This is one album review that I never thought I would get the chance to ever write a new Big Sugar Album Review. Revolution Per Minute is the title for the new Big Sugar Release.

Lead By lead Singer Gordie Johnson Revolution Per Minute has taken a little different turn compared to the previous Big Sugar Releases. Going with a more of a deeper Reggae sound than their previous releases Revolution Per Minute is still a classic Big Sugar Album To Me.

Will this be another album which we will gain permanent hearing damage to when we hear this album live probably but not as much compared to their earlier albums. With more of a bass driven sound the album grooves through twelve new songs. The first single to hit the air waves is the first track on the album called “Roads Ahead”.

I first got to hear “Roads Ahead” live when I took in their show in Toronto during the CMW’s this year. Right away all I could think of when I heard the opening lick into the song was Joel Plaskett coming from Gordie’s Guitar. In this song and throughout the album I was surprised by how high Gordie’s vocals are, The keyboards throughout the song adds a different feel to the song, and adds that extra little bit of sound to the song. The length of the song took me a little by surprise as the duration is just under two and a half minutes.  What is not missing from the song is the classic sound of Gordie’s guitar doing the singing for him. I can already see how this song could be stretched out in Big Sugar fashion and surpassing the five minute mark when it is being played live.

Third song down the line is “Little Bit A All Right”. this song also gets a little bit of classic Big Sugar thrown into it as the higher pitched “who who” makes an appearance. Also Friendlyness makes a quick appearance in the song as well. I do remember hearing this song live and Shaun Verrault making his backing vocals heard a little louder and Friendlyness taking a longer lead on the vocals. Now if my ears are leading in the right direction I am going to guess that Gordie is using his Gibson SG for this song, which is one of the guitars which plays a major role in Big Sugar and Grady sound. Oops did I slip in Grady considering the first album was consisted of remixed Big Sugar songs I almost felt it was mandatory to slip it in somewhere. Another little bit of a reference that I picked up was a tidbit of the Rolling Stones especially during the intro to the song.

“If I Were Heaven (Tonight)” for me this is where the album starts to take the deeper turn into a reggae rock sound. The bass line throughout the song is tuned up a little bit more to add that extra effect. During the lyrics “Tonight when we see the stars that shine, you know that everything is going to be all right” you can’t tell me that you are not thinking of another certain Reggae musician now I’m not going to say who it is but I’m pretty sure you can guess already who it is. I thought the placement of the song just before the half way mark was a really good choice, it helps mellow out the album a little and gets you ready for the rest of the album. A possible ten minute live jam song I am thinking so and can’t wait to see/hear it as well. Nearing the ending of the song I really like the cool sounding guitar collaboration.

To get the full effect of the album however you have to watch the album being played live which I have been lucky enough now to hear twice already this year, almost in its entirety. You can pick up your copy pretty much everywhere on the internet and in stores across Canada.