Canor

Canor - Vol. 1
2010, Canor

South Bay, California quartet Canor digs into 2010 with their debut EP, Vol. 1, with a guitar-oriented alt-rock sound, catchy tunes and a vocalist who’s a bit out of the ordinary. Vol. 1 opens with "In All Fairness", an edgy bit of stripped-down rock n roll that makes the most of simple chord progressions. Vocalist Alex Hiner has a mundane voice, but conveys the cynicism about another's intentions perhaps better than even the lyrics themselves. "Slow Your Roll" follows the relatively abrupt downfall of a relationship. Hiner's flat delivery here is emotionally appropriate to the song, but varies little from what comes before or afterward. Hiner comes alive on "Shambles", a vibrant, kitschy rocker that's catchy and memorable. There's a bit of Nirvana-esque guitar work in the song as well as a sense of abandon that's palpable. "It Costs" is a punk rock tune in genteel clothes about the cost of casting those who care about you aside. Vol. 1 closes with a live version of Shambles. The ambience of the room where this was recorded makes the most of the open arrangement. The sound quality isn't quite perfect, but it's a positive upgrade from the studio version of the tune.

Canor brings an interesting and edgy dynamic to their debut EP, Vol. 1, and they make it work by keeping things simple. The songs on Vol. 1 won't take over the radio airwaves anytime soon, but they are solid and catchy offerings that few listeners would take umbrage with. Vol. 1 is a solid start.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Canor at www.myspace.com/canor. Vol. 1 is available digitally from iTunes.
Posted by Wildy at 6:37 AM - www.wildysworld.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews
It's quite nice.

by Rante Cimafranca

Upon listening to this, I'm extremely excited to see the possible growth of Canor. For a self-released ep there's a professional sound here. It's composed with a clear intonation in mind and transitions smoothly within the track; they avoid many of the pratfalls-the oddly syncopated beats, muddled vocals, disjointed guitar and bass lines-that plague so many other bands of their vein. The sound is mature and developed, especially considering the median age for the band is twenty-something; to achieve this kind of sound and focus excites me.

But it isn't helpful to simply read nice things, so it's apt to draw a comparison. One of my favorite bands is Cursive, and one of my favorite albums is domestica. It's vintage Cursive stripped of the polish of the studio, of the ominous cello, and is startling in its bearing of the heart and soul. Listening to Canor is evocative of many of the very same things that I like about Cursive sans the cello. My favorite song has to be "Shambles," featuring this sick guitar line that thumps with along with the bass, with a guitar line flitting around this deep and guttural sounds. It's rhythmically enchanting. "It Costs" follows the same sound in suit. The chorus here depicts the feelings of a scorned lover towards their ex with grace succinctly: "I wasn't trying to hold you back/I was just trying to hold on" echoes many of the sentiments of those rejected and I like the capturing of that feeling. There are a lot of youthful elements in both the composition of the music and lyrics, and when handled with a certain focus and maturity it develops into something that doesn't sound annoying and irreverent but rather vulnerable, raw, and real. Canor elicits this feeling beautifully here.

I like Vol. 1 quite a bit and really want to see what they go next, and go further with this sound. Great job. :D
- acme productions