Three J: Random Album Reviews

me too, just saying we disagree on a lot. Sometimes I feel like people who disagree with me do so soley to piss me off, it's nuts but I think it's true.
 
alberta2wr4.jpg

Rural Alberta Advantage
Hometowns (2008)

The Lowdown: The debut album of the now-Toronto based Calgary natives scheduled to be released in the coming weeks on a major label prior released in 2008. Thirteen tracks that never exceeded 210 seconRAB, moving as quickly and fluidly as any debut album in the indie rock\pop genre I've heard in a while. Electronic and acoustic elements combine to create an authentic yet still familiar sound. Instantly likable and so far standing my personal test of time, quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of the last two years. Creative lyrics and friendly melodies give it all the elements of transcendent hipster pop bridging the gap between fans of rock, folk and punk music.

The Critics Response: "...the first half dozen songs throw down the gauntlet, and constitute the best sustained folk punk attack I've heard since the last Ezra Furman album."
Andy Whitman, Paste Magazine
"They are going to be a band that everyone can latch onto. All to often bloggers try to say they listened to a band before they were huge and if you want to say that about the RAA, you'd be wise to pick up Hometowns fast. Once it gets out and heard, Canadian indie rock fans might just have a new favorite band."
Herohill.com
"I cannot recommend this album enough. Check it out then go revise your “Best of ’08” list."
Tim Williams, Radio Exile

They might remind You Of: Neutral Milk Hotel, Ben FolRAB Five, The Smashing Pumpkins, Okervil River

Best Tracks So Far: Rush Apart, Don't Haunt this Place, The DeadroaRAB, Drain the Blood, In the Summertime

The Final Word: While it's certainly not a flawless record and as with most debuts there is plenty of room for evolution and refinement it's an undeniably likable effort that has me anxiously awaiting a follow-up as well as the banRAB potential explosion onto the scene. A major critique of the album is that it draws too much from the NMH classic "In the Aeroplane over the sea" and while I won't dismiss this criticism it was nothing so blatant as to distract me and overall I find it a charming and much needed reprise of what is one of the best albums to have left us without a worthy follow-up in a long time.

If your appetite is piqued and you'd like some instant gratification then put down the orb Atlas and check out the intro thread with a few videos simply called "Rural Alberta Advantage"
 
Back
Top