CD Review: Jane’s Party – The Garage Sessions

By: Sheena Lyonnais
January 29, 2009

Prior to recording the Garage Sessions, Jane’s Party set off in a van to embark on an East Coast busking tour. Despite hailing from Toronto, Jane’s Party has a very Oceanside folk-pop sound that is wonderfully chill with just enough pizzazz.  A busking tour was probably the most appropriate thing this band could have done.  With their country flair and use of harmonicas, songs like "Her Pain," "Into the Wild" and "Please!" are summer standouts that immediately make me yearn for July.

The Garage Sessions was recorded in a garage (surprise, surprise!) during the recently ended York University strike (where the boys study Jazz).  Though it definitely isn’t a big party record like their name might suggest, it sounds like the friends had a blast recording it.  They perform well together without overshadowing each other.  The vocals are just as important as the whistles and the folk beats, which makes the listening smooth and easy.

I don’t really have anything bad to say about the Garage Sessions.  The occasional inserts of blues and jazz are noteworthy and its pop touch makes it fun.  Though I normally wouldn’t think to throw something like this on, I certainly haven’t wanted to turn it off.  I’m looking forward to checking these guys out sometime in the future and seeing how they bring it live.

TTT1/2 (out of 5)