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A Canadian musical crossbreed, the Clumsy Lovers combine traditional instrumentation with shifting time signatures and rock & roll adrenalin. Within the sprawling expanse of
Smart Kid's 15 tracks, the Vancouver quintet surveys a wide range of musical territory, offering surprises at every turn. Bluegrass banjo meets reggae rhythm on "Bobby Banjo" and "London Bridge," while "Okay Alright" combines the new-wave bounce of
Blondie with harmonies direct from the
Beach Boys. On the syncopated, fiddle-driven instrumental "Cock of the North," the band manages to sound both Celtic and Caribbean. Much of the interplay displays the sort of energy that has made the Clumsy Lovers a popular live attraction, but "Better Days," "Don't Worry," and "Not Long for This World" show the maturity of their songwriting and command of the studio.
--Don McLeese