The Folded Records

Provincial
Epitaph

Frontman John K. Samson breaks from the folds of his Winnipeg folk-rock band The Weakerthans to produce this nostalgic and intimate look at growing up and surviving in Canada with his new album. Provincial is mostly filled with the same upbeat and twangy guitar sound that The Weakerthans are known for in the recollections of their Winnipeg roots, but Samson paints a picture for his listeners that is much more intimate and mellowed out. The sounds Samson creates in his rather sombre tune “Grace General” are born out of a slow-string quartet framed with the heart of a whining brass section. Samson’s album combines cooler and more frigid imagery of the Canadian winter with strong drum accords and guitar licks. These give the album an interesting blend of strength and vulnerability. At times the album recollects the same-old Canadian stories that are brought forth from The Rural Alberta Advantage’s Departed.

Previously published in the February 2012 Edition of Mount Royal University’s The Reflector. See the link below for published webpage review. 

http://www.thereflector.ca/2012/02/18/noise-101-cd-reviews-for-feb-16/