The Salteens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Salteens | |
|---|---|
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| Country | Canada |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Genres | Rock |
| Labels | Boompa |
The invitation proposed by the title of The Salteens' long-awaited second album will prove irresistible to fans of smart, hook-laden guitar pop. And few bands are as capable as this Vancouver quintet of conjuring the feeling of endless summer so colourfully suggested by the cover and contents of Let Go of Your Bad Days.
Since the 2000 release of their acclaimed debut CD, Short-Term Memories (endearing Records), The Salteens have become one of the great word-of-mouth success stories in Canadian independent music. Touring relentlessly for over two years - playing over 200 shows before thousands of people - the band not only accumulated masses of fans in their home country, but gained an equally devoted (and larger!) audience in Australia, Japan and the U.S. Short-Term Memories quickly rose to the top of Canada's national college radio chart, and was nominated in the category of Best Alternative Album at Canadian Music Week's 2001 Independent Music Awards.
Despite the many and obvious charms of its predecessor, Let Go of Your Bad Days is an enormous leap in terms of melodic and lyrical sophistication - ten songs that, in a mere 28 minutes, exemplify everything great about unashamedly simple and joyful pop. Produced by West Coast legend Kevin Kane (The Grapes of Wrath) with contributions from Ryan Dahle (Limblifter, Age of Electric) and Pete Bastard (Flash Bastard), it reveals a depth to the songwriting of frontman Scott Walker that was barely hinted at before. The addition of sweeping string and horn arrangements hark back to the halcyon era of late-'60s AM radio, and elevate standout tracks "Time You Have Been Wasting" and the title song to unprecedented heights.
Let Go of Your Bad Days has already been rapturously received in Australia, where it was released in December and promoted by a national club and theatre tour opening for down-under indie-pop stars The Lucksmiths and Jebediah. "We promise that when The Salteens hit Perth again, there will be more of a fanfare," declared that city's Xpress Magazine. "...They may have even eclipsed the headlining act."
