Sloan - the Canadian power pop band non-Canadians need to know
March 24, 2025 9:00 AM Subscribe
If you’re Canadian and you listen to rock music on the radio in Canada then you’ve heard Sloan. If you’re not Canadian then you need to know all about the harmonies, handclaps and guitars so please step inside.
For the quickest of overviews, Sloan first formed in 1991, released their first album Smearedin 92 and received immediate attention. Compared to Sonic Youth and The Beatles, they had a unique sound for that first album but then changed their sound for all subsequent albums to a cleaner and ever so slightly poppier sound - masters of power pop. Sloan didn’t have much success outside of Canada. All four musicians can and do play each others instrument and the all harmonize together extremely well. They’re still together today and it’s still the same four guys.
Canadians of a certain age will know Sloan and consequently, so do their children which means that Sloan is still relevant. Fight me.
In my list of favourite rock songs of all time is Money City Maniacs for all of the usual reasons: amazing intro, 4 part harmony, guitars, it sounds like a good time, it’s great when it’s loud, road trip. Somebody at a newspaper decided to rank all of their songs and it was number 5. Bonus link, hockey intro. It gives me shivers.
Sloan, along with Thrush Hermit, Jale, the Inbreds and the Super Friendz helped put Halifax on the music map. Dubbed the “Seattle of the North”, Halifax became a thing and a festival grew out of the scene, the Halifax Pop Explosion. Here’s a thesis on the subject.
11 reasons why they’re still together. every band that’s looking for longevity should read this. #3 - own your music. I always think of ... The Police, where someone owns ‘Every Breath You Take,’ which is the top radio song of all time or whatever, and then the other two are like, ‘When are we going on tour?’ And Sting is like, ‘Probably never, because you guys are dicks and I’m rich.’ - Chris Murphy
Speaking of Chris Murphy, this is a 2018 interview from Sharp Magazine. I found the two questions down near the end about their song The Other Man was interesting.
For the quickest of overviews, Sloan first formed in 1991, released their first album Smearedin 92 and received immediate attention. Compared to Sonic Youth and The Beatles, they had a unique sound for that first album but then changed their sound for all subsequent albums to a cleaner and ever so slightly poppier sound - masters of power pop. Sloan didn’t have much success outside of Canada. All four musicians can and do play each others instrument and the all harmonize together extremely well. They’re still together today and it’s still the same four guys.
Canadians of a certain age will know Sloan and consequently, so do their children which means that Sloan is still relevant. Fight me.
In my list of favourite rock songs of all time is Money City Maniacs for all of the usual reasons: amazing intro, 4 part harmony, guitars, it sounds like a good time, it’s great when it’s loud, road trip. Somebody at a newspaper decided to rank all of their songs and it was number 5. Bonus link, hockey intro. It gives me shivers.
Sloan, along with Thrush Hermit, Jale, the Inbreds and the Super Friendz helped put Halifax on the music map. Dubbed the “Seattle of the North”, Halifax became a thing and a festival grew out of the scene, the Halifax Pop Explosion. Here’s a thesis on the subject.
11 reasons why they’re still together. every band that’s looking for longevity should read this. #3 - own your music. I always think of ... The Police, where someone owns ‘Every Breath You Take,’ which is the top radio song of all time or whatever, and then the other two are like, ‘When are we going on tour?’ And Sting is like, ‘Probably never, because you guys are dicks and I’m rich.’ - Chris Murphy
Speaking of Chris Murphy, this is a 2018 interview from Sharp Magazine. I found the two questions down near the end about their song The Other Man was interesting.
Here’s the 70’s power pop of Unkind, incorrectly placed with two other songs at 93-95 in the list of ranked songs linked above.
posted by ashbury at 9:44 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
posted by ashbury at 9:44 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
Seeing the music video for Underwhelmed on MuchMusic and then buying Smeared at HMV or Sam the Record Man was a formative musical experience for me.
I once made a 90 minute cassette tape that was nothing but Sloan's "The Lines You Amend" followed by Everclear's "Santa Monica" over and over and over. The 90s were a strange time but I have no regrets about that tape and the significant time it spent in my Toyota Tercel tape deck.
posted by joelhunt at 10:12 AM on March 24 [3 favorites]
I once made a 90 minute cassette tape that was nothing but Sloan's "The Lines You Amend" followed by Everclear's "Santa Monica" over and over and over. The 90s were a strange time but I have no regrets about that tape and the significant time it spent in my Toyota Tercel tape deck.
posted by joelhunt at 10:12 AM on March 24 [3 favorites]
I should listen to moar Sloan. The one tune that I'm most familiar with, Everything You've Done Wrong, only hits #25 on The Coast's 164 song list.
posted by ovvl at 10:26 AM on March 24
posted by ovvl at 10:26 AM on March 24
I'm from Dartmouth (other side of the harbour from Halifax) and was a dj at the campus/community station CKDU-FM during Sloan's rise to fame. I've met them a bunch of times, and they have always seemed like really nice, down to earth, funny guys. I'm a fan. Favourites include The Good In Everyone, The Other Man, Losing California, and The Rest Of My Life, which became my theme song for moving back to Canada.
posted by joannemerriam at 10:42 AM on March 24 [7 favorites]
posted by joannemerriam at 10:42 AM on March 24 [7 favorites]
As a Canadian music dork of a certain age I have a serious fondness for the first couple Sloan records (and the Peppermint EP) but after all these years I still just can't with Chris Murphy's devotion to dressing like Jane Fonda circa-1979.
posted by sunimplodes at 10:51 AM on March 24
posted by sunimplodes at 10:51 AM on March 24
Never consciously heard them before, but now I know what Simon Proulx (Les Trois Accords) was going for/pastiching on Simon I (2015), his sole anglo release that sank like a stone 'cos it got no airplay on English stations
posted by scruss at 10:52 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 10:52 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
The music scene in Nova Scotia also included the indy label Dependent Music which includes bands like Wintersleep whose recent track "Fool for A Life" is timely reflection on xtian republican dudes. That sort of thing shouldn't be a surprise from the band that penned "Amerika", and yea, I guess the worst ended up being true. (warning: trump but shit this track is from 8 YEARS AGO).
Shit is also on fire in Holy Fuck Tom Tom, who also got started on Dependent. They got more electro glitch goodness on tracks like 95.
For something pure pop that makes me think of Sloan that's all but missing the handclaps I'm a fan of Andy Shauf "Wasted on You".
posted by zenon at 11:00 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]
Shit is also on fire in Holy Fuck Tom Tom, who also got started on Dependent. They got more electro glitch goodness on tracks like 95.
For something pure pop that makes me think of Sloan that's all but missing the handclaps I'm a fan of Andy Shauf "Wasted on You".
posted by zenon at 11:00 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]
Oh man, love me some Sloan! Back in my music biz days, I saw them at the El Rey in Los Angeles, and got to hang out in the balcony with Chris Murphy and Kevin MacDonald (of KITH fame) before their set. Chris was a sweetheart and Kevin was flanked on a sofa by two (apparent) models. Chris and I heard that Brian Wilson was in the audience, so we ventured downstairs to meet him. Hard to say I had a misspent youth when moments like these resurface in my memory :)
posted by retronic at 11:47 AM on March 24 [3 favorites]
posted by retronic at 11:47 AM on March 24 [3 favorites]
During university, CTV decided to host their morning show from my campus quad for a back-to-school theme. Sloan was the musical guest and played on the steps of our main building while the hosts were set up in another corner of the quad. The producers got fed up with us because they wanted us in the background of the hosted segments, but every time we saw Sloan getting their gear ready to play another song we'd hustle over to the other side of the quad.
After it was over, the band played 3-4 more songs just for us. Pretty cool to be one of the few people to say they've seen Sloan playa a show at 7a on a weekday.
ps I've never seen this footage until today. Hadn't thought about it in years and hadn't even bothered to search on youtube for it.
posted by thecjm at 11:47 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
After it was over, the band played 3-4 more songs just for us. Pretty cool to be one of the few people to say they've seen Sloan playa a show at 7a on a weekday.
ps I've never seen this footage until today. Hadn't thought about it in years and hadn't even bothered to search on youtube for it.
posted by thecjm at 11:47 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
"Nowhere with You: The East Coast Anthems of Joel Plaskett, The Emergency and Thrush Hermit" devotes space to the exodus of talent post-Halifax pop explosion, it sounds like a magical time.. would've been great to see some of these shows at the time.
posted by ginger.beef at 12:05 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
posted by ginger.beef at 12:05 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
Seeing the music video for Underwhelmed on MuchMusic
"She said you is funny, I said you are funny / she said thank you and I said never mind...."
posted by mhoye at 12:23 PM on March 24
"She said you is funny, I said you are funny / she said thank you and I said never mind...."
posted by mhoye at 12:23 PM on March 24
The summer festival in the next town over from mine always has free music in the evenings, and always gets a rock act for its Saturday night headliner. Growing up, I recognized some of the bands but only occasionally went to the shows because in my mind it was always music for Older Folks.
Two years ago, they got Sloan. I've been a fan since the late nineties and it hit me in the gut to realize: it me. I'm Older Folks now.
(Of course I went and didn't regret it. I've seen them live a bunch of times and even for a free show they brought the same energy, skill, and goofy stage banter they always do. Plus, Econoline Crush was the opener, and I had the best mini-donuts I've ever had in my life. Great times)
posted by Monster_Zero at 12:31 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
Two years ago, they got Sloan. I've been a fan since the late nineties and it hit me in the gut to realize: it me. I'm Older Folks now.
(Of course I went and didn't regret it. I've seen them live a bunch of times and even for a free show they brought the same energy, skill, and goofy stage banter they always do. Plus, Econoline Crush was the opener, and I had the best mini-donuts I've ever had in my life. Great times)
posted by Monster_Zero at 12:31 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
Sloan is great – I've seen them probably a dozen times over the years? I am a fan; they are friends of my friends and I've bumped into Chris and Jay occasionally. Nova Scotia is a small town and Dartmouth is even smaller (hi, joannemerriam!). While all the aforementioned songs are great, Coax Me is my favourite, and would definitely end up as one of my Desert Island Discs.
posted by notquitejane at 1:47 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
posted by notquitejane at 1:47 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
I briefly dated the woman that Underwhelmed and Deeper Than Beauty are about. They're accurate.
posted by dobbs at 1:49 PM on March 24 [5 favorites]
posted by dobbs at 1:49 PM on March 24 [5 favorites]
IMO, the greatest Canadian band of all time. And one that continues to release outstanding records - Never Hear The End Of It came 15 years into their career, and is a masterpiece.
posted by jordantwodelta at 1:53 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
posted by jordantwodelta at 1:53 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
Tremendous band, Between the Bridges is their best album and yes I will happily die on that hill, all alone.
posted by sinfony at 2:05 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
posted by sinfony at 2:05 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
Previously to this post I'd only heard The Good in Everyone from HITS Post Modern Syndrome compilation, which was $5 at the record store. The ending is great, the rest is ok, but not quite good enough to be worth taking a risk at full album price. But I Hate My Generation is good, and Underwhelmed sounds like a less frantic Tripping Daisy song. They are added to the collection.
I actually really miss indie compilation CDs like that. Yes, being able to find the Sloan songs I personally like and download for $1.25 is future cool, but having to shell out actual money, getting 20 songs from 20 bands and hunting for gems is a lost art now.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:07 PM on March 24
I actually really miss indie compilation CDs like that. Yes, being able to find the Sloan songs I personally like and download for $1.25 is future cool, but having to shell out actual money, getting 20 songs from 20 bands and hunting for gems is a lost art now.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:07 PM on March 24
Thank you for making a Sloan FPP!!! I mentioned them in the "2-hit wonder" FPP, asking Canadians whether they are a "2-hit wonder" there or a many-hit wonder? (In the US they have no hits, though their shows do have extremely enthusiastic fans in the crowd here.) Well, which is it? Also, are they the second-greatest Canadian band other than Rush? Or are they the greatest Canadian band, what is the consensus?
These days I would honestly recommend that someone just start at "Sloan Steady" (2022) and go backward. On the road to their Perfect Period (1994 to 1999) you'll encounter many songs that are just as good or better than the songs on their perfect records: "Simply Leaving," "Fading Into Obscurity," "Rest of My Life," "Cheap Champagne," and "48 Portraits" all come to mind, as does basically the entirety of "The Double Cross."
I believe we should be talking WAY MORE OFTEN about Sloan on Metafilter, every day, even.
posted by kensington314 at 2:21 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
These days I would honestly recommend that someone just start at "Sloan Steady" (2022) and go backward. On the road to their Perfect Period (1994 to 1999) you'll encounter many songs that are just as good or better than the songs on their perfect records: "Simply Leaving," "Fading Into Obscurity," "Rest of My Life," "Cheap Champagne," and "48 Portraits" all come to mind, as does basically the entirety of "The Double Cross."
I believe we should be talking WAY MORE OFTEN about Sloan on Metafilter, every day, even.
posted by kensington314 at 2:21 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
“The example I always think of is someone like the Police, where someone owns ‘Every Breath You Take,’ which is the top radio song of all time or whatever, and then the other two are like, ‘When are we going on tour?’” Murphy says. “And Sting is like, ‘Probably never, because you guys are dicks and I’m rich.’”
This leaves out the part that Andy Summers was initially down as a co-writer and that Sting simply removed his name before submitting the paperwork, thereby robbing his band mate of millions and millions of dollars.
posted by dobbs at 2:22 PM on March 24
This leaves out the part that Andy Summers was initially down as a co-writer and that Sting simply removed his name before submitting the paperwork, thereby robbing his band mate of millions and millions of dollars.
posted by dobbs at 2:22 PM on March 24
I actually really miss indie compilation CDs like that. Yes, being able to find the Sloan songs I personally like and download for $1.25 is future cool, but having to shell out actual money, getting 20 songs from 20 bands and hunting for gems is a lost art now.
I learned about Sloan from "DGC Rarities Vol. 1" as an 11-year old. They covered songs by Eric's Trip, "Stove" and "Smothered," on a single track. So it was neat to learn about Eric's Trip and Sloan simply because I wanted to hear an alt-lyrics version of a Nirvana song. (And later, neat to learn about Eric's Trip songwriter Rick White's project Elevator to Hell, which rules eternally above all 1990s rock, perhaps even Sloan.)
posted by kensington314 at 2:28 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
I learned about Sloan from "DGC Rarities Vol. 1" as an 11-year old. They covered songs by Eric's Trip, "Stove" and "Smothered," on a single track. So it was neat to learn about Eric's Trip and Sloan simply because I wanted to hear an alt-lyrics version of a Nirvana song. (And later, neat to learn about Eric's Trip songwriter Rick White's project Elevator to Hell, which rules eternally above all 1990s rock, perhaps even Sloan.)
posted by kensington314 at 2:28 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
FIrst post, after lurking for decades, and finally membershipping myself up this year.
I don't know how I first heard of this band, but I remember picking up "Twice Removed" in the summer of '94, and couldn't believe my ears. Between that record and Pavement's "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain", I don't think I listened to anything else for a year.
A few years after that record came out, I recorded an acoustic version of "I Can Feel It" and put it on a cassette for a friend of mine and told him it was a song I had written, figuring he'd never find out - but a lot of time has passed and we both listen to the same kind of music....I assume he knows now, and just hasn't said anything.
posted by telrev at 2:35 PM on March 24 [4 favorites]
I don't know how I first heard of this band, but I remember picking up "Twice Removed" in the summer of '94, and couldn't believe my ears. Between that record and Pavement's "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain", I don't think I listened to anything else for a year.
A few years after that record came out, I recorded an acoustic version of "I Can Feel It" and put it on a cassette for a friend of mine and told him it was a song I had written, figuring he'd never find out - but a lot of time has passed and we both listen to the same kind of music....I assume he knows now, and just hasn't said anything.
posted by telrev at 2:35 PM on March 24 [4 favorites]
FIrst post, after lurking for decades, and finally membershipping myself up this year.
See this is what I'm saying. Sloan is bringing people out of the woodwork to comment EVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. More Sloan talk on MetaFilter. Possibly a Sloan subsite for the redesigned website.
posted by kensington314 at 2:39 PM on March 24 [4 favorites]
See this is what I'm saying. Sloan is bringing people out of the woodwork to comment EVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. More Sloan talk on MetaFilter. Possibly a Sloan subsite for the redesigned website.
posted by kensington314 at 2:39 PM on March 24 [4 favorites]
sweet jesus I did not expect to see Eric's Trip and Elevator mentioned today
Rick White's self-titled stuff is good, so is his Unintended project with the Sadies (RIP Dallas Good)
what the hell is happening? Time slow the fuck down, Rick is morphing into 21st century Kim Mitchell
posted by ginger.beef at 2:45 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
Rick White's self-titled stuff is good, so is his Unintended project with the Sadies (RIP Dallas Good)
what the hell is happening? Time slow the fuck down, Rick is morphing into 21st century Kim Mitchell
posted by ginger.beef at 2:45 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
I believe Andrew Scott from Sloan also worked early on with the Sadies when they first formed, right after he moved to Toronto!
posted by kensington314 at 2:47 PM on March 24
posted by kensington314 at 2:47 PM on March 24
I was into Sloan in the early 200s, but stopped listening after "No End to It". The songs were good, but after awhile, they’re all blended together. The production and instrumentation was so similar from song to song, I just lost track. In that respect, they reminded me of the Knickerbockers (the group that inspired "That Thing You Do"), whose double album of greatest hits is packed with one great song after another, though you wouldn't know first couple of times through. They all sound like the same song. Sloane needed a George Martin: A producer who was savvy enough to mix up sounds and textures, add exotic instruments or striking riffs to refresh the sound from song to song.
posted by Modest House at 3:21 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
posted by Modest House at 3:21 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
"we've dispatched irritable cats with diarrhea to Modest House's location and they will be scratching and explosively shitting as requested"
posted by ginger.beef at 3:25 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
posted by ginger.beef at 3:25 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
flagged as hate speech also
posted by kensington314 at 3:27 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
posted by kensington314 at 3:27 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
Much Music infiltrated US cable just in time to introduce me to a live concert of theirs on intimate and interactive. Felt like early days of MTV all over again discovering something new and cool and a band no one else I knew heard of.
posted by HoopsMcCann at 5:22 PM on March 24
posted by HoopsMcCann at 5:22 PM on March 24
I have a blurry memory of Sloan playing a concert in my high school cafeteria in the early aughts. It was awesome.
posted by stray at 5:45 PM on March 24
posted by stray at 5:45 PM on March 24
guys it’s people of the sky 100%
They played A&B sound in downtown Calgary just before they exploded and my sister took me (I was 13) and I can still remember how crowded the store was, people sitting all the way up the stairs and in the aisles. For the first time in my life I felt cool.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:40 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
They played A&B sound in downtown Calgary just before they exploded and my sister took me (I was 13) and I can still remember how crowded the store was, people sitting all the way up the stairs and in the aisles. For the first time in my life I felt cool.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:40 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
I mean, twice removed is quite frankly a perfect album.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:49 PM on March 24
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:49 PM on March 24
dobbs I'm going to need to know more about the lyrical accuracy.
Listed Attributes:
posted by zenon at 7:51 PM on March 24
Listed Attributes:
- truent
- terrible speller
- vegetarian
- glasses
- object of unrequited love
posted by zenon at 7:51 PM on March 24
Canadian bands, ranked:
1. Sloan
2. Alvvays
3. Elephant Stone
4. New Pornographers
5. Cub
6. The High Dials
7. The Grapes of Wrath
8. Martha & the Muffins
9. Timber Timbre
10. Preoccupations
11-50. Assorted 80’s new wave, 90’s indiepop, and indie rock groups of the last 30 years.
51-1,434: Any Canadian group I’m unfamiliar with.
1,435: Reckless - Canada’s Finest Bryan Adams Tribute Band
1,436: Rush
1,437: Loverboy
1,438: Triumph
1,439 (tie): Barenaked Ladies / Crash Test Dummies
1,441: Nickelback
posted by otters walk among us at 8:55 PM on March 24
1. Sloan
2. Alvvays
3. Elephant Stone
4. New Pornographers
5. Cub
6. The High Dials
7. The Grapes of Wrath
8. Martha & the Muffins
9. Timber Timbre
10. Preoccupations
11-50. Assorted 80’s new wave, 90’s indiepop, and indie rock groups of the last 30 years.
51-1,434: Any Canadian group I’m unfamiliar with.
1,435: Reckless - Canada’s Finest Bryan Adams Tribute Band
1,436: Rush
1,437: Loverboy
1,438: Triumph
1,439 (tie): Barenaked Ladies / Crash Test Dummies
1,441: Nickelback
posted by otters walk among us at 8:55 PM on March 24
Only have One Chord to Another & Navy Blues. (Guess when I was coming of age and finally got access to satellite TV, etc...)
Such great pop/glam/blahblah.
Also - just remembering.
Patrick Pentland had (has?) an electronic project named "Destroy Tomorrow 666".
It's a bit cheesier than I remember though upon re-hearing. Anyways, make of it what you will.
Yay! Sloan.
Also this was around the time I was discovering Space Ghost with the same satellite connection, and my friend and I had a memorial party this weekend in honor of George Lowe's (his voice) passing. The only thing that would make this mid-90s trifecta complete for me is Mahjongg VGA downloaded off HappyPuppy.
posted by symbioid at 9:03 PM on March 24
Such great pop/glam/blahblah.
Also - just remembering.
Patrick Pentland had (has?) an electronic project named "Destroy Tomorrow 666".
It's a bit cheesier than I remember though upon re-hearing. Anyways, make of it what you will.
Yay! Sloan.
Also this was around the time I was discovering Space Ghost with the same satellite connection, and my friend and I had a memorial party this weekend in honor of George Lowe's (his voice) passing. The only thing that would make this mid-90s trifecta complete for me is Mahjongg VGA downloaded off HappyPuppy.
posted by symbioid at 9:03 PM on March 24
I'm kinda a stickler for interesting lyrics, and musical nuance, so my Canadian favorites are easily Leonard Cohen, Rush, and Metric, with honorable mention to Broken Social Scene (partially Metric) and Skinny Puppy.
Aside from Sloan songs linked here, I've not heard much that interests me, but they seem lyrically tallented. I've quickly googled terms that suggest interesting lyrics plus "Sloan", but so far only Right To Roam turnned up. Instead google mostly returnned P.F. Sloan, which yeah makes sense, and Sasha Alex Sloan, although new to me she immediately nails it, so thanks for the post! lol
As lyricists go, there are few who hold a candle to Leonard Cohen, Neil Peart (Rust), and Emily Haines (Metric). We all have opinons on Leonard Cohen and Rush, but if you've not listenned to Metric then try this quick selection: Risk, Dreams So Real, Speed the Collapse, Who Would You Be For Me, False Dichotomy, Doomscroller, What Feels Like Eternity, Now or Never Now, Gold Gun Girls, Rock Me Now, Satellite Mind, The Shade, Patriarch on a Vespa.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:24 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
Aside from Sloan songs linked here, I've not heard much that interests me, but they seem lyrically tallented. I've quickly googled terms that suggest interesting lyrics plus "Sloan", but so far only Right To Roam turnned up. Instead google mostly returnned P.F. Sloan, which yeah makes sense, and Sasha Alex Sloan, although new to me she immediately nails it, so thanks for the post! lol
As lyricists go, there are few who hold a candle to Leonard Cohen, Neil Peart (Rust), and Emily Haines (Metric). We all have opinons on Leonard Cohen and Rush, but if you've not listenned to Metric then try this quick selection: Risk, Dreams So Real, Speed the Collapse, Who Would You Be For Me, False Dichotomy, Doomscroller, What Feels Like Eternity, Now or Never Now, Gold Gun Girls, Rock Me Now, Satellite Mind, The Shade, Patriarch on a Vespa.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:24 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
Alright, Sasha Alex Sloan really rocks, so thanks again, ashbury, even if I'm not into the band Sloan. :)
As I mentioned Leonard Cohen, check out What Is Coming 2.16.03 from The Flame by Leonard Cohen, via this edited clip video.
As I mentioned Leonard Cohen, check out What Is Coming 2.16.03 from The Flame by Leonard Cohen, via this edited clip video.
"oh and one more thingposted by jeffburdges at 3:55 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
you aren't going to like
what comes after America"
Much like the Tragically Hip, I am neutral at best towards Sloan but I do love teasing Shepherd about them (he loves them).
posted by Kitteh at 9:44 AM on March 25
posted by Kitteh at 9:44 AM on March 25
Although after checking out the lyrics these are pretty broad.
More accurately:
- atrocious speller
- beautiful eyes
- horrible taste in eyewear
- definitely the object of unrequited love
I can’t speak to truant but will say always late. I can’t recall if she was vegetarian, though I was at the time so it wouldn’t have stood out.
She was also in at least one Halifax band but I don’t recall the name of it. Not sure they released anything. She’s a lawyer now, or at least was when we went out. Very nice person and I was not at all surprised to find out that those songs were written about her. (Her friends told me that, she didn’t. I’ve met Chris a couple times and Jay many more and they confirmed it.)
To anyone who subscribed to Victory Shag, my online writing project at the time, she was K———.
posted by dobbs at 9:59 AM on March 25 [2 favorites]
More accurately:
- atrocious speller
- beautiful eyes
- horrible taste in eyewear
- definitely the object of unrequited love
I can’t speak to truant but will say always late. I can’t recall if she was vegetarian, though I was at the time so it wouldn’t have stood out.
She was also in at least one Halifax band but I don’t recall the name of it. Not sure they released anything. She’s a lawyer now, or at least was when we went out. Very nice person and I was not at all surprised to find out that those songs were written about her. (Her friends told me that, she didn’t. I’ve met Chris a couple times and Jay many more and they confirmed it.)
To anyone who subscribed to Victory Shag, my online writing project at the time, she was K———.
posted by dobbs at 9:59 AM on March 25 [2 favorites]
easily Leonard Cohen, Rush, and Metric
Wait, if we're counting solo artists on this list, and we're also counting Leonard Cohen as a Canadian artist (which I don't dispute), then surely Joni counts as a Canadian artist and rockets to the top of the list? I mean, Cohen moved to the U.S. before Joni even started hanging with that redneck on a Grecian Isle.
posted by kensington314 at 10:00 AM on March 25
Wait, if we're counting solo artists on this list, and we're also counting Leonard Cohen as a Canadian artist (which I don't dispute), then surely Joni counts as a Canadian artist and rockets to the top of the list? I mean, Cohen moved to the U.S. before Joni even started hanging with that redneck on a Grecian Isle.
posted by kensington314 at 10:00 AM on March 25
I loved Smeared when it first came out. I was in University at that time and it seemed to be everywhere. 500 Up was the song for me off that album though. I kept up with the hits but tuned them out a bit as the years went by.
Recently we've been lucky enough that they seem to hit our small mountain town on most of their tours. They're a great live band, and I've seen them 3 or 4 times over the last several years. My for-fun band also plays The Good in Everyone in our set, and we got to play it on the same stage I saw Sloan play it! That sure was fun.
It's great to see that they are still around and doing things, and seem to have some enthusiasm for what they do. Not my favourite band of all time, but a good one for sure.
posted by sauril at 10:01 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
Recently we've been lucky enough that they seem to hit our small mountain town on most of their tours. They're a great live band, and I've seen them 3 or 4 times over the last several years. My for-fun band also plays The Good in Everyone in our set, and we got to play it on the same stage I saw Sloan play it! That sure was fun.
It's great to see that they are still around and doing things, and seem to have some enthusiasm for what they do. Not my favourite band of all time, but a good one for sure.
posted by sauril at 10:01 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
Much like the Tragically Hip, I am neutral at best towards Sloan but I do love teasing Shepherd about them (he loves them).
"Hello, dispatch? Are the angry shitting cats done with Modest House? We have a new assignment ready"
posted by ginger.beef at 10:02 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
"Hello, dispatch? Are the angry shitting cats done with Modest House? We have a new assignment ready"
posted by ginger.beef at 10:02 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
To anyone who subscribed to Victory Shag, my online writing project at the time, she was K———.
Sure, K- - - from NSCAD, every Sloan megafan knows this. (Which is weird!)
posted by kensington314 at 10:04 AM on March 25
Sure, K- - - from NSCAD, every Sloan megafan knows this. (Which is weird!)
posted by kensington314 at 10:04 AM on March 25
Why isn't this Sloan FPP on the Best Of? Or the sidebar? It's literally an FPP about Sloan. This is like Sloan getting snubbed for a Juno over and over again.
posted by kensington314 at 10:05 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
posted by kensington314 at 10:05 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
kensingston314, my super post on Joel Plaskett didn't get the same respect either!
posted by Kitteh at 10:06 AM on March 25
posted by Kitteh at 10:06 AM on March 25
YOU MADE A THRUSH HERMIT FPP AND IT GOT MARGINALIZED BY THE (MANUAL) METAFILTER ALGORITHM?!?!?!
To MetaTalk I go
posted by kensington314 at 10:08 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
To MetaTalk I go
posted by kensington314 at 10:08 AM on March 25 [1 favorite]
my super post on Joel Plaskett
All my friends, where did they go?
To Montreal, Toronto
All my friends, they split too soon
They split town with the fork and the spoon
They all split town and they left me
Sittin' with a bottle of wine
Gonna pop the cork, say my goodbyes
And everything'll work out fine
posted by ginger.beef at 10:30 AM on March 25 [2 favorites]
All my friends, where did they go?
To Montreal, Toronto
All my friends, they split too soon
They split town with the fork and the spoon
They all split town and they left me
Sittin' with a bottle of wine
Gonna pop the cork, say my goodbyes
And everything'll work out fine
posted by ginger.beef at 10:30 AM on March 25 [2 favorites]
Yes, I heard Sloan back when they were MuchMusic video darlings. No, though she’s heard of them, they are not relevant at all to my (80s and 90s music loving) 15 year old daughter.
It’s a big country, you Sloan people do your thing. I’m happy seeing my daughter occasionally in a Hanson Brothers shirt.
posted by house-goblin at 12:38 PM on March 25 [1 favorite]
It’s a big country, you Sloan people do your thing. I’m happy seeing my daughter occasionally in a Hanson Brothers shirt.
posted by house-goblin at 12:38 PM on March 25 [1 favorite]
Joni Mitchell is kinda amazing, probably should listen more to her. Afaik Joni Mitchell is labled Canadian-American, which presumably means US citizenship via one parent, but nothing else until she moved there. Leonard Cohen is just labled Canadian, not sure if he ever added another citizenship.
Anyways, Leonard Cohen sings in French more often, which counts for something. ;)
posted by jeffburdges at 2:02 PM on March 25
Anyways, Leonard Cohen sings in French more often, which counts for something. ;)
posted by jeffburdges at 2:02 PM on March 25
→
You're doing yourself a disfavour leaving out Francophone music. There are some killer bands and performers, but you won't hear them on the anglo stations.
I mean, c'mon: Lisa Leblanc - Eh Cher (You've Overstayed Your Welcome) — is that not the wee berries?
posted by scruss at 2:34 PM on March 25
51-1,434: Any Canadian group I’m unfamiliar with.
You're doing yourself a disfavour leaving out Francophone music. There are some killer bands and performers, but you won't hear them on the anglo stations.
I mean, c'mon: Lisa Leblanc - Eh Cher (You've Overstayed Your Welcome) — is that not the wee berries?
posted by scruss at 2:34 PM on March 25
Aujourd'hui, ma vie c'est d'la marde wasn't your first choice there, scruss? ;)
Although not Canadian, Dar Williams rocks, check out Buzzer (live)
posted by jeffburdges at 4:23 PM on March 25
Although not Canadian, Dar Williams rocks, check out Buzzer (live)
posted by jeffburdges at 4:23 PM on March 25
You might enjoy this Sloan tribute album, various artists.
posted by music for skeletons at 5:20 PM on March 25
posted by music for skeletons at 5:20 PM on March 25
Oh, Sloan! I love Sloan. Last thing my wife and I went to before the lockdowns began was their Jacksonville show in February 2020. Met Chris Murphy (who was, of course, as gracious as can be hoped for).
It's about time Sloan had a FPP about them!
posted by grubi at 5:21 AM on March 26 [1 favorite]
It's about time Sloan had a FPP about them!
posted by grubi at 5:21 AM on March 26 [1 favorite]
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posted by EvaDestruction at 9:25 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]