St. Johnny - Speed Is Dreaming (CD)

All Music Guide

When major labels began their post-Nirvana bidding wars over the pop side of indie-rock acts (with the Nova Scotia scene receiving particular attention), quite a few bands were ruined -- many found their sounds reduced to major-label rock cliches that simply didn't suit them. St. Johnny, however, almost benefited from the move -- their Geffen releases retain the Dinosaur Jr. guitar sounds of their independent work, but highlight the melodic composition that made their early work so appealing in the first place. Speed Is Dreaming cleans up some of the band's sound and tightens their songwriting, and winds up making a small step forward from High as a Kite (a collection of independent work) -- the band stands as one of those few indie acts snapped up by major labels whose sound can appeal to a pop audience without losing any of its integrity.

- Nitsuh Abebe, All Music Guide