Secondhand Dreamcar - Get Ready
Self-Released
Released on September 25th, 2026
Unbelievably groovy; rich and full; masterfully written. Get Ready is an accumulation of high level writing, musicianship, and creativity that is truly meant for anyone and everyone. In 2024, Secondhand Dreamcar dove into the music stream with their debut album Answer the Call. Receiving a Juno nomination, a WCMA Blues Artist of the Year nomination, as well as several members being nominated for artist of the year, it is fair to say that their dive into the Canadian music scene was well received. Get Ready is the resulting tidal wave from their initial splash and it may very well push their boat full of nominations to the number one position this year.
I am generally not one to find myself listening to the soul/roots/blues genres but that doesn’t stop my foot from tapping along to the beat within the first bar of “It’s All the Same”, the first single released for the upcoming album. By the first chorus you have a good picture of the lineup of the band. With the unreal feel of the bass, guitars, drums, and vocal carrying you through the verse, you also pick up on organ and keys adding some shine to the track, hypnotizing you into the groove. By the time the horn section jumps in at the chorus you’re already bobbing your head and swaying to the music. By the end of the song you will be echoing “it’s all the same, it’s all the same” along with the rest of the band.
From reading this you may think that there is a lot going on in this one song and you are not wrong. However, - and this is my favourite thing about Secondhand Dreamcar - everything feels like it is exactly where it needs to be. When the vocals finish a line, the organ jumps in to give you some ear candy, or the horns play a catchy line, and the song leads you along this way until the next one does it all over again. No instrument is overbearing and your attention is guided to each part like your ears are dancing along because the music is Just. That. Good.
My personal favourite song on the album is “It’s Too Late (to Do the Right Thing Now)”. I spoke to the very full sound that Secondhand Dreamcar has throughout the album but my favourite part of this tune is their use of space. While the choruses are big and energetic, the verses are laid back and more groove focused, allowing the rhythm section to really shine. In the intro and between the vocal lines, the drums, guitars, and bass have these syncopated moments that are really fun to try (and usually fail) to air drum, but when you get it that one time it feels like you were right there playing along in perfect unison. Sometimes the whole band will stop and just the bass will play a slick lick while the drums keep the beat. The contrast that these quieter moments create has me leaning forward in anticipation, making me want to leap up and enjoy a solo dance session when the chorus comes crashing back in.
Boasting a lineup of some of Canada’s best musical talent, Secondhand Dreamcar delivers another album full of catchy tunes that will have you up out of your chair and onto the dancefloor. Get ready for Get Ready, the newest album from Secondhand Dreamcar.
