Yes, you’ve heard this record many times before. It’s Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Icky Mettle from Archers Of Loaf and Superchunk’s No Pocky for Kitty rolled up into one tidy, super-charged package. There are elements of Weezer, The Weakerthans and even The Microphones at work here. Still, play any of those albums back to back with Tigers Jaw and it doesn’t sound like any of them. It’s simply that this young band has captured their pioneering spirit without completely jocking the style. They’ve written an album that evokes a nostalgic timelessness and reminds a genre that it truly can sound fresh and innovative as long as it shows respect while continuing to evolve. Perhaps you really can shape your influences into something new and unique...and if not that, at least something totally awesome and worthy of repeat spins. Take your pick; both apply to Tigers Jaw.