Reviews:

Brian Pascual, Chartattack : "For a major label debut, Pepper Sands' self-titled record shines with the polish of the numerous veteran alternative rock acts that so obviously influence it. Seems like this Vancouver quartet has been carefully listening to most of modern rock's finest from the last decade. Lead-off track, "Win Big Lose More (Cherries Jubilee)," shows you what a Shirley Manson-fronted Foo Fighters would sound like, with its heavy riffs, poppy melodies and singer Citizen A's girlie-but-ballsy vocals (think Avril Lavigne's older sister!). Hints of Brit-pop will warm the hearts of still-grieving Lush fans on "Speak Too Soon," while the shoegaze-y indie pop of "Myth" references everything that was cool about mid-90s alt-darlings, Velocity Girl. You've got to like a band that knows how to swap girl/boy vocals with ease and use them oh-so-sweetly when harmonizing. And get ready to dance on the super boppy "Forever Wonder" that sounds like Neko Case singing lead for One Chord-era Sloan. Nice. Pepper Sands seem to have taken all the best parts of their favourite bands and put together a radio-friendly, catchy debut that surprises you and sticks in your head all day."

Rob O'Connor, Beer.com: "Looks are deceiving. And first impressions don't always hold true. With their spunky black-white-and-red comic book cover art and short, tight, hyperactive tunes, Pepper Sands might give you the impression they're a modern-day new wave group, updating the carefree magic of the Go-Go's. The Vancouver quartet certainly come charging out of the gate with plenty of amped-up frustration and good time kicks. But somewhere in the middle of their debut album, the band that has opened for 54-40, Sleater-Kinney and Matthew Good slow down ever so slightly and begin opening up. The staccato pop bursts of "WIN BIG LOSE MORE (cherries jubilee)" or "Speak Too Soon" give way to the moodier introspection of "Myth," "Touch Apart" and "Make No Mistake." Singer Citizen A layers her vocals in lush echoes and even shuts down to a whisper. Guitarist Jay Slye rolls off the aggressive opening riffs and begins painting the night sky with ringing tones reminiscent of U2's the Edge. Atmosphere adds depth and the lined images on the cover transform into full portraits. The acres of lyrics on the album's insert, taking up literally every panel except the cover, express the views of a band hooked on love and forever trying to figure out a way past the inevitable pain. Except where a less literal band might stick with a few cloying phrases -- and drill an obnoxious, overdone hook into your head -- Pepper Sands opt to tell the story like an interior monologue where the brain must decide what thoughts to keep and which to discard. The effect is sometimes maddening, sometimes endearing, like that late night radio DJ who has had too much caffeine and proceeds to speak in circles through the endless night. You keep thinking you should turn it off and get your own head straight, but you keep wondering where it's all going to end up. In Pepper Sands' case, it adds up to a spirited pop debut that suggests the band is going to get much weirder as time goes on."