Departing - The Rural Alberta Advantage
Departing Image
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Band members: Amy Cole, Nils Edenloff, Paul Banwatt
  • Summary: The Canadian indie rock trio return with their second release of lovelorn, nostalgic, anthem-heavy pop songs.
  • Record Label: Paper Bag Records
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Pop
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. No Ripcord
    Feb 25, 2011
    90
    It's exciting in its pacing, invigorated in its writing, and illustrious in its instrumentation. It's not mad - nor, indeed, prairie-mad - to think that this is an early contender for album of the year lists.
  2. Alternative Press
    Mar 11, 2011
    80
    Blistering brittle and beautiful, this is a cold, winter wind of a record, perfect for shutting yourself away from the outside world as you mourn the passing of friends, loved ones and better days. [Apr 2011, p.118]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. The Guardian
    May 4, 2011
    80
    These are simple, almost campfire songs, drummer Paul Banwatt occasionally catching your attention with a stuttering rhythm, the focus on Edenloff's plaintive voice and his exorcism of the past.
  4. Drowned In Sound
    May 3, 2011
    60
    The album never fully soars either imaginatively or musically, and for all the virtues of its crisp, bold path through the blood and ice of wherever Edenloff is in flight from – or towards – this means that it's a disappointment.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. ZacharyMatson
    10
    One of the best albums I've heard in a very long time. It's nice to hear an album in which every song far exceeds your standards. I would recommend this album to anybody who has a fancy for good old school feeling indie rock.… Expand
  2. timtimtim
    8
    This album is intended to follow in the same path as Hometowns, it does, but its just not quite as good. North Star, Stamp, and a few other tunes are just as great as anything they've done before, the album as a whole just sort of feels like a slightly more mellow and cold version of this band. Definitely worth checking out though.… Expand

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