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On July 7th, Canadian trio The Rural Alberta Advantage will see their 2008 debut LP Hometowns finally receive a proper, label-backed debut in the States courtesy of Saddle Creek. It seems a good fit for the band and their emotional, folk-tinged indie rock; they are destined to pick up fans of the roster’s other acts (Cursive, Bright Eyes, Two Gallants, etc.) simply by association.
Lyrically, “Don’t Haunt This Place” is a bittersweet reflection on the confusion and closure which accompany a busted relationship, and this aspect of the songwriting may prove to be its strongest component. Vocalist Nils Edenloff has a unique presence but tries too hard to force certain parts of his performance, and Amy Cole’s off-key harmonies during the chorus threaten to sabotage the whole song. However, Paul Banwatt’s lo-fi, double-time drumming (the real star of this track) and the gentle nudge of somber strings prevent things from flying off the rails.
It’s clear from “Don’t Haunt This Place” that The Rural Alberta Advantage is capable of piecing together some earnest music with a strong sense of identity, but the polish isn’t exactly where it needs to be. A band to watch, if not quite yet.
(41 votes, average: 8.29 out of 10)
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June 15th, 2009 at 10:34 am
A perfect assessment of the song. Would benefit from better production.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
No really, the drums alone make this song worth listening too.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I love this song, and the whole album. Although it’s only coming out in the US now, it’s been on eMusic UK for months, and was my favourite album of 2008.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Happy and sad, I wanna just sing along and play it over and over again
September 29th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
My buddy stumbled on these guys at a small venue by accident almost two years ago in Ottawa, loved it, bought the CD and then introduced me to them… has basically been my favorite band/album ever since, hands down.