When I find out what went on I'll bring it back but it won't be easy
The year was 1992. The location was Toronto, Ontario. Those involved were Mike Turner and Raine Maida. The pair formed the band. As If. As the musicians of As If did not all share the same vision for the future, the band split leaving only its core members, Turner and Maida. But Mike and Raine would not pack it in and move on with life. They would soon meet up with Chris Eacrett (bass guitar) and Jeremy Taggart (drums) and before the year ended, the newly formed band Our Lady Peace was signed to Sony Records. After a couple demos here and there which earned the band a following in the local alternative scene, Our Lady Peace was set to release its debut album. Naveed hit the store shelves in 1994 in Canada and 1995 in the United States, and featured two hit singles, Starseed and Naveed.
It's so entertaining and so wonderful, it magically calls for you
While Our Lady Peace's sound isn't remarkably different on Naveed than it is on one of their later albums like Clumsy for example, the differences in the sound and mood of the album are still noticeable. Musically, the band is a little less reliant on vocalist Raine Maida to lead the way. Instead, the accessible, yet highly enjoyable sound is produced by the combined efforts of Raine's falsetto, Jeremy's thunderous drumming, and Mike's melodic guitar lines and riffs. While each member enjoys his own degree of importance, neither of them really wrest the spotlight from one another. But this isn't really a bad thing. No, instead the mixed antics of each musician creates an energetic atmosphere. One can point to any of the album's eleven tracks and pick out Jeremy Taggart's jazz influenced drumming setting the tone, or Mike Turner's simple yet effective riffing to provide a solid rhythm for the band to craft its trade. Raine Maida will still probably be the most recognizable member of the band for listeners, but with his distinct, yet very 90's feeling vocal efforts this shouldn't be an issue, especially since Maida has several strong, entertaining moments on the album.
One day you'll find me sending their message strong
On Naveed can be heard what is arguably Our Lady Peace's strongest song writing. The album spawned excellent material such as Hope, The Birdman and Naveed. Hope, one of the album's singles, is perhaps my favourite of these tracks. It features Mike at his best, both in terms of song writing and performing. The eastern sounding guitar work is quite infectious, and is one of the highlights of Turner's song writing. Hope also contains one of bassist Christ Eacrett's finer moments on the album, as his bass lines are the centrepiece of the song's rhythm early on. Another track to feature the eastern melodies of Mike Turner is The Birdman. However, a more balanced approach is taken on this occasion, as several post-grunge verses and bridges can be heard throughout the track. Perhaps the most energetic song on Our Lady Peace's debut album, the frantic drumming and extreme falsetto of the band's singer also contribute largely to the progression of the track. The title track found on Naveed is one of, (if not the) most popular songs on the album. Complete with one of the album's catchiest choruses and some of the best lyrical work Raine has to offer at this point, the track is a calm and somewhat atypical of the band's style. Maida's singing is very emotional, giving off a mournful mood, which reflects the atmosphere of the song very well, especially during the song's epic chorus. Along with Hope, Naveed is the best the debut album has to offer, and is one of Our Lady Peace's finest tracks.
It's that feeling that you will not have to ignore
With 1994's Naveed, Our Lady Peace released their first of six albums. Though somewhat different from future expenditures such as Clumsy or Happiness is Not a Fish You Can Catch, and drastically different from the likes of Gravity, Naveed is still very much rooted in that of Alternative rock. Through the combined efforts of the entire band, particularly Raine Maida and Mike Turner, Our Lady Peace has managed to put together a fun, enjoyable record which fans the band, or 90's rock in general should enjoy. Naveed is definitely one of Our Lady Peace's best albums, along with my personal favourite, Clumsy. Go buy it.
Recommended Tracks:
Naveed
Hope
Starseed
The Birdman
Is It Safe?
