[Translated from Dutch to English] The second album of the Ottawan folk-rocker John Allaire, reminds me of the classic Neil Young albums and Buffalo Tom. Varying from pure country to rockers, from pleasant good feeling folk to the adventures of Wilco. And everything accompanied by just one guitar, horn section or strong distorted guitars. "Thank You Waitress!" has it all. Eclectic is an understatement, indeed.

On first encounter the record sounds happier than its predecessor "Crime And Punishment" (2003), but when you listen more closely you’ll discover that John Allaire has enough demons at hand. The cow-punk-country-rock influences remain of course, but Allaire's voice echoes the one of Paul Westerberg. But having said that, this record can’t be labeled... Or perhaps the label of folk/country, but this album has so many styles; jazz in the sax, rock and blues in the harmonica and guitars, country in the slide, etc. After listening to 13 songs our jaws dropped from amazement and respect and we were ready to shout it from the top of every building: this record is so awesome -- beautiful. We knew that John Allaire, who started his musical carrier way back in 1984, is a great talent, but to prove that in such a convincing and and mindblowing way, no…….. we never saw this coming.

Then again, he can count on The Campistas, a strongly driven and motivated band with Tony Dunn (keyboards and sax), Glenn Torresan (slideguitar), Jeff Tanguay (bass), Tom Simpson (percussion) and Zeke Smythe (drums). Just listen to opener "Punkrocktown", the titletrack or the more punkish track “Shut Your Mouth". All songs about punk rock tourists, touring musicans (" Halton Country Inn") and deadly jobs. You’ll understand, "Thank You Waitress!" is a more than legit follow up to"Crime And Punishment" and will not leave my cd-player. John Allaire and The Campistas might become very big worldwide.
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Ottawa folk-rocker John Allaire kicks his music up a few notches on his second solo album "Thank You Waitress!". The former Town Cryer's gift for a sharply turned lyric is also in evidence in songs about punk rock tourists, hapless touring musicians and dead-end jobs. It's a stalwart addition to Ottawa's strong roots music scene.
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...add one part Strummer, one part Westerberg, sprinkle with rootsy guitars and a Canadian accent, eh ... infectious North Americana.
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