Find A Better Way
Gypsy Soul, 2022
8/10
Yet another excellent roots rock outfit from Canada, Toronto’s The Commoners don’t shy away from firm riffs, soulful singing and colorful harmonies across these nostalgic 9 tracks.
The title track gets off to a lively start with the thick guitars and thumping drums that are met with moody organ and soaring vocals, and “Fill My Cup” follows with an initial calmer display of cautious, southern rock, but it doesn’t take long to build into a driving and busy climate of powerful retro sounds.
Further along, “Too Much” swirls with contagious riffage that’s rugged yet tuneful, while “I Wont” enters more intimate areas of thoughtful, flowing and lush, soulful rock.
The final two tracks, “Hangin’ On” and “Alive”, are just as robust, where the former emits a bit of dreamy, folk influence, and the latter exits with a cathartic, acoustic fueled moment with well timed pedal steel.
The band are comprised of Chris Medhurst (vocals/guitar), Ben Spiller (bass), Ross Citrullo (lead guitar), and Adam Cannon (drums), and they thankfully don’t hide their influences from The Black Crowes, Marcus King and the Allman Brothers on this exceptional body of work.
Travels well with: Bywater Call- Remain; The Georgia Thunderbolts- Can We Get A Witness