The 10th record (not including two EPs, a live album and a “greatest hits” collection) from stalwart Toronto band Sloan, The Double Cross (just released on Yep Roc) also serves to commemorate the quartet’s 20th anniversary as a versatile guitar-pop collective. Guitarists Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson, bassist Chris Murphy and drummer Andrew Scott—all four write and sing their own tunes and often switch instruments onstage—have successfully forged a productive two-decade career full of preternaturally catchy songs and beyond-entertaining live shows. Thankfully, they don’t appear to be slowing down; The Double Cross continues the group’s winning streak, particularly the seamless opening 1-2-3 of Murphy’s “Follow The Leader,” Ferguson’s “The Answer Was You” and Pentland’s “Unkind.” (Check out the band’s YouTube channel for a track-by-track discussion of the LP.) In their typically all-for-one, one-for-all fashion, the members of Sloan are guest-editing magnetmagazine.com this week. Read our brand new Q&A with Pentland.
Pentland: If you’ve ever attended a Sloan show and paid heed—I mean serious heed—you’d be aware of the Green And Black Attack. It’s my thing. As far as the casual observer is concerned, what I don LOS (Live On Stage) is a simple ensemble of visible, lightless accoutrements. But keen observers of the miniscule understand that, although black dominates my aesthetic, a subtle hint of green always accompanies and complements. Take, for instance, my four-leaf clover belt buckle that I acquired from a boutique in New York or Tokyo or more likely a strip mall in north Toronto. Green.
My countless (one) pairs of green Vans sneakers reinforce the aesthetic, although over the last year I have literally been hobbled by how incredibly dangerous their lack of arch support plays out for people approaching (or in) their 40s. Fred Perry in Toronto have been very kind to provide me with discounted polo shirts and hoodies, but their G&B options were weirdly limited and threw a small kink into my G&BAttkk LOS mandate. I had to opt for such gaudy colors as red and yellow, plus just plain old boring black. Still though, thanks FP!
So if you’re at a Sloan show in the coming year and are lucky enough to get a space in front of stage right, show support for the cause—wear your green and black with pride. And also wear earplugs. Green and black earplugs.
