Twin lead guitars. Â In the glory days of my misspent youth that was about all you had to tell me to get me to go to a show. Â Internal Sounds, the latest release from The Sadies, reminded me of why I was so enamored of the Southern rock genre and gave me pause to consider stringing up the old air guitar. Â Brothers Dallas and Travis Good have put together an effort here that places them as Canada’s best current rock and roll band, at least for my money.
Rumbleseat -The Sadies from Mike Roberts on Vimeo.
For years I thought of The Sadies as a modern day version of The Band. Â Maybe that’s still the right analogy. Â It’s certainly not one to complain too much about. Â Their early recognition came as the backup band for other people’s projects, like a Neko Case post-punk record, an album with The Mekon’s Jon Langford, a collaboration with John Doe of X. Â My first exposure to them live was behind Langford and Rosie Flores at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass a few years ago. Â Along the way, though, they’ve developed their own sound culminating in a Juno Award for their previous release, Darker Circles.
Most of the songs on Internal Sounds are driving guitar-led rock and roll. Â The Very Beginning and Another Tomorrow Again are clearly in this camp. Â The opener, The First 5 Minutes, also goes there, but with some 70’s psychedelia layered in. Â The Very Ending and Another Yesterday Again have a heavier, less jangly, guitar sound. Â Cutting the electric guitar-soaked ambience are a couple of sweet Americana laced numbers. Â So Much Blood features some bright mandolin parts, and Leave This World Behind is a classic country rock tune.
 Although the notes that accompanied Internal Sounds talk about how the brothers Good took their time producing the album, there’s nothing cerebral here.  Two songs in you’re going to know if you love it or not.  No doubt easier to say than produce, there’s a rawness to the recording that just grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.