Jale
"Dreamcake" CD (Sub Pop)
Noisy guitar pop from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Yeah, Halifax rivaled San Diego and Chapel Hill for the hip scene of the early '90s, but don't let that stop you from checking this out. It takes a few listens to get into it, but after digging through the distortion, it's obvious Jale plays catchy melodies beneath all the fuzz. They even poke some fun at labelmates Red Red Meat with "Promise (Jimmybeam Majestic version)." And like most great bands, they can play chords that will make you cry.