The GTs

Good Times is the debut LP by local duo The GTs. With this album, Samantha Diamond (drums) and Paul Trudel (vocals and guitar) tactfully capture the apathy, uncertainty, and subdued angst of young-adult life via indie rock. This very well may be a projection of my current outlook on life rather than what the Montreal duo intended; however, each track on this album appeals to the quandaries of young adult life in some form or another.

Right off the bat, the opening track “Stoned” feeds into the album’s motif of uncertainty with the ever-so-relatable line, “I know everything, except when I don’t.” Trudel’s lyrics, accompanied by guitar and Diamond’s animated drumming, grasp both the inflated ego and self-doubt experienced by every young adult. Similarly, the upbeat track “Lonely” perpetuates a good-natured acceptance of simply not knowing what has happened to one’s life. The line “I’m way past twenty-one, wondering what I’ve done,” though partly comical, conveys the reasonable yet dispirited view one may have when looking back on the fleetingness of youth. What’s more, with “Charlie Kaufman,” The GTs concoct a wistful love song that perpetuates the well-known feeling of being adrift when lovestruck. This track’s soft and melancholic elements are augmented as Trudel’s voice channels the likes of Jeff Tweedy on Ashes of American Flags. Moreover, with “Monica,” The GTs produce a tune both delicate and sentimental. Though similar to “Charlie Kaufman,” this track’s maturity and minimalist structure are reminiscent of Yo La Tengo’s sound on And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out. Furthermore, on “Mom Song,” Trudel sings to his mom the very blunt line “I hope you’re proud you made me.” In a simple way, this lyric underscores every child’s longing for parental approval, possibly stemming from feelings of insecurity, which fits very nicely with the album’s overall theme. Finally, The GTs conclude their debut album with “So Long.” Together, Trudel’s voice, echoing Thom Yorke on “High And Dry,” and the increasingly blurred instrumental, foment a sense of disorientation as the album slips away.

First and foremost, my interpretation of Good Times may misconstrue Diamond and Trudel’s intentions. Be that as it may, it just goes to show that Good Times, with its gentle strain of indie rock, is both engaging and (for some) able to elicit a strong emotional reflection. Therefore, if in search for an accessible yet nuanced blend of indie rock, then The GTs’ Good Times will prove to be an enjoyable listen.

– Review by Soraya Mamiche Afara
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged Good Times, indie rock, Montreal, The GTs on December 14, 2016 by CKUT Music Coordinator. - CKUT

The GTs have been steadily building their own scene based out of their shows / parties at drummer Sam’s mile-end salon. Like Sultan, the guitar and drums duo channel early rock n’ roll, with punchy, anthemic choruses that stick in your head for days. This is a band you’ll be hearing a lot more about when their debut album hits in the coming weeks. In the meantime, stream their debut EP here. - Bad Feeling Magazine

In this year's Searchlight competition, there have been a lot of musical collaborations, ranging from folk-indie bands to hip-hop groups to siblings rocking it out together. But among them, there have been a handful of husband-and-wife duos, too.

In the gallery above, we look at eight Searchlight husband-and-wife collabs that caught our eye. From stage presence to musical performance to song lyrics: each musical act is different, but individually brilliant. Sometimes intimate, and others vibrant — scroll through the gallery and discover great talent across the country.

Who: The GTs
Song: "Charlie Kaufman"
About: The GTs will have you thinking of your soulmate with their love-driven song, "Charlie Kaufman." Their lyrics — "I want to tell the story of you and I/ you're all I ever hoped for/ and hope is all I need" — talk about love and the many forms and levels it can proceed to be. This simple and sweet song, infused with a mixture of rock and R&B, is worth a listen. Check out their Searchlight submission, "Charlie Kaufman." - CBC

After three weeks of watching, sharing and voting for your favourites, the results are in: announcing the regional top 10s in the Searchlight competition.

There are 23 regions listed below, each with the 10 finalists who will move on. In total, 230 amazing acts you should definitely hear. Nine of the top 10 finalists were chosen by CBC Music judges, and one was chosen by popular vote, as indicated below.

To watch all the top tens, click here and search by either name or region. You can also read them in full below.
Montreal

Beatrice Deer (popular vote)
Loud Lary Ajust
Woodpigeon
King Karoshi
Sarah Bourdon
What If Elephants
The GTs
Ace the Boy Wonder
Isabelle Young
Shyre - CBC

(Link to top 10 video for CBC Searchlight 2016)
Published on Apr 28, 2016

Paul and Sam became a couple first and a rock n’ roll duo soon after. It was that week over Christmas…writing songs and falling in love in a big red barn. In high school, Sam had a serious crush on Paul. They took the same bus, had friends in common but had never even met. Now, The GTs’ parties at Sam’s Mile-End salon are sought out for Montrealers craving a fresh scene. Showcased at NXNE, they return to CMW this spring. With Warren Spicer (Plants & Animals) they have recorded a stunning debut album GOOD TIMES (Summer ‘16). - CBC

The GTs : The Hideout CMW 2015

Visiting from Montreal for CMW 2015, The GTs (Paul Trudel & Samantha Diamond) were up on The Hideout stage to showcase their 2-piece rock and roll on Tuesday night.

In a classy touch, Paul dedicated the 1st song of their set to his mom, who came in from Montreal to see the band play. Very sweet. Happy early Mother’s Day.

Labelled as Alternative/Garage/Indie, The GTs played fast and fun, but not so fast that you couldn’t keep up with the lyrics or the song. This was uptempo rock that was fun to listen to and understand. I dug it.

note: They mentioned barn rehearsals leading up to the show. And to be honest, that sounds like a lot of fun, wish we could have been there for that.

Paul also intro’d the song Bad by telling the crowd that the last time they were in Toronto they had dedicated it to Rob Ford… and then asked if he was still around. There was no resounding answer from the crowd – but the song was fun.

Bon job, Paul & Samantha. - The Reviews Are In

"I've listened to the album numerous times this week and it's incredible! Any Montrealer should be proud of the fact that there's such a great duo coming out of their city. They're a band that I would recommend to anyone: I think my father would like it, I think my nephew would like it. It's that kind of rock and roll."
Ian McPherson. Go-Go Radio Magic Show (opening segment) - Go-Go Radio Magic Show - Montreal

"A great new band from Montreal. I love it! I couldn't stop listening to this record last night. I sat on my terrace and put on headphones and got to bed around 2 o'clock in the morning, so I'm a little rough today."
Paul Brown- CJLO 1690AM - CJLO 1690AM