7/10

After more than a decade of shaping their sound in Winnipeg basements, clubs, and festival stages, CAR287 step firmly into the spotlight with their debut full-length 'Looking Through The Lens'. The record pulls together thirteen songs that have lived in their live setlists for years, finally given the polish and permanence of a studio cut.

The band’s roots are steeped in classic Canadian rock reverence, but this isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia. Across the album, CAR287 weave a patchwork of rock traditions that span stadium anthems, dusky barroom ballads, and road-ready burners. Tracks like 'Feel It Coming On' pulse with urgency, while 'Highway Strong' carries the easy grit of long prairie drives, as if the endless Manitoba sky has been folded into the guitar lines.

What makes 'Looking Through The Lens' compelling is the way it reflects the band’s own journey. Songs like 'Back and Forth' nod to the push-and-pull of small-town living, while others lean into more universal themes of endurance, loss, and the fleeting beauty of connection. Jay Yarmey’s vocals walk the line between earnest storyteller and weathered observer, backed by Travis Wog’s sharp guitar work and a rhythm section that keeps everything grounded without losing momentum. The addition of Ryan Olenick on drums adds a newfound vitality, you can hear it in the crispness of the grooves and the way the songs lift in their choruses.

Recorded at Private Ear Recording, a Winnipeg institution that’s hosted some of the city’s most inventive acts, the album balances grit with clarity. There’s enough rawness to feel true to their live shows, but also a sense of patience in the mix, giving each song space to breathe.

'Looking Through The Lens' is a snapshot of a band finally finding its stride after years of waiting. With one foot planted in Winnipeg’s soil and the other pressing hard on the gas pedal, CAR287 prove they’re ready to take their sound far beyond the city limits.