The Rural Alberta Advantage

This Toronto based three piece self-released this album about a year ago, they are still unsigned. It has been some time since my 3 year old son has gotten into my music like he is into the RAA. Their sound is much bigger than one would expect from three instruments. This is largely due to the fact that their drummer kills it. Most of the songs on this album are done in 4/4 time, with the usual chord changes, but the songs seem to be much grander. The drummer uses a sinple drum kit, he's not drowning in a sea of cymbals; but he wages a full on assault on that thing. It's as if he is playing a solo over the whole song. Thankfully is doesn't come off over done. The vocalist is often compared to Jeff Mangum from Neutral Mild Hotel, and it's no wonder why. From their website:

"The Rural Alberta Advantage play indie-rock songs about hometowns and heartbreak, born out of images from growing up in Central and Northern Alberta. They sing about summers in the Rockies and winters on the farm, ice breakups in the spring time and the oil boom’s charm, the mine workers on compressed, the equally depressed, the city’s slow growth and the country’s wild rose, but mostly the songs just try to embrace the advantage of growing up in Alberta."

They became relatively popular in the emusic scene when they chose them as a part of their "emusic selects" series.
Here's a video for your viewing pleasures. the sound quality could be better, but you get the idea.

Their website: www.theraa.com
streaming songs: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=25898494

Fanfarlo

In early 2008 I was listening to an NPR podcast as a preview to the SXSW festival. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen introduced one of his selections as "has anyone heard of a band called Fanfarlo? they're from the U.K. that's all I know about them". He then played the first 60 seconds of "Fire Escape". I was immediately hooked. They are often stamped with the "new Arcade Fire" comparison. That comparison has been used on so many new bands it could rival the played out Radiohead comparison. Another easy parrallel is Talking Heads due to singer Simon Aurell's harmonizing vocals. They are truly an amazing band. After my initial 1 minute introduction, I tried to get my hands on any song of their's I could. To that point they had released four singles on an many labels and a song or two on compilations. To date Fanfarlo have a strangle hold on the top 6 songs on my itunes 25 most played playlist. ( this stat is misleading as that thing has been reset several times due to computer fail; you know the deal, in reality "wake up" may never be dethroned)

A couple months ago they came over to the good old U.S. to record their debut album with producer, Peter Katis. Katis produced such albums as; Boxer-the National, Midnight Organ Fight- Frightened Rabbit, Antics- Interpol, Re-Arrange Us- Mates of States, to name a few. I have been not so patiently awaiting it's release, well it's finished!! At this point it's only available at their shows, so if you are going to be in Europe any time soon, pick me up a copy. Eventually it will be available on their website: http://www.fanfarlo.com/ Until then check 'em:
This video was filmed by a Swedish Public television crew; it was filmed in one of the band member's living room. Take the time.

http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/03/31/musik-med-fanfarlo/