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« on: September 01, 2016, 09:25:07 AM »
Also, there's a bonus track on the LP and digital versions (locked-groove at the end of track 13 before it starts), which is a cover of HEYDAY by The Sound.
Here's a couple of positive reviews as well:
ALL MUSIC:
The Ottawa-based Steve Adamyk Band have quietly been crafting quite a r?sum? of rawly stylish punky, poppy garage rock albums, each delivered with a raucous punch and plenty of hooky tunes. Their 2016 album, Graceland, is their first to be recorded in Montreal, and it features Sonic Avenues guitarist Max Desharnais as well as guest vocals from fellow garage punkers Colleen Green and Mike Krol. The shift in venues and the new blood seem to have gone a long way toward giving the band a boost. The songs feel a little sharper, the sound a little stronger, and everything seems just a touch more dynamic than usual. Previous albums had a tendency to breeze past on wave after wave of short, fast songs that didn't take time to catch their breath or show much range of emotion. That's not a bad thing, but sometimes a little bit of variation goes a long way. Here, there are plenty of tight, whipcrack rockers to satisfy that part of the equation -- tough-as-leather tracks like "Die Dead Forever," "Lose Control," and "Fallen Off" -- but there are also quite a few that dial back the aggression and speed to deliver a different kind of thrill. The very catchy "Carry On" adds Green's sweet backing vocals, a soaring chorus, and some nice organ breaks, and comes off sounding like it could be a hit single, their first. "Broken Arms" slows the tempo, keeps Green and the singalong chorus, and comes close to the kind of miniature epic rocker their labelmates Exploding Hearts knocked out so effortlessly. The churning "Give It Away" comes close to those lofty heights too, and shows Adamyk getting in touch with a more thoughtful side lyrically. There was nothing really wrong with the band's approach in the past; they could have kept cranking out fun, nasty rock & roll gems until they ran out of juice and few would have squawked. The subtle changes they have made to their m.o. on Graceland make a world of difference, however, adding some dimension and range to their sound and dishing out some near-classic punk-pop tracks along the way. There are plenty of bands treading these same boards; with this album the Steve Adamyk Band stake a strong claim that they are one of the best.
Faster & Louder Blog:
When it comes to singers and songwriters in the present-day punk world, Steve Adamyk has to be considered one of the most underappreciated talents out there. He's such a consistent creator of top-notch powerpop/punk that a lot of people take it for granted when he turns out yet another fantastic album. Fair or not, there's a perception that Adamyk essentially makes the same (great) record over and over. He finally seems poised to shed that rep with Graceland - his fifth album fronting the Steve Adamyk Band (out now on Dirtnap Records). Much to my delight, he accomplishes this without dramatically altering his approach to songwriting.
If you like catchy & ultra-energetic tunes that blur the line between punk rock and power pop, Graceland won't leave you wanting. Opening cut "Though My Fingers" can only be described as "classic" Steve Adamyk Band, and longtime fans will delight in heavily caffeinated racers like "If I Wanted To" and "Lose Control". But while Adamyk certainly would have been capable of delivering another first-rate album without leaving his lane, Graceland finds him majorly benefiting from some subtle changes in approach. "Give It Away" is similar to so many of Adamyk's top songs of the past - but with a less frenzied tempo and more breathing room for the hooks. "Carry On" and "Broken Arms" are pretty much pure power pop - and they're absolutely great! The entire back half of the album in particular hints at something close to a "new" sound for the band - with sprinklings of keyboards and inventive guitar/bass work infusing Adamyk's signature melodic punk style with a modern, new wave influenced feel. "High Mile", with its many layers and darker tone, is unlike anything we've ever heard from the Steve Adamyk Band. Yet it totally works - bringing to mind classic punk bands like the Buzzcocks that managed to indulge their experimental cravings without fully losing the plot. And the super-poppy, synth-infused "She's On My Mind" is a perfect example of why this is such a successful record. Rather than completely reinvent himself as a musician, Adamyk has chosen to add new dimensions that serve to complement what he already does so well. While never in doubt, his skills as a songwriter are really shining in a new light.
This is already my fourth time reviewing a Steve Adamyk Band album, and it has me hoping I'll get to review a whole lot more! If the distinction between previous albums largely came down to feel (e.g. Third was Adamyk's "punk" album; Dial Tone was his "garage" album), Graceland comes off as genuinely different from its predecessors. It still sounds like a Steve Adamyk record - just not one that you've heard before. Perhaps it's because I'm such a pop guy, but I consider this Adamyk's best work since Forever Won't Wait. Seriously: listen to "Carry On". If you're not digging it, I'm not sure we can remain friends.
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