We weren't sure if we'd ever hear from the Bicycles again after they went on hiatus in 2009, but here they are, back with another album. The Toronto pop band's latest record is called Stop Thinking So Much, and before its official release on April 2 through Fuzzy Logic Recordings, you can stream it on Exclaim.ca.
The album finds the group moving away from their DIY roots, with a sessions at 6 Nassau Recording Studio yielding a more hi-fi sound. It was recorded with James Anderson (Sandro Perri, Bruce Peninsula), mixed with Leon Taheny (Owen Pallett, Ohbijou) and mastered by João Carvalho (Sloan, the Sheepdogs)
Rather than the cute bubblegum sounds we're used to hearing from the Bicycles, the album spikes its pop tunes with country-influenced ballads, dark rock songs and yacht rock grooves. Opener "Appalachian Mountain Station" is filled with pastoral harmonies and folksy guitar atmosphere, while "Congratulations" harkens back to '60s AM pop and "Bandana Cat" is a sugary soft rock number. Elsewhere, "Break It" is led by gritty guitar licks and "Try Too Hard" has a hint of rock'n'roll boogie.
These diverse forays find four of the five members taking on singing and songwriting duties, with 12 songs running at only slightly more than half an hour.
Take a listen below and check out all the Bicycles' upcoming Canadian dates here.
The album finds the group moving away from their DIY roots, with a sessions at 6 Nassau Recording Studio yielding a more hi-fi sound. It was recorded with James Anderson (Sandro Perri, Bruce Peninsula), mixed with Leon Taheny (Owen Pallett, Ohbijou) and mastered by João Carvalho (Sloan, the Sheepdogs)
Rather than the cute bubblegum sounds we're used to hearing from the Bicycles, the album spikes its pop tunes with country-influenced ballads, dark rock songs and yacht rock grooves. Opener "Appalachian Mountain Station" is filled with pastoral harmonies and folksy guitar atmosphere, while "Congratulations" harkens back to '60s AM pop and "Bandana Cat" is a sugary soft rock number. Elsewhere, "Break It" is led by gritty guitar licks and "Try Too Hard" has a hint of rock'n'roll boogie.
These diverse forays find four of the five members taking on singing and songwriting duties, with 12 songs running at only slightly more than half an hour.
Take a listen below and check out all the Bicycles' upcoming Canadian dates here.
