I Mother Earth – We Got The Love

I Mother Earth was a Can-rock staple in the 90’s. They ruled the airwaves, seemed to constantly be in heavy rotation on Muchmusic and had more hit singles than just about anyone. Led by Jag and Christian Tanna, they were capable of writing catchy and compelling songs while displaying their expert musicianship. Their then-frontman Edwin was a sex-symbol to teenage girls across the country (and sadly to this day still tries to be). When Edwin departed the band in 1997, both sides lost momentum. Edwin embarked on a solo career while I Mother Earth soldiered on with new singer Brian Byrne. It’s a shame, because while Edwin was churning out average-sounding radio-friendly records, I Mother Earth was experimenting creatively and writing interesting, challenging records. A bit too challenging, perhaps, as their final (and excellent) album “The Quicksilver Meat Dream” flew over the heads of many of their fans and it flopped. The band went on hiatus at the end of 2003 and didn’t return until 2012.

This is probably why when they released their new single “We Got The Love” leading up to their sold-out reunion shows in Toronto, they filled it with as much fan-service as possible. It borrows the rhythm from their biggest hit “One More Astronaut” and has a huge chorus that can get stuck in your head for days. It’s a really great song. Though given the band’s unwillingness to pander to radio programmers, their next release (if it ever happens) will probably see them catering to their own muse, whoever she may be.