The Sheepdogs - Five Easy Pieces (01/06/2012)
Saskatoon based band The Sheepdogs have picked an opportune time to tour Australia, after gaining considerable exposure from becoming the first unsigned band to grace U.S Rolling Stone magazine’s cover. ‘Five Easy Pieces’ is the fourth offering from the band, eagerly rush released in time for their Australian debut.
The first track ‘Who?’ opens to a grinding guitar riff coupled with an extremely catchy three part vocal harmony, that brightens up the sound and adds colour. ‘I Don’t Know’ has a great southern style country rock vibe to it, whilst ‘The Middle Road’ brings some contrast with its jaunty Beatles influenced piano melody and ringing clap beat. Australian born lead singer Ewan Currie’s coarse yet melodic vocal comes into its own, as he defiantly professes that fence sitting is not his style.
In ‘Learn my lesson’ Currie’s voice dominates as he takes on the very tone and attitude of Jimi Hendrix himself, delivering every word with power and sincerity. Howling guitar riffs and sweet sixties solos round off this nostalgic gem. ‘How Late, How Long’ finishes off the EP with a bang and leaves you feeling like the band have taken every ounce of energy they have and crammed it into these last four minutes, climaxing finally into a whaling thrashing mess.
‘Five Easy Pieces’ showcases the band’s incredible skill and understanding of their chosen genre. The Sheepdogs have created a set of well crafted, intense and honest tracks that may prove them leaders of the pack on the brink of a real rock n roll revival.
Nazia Hafiz
The first track ‘Who?’ opens to a grinding guitar riff coupled with an extremely catchy three part vocal harmony, that brightens up the sound and adds colour. ‘I Don’t Know’ has a great southern style country rock vibe to it, whilst ‘The Middle Road’ brings some contrast with its jaunty Beatles influenced piano melody and ringing clap beat. Australian born lead singer Ewan Currie’s coarse yet melodic vocal comes into its own, as he defiantly professes that fence sitting is not his style.
In ‘Learn my lesson’ Currie’s voice dominates as he takes on the very tone and attitude of Jimi Hendrix himself, delivering every word with power and sincerity. Howling guitar riffs and sweet sixties solos round off this nostalgic gem. ‘How Late, How Long’ finishes off the EP with a bang and leaves you feeling like the band have taken every ounce of energy they have and crammed it into these last four minutes, climaxing finally into a whaling thrashing mess.
‘Five Easy Pieces’ showcases the band’s incredible skill and understanding of their chosen genre. The Sheepdogs have created a set of well crafted, intense and honest tracks that may prove them leaders of the pack on the brink of a real rock n roll revival.
Nazia Hafiz