Taking this album as evidence, a grunge revival really has happened.
Co-produced by Jordan Zadorozny (Blinker the Star), Don Vail mixes the
heavier side of grunge (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden) with punk
(Mudhoney, even Nirvana) and pop (Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub)
elements. Then there’s the ghost of long-defunct Treble Charger, a
once-respectable post-punk/power-pop band that fizzled with the horrid
tune, “American Psycho.” Once a member of that band, Don Vail’s Bill
Priddle should stick to his solo projects, instead of this strained
look-back. At least he’s not hosting a MuchMusic reality show like his
old bandmate Greg Nori.
This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2009.
I have serious problems with lazy reviews. If you’re limited to space or # of words, stick to tangible critique instead of pop-culture word-bites.
This is probably the most inaccurate review I have ever read. Did you even listen to the album, put down your disco-punk album and go fuck yourself.
Your a terrible writer, and if I was the editor of this magazine, I’d fire you and make sure you were never hired again.
Just to reiterate the above comments, this was a horrible review of an unbelievable album.
You didn’t read the book before doing book reports either, right?
Funny how all of you joined in the last day or two and have only posted one comment on this whole site: here. Finally! Finally I get to say what knee-jerk commenters always say (inaccurately) about The Coast writers: duh, is your buddy in the band? See how stupid that sounds? Of course you don’t know Don Vail. Of course, you’re just BIG fans of his. Of course you’re all different people. Lazy posters really upset me. You’re all fired.
The review spends more time & words taking digs at Treble Charger then it does critiquing the Don Vail album. Lazy, poor review. No disputing that.
Blah, blah. I don’t care what you think about this review. Instead of dumping on Sean Flinn, whose opinion I respect, why don’t you tell the world what you like about this ALBUM. What I care about is what you think about the record. What I take issue with is a blanket condemnation of the reviewer because somehow he (incredibly) failed to see beauty where you do. Disagreement over music is as common as rain. Tell me something I don’t know about this record. Write your review here, then other readers can judge from the comparison.
If The Coast wishes to email a cheque to 100 Rock n Rule Blvd, Whiskey-City Ontario for my review, I’d be all over writing you a review. It might be a positive review, it might be a negative review. But what I can say for sure, is it will be a descriptive review of the actual content of the album.
Where do I say his opinion of disliking the album is invalid?
It’s simply a poor review because there is little-to-no tangible critique of the music.
If Sean Finn were to use his limited space to describe what musicially is poor about the album, I’d have no dispute.
Instead the space is used for something catchy, funny, to get people’s attention. Well congrats, Sean. Look at all this attention! 🙂
Oh and congrats to The Coast, you’ve hired someone that gets your reviews read, whether they be thinly written or otherwise!
‘duh is your buddy in the band?’
duh, is your buddy sean flinn?
Yes my buddy is in the band. A few buddies honestly. You got me. I’ve been trumped, stumped and dumped.
the general public has an obligation to be lazy, professional reviewers on the other hand…
5 sentences, 3/5 ripping treble charger. So… what I get out of this review… There’s a grunge revival, which instantly means soundgarden and nirvana sound. really? that’s what you got out of this album? Was it the distortion or the screaming drug induced vocals? I didn’t feel like growing my hair to my shoulders and putting on the flannel jacket. I would say Don Vail has more of a “math” rock/indie feel to it. Bands to compare to? I’d say vocals are a strong mix of Lou Barlow with Craig Wedrens falsetto . I think that’s where the “math rock” feel to the songs come from. I heard the better side of treble charger on the guitars, the “once-respectable” side. I didn’t hear any nori inspired riffs or reality tv inspired riffs on here… but I guess nori is a fun word to type and say so I’ve thrown it into my review too. The bass lines keep the pop type feel in there, but it works with this album. It’s not much different than a QOTSA or a toned down RHCP driving bass lines. It really keeps the songs moving. Great album, great production, great songs for my playlist. Sean has a great review of how most of us feel about the route treble charger went and an easy opportunity to rip on it… not really a good review of the Don Vail album as 60% of the review was about tc. Actually I didn’t get anything out of this review. I got as much out of it as what I got out of the jumbled mix of word magnets on my fridge. Thecoast.ca… please pay me to rearrange them. I have about 100 words so the combos will be endless. I also know you’ll respect and defend anything I write/rearrange. I googled Don Vail and found this review on thecoast.ca btw. I agree with most of the replies that it wasn’t really much of a review. I don’t know who Andy Murdoch is but Sean Flinn didn’t let us know if he sees beauty or ugly in the album according to this review. I disagree more with calling this a review rather than disagreeing with any non-existent critic of the actual Album. Those are my 2 cents. bread dog go water cat mom the <---- the fridge doesn't lie... please hire me, comfort me, defend me. 🙂
“strained look-back”? I think the progressions are quite interesting and the time changes are fun. Either way, review the record, not the members in the band.
“Funny how all of you joined in the last day or two and have only posted one comment on this whole site: here. Finally! Finally I get to say what knee-jerk commenters always say (inaccurately) about The Coast writers: duh, is your buddy in the band? See how stupid that sounds? Of course you don’t know Don Vail. Of course, you’re just BIG fans of his. Of course you’re all different people. Lazy posters really upset me. You’re all fired.”
Which would make perfect sense, except there is no one named Don Vail in the band. Meaning, the “webeditor” was too lazy to even go to the band’s myspace to back up his comments on the commentors. Thus, someone such as myself, who has come to this site via google search, and has never read this site, nor have I heard the album in question, is forced to think, at first blush, that “If the webeditor is too lazy to do the homework before spouting off, its possibly likely that his reviewers are as well”.
Just sayin’…