Rural Alberta Advantage- Hometowns

intodeep
intodeep Posts: 7,249
edited August 2011 in Other Music
So Saddle Creek picked these guys up and re released their album a couple days ago. I had not heard of them before (full disclosure i read the review on pitchfork on tuesday and it peaked my interest) so I decided to check them out.

I actually kind of dig this trio. The vocalist does sound a bit like ... ok a lot like Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel, but after 3 or 4 listens the songs really sunk in.

I love the trio in the middle of the album of:
Drain the Blood
Luciana
Frank, AB

Others on the album are very good too. The Air, Deathbridge in Lethbridge, and Edmonton are all awesome too

Really i have been enjoying the entire album. I struggle to catagorize them other then they have that "indie rock" sound. They don't rock real hard, but it is not really all mellow either.

anyone else checked this band out before?
Charlotte 00 | Charlotte 03 | Asheville 04 | Atlanta 12 | Greenville 16 | Columbia 16 |Seattle 18  | Nashville 22 | Ohana Festival 24 x2 | Atlanta 25 x2
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • intodeep
    intodeep Posts: 7,249
    still digging this album so i'm going to bump it once just to see if anyone else tried it....
    Charlotte 00 | Charlotte 03 | Asheville 04 | Atlanta 12 | Greenville 16 | Columbia 16 |Seattle 18  | Nashville 22 | Ohana Festival 24 x2 | Atlanta 25 x2
  • intodeep
    intodeep Posts: 7,249
    Their new album is really good too "Departed" and I saw them last night for the first time and they were great live.

    I don't know why you people don't like them :(

    They are a great band with really good lyrics.
    Charlotte 00 | Charlotte 03 | Asheville 04 | Atlanta 12 | Greenville 16 | Columbia 16 |Seattle 18  | Nashville 22 | Ohana Festival 24 x2 | Atlanta 25 x2
  • chimpat
    chimpat Posts: 590
    I like these guys. First heard them last year when I was working upstate in Albany. There was a local radio station (think it was a college station) that would play them quite a bit. Good album.
    "This is about as perfect a crowd as you can get. I hate to placate, I ain't placating...." - EV, 9/29/96


  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    Man, I remember when you first posted this, intodeep...the name caught my eye (I'm in Edmonton, Alberta), but I didn't end up looking them up...weird that they don't get more hype around here...or maybe I'm just old and out of touch lol...I don't listen to the radio much.

    But Tornado 87 gets some play once in a while - heard it a couple weeks back...is it being played anywhere else?

    I finally decided to check it on youtube for a closer listen after realizing they're playing a festival in Caglary I'm going to (but will be missing their set :evil: )...wow. :shock: ..very powerful tune; that day is one I will never forget :(
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Gmv9RjraM


    I clicked on the song "Edmonton" next (how did I not know about this shit?)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB3ceGXtj_M

    He references "purple city"!
    Baby then again
    Under the lights at the Leg
    And we will burn our eyes
    Seeking out these purple nights

    :lol:....at the Legislature (Provincial government building) they have these super bright yellow-ish sodium lights on the ground, illumating the building at night...if you stare into them for a minute or so then look at the city skyline, all the lights turn purple...it's like a rite of passage for teenage trippers around here. So cool to see that referenced....

    Next click was Drain the Blood....
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CaRUiEjofc
    I'm officially hooked....I haven't hit a bad song yet....:)
  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    intodeep wrote:

    I love the trio in the middle of the album of:
    Drain the Blood
    Luciana
    Frank, AB

    Others on the album are very good too. The Air, Deathbridge in Lethbridge, and Edmonton are all awesome too

    Don't know if you've ever looked into what inspired the song Frank AB...this would be his inspiration:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Slide
    I've been to Frank a number of times; the pictures on wiki cannot begin to show how massive the slide was....half the mountain covered that town. It's a really fucking eerie place.

    Here's background on Tornado 87 (looks like it's just listed as Tornado on the album) :
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_tornado

    Loving how locally flavoured his lyrics are...don't hear too much positivity about this place, so his nostalgia towards Edmonton is freaking cool for me :)
  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    Bump to see if anyone else has caught on to this trio?
    I've been following them pretty closely for a couple years now...have seen them twice and have tickets to a show next month.

    New album due sept30

    First couple tracks are here
    http://m.soundcloud.com/theraa/sets/mended-with-gold

    I like both, but compared to some of their other stuff...not blown away...I'm sure there will be at least a few keepers; the first two records were great.
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,716
    edited September 2014
    I'll have to check them out. I have been feeling stagnate with my music lately. Haven't had time for any new (to me) stuff for a while. Need to increase the effort!
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • intodeep
    intodeep Posts: 7,249
    I see they are coming here to Atlanta again. they were a lot of fun last time.
    Charlotte 00 | Charlotte 03 | Asheville 04 | Atlanta 12 | Greenville 16 | Columbia 16 |Seattle 18  | Nashville 22 | Ohana Festival 24 x2 | Atlanta 25 x2
  • RobbyD462
    RobbyD462 Victoria BC Posts: 4,812
    Wow,I remember Frank.
    I used to live in Lethbridge and we'd go skiing to Castle mountain or Fernie all the time.
    We'd drive through Frank. That slide is amazing the amount of rock.
    Kinda creepy.

    Good music comes from small towns!

    Like the band The Smalls from Taber,AB.
    I grew up with this band and I'm going to see them in Victoria two days after my birthday!
    Another really good band. ;)
    -Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/21/9 -Vancouver,B.C-Rogers Arena-12/4/13 -Vancouver,BC-Rogers Arena-5/6/24
    -Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/22/9 -Pemberton,B.C-7/17/16
    -Vancouver,B.C-GM Place -9/25/9 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/8/18
    -Vancouver,B.C-Pacific Coliseum-9/25/11 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/10/18
    -Misoula,MT-Adams Field House-9/30/12 -Vancouver,BC-Rogers Arena-5/4/24

  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    edited September 2014
    RobbyD462 said:

    Wow,I remember Frank.
    I used to live in Lethbridge and we'd go skiing to Castle mountain or Fernie all the time.
    We'd drive through Frank. That slide is amazing the amount of rock.
    Kinda creepy.

    Good music comes from small towns!

    Like the band The Smalls from Taber,AB.
    I grew up with this band and I'm going to see them in Victoria two days after my birthday!
    Another really good band. ;)

    Nice! I'm seeing the Smalls on their four night stand at the Starlight Room - their former stomping grounds in Edmonton....they are actually from here, no? I think Corb is from Taber tho....

    The Starlight Room used to be the Bronx in the early 90's - love that place, it has a ton of history...practically lived there when I was 18. Nirvana and a lot of other big bands played there before they broke..... I'm also seeing Red Fang and the Rural Alberta Advantage there this month :) Cant remember being this excited for three bar gigs in a long time.

    Also...the RAA is based out of Toronto. The singer is from Ft.Mac, but went to school in Edmonton before moving to ON to try the music biz.... that's where all the AB references come from.
    And ya....Frank is quite the place to visit. crazy to think a mountain could just fall apart like that
    image
    Post edited by Drowned Out on
  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    edited September 2014
    RobbyD462 said:

    Wow,I remember Frank.
    I used to live in Lethbridge and we'd go skiing to Castle mountain or Fernie all the time.

    Have you checked out the RAA?
    They've got another song for you:
    Dethbridge in Lethbridge
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFm64JKARGI
  • Drowned Out
    Drowned Out Posts: 6,056
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY338YwHXrE

    third track from the new album released ....out in 8 days.
  • RobbyD462
    RobbyD462 Victoria BC Posts: 4,812
    I saw that! Lol
    Your right bout the Smalls being from Edmonton
    Great Band wish they made some vinyls!
    -Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/21/9 -Vancouver,B.C-Rogers Arena-12/4/13 -Vancouver,BC-Rogers Arena-5/6/24
    -Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/22/9 -Pemberton,B.C-7/17/16
    -Vancouver,B.C-GM Place -9/25/9 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/8/18
    -Vancouver,B.C-Pacific Coliseum-9/25/11 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/10/18
    -Misoula,MT-Adams Field House-9/30/12 -Vancouver,BC-Rogers Arena-5/4/24

  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Their new album is awesome.

    I have been listening to and catching this band live for quite a few years now. Seen them probably 8 or so times and they are always top notch.

    Hopefully going to see them when they come through Calgary in October.
  • ComeToTX
    ComeToTX Austin Posts: 8,071
    I like this one a lot more than their second. Looking forward to seeing them in November.
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    New album coming soon.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxRFf45knBo
  • ComeToTX
    ComeToTX Austin Posts: 8,071
    Nice!
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • 1ThoughtKnown
    1ThoughtKnown Posts: 6,155
    I’ve just discovered this band... I’m always late to the party... but I am digging it.   Checked them out on Spotify (because of the name) and then ordered all their vinyl from their website except Hometowns (sold out). 
    This stuff is fantastic... how are they not the hugest thing in Canada since the Hip?  (Maybe they are... I’m 46 and wouldn’t know lol). 

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