Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Review: Canadian Invasion "Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand"


Rising up from the land that has sprouted many wondrous power pop bands - no, not Canada, but Philadelphia of course - is Canadian Invasion. What is it about the City of Brotherly Love that cultivates such a great sense of melody and harmony?

In 2006, Canadian Invasion burst onto the scene with the acclaimed "Songs for the Atco Ghost, described by Philly Weekly as "breathy jangle that’s both bubblegum and alt-country". The upcoming release, "Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand", is poised to cement Canadian Invasion's status as a major player in modern power pop and alt-country rock. But what is up with the name? Vocalist and guitarist Andy Canadian explains, “Our songs are a satirical assault on American ‘values’. We call ourselves ‘America’s last line of defense against the evil Canadian socialist empire’s pernicious ideology of cheap health care and gun control'...We want catchy pop songs that remind you that your life is fairly absurd.”

With some of the most interesting song titles this side of Fall Out Boy, more hooks than a Bait & Tackle shop, and harmonies as graceful as those of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Canadian Invasion is out to infiltrate your brain until you wave the white flag and unconditionally surrender a few dozen memory cells to their melodies. "Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand" is some tremendously entertaining jangle pop - as funny as it is catchy - like The Jayhawks doing stand up. How can you resist being intrigued by a song titled "Standing On The Shoulders Of The Carcass Of John Mayer"?

There's hardly a dud in this platoon of tunes, but my favs include "Pop Magic Fantastical Masterpiece”, "The Last Time I Went To Church" (complete with church organ), and the title track. Fans of Pernice Brothers, Town and Country, Teenage Fanclub, and Wilco...prepare to be invaded.

"Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand" drops February 17. Get it here.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10

Canadian Invasion on MySpace.

Check out the video for "One Hand Claps the Other":

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