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Album Details

• Artist: The Pack A.d.
• Album: Unpersons
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2011-09-16

Vancouver's The Pack A.D. have made a lot of noise (literally and figuratively) on the Canadian indie rock scene over the past few years. On September 13th they return with another wave, in the form of their fourth studio album Unpersons.

The duo, comprised of Maya Miller and Becky Black, aren't going to shock anyone with the content of the new record, but it should help reinforce their existing fan base.

The album kicks off with the forcefully grinding head-bopper "Sirens", while "Take" is methodically fuzzy. It's the first of a long line of propulsive tracks, such as "Lights" and the early Kills-style "8", that assail the listener with a relentless bashing. A thumping, menacing drum beat fuels the fire of what become furious and incendiary vocals on "Ride".

There's a pop sensibility buried deep within the music that goes a bit unappreciated with the band. "Positronic", for example, has a strong melody underneath its gruff exterior. Despite an unorthodox hook, "Haunt You", holds its own in terms of infectiousness. When the bombast gets dialed down on "Seasick", a great groove rises up to fill the void.

Indie blues rock plays a big role in the band's music as well. That's best heard in the Heartless Bastards-esque "Pieces". Sure it's been done before, but The Pack A.D. do it very very well.

That can actually be said for most of Unpersons. All of this has been done before, and much of it by The Pack A.D. themselves. However, when something is good, it's good no matter how often it's been done.

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