Band of the Week: The Acorn

[December 8-14]

The Acorn
Sounds Like: Folk / Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Ohbijou, Great Lake Swimmers, Peter and the Wolf.

Synopsis: Outaouais folk, layered thick like a quilt.

Makes You Want To...: Travel; Meditate; Take a walk.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is The Acorn.


Everyone looks for something a little different in the music they listen to. Now, I personally love quirkiness in a musically artist; any band that diverts from the paved road ahead of them and takes the road less traveled gains my respect and admiration (as well as my ear). Now this is obviously a guess, but I have a hunch since you - my dear reader - are wandering from music blog to music blog in search of new, your tired of listening to the same old same old, and are in search of something a little more interesting.

The Acorn epitomizes "something a little different," and define "a little more interesting." The collective from Ottawa, Canada, use a strange blend of folk and pop to weasel their way into your music player. You may remember them, if you're a fan of another Canadian collection known as Ohbijou. The Acorn and Ohbijou shared their last split-EP together; if their choice in friends is any determiner of how amazing and eccentric The Acorn's musical stylings are, well, you should have high expectations.

And if your expectations are raised, they certainly won't be let down. With a vibrant array of different instruments and skills, The Acorn assails your cerebellum with a slew of sounds that pass through you like the cold Canadian northern winds, each note as unique as the snowflakes that combine with their brethren on the white ground. Too much imagery? What if I told you that The Acorn explores a textured array of sound with folk inspired rhythms that could impress someone like Sufjan Stevens?

What separates The Acorn from other folk outfits is their cunning combination of sounds, with their inspiration from their surroundings. Listening to songs like "Crooked Legs" is like walking through a still forest at night, or watching your breath rise in the cold air; The Acorn captures not only a sense of complexity and texture, but also a sense of simplicity and subtlety. Their keen use of instrumentation and thorough use of musical texture offers an immensely unique sound, along with a bright, poignant image.

At present, The Acorn is relaxing in their Outaouais home. Their rest is well deserved, since these folks have been touring all year long! Following the release of their latest album, Glory Hope Mountain - which debuted in the United States in March - The Acorn toured all over the place! Whether it was down south in Texas for South By Southwest 2008, over in New England, or at the biggest festivals around Canada, The Acorns managed to rack up many a mile in travels, espcially along with their buddies/pals Ohbijou. The Acorns have plenty of albums for your listening pleasure, including their debut The Pink Ghosts, and of course their latest release, Glory Hope Mountain, along with a couple EPs! You can check all these albums, along with a collection of their music, and more! on The Acorn's Myspace.

Don't forget your scarf when leaving the house; Christmas is quickly approaching from around the corner, and we can no longer leave the house without wearing a jacket or seeing some Christmas lights. Let's get festive, folks! Have a wonderful (if not cold) week.