Grass

Canada's response to the Beatles comes in the form of Nova Scotia's the Grass, unfortunately 40 years too late. But the decades passed don't stop this five-piece from tearing into 12 psychedelic rock tracks on fourth full-length album Rogue Waves. While it's clear they draw influences from a variety of sources, including early Rolling Stones, the pop sensibilities found on "Casino Taxi" and "Ballad of Davey Jones" give this record more of a toned-down Brit rock feel. Husky vocals and a cigarette swagger, combined with brass and piano additions, show the band filling out in areas that previous sounded a little too light and slightly cookie-cutter '60s. While psychedelia is clearly their heaviest influence the album is peppered with welcome elements of country, blues and cowbells. Sometimes the lyrics are a little lame, however. Example: "Superserum #4" begins with, "I was trying to jack off." Not quite as subtle as their idols but otherwise this record is good fun.