The Veer Union

Radio rock has been saddled with a bad rep. It’s often written off as “butt rock,” a cookie-cutter concoction derived for mass consumption. People forget that there’s something to be said for memorable songs. Also if a large number of music listeners are enamored by a song they heard while flipping dials, there really shouldn’t be a problem! Despite being exposed to a wider audience, a song doesn’t always lose its meaning to those who connect with it initially.

So, what’s that got to do with Canada’s The Veer Union? Well, the band falls into the category of radio-friendly rock music, since many of the songs on its debut, Against the Grain, cut like a knife, but don’t cause any sort of infection or leave a noticeable, embarrassing scar. The songs put forth by this Vancouver-based crew crunch with not-too-heavy, yet not-too-light riffery and Crispin Earl’s emotive vocalizations. “Seasons,” “Youth of Yesterday” and “Darker Side of Me” are cast with the dark, moody vibe of neo-grunge and that’s what the disaffected, post-college rock fans connect with on a deep level. The thoughtful—dare we say sensitive?— “I’m Sorry’ and the ominous “Final Moment” give the album an added layer of emotion, too.

There’s no shame in The Veer Union stringing together hooky songs that aren’t totally blunted by the production often afforded by a major label promotion and recording budget. The heft of the band’s compositions is retained, despite some of the studio-treated enhancements. It’s really a record for those who want to try something heavy, but don’t want to submerge into the “metal” scene.

— Amy Sciarretto
05.26.09

The Veer Union eschew the party-hearty theatrics of Hinder for a more straightforward approach to hard rock, replete with impassioned vocals and pummeling, distorted guitars. Against the Grain is standard hard rock fare, neither too cocky for its own good nor too sensitive to pack a punch, and fans of the genre's middle of the road torch bearers should have no qualms welcoming the Veer Union into the fold. That being said, the band's biracial lineup is a good deal more interesting than the music it creates, as frontman Crispin Earl is one of the few black vocalists to appear on the hard rock landscape in years. Earl's skin is inconsequential to his band's sound, of course, but the Veer Union nevertheless experienced a good deal of difficulty securing a record contract, with many labels allegedly balking at the prospect of promoting a biracial band to a historically white audience. Perhaps that's why the bandmates don't concern themselves with recounting the previous weekend's sexual escapades -- they leave such hedonism to Hinder and Buckcherry, turning instead to melancholic lyrics that find hope amidst a sea of grungy rubble. Veteran post-grunge producer Greg Archilla, who previously cut albums for the likes of Matchbox 20 and Collective Soul, enhances the approach with some basic knob twiddling, adding a touch of reverb to Earl's voice and creating a sonic wall between the ballads and the rockers. This has all been done before, and Against the Grain certainly doesn't do it any better than many of the band's influences. Regardless, the Veer Union may appeal to those looking for similar music with a slightly brighter outlook. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi