Dylan Wickens and the Grand Naturals: Hi Lo-Fi Review

This Canadian crew is a contradiction of sound, cantankerous but cool, realistic but imaginative. Hi Lo-Fi is the second album from Dylan Wickens and the Grand Naturals, it follows their critically acclaimed 2010 release Tattoo Black. Having set the bar pretty high for themselves with Tattoo Black they’ve outdone themselves with Hi Lo-Fi.With solid hits like “Rock Bottom” and “Your Other Man,” Hi Lo-Fi is marching its way to the top of the listings for sure.Wickens on both guitar and vocals leads his powerhouse trio like a general. His vocals are both dynamic and smooth, as Crushing as a mace, and as sharp as a guillotine. Al Webster on drums commands the rhythms like a sergeant at arms, while Dennis Pinhorn on bass, ties up all the loose ends.

While obviously a blues trio, my favorite song, “She’s Back in Town,” actually had some great funk elements to it. The album wraps things up with an awesome bonus treat, a live version of “In My Time of Dying.”

The Review: 8/10

Cant Miss Tracks

– Rock Bottom
– Your Other Man
– She’s Back in Town

The Big Hit

– She’s Back in Town

Review by Jeremy Schantz