The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Departing"

After Hometowns, their self-released first album received great praise from eMusic, Saddle Creek re-released it to even greater acclaim and The Rural Alberta Advantage are now back with the release of their highly anticipated second album, Departing, out today on Saddle Creek. With a proper budget and time spent on the road, the Canadian band consisting of Nils Edenloff, Amy Cole, and Paul Banwatt have honed their skills and grown tighter and more focused with their percussion-heavy, folk-informed indie rock.

The aching “Two Lovers” opens the album with steady acoustic strumming setting the rhythm to the crashing cymbals and a backdrop of keyboards. “The Breakup” features a quick-paced choppy beat, poppy keyboards and very little guitar accompaniment along with a catchy, soaring chorus. “Under The Knife” and its dance-y beat and wailing vocals are an album highlight. “Muscle Relaxants” is anything but relaxing with a tense and taut guitar-led attack met with pretty male/female harmonies. “North Star” emotes with a thumping beat, strokes of keyboards and a passionate vocal. Standout track “Stamps” is a wild flurry of furious percussion, propulsive guitars and rafters-reaching vocals. The emotional “Tornado” features well placed glockenspiel, tumbling drums and an affecting vocal. The album closes with “Good Night” which begins with acapella vocals and a big, live, open-room sound like it was recorded on the road one night after a show.

With Departing, The Rural Alberta Advantage has emerged from the hype with an even bigger and better record avoiding the sophomore slump entirely.


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For more info click here: http://www.theraa.com/ and www.saddlecreekrecords.com