Junior Pantherz

Having cut my musical teeth on the indie raunch scene of the mid-'80s, it's always a treat to hear a new band that's able to recapture the refreshingly raw honesty of those good ol' days. The sophomore release from this Saskatoon-based trio had me feeling all nostalgic for old Homestead and SST records. Taking their cues from Dinosaur Jr., the Lemonheads and Volcano Suns, this 12-track disc features all the things that made those bands and their early records so likeable - questionable production values, less-than-perfect vocals, over-fuzzed guitars and the ability to get quiet when they need to. But most importantly, Polar Opposites contains great songs and hooks which is, after all, what distinguishes good bands from the rest.