It has been one hell of a year for Canada. Everything that has been great has often come from that country and here is another. Clone are a five piece from Vancouver, but this album sounds so Brit, 1974 Brit for the most part.
Imagine you are me and you are ready to graduate from singles to albums and want your first pocket money purchase to be something you will remember. You would have been delighted if it would have been this. Knock Out Drops Vol. II is great Glam Rock, wonderful showy.
When it was me, I was fortunate that I got Sparks's Propaganda. Clone have fashioned up seven, good time, all the time gems. When many try this it gets either too pastiche or a mix of the shouty and the show off. This lot can obviously play, but they don't have to prove it.
Also with a female front woman, you might expect it to be Suzi Quatro like shoutiness. There's not a bit of that here. Juniper Watters are wonderfully understated, melodic and all the better for it. This gives the songs additional character.
Lyrically, subjects are approached in a way that Shirley Manson does, but there is no noise or angst. These are just great songs, largely Pop Rock, but there are also some great breakout guitar solos and a rhythm section performance to die for.
When the album leaves the chosen path, it is equally great. Set The Night On Fire is splendid bigger Rock and Hold Him Down wouldn't be out of place in 90s College Rock or UK Brit Pop. Overall, wonderfully presented and played and a top notch album!
You can listen to and buy the album here.
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Awesome Band!!
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