Brian Chartrand - Sleeping With Giants (Independent) If you write for a zine, you get to hear a lot of singer-songwriters with guitars. Some of them have got something new to say, but few manage to pull it off with any degree of originality. Brian Chartrand is almost there. His voice is good and his songs are catchy and likeable without resorting to (too) obvious hooks or endless repetition. I like the jazzy inflections that litter the arrangements and the little vocal tricks and guitar flicks that enliven what is basically a bare-bones recording. Like I said, it’s almost there. My one reservation is that it all sounds a little cheap and hollow. Sleeping With Giants is crying out for a production overhaul; it lacks any real depth of sound. A little tlc in the shape of an open chequebook and bigger budget might have made all the difference. www.myspace.com/brianchartrand Rob F. Next Past Reviews: March 07, April 07, May 07, June/July 07, Sept/Oct 07, Dec07, Jan08, Feb 08, Mar 08