Five Star Trailer Park
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Music
Press
"Five Star Trailer Park's new album 'The Fight That Broke Your Heart' is a pleasant surprise, very reminiscent of early Pearl Jam. It's one of the best rock records I have heard in a long time." - Slavo Kovac, Indigo Music
To Whom It Does Concern:
I became aware of the Five Star in the most weird way. I got a disc.
It was immediate. In scope and feeling.
I told Mr Spence so, and asked him to join our Festival in Belleville a month hence.
He said, ‘yes’.
They opened the Festival with a great cool intensity.
A band few knew anything about.
kicking it out hard to a slow rolling acclaim.
Go to the edge of this volcano and throw your money in it.
and ‘thank you’
Gord Downie - Gord Downie
Already I can tell you I really love it. The piano start is fantastic, the arrangements aren't what I call sparse but it's not over-produced or over-the-top. It's just great, the lyrics and delivery of them is honest, again, not embellished, earnest, or too rocked out. I really dig that snare sound, kind of marching band-like and it just helps build that lovely piano melody. The guitars sound kind of country, which again, I love.
You guys are totally on the right track. In fact, you're driving the train! - Amanda Putz, Host, CBC Radio 3 Podcast
Five Star Trailer Park are carrying the torch of "ensemble rock" groups here in Canada.
Big sound, powerful energy and finely sculpted lyrics ensure that this trailer park lives up to its rating and has set up camp for a long time to come. - Brian Corcoran, CBC's The Hour
“Emotive working-class rock, with maritime themes and Saskatchewan namedrops, but most importantly a fierce modesty that works in both the most dimly lit pubs or at Tragically Hip levels of success.” -Erik Leijon - The Montreal Mirror
About Dark As the North Atlantic:
Vocalist Nick Spence pulls off a career defining performance that dances on the edge of despair and hope revealing one of Canada’s unique voices. FSTP manage(s) to pack in some of the most emotional and enduring songs I’ve heard in a very long time.
About The Fight That Broke Your Heart:
For naysayers who think passionate radio rock is dead, check out Five Star Trailer Park’s debut album. The Fight That Broke Your Heart is chalked full of classic rock anthems stemming from a barrage of power chords, dead-honest lyrics and Canada’s tightest, driving rhythm section. Like their influences, Hawksley Workman, The Barenaked Ladies and Alanis Morisette, Broke Your Heart is void of any obvious studio tricks and reclaims the art of hook laden rock n’ roll. Songs like, “All My Friends,” “Goodbye Caroline” and “Leave the Light On” are all melodically intricate and will quickly become the soundtrack to your daily life. Currently in the studio recording the follow-up, FSTP will soon be your new favourite band. (Independent) ~ 4 Stars - Pop Journal - Canada's Media and Pop Culture Magazine
July 2009
Genius: the one and only word to describe Five Star Trailer Park’s most recent release, The Fight That Broke Your Heart.
This group of Canadian musical masters is slowly but surely making a name for themselves in the independent music scene and are already being compared to early Pearl Jam (Slavo Kovac, Indigo Music) and the Foo Fighters (CBC Radio 3).
The music – the arrangements to the lyrical composure - is beautiful, methodical and heartbreaking. From the opening track, “On the Drive Home,” to the last few notes of the final song, “Ten Fingerprints,” it’s pure addiction.
While the album tells a story about an earth-shattering break up, it also pays homage to their Canadian roots. The boys make a notable mention to Quebec in “Last Train to Montreal” and to the Rocky Mountains and rich fertile grounds of Alberta in the track “Aviator.”
The six patriotic fellas that make up FSTP are vocalist Nick Spence, guitarist Simon Greer, bassist Dan Black, drummer Matt Bennett, keyboarder Aaron Henry and back up vocalist and guitarist Paul Gorrie.
No strangers to the big stage, Spence and co. have already opened for the likes of The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts and Sarah Hammer. But with another original and creative release such as this one, it likely won't be long until they are headlining at Massey Hall.
By Emily Santos
http://www.lucidforge.com/reviews/13-albums/2174-five-star-trailer-park-the-fight-that-broke-your-heart-.html
- Lucid Forge - Canadian Arts and Entertainment Magazine
5 Stars
Nothing less than Five Stars for this Trailer Park.
From the opening riff of On the Drive Home to the fading notes of Ten Fingerprints, The Fight That Broke Your Heart lives up to FSTP’s self-proclaimed rating. This album contains 12 incredible rock tracks, none of which could be considered as filler by any stretch of the imagination. Every song is tight, well-written, and distinctly unlike anything else on the album. FSTP’s music is sonically mature and lyrically thoughtful and it seems as though The Fight That Broke Your Heart could be the band’s third or fourth release, instead of its debut album. It is apparent that this Canadian group knows what they are doing and are well aware that they are doing it right.
Erika’s fave track: Goodbye Caroline
BY ERIKA STARK
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/cd-reviews/five-star-trailer-park-fight-broke-your-heart#ixzz0Kh40MjJ1&D
- YouThink
The Belleville Intelligencer – June 2009
FIVE STAR TRAILER PARK -THE FIGHT THAT BROKE YOUR HEART (Independent, 2009)
Legions of Tragically Hip fans who think that Gord Downie speaks the gospel of rock should take notice. Downie had this to say about Five Star Trailer Park: "(they) are immediate in scope and feeling...with a cool intensity... go to the edge of this volcano and throw your money in."
Five Star Trailer Park is overtly Canadian, with songs about prairies, the Ice Storm and Canadian soldiers. Goodbye Caroline reminds this critic of the timeless Rheostatics song, Saskatchewan. Rachel Hamilton's backing vocals are particularly stunning on Last Train to Montreal. Other standout tracks include Aviator, On the Drive Home and the gloriously gritty Station Girl. Try to keep Five Star Trailer Park on the radar. Their star is on the rise.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1588653
- The Belleville Intelligencer
The Fight that Broke Your Heart is a straightforward modern rock album by Toronto band, Five Star Trailer Park. The emotion-packed lead vocals by Nick Spence are as legitimate as any of the better-known singers of that genre.
http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/article-347253-From-LiftOff-to-legends.html
- Seaway News
"Five Star Trailer Park embody the spirit of great Canuck Rock. I admire their enthusiasm to record, their excitement to play live, and their desire to push the band forward. They have great melodies, Rock and Roll spirit, and huge amounts of energy... That's a potent mix for a rock band!" - Ed Robertson
“...the startlingly sublime vocals of Nick Spence surely helps their new disc, Dark As The North Atlantic, rise to the surface; it’s an instrument that shadows Gord Downie’s idiosyncratic madcap bark and Antony Hegarty’s eerie soulfulness, and it’s lovely to listen to.” -Lori Mastronardi - London Free Press
Discography
Dark As The North Atlantic (2010)
The Fight That Broke Your Heart (2008)
Photos
Bio
"Five Star are immediate. In scope and feeling. With a great cool intensity. Kicking it out hard to a slow rolling acclaim. Go to the edge of this volcano and throw your money into it." Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip
"Five Star Trailer Park embody the spirit of great Canuck Rock. I admire their enthusiasm to record, their excitement to play live, and their desire to push the band forward. They have great melodies, Rock and Roll spirit, and huge amounts of energy... That's a potent mix for a rock band!" -Ed Robertson, Barenaked Ladies
Gord Downie compares them to a volcano about to erupt. CBC calls them a speeding train forging their own unique direction. The Hour claims they are a new permanent structure within the scaffolds of the Canadian musical landscape. Amidst all these inventive metaphors, who exactly are Five Star Trailer Park?
In short: they’re the ones sitting next to you at the diner before work asking for another cup of coffee. They’re the guys pumping gas into their van at your corner station so they can make it to the next town. They’re Canadian to the bone, and actually enjoy loading out gear at 3am in minus 30-degree winds gusting off the St. Lawrence River. It somehow feels patriotic and right.
Despite these romantic blue-collar beginnings, Five Star Trailer Park is no stranger to big shows. Since the release of their debut album, they’ve had the incredible opportunity to share the stage with some of Canada’s most legendary acts, such as The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, and Sarah Harmer, as well as rising stars like Attack in Black and The Matavaras. They put on a high-energy, passionate show and leave a pint of sweat on the stage every night.
With the release of their new album, Dark As The North Atlantic (2010), you can expect to find the Five Star Trailer Park ship popping up on your radar a good deal in the months to come. Or whichever metaphor you might choose to use…
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