Quick-hitters:: Yonder

The Toronto based rockers, Yonder, seems happy to exist with a slightly confused sense of identity. Mixing country styles with indie rock anthem builds doesn't always play out as well as an artist would like, but Yonder is happy to try to find that middle ground. When it works - like it does on Let You Down - Zachary Bennett's rootsy drawl mixes well with the synths, the picked banjo and trusty strums of an acoustic to find a nice mix. The song has life, and pushes forward with a sense of urgency.

But to be fair, when it doesn't work - like on the radio rockers Night When We Touched the Stars or If Only - the band seems a little bit lost. I am going to hold off with criticism until I hear the whole record, because they stumble upon some great sounds, I just don't know how stable their footing is for the entire journey.

I actually think the band sounds the best on the simpler, more traditional tracks like and Farmer's Pants. The track is built on nice female harmonies and lap steel and really lets Bennett settle into a country mozy. Instead of forcing a build, the band finds a happy pace and allows it to develop. It feels a lot more comfortable than some of the melded styles you hear on some of the other tracks.


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