Album Review by Matt McKechnie

Artist: The Novaks

Album: Things Fall Apart

Recorded live off the floor of the Sonic Temple in Halifax, The

Novaks have emerged with an album of stripped-down, bare

essentials, 3-man, rough and rugged rock in 'Things Fall Apart'.

Led by the Petty-esque vocals and monster beef guitar riffage

of Mick Davis (who apparently is very Mick Jagger-like

on stage), The Novaks are surfacing a lot in the Canada music

scene. Ranging as much as they can in a powerful 3 man

throttle rock milieu, songs like 'Rain, Rain, Rain' will have

you snapping your fingers with its plush poppy sound while

'Destroyer' allows for a harder heavy-metal sensibility. Mick

Davis' lyrics don't seem to be overly cerebral as the band

sticks to writing about song-topics they seem to comfortable

with; sex, drugs, heartbreak, evil women and the road.

Blasting and sporadic at times but in a controlled venue, it's

really hard to believe that this album was recorded all in one

shot without much overdubbing. A trio rock unit has never

sounded so full. There's really not a lot to say about this album -

what you see is what you get. Will it change your life? Probably

not. Will it have you bobbing your head and pumping your fist

on your way to work? Most definitely. The simplicity of the

sound (which is a little too bare at times) is really the primary

strength of the lads. I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 more

albums from The Novaks in the next 6 years.

*(Be sure to catch The Novaks live at Lee's Palace this coming

Nov. 27 and 28 with the Arkells)