The Sheepdogs — Learn & Burn

The Sheepdogs expertly borrow elements of classic rock, alt.country, and Canadiana to craft an album that could have come straight out of your dad's record collection with Learn & Burn.

It's all familiar: the Pink Floyd-inspired vocal effects in "The One You Belong To," Beatles-esque piano in "Please Don't Lead Me On," Zeppelin-inspired guitar in "I Don't Know" and "I Don't Get By" and the album's retro-sounding production are just a few of the musical hat tips made by The Sheepdogs on this 15-track release.

Rather than sounding like a rehashing of rock classics, however, Learn & Burn is a carefully-written, timeless record. The strength of Ewan Currie's confident vocals against tight, solid instrumentals make the album much more than a tribute to rock records of the past — it's a cheeky synthesis of old and new.

In keeping with its vintage feel, Learn & Burn uses techniques such as the end-of-song fadeout and the seamless continuation of one song into the next (heard on the Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon), subtle details that don't go unnoticed by the keen ear.

The self-produced album features guest appearances by familiar names — Lucas Goetz of  The Deep Dark Woods plays pedal steel guitar on "I Don't Get By" and "Learn & Burn," and the album's closing "Medley" was mixed by S.J. Kardash of Violent Kin (formerly of The Blood Lines).

Both classic rock fans and supporters of Canadian music will enjoy rocking out while picking out the historical and musical references on Learn & Burn.

Get it from