Amer Diab - November/December 2003
by Ryan McLaughlin
Who: Amer Diab
What: Unguarded, guitar-driven adult alternative
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: (416) 588-2561, , www.amerdiab.ca.
The admittedly contradictory album, The Year Of The Apology, was Toronto-based Amer Diab’s first opportunity to have full creative-control, but ironically it became a lesson in delegation. Having held his place in a fair share of bands through high school and college, Diab became frustrated with making compromises and having to pull together rehearsals. Taking a three-year furlough from the creative process, he refocused on what he loved about music, and armed with the ammo that only failed relationships can give, he returned with his first solo album. A collection of songs that sway from country twang to straight-ahead rock, Diab explains, “[It] is a coming of age album in the sense that it’s the most honest document of my life I could have written. There’s no artifice here - just little songs about big feelings. Simple truths, expressed simply.” The disc was produced by Michael Johnson and engineered by Lurch at Broadcast Lane and includes the sonic treat of Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning (bass, organ) and Andrew Whiteman (lead guitar, tres. organ) as well as Emm Gryner’s “favourite drummer,” Dean Stone all lending Diab their abilities. Honest lyrics set to a moody, yet melodic backdrop, make The Year Of The Apology a pleasure to repeatedly spin - certainly not something to apologize for.