Album review: ‘Answer the Call’ by Secondhand Dreamcar

In its debut album, Answer the Call, Edmonton-based soul and roots band Secondhand Dreamcar delivers a dynamic sound, showcasing the passion and unique talent of its nine members. This album is layered with bluesy melodies and soulful rhythms that will captivate all listeners’ attention.

Answer the Call is a vibrant introduction to the local music scene, blending soul, blues, and roots influences with modern flair. Their sound is similar to Three Dog Night, a 1970s soul band. Yet, they create their own unique sound by drawing from blues and Motown sounds. With unique brass arrangements, electric instruments, and strong rhythms, the album creates elaborate relationships between the musicians to direct a powerful narrative while spotlighting standout solos. This album brings personal elements and compelling storytelling through passion and lyricism. 

The title track, “Answer the Call,” opens the album with Dana Wylie’s commanding vocals, a fun beat, and a compelling guitar solo. Songs like “Lay Down the Load” and “Get Down on the Ground” incorporate storylines of struggle with dynamic instrumental layers, making them highlights of this album. “Could Be Anything” slows things down, showing Wylie’s emotive vocal range. On the other hand, “The Meaning” delivers full instrumental immersion with an energetic and well-rounded sound. Meanwhile, tracks like “Tell Me What You’re Thinkin’ Baby” and “The Stupid Things I Do” lean into Motown influences. These tracks combine soulful organ and brass arrangements with heartfelt lyricism. The cozy yet electrifying R&B vibe of “Good Enough for You” closes the album on a high note.

Although the compositions and sound are unique and powerful, showcasing Secondhand Dreamcar’s exceptional talents as musicians, certain aspects of the production quality caught my attention. The approach to sound production resembles a live performance, which can feel less refined than a traditional studio recording. While this editing technique gives it a more lived-in feel, it takes away from the listening experience and sacrifices the precision and layering that listeners expect from a professional studio track.

Secondhand Dreamcar’s Answer the Call is a soulful debut that brims with passion, talent, and energy. With its lively instrumentation and intimate storytelling, the album feels like a live performance you can experience through your speakers. For future projects, refining the production to sound more like a studio album would help showcase their originality.