First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who reads this blog, and who gives this sort of music a chance. All music is dependent on the people who listen to it, who take a chance on buying a CD, and who support live shows. I’m really glad that finding an outlet for my writing has gone this far, and I hope to move it even further in 2010. Finally, thank you all for your support.
In the spirit of looking back on 2009, here are my favorites reviews from this past year…
Brian Borcherdt – Coyotes: (http://wp.me/pBpKo-R)
Steven Bowers – Circadian Anthem: (http://wp.me/pBpKo-U)
Daniel Ledwell – Two Over Seven: (http://wp.me/pBpKo-1B)
Renowned publication Guitar International features an interview with East Coast troubadour Joel Plaskett in their latest installment. In the rare one-on-one, Plaskett talks about his past, present, and future work in detail.
Halifax’s Jill Barber is being featured on Zunior’s A Peanuts Christmas. She will join Construction and Deconstruction, The Awkward Session, Wayne Petti, and others on the annual charity album put on by the website. Barber, who just wrapped up touring with Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe show, will return to Atlantic Canada to play a few dates this February.
Feb. 7 @ The Imperial Theatre, Saint John
Feb. 10 @ Marigold Cultural Center, Truro
Feb. 11 @ The Pearl Theatre, Lunnenburg
Feb. 12 @ St. Matthew’s Church, Halifax
Feb. 14 @ Confederation Center, Charlottetown
After a four month European tour with Wintersleep, front man Paul Murphy is set to release Postdata, the debut album of his side project of the same name. Postdata is a family affair of sorts, as it sees Murphy partner with brother Michael. The two create a unique kind of melancholy in their sound. Though the album doesn’t hit the shelves until January 26, you can preview three songs from the album on their new site @ www.postdatamusic.com
In related news, Paul, Loel, Tim, Mike, & Jon have just announced a tentative release date of May 2010 for Wintersleep’s newest album. The as of yet unnamed effort is the followup to 2008′s Welcome To The Night Sky, which earned the band a Juno for best new artist. The guys are already in studio.
Beloved Haligonian group Thrush Hermit will reunite to play a series of shows in 2010. The band, which was made up of Joel Plaskett, Ian McGettigan, Rob Benvie, and Ben Ross at last glance, will embark on a cross Canada tour this coming March. The band released five records – two full length albums and three EP’s – of varying acclaim during the nineties. Their last album, Clayton Park was hailed as a critical success, though they still split up in 1999.
March 19 @ The Paragon Theatre, Halifax
March 20 @ The Paragon Theatre, Halifax
CBC Radio 3 has announced the winners of the fourth annual installment of the Bucky Awards. Among East Coast victors were Joel Plaskett for Best Lyric (Through & Through & Through), Hey Rosetta for best video (Red Song), and Sloan for the Lifetime Achievement award. The awards, which are decided by listener voting, honor the efforts of independent Canadian musicians.
The Olympic Symphonium More In Sorrow Than In Anger Forward Music 2008
Never has an album appealed to me on such a grassroots level, as does More In Sorrow Than In Anger. This often reflective, always solemn effort is the second release from Fredericton’s The Olympic Symphonium. The band was originally started as an escape from the high energy rock/pop acts that Graham Walker, Nick Cobham, and Kyle Cunjak had become accustomed to playing in. That collaboration culminated in 2007′s Chapter One, and has continued to evolve, having laid the foundation for this latest release.
The trio’s sound is organized and precise, while remaining fresh and original. Each member takes turns with singing and song writing, and they all swap instruments, though none of this is surprising considering Cobham and Cunjak helped found a band called Share. Though there certainly are layered elements, the album prides itself on a brilliant sort of simplicity.
More In Sorrow ditches the sometimes clichéd perception of love related angst. Instead, the band explores many kinds of sorrow, whether it be viewing it with acceptance or despair. While Blood From A Stone is the best example of the former, one can look to The Note and Side By Side, where the theme of desolation is most visible. Whatever emotion is at stake, the beautiful vocals of all three musicians somehow accent perfectly. My personal favourite is Malleable, a soft introspective featuring little more than quiet strumming and striking harmonies.
This album is certainly, though likely unintentionally a concept album. The Olympic Symphonium have taken a broad subject, and superbly dissected it in a very poetic fashion. No matter how strong or desolate the atmosphere of this album becomes, an innate beauty is always visible. On only their second release, this New Brunswick band has emerged as one of the Maritimes’ most promising acts.
