The Northern Pikes were never one of my go-to bands. They skirted the periphery for me, although they had a couple of killer tunes: “Things I Do For Money” was a nearly perfect ‘80s song with a wonderfully syncopated delay on the guitar and a head-bopping groove. The other was “Hopes Go Astray,” which was (still is) a captivating song from Secrets of the Alibi, but I don't remember much else. The only thing I remember was being a bit disappointed. I was probably mix tape hunting, and aside from that one great song ("Hopes Go Astray") I didn’t pull anything else off, and I suppose that was enough for me to bury it. Who knows. I was pretty quick to pass judgment, and often it was brutal. As I've found out in hindsight, my loss. The band would keep dropping albums I more or less ignored ... okay, it was more, but I'm trying to soften my ambivalence. When they dropped "She Ain't Pretty" I had to admit it was catchy, but the little hairs on my neck didn't stand up, and that was more or less the last time I thought about the band.
Decades later (just before Christmas) I found myself abandoned in the mall while my wife went shopping. Several attempts at desperately texting her "Marco" failed to yield the mandatory response "Polo" and a location pin. I gave up trying to find her ... so I decided to check out the record store in the mall ... I seldom buy anything. Instead I browse and mutter about the silly prices and generally complain that stuff was cheaper when I was a kid, dagnabbit. Now, if you've read any of my stuff before (probably not, and that's okay) this will likely sound familiar, as I tend to repeat myself when I get my knickers in a twist, which happens fairly often. I don't feel bad about plagiarizing myself either, I'm lazy and sometimes it's just easier to go around in circles than try and expend the effort to correct my bad habits.
The one saving grace in the store is the little clearance section. I don't go often, but since the last time I was there it had been restocked. Flipping through the records and artists I'd not heard of, I came across a wonderfully retro-looking album by The Northern Pikes. A band whose name still held a certain amount of currency. I scanned the cover and there was a familiar face and name that was one of these things is not like the other. Kevin Kane from The Grapes of Wrath, and from his sparse solo career. I had reviewed his 1996 release Neighborhood Watch on my long-dead site. It was really good. Gave it four stars.
"... in 1996 he (Kevin Kane) resurfaced with a beautifully simple album. Mostly an acoustic album it showcases Kevin's strengths as a singer and musician. This is one of those albums you actually listen to. Every time I play it I feel like he's sitting in the corner playing and singing just for me."
Reviewed August 15, 2001 Banophernalia.com (RIP)
My first thought was that this was an odd pairing, but I was curious so I bought the album, and a few others that are still in my Marco Polo discount pile.
The Northern Pikes' lineup remained constant for a long time. The core band was still comprised of Bryan Potvin on guitar and vocals, Jay Semko on bass and vocals and Don "How's My Kick?" Schmid ... okay, the how's my kick thing I just put in there. I only know a few drummers and my buddy Hoss is always asking about it whenever we play, so I just assumed it was the same for everyone. I suppose I should have added "I can't hear my guitar" for Bryan, as let's be honest, the guitar is never loud enough in the mix. Bass players don't care. Merl Bryck, who played guitar and sang on the band's earlier albums, from what I read, retired, which opened up a spot. I like to think there was a group hug and high fives, and the guys still have beers on occasion and try to figure out why Queen City Kids weren't huge. If there was drama I don't want to know.
Man, this is way more meanderambling than usual ... ah, that's right, I just had an espresso. Oh well, sit back, this may take a little longer than usual. Just in case you're wondering, I've probably played Forest of Love three or four times through while I've been finger jibber jabbering on the keyboard. I've not been glued to the keyboard ... I get up and wander about and then sit and listen some more. Just sitting and taking it in.
Which sort of brings me around to Forest of Love. My first reaction after the first spin was simply, "Holy Shit." From the opening track "King In His Castle" the band is simply out to prove something. The band then deftly jumps between dreamy pop and more straight-ahead rock and acoustic-flavoured songs with an ease that proves that with age comes a certain mastery of the craft. Heck, the guys even manage to pull off one of the best songs Sloan never recorded with "Faith Of A Fool," which is infectious.
The album barely crests the half-hour mark. Ten songs, three minutes. Get in, get out, don't waste time. The album doesn't feel rushed, or too short. This is nearly perfect. I went back and listened to some of The Pikes' earlier stuff and I was struck by how dreamy, yes dreamy, the jingle jangle arrangements were on some of their songs. The addition of Kevin and his track record of working in the same dreamy jingle jangle vein was absolutely perfect, dare I say inspired.
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For those who wished the band would do another "She Ain't Pretty" kind of song there's "Forest of Love," a song that was sung by Jay Semko (I wanted to know who sang it as it was so different than the other songs, so I wrote the band a note and Don answered. Thanks, Don) that just cracks me up. Jay is essentially channelling his inner Darth Vader and singing as low as he can go, and the results are so good. The band basically threw everything against the wall here and most of it stuck. Besides, anyone who can get away with rhyming volcano with say no is pretty friggin' clever in my book (not a big book).
All of the songs here are way better than I expected or hoped. I mean if it wasn't obvious from the long intro I was a casual fan at best and here I am gushing about an album few will get a chance to hear. I suppose the faithful are still out there. I for one am glad the band decided to carry on and not simply rest on their laurels.
In an album full of great songs, it's the album's closer that truly puts this over the top. "Don't You Give Up" is a quiet song where each of the band's lead vocalists takes a verse and the results are so good. I hesitate to say this is my favourite song on the record, but it is the most moving.
This may have been the Forest of Love, but it was made up of ten sturdy trees.
I'm going to have to revisit the band's catalogue and hear what I've missed. Youth is indeed wasted on the young.
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