Sailboats Are White

Hamilton's electro-punk entry is the raucous Sailboats Are White. Combining the talents of Kevin Douglas (who gives the finger to enunciation and delightfully engages in zombie-like shouting) bassist Matt Bourassa and a drum machine cranked to a healthy b.p.m., the group have released a rightfully boisterous mix of lo-fi '77 punk, power chords, lithe hardcore and stealth beats. Everything is bloodied and scratched, especially the almighty "The Fourth Finger Of My Left Hand," a devil-lusting mother-of-a-number that'll make you feel like you've just been disemboweled twice. Even sweaty aerobicizing rhythms give up to primal screaming, reminding us that even pretty white sailboats sometimes need to be set on fuckin' fire. - Brian Wong

On first listen, Sailboats Are White's debut LP reveals choice influences ranging from The Germs to The Boredoms to The Fall. Beyond that, Hamilton's SAW (who shouldn't be confused with the recently released film Saw 2) have some extra goodness going for them in that their sound toes the line between arty prog and punk rock, thus keeping them satisfied by their own snottiness, while also satisfying the pliable ear of the indie-rocker. Their choice of drum machine as drummer doesn't take away from the songs and sometimes makes them spazzier; they also use some really well placed "heys" to punctuate the songs. Very strong. - NICK FLANAGAN

Although this will undoubtedly inspire many a Canadian letter I have to say the, besides Simply Saucer, I can't think of another band from Hamilton, Ontario. Anyway, Sailboats Are White are some snotty young kids from Hamilton who don't know that Sailboats Are White is an awful name and that bands without drummers really aren't good. Good for that because their ignorance is your gain. 12 ripping blasts of rock so punk that you don't mind the drum machine. Good times and the perfect antidote for anyone sick of the current bloated, pretentious Canadian fare. - Dave Martin

Like a drunker MC5 with no drummer, Hamilton, ON's Sailboats Are White kick out the jams drum machine-style, knocking over every table in the room during a scramble for the bar. Opening with a blast of '80s punk in "Congratulations on the Goddamn Cherries," the band immediately move into some strange sonic waters that, at times, sound like Big Audio Dynamite hopped up on amphetamines. The vocals of Kevin Douglas are strained to the point of exhaustion, and by the end of the record's fourth track he sounds ready to pass out. Thankfully, he doesn't, and the band blast through eight more tracks of electro-punk fury, pausing only occasionally to take a big swig from their respective bottles. - Sam Sutherland

sailboats are white came highly recommended by my pal nick. some things i gleaned from their myspace: 1. they're from hamilton, ontario, 2. they use a drum machine and 3. they cite devo, six finger satellite and big black amongst their influences. those are some pretty fucking big shoes to try to slip into, but they're doing a great job of playing the fun, noisy, herky jerky stuff. and they do it without really ever falling into cliches (it happens like maybe once). i hafta say i prefer the snotty voice to the screamy screamy voice. and the artwork on their record heavily features a very cute kitty. for more info about that record go here. - DAUGHTERS OF INVENTION

Alan McGee — the man responsible for Creation Records and signing Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and Oasis — has added Hamilton post-punk, disco-rock noisemakers Sailboats Are White to his Poptones label.

"Intense rock 'n' roll motherfuckers from Canada," is how the Sloan fan describes his latest signing. "Reminiscent of Public Image Limited, Big Black, Black Flag… if you don't love this, you are wrong. Prepare to be destroyed."

Poptones will release Sailboats Are White's Turbo! album worldwide this fall, except for North America. The record has already been issued in Canada by Let's Just Have Some Fun, which will also release it in the U.S. on May 2.

Keyboardist Chris McInerny recently left Sailboats Are White "to enjoy the simpler things in life," according to the band's website, and has been replaced by Joel Smith. He joins guitarist Kevyn Wright, bassist Matt Bourassa, singer Kevin Douglas and a drum machine.

After rocking The Boat during Canadian Music Week, Sailboats Are White will tour eastern Canada with Lullabye Arkestra next month. They'll go to England in the fall to support their Poptones debut.
- CHARTATTACK

This group didn't waste getting to the point. They jumped right in with heavy guitars, bass, keyboards and a drum machine. A punk band without a drummer? You read correctly and these boys definitely do just fine without one. This is some of the most danceable punk you'll ever see live and perhaps the most dangerous. - CHARTATTACK