just fine is an indie alternative band that started in 2021, from Ottawa, Canada. Influenced by melancholy and long winters, lead singer/songwriter Celine Stanton writes songs that are reminiscent of the ’90s but rooted in a post-pandemic world. Ronnie Abou-Abssi's guitar sprinkles lavish lead lines throughout, with Ted Zeisner backing things up on drums. The band’s debut EP Sink or Swim was recorded on tape and live off the floor, which let the band bring out the raw emotion felt on each track. The songs we then mixed and mastered by Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn Prods in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Some have said that just fine’s music reminds them of ‘90s bands like Mazzy Star and the Cranberries, but honestly, the band says they’re not sure what they sound like.
The band’s creative process goes something like this – whenever she’s feeling emotionally overwhelmed, Celine writes her songs alone in her small Centretown apartment, at her dining room table, with dim lighting, her guitar and a cold beer. She usually starts with a few chords, and then follows the melody of her voice. Her lyrics are essentially a journal entry of whatever she’s feeling at that point in time. Once a song is done the whole band jams on it, and that’s when the magic happens. Currently, the band has other songs waiting in the wings that they can’t wait to share with the world. The opening track “Summer 09” has got a great live sound, with a heavy rhythm section, and warm jangly guitar sounds. I can hear the comparisons to Mazzy Star and the Cranberries, but there’s also a lot of good, wholesome rawness going on with this band’s sound that reminds me of the early college rock bands of the ‘80s. Next is “Don’t Wait” and this one is more toned down, in tempo and in its sadder melody. Lyrically, with words like “the smell of you still lingers – can’t get you out of my head” hints at this tune being a love song, or perhaps a break-up song? “Summer Rain” takes on an even more melancholic sounding tone. Celine Stanton’s voice really comes through beautifully on this track. The band, along with the song’s melody really showcases the group’s talent for writing a powerfully, emotional song. I was quite moved with this tune. Just fine’s last track is also the EP’s title – “Sink or Swim” begins with a lone guitar strumming a few notes and then the drums and bass break in with a heavy, steady beat. A few things I liked best about this track was its duration, its more traditional verse-verse-chorus-solo arrangement and the band’s choice to fade out the track in the end. In other words, the way the song was written and how the instruments were played, not to mention Stanton’s vocals sounding more haunting here (especially towards the end), was one of the band’s best moments on the EP. I liked this song so much that I had to listen to it again. If you’re fans of Mazzy Star, Cowboy Junkies and Portishead, or melancholic alternative songs from the late ‘80s and mid-‘90s you’ll like too. Recommended.
1 Comment
crystal tessier
9/30/2022 03:48:06 am
love this band and her cool voice
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