Rating: NNN
In keeping with their misleading moniker, landlocked Torontonians the Coast previously seemed confused about where to place themselves. Would it be in the angsty epic rock camp of the Brit shoegazers who influenced them or with their synthy North American counterparts?
Despite the Death Cab-like opener, it’s not clear they bothered choosing either for Expatriate, instead settling for a kind of indie-rock middle ground characterized by hooky guitars, soaring melodies and richly layered textures.
Delivered with unabashed emotion by singer Ben Spurr, the songs can teeter on the edge of gratingly overwrought. But the depth of their endeavours resounds on the Editors-ish Ceremony Guns and the dark and catchy Killing Off Our Friends.
The Coast play the Horseshoe Friday (April 18).