I just heard the new Gordon Downie single [not sure what it's called] on the radio, and it's *really* good. It's a really cool song... really upbeat with some great piano and horn bits. It has almost Cake-like energy and timing at points. I'll add that the song is much better suited to Downie's voice and style than some of his other work. He seems really comfortable and confident singing which is how it should be.

I didn't like "Pascal's Submarine," but I haven't heard it that much (I erased the mp3); maybe I'll download it again to listen to his voice properly. As pop-rock goes, it was too middle-of-the-road for me. Glad you enjoyed it, though...

I will admit that it sounds middle of the road at times, but I think it's middle of the road in a good way -- and it fit the mood I was in at the time.

It has that familiar-the-first-time-you-hear-it-ness that most commercially successful songs have.

one more thing... it has a beatles-esque playfulness to it.

There's nothing wrong with a song being middle-of-the road if it's good.

you're completely right, Martin. It was a pretty snooty criticism to make; maybe a better articulation would be that it wasn't brave enough to hold my interest? not honest enough? too eager to be liked? (or do these, too, come across as condescending?)

Those sound about right