Never Hear the End of It
Never before has a Sloan record generated such extreme reviews by critics and fans. The band's eighth studio recording,Never Hear the End of It, contains a whopping 30 songs on one disc, ranging from 50 seconds to just over five minutes in length. The bulk of those tracks average roughly two-and-a-half minutes and bleed into each other--at times rather abruptly. As a result, the disc feels like an eccentric art-project; even the strongest tracks prove to be more of an appetizer, leaving listeners longing for a main course. Stylistically, there are no surprises. The group's music tends to fall into Sloan's two traditional categories: Beatles-esque stylings or '70s-influenced rock tunes. Noteworthy highlights include disc opener "Flying High Again" with its Crosby, Stills & Nash harmonies, and the blisteringly old-school punk rock pacing of "HFXNSHC." Fans of this disc compareNever's nonstop onslaught of songs to Liz Phair'sExile In Guyvilleor the Clash'sSandinista, while naysayers find the short, fast melodies insufficient in length and substance. Like all music, beauty is in the ear of the beholder, so expectNever Hear the End of Itto be on many critics' Best or Worst lists at year's end.--Denise Sheppard