Trolling for Answers (Independent)

Redrick Sultan clearly experienced a whirlwind of inspiration in the 14-month span it took to complete its latest album, Trolling for Answers, which weighs in at a hefty 17 songs. Considering it bounces around from vivacious Balkan-inspired folk melodies to fleet-fingered metal to rap-assisted ska, among other genres, it could’ve been an unwieldy wankfest. Thankfully, the brevity of most songs is the album’s saving grace. The band generally only gives you a taste of each style, never wearing out the welcome of ambient noise ("Time Travel"), freaky John Zorn–meets-Hella excursions ("Angus’ Head Wound"), or ethereal, staccato string scores ("Law & Order").

Redrick Sultan’s passion, however, seems to be for humour-laden, free-jazz infused prog-pop that’ll please those looking for a locally based version of Man Man. "Dinosaurs" delivers with uncouth sax blasts, distorted Rhodes tinkering, and a rousing nonsequitur delivered gang-chant-style ("Dinosaurs/Motherfuckin’ dinosaurs/Oh yeah"). The similarly screwy title track plays out as a gleefully sweaty little polka tune. The only real misstep is the ska number "Genesis Explosion", which cribs the melody of Sublime’s "Santeria" but scrubs the latter’s spicy lyrics instead for Spencer Hargreaves’s milquetoast musings on creationism.

Arguably, the band could learn a thing or two about self-editing, but there’s enough of a good thing on Trolling for Answers to let the extended track listing slide.