The Great Pacific Ocean (EP) (picture disc)

Straining, pitch-challenged vocals, alternately huge turned minimal guitars, and lovelorn lyrics; Canada's Thrush Hermit ooze '90s indie rock from their every pore on 1995's EP The Great Pacific Ocean. Having come up in the Halifax, Nova Scotia, club scene alongside Canadian alternative luminaries Sloan and the Super Friendz, Thrush Hermit had to work exceptionally hard to differentiate their brand of modern rock music as the indie scene exploded with talent from quarters near and far. Somewhat of a Halifax trademark, the two main songwriters in Thrush Hermit sing their own material on The Great Pacific Ocean, giving the disc a democratic, if not entirely fulfilling quality. Guitarists/songwriters Joel Plaskett and Rob Benvie make up Thrush Hermit's creative core while Ian McGettigan (bass) and Cliff Gibb (drums) give rhythmic support to the duo's lo-fi ramblings. Plaskett's music and lyrics on "The Great Pacific Ocean" and "Claim to Fame" have a genuine, tragic quality that eclipses Benvie's staccato, punkier compositions. The Benvie tracks are decent enough, but they falter next to Plaskett's more eloquent delivery. Lo-fi producer/engineer extraordinaire Steve Albini does wonders for Thrush Hermit as he massages their songs into complimentary sonic formations, but the band failed to wedge themselves into the '90s lo-fi consciousness via The Great Pacific Ocean anyway. Fans of the genre who haven't yet, should check out this short but sweet offering that, while reminiscent of Pavement, Guided By Voices, and Sebedoh, certainly retains its own value and identity.
-Vincent Jeffries, Allmusic

Joel Plaskett: guitar, vocals
Rob Benvie: guitar, vocals
Ian McGettigan: bass, vocals
Cliff Gibb: drums

Recorded and mixed by Steve Albini