clothes make the man




		Now Magazine June 19, 2008 CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN at the Bovine Rating: NNNN These workmanlike locals play 90s rock better than 90 per cent of bands from the 90s. While a busted kick drum skin meant they had to shorten their set (skipping my favourite tune, Singles Only), elements of Archers of Loaf, Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement came together nicely, and the overflowing crowd at the Bovine ate it up. Link. ChartAttack.com June 16, 2008 It's not hard to see why Clothes Make The Man's star has been on the rise: Their hook-heavy tunes are radio friendly, and they're a bunch of lookers to boot. Shame about the broken bass drum skin, but at least it happened right before their last song. Report Card. The Hour Blog June 16, 2008 You know their name is satirical when you see their refreshingly non-hipster, non-anything threads. And that's the same no-frills, no BS honesty in their gritty and energetic rock balladry. I don't want to use that all encompassing and useless word Indie on them, like alternative in the 90's. They are a legit rock band and were unfortunately dealt a lackluster crowd considering the venue. Throwing down some excellent melodies they actually managed to smash in their bass drum during one powerballad. Errrr... duct tape anyone? Link. Hour (Montreal) July 20, 2006 Disc Review 4 out of 5 When rock acts stop paying homage to other decades and look to the '90s for inspiration, they'll be following the lead of Toronto quartet Clothes Make The Man. Specifically on Tuz and Let It Go, CMTM's sound has a definite Lou Barlow-ishness, but less stripped down and with more shoulder, somewhat like that excellent first Foo Fighters record. Poppy, and with potential for radio play and crossover appeal, this might just be "the summer album," with Chile being an excellent contender for that great-unknown-song-you'll-hear-at-every-party-this-summer status. Link - Dave Jaffer *Exclaim!@# Magazine July 5, 2006 NXNE Show Review Despite being stuck with the always unenviable nine p.m. slot, Toronto indie kings Clothes Make The Man performed a loud and energetic set to a roomful of appreciative onlookers. Singer/guitarist Ryan McLennan was in top form on the evening, belting out tracks from CMTM’s recent self-titled release with notable intensity, while the rest of the band provided a typically powerful, foot-stompin’ backdrop. Honest, no-frills rock and roll at its finest. NM Link Chart Magazine June, 2006 Disc Review 4 out of 5 This Toronto-by-way-of-Ottawa quartet are a ragtag-looking bunch of young dudes who play frenetic, jerky rock bolstered by bold, crunchy chords. Lead singer Ryan McLennan is probably already getting sick of the Dave Grohl comparisons, but the truth in that can't be denied. That isn't to say, however, that they're some kind of Foo Fighters derivative. CMTM have raw, primal power that pours out of the stereo and makes one itch for the live experience. McLennan's lyrics have a personal, diary-like appeal, without the irritating emo-boy trappings. CMTM capably bridge the gap between traditional bar rock and quirky indie-rock musings. Link - Shannon Whibbs Indie Music Project June 8, 2006 I absolutely love a band that has the uncanny ability to write a hook. And I'm ALWAYS a sucker for a good hook. Well, Toronto's Clothes Make The Man are one of those bands. In fact, those very hooks not only grab you but they positively refuse to let you go. What makes their music so appealing and catchy is that it's the right blend of raw emotional energy and smooth musical ability. For example, when the cymbals chime in on the standout track "Chile", you'll be immediately drawn in by the addictive nature of the melody. But just wait for Ryan McLennan to belt out the chorus, "It's all that I can do not to break down and cry over ... (cue possibly the greatest gut-wrenching rasp in indie music history)...YOU!!" Ryan has a growl that would make Dave Grohl jealous. What is also impressive is that this band has done it themselves. From artwork, booking shows, accounting, the website, etc, they have created a buzz without the help of a major (or even a minor) label. And it's that determination that shines through in their music. So if you miss the distinguished college rock guitar sweat-laden chomp of Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr, then Clothes Make The Man is a good place to start. Link The Toronto Star April 27, 2006 Clothes Make The Man Work Clothes make crisp pop-rock chimingly reminiscent of mid-period Sebadoh, Nirvana and Dave Grohl's earliest Foo Fighters sojourns (albeit with a measure of hum-along hooks that puts the last two Foos records combined to shame). As well, there's a smattering of candied Dinosaur Jr./Husker Du crunch for those old enough to remember when "alternative" was still called "college rock." It's gruff and heavy enough for the boys — thanks in no small part to frontman/guitarist Ryan McLennan's serrated yowl — but also blessed with a melodic, post-break-up vulnerability that the young ladies will find quite appealing. It's what those in the biz might call "radio friendly," too, but not in the icky, tailored-to-playlists manner that would no doubt tarnish a similar project completed under the auspices of a major label. The foursome, after all, has risen to a level where it's on the radar of major labels and national booking agents on its own terms. "We are `D.I.Y.'" McLennan says. "We're four, hard-working dudes and we're proud of that, but the end goal is not to be D.I.Y." -Ben Rayner Eye Magazine April 27, 2006 Disc Review With a voice that sounds as if it's been scrubbed raw with sandpaper, snarling vocalist/guitarist Ryan McLennan leads Toronto four-piece Clothes Make the Man on a back-to-basics, well-travelled rock journey. Obviously a band that isn't interested in following trends, CMTM fiercely churn out tight break-up songs ("Two Summers"), 'fess up to feeling lonely ("Tuz," "Deny, Avoid & Shutdown") and ooze enough energy to guarantee everyone is drenched in sweat within the first 10 minutes of their set. -Andrea Miller Metro Newspaper April 26, 2006 Good art comes from pain Clothes Make The Man shouldn’t be classified as a band, but as a sort of incurable pandemic. The band’s music forces itself upon you, grapples with you, and finally attaches itself to you permanently. Then it victimizes your friends the same way after you’ve grown to enjoy it, which to their credit, doesn’t take long at all. “We want to generate a buzz on our own,” McLennan says. “And it’s just getting easier to do it ourselves. We want to release records and make a living making unconventional pop music." Much of the buzz circles around the band’s ironic name, which they refuse to discuss even under intense pressure. But one could guess from their appearance that Clothes Make The Man is substance-over-style, given the addictive musical hooks and candid lyrics born out of isolation, longing and unrequited affection. “It’s unfortunate, but good art comes from pain,” McLennan says. “To me, the music that sounds the best always comes from a dark place, but has a glimmer of hope. People seem to have a natural connection and relation to that." -Brian Towie Wavelength April, 2006 Disc Review Toronto quartet Clothes Make the Man hit the ground running on their debut full-length album and never flag in passion or zeal, carrying out the good work with their hard hitting rock and radio-friendly songwriting. Ryan McLennan’s distinctive voice will be one of the most compelling things heard all year, like Dave Grohl with a smoker’s cough. The ragged grind paradoxically sounds sweet and lively, and will win listeners over with it’s distinctiveness. The interesting thing is, the grittiness of McLennan’s doesn’t come across as a hindrance, but sounds more like the sound an amplifier makes when it is pushed to the limit, overdriving and distorting in the beautiful way only a well-loved amp can do. But the entire focus of the band isn’t centered around McLennan’s voice – Clothes Make the Man are tight and cohesive, and it’s obvious that band understands what kind of hard-edged sound they want. The band shifts easily between quiet and loud dynamics without losing pace or white-knuckled intensity, and still brings loud and beautiful choruses into focus seamlessly, right up front where they belong. Enough craft has gone into each track to create varied, intricate song structures that stay interesting after repeated listens. Each track sounds well-defined and different, which is surely a feat for any rock band on their debut album. The drums sound crisp and tight, the guitars are clear and bright and the bass fills out the sound without muddling everything up. When slinky background vocals slip into the mix, it helps build the sonic atmosphere the band expands throughout the mix. Every single song across the album demands the listener’s attention – it’s hard to pick favorites. Just start at the beginning, because this is practically a perfect album. File next to: Whatever you listen to music on for the next year. –Ty Warner ECHO Weekly April, 2006 Toronto’s Clothes Makes The Man have been turning scenester heads in the Big Smoke since unleashing a quick one–two punch of critically acclaimed independent EPs shortly after forming in 2003. The second of these self–titled releases prompted Exclaim! magazine to tout the band as “the most promising music to come out of Toronto this year,” and ensured an increasingly large audience for the band’s melodic, dynamic and infamously loud blend of pop smarts and rock and roll heft. Consisting of four Ottawa exiles (namely guitarist/lead vocalist Ryan McLennan, heavily bearded bassist Ross Machon, guitarist/vocalist Scott Henry and the aptly named Adam Thrasher on drums), CMTM are now taking their infectious sounds to the masses outside of Toronto and have an excellent new full–length CD (self–titled, natch) as their extremely impressive calling card. The album, a potent mix of heartfelt lyrics, hard–driving rhythms and kick–ass gee–tar rock, is once again an independent release–– a reflection of the band’s all–encompassing DIY approach. Indeed, the band’s bio describes the four as a “close–knit rock and roll band comprised of musicians, songwriters, publicists, photographers, promoters, designers, booking agents, visual artists, accountants, managers and performers.” ECHO recently contacted Ryan McLennan via the miracle of electronic mail to ask him about these and other things. What follows is a near–accurate transcript of that virtual conversation, in which McLennan muses briefly about samosas, Springsteen and day jobs, Clothes Make The Man–style. See interview. - Neil McDonald Metro Toronto - Disc Review March 15, 2006 4 out of 5. Powerful and inspiring, Clothes Make the Man should no doubt be the buzz everywhere with this offering. -Brian Towie Metro Toronto Steel City Music - Disc Review March 2006 You heard it here first: CMTM are gonna be heeeeee-yuge. Pop-punk from Toronto via Ottawa, with hooks so wide you could drive a truck through them and a voice just rough enough to tear the panties off the teens. Coming soon to an amphitheatre near you. -Aaron Wrixon www.steelcitymusic.ca Threeohsix - Disc Review March 6, 2006 ...there’s something celebratory, chill inducing, and life-affirming about tracks like "Deny, Avoid & Shutdown", "Tuz", and "Singles Only"... In fact, the entire disc is plagued with little snippets of pure brilliance that virtually jump out of nowhere and drub you into submission. "Violence" is like a slow-dance along to the apocalypse, "Quiet" is the kind of Pinkerton-era Weezer offering... and "Firewood" will not only melt you, but take up root in your head for days on end. Indeed, I can’t find any reason to persuade me not to avidly recommend this record to anyone with a heartbeat. Completely and utterly amazing. -Casper Neurotic www.threeohsix.org Now Magazine February 23, 2006 Seems that Clothes Make The Man have taken the old saying "If you want it done right, do it yourself" to a level that borders on obsessive. When I call vocalist and guitarist Ryan McLennan, he's at the tail end of a long day devoted to getting out press kits for the band's new album. "We do everything ourselves. From artwork to booking shows, accounting, promoting, the website – whatever, it's all us," he tells me. "We don't like having to rely on other people to get things done, so from the beginning we decided to be a total DIY band. Right down to putting together press kits and getting them out." So far it's working just fine for the Ottawa-spawned, Toronto-based hard-rocking garagey quartet. In short order, they've generated a lot of buzz on the local scene with two solid EPs and super-high-energy live shows with enough decibels to attract the cops, if not A&R executives. That, of course, may change with the release of their self-titled debut full-length album, which finds the band maturing at a dizzying pace, with tight melodies, crunching guitars and lyrics that read like they came right from a personal diary. It's the total package, and has enough radio-friendly tunes to take them to the next level – a place where most bands usually have to start to delegate some authority. Even a known control freak like Neil Young doesn't book hotels personally. "I guess at some point things will have to change," admits a steadfast yet very affable McLennan. "It started out of necessity, but now that we've been doing it for a while, we really like the control it gives us, and I'd like to keep it this way as long as possible. "We finally broke down and had someone help out with the new album: producer Geoffrey McPeek, who did a great job. It was a very positive experience, so I guess things are changing a little. Who knows, we may even have someone else booking shows someday." The production is first rate, with a big, beefy sound that has more in common with that of bigger acts like the Strokes or Supergrass than many of the DIY bands that CMTM rub shoulders with. Does this mean these hardcore indie boys are shooting for the big time, hoping to sip a little gin 'n' juice with the likes of Kanye or Bono? "Oh yeah, definitely. Total world domination, for sure," answers a sarcastic McLennan. "I can't say we wouldn't want that type of success, but it would have to be on our own terms. In the near future we'd be totally happy getting to do a full tour of Canada. - Brent Raynor Now Magazine Ottawa Xpress February 2006 A bit like gruffer Box Tops (then again, maybe not), Clothes Make The Man are four Toronto dudes who've pushed hard and fast after forming in 2003. Positive reviews of their catchy rock sound on two self-recorded, self-produced and self-marketed EPs have finally culminated in an addictive full-length the band's releasing at Babylon on Saturday February 11. These guys are destined to be big and rarely let down a crowd. Ottawa Citizen EDITOR'S PICK February 11, 2006 Clothes Make the Man, the Ottawa band based in Toronto, are back in town tonight to release their first full-length CD at Babylon on Bank Street. The self-titled disc, a followup to their excellent 2004 EP, is full of catchy, punchy, often plaintive songs built on sharp, crunchy guitar and satisfyingly raspy vocals. CMTM deserve to be heard. Pulse Niagra February 2, 2006 The name Clothes Make the Man is taken from the humorous Mark Twain quote I can't agree with. Naked people can have a huge influence on society but i suppose Twain never saw a streaker run across a field at a sporting event. "So your name is taken from a Mark Twain quote right?" I ask. "Yes" answers Ryan McLennan the guitarist and vocalist of the Toronto-based band. "So, do you want to explain it?" "Nope." Clothes Make the Man are getting prepared to release their full-length debut that was self-financed and self-released. After the band releases their self-titled album officially on February 28, they plan to make enough noise to get some serious attention from fans, critics and labels. "We're certainly students of music, and students of rock and roll, especially with this album, there's a whole new level of seriousness." remarks McLennan. " We have a variety of sounds on this album; we have some piano, some percussion instruments, some tambourine, we're just expanding what we can do musically." Clothes Make the Man formed in 2002, and were created out of the dust of three different and now defunct bands. "Ross was in a punk band, I was in a hard rock band, and Adam and Scott were in a band together...When I started formulating the band in my mind, (in University) I just thought of the coolest members of other bands, and I was lucky enough to have enthusiasm from everyone I asked," adds the singer. After growing up and going to high school together in Ottawa, the guys decided after University and College they would move to Toronto and dedicate themselves to the band. This plan worked out quite well as CMTM - instead of having one fan-base - have two separate fan-bases in Ottawa and Toronto. CMTM belt out edgy, yet driven by melodic hooks and just a dollop of classic and grunge rock influences. "Musically, I'm inspired by Neil Young and Lou Barlow. I would love to have a career like either of them and that's also one of our influences, the way they've made a life out of music. They're both older now, and they're still doing it and they're still great," notes McLennan. "That's what we're all looking for, not just a brief tenure, but a lengthy stay in the music world." CMTM were in St.Catharine's last June and played a set at SCENE festival and despite playing alongside over a hundred bands, people seem to remember the name and the impact the band had on them during that hot day in the summer. "We played in the middle of the day which was totally freaky for us. The kids were out to see us, and that's what matters. It was really nice, people were enthusiastic, and really receptive to what were were playing. It was totally a positive experience," remembers McLennan. "... It's one of those things, if you can make a name for yourself coming out of Toronto, you can make it anywhere in Canada. In terms of geography, you can get out to St. Catherines, Oshawa, everything in the Golden Shoehorn... or whatever the hell you want to call it. I don't know, I'm from Ottawa man." [ Jordy Yack] December 2004 Ottawa Citizen - Top 10 Cd's September 2004 Review of cd in Wavelength August 7, 2004 Ottawa Citizen. Click on image below to see us on the cover of the Entertainment section. August 14, 2004 Ottawa Citizen. Editor's pick March 2004 Review of new CD. It is in the new broken pencil magazine. Issue 24. Enjoy. December 2003 / January 2004** This is a review of our new CD. It is in the new exclaim.