The type of material is hard to describe because there's a whole cornucopia of sounds here. The record kicks off with the rave-up "Metro", which is kind of a No Doubt-style pop-rock song with excellent lyrics. Next up is the one that sealed the deal for me. "Control" has a hook that just slams you in the head back and forth (in a pleasurable way). My God, I love this song! The torch song "Don't Go Soft" is just amazing and sits apart nicely from the rock stuff. I could go on and on but essentially you go through the first six songs on the record and they could be the best songs on anybody else's record. That is not to say the rest of the cuts are slouches either. In fact, there is not one bad song on the record. All the cuts have such diversity about them but they fit into the same package nicely.

This is an amazing band that should just be massive if there is any justice in the world. With all the garbage on the charts today, if the public gets to hear the record, there will be no stopping them. I know. I'm gushing. Get the record and you will be too.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Robbie by phone recently and he took some time to let us know how the band came into being.

antiMUSIC: Hi Robbie. How are you doing?

Robbie: Good. How you doing?

antiMUSIC: I'm doing good thanks. So where are you guys off to today?

Robbie: San Antonio.

antiMUSIC: Oh, okay. It sounds like you've been having some problems lately. First the website, then reception snafus.

Robbie: Yeah, I mean basically, I don't know what's going on with MySpace. I find it hilarious. It was actually really annoying the other day cuz I was thinking about it…we're playing their MySpace spring break party in Florida. Yet they flagged our site for suspicious activity, which is…the suspicious activity is that we respond to all the fan mail that we get on there. I guess a lot of bands don't do that because we respond to a lot of messages. So there's days when I might respond to 150 messages or like 200 messages in a day, you know, when we have a few hours to spare. And so they see that many messages being sent off they think we're scamming people and they flag our site. So we go and tell them, because they've done this once before, so we tell them (laughs) and it happens again. So I was really pissed of. I'm like well how are supposed to advertise it that we're playing your party if you're going to stop our site from working (laughs). So that was frustrating. And yeah, yesterday we were driving through New Mexico which has no cellular reception at all. So, we're on our way to El Paso.

antiMUSIC: Yeah, man, it's one thing after another, right?

Robbie: Yeah!

antiMUSIC: I think your record is exceptional, there's so many excellent tracks on there I can't believe it. I think you're a phenomenal songwriter. You have a lot of different styles without losing your identity.

Robbie: That's awesome Thank you very much.

antiMUSIC: Just out of curiosity, you do the music and it sounds like Cassandra does the lyrics. I'm sure there's a bit of overlap there but who comes up with the melody lines?

Robbie: That's pretty much me. You know it's basically…I just have like a whole bunch of melodies and I kinda make a song out of it or give the melodies to Cassie, but she makes them listenable, you know what I mean? If I were to sing it (laughs). She makes them memorable, not me. I'm like the Burt Bacharach to her Dionne Warwick, but I'm not comparing myself to him by any means.

antiMUSIC: I guess as always for a new band, the first question is how did you guys come together?

Robbie: Well the drummer and the bass player are my brothers and so we've been playing music together for a while and Cassie and I have been really close friends for the last six, seven years so. Cassie happened to go off to Asia to do this thing for Universal Music there, but what she thought was going to be this rock thing turned into like this pop thing and so she didn't really like it so she came back. And then the songs that I had written for her to take out over there, one of them "Letters to No One", the last song on the album, was the first song I ever wrote for the band, because that was the only one she took. So we were like, hey this has a pretty cool, you know, kinda big band vibe to it, so why don't we make an album? And then it grew out of just, that kind of, at first, let's make some of those types of songs. And then after that, it was like well, we also like a lot of heavier music, so let's write some of those. And then it was, well we also like, you know, lounge music and weird country music (laughs) and stuff like that. After a while, you're like, wow we like a lot of different types of songs, but whatever (laughs). And then BoDog MUSIC came into the picture with Bif Naked, and her label signed us up and then her label got incorporated into Bodog so, that's where we ended up today.

antiMUSIC: What is everybody's musical background?

Robbie: Myself and my two brothers learned to write songs when we were playing in another band together. We started writing like 8 minute songs, thinking we needed all these parts, it was ridiculous. And then as you go along, you realize how to properly put together a song. I think every musician needs to do that, to learn other people songs you kinda like. That's how you grow up with music I think. I think that's why I get a little bit discouraged when I hear that you know, bands that are 17 years old are like dictating the course of music. How could they possibly have experienced anything in terms of musical growth when they're 17? Anyways, I've been playing guitar for six years now and I played bass. Tony taught himself drums, he's been drumming since he was like 15. Our father is a classical musician, he plays in symphony orchestra. I mean none of us can read music, or had any formal training or anything like that. It just kind of comes natural to us. Cassie you know, when she was in elementary school, she was grew up in England actually, she was born in the Philippines and then she grew up in England, and I don't know when where she moved to Canada but when she was 12 or so and when she was there (England) she had classical training in elementary school which was the convent that she went to. So it's very diverse. (laughs)

antiMUSIC: How many songs did you have before signing with Bif's label?

Robbie: Four? (laughs) It's actually a funny story, because Peter Karroll, I don't know if you're familiar with him (Bif Naked's manager).

antiMUSIC: Yeah.

Robbie: He was introduced to the band. And he's like 'I'm looking into signing you guys. We'd like to come see you live.' I was like 'okay'. At the time it was just me and Cassie. So I got Tony, my brother, to drum and at the time I got a couple of other people to kind of round it out to make a band so he could come see us. And at the time we only had four or five songs. We wrote another song which ended up being a throwaway. And we covered Blondie's "Hanging on the Telephone", (laughs), just so we could have a set of songs to play. (laughs). And in the end, he never even came to the show, but that was good because it was our first one. But then from there I was like, I just got really excited, just because of the fact that I thought wow we actually got a record deal, I just started writing a whole bunch of songs. I put them together with Tone, and like I said before, Cassie kinda took the melody lines and made them her own. And so that's what happened from there.

antiMUSIC: Have you written in previous bands or were you mostly do cover stuff.

Robbie: I wrote a bunch of songs with my brother in the band that we were in before, Nim Vind. He still does it as well on the side. And he put out an album as well. It was more like a horror-punk, and he did other stuff like that too, but it was more like a punk rock type of thing. I don't know, this is the first band where I've really been the main songwriter, and I've actually really been writing songs. But the one sort of motto we have in the band is Nothing can Suck. It's something that (if) we're not really: 'Wow this is a great song', then we don't play it. Which is why it takes us a while to kinda come together, you know what I mean, with music. But I think it's a good thing. I don't think it should be rushed at all. I always get really intimidating when I look back at like The Doors, or Bob Dylan, or like the Beatles in the sixties and all those who put out so many great albums in such a short time span, it's amazing.

antiMUSIC: I guess because the tour was like what, two weeks long or something

Robbie: Oh yeah, they probably did three weeks. There was no grueling touring. You look at our website, we have so many dates coming up, plus we just found out we're doing Warped Tour.

antiMUSIC: Was it a conscious decision to vary the sound so much on the record or did the songs just appear on their own without you being able to do anything about it?

Robbie: I think it was kind of the latter one because to be honest with you I didn't really foresee anything happening. (laughs) I just figured, oh cool, we're getting signed. Right on. I just said, whatever, we'll make the best of it. I didn't really foresee it turning into anything that was going to be substantial. I think that's the best part about a first album, is that a lot of times, you ask what's your favourite album of a band, and the answer is almost always it's their first one. It was before they had any preconceived ideas about anything, they had all the time in the world to write songs kind of thing. But it's like I also have a kind of ADD when it comes to music. I like a certain type of music for a certain amount of time and then it passes and then I like something else I'm really into. It's not like I dislike the thing I was really into before, but it's definitely like I get this thing where I jump from thing to thing. I like everything. I want to kinda be like someone's iPod. I kinda want the band to be like that. But at the same time retain some sort of linearness throughout the songs so it's not too jolting.

antiMUSIC: Stuff like "Don't Go Soft" is like an old lounge song. Where does that influence sink in to the band?

Robbie: That actually I was listening a lot to The Cardigans. I was listening to Peggy Lee. You know, those old songs. I really wanted a really, like, I don't want to say the word sappy because I don't think it is. I really wanted like a, you know, tear jerker, but with Cassie's lyrics which makes it awesome. They take it away from being a cheesy love song to it being like a very bizarre type of love song, if you even want to call it a love song, I don't know. But it was one of those things where I wanted a simple melody and then when we went to record the song it was done but I was still, I want something more to it, right? John Webster was mixing the album, and he played keyboard with Motley Crue and Aerosmith on records like Get a Grip and stuff, and I said, I really want like a great, like a great orchestration. I said 'Just follow the melody but just come up with something like a little bit more grandiose'. And so I remember the first time I heard it, I was like: holy s***, this is my band? (laughs) I couldn't' believe how great it sounded I the end. I don't know, that was one of the songs I was most proud of because it was so much different than anything else we were doing.

antiMUSIC: How much influence did Jason Darr and Doug Fury have on the sound of the record?

Robbie: Jason had a big influence on the vocals. I think it was the first time someone ever said to Cass, 'enunciate when you sing', or you know, 'maybe we're going to try that one again. I think you can hit it better than that,' you know what I mean? But he was a real positive guy when it came to all that stuff. Doug helped me out with guitar playing. This was obviously the first album I really recorded any guitar on. He helped make it…you know, the tendency for any new guitar player is to want to play as many different parts as he can think of. So Doug helped scaled that down. And that's their influence. But as far as the final sound of the album, I credit, like if I had it my way, I would have put produced by John Webster because he was that guy who gave me that sound in the end. He was more just kind like, you know…you'll find with certain albums I guess, there's certain political reasons why you've got to put people's names. It's just bulls*** to me. Jason did have a great part to do with the vocals so…but for other reasons I'm not going to go into, it's just you know, that's where his name went, but I actually think that if you were to really put…I mean nowadays I think mixing is more important that producing anyways. I mean how well an album is mixed speaks a lot. He basically…he really helped gave it that sound that you hear on there. I mean in terms of, the actual sound of it, the songs were all done as they are you hear them before they were recorded. So there was no like, we're going to come in with our song-writing teeth to help you write the record.

antiMUSIC: What's it like being in a band with two other brothers?

Robbie: It can be harrowing at times. (laughs)

antiMUSIC: I imagine it's easier like you were saying before when you're getting your musical ideas across because you grew up together so you don't have to explain things some time.

Robbie: Yeah, I mean it can be that way at times. But at the same time you can have a lot more stubbornness whereas maybe with someone you're not related to, you might give into a little bit more. Because there's that unspoken…the social status quo that you're not supposed to argue with people. But when it's your brother, you could tell him exactly how you feel like 'That sucks!' But then you have to worry about the one brother thinking that you don't like it because you're his brother, you just don't want him to succeed. Ridiculous, stupid things like that. And then later on that day, you're fine, and you're like 'Yeah, that was a cool part.' I mean, Cassie, I feel like she's part of the clan now, you know what I mean? She's in there just like the rest of us. So the coolest thing is that while we do say some harsh things to each other at times, I mean, we've gone through a lot. I've watched on the Warped Tour other bands totally break down. But that's a pretty grueling tour, you know…so there's a weird bond there that's on the surface. People who've toured with us, sometimes go, 'Wow those guys are kind of a funny crew to be around. They kinda bitch at each other a lot.' But at the same time we're closer than most bands.

antiMUSIC: So you're out on road right now with Halifax and company. It's early in the tour but how are their audiences treating you so far?

Robbie: It's been pretty good. I mean, the coolest part is that I think you know, we're playing to basically, and with all do respect to Halifax and Madina Lake, they're essentially what I would consider emo bands, you know? Where they really do the type of music that we are not, but at the same time we're still able to hold our own and do well with their crowds plus bring our own crowds there. I mean, it's definitely like you've really have to like stick to your guns kind of thing. I think the worst thing a band can do is try to be like the bands that they're touring with. I've always respected bands like Primus who could go out and tour with U2, Anthrax, Public Enemy and Rush, you know, in the course of a couple of years. I think those are the bands I respect the most because I think it shows they have a dynamic that isn't just for one audience. And that's like Greeley Estates. They were like: we're really glad you're on this tour because we get tired of playing to the same screaming fans over and over and over. And we like to think we're kinda like, you know, we're the alternative to the alternative because if they're alternative (laughs) then we're alternative to that. So I mean, you know, it's fine, it's weird because then we go to Europe right after this and we're touring with dance electronic rock band called Kosheen from Europe. So you know and then we come back and do Warped Tour so it's all over the place. One day I 'm sure we'll fine a band that really suits us.

antiMUSIC: You were on the Warped Tour this year. Some bands really like Warped and others just see it as a means to an end. What was your impression of it?

Robbie: Well I mean, you've got to make it work. If you just sit back and it's your first time on Warped Tour, and you don't really make an effort, you know, that's what happens. You've got to work. It's a job. That tour…when we did it last year, was nothing about the art of music, by any means. It was a carnival. You've got to go there and you've got to get people's attention by any means. You've got to walk around and promote yourself all day, every day. It's a tiring, and sometimes, quite annoying, thing. I mean, we were building a stage every day, and a lot of bands go there and earn their stripes. You know, that's the idea, that you kind of prove yourself and then you build it. But the thing is we gained a lot of fans I think out of that and, obviously, you have your ups and downs, but if you just sit back and expect it to come to you, nothing is going to happen. That's why some people don't like it.

antiMUSIC: I see listed in your musical favorites that somebody is a real Mike Patton fan with all the bands listed. Who is the fan in the band and what is it you like about him?

Robbie: Me and Cass.

antiMUSIC: What do you like about him, his voice or his quirkiness?

Robbie: Everything. I can take all his cds out and cover my range of music, you know what I mean. I read a great quote by him, he's like: 'I'm out here on the edge of a branch. It's lonely out here. In terms of doing stuff that nobody else is doing.' But at the same time, he's carved a niche for himself, but he could basically do whatever he wants. It's such a good solid fan base that will support him. It'll probably sell 50 thousand to 100 thousand records of anything he does. And he probably makes way more money than he ever would on a major, you know? But he could do whatever he wants, whoever he tours with, you know, wherever he tours to sell out crowds kind of thing. That's what I really respect about him. He was never, 'Well I really hit success with the song "Epic", so I've got to do stuff like that.' If anything he just went the opposite way. And it's kinda like it gives hope to a bands that don't want to do what everybody else is doing, basically.

antiMUSIC: So I know it's early in the game but have you started looking past this record to the next one. Are there some ideas or directions that you want to explore?

Robbie: Yeah, totally. Obviously, we don't want to go out and say, okay now we've got to do polka. It's not like this thing, it's our gimmick. It's just, we happened to write a whole bunch of rock songs, that's what it'll be. But if it happens to be we're listening to Aaliyah or Destiny's Child then (laughs) you might hear something weird like that then. As long as it's cool, you know, that's what we'll do. We have a few songs, but you know, nothing's really set in stone yet. Once you go into like writing mode, when I really get to sit down and focus on it, then maybe things will change, but who knows.

antiMUSIC: You're going to Europe after this US tour. What's the plan for the rest of the year?

Robbie: I hope to come back home at the end of the summer and take a bit of a break. You know, like maybe a month or something off, or more, to just kind of write songs. Because the last thing I'd want is to all of a sudden be, all right, now you've got to write an album and it's got to be able to recorded in like two months, because that's when your album sucks. That's why I've got to be smart about it, and just do some writing on the road. Any time I have an idea, jus throw it down. Got a thing on my phone where I can record my ideas.

antiMUSIC: Anything else about the record that you want to mention that I did not ask you?

Robbie: Basically to all the people in Canada who wonder why we keep disregarding them on every single tour that we do, it has nothing to do with the people in Canada. We think Canada is great and everything. It's just the love we're getting in terms radio and like video channels, it's all coming from the States. Like we're getting played a lot on Fuse TV. We're getting played on MTV. I mean, if Much Music steps up, then you know, who knows? But often I find with Canadian radio and video, not all the time, I won't say 100 per cent of across the board, but sometimes when it's sort of a different kind of music, they've got to see it become famous somewhere else before it actually becomes something they can do in Canada. I would never like the curse either, the Tragically Hip curse, where you're big in Canada and that's it, you know what I mean?

antiMUSIC: You want that happy medium otherwise it's like the age-old , well The Guess Who thing, you make it out in..

Robbie: Yeah, that kind of thing. I mean not that I have any problem with being you know, accepted somewhere. I just think our time will come for Canada. And when we really push ourselves in Canada and that time will come. And I think it'll come soon, probably on this record, I don't know. That's something the label will do, it's not up to me, usually.

antiMUSIC: Since your music is a bit diverse. Do you know who your audience is yet?

Robbie: We seem to get a lot of metal fans for some reason. I don't know why.

antiMUSIC: Well there's an energy, torquiness about your music, I guess, even though it's not metal per se. It kind of strikes a chord in someone who likes that kind of music. It does me anyway and I listen to a lot of metal although I like pretty much everything.

Robbie: Yeah, I don't know what it is. Like we love metal too. Like I love Megadeth. I love Metallica. Our manager in the states is Johnny Zazula who founded Megaforce Records. And it was a pretty humbling statement when he said to me, 'You made me want to come out of retirement. I love your band!' And I'm thinking, this is coming from the guy who built, helped essentially build metal in the United States and around the world.

antiMUSIC: Yeah right, Wow.

Robbie: So it was really great and you know, we're close with him. So I mean being at his house and just seeing his wall of platinum and gold records, was just amazing. It very much humbling you to the point where you can't think you're big headed at all, I mean, he's the most humble guy in the world and yet he has every reason to be you know? That's the whole basis for me on MySpace responding to everybody. I mean you never want to be that kind of band that thinks they're too cool for school kind of thing you know.

antiMUSIC: Yeah, as long as MySpace will let you do it (laughs).

Robbie: Yeah exactly. (laughs) We try to keep our autonomy.

antiMUSIC: Well, I won't tie you up any longer. I wish you all the best with this record and the tour. It was great talking with you and again I think this record is phenomenal. I don't have enough words for it. I just keep playing the crap out of it so.

Robbie: Well, that means a lot. I really appreciate that. Thanks for the interview.