When I went to the Pickathon music festival in Oregon earlier this year, I discovered a bunch of new bands, but none won me over as quickly and thoroughly as Elliott Brood, a three-piece twang/folk/rock outfit from Toronto. Singer Mark Sasso’s gravelly voice, the harmonies, the banjo, the rock energy … it pushed all my buttons.
They have gotten pretty big in Canada. [Your Canada joke here.] Their second album, Mountain Meadows, was shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Prize, which is a big deal in Canada. [Another Canada joke here.] Now they’ve just released their third LP, Days Into Years.
I’ve had it on repeat for days. It doesn’t quite capture their live energy, but the songs are impeccably crafted and I continue to be unable to resist that singing voice.
This song is the first single, “Northern Air.” It’s one of the mellower tracks on the album, but I like the fact that it doesn’t try too hard. Enjoy, and if you find yourself in Canada soon [third and final Canada joke here], see them live; you won’t regret it.
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