February 2007:
Number 514
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A newsletter for the students, faculty and staff of the Collin County Community College District. Published monthly. For information or submissions, call 972.599.3142. Cougar News welcomes student and faculty submissions. Next deadline: Feb. 10 All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on the due date. Photos cannot be returned. Text should be emailed to mrobinson@ccccd.edu or sent on disk. Please submit copy that is proofed, edited and saved in Word format. Cougar News staff: Lisa Vasquez, director; Mark Robinson, editor; Marcy Cadena-Smith, contributor; Sydney Portilla-Diggs, student correspondent; Stephanie Hall, student correspondent; Sheri Mackey, contributor; Nick Young, photography and layout
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Review -- Nova Scotia's golden boys flounder
By Mark Robinson
Cougar News Editor
 Sloan has, under the noses of many outside of Canada, produced a mighty catalog of tremendously well put together studio albums (eight, to be precise) in the past 15 years.
Well-crafted songs that put the focus on melody, harmony and the gospel that rock music need not stray too far from its roots in order to be good. Then, for some reason, they released their latest, “Never Hear the End of It” -- a 30-song behemoth of watered-down, half-cocked rock demos, some of which should’ve hit the cutting-room floor.
Seemingly, I’ve painted profiles of two different bands. However, they are indeed the same. Which makes their new release mind boggling. “Never Hear ...” is a stunted collection of goobledegook stirred in with about 12 great songs that get lost.
With a little work, this could have been a good album. Unfortunately, it’s a schizophrenic mess.
Notwithstanding, Sloan is not afraid to pay respect to their influences, whether it be the Beach Boys (“Set in Motion” and “I Understand”), the Rolling Stones (“I Know You”) and John Lennon and the Beatles (“Live the Life You’re Dreaming” and “Last Time in Love”). But you have to work for it. All those tracks are jumbled up and down the track listing. There is no rhyme or reason for song placement, which is almost as important as the actual songs.
Laboring under mess of trash, there is a great Sloan album within “Never Hear ...” but there could be no better album title.
Two out of five Paws
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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