Last Week’s Jams (9.5 – 9.8)

Just because we took Monday off last week, it didn’t mean we were taking it easy; I think I posted 11 things in one day, simply because there’s been so much great jams to get turned onto. Austin had tons of representation with TVs Daniel, Motorsports, Friday Boys, DAIISTAR and Feeling Small, but my own love for Spanish-language pop was made all the better with tunes from Melenas and Mint Field coming our way. Teenage Tom Petties were back for the attack, with a new album announcement. Plus, there’s some reissue news with Kath Bloom and Single Bullet Theory getting coverage. So yeah, music! Whoohoo!

Rural Alberta Advantage Drop New Single

It’s always a treat when we can reconnect with a band that was featured in our earliest days of ATH, and Toronto based Rural Alberta Advantage would surely be one of those groups. It was a pleasure to see the band return with their original lineup last year with an EP entitled The Rise, and it’s an even greater delight to hear word of a full LP coming next month. Pairing all the tunes from last year’s EP with seven new ones, The Rise & The Fall will hit be released on October 6th via Saddle Creek stateside and Paper Bag Records internationally. Of course the announcement comes with an absolutely stunning new single called “Conductors” and, all other words aside, it’s great to have this band back.

Pre-orders for The Rise & The Fall are live now.

New Single From Rural Alberta Advantage

Much has been said on this here website about Toronto based band Rural Alberta Advantage. Though with all that coverage in the past, we’ve somehow managed to completely flake on posting about the band’s latest album. I’m rectifying our foolishness with a quick blurb about the group’s most recent single “Toughen Up”. This really is typical RAA music here with always impressive vocals from Nils Edenloff, beautiful harmonies from Robin Patch, and a reliable tight, folk rock sound throughout.

New album The Wild is out on October 13th via Saddle Creek (pre-order).

Dig the Vibe on This Young Rival Tune

youngrivalOne of my favorite acts from the Canadia is Rural Alberta Advantage, but it looks like the band has someone gunning for their spot in my heart, namely Young Rival. Interestingly, they have some vocal lineage, with a similar drawl in the presentation of voice, though there’s this little touch in the chorus where I also hear an homage to Kevin Barnes.  This track’s got energy, a little bit of a stomp to it, thus you’ll find yourself pressing play time and time again. It’s the title track from their new effort, Interior Light, which comes out on October 16th via Paper Bag Records.

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Did You Check Out the Big Harp Single?

harpLast week, Big Harp released this great little single, and we got caught running behind the show, so I didn’t get a chance to toss it up.  But, better late than never, amiright? There’s really two things working for this tune…one is that the song revolves around this indifferent vocal approach akin to Rural Alberta Advantage; it’s like a little Southern drawl drawn out in its own fashion.  Also…there’s a delightfully bright chorus that’s perfectly juxtaposed to the verses, so that it grabs the listener.  It all wraps up in under 2 minutes, so you’ll be able to play it again and again before you get too tired.  Look for this track on their new 7″ via Fat Possum on March 10th.

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More New Music from Rural Alberta Advantage

runnersI’ve admitted to my adoration for Rural Alberta Advantage, but I was slightly skeptical with their last single, but it seems like this new one has things right back on track.  There’s just something about the vocals that always stick with me; it’s as if they don’t quite fit the music, yet they clearly fit perfectly into the band’s well-crafted sound.  It sounds like country-stomping indie rock, and not the Americana sort, but somewhere more developed, somewhere less-traveled perhaps.  I look forward to the group’s new effort, Mended with Gold, which comes out on September 30th via Saddle Creek Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/05-Runners-In-The-Night.mp3]

Download: Runners In The Night [MP3]

 

New Track (and album) from Rural Alberta Advantage

In case you missed out on the last Rural Alberta Advantage album, Hometowns, you’ll have a chance come March 1st to grab their new one, Departing.  The band created quite a buzz with their last effort, so our bet is that this round will be no different than the last.  It’s going to be coming out on Paper Bag Records, with a little help from the great kids over at Saddle Creek.  The intro really uses the cutting guitar to build some tension, but then the vocals kick in, using the pounding rhythm to really kick up the pace.  Just listening to this track makes you appreciate the spirit of the band.  Consider me stoked, brah.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/06-Stamp.mp3]

Download: Rural Alberta Advantage – Stamp [MP3]