Sloan: Parallel Play

Label: 12K

A deliriously joyous record, Sloan’s Parallel Play screams “summer” like no other LP these days. This band has been churning out good records for so long now, it’s hard to believe that they can keep the momentum up, but these Canadian bad boys do just that on Parallel Play, which I think is their best outing in years. Sloan records are more or less review-proof; this is superlative pop – either this is your kind of thing or it isn’t, and if it is, boy, are you in for a treat. And the band shows a deft touch these days in deploying a nice variety in sounds and styles: The sublime “Witch’s Wand” and “Emergency 911” could pass for Gifford & Tilbrook; “Cheap Champagne” has hooks worthy of the Zombies, and “Down in the Basement” is a pure Dylan romp. Only the Apples in Stereo can make power pop this good these days. (Ralph)