With Limblifter, Rusty and Third Eye Blind reformations all on the go, it’s clear that we’re deep into the Canadian alt-rock part of the 90s revival. Vancouver’s the Pack A.D. would be a complementary band on a bill with any of those acts, though their bluesy and stripped-down approach to rock ‘n’ roll sets them apart.
The duo of singer/guitarist Becky Black, whose tough, smooth vocal delivery occasionally evokes Linda Perry, and drummer Maya Miller, unafraid of going hard on a crash cymbal, have been releasing albums at a good clip, and Positive Thinking is a dark and riveting addition to their six-album catalogue. The songs are as melodic as ever – choruses literally rev and soar – but the emotions in play are largely angst and frustration. (“Post-utopic-nihilist rock” is used in their press release.)
The cheekily titled Positive Thinking is the sound of a hardworking band totally locking in. The songs are comfortably unrushed yet hit with power. The gritty Yes I Know has so much swagger and groove, it’s as worthy as any White Stripes hit. Anyway, with a wet snare drum crack that could fill an arena, brings a welcome, sad bittersweetness to the proceedings, allowing Black to be more vulnerable than tough, and it’s refreshing. When she goes far the other way, it also works Fair Enough showcases her most ferocious howl.
A bunch of tunes seem built for radio (So What, Error), ballad Sorrow is overly dreary, and Skin Me borrows way too much from Nirvana. But the strength, emotion and new directions make this album a winner.
Top track: Yes I Know
The Pack A.D. play Kops Records on Thursday (August 11) and the Horseshoe on October 20. See listing.
