This is a great story about how the internet can lead to bigger and better things for an unknown and unsigned band. We all played a significant role in this story, so I thought I would share it with you. If I get any of this wrong, please correct me.
The Rural Alberta Advantage is an indie rock trio from Toronto made up of Paul Banwatt, Amy Cole, and Nils Eddenloff. In 2005, they put together a demo, but were unable to generate much interest. In 2006, the RAA self-produced an EP cleverly named, The Rural Alberta Advantage EP. Again, no interest. Then, in 2008, the RAA self-produced their first LP called Hometowns and put it up for sale on the internet. To this day, this is the only place to purchase a physical copy of the album.
On February 19, 2008, a review of Hometowns appeared on Herohill.com, a site that defines itself as “a music review site from the Great White North”. This review refers to the RAA as “probably the best unsigned band in Canada.” Herohill summed up Hometowns as follows:
quote:
On the surface, you are hit with the trio's Neutral Milk Hotel pop and Nils Edenloff's detailed narratives of his Alberta roots. While it seems almost necessary to toss in a Sufjan reference when you talk about the subject matter, the final product couldn't be farther from one of the indie rock poster boy's releases. Instead of calculated, over thought, lush compositions, RAA prefers energetic, spontaneous, spare arrangements with just enough shocks and surprises to keep you guessing. And the power the trio delivers is astonishing.
In early summer of this year, one of our members, nmeiborg was poking around Herohill when he discovered the RAA. On June 24, nmeiborg posted the following in the “Best Records of 2008” thread after listening to Hometowns:
quote:
Pretty impressed with a couple albums recently:
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns
Indie folk-rock that reminds me a bit of Neutral Milk Hotel
The War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues
Indie-rock with hints of Springsteen, Eno, Sonic Youth and early U2
This short post caused ripples that created a stir on Metacritic which has ended in a ground-swell of support for this unsigned band. Since then 7 people have put the RAA in their top 20: mneiborg (#2), RavingLunatic (#2), twinsdad (#4), L.R. Willaim Spencer (#7), Liberal Kid (#10), ajar (unnumbered, but at the top of the list), and CoCoCo (putting RAA in the “GoodGoodGood” category). Several others have mentioned it as an album they are still digesting. Not bad for an unsigned band.
RavingLunatic saw nmeiborg’s post, and picked up the album. Since then, RL has been an ardent supporter of the band. On October 5, RL made the following post in the “Best Records of 2008” thread:
quote:
Dudes, I recently re-listened to that Rural Alberta Advantage album, Hometowns, and it is freaking killer. I'm tempted to call it the best indie-rock album since The Meadowlands. These songs are passionate, catchy, and fresh. At times it recalls Neutral Milk Hotel, but they are different in many ways as well. Rural Alberta Advantage is now in a ferocious battle with Tallest Man On Earth for my #1 spot. If you are a fan of indie-rock and haven't heard this, you need to.
This is where the RAA picks up a little steam. Seeing this post, I checked the RAA out on their myspace page. I instantly fall in love with the band. But, I’m too honest to illegally download the album and too cheap to pay $12 plus shipping and handling from their website. So, I posted a message on the message boards at eMusic directed to Yancey Strickler, one of the editors at eMusic. In my message, I asked if I could recommend an unsigned band for the eMusic Selects program. Every couple of months, eMusic signs up unsigned artists to promote and digitally distribute their albums. The program has been going on for less than a year, but so far eMusic signed up Breathe Owl Breathe to distribute its Ghost Glacier EP and at least one artist – High Places – has received a record deal after being an eMusic Select artist. Yancey was impressed with the RAA, and said that he would contact the band.
Slightly more than a month later, the RAA has become an eMusic Select artist. This could be a big stepping-stone for the band, and will guarantee them exposure to the more than 400,000 monthly eMusic subscribers.
I will be watching this band closely to see what the future holds. I feel that all of us here on the Metacritic boards have a stake in this band, since we have played an important role in their development. Good job nmeiborg, RL, twinsdad, L.R. Willaim Spencer, ajar, Liberal Kid, CoCoCo and everybody else that has been talking up this band! The RAA is our band!
Nice job! Because of the recommendations from this board, I've also been album to discover this hidden treasure from Canada. It will definitely be on my top 20 of the year list. I forgot who posted that "Edmonton" is their favorite song of the year, but it's definitely one of my favorites too.
Posts: 117 | Location: Pasadena, CA | Registered: 24 September 2008
That's great to see that eMusic has picked the RAA as their eMusic Selects pick, hopefully this will bring even more well deserved attention their way. It's always nice to know you've helped people discover an artist, especially a fairly unknown/unsigned artist at that.
I just checked out their MySpace and quickly purchased the record. It has aspects of Neutral Milk Hotel as well as what seems to be a Dodos-esque sound. I don't know much about folk music to know who they draw their influences from, so someone could help me out :/
Needless to say, great job Troy. I'm glad to see that fan acclaim can truly spread a record to wider audiences.
It pays to kill anyone who has information.
Posts: 218 | Location: London, ON, CANADA | Registered: 12 October 2007
This album has shot up my list the last few days, and I am absolutely in love. I am now making it my mission to spread them to as many people as possible.
____________________ I'm still swinging on the cross of St. You
Posts: 228 | Location: London, ON | Registered: 03 October 2008
This is an awesome idea and thread, FoT. The way you were able to get the RAA exposure on eMusic is great. I've been busy and was away from the forums for a couple days, otherwise I would've posted in this thread earlier. I mean, there are lots of other obscure bands that I really, really love, but this it maybe the only one that I can unreservedly recommend to indie music fans of all stripes. It really is a spectacular record. It's funny to think of the Rural Alberta Advantage as "our band" as FoT said, but I really like the idea. Good work, FoT!
-------------------------------------------------- I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
Posts: 4617 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Man, I just read that interview and it's one of the best I've read in a long time. Very cool.
-------------------------------------------------- I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
Posts: 4617 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Originally posted by RavingLunatic: Man, I just read that interview and it's one of the best I've read in a long time. Very cool.
That's funny. I never read the whole interview through until right now. Yancey's a great guy, and he knows his music. He gives a pretty good interview.
By the way, I checked on the eMusic charts and Hometowns has been the top downloaded album since it came out on Tuesday.
________________ The record buying public shouldn't be voting.
Posts: 1111 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 18 December 2006
I'm glad that we helped them along, but RAA getting more coverage was bound to happen eventually, they're a great band with a very accessible sound. Looking at their lastfm they're up to 43k plays and I can't help but feel that the first time I listened to them mid-summer it was more around 4k. Anyway it'll be interesting to watch their listeners grow over the next few months.
mmm...i thought this record was kinda...well...mediocre. I mean, i saw 1000000 good comments about the last record and no bad comment, so i think it's normal to try to balance things a bit.
Originally posted by eggtweedyegg: mmm...i thought this record was kinda...well...mediocre. I mean, i saw 1000000 good comments about the last record and no bad comment, so i think it's normal to try to balance things a bit.
From this post, I can't tell if you really liked it or not.
You just have to be the contrarian, don't you?
________________ The record buying public shouldn't be voting.
Posts: 1111 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 18 December 2006
quote: Originally posted by eggtweedyegg: mmm...i thought this record was kinda...well...mediocre. Razzer I mean, i saw 1000000 good comments about the last record and no bad comment, so i think it's normal to try to balance things a bit.
From this post, I can't tell if you really liked it or not.
Update, since I will not let this thread die until I have converted everyone on these boards - including you Tweedy
It's now been over a week since eMu put Hometowns up for download on the internets. It was the #1 download for the week, and it ranks at #9 for the month - not bad considering its only been out for a little more than 7 days.
P.S. Tweedy, I thought you were just being ironic in the original post. I hear Wilco loves the RAA.
________________ The record buying public shouldn't be voting.
Posts: 1111 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 18 December 2006
Metacritic Forums 
I mean, i saw 1000000 good comments about the last record and no bad comment, so i think it's normal to try to balance things a bit.
