Review Summary: Sincere, honest and booz filled Canadian rock n' roll.
The Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Sean Dalton. The band is currently based in Toronto, Ontario. Their high energy, Canadian Rock n' roll sound is well known throughout eastern Canada. The bands live shows are packed with blood sweat and of course alcohol.
There's nothing particularly ground-breaking about The Trews' latest album, No Time for Later, but it is full of crunchy guitars, pounding drums and even a taste of bagpipes. It's a strong set of 13 songs over 50 minutes that will likely appeal to those who are drawn to the Tragically Hip and John Fogerty.
The Trews - who are brothers John-Angus and singer Colin MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek and drummer Sean Dalton - have been around for a decade. They have said in recent interviews they have hopes that this, their third full-length album, will be the one to make them a household name.
It's a shame they chose the cover art that they did because there are certain people (such as myself) who will judge an album by its cover before listening to it. This one has an ugly stylized image of the backside of a woman wearing what appears to be white leather buttless (save for a thong) chaps. It's neither a flattering nor fitting image for The Trews.
The songs on this album are not raunchy, nor are they particularly risqué. They are political in places, such as on the angry sounding Gun Control, where MacDonald sings about the senselessness of the Virginia Tech campus killings.
Can't Stop Laughing is decidedly more upbeat with its bagpipe intro, but has some fairly glum lyrics about heartache.
Will You Wash Away stands out as by far the most pop-sounding song on the album and the band does it surprisingly well. Burning Wheels is too guitar-heavy and riff-conscious, but isn't offensive enough to trigger my skip finger.
On the whole, this is good honest rock that is sure to translate into great concerts. So why such a high rating you ask? Well the raw power, emotion and fun displayed throughout the album really hit home with me and is sure to do the same with others who listen to it.
The Trews may not have a market for them in the States but throughout Canada, Their name is bound to become a household name.
