A Sides Win
(2005/Two Minutes For Music/KOCH)
If this singles compilation doesn't have what it takes to convince the cold, soulless, unfeeling world of the indie guitar majesty of Canada's finest band then there is sadly no hope for the future of our race. The charm of these songs is in the delicate balance of melody, pop sensibility, intelligence, and humour. They possess each of the above in abundance but they also possess the self-restraint and respect for their audience to make sure that the balance between them never tips towards indulgence.

All band members contribute songs, with drummer Andrew Scott's People Of The Sky and guitarist Jay Ferguson's The Lines You Amend both standout tracks, but the main songwiting duties are handled by bassist Chris Murphy and other guitarist Patrick Pentland. Sloan haven't really developed in a dramatic way from the opening, vaguely Seattle-esque Underwhelmed through to the strutting cock-rock majesty of If It Feels Good Do It and beyond, but there is a constant refining of their craft and a greater sophistication which reaps bounty in the bouncy yet affecting pop masterpiece Rest Of My Life. This is all to say, yeah, their music is great. Every single song on this album is beautiful.

There's also the DVD, if you were smart enough to get the deluxe edition, which contains the often hilarious, frequently amateurish, and consistently interesting promos from all their singles, along with self-depreciating commentary from the members and numerous intra-band jabs, usually relating to Murphy's insistence on directing the videos himself. And it's Murphy who really shines on screen. The videos he was involved in have the most character and originality, and taken as a whole it makes an interesting document of his evolution into one of the most entertaining and joyously watchable frontmen in rock. That's not to knock Pentland and Ferguson's shape-throwing and Scott's ironic, dryly detached persona though. Sloan are often regarded as an unassuming sort of band, like a less successful Crowded House or Teenage Fanclub, which might have some truth to it, but they have every bit as much personality as a Weezer or an R.E.M. just with less posing (and on recent form much better songs). An injustice has been done to these lads and there is still time to put it right. -Ian Martin, Nov.9.05.