Musician Spotlight: Vancouver's "Tarl"
The Canadian-Based Band Takes Cues from Classic and Glam Rock
Jan 25, 2009
Tarl, one of Canada's lesser-known rock outfits, is a modern rock band from Vancouver with a lot going for them. They have a self-titled CD available, the single from which “The Social” has received considerable attention and is being aired on satellite radio.
The band themselves have a sort of hybrid sound; a mix between loud glammy singalongs clearly inspired by classic rock or even the alternative rock of the 90s and acoustic-based songs that evolve into stronger rock ballads.
Tarl's Influences and Electric Sound
While their acoustic, more classic rock-inspired songs take the sound in a different direction, the highlight of Tarl's music is by far their loud, electric pieces. Songs like “The Strip” place much more value on music than lyrics—a big change from the rest of their music, which is strongly lyric-driven—and the results are excellent.
“The Strip” is a danceable piece clearly inspired by both hard and glam rock, as if AC/DC and The Darkness were combined. Combining boyish charm and wit with loud music hasn't failed a band yet, and Tarl is no exception.
The single “The Social” may be Tarl's most conventional and accessible song, but its influences are always present. The song is practically an old-school rock anthem from the days of KISS and the like with its catchy chorus of “Hey!”s, and it really shows off the band's lyrical style.
While it has a few humorous moments (“Tell all your friends I'll have you back in a while”), it allows every member of the band to show off, especially the lyrics and vocalizations on the lead singer's part.
More Unique Sound Would Make Tarl Modern Glam Rock Giants
Unfortunately, Tarl falls into many preexisting conventions that don't really separate the band from the back. Despite an undeniable knack for writing catchy songs, the band could definitely use an individualized sound.
Their acoustic songs are a good example of this problem, falling dangerously close to an FM b-side reminiscent of Nickelback and the like. There are great ideas present in every song, but they could use a little bit of polishing in order to maintain a unique and recognizable sound.
The bottom line is that Tarl is a modern rock band full of talent at writing lyrics and catchy songs while showing off their musical skills—most notably the singer and drummer's. Their sound is far from unique, being inspired by some of the best earlier rockers and some of the great modern ones, but their music remains fun to listen to.
With some work, Tarl could easily be the next big rock band, the success of “The Social” stands as a testament to that.
Tarl is primarily available on their Myspace page and are not currently signed to a major label.
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