"More Joy From Canada" could be this years catchphrase on here. This is a little different from our usual blend of Guitar led Pop and Rock. Ethan K. Bender is from Saskatchewan and those Prairielands do provide a starting point for the album.
But this is far far more than Americana or Country Rock, it revels in adventures into Classic Rock and Modern Melodic Psych. Even a song as Country as The Birdwatcher's Waltz is enhanced by Guitar riffs and solos that are Psych tinted Classic Rock.
At times, he can go close to a band like The Successful Failures, but the Rock is more restrained Classic and the Psych much more pronounced. King, instrumentally, even contains a fair bit of UK Glam Rock Guitar and that is Bender's strength.
Songs develop into unexpected directions due largely to the strength of his Guitar playing. For instance Snakeskin, Baby! is thoroughly gentle until the Guitar explodes in and boy does it explode. The nearest comparison that I can think of is Bull Mallonee in his Vigilantes Of Love days.
Elevator is probably the stand out song with its Doors like verse. The song has a late 60s feel and has some wonderful Psych wig outs. Caravan runs it close though, a much Rockier affair, part Classic Rock, part Blues Rock with a great vocal.
The Ground Floor isn't something that you'd naturally see on here. My Classic Rock days are consigned to growing up and anything I hear these days seems to be of a similar mediocre template. This album, however, is a cracking listen with plenty of diversions and more than deserves your ears.
You can listen to and buy the album here.
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