“ This may be one of the worst band names ever, right up there with JMOG, but the jazz on its seven tunes is intriguing, well-calibrated and focused in a very contemporary, accessible fashion. Leader Tim Shia's drums and booming bassist Drew Birston propel their colleagues tenor saxman Chris Gale and versatile Dafydd Hughes on keyboards through compositions like Michael Blake's "Lemmy caution," one of four cuts recorded live at Revival. The music's fresh, may appeal to pop lovers but assuredly to jazzers keen on a kind of driven fluency as genre stylings are examined, discarded and reworked. When turntablist LEO37 intervenes with Fender doodling, as on "Those Crazy Hens," the bang-up-to-date attitude is reinforced but the best here is Hughes' slo-mo "Giant Things By The Side Of The Highway" and the rambunctious take on Björk's "Army Of Me." ”
— Geoff Chapman (Toronto Star, May 4, 2006)
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The CD is really cool...Lots of surprises and turns and fascinating layers, both in the arrangements and the 'atmospherics' (is that even a word?).
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— Andy Sheppard (CBC After Hours)
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I’d say The Worst Pop Band Ever is a 21st century jazz band with a catchy moniker. A unique band very much of its time with lots of subtlety and musicianship, exploring and playing what they find interesting ”
— Joyce Humbert (livemusicreport.com April 19, 2006)
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This is great music - and I'm not just saying that because they play one of my songs. ”
— Michael Blake (Ben Allison, Blake Tartare)
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— Andy Frank (CIUT 89.5 FM)
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I got the record and I really dig it! You guys sound great… ”
— Dave King (Bad Plus, Happy Apple)
“ The group put on an amazing concert at Hart House last Friday, impressing even the most critical jazz fans...
...preserving the feel-good soul of that genre (jazz) while throwing sprinkles of synthetic pop sounds on top. It's a funky combination that seems puzzling at first, but it's a unique style that just works.
It's a concert must for the die hard jazz fan and anyone craving some cool music. ”
— Tia Kim (the Newspaper, U. of T.)
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Though their mantra humorously states to "Imagine the ugly love child of Miles Davis and Radiohead," there's nothing abnormal or unappealing in their sophomore release Dost Thou Believeth in Science?.
Street wise yet substantive, these compositions would appeal to fans of
"House For His Heart" sets the recording's persona with a mid-tempo groove, that's never overplayed or complicated as things begin to cook and simmer nicely. The operative word here is smooth, mellifluous saxophone against as steady throbbing drum and bass, colored by exquisitely placed turntable scratches. This cool vibe continues on "If Only My Name Was Steben And I Believed In Science" with undulating keyboard and soothing improvisational touches and solos.
The oddity in this consistent program is "Man Down" with its combination of blues shuffle and swing. But things get back on track with the atmospheric "Bonita," one of the highlights, with the sound of sampled voices, an expressive sax solo, and dreamy ostinato keyboarding. Things heat up a bit on "Minor Bruise" where Tim Shia's traps drive a sweltering mid-tempo melody.
The remaining tracks are equally satisfying and also feature two sublime vocal selections. The first, a magnetic remake of one of the all time great pop songs— Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's "(They Long To Be) Close to You" where Elizabeth Shepherd's sultry voice intertwines with the band's otherworldly touches. It is magical. The second showcases Rhonda Stakich in "Yesterday's News," another delicately balanced work of fine music, vocals and mood. From start to finish Dost Thou Believeth in Science? is hip enough and deep enough for jazzers and non-jazzers alike.
— Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz.com
“ {the WPBE} might be a little weird but they strike a good balance between accessible and creative, and is one that should be checked out by anyone looking for bands like MMW or The Bad Plus. ”
— Pico, Something Else!
