If it's true that there is a tendency for young bands to wear their influences on their sleeves, the Sweet Homewreckers evidently can't decide which shirt to throw on. Formed in the small university town of Peterborough, ON, the Sweet Homewreckers are six-piece rock and roll outfit. They're tight enough to show the contours, but loose enough to let you move around. Take your basic two guitars, bass and drums, and throw in some horns for added appeal. As for the contents of their closet, the ensemble is quite eclectic. Their music has been described as harkening to the days of "Halifax East-coast pop, with a long awaited nod to early Beulah" and "a fine mix of soft pop influences with hints of sweet 60s styles." Truth be told, it's hard to peg this band down, and as fans of anything-goes independent rock and/or roll, these young players couldn't be happier.
That's not to say they lack focus, just listen to the music: their first full-length release, From the Letdown to the Comearound, is a testament to their comfort with versatility. Equally at home beside dads worn out copy of Harvest, or your latest Canadian independent spins, the record is a mishmash-spectacular, bursting with melody that won't disappoint. Interwoven in the music are stories of old times and new places, attempts to reconcile the nostalgic past with an uncertain future. This is the nature of the new release musical and lyrical history; this bands got a story to tell, and they have a mighty intriguing way of telling it. In the giant strip mall that is indie music, The Sweet Homewreckers and their brand new CD are eager to ditch the clothes-hanger and become part of your musical wardrobe.
Some reviews of 'From the Letdown to the Comearound':
ANDY (McMaster University) three and a half stars - ".the disc has a rugged independent charm that lends itself to the warm songs. With a penchant for songwriting and a growing live reputation, expect these guys and gals to progress with each release."
CHART MAGAZINE - "This young sextet hail from Peterborough, Ontario, but you could swear that they really formed in Halifax in the early '90s, as the ragged pop glory of Superfriendz, Thrush Hermit and even a bit of Sloan has made a definite imprint on many of this debut disc's 12 songs. The Sweet Homewreckers haven't captured indie buzz band status yet, but this introduction and songs such as "City On A Hill," "Louis" and "True Love Denies" show that they've got the potential to reach a wider audience somewhere not too far down the road." -Steve McLean
EXCLAIM! - "Is it still too early for mid-'90s nostalgia? If so, please don't tell the Sweet Homewreckers. It's all there - the handclaps, the harmonies and the peppy dance songs balanced out by earnest ballads. Even Cam Malcolm's plaintive singing voice seems familiar, made up of equal parts Joel Plaskett, Wayne Petti and Matt Murphy. This one's worth a few spins for "Nineties On Your Side", and "True Love Denies," instant classics for the Converse One Star set. - Sofi Papamarko
QUEEN'S JOURNAL (Queen's U.) - A+, 93% - "If you’ve got the ’90s on your side, then you’re alright," sing The Sweet Homewreckers—and if you do have the ’90s on your side, you can spend a fulfilling 37 minutes playing spot-the-influence with this Peterborough student band’s debut album, coming up with something like Beulah covering Thrush Hermit with some early Pavement added for flavour. If you don’t, you can just sit back and
enjoy one of the finest Canadian indie pop records of the last few years in all its warmhearted, loose-limbed glory. Rarely pushing the three-minute mark, the Homewreckers marry earnest, well-mannered jangle and classic
rock ’n’ roll conceits to clever lyrics, a killer trumpet section and enough dissonant left turns to keep things interesting.
