The Coast

This six-song EP is an impressive step for Toronto’s the Coast. Following up on their 2004 debut EP Take a Walk Outside, this quartet prove they’ve got some skills in the studio. The guitar melodies have a distinctly British sound that soars as high as anything Coldplay can do, and Ben Spurr’s vocals have a fragile quality with a hint of falsetto that marries itself nicely to the band’s overall sound. Their production is tight, and given that the rhythm section is made up of brothers, it’s not surprising that they are in sync and bang-on. Growing up listening to bands like U2 or the Verve has proved to be an excellent spark for these guys, and the big, spacious guitar pop sound they deliver pays homage to that, but comes across as truly their own. The closing track "Harbour Lights” is a grand and beautiful way to leave the listener wanting more. The Coast are yet another example of the increasingly talented and seemingly unstoppable Canadian indie music scene.