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Sept 2010 - CD Review by John Terauds at the Toronto Star

3.5 stars (out of 4)

This talented a cappella quartet — originally from London, Ont., but now based in Toronto — has snuck up to the top of the local charts with its latest album.

The appeal is immediate, as they open the 12-track CD with a very slick, Glee-like arrangement of Johnny Nash's classical “I Can See Clearly Now.”

Unlike most a cappella groups, the Essentials aren't shy about augmenting their voices with real percussion, giving the music an extra punch of groove and drive. Thom and Dan Speck, Joe Oliva and recent arrival Janet Turner have been produced to the nines, but the raw talent is all there. Dan Speck is the star vocalist, while Turner contributes two great songs of her creation: love ballad “Invisible,” and self-empowerment anthem, “Reality.”

These four turn the world into a sunnier place, and who can't use a bit of that?

Top track: Energetic, R&B-infused “Feelin' Alright”.

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Archive

• Nov 2010 - Echo Magazine - Cover Story - Read
• Oct 2010 - Kitchener-Waterloo Record - Article - Read
• Oct 2010 - Kraze 101.3 FM, Red Deer, AB - Interview - Listen
• Sept 2010 - Toronto Star - CD Review - Read
• Aug 2010 - Breakfast Television, City TV, Toronto, ON - Performance - Watch
• Jun 2010 - London Free Press Video, London, ON - Performance - Watch
• May 2010 - /A\ Channel, Ottawa, ON - Interview - Watch
• Dec 2009 - Northumberland Today - Article - Read
• Nov 2009 - York Region Media Group - Article - Read
• Nov 2008 - Timmins Daily Press - Article - Read
• Sep 2008 - Sentinel Review - Article - Read
• Sep 2008 - Glencoe Free Press - Article - Read
• Aug 2008 - London Free Press - Article - Read
• Jun 2008 - CMJQ, Sherbrooke, QC - Interview - Listen
• Mar 2007 - Timmins Times - Article - Read
• Mar 2007 - Timmins Daily Press - Article - Read
• Mar 2007 - Timmins Daily Press - Article- Read
• Dec 2005 - Kitchener-Waterloo Record - Article - Read
• Sep 2004 - Bloor West Village Gleaner - Article - Read
• Spring 2004 - Timmins Times - Letter - Read
• Dec 2003 - Kitchener-Waterloo Record - Article - Read
• Mar 2003 - Sarnia Observer - Article - Read
• Oct 2002 - Timmins Daily Press - Article - Read
• Oct 2002 - Timmins Daily Press - Article - Read
• Oct 2002 - Timmins Times - Article - Read
• May 2002 - Sarnia Observer - Article - Read
• May 2000 - Guelph Mercury - Article - Read
• Mar 2000 - Belleville Community Press - Article - Read
• Dec 1999 - Toronto Sun - Article - Read
• Dec 1999 - Scene Magazine - Article - Read
• Nov 1999 - Kitchener-Waterloo Record - Article - Read
• Sep 1999 - Kitchener-Waterloo Record - Article - Read

This archive is far from complete.
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