RIFTROCK REVIEWS

Summer Hero

Sound Canvas
Posted by Adam Nott
08/14/06

When I finally got my hands on a copy of Summer Hero’s debut album “Sound Canvas” (through Blackbox Recordings – distributed by Universal Music Canada) I realized that it had been well over four years that I (among many other fans) had been waiting for a full album from the Southern Ontario quintet. The ride has been long, and to paraphrase Baz Luhrmann, it’s only been with themselves. Comparatively speaking, Summer Hero has always been the band that everyone expected to “make it” – they are the absolute definition of what the Southern Ontario (and more specifically, Oshawa area) punk rock scene has to offer, and they always have been. The songs have developed and changed, there were many false alarms, album leaks that never made it into albums at all (Best Time to Break This), and finally a deal with a label that has them available nationwide at last. Spots on the Vans Warped Tour will likely help promote “Sound Canvas”, which, to be honest, was released rather silently. The official CD release show is not until the 25th, however, so perhaps the promotion of the album will begin at that point.

Moving on to the album itself, “Sound Canvas” is far from a mainstream masterpiece. It’s raw and it’s real; It’s everything that punk rock isn’t anymore. Ryan’s vocals are filled with changes in pitch and hammering jolts that can’t be entirely accidental, Jimmy and Leblanc call and answer infectious guitar patterns that would make anyone smile, MikeSmith provides an aggressive but not overbearing low end, and Sears simply pounds the shit out of his drums. All of this adds up to a believable collection of 10 brilliant tunes. Since the live show has always been the catalyst for Summer Hero’s success, it’s no surprise that they would want to capture that on the album. It’s not overproduced and it’s not perfect – it’s exactly what it should be: a refined collection of songs from a high energy punk outfit who are looking to broaden their fan base. I have no doubt that “Sound Canvas” will do just that.

Having followed the band for as long as I have, it’s a lot different for me to listen to “Sound Canvas” then for a new fan. I’ve heard these songs in all of their forms – from conception to completion. The song selection is superb – those that should have stayed are there (Tainted Hearts, Say Hey, My Alibi, Top of My Lungs), and those that might have run their course were left behind (When Trumpets Fade, Liquid Lifeline). In short, “Sound Canvas” makes sense. From the first moment of “Frequencies” to the final punching notes of “Say Hey”, Summer Hero bring the rock, and never let up. New recordings of “My Alibi” and “Top of My Lungs” will excite old fans, because the songs are better than ever in their newest form. Ryan’s lyrical capabilities have also developed in the vein of Max Collins, with clever one liners pervading many of the songs on the album. To pick a standout track for me is like trying to pick my favourite colour of M&M – they’re all the same – delicious. Bad analogies aside, “Sound Canvas” is everything one could want in an album from a band that prides itself on it’s live show, and has worked for longer than most bands should have to in order to make this available for the fans.

Pick up Summer Hero’s “Sound Canvas” – it will help you appreciate what punk rock should be – real and not overproduced.

The Band:
Ryan Lane: Vocals Jimmy Thomas: Guitar Matt Leblanc: Guitar MikeSmith: Bass Jeff Seres: Drums

For fans of:
Rise Against, The Fall of Troy, The Used, Story of the Year, Thrice, Thursday, Protest the Hero

Outstanding tracks include:
Top of My Lungs, Leave the Light On, My Alibi, Frequencies, Say Hey

Label:
Blackbox Recordings

Band’s website:
http://www.summerhero.com

PURCHASE THIS ALBUM!