So out of seemingly nowhere, Regina has become a bustling musical hot bed. Not bad for what Winnipeggers have called "the crotch of Canada". In fact, the scene has developed so many good indie pop bands that it's starting to get a Moncton circa 1993 aura about it.
One of the brightest lights on the scene is the 6-piece Rah Rah. Their full length album, Going Steady, is a marvellous collection of twelve pop rock gems.
The band combines jangly pop with more ornate Arcade Fire-style indie rock to mix an intoxicating musical cocktail. A hint of more earthy, organic roots music rounds off the elixir.
The male/female interplay on songs like "Betrayal Pt 1" is definitely a strength on the record. It turns tracks like "Our Hearts Don't Match Up" and "Cuba/Peru" from good pop songs into irresistible gems. The uber cool country lilt of "Duet for Emmylou and the Grievous Angel" (for Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons) is elevated by the back-and-forth.
When Burns sings on his own, particularly on songs like "Winter Sun", his voice bears a striking similarity to Gord Downie. I guess it's hard to escape that influence in Canada.
Thematically the songs are a little bit disjointed. The band moves from singing love songs to trolls ("Tentacles") to oddly political numbers ("Fuck NAFTA").
Not every song is a winner, but you would be hard pressed to ask for any more catchy pop goodness than you already get with Going Steady.
Read my recent Q&A with the band here.
Best tracks: "Duet for Emmylou and the Grievous Angel", "Our Hearts Don't Match Up"
Track listing for Going Steady:
- Betrayal Pt 1
- tentacles
- The Innocent One
- My Guarantee
- Duet for Emmylou and the Grievous Angel
- Fuck NAFTA
- I've Got Faith
- Winter Sun
- Castles
- Betrayal Pt 2
- Our Hearts Don't Match Up
- Cuba/Peru
8.0/10
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