Monday, September 14, 2009

Reviews:: Minto Lay It On Me

It’s easy to assume that after the success of Ladyhawk, bands in East Van would start trying to rehash the proggy, dirty, lost-in-the-woods-drunk-off-your-ass, huge sounds that propelled the band to some nice National exposure. That;s just how scene build and music works these days, and I guess if you heard the sludgy guitars and sing/screamed vocals Minto offers up on Tonight I Lay My Head as a one off, you might be tempted to lump the Vancouver band as a sounds alike, but this Vancouver band has been at it for years.

The thing is, they cut their teeth under a different name. They were originally called The Smokes and the band was on their way to being one of the city’s best kept secrets. They’ve been at it for five years and after the success of the Fields and Factory Floors - a lo-fi gem that was as charming as an English gentlemen, but enough grit to make you sit up and take notice – a name change might seem like an odd choice, but Minto was born from the ashes and falls more in line with their new goals as a band.

I think the band realized it was time for a change - in sound and commitment - and Lay It On Me is just that. Thanks to the help of super producer Steve Albini, the band was challenged to get every ounce of sweat and emotion out of every note. I know it’s easy to heap praise on the man who produced bands like Nirvana and The Pixies, but I think a lot of the credit has to go to the band. Years of gigging and practice really helped them evolve into a band that can melt your face off (Bird’s Eye View and Somepeople Gotta Learn), make you dance and still catch your ear with a tender secret (Home Away, Darlin’).

Sure, the songs sound much better and no doubt Albini plays a big role in that, but it’s also because (even as good as Fields and Factory Floors was) they ARE much better and the band is much better.

Their riffs are stronger, and their vocal work is tighter but you get the feeling they know what it means to be a good band now. Lay It On Me starts strong, but the band has enough punch and impact to keep you listening happily for all quick hitting, eleven tracks. A band is more than being a studio session and overdubs. Your songs are born and grow after hours on the road and countless gigs and it’s pretty obvious that some of the songs on Lay It On Me were written for the stage. Sure the super tight harmonies on the opener New Bones and the surging power of the pseudo-spiritual Fisherman’s Wife sound great on record, but if you don’t think that will either become a seven or eight minute noise fest once the drinks and shots are flowing and the boys start having fun, you may be one of the unlucky people that's never seen a country rock band play live.

But fear not Halifax readers. You will get your chance as it looks like Minto was accepted into HPX and will be playing on October 24th. Where? Well, with the fact the schedule still hasn't been released I can't tell you.