The first studio album (the one that includes Echo Beach), reissued January 2003 by EMI Canada on CD as part of its Northern Heritage Connoisseurs series of classic Canadian albums. Recorded at The Manor, England, August 1979 and produced by Mike Howlett. New liner notes. Remastered at Abbey Road Studios.

 

"Hooks abound within this disarming mixture of punchy music set against outpoured emotions. A few traumas must have been experienced before being translated into words and music. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I'd compare this to primitive art: a conscious decision to strive for musical simplicity which hides a deeper meaning within."

Betty Page

SOUNDS

 

"If someone has to bring Toronto's music to the world, let's thank the Almighty Juju that's it's Martha and the Muffins… Sinking Land, which is half punk and half pop (is) certainly the best piece of Torontonia on record… Hello world, this is Toronto."

Paul McGrath

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

 

"It is no wonder that this virtually unknown Canadian band has been catapulted to instant stardom in Britain and promises to achieve some kind of recognition in North America...Their music draws upon the most interesting influences of the past decade and manufactures a textured, rhythmic and captivating sound."

Ian James

RADIO TIMES

 

"You need a biography of the band to be convinced that The Muffins are indeed from Toronto and not from more international climes like London or New York."

Keith Sharp

MUSIC EXPRESS

 

"Not only are the Muffins the most interesting Canadian group in years, they're the first group ever to be identified as Canadian."

Mary Harron

MELODY MAKER

 

"You couldn't find a better example of the new g-g-generation of poprockers than Martha and the Muffins."

Debra Rae Cohen

ROLLING STONE

 

"Metro Music is a superb first album, full of mysterious intimations and half-explained drama..."

MADEMOISELLE

 

"In the Muffins' case, they are the band that got away, who took the roundabout way past the conservative Canadian music industry by signing with a farsighted English label (Virgin/Dindisc)... to arrive back in Canada with artistic integrity intact..."

Tom Harrison

THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE