Monday, October 30, 2017

"Outside Your Window" by Harem Scarem

I hereby nominate Harem Scarem to be the most underrated hard rock band of all-time. Hailing from Canada, Harem Scarem was formed in 1987, off to a promising start during the peak of the melodic rock era with their first two albums. They were charting in Canada thanks to minor hits like "Slowly Slipping Away" and the power ballad "Honesty." Their second album, "Mood Swings," should have been all over U.S. radio, but it fell prey to the advent of grunge. Songs like "Saviors Never Cry" and "Sentimental Boulevard" would have performed well if released a few years earlier. The record remains a fan favorite among the band's extensive catalogue of 14 albums and was even re-recorded by the band in 2013.

As the case for many rock bands, the 90s were a confusing decade for Harem Scarem. Struggling to find their sound, a few albums early in the decade were mixed. By the end of the decade they even changed their name to Rubber and issued two records under that moniker. 

The band returned to their original name and melodic rock sound with 2002's "Weight of the World," an amazing tour de force. "Outside Your Window" is just one of the highlights from this record that showcase the band's perfect mix of melody and grit, driven by the always stunning powerhouse vocals of Harry Hess and meaty riffs played by Pete Lesperance. The band has been releasing consistently great stuff ever since.

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