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The Poison Arrows

Straight Into the Drift

(The Eight Fifty Seven Collective; US: 20 Mar 2007)

This four-song EP could go straight into the abyss, but is thankfully saved by a very smart and stylish approach from former Atombombpocketknife singer Justin Sinkovich. Moody but memorable, the opening “Lockaway” recalls groups like Mercury Rev with an adventurous axe to grind but without the pomposity. Not afraid to challenge the listener, The Poison Arrows take you on a nifty ride on this track. Often easily breaking the five-minute mark, a song like “Clear Cut” has an eerie, seedy feeling to it that again takes you on a journey. Perhaps the highlight here, although there are only four to choose from, is the title track that sounds like it was pick-pocketed from the wallet of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The EP ends with “Making Sense of Making Cents”, a psychedelic-laced, dreamy, acid-rock romp that gallops along at some bizarre hallucinogenic gait.

Rating:

Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


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