Sloan share second song from new LP, 'Commonwealth'

--taken from: Brooklyn Vegan

by Bill Pearis

As mentioned, Sloan return this fall with Commonwealth, their 11th album. It has a playing card motif with each of the four members getting their own suit and side to the double album. You may have already heard Patrick "Shamrock" Pentland's riff-rocking "Keep Swinging (Downtown)" and now we get a track from Jay "Diamond" Ferguson's side. "Cleopatra" might be the album's standout cut, cramming in a crazy amount of hooks into its 2:42 length. Stream it below.

Commonwealth is out September 7. Pre-orders are on sale now, including a deluxe edition that includes a signed print and a deck of Sloan playing cards.

--taken from: Brooklyn Vegan

RETRO/ACTIVE

--taken from: Toronto Star

by John Sakamoto

Finally, some new music from Sloan. “Keep Swinging (Downtown)” arrives a couple of months ahead of Commonwealth (out Sept. 9), the band’s first studio album in more than three years.

Written by Patrick Pentland, who plays all the guitars on the track, the single reminds us of Mott the Hoople, the Stones and David Bowie (there’s a definite “Boys Keep Swinging” feel to the thing).

Band mate Jay Ferguson put it this way in an email: “One could perhaps say it references late ’70s/ post-Berlin-era Bowie in the title, but kinda sounds a bit more like 1973 Bowie circa Aladdin Sane. The outro sounds a bit Johnny Marr style to me, but not sure if that was (Patrick’s) intention.”

As for Commonwealth, it’ll include 15 songs.

In its double-vinyl configuration; one side is devoted to each band member.

“Though it’s set up like 4 mini solo LPs,” Ferguson explains, “we still play on each other’s songs to varying degrees (just like any other Sloan album). Sometimes it’s only 2 of us or 3 of us on a given track. For example on my side, Andrew (Scott) plays some guitar as well as drums, Chris (Murphy) drums on a couple as well as playing bass, Patrick also sings some backups. Our piano man, Gregory Macdonald, is also a great resource for harmonies and musical ideas.”

Sloan will back up the release with a fall tour.

--taken from: Toronto Star

Sloan To Release New Album 'Commonwealth' On September 9, Shares First Single [LISTEN]

--taken from: Music Times

by Joey DeGroot

Canadian power-pop quartet Sloan has announced its 11th studio album Commonwealth and shared the album's first single "Keep Swinging (Downtown)," which can be heard below. The album, which will be released on September 9 through Yep Roc Records, is a double LP, with each member of the band getting an entire side of the album for their own songs, essentially making Commonwealth four mini-solo albums in one. Commonwealth can be pre-ordered on iTunes right now.

According to a press release, Commonwealth's four sides are named after "the four playing card suits" of diamond, heart, shamrock, and spade, and "allow for all four members' work to at least be heard through the prism of individual identity." Guitarist Jay Ferguson's side is described as "symphonic pop," while guitarist Patrick Pentland's is "psych rock" and bassist Chris Murphy's is jangle pop. The album's final side is dedicated to drummer Andrew Scott's 18-minute song suite "Forty-Eight Portraits."

Formed in 1991 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sloan is a famously democratic band, often switching instruments and featuring songwriting contributions from all four members. Commonwealth will be the band's first album since 2011's Double Cross.

Check out Commonwealth's first single, "Keep Swinging (Downtown)," written by Patrick Pentland:



Here's the album's tracklisting:

Diamond Side (Jay Ferguson)
1. We've Come This Far
2. You've Got A Lot On Your Mind
3. Three Sisters
4. Cleopatra
5. Neither Here Nor There

Heart Side (Chris Murphy)
6. Carried Away
7. So Far So Good
8. Get Out
9. Misty's Beside Herself
10. You Don't Need Excuses To Be Good

Shamrock Side (Patrick Pentland)
11. 13 (Under A Bad Sign)
12. Take It Easy
13. What's Inside
14. Keep Swinging (Downtown)

Spade Side (Andrew Scott)
15. Forty-Eight Portraits

--taken from: Music Times

Sloan Announce 'Commonwealth' Double Album, Share New Track

--taken from: Exclaim!

by Alex Hudson

Over the last couple of years, Sloan have discussed their plans for a new double album containing four solo sides (one for each band member) while also digging into their archives for reissues, live releases and punk experiments. Now, they've finally announced that aforementioned double LP.

Commonwealth will be out on September 9 through Yep Roc. The album cover, which portrays the band members as four-of-a-kind kings, is above. The suits of these playing cards correspond to the titles of their solo sides: Jay Ferguson's side is called Diamond, Chris Murphy's is Heart, Patrick Pentland's is Shamrock, and Andrew Scott's Spade. (This Spade side consists of a single 18-minute suite called "Forty-Eight Portraits.")

A press release promises, "Ultimately, what makes Commonwealth so special — and so distinctly Sloan — is how the fragmented approach in fact only serves to underscore the veteran band's extraordinary strengths, showcasing the particular ingredients without ever losing sight of the sum of their parts."

At the bottom of this page, listen to the premiere of the glammy, boogie-fuelled single "Keep Swinging (Downtown)." It's sung by Pentland. You can also pre-order the album here and snag the track as a free download.

This is the follow-up to 2011's The Double Cross

Commonwealth:

Diamond (Ferguson):

1. We've Come This Far
2. You've Got a Lot on Your Mind
3. Three Sisters
4. Cleopatra
5. Neither Here Nor There

Heart (Murphy):

6. Carried Away
7. So Far So Good
8. Get Out
9. Misty's Beside Herself
10. You Don't Need Excuses to Be Good

Shamrock (Pentland):

11. 13 (Under a Bad Sign)
12. Take It Easy
13. What's Inspire
14. Keep Swinging (Downtown)

Spade (Scott):

15. Forty-Eight Portraits



--taken from: Exclaim!

Sloan Return With “Commonwealth” on September 9th

--taken from: That Eric Alper

by Eric Alper

On September 9, 2014, Sloan, will release their 11th studio album Commonwealth via Yep Roc Records. The 15 song collection sees Sloan creating one of the most unique and ambitious recordings of their two-decade-plus career. Today, Exclaim.ca premiered the Patrick Pentland-penned, Keep Swinging (Downtown), the first single to be released from Commonwealth. Listen here and pre-order the album today with an immediate download of Keep Swinging (Downtown).

The Toronto-based rock quartet is perhaps the most truly democratic group in the annals of pop, with Jay Ferguson, Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, and Andrew Scott all contributing original compositions to each record, equal partners with equal say over every aspect of their work. Where in the past creative lines have been blurred to create the multi-faceted Sloan sound, Commonwealth sees the four bandmates disassociating ever so slightly to create an old-school double album sequenced with each member staking out a single side as their own artistic dominion.

Designated by the four playing card suits, the essentially solo sides allow for all four members’ work to at last be heard through the prism of individual identity. Ferguson’s opening Diamond side showcases his remarkable knack for symphonic pop, Pentland’s Shamrock offers a substantial helping of pedal-hoppin’ psych rock, and Murphy’s Heart is fit to burst with wit, jangle, and eclectic energy. As if the four-sided concept weren’t challenge enough, Commonwealth finishes with Forty Eight Portraits, an ingenious 18-minute pop suite that fills the entirety of Scott’s closing Spade side. Ultimately, what makes Commonwealth so special – and so distinctly Sloan – is how the fragmented approach in fact only serves to underscore the veteran band’s extraordinary strengths, showcasing the particular ingredients without ever losing sight of the sum of their parts.

Song cycles and concept-driven albums are nothing new to Sloan. Over the course of 10 albums and more than 30 singles – not to mention multiple EPs, hits and rarities collections, live albums and official bootlegs released, like all the band’s work, on their own independent label, Murderecords – the band has tackled countless creative conceits while ever forwarding a sonic palette that blends pure pop and radio rock into what is now a truly trademark sound; all big melodies and power hooks, cheeky charm and tearjerking introspection, rich harmonies and idiosyncratic personality.

Commonwealth follows 2011’s The Double Cross, which earned Sloan some of the most glowing notices of their acclaimed career. “(Sloan’s) impeccable power pop has often felt like the apotheosis of the genre,” wrote SPIN. “The hooks and harmonies rarely disappoint.” “An unapologetic celebration of Sloandom,” praised AV Club, “and a safe place for those who believe good dual-guitar breaks are the reason why we’re here on Earth.” Pitchfork summed it up best: “20 years in, they’ve made one of their best albums…That (Sloan) sound this creatively fresh this deep into their career is a real treat for people who’ve stuck with them through the years. If you’ve never given them a chance before, this is a great time to get to know them.”

COMMONWEALTH TRACKLISTING:

Diamond Side (Jay):
1) We’ve Come This Far
2) You’ve Got A Lot On Your Mind
3) Three Sisters
4) Cleopatra
5) Neither Here Nor There

Heart Side (Chris):
6) Carried Away
7) So Far So Good
8) Get Out
9) Misty’s Beside Herself
10) You Don’t Need Excuses To Be Good

Shamrock Side (Patrick):
11) 13 (Under A Bad Sign)
12) Take It Easy
13) What’s Inside
14) Keep Swinging (Downtown)

Spade Side (Andrew):
15) Forty-Eight Portraits

--taken from: That Eric Alper