Dark Mean: Dark Mean

Dark Mean
Dark Mean
Self-Released [2011]









Fire Note Says: A nice debut that shows real promise from Canadian indie folk trio Dark Mean.

Album Review:
Canadian indie folk trio Dark Mean have been cultivating this self-titled debut for about four years as it builds on the group's previous EP offerings. The album ranges from polite and catchy acoustic numbers to larger more rock anthems that get big quickly. It is this unpredictability that makes Dark Mean infectious because the listener is never quite sure which direction a song will take you. The soft "Lullaby" explodes near the middle into a full sing-a-long only to quickly crawl back into its enjoyable shell, while "Happy Banjo" is a foot tapper that has a strong drum beat while letting the banjo pick away in the background before several horns kick in. Dark Mean still are developing as a band and several tracks here still sound a little rough around the edges but as a whole, this album contains all the right components to propel this group to a bigger audience with its songs that hook you and sound even better upon repeat listens. Dark Mean are a band to watch as this solid debut is clearly only the beginning!

Key Tracks: "Happy Banjo", "Lullaby", "Finland"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Ra Ra Riot
The Avett Brothers

Dark Mean Website
Dark Mean Facebook

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony