The Bushpilots

Throughout the '80s, the Canadian alternative scene was deeply rooted in traditional rock'n'roll, as bands like 54-40, the Tragically Hip and the Pursuit of Happiness represented the Great White North on college radio. Ottawa, ON's the Bushpilots (five veteran musicians who travel down the same dusty road in the same ripped jeans as our famed alt-pioneers) continue their M.O. of driving roots rock on Seven Ways to Broadway, their third LP. With the help of prominent Ottawa producer Dave Draves (Kathleen Edwards, Jim Bryson, Howe Gelb), Seven Ways to Broadway benefits greatly from the amount of unbridled personality vocalist/guitarist Rob Bennett injects into songs such the Neil Young-esque "Rock 'n Roll Radio" and the grainy "Dead Surfer." Although Seven Ways to Broadway demonstrates the Bushpilots as exceedingly focused and hardworking, the majority of the material is noticeably conservative and clichéd next to more modern rock'n'roll flag-bearers such as Jay Reatard and King Khan.