Quick Hitters:: Almonds, Cohen Amazing Grass

In the blog world, sticking to smaller acts (especially Canadian ones) is roughly the equivalent of being a successful b-list actor. Sure, the artists appreciate your work for what it is, but at the end of the day most of your effort goes by unnoticed.

I guess in kind of the same way as signing on to do a huge JJ Abrams summer blockbuster would bring a good amount of shine to those actors, posting on bands that play for more than a handful of people (or maybe throwing up a few Animal Collective / Grizzly Bear posts) might help our numbers. Who knows? I guess when you’ve become the crusty old bloggers of the scene, you aren’t going to change.

So, true to form, today you get another hidden gem from North of the 49th parallel. Almonds, Cohen is the solo work of Brock Edwards from Victoria, BC. Honestly, I had no idea who that was until I realized he was part of the terrific outfit, Colourbook. I wrote about them almost a year ago – and even I slept on their terrific EP – admitting how easily I fell for the drone and melody they threw around the studio.

But Brock’s solo work is a different animal completely. The result of over a year of fine tuning, Amazing Grass is a bedroom pop symphony. He’s obviously influenced by Lennon and McCartney and The Beach Boys, but the subtle synth/piano driven melodies and electronics push your ears and heart more towards the pleasantries you’d expect from Nick Krgovich or Larissa Loyva. The songs – at least the few I’ve heard – are warm and breezy and definitely show that Brock is headed down the right path. The arrangements are nuanced and the harmonies, while not Beach Boys in quality, expand the sound. Digging for Clams is blissful. Not much else needs to be said, but the hand claps and electronics turn the simple folk effort into something magical.

Acadia explores tempo nicely, but even after slowling the pace t oa crawl, he quickly revisits the infectious electronics and guitar and starts to build (including terrific strings), keeping you engaged. Basically, Brock knows how to craft simple, catchy melodies, but never lets the notes become stagnant and resists the tempatation to overcrowd the affair. Bottom line - Amazing Grass could be the record you look to when the sun starts shining and your friends start cracking beers on the back deck.

MP3:: Almonds, Cohen - Acadia

MP3:: Almonds, Cohen - Digging for Clams
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/almondsgoing

PS – Any Maritimer worth their salt loves hearing Acadia and Inverness mentioned in song, and most likely have spent at least one Saturday Digging Clams. So if Brock’s intention was to impress the other coast with Amazing Grass, hats off to him.

Labels: Best-of '09, Canada, Music