CD Review

Artist: The Telepathic Butterflies

Title: Breakfast in Suburbia

Released: 2008

Label: Rainbow Quartz

Publicity: Killbeat Music 

Reviewed By: Leah Mertz (Edmonton/Calgary Correspondent - Canada) 

It seems as though The Telepathic Butterflies are out to get the whole world jiving to a simpler time. Their latest release, "Breakfast in Suburbia," the boys' third attempt at an artistic showcase of vintage and flavour filled rock. The album plays like something I would have heard almost three decades ago...or at least that is what my Mom tells me. Their music pays tribute to a simpler time both in music and lyrics. The music sounds as if it is purposely set out to counter-act any sort of over-produced synthetic sounds found in today's music industry. Likewise, the lyrics are assembled quite uncomplicated as they chronicle the ups and downs of casual, everyday life.

Whether intentional or not, this album's style is very uncut and raw. The vocals are raspy and unpolished and the overall musical quality is diminished by the fact that the whole album sounds like it was recorded using GarageBand. I admit this sounds a bit harsh, so I will add that I commend guitarist/vocalist Rejean Ricard and drummer Jacques Dubois at staying true to their roots. For what the music is, it is quite well done. The track ‘The Gossip Trail' is a catchy number about the obsession our culture has in knowing what everyone else is up to. Other tracks like ‘Sign of the Times' and ‘The Caution Slumber' are relatively profound in their lyrics. All of the songs capture a unique blend of classic pop-rock that is often hard to come by these days.

The Telepathic Butterflies' talent at chronicling life's everyday events begins to be slightly uneventful after the third or fourth track. Overall, "Breakfast in Suburbia" plays just a little too simple for my liking. It lacks any sort of originality and ultimately gives hope to all bands having yet to venture into a record deal that if the Telepathic Butterflies can record an album, so can they. The title of the album almost suggests the songs are stories you would discuss at breakfast as it succeeds the previous day's occurrences. Sure, something to discuss over breakfast, but that is as far as it goes. As far as I'm concerned, these Butterflies still have not left the cocoon. 

Track listing:
1) The Trouble In Keeping Up With The Joneses
2) A Scathing Report
3) Telescope
4) The Gossip Trail
5) If It’s All Too Much
6) Mr. Dysfunctionality
7) The Wishing Invisible
8) Sign of the Times
9) A Midlife Crisis
10) Are You For Real?
11) Facing Id
12) She Looks Good
13) While You’re Asleep
14) The Caution Slumber