Top 10 Sloan Songs

Feature Photo: Linda Heldman, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Sloan Songs list presents the best Sloan Songs like “Underwhelmed,” “Money City Maniacs,” “The Good in Everyone” and more. Starting in 1986 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson performed with a few different rock bands before the first lineup of Sloan was formed in January 1991. The original band included Andrew Scott and Patrick Pentland. As a name, Sloan came about as one of their friends was nicknamed “Slow One” by a Quebecois employer. His pronunciation made it sound like “Sloan” so that was the name that stuck out. At the time, it was agreed the only way the band could get away with the name was to feature their friend, Jason Larsen, on the cover of their debut album. It is his illustration that appeared on the 1991 release of Peppermint EP.

In 1991, after a battle of the bands, Sloan earned a recording contract with the DTK Records compilation album, Here and Now. “Underwhelmed” was the song featured on it. Both the music and the band won over the attention of MCA Canada and Nettwerk. It would be Geffen Records that would possess a copy of Sloan’s recording sessions before signing them up. In 1992, Peppermint EP was released, along with the debut album, Smeared.

Shall We Stay or Shall We Go?

After Smeared, Sloan recorded and released their second studio album, Twice Removed. Its 1994 release produced two hit singles for Sloan, “Coax Me” and “People of the Sky.” Both of these albums became certified gold by Music Canada. The third album, One Chord Leads to Another, was a 1996 release that shifted the course of a potential band breakup they had been considering. The success of this album also became certified gold and was also their best-selling album in Canada at that point. It also earned them their first and only Juno Award. In 1997, One Chord to Another won Best Alternative Album.

The success of Sloan’s third album resulted in the recording and release of 1998’s Navy Blues. It also became certified gold. After this, Sloan released their first live album, 4 Nights at the Palais Royale, in 1994. That same year also saw the release of Between the Bridges. It served as the first of the remaining studio albums recorded and released that did not become certified gold. It did, however, continue Sloan to remain as an elite musical group the Canadian fans simply adored.

We’re a Canadian Band

In 2003, Sloan attempted to make an impression on the American music scene with the recording and release of Action Pact. As fate had it, turns out Sloan makes a more impressionable Canadian band than they do American. After this attempt, Sloan released their first compilation album in 2005. A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005 featured two new songs, “All Used Up” and Try to Make It.”

Never Hear the End of It was a 2006 Yep Roc Records release for the US market. This became the first recording for Sloan that would chart on the US Billboard Albums chart, which came in at number forty-eight. From there, four additional albums would also make chart impressions.

Sloan Legacy

From 1996 until 2016, Sloan was among the best-selling Canadian recording artists in the nation. The group released thirteen studio albums during that time span that mostly met with tremendous commercial success. They were also well known for switching the roles of each band member despite the fact the lineup remained unchanged throughout their career. The latest album, Steady, featured the first of its singles, “Spend the Day.” It was released on the day they made their announcement the album would be ready for release as of October 2022.

In addition to the thirteen albums, Sloan also has four EPs, five live albums, and eight compilation albums to their credit. With the latest recording released in 2022 that still features the same original lineup, it looks like Sloan isn’t about to slack off anytime soon.

Top 10 Sloan Songs

#10 – People of the Sky

Released in 1994, “People of the Sky” was the first song written by Andrew Scott as a member of Sloan. It became a number four hit on the Canadian RPM Alternative Airplay chart and a number fifty-eight hit on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart. The music video was a low-budget production that was filmed in the backyard of Richard Reines’ Los Angeles house. The influence of 1960s pop served as the key source of inspiration behind the sound of “People of the Sky,” as well as the majority of Sloan’s musical material.

#9 – Coax Me

Released in 1994 from Sloan’s second studio album, Twice Removed, “Coax Me” was a single that lyrically discussed the difference between playing music alone or for a major record label. On the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart, it peaked as high as number thirty and at number six on its Alternative Airplay chart. It was the first of Sloan’s singles that would make a chart impression on the mainstream music charts belonging to Canada.

#8 – Everything You’ve Done Wrong

“Everything You’ve Done Wrong” was a number six hit on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart. For Sloan, this was the highest charted single they’d experienced on the nation’s mainstream rock scene. From the album, One Chord to Another, the song encouraged the wrongdoer to not let past sins get in the way of coming home. In the music video, the band performed as if at a wedding reception where anything and everything that can go wrong does.

#7 – The Lines You Amend

On the Canadian Alternative Airplay chart, “The Lines You Amend” became a number twelve hit. On the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart, it peaked as high as number thirty-nine. Released in 1996 from One Chord to Another, this melodic masterpiece focused on the subject of suicide. One of the trademark sounds from Sloan was sharing a Beatles-like aura in their musical material.

#6 – The Rest of My Life

“The Rest of My Life” became the most added single on the radio stations belonging to the Canadian Music Network after it was released in 2003. It came from the album, Action Pact. Although it didn’t become a charted hit on any official music charts, it did become a major fan favorite across Canada. In the song, Sloan addressed the question of what people do with their lives as they stare down the path of life they know they must embark on. The appeal behind this song, especially among Canadians, was the national pride that was expressed by Chris Murphy as Sloan’s lead vocalist.

#5 – Unkind

The beauty behind “Unkind” was how Sloan’s music style has evolved, yet remained unchanged, since first coming together as a group in 1991. Released in 2011 from the album The Double Cross, the song served as a steady reminder of just how talented Sloan really is. Among the Canadian fan base, “Unkind” was a gem as the narrator gave a piece of his mind to the addressee who had a history of so much toxic behavior.

#4 – Believe in Me

Released in 2008, “Believe in Me” came from Sloan’s ninth studio album, Parallel Play. On the Canadian Alternative Airplay chart, it became a number six hit. In Canada, this song became a popular choice among various commercials and programs aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation networks. It was also featured as an opening montage during an episode of Hockey Night in Canada. The opening guitar riff leads into one of the best instrumental performances that demonstrated why the band has such a large and loyal fan following. For a good inspirational tune, “Believe in Me” is worth listening to.

#3 – The Good in Everyone

On the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart, “The Good in Everyone” peaked as high as number nine. On the Alternative Airplay chart, it was a number seven hit. From Sloan’s third studio album, One Chord to Another, “The Good in Everyone” has become one of the band’s most popular singles. It also became the theme song for George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television program. This particular song comes in two versions.

The radio version cut out the recorded introduction of this song when they played a concert on August 5, 1995. It also cut out the screaming fans that were heard at the beginning of the song as well as at the end. In the music video, it starts off with footage of a Toronto runway before the band breaks out into song.

#2 – Money City Maniacs

Opening with the sound of sirens, “Money City Maniacs” was one of Sloan’s best singles that became a Canadian cult classic. The heavy bassline, combined with the power chords, described the events of a practical joke performed on a friend unwinding. Since its 1998 release, this song has been used in a string of Canadian-based commercials and television programs. “Money City Maniacs” became one of Sloan’s signature songs that have since won over a global audience.

#1- Underwhelmed

Released in 1992, “Underwhelmed” became its debut single for Sloan. On the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, it was a number twenty-five hit. This was actually a rerecorded version from the original and was featured on the album, Smeared. In Canada, it was a number-one hit. As an American impression, “Underwhelmed” made the biggest impact. In Canada, it was their first and only number-one hit on its Alternative Airplay chart. However, this is more than just another song for the band. It continues to stay on top as among Canada’s best songs ever released in the nation’s musical history.