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Album reviews Music

Portage & Main – Never Had The Chance

PORTAGE & MAIN play tonight (Thursday, March 21) at Czehoski and Friday (March 22) at the El Mocambo downstairs as part of CMF. See listings. Rating: NNN


On their second album, twangy Vancouver folk-rock quintet Portage & Main hit all the right comforting Canrock notes. The organ- and pedal-steel-drenched grungy songs recall everyone from Blue Rodeo and Lowest of the Low to the Band.

Produced by member Georges Couling (who also handles the piano, Wurlitzer, B3 and sweet backup vocals), the disc has a crunchy, homemade feel that makes the songs endearing but sometimes a little noisy and cluttered. Sparser indie folk song This Old Heart featuring Savannah Wellman is an exception.

Songwriters Harold Donnelly and John Sponarski show an appreciation of their influences. Mellow Oona Jean, the title track and Good Morning Sunshine are especially strong Better Man, Epitaph and Lied To Me not as much. It’ll be interesting to hear the band continue to hone its voice.

Top track: Never Had The Time

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