Portico

I always wonder what it would be like to be a teenager in the era of downloading, where time doesn't exist in your music collection and everything is "new" regardless of if it was made in the '70s or '00s. The discovery begins anew. If that was so, Portico might sound differently because for the majority of this catchy, accomplished album, I keep thinking of the early to mid-'90s. It alternates between Jale, the Spinanes and Jen Trynin. By the way, this is a good thing. Take "Unreunion," a ragged song that has a driving beat and sucks you in through Lyn Heinemann's husky voice. It's a perfect slab of throwback '90s alternative. "Laura Secord" gets points for overt Canadiana (or maybe that should go to "Louis Riel Leaves the College de Montreal") and having a heavy, grungy edge. Consistency is a blessing and a curse here, as Portico do have a light touch with their rock songs but they meld together more often the not. For those looking for a new spin on an old sound, this isn't too bad.