Winter Gloves @ CMW 2011

Background/Composition:
Montreal’s Winter Gloves are a synth-y dance rock four-piece who operate at just under the level of the more-cowbell party executed by the likes The Rapture.

Grade: 75



Comment:
Winter Gloves have captured Canadian campus radio hearts with their 2010 album All Red and also managed to capture a whole seapod of girls dancing along at the front of the stage as well. And we all know how it goes in the music world — where the girls go dancing, the boys soon follow.

Achievement of Rock ‘n’ Roll Expectations

80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.

70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock ‘n’ roll standard. 

60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock ‘n’ roll standard.

50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way. 

00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.



Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G
Pronunciation: G

Stage Presence: G

Stage Banter: S

Image: G

Appearance: G

Use Of Stage: S

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
There’s a whispy quality to lead singer Charles F’s voice that leads one to believe he’s ultimately better suited to creating more bedroom electronic fare than propulsive dance pop… but just as I was about to write “like Caribou does” I realized that Dan Snaith/Caribou is doing just fine on the dance party trip, all things considered, so carry on.

Musical Analysis

Level Of Participation: E

Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G

Work Habits: E
Organization: G

Audience Participation: E
Sound: G

Composition: G

Songs: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
It’s wonderful that Winter Gloves can get the girls dancing and all, but my favourite song in their repertoire is their cover of LCD Soundsystem’s “Someone Great.” Now, granted, LCD Soundsystem are the top of the pyramid, the New Order of our time for this kind of music, but we need more from the actual Winter Gloves songs than just a bit of groove. There’s little in their set that fries itself into your brain and forces you to love them.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G

Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G

Sexiness: E
Haircut: G

Indie Rock Footwear: N/A… didn’t get close enough.
Nods To Disposable Fashion: E

Cool Equipment: G

Level Of Inebriation: N/A

Actual Ability: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: 
Should beardo-ism really be part of the indie dance uniform? I’m inclined to suggest the razors come out and such visual affectations be left to dirtier hippie acts like Zeus and The Sheepdogs, who also played the Horseshoe over the weekend. The decision to maintain a sweater during the set in the Horseshoe’s sweatbox was impressive for no other reason than the resolve it showed.