SAM ROBERTS BAND

Lo-Fantasy

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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