2014-02-28
Lo-Fantasy is the first album from Platinum selling
Canadian artist Sam Roberts Band (SRB) in three years. The Montreal based,
five-piece rock and roll band formed in 2000 and released their first studio
record, We Were Born in a Flame,
three years later. They have released three other albums since then and
garnered six Juno Awards, including Album of the Year and Rock Album of the
Year. Lo-Fantasy is the bands first
time working with producer Youth (a.k.a. Martin Glover) whose credits include
The Verve, Crowded House, Paul McCartney and The Orb. The record infuses funk,
house, electronic and African music with SRB's brand of rock n' roll and lyrics
heavy with social commentary. "Shapeshifters" opens the album with afro-pop
guitar, driving bass, and heavy synth, setting up listeners for a completely
different album experience. The first single from the record, "We're All In
This Together," features clever, fast-paced lyrics with a dance-floor groove
driven by classic SRB instrumentation. The heavy distortion, deep bass beat,
and driving high-hat of "Human Heat" are reminiscent of the old SRB, but varied
production style gives the song new life. With a social commentary on children
found in difficult economic families, "Kid Icarus" pays homage to Greek
mythology and '90s pop-rock.
Richard Martin
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