Biography
Vancouver gave rise to the power pop group Odds, which assembled in 1987 around Craig Northey on vocals and guitar, Steven Drake on guitar and vocals, Doug Elliott on bass, and Paul Brennan on drums. To cover living expenses the musicians first worked as the cover outfit Dawn Patrol. A relocation to Los Angeles and a contract with Zoo Records, the same label that housed Matthew Sweet, then let them concentrate on the concise, pop-driven material that turned Odds into a cult favorite. Their approach, reminiscent of Elvis Costello and XTC, later shaped acts such as Weezer and Sloan.
Neopolitan, the debut album, surfaced in 1991 and produced two minor Canadian hits. Bedbugs came next and included the college favorite “Heterosexual Man.” In 1995 Brennan exited to perform blues with Big Sugar; Pat Steward, formerly the drummer for Canadian superstar Bryan Adams, took his place. The updated lineup delivered Good Weird Feeling the following year. Nest appeared in 1998 and yielded the modest radio success “Someone Who Is Cool.” Over the ensuing months Odds backed Sir George Martin for several shows in Vancouver, yet Northey departed in March 1999 to launch a solo career, after which the band entered a lengthy hiatus.
During the early 2000s the members explored separate endeavors while frequently collaborating with one another. Official reunion arrived by 2007, now featuring newcomer Murray Atkinson on guitar. Spring 2008 brought the Cheerleader LP, the first collection of new studio recordings in a decade. Issued initially as the New Odds while rights to the original name were restored, the album later gained independent U.S. distribution under the Odds moniker. Once again using their single-word name, the band released the Noise Trade EP in early 2009.
In the early 2010s the musicians appeared regularly on hockey broadcasts, serving as house band for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics and for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks throughout the 2010 and 2011 postseason runs. Additional EPs followed, among them 2013’s The Most Beautiful Place on Earth and the 2014 releases Game Face On and Party Party Party. The single “Love Is What You Get” emerged in 2016.
Neopolitan, the debut album, surfaced in 1991 and produced two minor Canadian hits. Bedbugs came next and included the college favorite “Heterosexual Man.” In 1995 Brennan exited to perform blues with Big Sugar; Pat Steward, formerly the drummer for Canadian superstar Bryan Adams, took his place. The updated lineup delivered Good Weird Feeling the following year. Nest appeared in 1998 and yielded the modest radio success “Someone Who Is Cool.” Over the ensuing months Odds backed Sir George Martin for several shows in Vancouver, yet Northey departed in March 1999 to launch a solo career, after which the band entered a lengthy hiatus.
During the early 2000s the members explored separate endeavors while frequently collaborating with one another. Official reunion arrived by 2007, now featuring newcomer Murray Atkinson on guitar. Spring 2008 brought the Cheerleader LP, the first collection of new studio recordings in a decade. Issued initially as the New Odds while rights to the original name were restored, the album later gained independent U.S. distribution under the Odds moniker. Once again using their single-word name, the band released the Noise Trade EP in early 2009.
In the early 2010s the musicians appeared regularly on hockey broadcasts, serving as house band for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics and for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks throughout the 2010 and 2011 postseason runs. Additional EPs followed, among them 2013’s The Most Beautiful Place on Earth and the 2014 releases Game Face On and Party Party Party. The single “Love Is What You Get” emerged in 2016.
Albums
Keep On Keeping On
2024
Foolish Men
2023
Surfing Skeletons
2023
The Odds
2019
Bedbugs
1993
Neopolitan
1991
Saturday Night
1982
Singles
Live
