Composed of members of Eric’s Trip, Bad Vibrations, Dog Day, and other bands, Gemstones are something of a Canadian supergroup. They describe their sound as “brooking east coast sludge pop dug up from the psychic trenches of frosty Nova Scotia.” While that description sounds awesome, the intentionally muddy recording of what otherwise might have been catchy garage pop tunes left much to be desired by my ears. While I recognize the stylistic choices the band have made on Novel of Nothing, I wonder if a more polished sound might have made these Gemstones shine a bit brighter. –Paul J. Comeau (Celluloid Lunch, celluloidlunch.com)