Alberta Cross sound like they should be the next big crossover band, in the vein of The Shins or Kings of Leon. You know, the type of band that indie lightweights will latch onto in order to feel more indie, without actually digging for anything too challenging. This type of appeal is totally fine, by the way, but I use it to place the feeling of Alberta Cross, as there are numerous Shins parallels in this band, regarding their relation to audiences. Though musically sounding nothing alike, both bands share the quality of making soft-edged pop music, without lush textures or much experimentation. It is this quality that makes them widely accessible to the music masses, like the Kings of Leon, who sell out arenas and fill iPods, but leave critics and diehards lukewarm. In the Shins case, their unassuming nature isn’t a weakness because their songs kick ass. “Know Your Onion!” is a two and half minute guitar jangle that could have otherwise been forgotten, but it is so damn catchy that even the sticklers have to sing along. This is where Alberta Cross comes in. They don’t bust out the glockenspiels or brass sections, but instead rely on catchiness, a powerful trait, which they make full use of on Broken Side of Time.
After two minor releases, Alberta Cross launches their true debut LP. The reverberating power chords over a thin hum of synth on “Song 3Three Blues” set a pretty basic background for Petter Ericson Stakee’s unique voice as he delivers an oddly catchy melody. “Taking Control” fetches a nice My Morning Jacket feel, as an alt-country rock jam ensues with a raucous chorus book-ending the tune. “Old Man Chicago” conjures up more country influence, with a folk-edge, while sounding like the crossover ballad that the band could use to spread their good word. Alberta Cross shifts gears abruptly on the album’s title track, opening with a loaded guitar riff, then sinking into an acoustic piano section, before playing between the two elements.
The common thread through all of these songs is the tension between bluesy guitar riffs and warbled acoustic sweeps, all of which are channeled through Stakee’s grandiose voice and his acute ear for melody. In fact, their bluesy guitar riffing make them a close peer to Kings of Leon, but detractors of the Kings may find more flavor in Alberta Cross’ melodic sense and dynamic songwriting approach. Most of the songs on Broken Side of Time don’t have a lot of melodic undercurrents, as they mainly supplement Stakee, especially in the album’s bigger moments. But when the man they are supplementing consistently delivers, it builds up Stakee even farther, instead of sectioning him off between his vocal melody and the music’s melodic structure. When this type of musical harmony occurs, there is a common pitfall: these are still just blues rock songs, albeit very good ones. When I said they didn’t bust out glockenspiels and brass sections, I meant that they don’t contour their music in any experimental direction, opting to be straightforward rock. And to be fair, that isn’t a knock on Alberta Cross. It just puts into perspective that there is a bit of a ceiling on how high these guys can ascend. Yet, to play devil’s advocate, The White Stripes rode their straightforward style to two (or arguably more) massive albums. It’s premature to say these guys can replicate what The White Stripes did. However, these guys do sound better than Kings of Leon, so it may be fun to speculate about the career arc of Alberta Cross, but it’s anybody’s guess as to where they really end up. They’re in the best indie camp to be in, though, if they are interested in mainstream success. The White Stripes, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, The Raconteurs, Band of Horses, and The Black Keys have all found at least a little niche within the mainstream, as the blues rock genre seems to be the easiest bridge for indie fans and rock fans to cross.
So while it may feel like Alberta Cross could blow up at any moment, landing a song in a big movie or a catchy commercial, all we have now is their debut album. It’s an accessible ten song, forty-five minute ride, with grand sing-alongs at every corner. Those bent on more adventuresome music may not find much here to win them over, but if you have any ties to rock music, this is an album you should definitely check out. And considering Kings of Leon are pretty hot at the moment, it would be a shame if there wasn’t a strong reception to an album superior to any King’s release. No matter who you are, sometimes good hooks are enough to get you stuck on a band. And with Alberta Cross, they’ve taken the seemingly bland, and turned it into something extremely good.
Track List:
1. Song 3Three Blues (3:18)
2. ATX (4:45)
3. Taking Control (4:21)
4. Old Man Chicago (3:08)
5. Broken Side Of Time (5:15)
6. Rise From The Shadows (6:49)
7. City Walls (3:36)
8. The Thief & The Heartbreaker (4:41)
9. Leave Us And Forgive Us (3:22)
10. Ghost Of City Life (5:19)
