She Roars

SHE ROARS-COMPANION (indie)

In some music circles...actually MOST music circles, to be branded a 'pop band' is the equivilent to being stamped with the scarlet letter. It makes you lightweight, fluffy and throw-away. This is an unfair assessment. For example, Burton Cummings once said that a good pop song is the best trick a songwiter can pull off.

How about those little 'pocket symphonies' that Phil Spector was behind in the 60's. There is nothing lightweight or fluffy about Be My Baby or River Deep Mountain High. Pop music wasn't always made up of groomed and mass marketed adolescent supernovas fast tracking to rehab (although, in hindsight Spector made a shaky defense for himself on the 'screwed up' meter of the golden era...Brian Wilson too). Pop music was once considered somewhat of an artform, and as the possibilities in the studio broadened, it became the brave new frontier. There was a time that pop was considered not only cool, but important as well...see Motown. In the 70's ABBA, a Swedish pop group, was the biggest national export of their homeland. Then there were under exposed goups like Big Star, who made pop music when nobody else did, forcing them to exist in obscurity, until years later when they were unearthed by the post punk wave like an artifact from an expedition. Oh trust me, there has been some incredible 'pop' music made over the years. It's not all fluff.

Fredericton's She Roars is a pop group, and I totally mean that in the best way possible. When I say they are 'pop', I'm not referring to their music as disposable...because it isn't. No, I'm talking about their songs; tightly executed, hyperactive packages of catchy melodies that embed themselves into your brain. After all, that is how pop music is supposed to work.

To their credit, She Roars doesn't really sound directly like anyone else. I'm not saying that they are reinventing the wheel here, but they are unique. Max Leblanc's vocals are a big part of that. He's got a great voice. it's certainly not what you'd call typical, but it retains the same kind of characteristics that gave Dave Matthews so much attention 15 years ago. It grows on you fast, and when the band launches in for the background chants, it stops you in your tracks like a suckerpunch. It's a cool trick. They do it really well. Leblanc also displays a gift for a clever turn of a phrase, with songs like Jacquie's Secret, Carpenter and Hotel Room being peppered with tons of nifty little couplets

I guess if I had to make a musical comparison, I might possibly point to early Barenaked Ladies (minus the schtick, the goofy clothes and haircuts), but I'll admit, thats kind of a stretch. Belle & Sebastian possibly? What these acts share is a similar type of buoyancy, where the music seems to ride along on a cushion of air. She Roars has that going on too.

For the new CD, Companion, She Roars has stepped up their game from their previous self titled EP of 2008, the big difference being the addition of Nic Murrins on guitar. Since bringing him on board, the band has really beefed up their sound, especially live. And I'll be damned if Kyle Clark isn't the best young drummer in the province right now. Check out finesse cymbal touches during the intro to White Flag Warfare. The kids got a quick pair of mittens.

The CD is well sequenced, and paced to be a fairly effortless listen...those 38 minutes will just fly by as one great song paves the way for another. If I have anything to offer, I thought overall the disc could have sounded a bit brighter..crisper. To me, it seemed the rhythm section was dialed a little flat on the bottom end of things. Clark is such a talent behind the kit, but I found the lack of sharpness in the snare didn't necessarily take away from his performance, but perhaps limited his effectiveness to propel the music forward. He has a great 'thwack' but it just didn't punch through like it should have. Also with the second guitarist added, I would have maybe liked to hear a little more of him. In fact, I think they missed some opportunities to use him. For example, European Influence On Western Culture could have really benefited froma big Oasis-like wash of guitar as the song was hitting its peak. It could have taken it to a totally new place.

But really at this point, it's obvious, I'm just searching for something to complain about. The new She Roars CD, Companion is just a superb listen, and the songs really shine. Combine that with their rabid local following, and the fact that they are really are coming into their own as writers, and these guys have a lot of things in their corner. I believe they could stand to be a serious east coast break-out act within the next 12 months.

Yesterday they paid a visit to Crash's show and treated us to this bang-on performance of the track, Carpenter...enjoy. - 105.3 FM The Fox