The Shifters

The Shifters
Spinerazor/Universal

Local Montreal band, The Shifters, bring back some good old rock 'n roll with their newest CD, Music for Sinners. It kicks off the very first track with a car revving its engine. It's pretty clichôUbut in a good way. This is the kind of music that would be a nice change at some of the university bars around Montreal, with a blend of local rock and a little of the underground scene. The sound isn't overwhelming, but different from the usual classics that are often fed to us, claiming the title, "Rock and Roll anthem". How many more times are we going to hear something by the Offspring at the bar? It's time for a change and it doesn't have to be entirely scary or overwhelming.

Lead singer Marty Marty has a raspy, deep, slight twang in his voice that will resonate throughout your house if you choose to blast this CD. There is something a little dark about the album and sound, but in a smoky bar (it wasn't THAT long ago) kind of way; a little hazy and slightly unpolished, but classic and loved all the same.

After a little research into the history of the band and just how very rock 'n roll they are, I discovered their love for porn. On the cover, porn star Jade Starr graces us with her presence and the finger, all in one shot. The band' s music is also featured on a pornographic film entitled Atomic Vixens, in stores now. At least the band is honest about the things they like.

- Lindsay Wood - The Concordian (Montreal)

THE SHIFTERS-Music For Sinners
Spinerazor Records
Montreal’s down and dirty rockers The Shifters kick out high grade American style palm muted rawk-n-roll on their second full length, Music For Sinners. From the opening riff of L.I.A.R., you can almost smell the booze and smoke seeping through your speakers. Crunchy riffs, toe tapping rhythms and catchy chorus hooks make tracks like Holiday In The Sin, Sleaze Tequilla, and Run Devil Run (which sounds almost like Holiday In The Sin) instant winners. There’s also a rocked out cover of country music song writer Harlan Howard’s Busted. Their CD cover art says “high octane” and the boys live up to it.
www.theshifters.com

written by: Samuel Adams
date submitted: 12/3/2006 2:50:00 PM - East Coast Romper

A somewhat interesting release from this Montreal quartet.. It is their label debut but it stays true to their signature sound. The songs are not overly original but they do however have a certain aspect to them that keeps you interested. The standout on the disc is actually a cover of the song ?Busted?. Maybe because it is slightly different than the rest that it stands out or it is just a superior song.

Musically there is a lot of guitar and fast drumming but it is not mixed well and at times they tend do drown one another out. This holds true for the guitar mainly as it is overshadowed by the vocals and in allot of instances the drums.

Overall it is a decent disc and worth looking for if this style is you thing. - Written by Celtic Bob metal-Rule.com

Music for Sinners starts with an engine revving and ends a quick 30 minutes later in a pile of twisted steel and broken glass. And since every song or album that’s ever started with the sweet sound of a muscle car has invariably rocked, that’s a good sign for these Montreal greasers, who likely spend most of their time under the hoods of cars or fighting in bars. When they’re not playing scorching rawk n’ roll, that is. The ride itself, of course, is what we’re most concerned with here, and this is a white knuckle one for sure, full of thick moto-punk, over amped 60s garage, and over sexed sleaze-a-billy swagger. It’s drag strip rock, naturally, with a tinge of country charm and Swede appeal, kind of like the Supersuckers meets the Flaming Sideburns. Or the Female Skulls. Or Bad Machine. It all works, really. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Music for Sinners features porn queen Jade Starr on its cover, contains a cover of Harlan Howard’s “Busted” (sung by the album’s producer, Rene Garcia of The Brains), and the song “Sleaze Tequila” will appear in Ron Royster’s new adult film, Atomic Vixens. Oh, and Shifters guitarist Nick Evil is a Sleazegrinder message board regular, so pick up this album and leave him a note telling him that you also like neck tattoos, hitting people with a wrench, sleazy rock n’ roll, naked chicks, and all around good ol’ fashion sinning.

- Jeff Warren - sleazegrinder

THE SHIFTERS:
The most hi octane rock n’ roll band to ever come out of Montreal! A hot rod mix of back alley politics, hard livin’ and greaser, gearhead anthems, The Shifters are the perfect soundtrack to a fast livin’, amps on 11, cheap booze and vintage cars lifestyle. If you can even remotely relate to any of this, then The Shifters will be your new favorite band. And their new album 'Music For Sinners' will be the soundtrack to your life spinning wildly out of control as you get lost along the rock n’ roll loser’s highway.
Music For Sinners: In Stores Sept.26
www.theshifters.com





- fanzine

(spinerazor)
This is the 3rd release from Montreal's punk n' roll rising stars, The Shifters, and let's say it: this is a band that has stepped up and is ready to contend with the best of them. Catchy songs like "Holiday in the Sin" and "Sleaze Tequila" gather up all the right ingredients for drunken nights, and you'll want to grind your engine against any hot vixen to the sound of "Run Devil Run" then end it with "Car Crash in Vegas", a furious runaway number that will have you speeding back to your house for some nasty. Definitely recommended. (Flo)
www.theshifters.com
www.spinerazor.com - D.G.O.G

The Shifters
Music for Sinners (Spinerazor)
Montreal’s most underrated musical miscreants pack all of their rock ’n’ roll mayhem in on this third full-length, but thankfully avoid blowing the whole thing by acting mature. Manhandled by producer Rene Garcia (the Brains, Vulgar Deli), the Shifters combine Social Distortion’s mid-tempo rock with Hollywood Blvd. sleaze and Nashville Pussy’s deep-fried greasiness, with singer Marty Marty offering some seriously catchy vocals on “Crying Without a Tear” and “Kings and Queens.” Meat-and-potatoes, four-on-the-floor, sleazy rock ’n’ roll, nodding to the good things in life—drinking, fucking and fighting. 7/10 (Johnson Cummins) 2006/11/10 - The Mirror (Montreal)