Jane’s Party - “Straight from the Heart” (feat. Skye Wallace)

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…The War on Drugs, Wilco, Bombay Bicycle Club

Full indie rock band Jane’s Party root their sound in warm, alt country sounds, but add waves of alt-rock and synth-pop to grow their music beyond Americana traditions. The Canadian quartet has been at it for a decade and latest record Casual Island is certainly their breeziest effort, combining tight performance and some dream rock ambience to sweet, cinematic-leaning results. Echoes of 60s pop and 70s psychedelic rock also strongly inform the swing of Casual Party, finding catchy power-pop moments that tighten Jane’s Party’s grip on their naturally floating sound. Jane’s Party’s songwriting has a sense of relatability that nicely matches the mood of their music, singing on themes of life and love with mature grace and honesty. Some twists of new wave, grunge pop, and modern rock also find moments in Casual Party, forming a really strong front-to-back listen that closes with a string of collaborative tracks with Leland Whitty, Kirty, and Skratch Bastid. Lastly, Jane’s Party is equipped to throw in a killer, arena-rock guitar solo every few tracks, a favorite moment of their music that doesn’t take itself as seriously as their inviting sound first suggests. (Kevin McStravick)