Here's a lovely new record by Montreal's the Barr Brothers, an eclectic ensemble rooted in folk tradition, yet really adventurous in the sounds they employ in their songs. There's an even temper in Brad Barr's forlorn voice that recalls Jim Bryson, Vic Chesnutt, or Elliott Smith at times, and this gives songs like "Ooh, Belle" a unique tension, as the busy arrangements push him to keep up and adapt to crafty shifts in tone. In this sense, the music is really guiding the story of the album, with fluttery grooves popping up in "Give the Devil Back His Heart" (Martians would call this "world music"), while slow builds power African-guitar-flavoured things like "Deacon's Son." Really wild and elusive in its own way, the Barr Brothers' eponymous full-length shows off one of the most accomplished young bands in Canada.
Are you a fan of The Barr Brothers? Any plans to pick up their new record any time soon or see them live, like at their show with Woolly Leaves at the Drake in Toronto tonight?
I have five CD copies of The Barr Brothers to give away to the first people on the blog to respond with correct answers to questions I'll ask on the air throughout today's show (spelling, the great equalizer, counts). If this ends up being you (once!), please e-mail vish_khanna [at] cbcradio3.com with "The Roseanne Barr Brothers" in the subject line, and your blog moniker and shipping address in your message.
Old or new, Canadian or otherwise, what is YOUR album of the week?