So, if I say that The Acorn are a Canadian band, you’re instantly going to think of The Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and the rest of that bombastic crowd. However, on this occassion, you’d be wrong. There’s nothing bombastic about The Acorn. It’s smooth, gentle and perfectly beautiful. Their songs bathe in soft guitars, exquisite vocal harmonies and prefect rhythms. What we have here is a development on country and folk rock seen through a kaleidoscope of beauty and wonder. Their Myspace page has their sound pegged as “the splishsplashsplosh of aminotic fluids sluicing through a rusty sewer grate onto the scalp of a smiling Andy Swan”. Now, I’m not entirely sure I get the Andy Swan bit, but it gives you the general idea.
Their warm sounds bring to mind Jeff Buckley, Wilco and Neil Young and yet there’s something moving about the laid back vocals that echo Ffye Dangerfield’s of the Guillemots. In fact, it’s a more rural version of the latter that The Acorn reminds me most of.
The songs are full of open and honest emotions. The lyrics are simple, beautiful and inspiring. The song ‘Crooked Legs’ recounts the age old decisions of moving away from your home town to the bright lights of the urban throng: “I’m watching the road with two young eyes to guide me“, “the fireflies fade as the city lights find me“. Whilst ‘Glory’ speaks of those small, tender moments shared with a loved one that are missed when they’re gone “Oh, the morning sun has come and you’re not there” delivered in a voice that’s full of emotional longing.
There’s no hiding from the rawness on offer here, yet it’s wrapped in such a warm and welcoming blanket that it reassures you. This combination of words and music seems to be saying “sure, life can be a terrible thing to endure, but don’t worry, everything will work out fine in the end”. And, in this day and age, that’s all one can hope for.
mp3:> The Acorn: The Flood (Pt1)
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February 11th, 2008 at 11:52 am
it seems that at the beginning of every new year I discover a band that released an album the previous year that I completely overlooked. last year it was the long winters album, this year its the acorn’s album. it’s pretty much been on constant repeat since i first heard it at the end of january. gorgeous stuff.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Woo-hoo Rich. Glad you’re enjoying this.
FYI Andy Swan is an Ottawa based singer songwriter brethren to the Acorn. He just released a cd called ‘ Andy Swan’s Ottawa’ which I have heard of, but not heard. I think the comment is some cold weather in joke that I can’t really explain.
See yah - T
February 12th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
andy swan”s album rules, totally diff than acorn but countryriffic.
myspace.com/andyswanmusic
February 13th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Tualla = Canadian Music Goddess. Plus she introduced me to the Broken Family Band so really, she can do no wrong… ;)
Also, The Acorn album is released in ‘08 in the states so I can include it on this year’s best of list. Yay!
February 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
ahaa - so it was only released in Canada last year? woo hoo
though, i doubt it’ll get a uk release. its not even on amazon.co.uk which doesn’t particularly bode well.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:58 am
oh - and also you can download an Andy Swan EP for free here:
http://www.themichaelparks.com/
February 13th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Actually, it IS going to get a UK release. Hopefully later in the year… I had an email from a reliable source after posting this piece. Fingers crossed!
February 15th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
i agree…amazing band…i have been trying for some months to sign this band….hopefully i will do it, but probably some young dude from a cash rich label will read this and beat me to it…but glory hope mountain is one of my fave fave fave records… ever…