Blue Rodeo Things We Left Behind Genres:Pop, Rock The definition of a rebel is someone who goes against the grain. For close to thirty years now, Blue Rodeo has taken the road less travelled - and succeeded far beyond anyone's expectations. The band emerged in the early 8... more »0's as a countrified rock band in the era of hair metal and glossy pop. Despite sticking out like a sore thumb (or
maybe because of it), their single "Try" became omni-present on radio across Canada and set in motion a three decade long career of headlining every club, theatre and arena in Canada. In 1993, when grunge rock was squeezing commercial rock off the radio, they recorded their most acoustic album, Five Days In July, and scored their biggest hit, selling over a half million copies of that one record alone. And now, in the digital age, while everyone else is thinking of ways to sell single songs through the internet or snippets of songs on cell phones, Blue Rodeo has recorded The Things We Left Behind, a double album designed to be enjoyed on vinyl. Twelve albums on, the rebels live.« less
The definition of a rebel is someone who goes against the grain. For close to thirty years now, Blue Rodeo has taken the road less travelled - and succeeded far beyond anyone's expectations. The band emerged in the early 80's as a countrified rock band in the era of hair metal and glossy pop. Despite sticking out like a sore thumb (or
maybe because of it), their single "Try" became omni-present on radio across Canada and set in motion a three decade long career of headlining every club, theatre and arena in Canada. In 1993, when grunge rock was squeezing commercial rock off the radio, they recorded their most acoustic album, Five Days In July, and scored their biggest hit, selling over a half million copies of that one record alone. And now, in the digital age, while everyone else is thinking of ways to sell single songs through the internet or snippets of songs on cell phones, Blue Rodeo has recorded The Things We Left Behind, a double album designed to be enjoyed on vinyl. Twelve albums on, the rebels live.
CD Reviews
Best Album of 2009
Daniel Diersen | Chicago, IL USA | 02/08/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I realize that best album of 2009 is a big claim. One person can only listen to a fraction of the pop, rock and country releases in a given year. But with Amazon, a good public library, and records stores that allow you to listen to CDs, a person can become familiar with hundreds of albums/CDs. After a year of extensive listening and buying, Blue Rodeo's The Things We Left Behind tops my list.
The Things We Left Behind is an amazing album! I picked up the vinyl package (includes 2 CDs as well) at a Blue Rodeo concert in October, 2009. The album has not left my rotation since. Blue Rodeo has been huge in Canada for 25 years and has a large catalog of great albums. Five Days in July (1993) is a masterpiece, but I think this lastest double album is their best work to date. The depth, breadth and overall quality of all 16 songs is amazing! The arrangements are ambitious for some songs, incorporating strings, woodwinds and additional background vocal harmonies, and whether complex or simple, the arrangements and production is just right for every song. I really can't say enough about this album and hope that more people will give it a listen. If they do, Blue Rodeo will finally get the larger US audience that they very much deserve.
Note on the vinyl version: for those that like vinyl and have a turntable, I would highly recommend the vinyl version for it's sound quality and packaging. You also get the CDs that you can use for your car and iPod. Blue Rodeo has said the album was written and produced with four sides of vinyl in mind. Each side has it's own coherency and taking it one side at a time allows one to better familiarize and appreciate the overall album."
Great Canadian Rock Band
P. Verhoeven | Nieuw-Lekkerland, the Netherlands | 01/28/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great (double) CD. Blue Rodeo is a band going back far in the last century. They write great stuff and they also can sing and play very well. To me this latest effort of them is also their best!
If you like the Eagles you will like this too, only I myself think this set is better than the last 2 compact discs that the Eagles brought out.
Am already looking forward to their next outing."
Magnificent Effort by These Seasoned Veterans!!!!
J. Arellano | Anacortes, WA. USA | 03/05/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The test of time can result in deep experience. These Canadian muscians who are unherd of to the American ear, have brought in rich textures and inner wevings of psychadelia reminiscent of the Beatles. The sweet lyrics are poignant and mindful allowing the listener to groove or just relax."
Canada's Best Band
J. Oliver | Hollywood, CA | 03/26/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As Advertised! Buy with Extreme Confidence! Another Great CD from a Great Band!"
