Listen to almost any Crown Lands song, and you’d be hard-pressed to realize that the band consists of only two musicians: Kevin Comeau (guitar, bass and keyboards) and Cody Bowles (vocals and drums). However, it’s much easier to wrap your head around this when listening to the Canadian duo’s beautifully moving acoustic cover of Neil Young’s “Birds”.
I stumbled across their track “The Witching Hour” a couple of months ago and it sent me flying back in time to the early 90s, sitting in a former cathouse-turned-bar, listening to the likes of Soundgarden over the speakers. But no matter what comparisons are made between Crown Lands and other (typically legendary power rock) bands, they have a sound that is uniquely their own.
My infatuation with them is just getting started, and considering that their self-titled debut album, Crown Lands, was only released this year, it feels like Comeau and Bowles are just getting started too (well, sort of; they’ve actually been around since 2015), and I, for one, can’t wait for more!
You can learn more about crown lands here
About the Curator - Jane Asylum
When my mother wasn’t walking around the house belting out early 60s’ girl-band lyrics, she was collecting compilation albums, specifically from K-Tel. She may not have had the most refined taste, but she enjoyed variety, or at least that’s what I recall. I poured over them all, preferring some sounds to others. And when I found the perfect song, I’d play it over and over until ready to perform my latest theatrical dance incarnation.
With my family all gathered on floral grey sofas in our basement apartment, I’d set the vinyl on the turntable of a brown fibreboard stereo and not-so-carefully lower the needle. It would pop, screech, and crackle before any music spilled from the weaved-wheat speakers. My toes would press, lift, and sweep through the blue-green shag carpet, my arms would flail, and the music would bass and treble through my soul.
I’m no longer that 6-year-old doing private-audience interpretive dance routines, but my passion remains just as intense. I have no special superpowers as a curator — just my love of sounds and lyrics that transport, transform, move, and make your body groove.
Jane recently curated the musicto community playlist: “What is Alternative Music” - well worth checking out along with her three part article on her favorite “Alternative” artist: “My Ultimately Alternative Relationship With PJ Harvey - Part 1”
