| Member Since | 3/26/2005 | | Band Website | theispies.com | | Band Members | Johnny Kay - vox / keys / guitar
James Robertson - lead guitar / vox / keys
Markus Saks - drums / percussion
Steve Payne - bass
| | Influences | The Pretenders, The Clash, Supergrass, The Wonder Stuff, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, The Police, Brian Eno, Guns and Roses, Elvis Costello, Supertramp, Marc Bolan, Graham Coxon, Spacehog, XTC, The Boss
| | Sounds Like | 
North By Northeast 2008 Blog
"emerging indie rock threats"
by Sarah Liss June 15, 2008
NXNE Preview: The I Spies
"The I Spies deliver powerful guitar-fueled pop songs reminiscent of the early days of new wave (Television, not Culture Club)."
by Steve June 13, 2008
The i Spies with my little eye...
". . . it's full of energy with just the slightest hint of snottiness thrown in . . ."
by Matthew June 5, 2008
Interview and Live Review
". . . the attitude and energy of the live show relates a definite presence of various punk and new wave influences. Hints of the Clash were both audible and visible."
Interview by Goran June 1, 2008
Midnight Poutine Podcast (episode 77)
". . . straight ahead, pedal to the floor rock tunes that just go from start to [finish]!"
Podcast by Jeremy May 28 - June 3, 2008
Inside Entertainment Feature
"I spy with my little eye: something fun and new in the indie rock scene."
by Emer Schlosser May 28, 2008
"The I Spies pack Jam-like breakdowns and Costelloey bridges between tightly-wound guitar riffs that makes In The Night a collection of combustible little ditties."
James Hayashi-Tennant May 1, 2008
Weekend Ideas.
"I spy with my little eye a hot indie band from Toronto. (I refer to the music and the men). Go dance and celebrate [the] end of school? Beginning of a warm weekend? Your love for Brit Pop that's not from Britain? You choose."
Jen McNeely April 16, 2008
Sunday Morning Coffee :: The I Spies.
"I was able to throw on this record and not once hit ">>".
April 13, 2008
Hook, hook. Thump thump.
"The I Spies feel like Ontario's response to Victoria's Hot Hot Heat, and are even more likely to be the next hot pop quartet north of the American border."
by Chris Lewis April 3, 2008
TOP 3 CD'S
" . . . the kind of album that's easy to fall in love with."
by Mary Dickie April, 2008
CBC Radio 3
"*boing sound effect* . . . I think someone needs to borrow my bong."
by Grant Lawrence March 21, 2008
"Dancable, catchy and infectious: The I Spies' album In The Night is a frenzy of "just got to get up and move" post-punk-pop.."
by Lisa Gasson Mar 21, 2007
ALBUM REVIEW
"What feels like a story sucks you into its world and keeps you until the very last scene."
by Pam Nichol Mar 2, 2008
I SPY(IES) MORE CANADIAN GOODNESS
"This album will be an indie hit. Catchy, catchy pop goodness; post-punk guitar pop, reminiscent of early 80s British rock."
by Joe Terry Feb 24, 2008
"The disc moves at a lightning pace and showcases the band’s highly tuned ability to produce tight post-punk rock . . ."
by Erin Taylor Feb 20, 2008
"THE I SPIES OWE SUCCESS TO THE MAN"
"Indie band got funding to make top-notch CD"
by Ben Rayner Jan 31, 2008
"Who needs the Brit Box when there are plenty of real live bands keeping the spirit of jaunty, aggressive pop with cheery vocal harmonies and sneering frontmen?"
Jan 31, 2008
DISC REVIEW
" . . .this solidly rendered offering shows that the I Spies deserve to rise above the vanilla crop."
by Jason Keller Jan 31, 2008
HAIKU - QUICK SPINS
"Someone remembers
Tommy Tutone, and they were
Paying attention."
Jan 24, 2008
ISPIES @ SNEAKY DEE'S
"Once this CD hits the masses, I can see The I Spies becoming a great Canadian export that anyone could easily fall in love with."
by Pam Nichol Jan 11, 2008
CHART ATTACK FEATURE STORY
"Spies Get Smart In The Night."
Jan 11, 2008
THE I SPIES. IN THE NIGHT.
"Their CD is a collection of tight, well-crafted tunes that owes a fair bit - at least to these ears – to the inspiration provided by British rock of the late 1970s and early '80s."
by Tõnu Naelapea Dec 27, 2007
THE I SPIES @ LEE'S PALACE
"They simply play really good pop songs that sound slightly reminiscent of all that was good about the era. I'm talking about bands like The Police, The Pretenders and, most of all, Elvis Costello."
Dec 19, 2007
ALBUM REVIEW
"If you like your music peppier than a lake of Red Bull and catchier than the plague, set your sights on the I Spies."
by Scott A. Gray Nov 2007
POP MOTREAL
"I spy with my little eye a Toronto indie pop band playing some of the most unabashedly infectious pop songs at this year's festival."
Oct 2007
CD REVIEW: The I Spies – In the Night (Independent)
"The I Spies do frenzied, angular post-punk better than just about anyone in the Toronto scene. . ."
by Rob Duffy Oct 2007
DISC-OVERY OF THE WEEK
"The i Spies make thoroughly solid indie rock"
by CHRIS RANDLE Oct 4 2007
OVERALL NIGHT 8.8 (one of the best bets this summer)
"Immediately I was slapped with a wonderful wave of grungy dance rock yet it was somehow charming, dirty yet impossibly tight."
by Bryan Chateau Aug 16 2007
| | Record Label | Government of Canada
Fontana North Distribution | | Type of Label | None |
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