The Rural Alberta Advantage: Departing

The Rural Alberta Advantage
Departing
Saddle Creek Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: Honest and sincere sophomore record from The Rural Alberta Advantage that is a winner on a multitude of levels!

Album Review:
The parts that made The Rural Alberta Advantage's debut Hometowns [2008] so endearing are back in full force on the bands follow up Departing. The Canadian trio's simplistic approach of singer/guitarist Nils Edenloff's somewhat nasally vocals with keyboardist Amy Cole's backing vocals and the strong percussion of Paul Banwatt let RAA wear their spirit on their sleeve. The band lives and dies by their intensity regardless of song pace and throughout Departing the trio lives up to this statement as each track has that "drive" behind it. The record really keeps building up as the tracks progress and they start to hit overdrive on the revved up "Muscle Relaxants". The key thing is that the song is only the beginning as the next three tracks "North Star", "Stamp" and "Tornado" seal the deal and back previous critical press up because they are some of the best music the band has released. "North Star" is a heartfelt mid-tempo number that builds with its ever growing keyboards and Edenloff's consistent vocals. "Stamp" is one of the most complex numbers RAA has released, as it kicks off in feverish rage and keeps the tempo up while coming off bigger then you would think just 3 members could put together. Lastly, "Tornado" appropriately swirls around with Cole in the background, as Edenloff confidently pushes his vocals up and down throughout the composition. Departing ends with the pleasant acoustic driven "Good Night" that puts the entire record and band in perspective. The Rural Alberta Advantage are what they are and the group puts 110% into their music. This passion helps carry even the most basic tune to a higher level and at just 10 tracks in 32 minutes, RAA don't wear out their welcome and have created another record that sounds great every time you spin it!

Key Tracks: "Stamp", "North Star", "Tornado"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Decemberists
Neutral Milk Hotel
Freelance Whales

The Rural Alberta Advantage: Hometowns [Fire Note Review 12/11/08]

The Rural Alberta Advantage Website
The Rural Alberta Advantage MySpace
The Rural Alberta Advantage Facebook
Saddle Creek Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony