If the
Weakerthans had a love child with the Gaslight Anthem, and Joel Plaskett raised
that child, you would have something close to Treelines. Their music can be described as an
unassuming brand of indie rock, often painting a lyrical picture of anything
from the old west, to wintry northern landscapes. There’s a quality about this
band that can only seem to be described as sounding nostalgic and
‘unintentionally Canadian‘; something you can’t really pinpoint.
The band was
birthed in July 2009, when they released their debut album; a self titled full
length that showcased the song writing of singer Matt Lockhart. While it was only their first effort, the
album prompted Exclaim! Magazine to quip that “[the record] earns Matt Lockhart
and friends an invitation to one day joining the good company of Canada’s most
outstanding folk rock musicians.” CBC Radio 3 also joined in, asserting that
the band’s song ‘Canadian Airlines’ “says
more about [Canada] in three mere minutes than a three-hour Throne Speech could.” With rambling guitars, wilderness imagery you can lose
yourself in, and hints of harmonica filling in the scenes it’s tough to
describe the record as anything but Canadian, and for the band, anything but
honest.
July 2010 saw
the band release their follow-up effort Young
Man, a sharper, livelier effort than the its more laid-back predecessor. Shiny brass, rock
organs, cellos and soaring guitars highlig …
If the
Weakerthans had a love child with the Gaslight Anthem, and Joel Plaskett raised
that child, you would have something close to Treelines. Their music can be described as an
unassuming brand of indie rock, often painting a lyrical picture of anything
from the old west, to wintry northern landscapes. There’s a quality about this
band that can only seem to be described as sounding nostalgic and
‘unintentionally Canadian‘; something you can’t really pinpoint.
The band was
birthed in July 2009, when they released their debut album; a self titled full
length that showcased the song writing of singer Matt Lockhart. While it was only their first effort, the
album prompted Exclaim! Magazine to quip that “[the record] earns Matt Lockhart
and friends an invitation to one day joining the good company of Canada’s most
outstanding folk rock musicians.” CBC Radio 3 also joined in, asserting that
the band’s song ‘Canadian Airlines’ “says
more about [Canada] in three mere minutes than a three-hour Throne Speech could.” With rambling guitars, wilderness imagery you can lose
yourself in, and hints of harmonica filling in the scenes it’s tough to
describe the record as anything but Canadian, and for the band, anything but
honest.
July 2010 saw
the band release their follow-up effort Young
Man, a sharper, livelier effort than the its more laid-back predecessor. Shiny brass, rock
organs, cellos and soaring guitars highlight the upbeat release which the band
has described as a more “cohesive” effort. NxEW confidently asserted, “The album is summer listening at its
finest,” while CHARTattack reflected that the songs “seem more mature and hint
at a Weakerthans vibe.” Lyrically
the release continues in the vein of the debut CD, and seems to paint the
scenes of Young Man in the faded
colours of an old photograph: warm, honest, and strangely familiar. The songs seem to possess a nostalgic
quality that is so inviting, after a few listens you’ll be singing along and
reminiscing like the lyrics were taken from your high school diary.
In the fall of
2010 the band will follow the migratory patterns of so many previous bands from
Kelowna and head South to Vancouver.
While they will miss the orchards, wineries, and lakes, the move is the
perfect step for a band that is just beginning to hit their stride.
