Sheer Agony

The new wave and vintage jangle pop-loving combo Sheer Agony were formed in 2010 by two members of the Montreal band <a href="spotify:artist:0MRDcVOP0r2Xjktw4G5jQN">Play Guitar</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7l10gx5IouVMJ70PXBDIYN">Jackson MacIntosh</a> and Christian Simmons. The duo had already begun building their own home studio and decided to work on recording <a href="spotify:artist:7l10gx5IouVMJ70PXBDIYN">MacIntosh</a>'s angular, power poppy songs there. A single, Hungry, Why Wait, was issued in early 2011 and the duo began playing shows with the help of bassist Markus Lake of the band Silver Dapple. With Lake now in the band full-time, they self-released a four-song EP, The Unruly Sisters, in early 2012, then a self-titled 7" for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Fixture+Records%22">Fixture Records</a> later in the year. They continued playing shows while dividing their time working with other bands: Simmons with <a href="spotify:artist:3cQdpmx5Izz5WLlCIU7xj9">Each Other</a>, Hand Cream, and Lantern; <a href="spotify:artist:7l10gx5IouVMJ70PXBDIYN">MacIntosh</a> with <a href="spotify:artist:5QDHwW2nfD4H09cKtBuw7e">Jef Barbara</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4DMSJzGjw2SMkKAT5EEE5u">Homeshake</a>. They also added drummer Greg Napier of <a href="spotify:artist:4qHANLR0LHV0X7xvZjhfjd">Think About Life</a> to the lineup. In 2014 they contributed a song, "Those Who Wait," to Meet the Factory, a compilation of Montreal artists on Plastic Factory Records. Meanwhile, they stayed busy touring and working on an album. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Couple+Skate+Records%22">Couple Skate Records</a> signed them up and in late 2015 released the group's cheekily titled debut LP, Masterpiece. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi