unsurprisingly pitchfork sums up my complaints pretty well:
Quote:
But for a band that relies on its stage instrumentation, reducing Amy Cole and Paul Banwatt to bit players proves a disappointing and somewhat baffling under-utilization of resources. On Hometowns, Cole's keyboards offered a quirky counterpoint to an otherwise handcrafted sound, while her harmonies maintained a warm conversational tone with Edenloff. But on Departing, her contributions frequently feel like mere cameos. Meanwhile, Banwatt-- a drummer of stunning technical proficiency and inventiveness-- is far too often relegated to mere timekeeping.
The very first time I heard 'Hometowns', I loved every song on it, true story. I'm currently 8 complete listens in on 'Departing', and am just now starting to come around to some of these tracks. I do have to agree with Cbats and Poochfuck, that they are seriously under using the other two members of the band, especially the drumming, but also some of the keyboard accompaniment that was so beautiful on the first album, is to few and far between on this effort. I am still very excited about this band, and look forward to seeing some of these new songs live in the spring.
unsurprisingly pitchfork sums up my complaints pretty well:
Quote:
But for a band that relies on its stage instrumentation, reducing Amy Cole and Paul Banwatt to bit players proves a disappointing and somewhat baffling under-utilization of resources. On Hometowns, Cole's keyboards offered a quirky counterpoint to an otherwise handcrafted sound, while her harmonies maintained a warm conversational tone with Edenloff. But on Departing, her contributions frequently feel like mere cameos. Meanwhile, Banwatt-- a drummer of stunning technical proficiency and inventiveness-- is far too often relegated to mere timekeeping.
I can't disagree with anything said in that review really. They pretty much nailed it, but I do think that the finished product was more of a band effort than Hometowns. To me it seems like a much fuller album.
Think of Hometowns as a jigsaw puzzle. To me, it seemed Nils knew what the core picture/message was while Amy and Paul put the finishing touches on it to reveal the finished product. On Departing, I feel they got the edges first, then worked toward the middle and completed the picture together.
It's also painfully clear that this is a "winter" album whereas Hometowns was a "summer" album. Thanks Pitchfork, couldn't have possibly Dr. Garbanzoured that out without you.
Got my vinyl copy of Departing in the mail today and it sounds amazing on vinyl...not that it sounded bad otherwise.
Nice packaging from Saddle Creek as well. Along with the record I also received a handwritten note from someone at the label (not a big deal but a nice touch), a bunch of stickers from bands on the label and a Saddle Creek sampler CD. Got through the sampler only once and they seem to have some really solid bands, that I was not familiar with before.
Posted by alex on Mar 4, 2011, 10:51am
reminds me of when they sent my shirt, and it came with a handwritten (in pencil) note from Nils. Shame I lost that somewhere along the way.
I'm waiting patiently for my vinyl Departing and Hometowns. Maybe today?
reminds me of when they sent my shirt, and it came with a handwritten (in pencil) note from Nils. Shame I lost that somewhere along the way.
I'm waiting patiently for my vinyl Departing and Hometowns. Maybe today?
I love touches like that. I got a t-shirt hand-drawn by Will Cullen Hart when I bought the first Circulatory System album. It's just black sharpie on a white shirt and it's totally beautiful. Hanging up, framed, in my house.
reminds me of when they sent my shirt, and it came with a handwritten (in pencil) note from Nils. Shame I lost that somewhere along the way.
I'm waiting patiently for my vinyl Departing and Hometowns. Maybe today?
Did you get the special edition ones on colored vinyl with the hand made record sleeves?
Posted by alex on Mar 4, 2011, 12:38pm
I ordered the special edition Departing, but just the regular Hometowns one. My brother has one of the limited edition handmade sleeved ones from the last time they were here.
^^Does living in Alberta affect your appreciation of bands with Alberta in their title? I remember there was a band called "The British Columbians" and I loved them mainly for their name.
Awesome, the special edition sounds nice. I just ordered the 180 gram vinyl off the website, but since I only have the CD I am hoping that they have a special edition version of Hometowns for sale when I see them next month.
HAHA...I know what you mean! I'm not sure if I would say that the name of the band builds on my appreciation of them, but the fact that the majority of their lyrics are Alberta based themes helps me appreciate them. I mean, the "meaning" of the Deathbridge in Lethbridge might be lost on some people that do not understand the reference, or that "Tornado '87" strikes a pretty strong cord in terms of Alberta's history. It is funny though that RRA are actually from Ontario.
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