Here we have more easy-on-the-ear pop from Canada as delivered by Vancouver’s THE LEFT, who are keen to attract the attentions of a UK label despite being in the geographical eye of the storm across the Atlantic.
Their fourth album kicks off with the solid stop-start ‘nothing lasts forever’ anthem ‘Eleanor’ and follows up with the high art-pop of ‘Give Love Away’, all delayed effect, drop-out acoustics and high idealism.
Established patterns pave the way for these jaded, faded rock n’rollers – and that pattern continues with this Easy Rider of a record that’s more roll than rock. As the band play to their harmonic strengths in a series of understated songs there’s an easy appeal to this traditional take on straight up US rock.
Gentle distortion makes the guitars smoulder in the ballad-brushed ‘Goodbye’ and pedestrian though it may be, the minor key melody is lovely. Odd chords similarly give ‘You Never Know’ a charm to match, but it’s the vocal subtleties where the beauty lies.
Title track ‘Roses’ is the classic too-late lament of the man who finds himself bin-bagged. It’s the perfect tempo for the band’s slight grunge style – all of the songs are anthemic and begging for commercial airplay. There’s a notable and worrying lack of bite and no edges - the guitar hooks are well emulsified in the production process though the subtleties add undoubted intricacy, but the overall sound is so easy on the ear that it seems petty to protest.
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4-chorders in the main, the finest tracks are lit up with falsetto vocals and luscious harmonies, but unswerving in their deadpan delivery. 100% sincere, with not a trace of innovation, THE LEFT illuminate those big progressions and structures that are universally acknowledged and instantly recognised. Where the cynic might argue about rock-by-numbers, ‘Roses Aren’t Good Enough’ is much too euphonious for that. The band are well versed, and they know exactly what works. Though we can see the formula clearly, it still doesn’t stop the process of seduction.
Finale ‘That’s What She Said’ is the half-stepping slowed down sound of broken promises crashing like waves on the rocks, and the multi-vocals sledge and surf in absorbing fashion over it all, like delayed thoughts that crash into the back of each other in an action replay style motorway pile up.
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