The Unintended

Comprised of members of The Sadies, Blue Rodeo, and Eric’s Trip, The Unintended managed to release two obscure-but-brilliant records, one being a vinyl-only LP split with The Constantines, during their exquisitely short existence. It’s not exactly a prodigious output, but even so they are one of few bands who are wholly deserving of the term “supergroup.”

Which makes it all the more tragic that there won’t be any more records forthcoming.

The Unintended formed after Sadies’ front man Dallas Good had joined forces with Rick White’s psych-trip group Elevator as an auxiliary member. Forged over similar influences, Good brought along the rest of his band mates from The Sadies and the group convened at the studio farm of Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor to record their only full-length album. It was here where Keelor was brought aboard as an additional guitarist in an already star-studded line-up.

But after the release of their debut album in 2004, and handful of Gordon Lightfoot tunes recorded a year later, the group quietly packed it in with the members returning to their day jobs.

So if you are holding your breath for a reunion, don’t, says Keelor.

Like clockwork, every January, Blue Rodeo embarks on their annual cross-Canada tour. Having interviewed the guitarist in advance of their upcoming show in Saskatoon, I couldn’t help but dredge up Keelor’s past work with White and the Good brothers.

“I don’t think there ever will be another Unintended record,” said Keelor at point blank. “But I loved making those records and I really enjoyed doing that small tour.

“It was a collection of freaks,” he adds with a laugh.

It’s also some seriously freaky music. On their self-titled CD, The Unintended take many of their cues from White’s Elevator, creating unearthly soundscapes amidst psych-guitar meandering and ghostly vocals. However, despite the creepy qualities of the group, there are plenty of nods to the black-leather clad, spaghetti western world of The Sadies. While many of the songs are broody in pace, these are still plenty of fuzzy, country-tinged moments as well thanks in part to several keyboard-heavy arrangements.

It’s definitely worth a lesson, but be warned that tracking down a physical copy of either of The Unintended’s albums is no easy task. Their split LP with The Constantines, released on Blue Fog Records, was a vinyl-only affair with only 1000 ever being pressed. Their album, however, is at least available for purchase on iTunes and you can hear it right here.

Tags: blue rodeo, can-rock, canadian music, eric's trip, music, the sadies, underrated can-rock, unintended

About the Author

Chris Morin aka Chrix Morix is the content editor and features writer at Ominocity.com. Morin divides his time between freelance writing and graphic design, working a day job, and self-publishing his own work as zines and tour diaries. Morin plays guitar and bass for Slow Down Molasses and The Eyebats. Morin also owns way too many records and talks way too much for his own good.