Waterbodies

If the movie Home Alone existed today, it’d go like this:

[Macaulay Culkin calls mother’s cell phone]: “Hi mom, it’s me Kevin. You forgot me at home. OK, see you soon, bye.”

But fortunately, cell phones weren’t readily available in 1990 and we were blessed with the Macaulay Culkin classic, which taught us many important life lessons. Namely, that blow torching two guys and throwing them down a set of stairs and hitting them in the head with paint cans and nail guns and stuff will not kill them. It’ll just be hilarious. It also gave us some great, underrated one-liners, such as “Buzz’s girlfriend...woof!” and this one which Toronto three-piece Waterbodies have borrowed for a song title: “You’re what the French call ‘Les Incompétents.'"

Did we only listen to this song for the Home Alone reference? We’ll be honest with you. Yes, yes we did. But then we got sucked into it, since it has a hook as sharp as the thumbtacks in Daniel Stern's feet and will stick on you like the tar and feathers on Joe Pesci. Give 'em a whirl below.

Keep the change, ya filthy animals. - Noisey Staff

I was recently introduced to a super sick band called Waterbodies, and because of how much I enjoy their music I didn’t even cringe when I found out their show was at the Silver Dollar here in Toronto (…well, not too much, anyway). Cringeworthiness aside, I did indeed venture out to the almighty Dollar, and a great time was had by all, EVEN me!

Out of all the music venues in Toronto, I wouldn’t go as far as to say I hate any of them. That being said however, I would certainly go as far as to say that I would prefer to not go to the Silver Dollar. But go I did, and for my trouble Waterbodies made sure I had an absolutely kick ass time, and truly I loved every minute of it. These guys are rad as hell, and definitely know how to put on a show. You actually enjoy watching them play, because they clearly love what they’re doing up there. They can play and sing live incredibly well, which one would assume is standard practice in the music industry. But unfortunately that isn’t always the case. Their latest single “What the French Call ‘Les Incompétents'” (one of several recently recording songs the band has yet to unleash on the world) is an absolutely amazing track, which I happily watched them nail live on stage. The rest of the crowd was clearly as into it as I was, since they seemed to know all the words, and most of them scattered once Waterbodies had vacated their place in front of their eyeballs.

Basically, if you like music you need to check out Waterbodies. They’re from St. Catharine’s, but we won’t hold that against them. Yes, they’re that good. - Alex Payne

There must be something in the water over in the Niagara Region (and I’m not talking about the pollution of Lake Ontario). Comprised of Mike McGean (vocals, guitar), Dylan Turner (guitar, keys), Roxy Fast (bass) and Shane Turner (drums), Waterbodies’ The Evil We Know is the latest in a string of strong releases to come out of Niagara this year. The band’s version of heavy yet ambient alt-rock is encapsulated in the carefully orchestrated experimental arrangements on this album.

The album tends to circulate around themes of relationships gone awry. Opener “How To Burn Bridges” is an assault of pummelling aggression. While you can easily lose yourself in the intense instrumentation of tracks like “A Glasgow Kiss” and “Your Better Judgement on Mute” without paying particular attention to the words, there is a lyricism there that is both angry and reflective. Unlike some heavier releases, this one forces you to feel. The words behind “Deadweight” and “Like Sinking” really struck a chord with me, bringing up thoughts of a person you thought you needed at one point, but all they actually do is pull you under. As McGean bellows out lines like “I don’t feel like sinking” and “I don’t need you to feel complete,” in the end you have to cut them loose to stay afloat.

The album takes a turn for the more melodic on the last three songs. “Borgata” is still gripping but also almost downright catchy. If you’re curious, the title is derived from the Italian for “village” and is defined as “a branch of the mafia.” I’m still undecided how this bit of newfound knowledge colours my thoughts of this track. A spoken voice intro leads into final song “Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea.” The song depicts a softer side to McGean’s vocals that then plunge you into the icy depths before it finally drifts off calmly, almost as if the speaker is finally at peace. The water can be tumultuous and thrashing, but also calm and reflective; the same goes for this album. The effects on the keys at times even gives you the feeling of being under water.

The Evil We Know is available for purchase through iTunes or Bandcamp. Waterbodies recommends you call in sick and devote the day to listening to the album. While I’m not advocating for playing hooky, you may not be able to turn this one off once you get into it. The band will be in Toronto on January 10th at The Horseshoe. - Chiara DiAngelo - Buying Shots For Bands

More often than not rock/indie music tends to progressively become more characterless and moderate. However, some bands come along and put out something new and gripping. Through they’ve previously released a run of EPs, Niagara’s Waterbodies have found a strong balance in their sound with their new full length record entitled “The Evil We Know”. The eleven-track album sweeps in as an ultimate catchy, melodic, post-rock sound, balancing it’s graceful soft nature in a world of energy. Whether vocalist Mike Mcgean is punctuating the air with a careful, soft spoken falsetto or shouting above the chaos of electric instrumentals these songs are nothing if not expressive and hold a strong emotional background.

The record sets out with a two minute measure entitled “How To Burn Bridges” which briefly sets the tone. The song immediately kicks in with a solid drum beat followed by catchy and melodic guitar riffs. It doesn’t take long before organically soft vocals cut through the screeching guitar. The chorus is upbeat and viscous, with howling vocals and a solid drum tempo. Most songs on this record follow this formula. Along the way a lot of subtle modifications make themselves felt, and it’s just those subtle modifications that allow the songs to truly deliver with a certain diverse feeling. It’s combination of slow and graceful with interludes of energy and volume make for a perfectly balanced listen from start to finish.

Rating: 4/5 - Robert Burciul - Bside Niagara

Rating: 9/10Waterbodies - The Evil We Know
Waterbodies is an Alternative Rock trio from St. Catharines, Ontario. Founded in 2008, The Evil We Know is the band’s fourth release of pure indie-rock brilliance. These guys have been making a name for themselves in and around Ontario playing as many shows as possible as well as showcasing the S.C.E.N.E. (St. Catharines Event for New music Entertainment) festival earlier this year which featured over 150 acts.

Featuring Mike McGean on vocals/guitar, Roxy on bass/vocals, and Shane Turner on drums, they’re a band of few words and sharp wit. I was previously unfamiliar with the band prior to this album and I had happened upon them by chance and was intrigued by the album artwork.

When I played the opening track “How To Burn Bridges” I found myself turning it up louder and louder as the track went on. The track holds a Nirvana type vocal quality with the way McGean belts out the chorus with pure visceral emotion. The rest of the album blew my mind with the way these tracks are put together and executed. The sound is rich and powerful, heavy and dynamic with a maturity of dark emotions that is engaging and enjoyable, all the qualities of a great indie rock record.

My favorite track is (track 5) “Like Sinking.” the way the verses ebb and flow and then the chorus kicks in (also paying homage to moniker Waterbodies) with the lyrics You’re just water/ dressed in skin and bone.
This is a great companion album to ABEL’s Make It Right or the new BALANCE AND COMPOSURE – “The Things We Think We’re Missing” - Scott - AmpKicker.com