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THE WARPED 45's
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by
Shain Shapiro
January 21-27,2010 |
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One of Canada’s strongest musical markets, both domestically and internationally, is alternative country, or what has been labeled “Canadiana”. With a history that rivals any country – featuring the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell and Ian Thomas – a generation of new bands have taken the influences of old to heart, and created a community of roots music that consistently churns out unique and original material. So, without further ado, here’s an introduction to Canada’s next great export, Toronto’s Warped 45s. The quintent, obvious phonophiles and well aware of the history of the music they are appropriating, have created a well–worn tribute to the past, while offering sonic suggestions of what the genre is going to sound like in the future.
Though their debut full–length, titled 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan, The Warped 45s have a distinctly Canadiana release on their hands, complete with alcoholic ballads, tales of travel and of course, a provincial shout–out to round it all off. “The songs were written and all tried live for a year previous to going into the studio, so I guess any themes we had snuck in with us,” discusses guitarist and one half of the songwriting duo, Dave McEathron. “I feel a great connection to traditional styles of music but you can’t ignore all that has happened in music up to now. With us, I think they have to be updated lyrically to reflect the changes in technology, social customs and the environment as well. In one of our songs for example, ‘Radio Sky’, it’s a hubcap stream and in ‘New Depression’ it is the concept of a ruinscape. My songs tend to jump from the past to possible futures and play off of each other through time. There are themes being raised through a few characters about how they are living or if they even deserve to live and there is exploration of nature, but under the sphere of pollution and terror with just enough hope to make it digestible. Hopefully these themes appear as suggestions, but not in a preachy way. It’s more important to me that they offer up daydreams of sorts around on a few subjects, like a movie.”
Released in September, the response has been overwhelming. Picked up by Toronto–based indie Pheromone Recordings and released nationally through Fontana North, 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan has even surprised the band, including cousin of Dave and other co–conspirator, Ryan McEachron. “Although the reviews have been great pretty much across the board and we appreciate all of them, the most memorable would have to be while driving up north, heading for Thunder Bay, on our first west coast tour,” explains McEachron. “We are all together, in the van, listening to our favorite radio show, CBC’s Drive with Rich Terfry of Buck 65, who then came on and announced that he thinks our album is one of his favorite albums of the year. It’s amazing we didn’t drive off the road.” Yet, the success should not come as a surprise. To begin, the album was recorded by one of Canada’s best roots producers, Toronto’s John Critchley. Having already worked with Elliott Brood and Dan Mangan, The Warped 45s knew they were in good hands. “The album was recorded at Green Door Studios in Parkdale (in Toronto’s west end) with producer John Critchley,” adds Ryan. “We initially used the studio as a practice facility, so were already comfortable there, and were impressed by John’s projects with bands such as Elliott Brood, NQ Arbuckle and others. We did a six–song EP with John in 2008 that we were proud of and served us well, so it only seemed natural that we should record our full length album there too.
“But there were challenges. The first was money. We decided that we would record a new record anyway, even if it meant going into debt. And it did; a lot of debt. Regardless, we started recording last winter. We wanted the audience to hear the live energy, which John is good at capturing, so we spent a few solid long weekends laying down tracks together in one sweaty room. From there we had to spread out our overdubbing and mixing based on our ability to come up with money, and a run of flu and or pneumonia that knocked us all out, one at a time. We all got better, the record got finished and the rest is history.”
While 10 Day Poem for Saskatchewan is another notch on the success of the Canadiana scene in Canada, live is where The Warped 45s truly come into their own. It’s inebriated, insatiable, raucous roots and roll, and very different from the album. “There may be a bit of a serious feel on the record, but live it’s a much more lighthearted and energetic,” asserts cousin Ryan. “When the crowd is interacting with us, we like to fire back and forth and get them involved. More and more people like to sing along, and we really love that. It is more raw when you can see us playing off each other, sweating buckets. Trust me.” V
[SHAIN SHAPIRO]
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