Arietta - Migration

Toronto band Arietta reminds me of many of the indie rock bands that I listened to back when I first started listening to indie rock. Their music boasts a cry of immediacy, a punkish alt-rock punch that moves and shakes with a high-strung longing that, when left in more juvenile hands, is accompanied by a snotty nosed false arrogance. But you'll notice that their name is not followed by a dash 182 or any other trivial number. No, taking a cue from more noble acts such as Minus The Bear, Moneen and even the local boys in Oh No Forest Fires, Arietta incorporates an aire of sophistication to their music that allows for a meeting of generational minds. In other words, it's angsty music for the more sophisticated listener.

The songs on their new release Migrations, are impeccably crafted and although they do display a measure of mathiness, they are not in any way grandiloquent. (OK, I used a thesaurus, but that is a cool word 'eh? It means pretentious.) When someone punches you in the face, the contact of knuckle to face always feels the same way, whether it was carefully thought out or a move out of instinct. That's the best way that I can describe Arietta's sound. If all you want is to rock out, then this album will definitely do it for you. But if you need something a little bit meatier, this album provides that also. For example, the song Northearned shifts from frantic to subtle with an endearing complexity that is eccentric for sure, but still very easy to follow. Another example of this is a song entitled It's An Uphill Battle And It's All Downhill From Here which starts very nice and melodic before easing into a more agressive segue with a stop-start instrumental break that precedes a poppy chorus that leads to a slightly rootsier moment that includes slide guitar. And this is all within a four minute song which means that there's no time to get bored or confused by it all. Although the songs themselves are very good, some of them great, I have to admit that my favourite moments are the brief instrumental snippets that flow inbetween the songs. These are the spaces that, for me, add a sonically pleasing uniformity to the entire album. They also act as a great way to occupy the mind before the next song inevitably attacks you.

Arietta are playing a CD release show at The Horseshoe on Thursday May 7th with special guests Cancel Winter and The Junction. The evening is also being hosted by the bizarre and magical Serb Superb.

Photo taken by Emma-Lee
Myspace: Arietta
Download: Into The Deep mp3

Other Stuff:
Magnet Magazine's Over/Under feature delves into the most overrated and underrated songs by The Clash. While I would agree that Rock The Casbah is definitely overrated, they failed to mention White Riot in the underrated category. Best. Punk. Song. Ever. [Myspace: The Clash]

Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart have new video out for the song Young Adult Friction. It is being streamed over at Chart. [Myspace: Pains Of Being Pure At Heart]

The Maccabees have just released their latest album called Wall Of arms. Tailor made for fans of Hot Hot Heat and The Futureheads, the whole thing is streaming in its entirety over at Drowned In Sound. [Myspace: The Maccabees]

[Via Chromewaves] Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes are going to be playing Massey Hall on August 28th. His most recent foray into country is entitled Secret, Profane and Sugarcane and it's is to be relased on June 2nd. [Myspace: Elvis Costello]

That's it for today since I'm literally running off to The Horseshoe right now to see The Balconies. Laterz.