Steve Eggers is one of the most astute and talented songsmiths in the indie power pop genre. The driving force behind Toronto’s The Nines, he has crafted a worthy follow up to the band’s wonderful 2001 release Properties of Sound. Eggers’ brand of melody is straightforward, direct and devoid of any filler or pretense. All the tracks on Calling Distance Stations jump straight out of the speakers and into that pleasure center all pop music aficionados have. His smooth voice glides effortlessly over the album’s seamless melodies and driving piano and guitar rhythms. Egger’s pop smarts cross the spectrum from the 60’s (Beatles, Left Banke) to the 70s (McCartney/Wings, Elton John) to the 80’s and beyond. Catchy, upbeat rockers like “Drama Queen,” “Hard Luck,” and “Take What You Want” are as engaging as the simple melodies of more stripped-down tracks like “Marigold” and the lilting lullaby “Goodnight My Love.” Willing contributions from Andy Partridge (XTC) and solo veteran Jason Falkner add even more panache and credibility to an already fantastic album. It’s a rare treat to have a fully engaging album from start to finish - complete with melodies that are as complex as they are memorable. Simply put, The Nines have crafted one of the finest albums of the year.
~ Jeff Shelton
