BeatRoute Magazine BC Edition February 2019

Said the Whale - Cascadia Seer - Vol. 6 Sleepy Dog Sneaks - Highway Hypnosis
Whitehorse
The Northern South Vol.2
Six Shooter
When the Polaris Prize-nominated duo Whitehorse
released The Northern South Vol. 1 EP back in
2016 it added a new layer to the bluesy glam folk
rock sound Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland
had become known for.
Now with Vol 2., Whitehorse is still showing
how sinister, sexy and striking the blues can really
be. Made up of fiery traditional blues gospel tracks
and jams, Vol. 2 doesn’t stray too far away from the
original compositions and sounds, but adds just
the right pinch of Whitehorse flavour.
Beginning with Howlin Wolf’s “Who’s
Been Talkin,” a song about a lover being less
than faithful, Doucet and McClelland utilize
the Wurlitzer, melodica, and of course some
foreboding lead guitar to reanimate the 1957 track.
Next comes a take on Jimmy Reed’s classic “Baby
What You Want Me To Do,” which stays pretty
true to the blues minimalism Reed portrayed.
Still, the jittery Gretsch squeals enhance the
track and keep it groovin. “John the Revelator”
finds its way onto the album except with some
more up to date lyrics about the sorry state
the United States finds it in, global warming,
consumerism, and of course, religion. It might be
the most experimental and interesting track on
Vol. 2.
“Baby Scratch My Back,”—Slim Harpo’s classic
sexist ditty—is morphed into a track of female
empowerment with McClelland on lead vocals.
To cap the album off is Whitehorse’s take on “St.
James Infirmary,” an American jazz blues standard
with unknown origins made famous by Cab
Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and more recently,
The White Stripes. Whitehorse’s version is a great
take on ethereal blues that brings the album to a
blissful halt, leaving the listener wanting more.
• Stephan Boissonneault
Weezer
The Teal Album
Crush Music / Atlantic
If everything in life was as poppy and sweet as
Weezer’s Teal Album, we’d be just fine. The band
surprise-dropped the record late last month,
giving us nine more cover songs on the heels of
the (relative) success of their rendition of Toto’s
“Africa.” Don’t worry, that track is included here if
it hasn’t made you want to punch a wall yet.
In any case, The Teal Album gives us nine more
songs of sugary, energetic pop-rock covers, notably
focusing on ‘80s favorite from greats like Tears For
Fears, Eurythmics, A-ha, and Michael Jackson. Like
“Africa,” they’re all insanely faithful covers, which
make for a fun, short, and pleasurable listen.
Weezer fans of old might be a tad disappointed
with the disc though. The closest thing you’ll find
to edginess here is their take on Black Sabbath’s
“Paranoid,” which amps up the distortion but
again, sticks closely to the script. Other standouts
include covers of The Turtles “Happy Together”
and ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky.”
The Teal Album is harmless rock delivered
with a sugary coating. Luckily it doesn’t stray into
Twisted Sister territory or overstay its welcome.
Now bring on The Black Album already!
• Trevor Morelli
February 2019 37