Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes Featuring Pickles and Price

One of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2003 was "Ode to Joy" from Toronto garage rock outfit The Deadly Snakes. Andre Ethier, lead guitarist and vocalist for the Snakes, now unleashes his debut solo album, "Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes Featuring Pickles and Price." Not entirely the same musically as the Snakes' output, the album features piano, acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and brushed drums, bringing to mind the early work of LA songsmith Randy Newman and maybe even mid-60s Bob Dylan as well. It's not entirely folky, but it's not exactly garage rock, either. What it is, though, is a totally brilliant collection of songs chock full of soul.