James O-L and the Villains perform a unique blend of broken post-folk-rock with introspective lyrics concerning universal issues of love, death and other cliched paradoxes that we will all face in some form during our limited human existence.
       
Taking influences from a diverse range of genres, from country to blues to punk rock, they have earned a reputation as a powerful live act and have gained a strong local following in their hometown of Windsor, Ontario. Their style has been compared to a wide range of acts including Neil Young, Elliott Smith, Pavement, Hayden and The Weakerthans.
        2008 marked the release of James O-L and the Villains’ fourth album, The History of Sex. This album was a departure from the stripped-down minimalist folk style of previous releases and featured a more energetic rock-based sound that drew on James O-L’s early days in the punk rock scene. Live shows reflected the change of pace and began featuring extended versions of recorded material, including room for instrumental improvisation onstage.
       
Since touring the release of The History of Sex, James O-L and the Villains have been focusing on the future musical direction of the band, including an upcoming E.P. and an east coast Canadian tour set for late summer of 2009.
