The Warped 45s

It's not often that new roots-based music can be described as "fresh," but from the opening notes of the title track of this full-length debut, Toronto, ON's the Warped 45s breathe new life into the tried-and-true CanRock formula through sheer determination to make each song a memorable experience. Led by cousins Dave and Ryan McEathron, there's an obvious give-and-take that infuses the material, and producer John Critchley (13 Engines, Elliott Brood) provides a steady hand behind the boards. But the performances, at times reminiscent of Midlake and even Fisherman's Blues-era Waterboys, are just a bonus. The McEathrons have honed their storytelling skills through keen observation, as in "Progress," sung from the perspective of a Toronto waste disposal worker. But that gritty realism is offset by the poetic flights of songs like "Trestle For A Train," a number with so many unorthodox elements that it should never have worked but in its final form seems completely natural. In a similar way, upon first listen 10 Day Poem For Saskatchewan sounds like a great Canadian album but after repeated spins just sounds like a great album, period.