You almost feel like you hopped in the van with the members of Make Your Exit for their journey to Trenton, Ontario to record the EP that would become Remind Me The Reason I Came. Carrying the subtle sonic queues of tunes that survived the wear and tear of frequent plays at favourite Toronto taverns, we're left with matured songs that go down well with a mug of suds. Absorbing the whole album as a single listening experience tells a much different story than searching for a single. It's hard not to make jokes about a band with three Mikes, but the similarities among them end in name as seen in the wealth of experience brought to the table. Between member sharing new wave band Mirrorball and the ever growing Akin Collective, it's obvious that art is in their blood. The ideas run deep amongst the DIY attitude, which is present in the new hand stitched EP featuring artwork by local artist Nicole Tarasick and lithography printing done by Case Modern, not to mention the collection of photos from the camping-like experience had in Trenton while recording.

Opening with jangly guitar and choir-esque chants "Kids" gives us a somber, moody track of a fatherly life lesson. That seems to be the overarching theme of the album: reflections on the past played out through drinking song piano melodies, crooning vocals and hints of xylophone all backed by bluesy guitar and saxophone riffs. We can all share the sentiment found in the cheers worthy anthem "Leave This Town", but it's the feel good vibes of upbeat "Smokes and Lint" that stand out as the song convinces you to get up and dance. The recording quality and style speak well to the chant-along fun found at Make Your Exit's live shows, but some of the magic is lost without the energy of the crowd or having a beer in hand. The Boss would be proud.

By Jeff Jewiss
http://www.myspace.com/makeyourexit