Bend Sinister - Small Fame review of sorts + 2 new videos

1. She Don't Give It Up
2. Don't You Know
3. Man of Faith and Virtue
4. One Shot
5. Got You on My Mind
6. My Lady
7. We Know Better
8. Give It a Rest
9. Hot Blooded Man
10. Black Magic Woman
11. She Lost Her Rock and Roll
12. Quest for Love

As a longtime fan of Bend Sinister, I am definitely not disappointed with this record. The songwriting is more concise and shorter overall, but at the same time, most of the songs on Small Fame have something to enjoy. And it flows pretty well, much like their last record Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers. Is it as progressive rock influenced as their other records? maybe not. I'm not sure it matters though, as Bend Sinister are now more than before, only part prog, but also a big part power-pop and classic rock among other styles. And I guess overall, for the better, as if they stayed totally progrock, I'm not sure how long they'd be around or even have as good a chance of finally catching on to a wider audience.

The biggest highlights are the opening "Rush meets Hall & Oats"-inspired number "She Don't Give it Up," "My Lady" with it's call and response vocals ("Has anybody seen my lady?..[yelling] Has anyone seen my girl!") along with a great Hammond organ part. "Hot Blooded Man" is one of the others I always look forward to, as it has this badass groove to which both the keyboards, guitar lines and vocals all help create. It changes times, has a great call-and-response type verses, and like many other great Bend Sinister tunes, it seems to shift gears rather well. I actually think it's one of those songs that I could go for it going on for twice as long as it is. I imagine when the band plays it live, they have, as it sounds like something that would go over rather well live. The high energy is impossible to ignore.

Of course the 1st track I fell in love with the most "Quest for Love" still remains the best tune, although like "Hot Blooded Man" if it were longer, it might be even greater. That being said, it is a great example of doing prog in a short/radio-length-friendly way. Sound-wise, there isn't another tune on this record, or maybe any song they've done, that it compares to. But I can't deny, it does remind me a lot of Iron Maiden among a few others. The tight guitar and keyboard lines, with Dan Moxon's almost chanty-like vocals just seem to channel that "epic" feel, idea, etc.

The drum work on this record is consistent, and by that I mean, you always notice Jason Dana. Every track pretty much, although he also has played on everything Bend Sinister's has released since Stories of Brothers. I just think his work on here stands out, and despite the fact the heart of their sound is very pop-oriented, he's both technical and tight enough to not sound like a session drummer.

I suppose one thing that is worth adding is while every other track I enjoy.

"Give it a Rest" and "Got You On My Mind" both of I knew/had heard and liked from the On My Mind EP released in March.

"Man of Faith and Virtue," is playful and includes a lead keyboard part which is sort of trademark of the Bend Sinister sound.

"Don't You Know" has a fun, upbeat, driving chorus "Don't You Know Why I'm Still in Love With You"

"One Shot" has this almost Billy Joel-like chorus to it("Big Shot"?).

"Black Magic Woman" (no, it's nothing like the Santana tune) is sort of a darker slow, bluesy ballad, that would almost fit well on a Led Zeppelin album ("Since I've Been Loving You"?).

"She Lost Her Rock and Roll" includes this big, grandiose Vocal and guitar interplay. As much as "Quest for Love" almost defines the word "epic," this tune almost could be described in that way as well, and works rather well in transition to the closing track.

The one likely skippable tune for me is "We Know Better" which I'm struggling with to like. The chorus just is bland and it gets repeated over and over. I can't help but wonder if "Things Will Get Better" off 2010's Spring Romance EP, would have gone *better* here. But I suppose given that song is older, the band might not have felt it belongs with this newer collection of songs.

All in All, this record is a top 5-10 Album Index contender, although I'd be lying if I didn't rank this record slightly below both Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers and Through the Broken City. But both of those records I love immensely, and like the new House of Fools and Ramona Falls (and Emanuel & the Fear it appears), this is by no means a disappointing record.

Now whether it finally enables them to breakthrough in America, it is up in the air. But maybe the biggest thing is for that, Dan Moxon mentioned this is their 1st album that will be receiving distribution in the US. And they plan to finally tour in the States this coming Fall (likely East Coast since they already are confirmed for the CMJ festival again, in NYC), and then hopefully at least 1 somewhat widespread tour in early to mid 2013. Because honestly, I think it is kind of Do or Die for them. This may be their "One Shot" as their song says. But at least they are finally going to get a shot. If their tour doesn't hit Minnesota, I can't see myself not traveling to Chicago or another city to finally get to see them after 6-7 years of wanting to.

Here's their latest video for "Don't You Know" and another recent video for an unreleased/b-side with the preorder "The Road Divided"

PGI#4 - Bend Sinister, The Road Divided from playground.is on Vimeo.

Bend Sinister - On My Mind [EP] (2012)

3/6/12 11:42AM
$4.95 via Amazon (don't bother with iTunes, at least I don't :p)

Hopefully after hearing this, more stuff about the "acts as a teaser for more great things to come", will be understood and soon announced, i.e. a full-length.

2/6/12 5:18PM


1 Give It a Rest
2 Got You on My Mind
3 I'm the One Leaving You
4 Please Say
5 The Road Divided

I'm  pretty excited to hear this, even if it is just 5 songs, and I'll fully admit Spring Romance I never loved like all of their other releases. But it's interesting in the article it talks about this EP acting like a *teaser.* And rightfully so, given the band have been touring a lot over the last few years, and in 2009 they won that $50,000 for finishing in 3rd place in British Columbia's "Peak Performance Project" which they presumably were going to use to record their next album. Although I suspect a chunk of that money went towards the making of videos for every song off Stories of Brothers, and Spring Romance from 2010.

But I gotta be honest, as much as I love this band. I am just cautiously only expecting a mild amount of  things after SR and with members departing off and on. Might this or the believed to be next full-length be as good or better than Stories of Brothers? perhaps. But I guess I'm just going to wait and see. I have not heard the opening track "Give it a Rest" that is streamable/downloadable below via Soundcloud. But I suppose hearing that might change how I feel.

I'm at the library right now without headphones, so that's going to have to wait at least a few hours. As far as the tour, they are opening for of all bands, Electric Six, lol. And of course it's still Canada-exclusive. I have too many other shows/trips/events in the coming months to realistically think about traveling for one these shows. But I guess it may be worth pricing a trip out to Winnipeg, like I did a few years ago, just to get a ballpark figure.

I remember wanting to go up there to see a show on the Stories of Brothers tour, and it would have ended up costing me about $300 or more. Yet, a show in town here? probably about $15 + merch. But someday hopefully, as long they don't break up.

  article

By Gregory Adams 
West Coast unit Bend Sinister have yet to release a full-length follow-up to 2008's Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers, but at least the band have some new tunes to deliver to their devoted next month, via their upcoming five-song EP On My Mind. 


The mini-platter arrives March 6 through File Under: Music. Described as coming "from a band that clearly knows that their capabilities as players and songwriters are limitless," the record apparently touts a sound that seamlessly bounces from prog rock to pop anthems, according to the press release. The collection was captured by Shawn Cole (You Say Party, Yukon Blonde) at Vancouver studios Fader Master and Mushroom, and you can check out the opening number "Give It a Rest" down below. 


Though a new LP has yet to be properly announced, the press sheet hints that the EP "acts as a teaser for more great things to come." 


While the studio news is no doubt welcomed, Bend Sinister also just unveiled an upcoming Canadian tour schedule, which has them heading out from BC to Quebec and back again. You can see the details of the March trip down below.

Tour dates:
3/1 Kelowna, BC - The Habitat
3/2 Olds, AB - Tracks Pub 

3/6 Montreal, QC - L'Esco Bar
3/8 London, ON - Call The Office
3/10 Toronto, ON - Cherry Cola
 
3/13 Winnipeg, MB - The Pyramid
 
3/14 Regina, SK - The Exchange
 
3/15 Saskatoon, SK - Amigos
 
3/16 Calgary, AB - The Gateway
 
3/17 Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
 
3/18 Banff, AB - Wildbills
 
3/19 Jasper, AB - The Horseshoe Club
 
3/20 Fernie, BC - The Northern
 
3/21 Nelson, BC - The Hume Hotel
 
3/22 Kamloops, BC - Catus Jacks
 
3/23 Vancouver, BC - Venue
 
3/24 Victoria, BC - Club 9one9
 
3/26 Whistler, BC - Garibaldi Lift Company

AllMediaReviews Music Essential: Bend Sinister

Bend Sinister



One of Canada's biggest secrets, that perhaps now in 2010 may finally see some due recognition and exposure, after number of years in sad obscurity. I can trace 1st seeing their name I recall the Summer of 2006. On the Porcupine Tree message board, a topic titled "Something interesting out of Canada."



This band had released what is technically their 2nd album in 2005 Through the Broken City and their website had a neat design that went with the artwork.

Their style of music could be vaguely described as if Jeff Buckley were singing with The Mars Volta. However, I often hear a strong influence from Queen as well as even The Guess Who or Elton John. Although as I came to take in their music more and more, I realized they had somewhat of their own sound, and that description might not be 100% accurate. They had these great crescendos that I found myself loving, on that album. They also at times could be incredibly catchy or include one or two really fun hooks that would not leave my head for hours. And despite some lower fidelity production values, it became and still is a record that stands the test of time, as whenever I put it on still, I enjoy it as much if not more than when I 1st got into it.

And along with the music, Broken City has always had a somewhat of a deep, mystical concept behind it. I kind of think of post-apocalyptic stories (Scifi) when listening to it. Even with the closing cut "Under the Ground" the lyrics "a man came to me and said I'm better than you...better than you" which sort meant to me, kind of a adversarial mindset about how the people or lifeforms from above had made living above the surface un-live-able and they now needed to go under ground to try and survive. And given the man had lived under the ground, with it's different (if not extremely worse) conditions, he was in fact better or more tolerant/a-survivor than the main character in the story. There was a cheesy early 90's tv show starring Kate Hodge called "Shewolf of London" I recall which had an episode a bit like that with mole-people. And recently on Dr.Who there was something kind of similar. And I'm sure there have been plenty of other stories written in Hollywood and in literature (The Time Machine? a movie of the original George Reeves Superman?)

I got so into them, and the fact I could not find anyone else who really liked or would really check them out, it frustrated me, similarly to what went on soon after with another great band doing modern prog in North Carolina's House of Fools. It also hurt their ability to tour, at least in the States. I wished and still feel if I had the money (i.e. if I won the lottery) I would be interested in help funding a tour across the States for Bend Sinister.



So in 2007 after the band put up some new songs on their myspace page, a new ep was in the works. As it turns out, it was self-titled. It was around this time I was struggling with hearing compressed, clipping cymbals. And the new EP, like Broken City, pretty much was without a poor track. However, the cymbals clipping kind of hurt how much I enjoyed it. Three of the tracks, "Time Breaks Down," "Julianna" and "Yours Truly" it stuck out. Although songs like "TV War" and "High Horses" the compression problems didn't seem to be there or as notice-able. So while this new batch of songs I couldn't find myself in love with entirely, I still held a lot of optimism about them and the music they were writing.

But like it has become, obscure bands and how often they are heard from can be limited, even online. 2008 seemed to be a pretty quiet year for the band, as the new ep's release didn't lend to much more touring than I hoped to see. Nor news online about their next record. But then suddenly 1 day in late August I recall it was, they announced they had a brand new concept album coming out within a few weeks. It was to be a record they said was meant to be heard all at once. Very much in the tradition of concept albums they enjoyed. It was titled Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers.



And it did not disappoint. It was different than Broken City. More piano, more of a retro tone and texture to it. But it was still very well written music, and the band ultimately pulled off what they set out to do, as it does work better as one full listening. Much like Side 2 of Abbey Road for example. "I read the news today oh boy" The classic rock references/tributes were there, which came across very much part of it's charm. They weren't sounding like Wolfmother though, as they still sounded like the Bend Sinister I loved, but it was a nice change and an example how they were being progressive. They ended up playing the whole thing live as well, but sadly their tour never came across the border.

So then news came at the end of 2009, they ended up entering and winning 3rd place and $50,000 in a non-profit contest in British Columbia called the "Peak Performance Project." And now they are (at the time I wrote this) in the process of making their next record, in Toronto, which is far from their home in Vancouver. But they are starting to receive more exposure than ever before. Playing at the Rush Induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (with both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush in attendance). And just a few weeks back, they did a showcase gig in New York City, which chances are, some record label people were in attendance.



Plus a new EP was released Spring Romance which includes 5 brand new tracks, very much in the vein and of the quality of the Stories of Brothers work. So, as it seems, the many years of enjoyment and optimism for this great band from Canada may finally be paying off for me as a fan. The near future sounds like it should be rather promising.

The only regret as fan thus far, beyond never seeing them live, is the fact their debut album The Warped Pane has been so elusive, I've never heard it, nor encountered anyone who has. I have read that it's an all instrumental album so, my sadness for that fact isn't maybe what it may be. But I still hope to hear it one day, as I at times can't get enough of this band.

Albums: Through the Broken City, Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers
Songs: Truth or Truth, Tough Love, Demise, High Horses, Hell or Shelter, Give Into the Night, Dr.Lee, Time Breaks Down, Through the Broken City/When Your Skin Makes Your Crawl

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