The Trews - Hope & Ruin

The Trews

Hope & Ruin

(The Trews Records)

rel. date: released

In a more perfect world, perhaps a world where folks were led less by their noses directly to the consistently underachieving, mainstream musical trough, a band like The Trews would be celebrated for their skills and given the keys to the kingdom. Now “Hope & Ruin”, the bands’ fifth full-lengther may not be the best album ever, but it is a set of well-built tracks that show some degree of maturity, is filled with pretty great hooks and is tracked in a way that makes sense-and it has a tonne of energy. The album was recorded at Tragically Hip dude Gord Sinclair’s studio and the result makes a strong case for hoser power in the form of timeless hooks and melodies that keep on giving after many listens. Singer Colin McDonald has the kind of tough, unpretentious rock-guy vocals that can’t be denied and delivers every song near perfectly. Play this one loud.

Jeff Monk

Rating: 4 stars