Toronto Sun

November 15, 2004

Northey Valenzuela
(Universal)

Put a member from the now defunct Odds together with a member from the reunited Gin Blossoms and what do you get? Well, well-crafted catchy pop
songs. The musical apple doesn't fall too far from the tree with these songs
beginning with the sweet but laid back "Talk To Yourself" and the roots
riddled "Not A Lot Goin' On", the latter the theme for the CTV series Corner
Gas. The pair of Craig Northey and Jesse Valenzuela also shows their soulful
side on "Something Good" and "Let It Go".
The group also seems to take The Monkees‚ "Last Train To Clarksville" as the
starting point for a somewhat rollicking "Counting On You". The highlight has
to be the acoustically leaning"The Little Things" although the Orbison-like
"Hurting On The Outside" isn't bad either. It‚s a good first step for these
odd blossoms.

-- Jason MacNeil, Special To The Sun