Infighter

On listening to their self-titled debut, you might mistake Toronto-based new wavers Infighter for Brits, probably from some charming yet dilapidated little corner of Sussex or outer Manchester. The band are actually pieced together by members from Toronto, Calgary and Austin, TX. However, their sound definitely leans toward the British side of things and is easily comparable to the Cure, Pulp, the Smiths or one of the hundreds, if not thousands, of imitators that preceded them. Infighter may, however, have a substantial edge over the scores of others, in that their sound is more a tribute to, rather than an aping of, the post-punk Brit-pop heavy hitters the band have so obviously been influenced by. And what’s more, they’re actually pretty good. True, lead singer Simeon Ross’s faux-English accent can sometimes come across as affected but he’s saved by the fact that his vocals are strong and earnest. Backed nicely by the sporadic and sweet contributions of co-vocalist Ami Spears, the melodies are at once elegant and catchy, highlighted by a seriously talented rhythm section, sweet synth lines and thoughtful lyrics.