Canadian alt-country outfit BAD TRACTOR officially releases New Album, Inland Sea
Canadian alt-country band Bad Tractor officially releases its new album Inland Sea, a fusion of their country, punk, and psychedelic influences that follow in the sonic footsteps of forebears like The Mekons and The Sadies. Based in the wilds of eastern Ontario, Bad Tractor’s sound is in many ways a reflection of the band’s surroundings, with the eight songs on Inland Sea capturing the beauty of rural life, while also highlighting the threats to its existence.
Inland Sea is the follow-up to Bad Tractor’s 2018 debut album Blessington, and displays the evolution of the band’s primary songwriters Tim Hadley and Ian McKendry, as well as their overall growth as live performers. All of that has benefitted from nearly all members of Bad Tractor also being a part of Grievous Angels, the long-running and prolific folk-rock project helmed by outgoing NDP MP Charlie Angus. The others splitting duties are keyboardist/vocalist Alexandra Bell and drummer Nathan Mahaffy, with bassist Corey Rump rounding out Bad Tractor’s current line-up.
On Inland Sea, Hadley and McKendry make their voices heard loud and clear from the outset on the powerful “Goodbye Country,” while “Moira” and “Corner Of Blue” contrast the darkness and light at the heart of Bad Tractor’s sound, tied together by McKendry’s stinging lead guitar work. Other songs such as “Walking To Believe” and the title track adhere to a more traditional “Canadiana” sound, as established by beloved homegrown bands like Rheostatics, Skydiggers, and Weeping Tile.
Hadley and McKendry were around while those artists and others were leading the CanRock renaissance, with Hadley having the added distinction of 15 years of service as the late Stompin’ Tom Connors’ bassist. Another Connors alum, fiddler Billy MacInnis, makes an appearance on Inland Sea as well, lending his talent to the album’s most overtly country song, “Old Hyundai.”
Connors’ fierce love of his country and staunch musical independence remain cornerstones of Bad Tractor’s philosophy, with the band priding itself on building its audience one small-town gig at a time. It’s resulted in a dynamic live show in which audiences can expect anything from amped-up Stompin’ Tom covers and other songs by various Canadian songwriters, to sprawling instrumental sequences.
Such dedication not only to their art but to each other is something that clearly sets Bad Tractor apart during this era when most artists are on their own and write and record by committee. That sense of chemistry is clearly evident upon hearing Inland Sea, and for some, it’s sure to conjure up memories of indie rock’s golden age of the early ‘90s when punk’s dalliance with country music eventually spawned today’s Americana scene.