No Frills

A recipe as simple as it is captivating: Take the laid-back sarcasm of The Monkees, add some of the melodic lightness of The Zombies in 1968, and season it with the sketchy arrangements of a band like Weezer. The whole thing is garnished with contemporary folk sensibilities and occasional restrained string arrangements. No Frills create music for relaxed days in flower meadows, when the madness of the world may not be solved, but at least for a few moments, it hardly matters anymore. It’s songwriter introspection that lies somewhere between radical acceptance and quiet despair, edged with poetic understatement. The title and cover of their latest album, ‘Sad Clown’ (2025), perfectly reflect the impetus of the band and reveal why these five Canadians have been able to captivate the trained ears of established indie connoisseurs. Period.