Quick Hitters:: The Zolas

A few days ago, Victoria’s Immaculate Machine rolled into town. Normally, the Mint records pop rockers are more than enough reason to get any music fan out on a Wednesday night, but this time they brought some friends along for the ride. Sadly, I had (a) never heard of The Zolas and (b) never bothered to figure out their deal even after someone asked me about them. (A) + (B) = me (C)-ted on my couch, which was a big mistake.

From all accounts, The Zolas are a rollicking two-piece from Vancouver, driven by banged out piano hooks and strong choruses, and more importantly (when it comes to regrets) they are fantastic live. As life would have it, two days after the show, I received a manila envelope stuffed to the brim with one sheets and a copy of The Zolas record, Tic Toc Tic. You might as well get Brother Pele and Sweet Zina to talk about elephants and acrobats my friends. How bizarre!

Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski can write a catchy track, but unlike other famous piano songsters, they never let the songs become sappy ballads or goofy, overly clever nerd anthems. Instead of poking fun at themselves, Zachary and Tom use a critical, darker side to shake free of that Folds-ian “aw shucks” and offer some depth to the listen. Tic Toc Tic finds the band stamping down on the gas on the first track, and rarely letting up.

You’re Too Cool is a scathing look at the Vancouver scene, but it’s cased by such an infectious melody that it’s hard to focus on Gray’s biting pen. The special thing about this song is how the band lets you take a quick breath exactly when you think they song will explode. Instead of a huge booming chorus, Gray drifts into a gentle, restrained falsetto before gunning it one more time. There are countless winners on this record. Body Ash is a quirky romp that fans Mother Mother will enjoy instantly. Cab Drivers surges forward as the band throws some layers over top of the banged out piano chords, but it’s the solo and backing vocals that finish the song that make the whole affair so fun.

The second half of the LP start with I’ve Got Leeches and finds the duo peering into the shadows, but I find the listen does lose some steam on the back side. These Days swirls about, but doesn’t deliver a punch and the horn laced ode to a fellow bus rider (You Better Watch Out) sets the tension but the falsetto filled chorus just doesn’t hook me but they find their stride for a strong finishing kick. The shout filled chorus of No Talking is infectious. The energy of the quick hitting three minutes is contagious, and you can’t help but sing along to the chorus before you even know the song and flows nicely into the rock solid sounds of Queen of Relax.

Considering I had never heard a note from the Vancouver duo a week ago, I’m surprised by how often I have gone back to the record in the last few days. The first few songs are catchy as hell, but the record morphs constantly over the collection of songs and never stops challenging you. Throw in some nice backing vocals from Hey Oceans! Ashleigh Ball and I think we have a winner… and they didn’t even have to throw in an ironic rap cover.

MP3:: The Zolas - You're Too Cool
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/thezolas

Labels: Canada, Music, Quick Hitters, The Zolas, Vancouver