R | Infinite Shuffle

April 17, 2011

66 – The Rural Alberta Advantage

Filed under: R, Toronto — assman41 @ 12:01 am

As I settled into my usual spot on the couch, preparing to finally give a proper listen to the music of The Rural Alberta Advantage, I quickly checked them out on Amazon.com. Scanning through the recommendations of similar albums, I took note of the inclusion of, among several newer discs, Neutral Milk Hotel’s magnum opus, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Immediately as soon as I heard “The Ballad of The RAA”, the first track on their 2008 debut, Hometowns, I could see that the NMH comparison was apt. Lead singer Nils Edenloff’s raw, emotional vocals sound hauntingly similar to those of former NMH frontman Jeff Mangum.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – The Ballad of The RAA

The first time listening to that album, as well as the band’s follow-up, Departing, which came out this past March, it’s hard not to focus on the similarities to NMH. But upon further listens, a much more complex and nuanced sound begins to emerge.

Based in Toronto (nope, not in Alberta) and made up of only three members — Edenloff on guitar, Amy Cole on backing vocals and keyboards and Paul Banwatt on drums — their sound is simple but surprisingly varied.

The RAA are at their best when they pump up the vocal harmonies and add layers of instrumentation. “Don’t Haunt This Place” is part mumbly shoegaze, part soft indie-pop. And on “Four Night Rider”, the vocal exchanges between Edenloff and Cole call to mind the best of The New Pornographers.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Don\’t Haunt This Place

While they are indie through and through, The RAA evoke thoughts of more mainstream bands, such as The Walkmen, The Hold Steady and The Strokes.

They’re also similar to The Avett Brothers in that they mix their sound and pace well throughout the album. They can go from rocking (“The Dethbridge to Lethbridge”) to folky (“The Air”) to slow and soft (“Sleep All Day”)

The Rural Alberta Advantage – The Dethbridge in Lethbridge

Often on Hometowns, as Edenloff’s voice becomes more strained, he starts to sound like something of a reined-in version of Billy Corgan. You can hear it on tracks such as “Luciana”, “Frank AB” and “Edmonton”.

On their latest release, they smooth out some of the rough edges but continue to explore varied influences. The piano plays a more prominent role on this album, with several tracks calling to mind — for lack of a better phrase — a “VH1 sound.” The songs have hints of acts such as The Fray or Mat Kearney or some other group that is tailor-made for VH1 that I just can’t put my finger on.

Thankfully, that vibe isn’t too overbearing.

Lest you forget about that Neutral Milk Hotel influence, the opening track, “Two Lovers” thrusts it right back into your consciousness. Other standout tracks include “Muscle Relaxants”, which doesn’t quite sound like anything else on the album, “Tornado ’87”, which reminded me of Billy Corgan trying to front an alt-country band, and “Barnes’ Yard”, possibly the catchiest track on here.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Barnes\’ Yard

The album has been out less than two months, and I’m already clamoring for more from the band.

I just bought tickets to see them next weekend in Indianapolis. So that should quench my thirst for a little while.

Meanwhile, check out some more tracks from The RAA on their MySpace page.

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January 30, 2011

61 – Ra Ra Riot

Filed under: R, Syracuse NY — assman41 @ 12:01 am

Just like The Helio Sequence, I first discovered Ra Ra Riot a few years ago through the XMU station on my XM player (man, I miss that little goldmine).

For the most part, RRR sounds like a lot of other indie bands that play catchy pop songs. But the major difference — and it’s pretty noticeable — is the incorporation of a cello and violin on all of their songs.

The two instruments give RRR’s tune an added dimension, something of an orchestral feel. Because of that, the band has actually earned the labels of baroque pop and chamber pop.

You can hear the first plucking of the cello strings a few seconds into the first track of their debut album, 2008’s The Rhumb Line.

Ra Ra Riot – Ghost Under Rocks

The above song is probably the band’s most popular and accessible single to date. It’s also the tune I compared Beach House‘s “Norway” to about a year ago. After having listened that great song countless times in the 12 months, I’m not so sure that was an apt comparison.

But I digress.

Ra Ra Riot, is a six-piece group hailing from Syracuse, N.Y. In addition to the cellist and violinist, they have all the rock group staples — vocalist, bassist, lead guitar and drummer.

They formed in January 2006 and in June of the next year, their drummer died from an apparent drowning.

The band churned on, gradually gaining a solid following through its energetic live shows, touring with such bands as Editors and Tokyo Police Club.

Ra Ra Riot released a self-titled EP in 2007 before dropping their first full-length in August of the next year. In addition to the previously mentioned opening track other strong offerings include “Each Year” and “Dying Is Fine”.

They put out a remix EP, Can You Tell, in 2009 and another EP, Boy, the next year before releasing their second full-length album, The Orchard, in August 2010.

It doesn’t have anything quite as awesome as “Ghost Under Rocks”, but it may have a higher percentage of quality tracks, including “Too Dramatic”, “Boy”, “Massachusetts” and “Do You Remember”.

Ra Ra Riot – Too Dramatic

You can hear nine tracks, including a few special ones, at their MySpace page. While there, you might notice they label their genre as “Healing & EasyListening.”

Much more information can be gleaned from their official website. It looks like they’re currently on tour through March. They apparently came through Chicago in October, and I failed to attend. There’s no telling when I might get to see them.

Don’t be as stupid as Todd. Go see them if you have the chance.

Comments (1)

January 31, 2010

14 – The Radio Dept.

Filed under: R, Sweden — assman41 @ 12:01 am

An old friend of mine mentioned the band The Radio Dept. to me back in late 2006, and the name has been sitting in the deep recesses of my mind ever since. Earlier this month I finally sat down and gave a listen to their two full-length albums.

Needless to say, I was impressed.

Reading the various reviews, it seemed clear that everyone thought their first album, Lesser Matters, was the best. However, I listened to Pet Grief first and enjoyed it. My one complaint is that it all kinda runs together and all the songs sound the same.

Upon listening to Lesser Matters, I could see why it was so highly regarded. It’s just got so much more going on and has a more well-rounded sound.

Lesser Matters is a lot more guitar-centric and filled with fuzzy reverb, while on Pet Grief, it’s the drum machine that stands out. That’s due to a major change in the band’s personnel, including the departure of the drummer and the bass guitarist.

Speaking of those aforementioned reviews, there were a lot of comparisons to My Bloody Valentine, including one Amazon customer who said Pet Grief was “Magnetic Fields meets My Bloody Valentine.”

From the official Amazon review …

Pet Grief is the best songs Pet Shop Boys never wrote and the album you’d hoped My Bloody Valentine did after Loveless. The key to what makes it so special, what makes it all sound so much like The Radio Dept., might be the ever present melancholy that permeates everything they write.

Having never really listened to My Bloody Valentine much before, I can neither confirm nor deny those claims. But one band they do remind me of is The Stone Roses.

My brother, whose musical taste is highly regarded, had this to say …

They are like Postal Service with a New Order sensibility with a dash of Pet Shop Boys. … I totally here (sic) New Order infuence on Lesser Matters. I do not hear the PSB on Lesser Matters. I think it would be criminal not to compare them to the Postal Service.

So, there ya go.

As for the band itself, stability isn’t necessarily one of its strengths. They’ve had notable turnover, which, as mentioned before, had a clear effect on their sound.

Their two albums came out in 2003 and 2006, and they’ve realeased nine EPs dating back to 2002. According to their unofficial website, The Radio Dept. are putting out another full-length disc, Clinging To a Scheme, this March. That website also appears to be loaded with a bunch of available downloads.

Here’s a track from each of their LPs. I think the sonic shift should be rather noticeable.

The Radio Dept. – Why Won’t You Talk About It

The Radio Dept. – The Worst Taste in Music

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