Grayowl Point

Reviewed by Allyssia

I’ll admit it: sometimes I judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge me. Sometimes it leads to the discovery of something remarkable. This was definitely true with the eponymous LP from The Balconies, an Ottawa pop-rock band. I was first enticed to give it a listen when, upon turning off the light to go to bed in my dingy apartment, I realized that the CD case was glowing in the dark. Amazed by this, I gave it a listen the following morning and was pleased to find that what was on the CD was just as awesome (if not more awesome) as that which contained it.

The album, which is very guitar-driven and percussion-heavy, gets off to a great start. It pulls you in with the upbeat, tambourine-shaking tune “Lulu” and doesn’t let go of you for another 36 minutes, or later if you decide to play the album again. I guess we should expect no less from the trio since they all received music degrees from the University of Ottawa.

It would be unfair and useless to limit my description of their sound to “pop-rock” because to be quite honest, their sound is more than that. At some points the album brings to mind the classic rock of the sixties, but it’s less like an acid trip and more like smoking up in a Volkswagen van with a band of hippies. This is especially true with “The Slo,” which had me swaying absentmindedly with my eyes closed even before the vocals commenced. At other points, the album even gives a much-appreciated tribute to the under-represent doo-wop genre with harmonies, vocalizing, and “ba-bas” that would earn a nod from The Five Satins themselves.

But the band isn’t all about upbeat songs. On “Hollow Bones,” yet another amazing track, they show that they can work a slow song too.

A definite star on this album is the band’s lone female member, Jacquie Neville, who plays guitar and sings lead on many of the album’s tracks. She is, to put it simply, phenomenal. It’s rare that you hear a vocalist with as much control and as broad a range as she demonstrates not only in the indie sphere, but in the music industry in general. I especially love her on the fabulous “300 Pages,” where she demonstrates that she can belt with the best of them without sacrificing the sincerity of her voice.

Amazingly, this album is able to pair their catchy melodies with great lyrics. They’re quirky, simple and memorable. It’s likely that you’ll be using one of their lyrics as your Facebook status or MSN personal message at some point after listening to the album. I’ve already stolen “You’re my passion, my daily chore,” from the song “Elephant Lamp.”

 Balconies is without a doubt one of the best albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to this year. If you’re looking for a feel-good album featuring talented musicians making fun songs, this is an album for you.

Top Tracks: “300 Pages”, “The Slo”, “Serious Bedtime”

4 Hoots (out of 4) + *swoop*