Toronto’s favourite whacked-out six-string mayhemists are back to present their third CD for your aural enjoyment. The Sadies made Tremendous Efforts after spending the past year or so criss-crossing North America in their beat-up van, and when listening to the tunes one could envision the band on the road carrying steamer trunks full of martini glasses and discount wines, saddlebags stuffed with Kinks, Music Machine, and Stanley Brothers records, and surfboards strapped to the roof.

Sure, you may get to feeling a little disoriented while listening – after all, spooky campfire wails, dusty western trails, garage punk rave-ups, lounge time cool downs and bluegrass ridgerunning all knock heads on this dandy CD. But then, a right strong dose of a very good thing often gets a person hooked.

Didn’t think you knew how to do the frug? One listen to “Loved on Look� and you’ll be doing it in your sleep. Not much of an appreciation for the bluegrass sound, you say? Then what would you call “Ridge Runner Reel,� the tune with Travis Good’s banjo and fiddle playing all over it (seems like you’re tapping your foot mighty heavy there, aren’t ya)? “One Million Songs� will put you in mind of a truckin’ song; “The Creepy Butler� paints a portrait of the one who “did it� in all those black-n-white movies. And impeccable taste dictates their covering the Gun Club song, “Mother of Earth.�

Fronted by the tall-as-the-trees Good brothers (Dallas and Travis), The Sadies, all hyperbole aside, are one of the most versatile bands on the planet. Over the years the Goods, with drummer Mike Belitsky and bassist Sean Dean, have contributed their talents to a range of folks, including country rebel Neko Case, Jad Fair, Pernice Brothers, Sally Timms, and R&B boogieman Andre Williams, among others. Tremendous Efforts sees Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor back for another appearance with The Sadies, as well as the Good’s talented mom, Margaret, and engineer Steve Albini.

Not one for bio cleverness and homey wordplay, Dallas Good keeps it simple when talking about the band and their new album. “The Sadies play traditional rock & roll and country & western music. We do not play country rock. We like to think our music is diverse but only as much as our influences. For example we like the Byrds, not the Eagles. Tremendous Efforts is an example of this diversity. Some of the tracks are traditional country songs featuring our family (the Good Brothers) and Bob Egan (Wilco) on steel. Greg Keeler and Blue Rodeo helped us on the rock & roll songs and Steve Albini engineered it. This record is for music fans.�

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