And yet, evidence of a stubborn refusal to play it safe abounds, most notably in the East Coast-bred, Toronto-based rock squad’s eponymous, electrifying new disc, The Trews. It tallies so many firsts that even band members Colin MacDonald, John-Angus MacDonald, Sean Dalton and Jack Syperek cop to being a smidge flabbergasted by their own achievements, 14 Top 10 Canadian radio singles (including two #1s) notwithstanding.
There is, first and foremost, the assured manner in which it was written (through the lens of real life), underwritten (by fan support) and recorded (super-fast alongside marquee producer Gavin Brown). Guests bring flourish – witness Serena Ryder’s smoky vocals on ‘In the Morning,’ a contemplative almost-ballad with lyrics co-written by singer/guitarist Colin MacDonald and his pal, songwriting dynamo Simon Wilcox and buoyed by cellist Anne Bourne’s melancholic accompaniment.
Add in the fact that of late the Trews have been piling up the accolades touring acoustically despite being certified rock brawlers and the net result is something you just don’t see every day: proverbial old dogs issuing some seriously new tricks.
“I think with every record, you are kind of re-applying for the job,” chuckles guitarist John-Angus MacDonald. “There are so many bands out there, so many good ones, the fact that we get to keep going is a privilege. And as much as you get better and wiser with your craft, you still have to be ear-to-the-ground competitive. There is pressure in that.”
There are also wicked-cool rewards in that, none greater than the Trews’ daring and wildly successful PledgeMusic campaign which offered their loyal fans coveted and highly unique access to the band and its recording process in exchange for financial backing.
Everything from Skype chats to drum lessons, lifetime guest list privileges to adding vocals and hand-claps in-studio to songs like ‘New King,’ ‘The Sentimentalist,’ ‘Age of Miracles,’ and ‘Under The Sun’ was snatched up by supporters during the roughly year-long PledgeMusic drive.
“It was so much fun bringing fans into the studio, putting 20 people around a microphone,” Colin MacDonald enthuses. “This whole campaign was a great way to have an even deeper connection with the people who have been supporting us all these years.”
Adds John-Angus MacDonald, “I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have some trepidation at the onset. But it was all about the fan experience. We got to tailor those pledges to what we thought our fans might like, and at the end of it, we got to make a record for fans while giving them access they couldn’t possibly have had otherwise.”
Of course, the whole PledgeMusic exercise would be academic if the Trews weren’t making freaking phenomenal rock and roll full of the hairpin stylistic turns you’d expect from four guys who’ve been playing together daily pretty much all their adult lives.
Take the new album’s blazing first single, ‘What's Fair Is Fair’ which Colin MacDonald describes as “A song I wrote about a relationship falling apart. Sometimes when you cross a line you can't come back.”
And then there is the quaking, spit-drenched ‘New King,’ a biting indictment of bullies on digital pulpits. “We were pissed off and we wrote a song about it. I mean, if you can’t use your rock and roll to tell somebody to go shove it,” John-Angus MacDonald howls, “what the hell good is it?”
At the other end of the sonic spectrum is ‘65 Roses,’ a song inspired by former Trews booking agent Paul Gourlie, who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis last May at age 37. It is, says John-Angus MacDonald, an illustration of the band feeling comfortable turning the volume down thanks to their acoustic touring, and an example of the impact producer Gavin Brown (see Metric, the Tragically Hip, Billy Talent) had on the new disc.
“The song ‘65 Roses’ was originally presented as an upbeat and rollicking song but the subject matter is quite sad,” the guitarist confirms. “Gavin was really insistent on that song being played as an acoustic number without drums. He saw us performing at Paul’s memorial and I don’t think he would even consider it being anything else.”
Indeed, Brown brought a whole new way of working to bear when he gathered with the Trews – including long-time keyboardist Jeff Heisholt - last fall in their rehearsal space for pre-production before moving the show to Toronto’s Noble Street Studios for “a concentrated two-and-half week session with some additional recording in November, mixing in December and mastering in January,” Colin MacDonald recalls.
“Gavin takes awesome bands and makes them awesome-r,” the singer cracks playfully. “And I think with our band, self-production would be a one-way ticket to divorce. We all respect each other but it’s always good to have that sounding board. Gavin is a giant personality who works quickly with such precision. So we entered that orbit and it made for a really interesting time. I’d do it again tomorrow.”
“For us, working quickly is a function of having our material together,” John-Angus adds, noting that the group amassed some 30 songs between January and May 2013 despite all members “doing a lot of other things. Life was being lived, we were traveling, but I think that fed the writing.
“From there we went about arranging it and making it sound great in the studio which, in my opinion, is much easier than songwriting. With Hope & Ruin” – the Trews’ chart-topping 2011 release cut with Hip bassist Gord Sinclair – “we were writing and recording at the same time and that record took seven months. Taking a kind of church and state approach to writing and recording this time worked really well.”
“I think we are getting better at pinpointing when a song is good and when it’s not,” Colin MacDonald says. “That’s what happens when you make five albums and tour all the time – you can tell a timeless idea from one that rocks hard but gets old fast. If I have to sing these songs 200 nights a year,” he smiles, doubtless envisioning the Trews’ itinerary for the foreseeable, “I want them to be good.”
No Time For Later
The Trews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were the instigator of your destruction and descent
There's beauty in disaster but it's hard to see from here
It might take just a little more time or just a few more beer
[Chorus]
Hey Joe, it's time to hit the road, it's time to go
Let's go your moving way too slow this ain't no joke
It's time to go, lets go, it's time to hit the road!
There's no time for later
You lost your mind, you lost your head,
You told off all your friends
Now you're living on my couch
And this affair has got to end
You overstayed your welcome here
You made an ugly mess
You brought me down to where you're at
And it's making me depressed
[Chorus]
And I don't want you here anymore
Get your shit off of my floor
Here's your hat and there's the door
[Chorus]
It's time to hit the road! [Repeat: x3]
There's no time
It's time to hit the road!
There's no time for later
It's time to hit the road!
There's no time
It's time to hit the road!
There's no time for later
The Trews's song No Time For Later tells a story of a troubled friend who has hit rock bottom and needs to be kicked out of the house. The singer, who is also the friend's confidant, realizes that there is no time to waste and argues that it's time for the friend to leave. The opening line, "There's no time for later my lost and lonely friend," encapsulates the sense of urgency and loss felt by the singer as they watch their friend's steady downfall.
The chorus has an upbeat and catchy melody that starkly contrasts the dark reality of the song's lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "It's time to hit the road" emphasizes the idea that the friend has overstayed their welcome and the need for the singer to distance themselves from the situation. The use of the name "Joe" in the chorus adds a personal touch and makes the message more relatable.
The song reflects the fragile nature of friendships and the toll that toxic people can have on our mental health. It's a poignant reminder that sometimes we need to acknowledge our limitations and make difficult decisions to look after ourselves and our wellbeing.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no time for later my lost and lonely friend
We can't postpone addressing your problems, as you are in a lost and lonely state.
You were the instigator of your destruction and descent
You started the cycle of destruction and the ensuing decline yourself.
There's beauty in disaster but it's hard to see from here
Despite the chaos, there may be a silver lining, but it can't be seen from where we are now.
It might take just a little more time or just a few more beer
It's possible that we need either more time or an altered state of mind to see the beauty in disaster.
Hey Joe, it's time to hit the road, it's time to go
It's time to leave and get on with life, Joe.
Let's go your moving way too slow this ain't no joke
Hurry up, don't dawdle, this is a serious matter.
You're slow, get your hat and grab your coat
You're being too slow; put on your hat and grab your coat so we can leave.
You lost your mind, you lost your head,
You've gone off the deep end and are not behaving rationally.
You told off all your friends
You burned bridges with your friends by saying hurtful things to them.
Now you're living on my couch
You're staying with me, but only because you have nowhere else to go.
And this affair has got to end
This situation is not sustainable and cannot continue as it is.
You overstayed your welcome here
You've been here too long and need to move on.
You made an ugly mess
Your behavior has caused chaos and created a negative environment.
You brought me down to where you're at
Your presence has had a negative impact on my life as well.
And it's making me depressed
All of this is taking a toll on my mental health.
And I don't want you here anymore
I'm done with this situation and want you to leave.
Get your shit off of my floor
Take your belongings and go - I don't want them cluttering up my space.
Here's your hat and there's the door
I'm giving you a clear sign that it's time to leave.
It's time to hit the road! [Repeat: x3]
The message is clear: it's time to leave and move on to the next phase of life.
There's no time for later
We can't keep putting this off - it's time to act now.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MACDONALD, JOHN MAC DONALD, SIMON WILCOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hwmusic57
CRAZYY awesome!! :)