Vacuity 
Who: Vacuity
What: brink rock
Where: Kitchener, ON
To Contact: 211-301 Traynor Ave., Kitchener, ON N2C 2H3, www.vacuity.net, .

The voice is the star. Like Raine Maida, Gord Downie and Matt Good, Vacuity singer/guitarist Rob Mcfee has an unusual style that can't be duplicated - slightly unnerving, that teeters on the brink of insanity, and is unpredictable. Radiohead's Thom Yorke is another comparison. In the lead track, "Misdirectional", one can't help but be intrigued by the band, the way it takes the song in multi-directions, complete with sci-fi gurgles at the end. But there's nothing 'mis' about it. It's innovative. The Middle Ground is the title of the band's first commercial album, but Vacuity aims for more than that. Mcfee, bassist Paul McGough, guitarist Greg Osborn, and drummer Emeri Schweigert are childhood friends, who put the band together seven years ago. Its first CD, Confrontational, was a limited run, burned to give out at shows. This one, while written, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered in its basement studio, Gremron, Vacuity hopes will take it further. The guys even gathered a quote for the bio from Todd Clark of rising rock band Pilate: "It's really good. I like it. It's not first listen music either."

Rye 
Who: Rye
What: classic Canadian lick-or
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: , www.ryerye.com.

Rye is the solo band from Moist/David Usher bassist Jeff Pearce and he's traded in the 4-string for guitar and steps up as the frontman. Those familiar with Moist and Usher know he often contributes background vocals, and is also prone to singing odd classics ("Let It Ride", "Hot Child In The City") at benefit concerts. He has a sweet, melodic voice with a slight melancholic tone. Add to that the fact that he hasn't lost his rock star hair, why not take the centre spotlight for the first-time with his own band? Pearce, who co-wrote three Moist albums (with sales totaling a million) started demoing Rye material in his home studio, and recruited a band: guitarist Sean Kelly and drummer Steve Nunnaro (both of Crash Kelly) and local bassist Robert Shaw. Together, they started performing locally, while finishing up the album, Wolves, in various locales. From the slamming "Alcohol And Nicotine" and catchy "Radio One" to the gentler "Tip Of My Tongue" and "Empires", Pearce has voice that works on softer cuts and the bottle-to-the-head ones. "If Its True" is the stand-out. Like the whiskey, Rye is straight up and potent.

The Rumours 
Who: The Rumours
What: mighty metal retro
Where: Vancouver, BC
To Contact: PO Box 27536, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1N0 www.therumoursonline.com, .

Not to be confused with the Fleetwood Mac cover act from Mississauga, ON, these West Coast Rumours are juicily raunchy and well worth hearing. Founded in 2002, after Lou Rumour (vocals/piano) and Just Janelle (guitar, vocals) were introduced to Melissa Starr (bass, vocals) by their mutual tattoo artist within a year, the band had played with Taking Back Sunday, the D4, Danko Jones, The Donnas, The Tea Party and Swollen Members. Winners of the Future Shop and Universal Music Future Stars grant at CMW 2003, the band recruited new drummer Steve Senyk and spent the fall recording its full-length debut, The Mighty Can Fall, at Profile Sound Studios with producer Terry 'Sho' Murray of the band Shocore. Coming out full-force on "Fight", the band also gets into radio-palatable Bif Naked territory with "Hotwire", while "April" has a '50s do-wop vibe. The Rumours can be nasty, fierce, and just a little bit ugly inside, but also strong and have their shit together. And, yes boys, the three gals are very cute. So it's a winning combination, if they continue to work hard. The album is released on its own Switchblade Records, which is distributed by Universal Music Canada.

Credit: Toronto-based music journalist Karen Bliss is the Canadian news correspondent for Rollingstone.com, and operates a Canadian music industry news column, Lowdown, at http://jam.canoe.ca/JamColumnBliss/home.html. She also edits Gasoline, and contributes to Elle Canada, Audience, Tribute, Words & Music and others.

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