Smothered In Hugs
date: February 10, 2009
label: Collagen Rock
downloads: (right click and "save link as")
mp3 - Blank Test
1 |
2 |
|---|
tracklist:
1. Blank Test
2. Ghost Believah
3. Visa Problems
4. Chest Protection
5. Even Brothers
6. At The Coatcheck
7. Money Came Through
8. Die Trying
9. Young Flare
10. Foundation
11. Meet The Monster
12. Cut Loose
13. The River
myspace
Taking their name from a Guided By Voices song, Smothered In Hugs formed in Charlottetown, P.E.I. in 2005; two song writing brothers (Ryan and Aaron Crane), a close cousin (Todd MacLean), a childhood friend (Josh Byrne), and a recently added, barely nineteen, multi-instrumentalist (Andrew Murray). With the completion of their highly anticipated, first full-length album The Healing Power Of Injury, the band has taken their intensely melodic, densely layered pop-rock leanings and created an original breed of deeply propulsive, mood-riding anthems, equal parts challenging and catchy. Musically, the songs spin sometimes haunting, sometimes sugary webs of guitars, keyboard, and piano anchored by a walloping backbeat and almost guitar-like bass arrangements. Lyrically, the songs walk the thin line between evocative imagery and matter-of-fact, everyday reality. Stylistically, the overall sound falls somewhere between early college art-rockers like REM (in their heyday) and grittier blue-collar spark plugs, The Replacements - the common denominator being unpretentious, unmistakable heart. Live, this remarkably tight band just happens to be fun and shambolic enough to charge a hall.
Advanced copies of The Healing Power Of Injury , whichwas completed in June 2008, have been circulating amongst the band’s peers and the initial positive feedback has been thrilling. In July, a copy of the record made it into the hands of Toronto electro-rockers and Polaris Prize short list nominees Holy Fuck, who were so impressed by the LP that they insisted the band join them for an Ontario mini-tour in September. Rounding out their busy summer and fall, Smothered In Hugs showcased at NXNE, POPMontreal, and the Halifax Pop Explosion.
Since the release of their debut EP, Fancy Demo, in 2006, Smothered In Hugs has received radio play on CBC Radio 1 (Q, Sounds Like Canada, Freestyle) CBC Radio 3 (as a New Music Canada Featured Artist and various podcasts), and has charted on campus radio. While interest in the band builds regionally and nationally, Smothered In Hugs have quickly become a favorite in their hometown, amassing a die-hard following. They have also become a local opener of choice for other touring Canadian acts and promoters, supporting bands such as Wintersleep, Dog Day, The Immaculate Machine, and You Say Party! We Say Die!, to name a few. The band recently formed the local consortium Collagen Rock Records with fellow Islanders Two Hours Traffic and The Danks, along with Cape Breton’s Mardeen