Sweetsalt has their finger on the button of popular tastes. They're staging the CD release party for their new album Radio Soldier tonight.

Nine months in the making, Radio Soldier was produced in Winnipeg by Olaf Pyttlik. The first single is an irresistibly catchy song called April.

The CD release party coincides with the Battle of the Bands final at Centennial Hall. After the carnage, Sweetsalt comes on to keep the peace. Fans of the band should be impressed with the new album, which solidifies Sweetsalt's hooky pop-rock sound.

"I like it. I think it's the best thing I've ever been involved with,'' said Ben Reynolds. He's joined by Samuel Dufour and Jared Robinson. For tonight's show, they've drafted keyboardist Nicki Holmes from Minot. He's a member of the U.S. Air Force.

"He runs a nuclear missile silo,'' says Reynolds. "There's stuff he can't tell us because he'd have to kill us.''

"It's going to be a big rock show,'' said Reynolds. "It's probably going to be the biggest show we've ever put on.''

In addition to original material, like the band's first hit single Saffron Girl, you'll get covers of U2, Radiohead and even the late, great Moffatts "just because we love them.''

Originally published: Cam Fuller, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, March 28th 2002