I’ve often wondered why it is that Vancouver’s produced all these happy-garage-pop-punk bands with names that begin with “S” – there’s the Smugglers, the Sweaters, there’s … Well, anyway, this is another release by the Smugglers: it’s tight, goofy, retro-sounding high-energy stuff; there are forays into mock-country (Pick ‘Em Up Truck), there are hauntingly beautiful instrumental bits (Dusty’s Lament), but basically, it’s loud silly music, joyful in its immaturity. It ain’t Sparkmarker, shall we say … but it’s some kinda punk, all right.
Selling the Sizzle / CDcassette / $? / Mint Records, #699-810 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4C9