http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=139&csid2=804&fid1=42634

I know we look like douches on the picture, but we're beautiful inside.

Okay. Now that we're done being lazy bums, partying or catching waves across the ocean, our album is finally scheduled to come out NOVEMBER 26th.. GOING GAGA RECORDS are putting it out! We're one stoked band!

The premier label for Montreal legends The Gruesomes has neat little secret in The Sonic Avenues. These guys have great harmonies and are chock full of crunched out powerchords. They live up to their name on the first track "Off The Ground (ready to get back at you)" with super loud dual guitars and some furious drumming. However, the vocal harmonies are intense and provide a great contrast to the controlled assault. One thing immediately noticed is that these guys are really tight. The sound is slightly Jam influenced mod rock, but two guitars make it a hell of a lot louder and definitely different. "Driftin' Apart" takesa a basic, almost Pretenders feel with the prominence of the bass, but the basic sound is unmistakable and rarely heard in that way anymore. It's also a really cool thing when a new band reminds you of a great band that you haven't listened to in a long time.

"Sinful Eye" is just straight-up mod fun. It's so melodically basic, but the no frills approach in guitar and harmonies make it instantly likable in the sense that it's a perfect combination of elements. However, the "Sonic" part of heavier guitars is still there for a surprise. The final track "Close To You" has a slight "Town Called Malice" feel that's updated. This EP is short and sweet. Although one can say it's easier to achieve perfection with a smaller body of work, The Sonic Avenues are presently working on a new album. Given their great introduction with the EP, one can only expect much more on their upcoming new offering. These guys are something to look out for.

Crushing punk news: Frankie Venom, leader-singer of Hamilton's Teenage Head passed away last week, on the 15th of October..... That sucks. You can go listen to 'You're Tearing Me Apart' or 'Ain't Got No Sense' on the band's myspace (www.myspace.com/teenageheadband) to remember the genius work of the father of Canadian punk.
 

After a couple of months of constant partying, surfing and meditation, we have decided to focus our energy to write and record new material again. Keep dropping by every once in a while to keep informed with new release dates and shows.

Sonic Avenues-self titled EP   Ricochet Sound

From the demonic distorted intro chords of the opening track, 'Off The Ground', you know that you're in for something special on this 4 song EP. And special it is, I can't seem to get this song out of my head. It's just got that perfect high energy power-pop meets 60's garage sound. A definite candidate for song of the year in my book! And the other 3 songs, although certainly not as powerful as 'Off The Ground', all have that distorto guitar sound that gives the sixties pop sensibilities of the tunes a real crunch. I've been told that these 4 youngsters from Montreal (home of The Gruesomes who are on the same record label) are recording for a future longplayer, so keep your eyes peeled for that as it's gonna be a killer!

Dave O'halloran

http://www.shindig-magazine.com/reviews-jan2008-2.html

SONIC AVENUES
Off The Ground (Ricochet; CD EP)
     The debut release by Montreals' Sonic Avenues is chock full of great harmonies. The shared vocals are a real strength. Either it's my imagination or else the group have devised a cunning plan to showcase the full spectrum of their sound, by starting with a belting rocker and gradually moving closer to a pop sound over the space of four songs. The opener, 'Off The Ground' has the aforementioned harmonies but also has a loud, crunchy riff and barely controlled guitars that are raring to be unleashed. By song four the mood has shifted towards guitar pop, with a really bouncy, infectiously jaunty beat that you can dance to, vocals that are more upfront and more melodic guitars.
The two tunes in the middle are no slouches either. The beginning of 'Driftin' Apart' is great, with a neat guitar figure and lots of 'ooos'. 'Sinful Eye' has a neat chorus and lighter guitars.
     The Sonic Avenues have quickly developed a fine "guitar wall of sound" with equally strong vocals. Their challenge will be to write and record a whole album of killer tunes that do full justice to their sound.
www.ricochetsound.com
Phil Suggitt

So, Sonic Avenues crossed the borders for the first time last weekend to go play in Boston and NYC. What? Yeah. I guess I can start by saying that I'm still super hungover from all the bottles that were had and the ridiculous shit that took place… and it's been three days since we got back. It's a good thing that Seb and I decided to go easyish on the Harpoon pints and Blue Ribbon cans at the Boston gig because had we kept up with Muck & the Mires' guitarist Brian, the NYC gig the next night would've been seriously compromised - we'd probably have died from hangover cancer and that would have sucked. Still, I think the amount consumed would've scored a 7 or 8 on the Bon Scott Binge Scale. Anyways, Muck and The Mires are boss and people in Boston are very cool. I can't wait till we go back there again. They seem to understand both our sound and the reasons why we finish some solos on the floor looking for our beer. Too bad they host the Bruins, though. I mean, come on là.

On Saturday, after having stuffed the closest cheapest available food (dirty fuckin' McDee) in our aching stomachs, we hit the road and headed straight to NYC. After JC and I drove our cars through all the traffic from hell encountered on the road, we were greeted by our own song (Everyday) which was being played on the WFMU Terre T radio show as we got into the heart of the East Village of NYC. Welcome, Sonic Avenues! Jamie thought that it was the next coolest thing after his discovery of the handy frozen meals. So, we headed straight to our hotel to 'fix the nerve' (drink a beer) and to meet up with our home friends (Alex, Angie, Dominic, Lynn & Audrey) who came down to party with us for la noche. We played at the Lit Lounge that night. It's a really cool place - a cross between Barfly and l'Escogriffe, but on two floors. I dig. Anyways, a short and tight set, four bruised knees and two broken strings later, we found ourselves swinging the Sierra Nevada machete into our brain cells again. But this time, it was for real. I think that even Brian would've wanted to slow down! Killer fun if you ask me. Especially when you do that to Sheena is a Punk Rocker or Pictures of Lili. Now, all I can remember is that Jamie and I left the crew behind for a couple of hours (I guess) to go check out the other bars. When we came back, we found out that Alex had stoped making sense (so he had to go to bed after he poured mustard instead of ketchup in his poutine) and that the others still had the wtf drunk knob cranked all the way up. So we went back to the Lit dance floor to rock our fists to the music. Good times. So, in retrospective, I can safely say that I had a mother-of-god of a blast in NYC. I love the city very much. It just feels like it's where the whole world meets up in one single (huge) point. Crazy. Too bad NY people host the Rangers, though. I mean, come on. Oh Geez. Geez? GEEZ?! GEEEEZZZ?!?! Yeah. Suck it.

-max