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The major problem with trends are that they sometimes garner an inordinate amount of attention. One can make the argument that without the mentioned inordinate amount of attention, it would not be considered a trend. Having said that, there are a number of groups that exist solely due to the fact that trends exist. The Rye Catchers, from Vancouver is one such group. Their debut self-titled CD, while showing that they can do Brit-pop with an alternative edge, seem to follow their influences too much to stand out.
Once named Preludin, they have reformed multiple times due to the "loss" of their drummer twice and one other band member, the one female in the group. The band, as it now exists under the new name The Rye Catchers, arrived at its current composition in the fall of 1999. It consists of cousins Paul Cousins and Dan Newton, and band members Mark Christopher and Steve Antunovic. They have played a great deal in the Vancouver/British Columbia area and also have been on tour in the United Kingdom. The latter makes sense since they are, as stated, a Brit-pop knockoff.
The group states in their online biography that all of the group consider The Beatles as their biggest influence. That would be an understatement. Unfortunately, they sound very much like a modern version of The Beatles. The vocal ability of the group sounds just too much like Paul, John, and the other boys from Liverpool. If you add in the modern instruments and sounds of the current Brit-pop sound,
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and the past sounds of the Beatles, you have The Rye Catchers.
As well, they mention Sloan as one of their Canadian influences. Not surprisingly, you can hear the strong Sloan influences. Sloan considers The Beatles one of their main influences as well. This adds up to The Rye Catcher not being very original at all. The Rye Catchers seem to be a group that combines Sloan and the Beatles.
All is not negative, however, for The Rye Catchers. Their lyrics do have an oddly catchy, rhythmic tone to them. One of the stronger tunes on the CD is 'Opportunity Knocks', a song about how important it is to catch opportunity when it arrives since it does not arrive that often. Good advice, and the song makes one tap their foot at the same time. The Rye Catchers also have the ballad formula down pat with slow songs such as 'Jaded Woman'. This is about how women can be become disillusioned with the current selection of men out there. How this all-male group could write a song about this is beyond comprehension, but it works.
Overall, The Rye Catchers are nothing special. They are just one more Brit-pop knockoff in a large market of groups such as this. They do have adequate lyrical and instrumental ability, but if you like such music, you would be better off purchasing or listening to original Beatles or Sloan music. The Rye Catchers would be a better group if they created their own sound, instead of following in a path cleared by others.
By Daniel Sanford, CanEHdian.com 2001
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