By Amanda Hu
Touted by many as a staple of the Canadian music scene, the Weakerthans have made a name for themselves by presenting good, wholesome indie rock that speaks to the heart of the proverbial small-town teen everywhere.
The Winnipeg quartet’s latest offering, Reunion Tour, sports their signature cute, kitschy-in-a-good-way style. Incorporating John K. Sampson’s signature voice, as much intensity as could be mustered when singing about Canadian provinces and curling, sometimes laid-back brush-driven grooves, pleasant guitar and well-placed harmonies, the album seems to find a comfortable balance that is wooing to pretty much any listener.
“Elegy for Gump Worsley” is an endearing, yet melancholy spoken word tribute to a fallen everyman with a guitar and banjo singing woefully in the background. Sampson’s description eerily describes Worsley to the point where he is clearly visualized. The album’s title track is constantly pushed onwards by a snare-heavy drum part and allows Sampson to almost ramble on in his lyrics, stating, “I lost the chiming ring/ Of keys to everything.” Glockenspiel, flute and trumpets float in and out of the song, adding enticing elements that draw the ear in.
Reunion Tour screams the engaging charm that the Weakerthans personify, making for a most-pleasant listen and some long-awaited ear-candy for their die-hard fans.