Pack Rat, Debra-Jean Creelman, Truck Violence, future star
Pack Rat - Life’s A Trap
Patrick McEachnie may be best known for his work as the drummer for Vancouver hardcore act Chain Whip, but all Canadian punk fans should also get acquainted with his other project, Pack Rat. The two bands are polar opposites on the punk spectrum, Pack Rat is melody rich power-pop and way less abrasive than Chain Whip. Lyrically, there’s a fun quality to Life’s A Trap like the exhibitionist anthem, “Neighbours” or the sarcastic look at local punk scenes of “Ask A Punk.” A great record to get the most of the remaining nice days of summer.
Debra-Jean Creelman - Ego Death
Debra-Jean Creelman returns with a stunning Avant-Pop album that winks to R&B, Soul, and Jazz. Using horns arranged by renowned experimental trumpeter JP Carter (Destroyer, Dan Mangan) as the backbone, Creelman crafts luscious soundscapes. The music creates a stirring emotional tone for an album where Creelman dives into mental health issues, explaining an underlying theme of: “examining the idea that we can look at our trauma and adversities as things we choose to learn from in this life.”
Truck Violence - Violence
Truck Violence blends polar-opposing musical genres like an oil/vinegar salad dressing. The two don’t mix unless you shake the shit out of it. For this analogy the oil represents twangy folk tunes while the sharp vinegar is noise-rock. When the two get stirred together, Violence becomes a cohesive listen, a culmination of the sum of its parts. On paper it shouldn’t work, but in practice this Montreal band has tapped into something exciting and unique.
Future Star - It’s About Time
Heart-on-sleeve vocals that examine the passage of time are at the forefront of It’s About Time, the new album from Vancouver artist Future Star. Juxtaposing intimate, minimalistic songs that feature only piano and voice with intricately crafted pop pieces that boast a flurry of sounds, It’s About Time is a big step forward in song craft for Future Star.
- Jeff MacCallum