New times for Watchmen
Band adopts a looser sound for their
new CD
By KIERAN GRANT
Toronto Sun
The Watchmen's Daniel Greaves accidentally
offers up the perfect pun while discussing his band's
fourth album, Silent Radar.
"Music's meant to be felt, not to set your watch
by," the Winnipeg singer is saying yesterday as he
describes the looser sound of the disc, out today.
"In the past we concentrated on precision rather
than how you could use a studio to your
advantage."
"We would concentrate on tuning and speed, but
when you think about it, that's not really the point,"
adds Watchmen guitarist Joey Serlin. "The point is
to capture the feel of what it was like between the
four guys in that room."
The Watchmen play a show Thursday at Lee's
Palace for 102.1 contest winners, and take over
the Horseshoe Friday and Saturday for the public.
The band -- which also includes bassist Ken
Tizzard and drummer Sammy Kohn -- recorded
Silent Radar at Seattle's Litho studio, owned by
Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard. Greaves and
Serlin credit producer Adam Kasper, who's
worked with Soundgarden and R.E.M., with
creating a more casual recording atmosphere than
the band were used to.
Not a bad idea, given the added pressure of
following up 1994's platinum-selling In The Trees,
and '96's gold Brand New Day.
"To me there's always pressure," says Greaves.
"No record company could put as much pressure
on us as we do ourselves when we're writing."
"It's such an exhaustive process that when it's
done, you're empty," Serlin continues. "At that
point you ask yourself, am I ever going to be able
to do this again? But you do."
Perhaps out of necessity, The Watchmen were in
turn able to give their music room to breath on
Silent Radar.
"One of the best qualities a musician can have --
and this is a cliche -- is to know when not to play,"
says Serlin.
"It's kind of a peek-a-boo, hide-and-go-seek type
thing," adds Greaves with a laugh.
That said, Silent Radar is not a particularly playful
album. Darker in tone than their past records, its
laments of loss and uncertainty catch the band in a
particularly gloomy phase.
Greaves and Serlin, who share lyric-writing duties,
smile at the mention of their newfound dark side.
"People seem to be picking up on that," muses
Serlin.
Adds Greaves: "This girl who heard an advance
copy -- someone who wasn't supposed to -- came
up and said, 'What happened to you guys? Are you
okay?' It really freaked me out. I was like,
'Everything's cool.'
"A lot of the writing was like therapy. It feels good
getting that stuff out. It doesn't get me down that
there's sad songs on the record."
"He might be down if he hadn't written those
songs," offers Serlin. "I personally can't write happy
songs. It just doesn't feel real to me."
The Watchmen plan to add more miles to their
already impressive touring log this summer.
The group maintain a modest method of measuring
success.
"As long as we're able to continue this," says
Serlin. "I'd fall into a massive depression if we
couldn't."
"We'd probably write great tunes," says Greaves.
"But who would hear them?"