The Pack A.D.

Funeral Mixtape (Mint)

By Niema Jordan
Published: September 11th, 2008 | 9:00am

When Vancouver’s the Pack A.D. debuted last January, critics took note of the female duo for making blues-rock that outshined their contemporaries and drew comparisons to legends in the industry. Just months later, the group has released Funeral Mixtape, which is sure to bring even more critical praise to the musicians.

The album’s haunting tone and melodic riffs are so hypnotizing that listeners may not catch the lyrics until the second time around. The songs are guitar heavy, thanks to the aggressive playing of Becky Black — whose vocals bring to mind Janis Joplin. The powerful drums of Maya Miller help carry the songs without overshadowing Black’s work. Don't let the duo's gender fool you — this isn't an album of girl-power anthems. After the initial introduction to the Pack A.D., the fact that they are women doesn’t really resurface. The attraction is the music.

Funeral Mixtape has a number of standout tracks that give a bit of insight into the twosome’s identity: “Shiny Things” shows the Pack A.D.'s knowledge and interests in the American Civil War; then there's the rich “Oh Be Joyful,” which sounds like it was born in a smoky Delta juke joint; and closing out the album is “Worried” — a smooth balance between the rock and blues that define the group’s sound. In the end, Funeral Mixtape is a dark piece of bayou-tinged rock that travels well.

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