There are many exports that come out of Canada, but one of Canada’s finer exports is their music. The Watchmen, hailing from Winnipeg, have already won the hearts of fellow Canadians and are now looking to conquer the states. Their new release, Silent Radar, has done quite well north of the border and is one of their better albums to date. In comparison to In the Trees and Brand New Day, Silent Radar shows the maturity of the band. A good mix of songs and the creation of new vibes make the sound more dynamic.
The band’s strength lies within the talents of lead singer/keyboard player Daniel Greaves. His voice is strong and clear, refreshing to hear because Greaves can flat-out sing, easily winning your musical heart. From past to present, Greaves and co-writer/guitarist Joey Serlin orchestrate poetic and hooky lyrics. Take the opener, “Stereo”: “My life is a stereo, how loud does it go?/ What songs do I know?/ What happened to my plans?/ Whatever happened to the life I thought I’d have?” This was the first single for the record in Canada and a big part of the album’s success so far. “Any Day Now” was inspired by their hometown. The song seems effortless but Greaves’ soul pours deep into the track.
If you’re looking for rockers like “Stereo”, “Say Something” and “Come Around” are The Watchmen doing what they do best, being a rock ‘n’ roll band. In “Come Around”, the band adds to their rock ‘n’ roll recipe by incorporating a wicked harmonica.
The band’s maturity really comes shining through in some songs, from their version of the pop rock “I’m Waiting”, to the hollow tones “Silent Radar”, to the peaceful and chaotic “Brighter Hell”, all hidden treasures for the listener. On Brand New Day, The Watchmen brought in Greaves’ piano abilities to develop their continuing sound and some much-needed texture. “Brighter Hell”, one of the best tunes they’ve ever written, uses the keyboard to create a lofty opening mood as the song builds into a melodic whirlwind of sound for the closure of the record. “Silent Radar” shows what each member of the band brings to the table, with Sam Kohn providing steady drums and key background vocals. Ken Tizzard gets an A+ for complimenting Sterling’s guitar work so gracefully.
Silent Radar features a new advanced technology called CD-Active, which acts as a key for fans to unlock secret web pages about the band’s music. The Watchmen are the first band in the history of music to use this technology.
+ larry sarzyniak
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