REVIEW: TEN YEARS LATER, HOW DOES SINGLE MOTHERS' NEGATIVE QUALITIES HOLD UP?
With Single Mothers Final Show of 2024 Coming Up, Our Own Simon Marshall Revisits & Reviews Single Mothers' Seminal Record Negative Qualities
Written By Simon Marshall
11/25/2024
4.5
Just in time for [the last show of] Single Mother's ten year anniversary, we are revisiting the debut record “Negative Qualities” from post-hardcore misfits Single Mothers. Initially released on Hot Charity records in 2014 and later re-released on Dine Alone Records, this London, Ontario quartet rips through 11 aggressive punk tunes in 27 minutes.
The deluxe edition bonus track “Runaways”, originally appeared on their previous E.P. “Wild Party” and was re-recorded during the “Negative Qualities” sessions. During their formidable years, vocalist Drew Thomson’s short fuse led Single Mothers to quickly run through too many members to keep track of.
Having fired his entire band at one point and also having two different versions of the band existing at the same time, it’s truly a long shot that “Negative Qualities” ever saw the light of day.
The madness and dysfunction of the band at the time is a nod to the album artwork, that one might view as Neanderthals behaving badly. Thomson lays his self grievances out there for all to hear. Take for example “Half-Lit” where he admits “That night I fell into the pharmacy, I thought I was in a lucid dream so I burned it down. Anything that you could ever need I'll just think real hard about and they'll give it to me”.
In addition to the unfiltered lyrics, there are trace amounts of backup vocals on this track and elsewhere on the record. Intentional or not, this is a showing of power by Thomson. The vocals are the centrepiece and they are complimented by a tight band that doesn’t stray too far from The Bronx, Touche Amore, The Hives and Refused.
The winds shift by track seven, “Patricide” which is arguably the strongest of the bunch. At this point the group pivots to a more melodic sound. Thomson approaches the ultra catchy chorus with “I need God about as much as she needs me” after storytelling Wednesday night happy hours and trips to the farmers market.
On the track “Ketamine”, Thomson singles himself out by name for his elusiveness acknowledging that “Now you're calling all my friends asking where is Drew Thomson. If they knew, they'd tell you but what that really means is get a clue". The drums drive this track and tease the listener with dashes of the two step beat prior to the chorus. The lead guitar riff over the chorus further draws in the listener.
The impact that “Negative Qualities” has made since its release is largely understated - it was critically praised and resulted in opening spots in support of the Hold Steady and many high profile festivals. The album was even nominated for a Juno award. It caught the attention of Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire who was brought in as a producer for their follow up record “Our Pleasure” after approaching the band via Twitter.
The Dirty Nil vocalist Luke Bentham names Single Mothers as a direct influence for his band’s latest album “Free Reign to Passions”. In fact at one point two thirds of The Dirty Nil were even members of Single Mothers.
One mustn’t look far for top modern artists of today that connect themselves with “Negative Qualities”. Catch Single Mothers perform “Negative Qualities” in its entirety on Saturday November 30th at Corktown Tavern as part of Past Presents Future Festival.
Recommended listen: Half-lit, Patricide, Ketamine
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Simon Marshall is a Project Manager who resides in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife and two daughters. He plays drums in the punk band Adelleda and is actively involved in the Southern Ontario music scene.
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