April 8th, 1996

Brand New Day.(sound recording reviews)
Nicholas Jennings,
Vol. 109, Maclean's, pp 68

Winnipeg's rich rock legacy (The Guess Who, Neil Young, Crash Test Dummies) continues with The Watchmen. The young quartet, fronted by pianist Daniel Greaves and guitarist Joey Serlin, first appeared in 1994 with its strong debut album, In the Trees, featuring the hit singles Boneyard Tree and All Uncovered. The secret to the band's strength lies in the contrasting styles of Greaves and Serlin who, along with shaved heads, share songwriting and vocal duties. Greaves favors dreamy, melodic tunes, while Serlin leans more towards raw, edgy numbers. That musical yin-yang is heightened considerably on Brand New Day, the band's powerful follow-up. Songs such as Greaves's sunny The Other Side and his stirring Shut Up, with its Van Morrison-like chorus, complement Serlin's vibrant Zoom and his anguished, harmonica-driven Tumbleweed. Polar opposites, Greaves and Serlin make an electric partnership.