The Weakerthans have carved out a nice little name for themselves through the consistent creation of deceptively simple indie pop. Reunion Tour continues that tradition, but is clearer, richer, and more assured. As usual, the songs revolve around the everyday to embrace the small parts that make moments matter -- the awkward goodbyes, hands held tight, backward glances, smudges on the wall, minutes ticked by. It's in these understated details that the gifted John Samson eternally dwells bathed in self-awareness, masterfully turning insecurities into poetry with charm and ease. He does so over soft guitars, brushed percussion, and light keyboards that delightfully swirl and embrace each silky syllable with heart and grace. Austere horns lament over a delicately plucked guitar in "Bigfoot!," while Samson's heart sits "pumping pour mini bar" during the bright rush-hour hustle of "Relative Surplus Value." Every song sounds like the Weakerthans wrote it specifically for themselves and the listener just to enjoy together. Hooks are always present, but subtle, unassumingly driving the achingly tender "Sun in an Empty Room" -- whose repetition of the title conjures up ghosts and memories of homes left behind -- and the rhythmic stomp of "Tournament of Hearts." There's such a special intimacy surrounding the Weakerthans, such rich warmth, that you can feel the 11-song cycle of Reunion Tour deep inside your stomach like the anxious butterflies of a new romance. But this isn't a new, fleeting love affair -- at album number four, it's just the Weakerthans doing what they do best.
Reunion Tour sees the Weakerthans tighten their narrative frame. At certain moments, specificity mutes the emotional resonance, but in “Night Windows” and “Sun in an Empty Room,” a humanity radiates from the looser brushwork used to render a moment in time rather than a life lived in its own way.Reminds us of: The Mountain Goats | Tolstoy | why we loved them in the first placeThe Weakerth
More >
I was listening to 'The World' the other day (on NPR,) when I heard this song. The interview was interesting, featuring the lead singer of the band who spoke about the early years of the band, some of his influences when writing the songs, and about their latest CD. The song that I have uploaded here was inspired when the writer saw the painting 'Sun in an Empty Room' by Edward Hopper.You can...
More >
We just posted video of The Weakerthans preforming at the Triple Rock Social Club, in Minneapolis, MN on September 25th, 2007. Songs featured include: Civil Twilight, Reconstruction Site, Night Windows, Left and Leaving, Pamphleteer, and Relative Surplus Value.check them out here. http://scheduletwo.com/video/the_weakerthans
More >
Here's a track off the group's new Anti- album, Reunion Tour.
More >
I'm back from vacationing in Vacationland after taking a vacation from my Vacationland home. When I returned, I realized kinks needed to be ironed out in the rules and scoring most certainly needed to be tweaked. I initially gave each song one score but of course, that's unfair, especially for Rawkiddo who busted his ass to name drop (and bold) every single person. Celebrity Name Drop: The Ga...
More >
I'm tremendously excited ... My current Canadian musical heroes, the Weakerthans, will actually be paying a visit to my fair city (that would be Phoenix, for those of you not in the know) in a couple weeks here.Since I had barely any hope that they'd ever head far enough south of the 49th parallel as to be within traveling distance, it excites me to no end that a quick cross-town jaunt on Sept....
More >
We just posted video of The Weakerthans preforming at the Triple Rock Social Club, in Minneapolis, MN on September 25th, 2007. Songs featured include: Civil Twilight, Reconstruction Site, Night Windows, Left and Leaving, Pamphleteer, and Relative Surplus Value.check them out here. http://scheduletwo.com/video/the_weakerthans
More >
Reunion Tour sees the Weakerthans tighten their narrative frame. At certain moments, specificity mutes the emotional resonance, but in “Night Windows” and “Sun in an Empty Room,” a humanity radiates from the looser brushwork used to render a moment in time rather than a life lived in its own way.Reminds us of: The Mountain Goats | Tolstoy | why we loved them in the first placeThe Weakerth
More >
Today's the beginning of the Tournament of Hearts in Canada, so I thought this was an appropriate song to post.
More >
I was listening to 'The World' the other day (on NPR,) when I heard this song. The interview was interesting, featuring the lead singer of the band who spoke about the early years of the band, some of his influences when writing the songs, and about their latest CD. The song that I have uploaded here was inspired when the writer saw the painting 'Sun in an Empty Room' by Edward Hopper.You can...
More >
I have found myself to be a bit on the obsessive side over the past month of my life. I was again moved back to part time at work (which really means part time pay, which is just over sustainable) and alongside that came extra hours, even days, of leisure free time. Now you might think that I would use this time to do what I love. That I would use it to peruse music blogs, stream tracks from
More >
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Reunion Tour")
