Did you ever have one of those friends who's just a little too dependable? Someone who's annoyingly prompt, unfailingly together, impeccably presented -- in short, so damn perfect that they're not much fun to be around after a while?

Sadly, that's the way we're starting to feel about Sloan. Every couple of years, these Halifax rockers put out another album. Every album has about a dozen tracks of impressively smart, genuinely pretty power-pop. And every one of those songs is brimming with catchy choruses, crunchy guitars, bittersweet melodies, stacks o'harmony and enough hooks to outfit an art gallery. And ever since about, oh, 1998, they all sound pretty much the same.

Action Pact, their seventh studio album in a decade, follows the recipe like an anal-retentive chef. These dozen songs will undoubtedly spark the same Beatles and Big Star and Badfinger comparisons as all the songs on their other discs.

The disc will surely be followed a small-venue national tour, a couple of videos you see on Much for a few weeks and much debate about why these guys can't seem to catch a break in the States. Then everyone will forget about Sloan for another two years, until they come out with their next soundalike album.

Bottom line: Much as we love these guys, they need to try something new -- a country album, a horn section, anything. 'Cause as it stands, they're just living proof that you can be too dependable for your own good. (More on Sloan)

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[[+3]] Monday, August 18, 2003

Depend on Sloan