kinks. Those influences are on full display in the fine Beatle-esque ballad "Three Sisters" and the stomping pop of "Cleopatra."
Chris Murphy, the band's most prolific songwriter, steps up next with his contributions, offering a heavier sound than Ferguson while still embracing tight harmonies and sharp, memorable hooks. His standouts are the driving rock of "You Don't Need Excuses to Be Good," and the hooky pop of "carried Away."
Guitarist Patrick Pentland next steers the band into darker territory with back to back rockers "13 (Under a Bad Sign)" and "Take It Easy." Of course, he then follows it up with the noisy dirge of "What's Inside," and then closes out his section with the crunchy, Kiss-influenced melody of "Keep Swinging (Downtown)."
Drummer Andrew Scott only contributes one song: the ambitious "Forty-Eight Portraits," a dense, 18 minute medley that kicks off with a two minute noise collage. The song runs the gamut from everything to pop rockers to ballads, and it doesn't all hit the bullseye, but I appreciate the artistry and ambition behind it.
Commonwealth isn't the best Sloan record, but it's still a quality release from a band that does power pop right.
Eric Landfried
