Wednesday, September 11, 2013

54-40 - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 6



This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.


54-40 seem to be one of Canada's longest running bands, since 1981, but the only song that ever had a monumental impact on me was Baby Ran. The rhythm section moves the song, the bassline being exceptionally musical (lots of early 54-40 stuff contained faint references to Joy Division/early New Order to my ears). Neil Osborne's vocals are especially impassioned, but when Phil Comparelli's backing vox kick in for the wordless WOAH-OH-OHHHHHHHHHHH, the tune is elevated. Hints of Neil Young guitar sqwawk near the end adds to the energy level, and points to one of the reasons I remember the song blowing listeners' ears back in small rooms back in the eighties.



Buy 54-40 music here.

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