"quintessentially Canadian...a bright beacon in a sea of mediocrity"
author: Drop-D Magazine - Gary 'pigboy' Swartz
I can't remember the last time I listened to music that felt so quintessentially Canadian. There's something happening here. Something interesting. Something worth listening to. What and why, I'm not sure.
Maybe it's having the imagination to take classical bluegrass instrumentation -- upright bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo -- add drums and accordion, and then give the lyrics and arrangements a rock 'n roll attitude. Maybe it's getting past the mythical folkie sensibility -- plaguing too many of our homegrown songwriters -- to describe the Fraser as "a river of kerosene." Maybe it's dancing the bureaucratic shuffle long enough to obtain a FACTOR grant.
What it is, for sure, is the certainty that this group of musicians have the chops and the desire to make their iconoclastic musical vision work. The solo work is shared. No one is riding anyone's coattails. Songwriter/vocalist Doug Andrew knows his limits and works within them to advantage.
Perhaps the best example of it all coming together is "Good Night, Good Night (A Drunken Lullaby)": the accompaniment weaves smoothly from instrument to instrument, and at the end of six and a half minutes, the song hasn't seemed nearly that long.
Sometimes serious, sometimes wry, sometimes paying homage (they cover Jimmy Rogers' "Waiting for a Train"), this band is a bright beacon in a sea of mediocrity.
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"think of crossing Tom Waits with the Band"
author: All Music Guide - by Bob Gottlieb
If you think of crossing Tom Waits with the Band, and have them play a punk/country/blues/bluegrass hybrid, you might come close to the Circus of Flames' sound. The Circus is led by Doug Andrew, who contributes lead vocal and guitar, as well as writing or co-writing 11 of the 12 songs. His songs seem to reflect the viewpoint of an average guy who has been to a good party and is glad to be in the company of his friends. They are out for a good time, and their playing, rather than being flawless, reflects their simple joy of making music together.
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"A strong argument for indie release of the year"
author: Dirty Linen - Issue # 73 - Dec' 97/Jan' 98 - Pieter Hofmann
A strong argument for indie release of the year, at least in these parts, may be The Circus In Flames' debut. The sextet could be best described as Hank Williams Sr. meets Tom Waits meets Jimmie Rodgers at an impromptu jam during the recording of The Basement Tapes.
Led by Doug Andrew, whose tales revolve around common folks, mill workers, flyer delivery boys and beer-slingers, The Circus In Flames come across as a liquored-up group of players who cross paths at a party and decide to set the wheels on fire.
Any expectations of stellar playing would draw the wrong conclusion. The album is based on the simple joy of playing music for the sake of the music, promotion departments be dammed. Consisting of acoustic guitar, mandolin, accordion, banjo, bass and drums, the band is a refreshing change from mega-budget recordings and proves that character can be a far better investment than mere dollars and cents.
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