Weak Size Fish "Shakedown" Everett Album Reviews

Shakedown

Finally after 3 long years Weak Size Fish are releasing their new album “Shakedown.” From the first listen of the album I can tell that they have not just been sitting on the coach. Weak Size Fish seemed to burst on the East Coast music scene in 2008-2009 and have continued to play amazing shows all over the country. They had ECMA showcase shows and spots on every Atlantic music festival stage. With that being said a lot of the new tracks on “Shakedown” are live favorites that their fans have been waiting to own.

Shakedown does not hold back from the 1^st track Intro into a live classic Smoke the tight rhythm section is in full force, pushing the groove and Nick Mazerolle’s up picking gives the music a happy summer groove. Andrew Thomson’s bass lines keep every tune in check; the guitar/bass breakdown during “Moving On” could keep me listening all day and never stray to far. Thomson does not get lazy and proves the fact that less is more in a lot of spots especially in a band that is so multi-dynamic as Weak Size Fish.

An album highlight is “Credit System” it starts off with a groove between Thomson and drummer Bryan Munn that is sure to light up any dance floor. Then comes in the phenomenal horn section before the verse and proves funk is alive and well on the east coast. This is all tied together perfectly with Mazerolle’s out of the ordinary vocal timing and his mildly punk sounding phrasing. This song is the gift that keeps on giving around the 3:30 minute mark the bass drum break down could stand up against any of Motown’s greatest.

“Shakedown” is not just a duplication of their first album “Off We Go” it has the same Weak Size Fish feeling but it is a more mature album. A song like “Sail the Sea” shows a different element of their writing skills and proves they can move away from their dance jams that their audience has grown accustom. Mazerolle’s guitar solo during “Sail the Sea” shows great restraint as does the entire bands playing in “Take Me Home.” When this song starts I was blown away by the subtle jazz style and once the rhythm section comes in it becomes another clever Weak Size staple.

For a 2^nd effort “Shakedown” is perfect. The album sounds like an album not just a jumbling of 11 songs, each song works well with each other. The horn section of Greg Profit and Logan Beaton do not force themselves into spots where they should not leaving the listener always wanting more horns. Matt Bernard fills out the sound with his playing and vocal duties. I think that this album will make current fans happy and bring in a new bread of fan that will enjoy a little more funk to with their fish.

“Shakedown” finally captures the live feeling that Weak Size Fish have created all over the Maritimes and I urge any who can to pick it up and go see their album release tour.

Peace

Everett

Album Release Tour dates are;

February 23^rd Capital Complex Fredericton @ 10pm

February 24^th Peppers Pub Saint John @ 10pm

March 3^rd Hunter’s Ale House @ 10pm