So, this is my attempt (despite my outspoken criticisms of the whole Rural Alberta Advantage thing) at garnering some support for a very off-of-the-radar band that is increasingly deserving of some good old fashion Metacritic obsessives (and critics). Sorry if this feels like a shameless promotional post (though it is shaemless). They've made it easy - you can download all the songs from their newly self released album off of their Virb page.

I imagine people who liked the last Evangelicals album, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and (for some reason) The Antlers would dig this album.

The band is apparently swimming in debt and have some donation thing-a-majig setup on their Virb page. But, just listen to the album. It speaks for itself and will definitely rank in my top ten for the year.

It's an interesting discovery. It does capture a mood quite well. I especially like the artist's description of his sound as "all bundled up in a warmish childhood memory of hiding underneath your grandma's kitchen table in 1989 watching an episode of Mister Rogers with her overweight cocker spaniel (what was his name? keebo? keeno?)"
That description pretty much nails it.

BTW, I don't recall you being an outspoken critic of the RAA thing. But, I'm glad to see you coming over to the dark side of shameless promotion. Welcome to the club. We even have a special handshake.

Hmm, I'll try to check them out when I get a chance. Sounds kinda interesting. As long as they're not one of those notoriously unlistenable avant-garde noise bands Sicnarf is always trying to foist upon us.

I really like this album, although it feels a little repetitive at some points, and the speech from the child at the end is a little unnecessary.
Tippy-Toes is easily the highlight and one of my favorite songs of 2009.