Sick Puppies
Polar Opposite

By Todd Jolicouer

Riding high on the singles from their last release, this Australian trio decided to re-record some of their catalog acoustically and launch it upon the world. Thank heaven they did, as most of these songs, while good or great in their original incarnation, have been improved upon by turning down and focusing on the songs and raw talent of the band. Not to mention, some of the songs feature more lead vocals from bassist Emma Anzai. It also features a string ensemble on most tracks.

Vocalist/guitarist Shimon Moore really stands out as a great vocalist when the music doesn’t drown him out. The band has been getting tons of airplay with the single ‘Maybe’ and it is even more powerful here in “unplugged” format. This disc features six redone tracks from the offering “Tri-Polar” along with one track from their album, “Dressed Up As Life.” I found myself really getting into this release more than the Tri-Polar disc. The stripped back tunes really let you appreciate the strong song writing of the trio, which also features drummer Mark Goodwin.

Set opener ‘You’re Going Down’ brings more emotion to the table than the original. Hit “Maybe” is also stronger here than in its original form. No wonder these guys have been accumulating fans for years now. My personal fav is ‘White Balloons’ as it really showcases the vocals of both Shimon and Emma. I picked this up after hearing the original tunes, but the strength of this EP made me run out and pick up their sophomore effort, the afore mentioned “Dressed Up As Life.” Enjoy!!!