THE QUIET REVOLUTION play the Silver Dollar tonight (Thursday, April 21). See listing. Rating: NNNN
Scott Maynard, a 20-year veteran of the local music scene, is best known for his work with Toronto’s Rock Plaza Central. But with that band on hiatus (just one festival show planned for 2011 while leader Chris Eaton focuses on his literary career), he’s using the time to get his Quiet Revolution solo project rolling. Recorded with eight players over a year, this exceptional debut has that refreshing, tossed-off, anything-goes quality of a side project but with Maynard’s hard-earned, well-honed songwriting chops front and centre.
The 13 songs are brisk, teem with hooks and are effortlessly guided by Maynard’s steady hand and casually delivered vocals. Energetic clarinet-dotted pub rock front-loads the album (opener Why Not A Lobotomy is a standout), punky garage rock makes an appearance, and folk gradually takes over, ending with the banjo-driven Golden Dawn, which could be a classic. Maynard’s not striving to do any one thing or be anyone else, and the honesty shines through.
Top track: Why Not A Lobotomy
