Sparrow

When one of your ex-band members resurfaces with a project as critically acclaimed as The New Pornagraphers (is it possible to write about this band without using the desription “Canadian supergroup?”), it must be pretty daunting to release new work of your own. But Jason Zumpano, drummer and namesake of mid-90s power-pop act Zumpano, did it anyway. This time he takes vocal, keyboard and songwriting duties, going in a softer direction than bandmate Carl Newman with his hyper Canadian supergroup (alright, it’s not possible). From the opener, “Mountain On Moutain,” Zumpano’s arpeggios and slightly nasal vocals set the mellow tone for this record. It rocks, but with cleaner guitars and generally slower tempos. The band seems doomed to 60’s chamber-pop comparisons, but more modern elements seep through. On “A New Way Of Smiling,” Zumpano’s doubled falsetto vocals sound not unlike some of Beck’s work. And a few kooky guitar effects keep things fresh. Sparrow may be clearly influenced by the light-pop songwriters of the past, but the band posesses a unique direction and flavour. - Grant Shellen