http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/2107.cfm

Pretty decent review ... until it gets to the part where it says that when Slean is doing her super hot dancing to the music she looks 'aimless' ... whatever mr John Teshima .. .SUCK ON ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!

LIVE: Sarah Slean Grabs Audience And Won�t Let Go
Monday February 21, 2005 @ 04:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

The Mod Club
February 17, 2005
Toronto, Ontario
by John Teshima

Watching Sarah Slean strut and vamp around the stage, it is hard to believe that she was once an unassuming singer-songwriter who shyly warbled away at the keyboard. Now she is a self-assured and engagingly melodramatic performer, who appears just as comfortable stalking around with a mic as she does pounding her keyboard.

After strong opening sets by guitar-slinging songwriter Jeremy Fisher and cellist Jorane, Slean had a lot to live up to. And she proved up to the task, opening with an aggressive "Lucky Me" and a bouncy "Day One," both from her latest release. With this quick one-two punch, Slean established a confident hold on her audience and never let go.

Much of the concert showcased last fall�s release Day One, ranging from pummeling versions of "Pilgrim" and "The Score" to more subtle and atmospheric takes on "California" and "Wake Up." With only a three-piece band to back her up, Slean had to forsake some of the intricacy and complexity of her studio arrangements. But she more than made up for these deficits with the sheer power and energy of her performances, slamming any would-be doubters into submission.

Older material also benefited from this full-throttle assault. "Eliot" and "Drastic Measures" were given even heavier treatments than on her last tour. A guitar-dominated arrangement breathed new life into the previously piano-embellished "Duncan". Even the poppier "Sweet Ones" and "Bank Accounts" bristled with newfound intensity.

Given all this rocking out, when Slean settled behind her keyboard for a couple of solo numbers, the contrast couldn�t have been starker. Riveting versions of "Count Me Out" and "Blue Parade" reminded the audience that she could still do the delicate-girl-at-the-piano thing with the best of them.

With all of these strengths, there were nonetheless a few weak moments. During the instrumental sections where Slean was away from her keyboard, she seemed awkward and out-of-place, undulating somewhat aimlessly to the music. And her band, while sonically providing adequate fire throughout, looked half-asleep at a few points. Only her drummer seemed to be 100 per cent into the proceedings, attacking his kit with fervour and providing some tight (and impressively high-pitched) vocal harmonies.

But these lapses were relatively few and far between. Otherwise Slean and her band delivered a charismatic and masterful performance.

[quote:b3e40c3c90="Jareed"]http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/2107.cfm

Pretty decent review ... until it gets to the part where it says that when Slean is doing her super hot dancing to the music she looks 'aimless' ... whatever mr John Teshima .. .SUCK ON ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!
[/quote:b3e40c3c90]

LOL...well put Jareed.

Kudos to CHART for pretty decent review overall - i didn't see squat in either The Star or The Globe and Mail over the weekend.

I still say your blog review kicks ass!

...jim

but yes, i have to agree, it is a pretty good review... it's not fair to judge, based on our obsessed biases!

glad you enjoy the blog!!

she's also the photo of the week! i'm too lazy to post the link, but if yer clickin' the link to chart to see the review... you'll see the photo for the week link on the sidebar of the page. hehe.

i didn't like the cutline though. tis a bit too snarky for my liking.

so rachel verbin is the photograopher's name eh?

I liked the review. I'm not sure if their points of critique were on or not as they were aspects of the show i didn't notice. her dancing seem fine, nothing i would change. did her band look sleepy? maybe.... i couldn't see all but they seemed to be on.

"Last week Sarah Slean played to a hometown audience in Toronto. The keyboard queen hammered out several tracks off her new disc, Day One, and fortunately, the pop starlet didn't hide behind her piano all night. According to our reviewer the evening went on without a hitch so why does Slean look so distraught? Was she pleading with fans to buy her record? Maybe she was just so happy to be in Toronto that she got all emotional on her fans. We're not really sure what furrowed her brows, but read our review for clues." - chart photo of the week page

Nice pic....I assume that was the woman with the big ass camera right in front of us Cam.

But WTF is up with the photo caption??

"Distraught"? "Pleading with the fans to buy her CD"? "Furrowed brow"?

They trying to be cute??


...jim

"cute" was probably the aim.
but it kind of made me bristle a little bit.

She doesn't look very distraught to me....Chart, sometimes your sarcastic captions aren't too funny...

And yes, Jareed, your blog review is still the best!

[quote:aeda32f35a="willow"]but it kind of made me bristle a little bit.[/quote:aeda32f35a]

same here.... :evil:

but nevertheless, kudos to Chart...they've been very good to sarah over the years.


...jim

more pictures from the show...

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/2801.cfm

i actually emailed someone from chart asking for more pics and he said he couldnt send me any yet cause they plan on putting some in their next issue... so be on the look out!

oooh, thanks for posting the link jareed!

I think they should have hired Chris to take the photos, the ones they have up are kinda grainy

[quote:d88751cb27="BoyWonder"]I think they should have hired Chris to take the photos, the ones they have up are kinda grainy[/quote:d88751cb27]

Indeed...Chris' pictures were far superior, although the Chart photographer was much cuter :wink:

(no offence Chris)

...jim