They Promised Us Jobs: Reviews
The reviews are in, Canada, and you can check them out
right here on our website. Click on the links below to
go to a specific review:
- The Record, July 7, 1997
- Chart, August 1997
- RHiG Magazine, Aug/Sept 1997
- Shake It Up!, September 24, 1997
- RPM, September 29, 1997
- Spill Magazine, October 1997
- Exclaim!, December 1997
Purveyors of near perfect power pop since the early part of this decade,
Toronto's Sour Landslide continues to be unfairly overlooked by the majors.
The trio led by singer/guitarist/lyricist Vince Nicholson deserves a shot at
radio with the first single "Human Rain Delay," and there are
half-a-dozen others that deserve to be blasting out of car speakers this
summer.
To the Top
There seems to be quite a remarkable similarity between Toronto's Sour
Landslide brothers Vince (guitar/vocals) and Vern Nicholson (bass/vocals) and
California popsters Redd Kross (brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald). Life Jeff
and Steve from Redd Kross, both Vince and Vern write nifty pop numbers with
memorable choruses and great melodies. Also, both sets of brothers really do
seem to work off each other quite well as musicians and in the songs'
harmonies. Hell, Sour Landslide even sounds like Redd Kross quite a bit on
this record--and that's a good thing seeing that few people actually know
the truth that Redd Kross ROCKS! I've always been impressed with Sour
Landslide, having seen the band live and heard some material off its debut
indie release Friends Of Dracula, because of the sheer fact that it
seems like the music is heartfelt. It's honest pop music that seems to stir
numerous emotions. While the music on They Promised Us Jobs is
floating around in the vein of The Goo Goo Dolls and Redd Kross, it also has
its own identity. Sour Landslide has a great rhythm section (Vern, aided by
drummer extraordinaire Dee Horvath) and really smart songwriting. Everyday
life seems to be drawn into the songwriting process, and instead of bland
storytelling, Sour Landslide takes simple and ordinary things and gives them
colour and direction. Standouts here are "Guns of Navarone," "Don't Call Me
Stupid," "You Killed My Son," and "Get To Know Me." I'm hoping that a lot
people will pick up on this band, not only for its smart, catchy songs, but
because it is one of the better acts circulating the club circuit here in
Toronto. Applause to the Sour Landslide trio for keeping me interested from
start to finish, not a common occurrence. - Adrian Bromley
To the Top
Full of hyperkinetic pop songs with a few slow numbers
in between, this release highlights what Sour Landslide
do best--pop songs. While I'm partial to "Human Rain
Delay" and "You Killed My Son," the entire album is a
worthwhile listen. I admit to occasionally skipping
over the slower tracks, as they can drag down the
exuberance level that the poppy numbers elicit, but with
solid songwriting overall that's only a preference. A
definite maturation from the debut release Friends
Of Dracula from a band that continues to make
catchy pop songs cool. - Krista Lamb
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Coming out of Canada's ever growing bounty
of pop-wealth comes the remarkable Sour
Landslide. Actually, having been around
since the late 80s, Sour Landslide are not a
"new" discovery, but the splendor of They
Promised Us Jobs will certainly act as the
introduction to the band for many. And what
an introduction it is!
What makes this band, and CD, so special? Well, where to begin...
Sour Landslide, by virtue of their hard power-chord sound, leaves them
open to comparisons to the likes of Green Day and Chixdiggit. There
are significant differences, however. Rather than inject a punk repetoire
with a few pop hooks, Sour Landslide write pop SONGS, that are so well
crafted that they would work with any instrumentation. Also, the band
aren't afraid to slow things down when called for. Also, each individual in
this trio is extremely proficient at their instrument, especially
drumming powerhouse Dee Horvath. Singer/guitarist Vince Nicholson is
not only a proficient guitar player, often melding his pop-punk style with
rock and a more garage-y sound, but the way he uses his voice reveals a
strong sense of melody. Last but not least, Vern Nicholson impresses if
only for his ability to keep up with the superhuman Horvath.
Starting things off with "Human Rain Delay," Sour Landslide immediately
catch the listeners attention with a hook-riddled song with an incredibly
catchy chorus. "Houdini" continues from there with some great harmonies
and Horvath's great tom-bashing. The opening slithering rock rhythm of
"Star Search" reveals the band's versatility and ability to keep their songs
memorable. Speaking of versatility, check out the jazzy guitar on the
interlude "Fuckin' Freak."
The moody "Don't Call Me Stupid" features an almost Mersey-like
quality on the verses thanks to Vince Nicholson's delicate playing, and
things just get better when Vern's harmonies fill out the chorus. The
harmonies really add to the incredibly catchy "You Killed My Son." "Pop
Knows A Weasel," with it's jumpy beat and aggressive guitar line, is sure
to appeal to those that favour a more punk side of pop. Still, the band's
pop-sensibility remains uncompromised.
With much of their agenda to be about fun, hence the hardcore-inspired
song titles, Sour Landslide are poised to be Canada's ambassadors of
"the good time". The fun never lets up with the power-chord frontal
assault of "Lenny," complete with sing-along chorus and a standout vocal.
The high energy of "Hero Vs. Heroine" is about as much punk-inspired fun
that one can have in three minutes.
On the lighter sounding side, "Get To Know Me" reveals the band's
confidence and love of pop in a less aggressive state, sounding almost
like one of Shoes' acoustic numbers. Actually, the Shoes comparison can
also be applied to a lesser degree to "Hired Goons," reminiscent of The
Shoes' later output.
The fourteen songs that make up They Promised Us Jobs reveal a band
with their musical strengths, confidence, and love of pop meshing into
one of the year's finer pop-punk releases. Hopefully, the CD's wider
release will introduce many to what some of us already know - that Sour
Landslide are one helluva band that can bring down the house in a
pop-inspired fury! - Claudio Sossi
To the Top
Pretty much everything that ever came out of high school
can be relegated into two categories: those things
which were among the most memorable moments of our lives,
and those things which we would like to forget - forever.
But seldom does something other than memories come out
of that period, certainly not something with any serious
clout to it, like good, strong, rock and roll for
instance. And yet, this is exactly where Toronto's
Sour Landslide fashioned their musical training wheels,
learned how to ride and then set off on a musical trek
that has recently claimed some approval with a first
(sic) album, appropriately titled They
Promised Us Jobs. The album was pounced on this June by Shake The Record
Label, barely two months after the band began shopping it
around. The quick response was due to a positively poppy,
subersively punky selection of tunes brought to junky
finesse by a stripped down set up of bass, guitar and
drums. But for all of its boyhood charm and three
chord naivete, Sour Landslide adds a wallop to its pop
punches that makes every one of these tunes as
memorable as all of those good high school
memories...Talking 'bout their generation? Absolutely. They might
not have promised them jobs, but Sour Landslide won't be
standing in line anytime soon. In fact, the word is out
that they'll be making them. - Rod Gudino
To the Top
This young Canadian trio are to "power pop" what Creedence Clearwater
Revival were to swamp rock. Not in the sense that they innovated it,
but in the sense that...they have...the gift! Like Mr. Fogerty's band,
their material is so accessible, they probably don't even have to worry
about dry spots during their shows. It's just hits, hits, hits!
Thanks to an abundance of hooky power-chord riffs and a keen sense of
simple melodies, this music may not be easy listening (thank goodness),
but it IS easy to listen to! How would I describe their sound? Well...
remember that group, "The Wonders" from the movie "That Thing You Do"?
The group sounds kind of like that, but with the gain turned way up on
their amps. They display the same sense of harmony and an even better
sense of rhythm.
Furthermore...and I know this doesn't exactly fall into the domain of
MUSIC criticism, but...their CD artwork is DA COOLEST! The whole
booklet is done up like a high school yearbook, from the locker shots
on the back and front covers, to the mug shots all over the inside, to
the "thank you" page (which looks like a yearbook's "signatures" page).
Even the CD itself looks like a combination lock. In this case, the fun
packaging proves that sometimes, you CAN judge a book by its cover.
To the Top
Sour Landslide's follow up to 1994's Friends Of Dracula finds
the band more agressive, with crunchier guitars and cleaner production.
Vince Nicholson can still write a catchy tune, with "Human Rain Delay,"
"You Killed My Son," and "Pop Knows A Weasel" being the highlights of
this CD. Although the band is kind of sloppy in places, the quality of
the songwriting and the overall spirit of the record makes that moot.
Especially endearing are the high school photos of the band littered
throughout the sleeve. Sour Landslide is surely one of Canada's best
kept secrets, and it's a shame more people won't hear them. - Kevin Panko
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