Tremendous Efforts

Remember when you always got picked last for teams in school and it seemed like that hot shot kid who always got picked first never failed to win the game by beating you? Oh how you wanted to get the best of that kid. Just once, you thought, I'm gonna do it. But you never did. Why? Because that kid was clearly better than you. He had the advantage of skills, genes, tough older brother, whatever. You couldn't beat him. The best thing you could do was try and be his friend. Maybe when he was captain of the kickball team he'd feel sorry for you and not pick you last.

Tremendous Efforts, the Sadies third album is kind of like that guy. It gets all the chicks with hot guitar playing and dangerous attitude. Dudes at the bar are buying it beer because they have been rocked sufficiently by the garage-punk meets western-movie soundtrack with a newfound fondness for hefty doses of psychedelia and SoCal country.  Then, when it speeds away off to the next gig in the coolest car ever you are just hoping to get a ride.

It's like they got really stoned and put their copy of the Byrd's "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" into their Link Wray album jacket.  And just check out that killer Jerry Reed vibe on "One Million Songs," or the spooky-is-as-spooky-does cover of the Gun Club's "Mother of Earth."  Or the latter-day Elvis bring-down-the-casino raver "Loved on Look."  Man o man, does singer Travis really SELL that one.  You like tracks custom made for movies yet to be made?  Might we suggest a gunfight sequence for "Empty the Chamber" or a light-hearted (possibly 1960's era and British) murder caper for "Pass the Chutney" and "The Creepy Butler," or a good ol' boy road trip flick for "Ridge Runner Rag."

The Sadies pull it all off with a blithe dexterity.

Produced by Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor.

Features appearances from the Good Family, members of Blue Rodeo and Bob Egan (Freakwater, Wilco,) on pedal steel.

CHOICE CUTS

Loved On Look
Empty The Chamber
The Creepy Butler
ONe Million Songs