Customer Reviews

The Heavy Blinkers

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is some truly remarkable pop music emanating from the snowy realms of Canada at the moment. Sloan, The Flashing Lights and the much underrated and much under-heard Bowie/Barrett-esque Destroyer, to name but a few. Now comes the extremely pop-friendly The Heavy Blinkers. Coming on like a more 60's-minded Papas Fritas, The Heavy Blinkers merge the sounds of Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Steely Dan, The Left Banke and The Doobie Brothers (yes folks, unless I'm sadly mistaken, I can detect this influence - intentional or otherwise! ). The Heavy Blinkers' self-titled release is - to say the least - a triumph. Tracks like "All That's Left Are Waves", "Easy Living", "Dressing Down", "Pennycandy on the Brain" and "Chaplin's Christmas" are gorgeous, lilting pop tunes tailor-made for breaking hearts. The album features 21 songs and ends with the delightful "Free Hawaii", in which the band cracks up laughing during its lovable chorus. I haven't heard The Heavy Blinkers first long-player from 1998 ("Hooray for Evrything"), but based on this one I'm sure it would also be more than worthwhile. Get out your wallets folks, for this is chamber pop of the highest order.

Miracles do happen ! The Heavy Blinkers have created the perfect soundtrack for a sparkling summer. The music is a unique cocktail of Beach Boys (at their peak), Burt Bacharach and The High Llamas. It's a feel-good album full of inventive, cheerful melodies and astonishing vocals. I really hope the world will fall for these excellent masterminds of pop. Thank heaven for The Heavy Blinkers !

I discovered this band a couple months ago and finally bought this album last week. How is it that NO ONE I know has heard of this band? I would go as far as to say that this album is a work of genius. I'm reading some Pet Sounds comparisons in other reviews on this page. Well, this album is better than anything the Beach Boys ever did. Sorry guys.

Some of the catchiest songs on the album are only a minute long and I still haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I've listened to the album at least 20 times now and it still leaves me wanting more. I guess maybe it's a good thing. Each song has so many layers that I wouldn't be surprised if it took a week to record each one-minute song. Anyway, this album is 11 years old now and I can't find any semi-recent news whatsoever on the band. They probably broke up or at least stopped touring because the rest of the world sucks and would rather listen to Pink. Thanks, jerks.

Got ya thinking about laying in the park in the heart of San Fransisco's North Beach, staring up at the blue sky, seeing shapes in the clouds, while the church bells ringing in the background. Dessert? Why yes, thank you...I have some wonderrul tarte aux pommes in the back of the Lambretta. You want? Danke!
IF you groove on the Free Design, you'll dig theses cats. Check out Call and Response...guarrenteed to fog your Wayfarers.
Love!
The Conductor of the Groovy Juice Symphony.