Local Rabbits - This is it, here we go

Since I did Sloan a turn, I'll keep spreading the love for our Canadian brethren and tackle the final release from Montreal's superb Local Rabbits. Vocalists/guitarists Peter Elkas and Ben Gunning are perfect foils for each other. Their voices are very different and distinctive on their own, which plays out especially well in the song "Purple & Grey", a conversation between a penis and the brain which keeps it in check. I know, it sounds sophomoric. Trust me, it's not. In fact, it's a rollicking galloping tune with plenty of wit and a great guitar solo and a perfect drum track, though the outro could have been shorter. The band's songwriting has garnered them a lot of comparisons to Steely Dan. I hear it, but they have just as much in common with Thrush Hermit, if not more. Still, jazzy bits and smoothitude float on the surface of their terrific lyrics and tasty guitar, with some really well-placed synth and keyboards thrown under chord progressions that are well, well above the level of sophistication one usually sees coming out of a rock band. Unfortunately, this was their swan song. I haven't picked up their other releases yet, but I certainly shall.

If you're a fan of the Dan, the Halifax exposion, both, or just well-done rock music, get this.