The Post-Rockist

Sloan
Never Hear the End of It
[Vik Recordings; 2006]

The following is an abridged and partially truthful copy of the correspondence among Post-Rockist writers discussing the latest Sloan album, Never Hear the End of It, which is now available in Canada.

From: Scotter
To: Todd

Hi Todd,

Do you or one of our lovely writers have plans to review the new Mountain Goats? If not, I can have something by Monday. Also, I’m considering a news item: Sloan, Robyn Hitchcock, and the Tragically Hip all have new albums coming out in October.

If I don’t hear from you, have a great weekend.

Scotter

From: Todd
To: Scotter

Scott,

By all means, you can Get Lonely all on your own. I heard about the new Sloan album. It’s called Never Hear the End of It. 30 songs on one CD! Apparently there’s to be a bevy of energetic, one minute songs. How could this not be fun? In any event, I guess if you can’t win the game of quality, you can always wow ‘em with quantity.  Let’s just hope that these tunes are sturdier than their past couple albums – these Halifaxians have been overshadowed by the works of more willfully obtuse Canadians in recent years.

I had no idea the Tragically Hip were still around.

T.

From: E. Kula
To: Todd

Todd,

I’ve managed to acquire a promo copy of the new Sloan. You know how I am when it comes to this band – I can’t help but walk down the street doing Chris Murphy-styled jump kicks, crooning in harmony with Patrick Pentland. One track in particular, “Who Taught You To Live Like That?,” has so much swagger in the piano and Murphy’s slippery-when-wet bass line that I am compelled to emulate it in my stride. Sure, my behavior has raised some eyebrows, but if passer-bys were privy to this northern pop goodness blasting in my headphones, they’d do the same. I see that you have some Sloan-lovin’ associates working on the Post-Rockist, so in keeping the news section up-to-date with the reviews section, I’m sending you a copy of this 30-song gem.

Respectfully,
E. Kula

From: Todd
To: E. Kula

Kula,

Thanks for the care package. I can sympathize with your embarrassing adulation of these tunes. You know the song “I Understand,” which could have been a fine, two-minute Archies-inspired acoustic romp but instead revamps with three more minutes for a cathartic outro? Well, I emitted a Howard Dean-esque squeal through the roof of my cubicle when the whaling guitars decrescendo into a wash of church bells. I had to explain to my supervisor that I was upset that my computer froze and not, as it were, breaking into a sweat over my air guitar. Some people will never understand.

Kind regards,
Todd

From: Todd
To: Scotter

I’ve been listening to the new Sloan album nonstop and I’ve gotta tell you, Scotter, it’s good. Real good. As in, quite possibly their best yet. For a roughly 80 minute, 30 song album, it doesn’t feel like there are any extraneous tracks on this one. No joke, my friend, this is a veritable Mecca of guitar-based pop. Sure, the first track, “Flying High Again,” might be a little too loose and light an opener for such a beast of an album, but when listened to immediately following the closer “Another Way I Could Do It” (which is the only proper way to listen to this disc – on repeat) the selection makes perfect sense. The pacing on this bad boy is relentless: gritty (by Sloan standards) AC/DC romps segue into sentimental ballads with crossover potential for The O.C.; ‘90s power pop backed by ‘70s AM radio standards of excellence. I am a little concerned that the vocal phrasing midway through the song “I Know You” sounds suspiciously close to Bee Thousand-era GBV (I’m thinking “Smothered in Hugs”), but originality was never one of their strong suits. Enough of my yapping; I’m mailing you a copy.

Cheers,
Todd

From: Scotter
To: Todd

Good lord, Todd, you should’ve warned me not to play this CD in my car – I almost side-swiped a police cruiser merging onto the expressway because my eyes were closed mimicking the piano solo in the excellent Jay Ferguson track “Right or Wrong.” Sloan hasn’t sounded this together since Four Nights at the Palais Royale!  I can’t get enough of them and, to be honest, I’m sure they’re caput sometime next year. The last time I saw them, Chris Murphy was talking about getting a few guys, writing a few songs, and touring in a van across North America…after one more album. In retrospect, I can’t help but to listen to the Abbey Road homage in the track “Fading into Obscurity” as a clever hint at their own farewell. I’m beginning to tear up, I have to stop writing about this now.

Who’s reviewing this disc? Did you say Kula was taking it?

Best,
S-er

From: Todd
To: E. Kula

I was wondering: were you planning on writing something up on the new Sloan, or were you simply passing it along to me so that I could string together a few words. I had originally thought the former, but now I’m thinking it might have been the latter.

But no one’s going to read it, so I’m sure it doesn’t matter.

From: E. Kula
To: Todd

Todd,
I see what you’re up to. Trying to sneak into your e-mail a Sloan lyric off One Chord to Another. Shame on you for making me smile so bright.

I just passed the Sloan along with the intent that someone else write it up. Besides, I’m on the mend. I dislocated my shoulder after aggressively pumping my fist along with Andrew Scott’s drumming on the rocker “Ill Placed Trust.” That was my writing arm.

In sickness and in health,
E. Kula

From: Todd
To: Scotter

Crap. The ball’s in my court. I’ve been listening to this damned album going on two months and I think I’ve already spent all my available energy obsessing over it. Do you think if I just copied all my wasted e-mail correspondence about the Sloan album that it would look like a clever format for a review?

From: Scotter
To: Todd

Not in the least. Just post some mp3’s and hope no one gripes too much about it.

From: The Post-Rockist
To: Post-rockists in cyberspace

Sloan - Who Taught You To Live Like That?
Sloan - Fading Into Obscurity
(Available on Never Hear the End of It)

-Posted by Todd