Review Summary: Crash Karma's debut is a good, if somewhat underwhelming effort.
For a bunch of guys that have more or less been out of the Canadian mainstream for roughly five to ten years, Crash Karma is a remarkably focused group. Mind you, three of four members were once part of Ontario's most important '90s rock bands (Mike Turner of Our Lady Peace, Edwin Ghazal of I Mother Earth, and Jeff Burrows of The Tea Party), so there is quite a bit of pedigree behind Crash Karma. Perhaps name recognition helped the band's eponymous album to the moderate success it's achieved (particularly around Toronto), but it helps that they're each excellent musicians. And though it feels like
Crash Karma lacks an element that made past records like
Clumsy or
Scenery and Fish so successful, it's a worthy album all the same.
On the surface, Crash Karma does very little wrong. It's a solid rock record; there's no shortage of catchy hooks, the production is pristine, Edwin is exceptional behind the mic, and the song selection is wonderful. "Awake" and "Like a Wave" in particular embody the spirit that the band aims for: vocally driven alternative rock that maintains an air of simplicity while still being memorable. It's a good album, there's no doubt about that. But what keeps it from being a great album is its lack of ambition.
Crash Karma is a safe album, and although it's a fun listen, there's little aside from Ghazal's distinct voice that sets it apart from other '90s rock records. Each of Our Lady Peace, I Mother Earth, and The Tea Party used unique elements that, in part, helped them to stand out among their contemporaries and unfortunately
Crash Karma lacks that sort of innovation. That isn't to say that it should incorporate Our Lady Peace's layered guitars, the dark, sometimes exotic sound The Tea Party used to play, or the quirky drumming featured in I Mother Earth records; rather, as a group they have the potential to pen something special and it would be interesting to see them apply it. It isn't so much of a disappointment as it is a missed opportunity, but it's something that can be expanded on in the future.
