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