CD Review

Artist: Various

Title: Saved By Saskatoon

Label: Saved by Radio

Release Date: Aug 19 2008

Reviewed by: Tessa Perkins (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada)

Curated by Shuyler Jansen, this mix of artists and genres from the Saskatoon music scene showcases a city that is not often thought of as a place of thriving musicians. The nine artists on the album all have distinct styles, and all are forging ahead in the music world while making a name for their home town of Saskatoon.

These Hands (Michael Hanson) starts out with an interesting track that has the feeling of Eastern influences and includes a flute. From there the album switches genres completely and moves to an electronic track that is jarring and dissonant by Holzkopf. Next is Dumb Angel (Shaun Mason) who mixes his sparse acoustic guitar chords with ethereal, hushed vocals. Pearson takes it up a notch, but still remains quite slow-moving and subdued. The first track that really rocks is by The Blood Lines who won “Outstanding Rock Recording” at the 2007 Western Canadian Music Awards. With eight members that mix a steel drum, mandolin, and flugelhorn with a standard rock rhythm section, Carbon Dating Service has a sound that is both full and unique. Junior Pantherz change it up with their ponderous rock and strong vocals. More on the folksy, country side of things are The Deep Dark Woods who draw influences from traditional folk, rock and roll, alt-country, and psychedelia. Wrapping up this musical stew is A Gentle Forest with their harmonica and folksy sound that is reminiscent of stereotypical prairie music.

Although all the bands on this album are very different, it is a great summary of the Saskatoon music scene as it now stands: diverse, strong, and full of mixed genre experimentation.

1) “We Will Be Born Again” — These Hands

2) “The Old Life” — Holzkopf

3) “Two Leaves” — Dumb Angel

4) “My Ghost Your Ghost” — Pearson

5) “The End of the World” — The Blood Lines

6) “Dead Dogs” — Carbon Dating Service

7) “Class Action Lawsuit” — Junior Pantherz

8) “The Straight & Narrow” — The Deep Dark Woods

9) “The Moon's Appeal” — A Gentle Forest