The Sadies – Colder Streams [Orange] (LP, CANADA)

‘No One’s Listening‘ features Jon Spencer on fuzz guitar.

A photograph of Jon Spencer at The Sadies Studio, Montréal, Québec, Canada (30 May 2019) was posted online.

Jon Spencer in the music video for this track:

“The Sadies – Colder Streams anti-bio
By Dallas Good, October 2021

‘Colder Streams’ is, by far, the best record that has ever been made by anyone. Ever.

As we all know, the ‘press release’ is a tool meant to announce and promote a new recording project. A jaded and unreliable sales-pitch at best, the usual ‘bio’ invariably attempts to describe the project in question as some sort of second coming. But how do you sell sounds? The critics’ voice must be heard at all costs, but this is something else entirely. Obviously, this is an ad.

Knowing what you’re getting is all anyone really wants to know. The details of how the recording is made might be interesting, but they aren’t exactly crucial to the listening process. In our case, comparisons can be misleading too, because The Sadies don’t really fit tidily into any genre, or even sub-genre. We aren’t really ‘pre or post’ anything and we don’t have the right hair-cuts or hats for any particular scene. Can’t really call us modern or retro either. We certainly don’t claim to have re-invented the wheel. We just are. And have been for a very long time. So, all that matters is the music itself, right?

After making so many records, some things get easier. Most things do not. But just because it’s harder doesn’t mean it isn’t better. I think it’s gotten easier to know when we are onto something and that’s in no small part due to working with Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire/Belle Orchestre) as producer. We put in a lot of hard work but he always made it easy and fun. This is, of course, totally irrelevant to your listening experience.

We began this recording well over a year before the plague began and completed it in June 2021. The studio we worked at in Quebec is perfectly calibrated to our claustrophobia. It was mostly engineered by Pietro Amato (Belle Orchestre/etc.), who is great at everything he does when he’s not doing something else. Jon Spencer (Jon Spencer!!!) was kind enough to intervene and rescue a song for us. My folks play on it. There was a church™ involved. Curfews were broken. Borders were crossed stealthily. Sean did all of the artwork. Travis and Mike did a lot of driving. I did the bio.

‘Colder Streams’ is a record made with love by loved ones. The Sadies have released a lot of records. This is one of them.

Do any bands make their best work this far along in their career? I can think of artists who still make great music after all these years, but their best? Yet, here we are and that’s what I’m accusing us of. I think it’s our best but I’ve been wrong before. All I ask is that you listen to a few songs and decide for yourself what it sounds like. If you like it, you’ll know what to do. But my description of the music would just be punishing for the both of us.

I guess all that really needs to be said here is that if you like The Sadies, you will definitely want to get ‘Colder Streams’. If you disliked or felt indifferent towards The Sadies, you will definitely want to get ‘Colder Streams’. If you’ve never heard The Sadies and yet you’re still reading, you too will definitely want to get ‘Colder Streams’.

But unfortunately, it’s sold out.”

“On July 22, The Sadies’ will release Colder Streams, the long-awaited and highly anticipated 11th studio album produced by Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry. Watch and share the lyric video for “Cut Up High and Dry,” the third single from the forthcoming album, out today.

Recorded between 2019 and 2021 at Skybarn in Montreal, Canada, Colder Streams features 11 original compositions engineered and mixed by Pietro Amato except for “You Should Be Worried,” which was engineered and mixed by Michael Dubue and mastered by Peter J. Moore.

With guest appearances by Jon Spencer (“No One’s Listening”), Michael Dubue (“End Credits”), Richard Reed Parry (“Message for Belial,” “No One’s Listening” and “Ginger Moon”), and the parents Good, Margaret on backing vocals for “So Far for So Few” and “All the Good,” with Bruce on autoharp on the latter, the cover art is original artwork by The Sadies’ bassist Sean Dean.

The release of Colder Streams will mark the quartet’s final studio recording with founding member Dallas Good, who unexpectedly passed away in February. In preparation for the release, in October of 2021, Dallas penned what he coined the band’s “anti-bio” and seemingly said all there is to say about the new album, first noting, “Colder Streams is, by far, the best record that has ever been made by anyone. Ever.” Read the entire bio here.

“The Sadies’ world has been shaken,” said the band in a joint statement. “While we struggle with the loss of Dallas – our brother, friend, and bandmate – music has been our source of comfort and coping. We are honoured to announce the release of our new album, Colder Streams. We are so proud of Dallas and the work that went into this album and look forward to sharing it with you.”

“I was utterly thrilled the Sadies asked me to produce this record,” said Richard Reed Parry, “which mostly meant I just hung around listening to the greatest live band in the country playing their asses off, and then occasionally I’d get off the couch and sing backing vocals. That said, this is The Sadies’ finest album, the one I always hoped they’d make one day and I’m stoked to have been there helping them do it. What an incredible band. “

With a deep fondness and reverence for the best of CBGB—country, bluegrass, and blues—The Sadies are equally informed and influenced by everything from ‘60s garage and psychedelic rock to surf instrumentals and punk rock. Since they first arrived on the North American scene 28 years ago, the Toronto-based roots-rockers have developed, even perfected, a style of music uniquely their own.”

All songs written by The Sadies (sadiesmusic / SOCAN)

Produced: Richard Reed Parry

All songs recorded and mixed by Pietro Amato at Skybarn, Montreal, QC except:

Songs #7 and #11 recorded and mixed by Michael ‘The Düber’ Dubue with assistant engineering and catering by Erin Flynn at Studio Cimetière, Quyon, QC

Parents recorded by Tim Vesely at The Woodshed, Toronto, ON

Mastered by Peter J. Moore at The Eroom
Managed by Jude, Susan and Amanda at Starfish Entertainment

01. Stop and Start

02. Message to Belial
Backing Vocals: Richard Reed Parry

03. More Alone

04. So Far for So Few
Backing Vocals: Margaret Good

05. All the Good
Backing Vocals: Margaret Good
Autoharp: Bruce Good

06. No One’s Listening
Backing Vocals: Richard Reed Parry
Fuzz Guitar: Jon Spencer

07. You Should Be Worried
Recorded / Mixed: Michael ‘The Düber’ Dubue with assistant engineering and catering by Erin Flynn at Studio Cimetière, Quyon, QC

08. Better Yet

09. Cut Up High and Dry

10. Ginger Moon
Backing Vocals: Richard Reed Parry

11. End Credits
Marxophone / Mellotron Wine Glasses / etc.: Michael Dubue
Recorded / Mixed: Michael ‘The Düber’ Dubue with assistant engineering and catering by Erin Flynn at Studio Cimetière, Quyon, QC

BARCODE: 8 21826 03196 8

RUN-OUT GROOVE ENGRAVING:
A: “DAV 318A”*
B: “DAV 318B”*

*TWO CHARACTER SIGNATURE