The debut long-player from the Ontario-based rockers, Talking Loud offers up a sweaty, no-frills amalgam of Canadian soul, stormy, psych-blasted blues rock, and Bayou-blasted boogie rock. Led by powerhouse frontwoman/electric washboard enthusiast Lori Paradis, who sounds like
Cowboy Junky Margo Timmins possessed by
Grace Slick,
Sulfur City tear through a fiery 11-track set. At times, Paradis and guitarist Jesse Lagace come off like a juke joint version of
Exene Cervenka and
John Doe, especially on the blazing Celtic-stomp gem "Raise the Hammer," and the band tears through each song with the nervy ease of seasoned barflies at an Irish wake. ~ James Christopher Monger