Search - Rural Alberta Advantage :: Hometowns

Best Album of 2008

Cheryl Heughins | USA | 01/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amazingly, the RAA remains unsigned despite recording one of the best indie rock albums of decade. Made up of only three members, lead vocalist and guitarist Nils Edenloff, and two percussionists Amy Cole and Paul Banwatt, their sound is simple, raw, honest, varied, and astoundingly refreshing.



This band has been steadily building up an impressive internet following. Despite not being signed to a record label, Hometowns made a number of year-end top 10 lists on music blog sites. The album placed #10 on the year-end Metacritic user's poll. In November, the band was signed as an eMusic Selects artist on the independent internet music store eMusic. Hometowns has since become the best selling eMusic Selects album ever.



Despite the RAA being only a trio, the songs on Hometowns are surprisingly varied. The range of the band is highlighted by the country-like acoustic riff of the second track "Rush Apart", which stands in stark contrast to the explosive punkish electric guitar in "The Deathbridge in Lethbridge". No matter the style that the RAA undertakes throughout the album, the strengths of the band shine in each: Edenloff's plaintive and emotionally honest vocals which have evoked numerous comparisons to Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, Banwatt's energetic drumming which is reminiscent of Brian Devendorf's work on The National's Boxer, and Cole's pitch perfect harmonizing.



Although the lyrics are simple, they are earnest and often effective. "Frank AB", which discusses a terrible mining accident in the town of Frank, Alberta, ends with a chilling outro "Under the rubble, of a mountain that crumbled, I will hold you forever." Perhaps the most stunning moment of the album occurs on "Don't Haunt This Place", when Cole's backing vocals create a pitch perfect harmony for the chorus, while Banwatt's energetic drumming playfully intermingles with gorgeous wistful cello. It's a spine-tingling moment that truly highlights the desperation and longing of the lyrics "Because we need this oh so bad".



The album ends with "In the Summertime", a summery ballad which features the most astounding lyrical image on the album "Once in a while, I know our hearts beat out of time/ Once in a while, I know they'll fall back in line.""

I'm really trying to save you tonight

J. Smith | Wasilla, AK | 02/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"People listen to music as a way of escaping where they are. Artists write music as a way of bringing listeners close and sharing a perspective of a new place. It's a simple concept, but it's one that often doesn't come together smoothly. Often an artist can hold onto the illusion of place for a single song, maybe three songs, but eventually the fog will dissipate and all the truth will be revealed again, it's just music. But every once in a while a band will come along and will produce an album so fresh, consistent and clear that every time you hear it you are taken with them on the journey. And `Hometowns' is one of those rare gems.



These are songs that are rooted in the familiar and real. The songs are able to achieve freshness and a sense of inventiveness without any major experimentation with sounds, song structure, or other transformations of the common elements of pop music. But out of the often cold and forgettable pop music formula The Rural Alberta Advantage is able to breathe warmth, and bring to life a throbbing heart beat gently pumping behind the throbbing drum beats.



There are too many good songs to make a single suggestion. So, I challenge anyone interested in the album to choose one song, any song, and give it a spin and see if it isn't better than most songs that you could pull randomly off the album of a million more experienced bands. And then consider the fact that this is The RAA's first album, and that they are currently unsigned, and the album is self produced and self released.



This is a great sounding record, which is captivating in its sincerity and consistent in its style, with songs that will keep you coming back and singing along. Support music and buy it. And then come back here and tell others about this great band."