Canoe - Places

A review of the debut album by Canoe, Places.

As Matt Hoiland's gorgeous tenor resonates into your eardrums on the first track, Canoe's "Places" grabs you by your shirttail and won't let go. Canoe is composed of Matt Hoiland on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Sofia Hoiland on violin, Carl Hoiland on acoustic bass, Dave Westhora on drums, and Cameron Steineckert on rhythm guitar.

"Places" is full of surprises, filled with Gaelic undertones and folkish storytelling that one cannot help but fall in love with. When Matt and Sophie Hoiland harmonize, their voices seamlessly meld into one - as clear and piercing as you've ever heard, penetrating down to the depths of your soul. Sweet Deyanira sets the pace for the entire album, as the first chime strikes and continues its vibrant tones throughout the song.

When Places takes you down to the place where you analyze every fear and worry you've ever had - it picks you right back up on the next track. Canoe uplifts the spirits just as spectacularly as they force you to focus on your failings and inadequacies, with a perfect balance of unforgettable narrative (i.e. Anxious Jenny, Audrey and Eli) and desperate tribulation (Ben and Hannah, The Redwoods).

The highlight of the album might quite possibly be Canoe's take on Holland, 1945, originally by Neutral Milk Hotel. Rather than just attempting to replay the song (as many bands do), they head in the complete opposite direction. Stripping away the distortion and frenzy that accompanies NMH's track, they take the beautiful metaphysical implications and the song just seems to float along with Hoiland's voice.

Nearly every song on their album cannot be described with words and phrases, but with colors and vibrant imagery. You don't just hear "Places", you feel it. Drip, Drip, Drop is perfectly anxious in its expressiveness, from the sound of birds chirping in the background, to the gentle squeal of Hoiland's hand running up the fretboard of his paintbrush.

And the instrumentation on "Places" can only adequately be described as such, not mere objects, but truly tools in an artist's repertoire. Not one member of Canoe can be picked out as superior to another, they successfully weave together a majestic tapestry of storytelling and songwriting that, honestly, has not been seen in years.

 

http://www.myspace.com/canoecanoe/

Author's Note

Constructive criticism - as always, is completely welcome.