Even though
the Weakerthans
feature bassist extraordinaire
John K. Samson
(formerly of
Propaghandi
), there is no way this could even come close to a musical comparison with his former band. These guys are a lot more laid-back, almost folky at times but in a way that couldn't be categorized as a hippie band. Lyrically,
Samson
's pen has a sharp, poetic tone, making it impossible for one not to be taken into his stories. Just imagine
Jawbreaker
meeting
the Smoking Popes
, but with a relaxed energy level that doesn't bore the listener. They even successfully incorporate a bow saw into their music -- how about that for innovation? ~ Mike DaRonco