Sloan is one of Canada's most critically acclaimed rock bands. The band's members are Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson and Andrew Scott. Sloan is different than most rock groups, everyone writes their own material and sings it. Sloan has four full length albums, 1992's Smeared, 1994's Twice Removed, 1996's One Chord to Another and 1998's Navy Blues. Sloan is now based in Toronto and they have their own record label Murderecords.

Smeared was Sloan's first ever full length record. It was recorded for DGC, (David Geffen Company) and it has a very grungy sound. The CD features the group's first single Underwhelmed. From the first time the critics heard this song they were raving. They called Sloan's home town Halifax the alternative/grunge capitol of Canada. They also called Sloan Canada's answer to Nirvana or the Smashing Pumpkins.

Their next and last CD with DGC was called Twice Removed. This time Sloan changed their sound: they are criticised for doing this. They tend to be very eclectic, because they have four very independent members in the band. Twice Removed is far superior to it's predecessor, Smeared. Chart Magazine and the Canadian music industry recognized this. It named Twice Removed the number one Canadian record of all time, ahead of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and The Tragically Hip. This CD is very sophisticated, It has a fuller sound, more instruments and brilliant lyrics. A song with very interesting lyrics is Pen Pals. It quotes some of the broken English from fan letters the band has received. One of the smartest songs is Coax Me, sung by Chris Murphy. I like the line "It's not the band I hate, It's the fans" it's very memorable and it shows how people can judge a band or even just another person. Why can't you like a band if you think the fans are geeks? It's the music that counts.

Sloan's first ever record on their label Murderecords was One Chord to Another. The first single was The Good in Everyone, sung by Patrick Pentland . The song is fast, fun and I think could become a classic. This was one of their first really Beatle-esque record. Because of this they have been unfairly labelled as a retro band. The song Every Thing You've Done Wrong has a very Fab-Four horn section. Jay's song The Lines You Amend has back tracking reminiscent of the Ballad of John and Yoko. Andrew's song A Side Wins even has a Beatles feel. Sloan says that things like that tend to just slip in subconsciously. They go for a classic sound that won't be dated in a few years.

Sloan's latest and most successful to date album is Navy Blues. Navy Blues is very diverse and eclectic. It has a very 70's- rock sound, similar to Kiss or AC/DC. This is most clear on the hit single Money City Maniacs. (It's sung mainly by Patrick with Chris ). This song is very cool. It has everything like wailing sirens, handclapping and guitar solos. Chris Murphy's songs are very suggestive of Revolver period John Lennon with songs like Suppose They Close The Door and Keep on Thinking. Everyone really seemed to want to make a really great album( Jay even learned how to play piano for it). The one song that all members of the band say is a classic is Andrew's Sinking Ships. This is the song from which they derived the title of their album. The song is very cool and epic sounding, the drums and horns sum up the atmosphere of the album. Navy Blues is definitely a solid effort by the band and is their best to date.

Sloan, arguably the hardest working rock/pop combo in Canada, have returned with their third album in about a year. The band is in full force, putting out their only album to date with an equal number of songs contributed by each member (three songs for each of the four members), where as in the past Chris Murphy and Patrick Pentland put forward the top number of songs on the past albums. The band is also using their musical peers in the group for inspiration. They have contributed to each other's music, (Patrick sings a verse in Chris' song "So Beyond Me." Patrick also refers to that song in his song "Friendship"). As well as sharing similar concepts, (a constant theme is Halifax NS), As well as new sounds. The band is defiantly working as a team this time around.

Before you hear this album you might want to know that this is in many ways Sloan's first concept album, (if you don't count "Recorded Live At A Sloan Party!" A mock live album that was included in limited numbers with their American release of ‘96's "One Chord To Another"). The title "Between the Bridges" not only refers to Sloan's evolution at this point, but also the "New" Bridge or Mackay Bridge and The McDonald Bridge or ,as Haligonians refer to it as, The "Old" Bridge, the two bridges that Halifax Nova Scotia sits between. All though many would describe this album as a concept album, it was totally coincidental that it turned out that way. All the band members ended up using their home town of Halifax as inspiration. This is most evident in Andrew's Song "The N.S." (or "The Nova Scotian Boy", as it was originally titled), and Chris Murphy's "Marquee and The Moon" (The title refers two clubs in Halifax, The Marquee, where all the hip new bands played and The Misty Moon, where the uncool old bands played). The album isn't really the great as a concept album, but few are, especially first attempts, but it does deal with Sloan's feeling on their departure from their hometown, and how their past ties them to Halifax.

In the past Sloan have been criticized for continually changing their sound from album to album, "Between the Bridges" really runs along the same path as 1998's "Navy Blues." "Between the Bridges" really carries on with their inspiration drawing from the 1960's and 70's. Sloan also delivers their trade mark sweet harmonies, and rockin' guitar pop. This is particularly evident in Jay Ferguson's tunes. In the past Jay's songs didn't stand out too much, mostly because he never found a sound that suits him. This time around his songs really shine. Combining disco beats and an over all Fleetwood Mac feel that makes you feel like you stumbled upon a musical 70's time warp. Patrick also draws from the 70s, his songs follow the musical tradition of KISS and AC/DC at times, making for cool songs such as the first single "Losing California" and "Friendship."As always Sloan is able to draw from their musical inspirations while putting their own spin on it.

Even though "Between the Bridges" really settles on a similar to that of their prior album "Navy Blues" Sloan is not willing to be predictable. In musical tradition of their other albums "Between the Bridges" Sloan experiments with many new fresh brand spanking new sounds and lyrical styles. Drummer Andrew Scott does not disappoint in this department. He really has improved his sound, making some really cool yet pop-ish songs that get you toes tapping and keeps your eardrums happy with exciting new sounds. Chris Murphy introduces a newer more lyrically driven style of song with "The Marquee And The Moon." A very metaphorical song that can be interpreted on many different levels. Patrick's song "A Long Time Coming" is a tune that is country cool, for even the most sceptical of us. It's toned down country with twangy vocals that aren't annoying or over done. Sloan are one of the few bands that can pull this level of experimentation off in rock today.

"Between the Bridges" is a great new chapter in the history of Sloan. Using new sound, while keeping all the solid, cool stuff from their prior albums intact. This is a fantastically fresh new album from Canada's pop/rock kings and a must have for any fan of Sloan or Canadian music in general.