Reunion Tour

by The Weakerthans

Overview

The Weakerthans have carved out a nice little name for themselves through the consistent creation of deceptively simple indie pop. Reunion Tour continues that tradition, but is clearer, richer, and more assured. As usual, the songs revolve around the everyday to embrace the small parts that make moments matter -- the awkward goodbyes, hands held tight, backward glances, smudges on the wall, minutes ticked by. It's in these understated details that the gifted John Samson eternally dwells bathed in self-awareness, masterfully turning insecurities into poetry with charm and ease. He does so over soft guitars, brushed percussion, and light keyboards that delightfully swirl and embrace each silky syllable with heart and grace. Austere horns lament over a delicately plucked guitar in "Bigfoot!," while Samson's heart sits "pumping pour mini bar" during the bright rush-hour hustle of "Relative Surplus Value." Every song sounds like the Weakerthans wrote it specifically for themselves and the listener just to enjoy together. Hooks are always present, but subtle, unassumingly driving the achingly tender "Sun in an Empty Room" -- whose repetition of the title conjures up ghosts and memories of homes left behind -- and the rhythmic stomp of "Tournament of Hearts." There's such a special intimacy surrounding the Weakerthans, such rich warmth, that you can feel the 11-song cycle of Reunion Tour deep inside your stomach like the anxious butterflies of a new romance. But this isn't a new, fleeting love affair -- at album number four, it's just the Weakerthans doing what they do best. ~ Corey Apar

Product Details

Release Date:	02/19/2008
Label:	Epitaph
UPC:	0045778687718
Rank:	19927

Tracks

1. Civil Twilight
2. Hymn of the Medical Oddity
3. Relative Surplus Value
4. Tournament of Hearts
5. Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure
6. Elegy From Gump Worsley
7. Sun in an Empty Room
8. Night Windows
9. Bigfoot!
10. Reunion Tour
11. Utilities

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Weakerthans   Primary Artist
Julie Penner   Trumpet
John K. Samson   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Jason Tait   Banjo,Drums,Loops,Keyboards,Percussion,Vibraphone,Glockenspiel
Izabella Budai   Flute
Michael Barth   Trumpet
Shawn Dealey   Drums (Snare)
Greg Smith   Bass,Vocals,Keyboards
Tyler Greenleaf   Trombone
Stephen Carroll   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Pedal Steel

Technical Credits

Ian Blurton   Producer
Peter Wagner   Merchandising
John K. Samson   Composer
The Weakerthans   Composer
Jason Tait   Composer
Cam Loeppky   Engineer,Live Sound
Brett Zilahi   Mastering
Shawn Dealey   Engineer
Greg Smith   Composer
William Eakin   Photography
Mike Carroll   Design,Layout Design
Simon Hughes   Illustrations
John Samson   Composer
Daryl Smith   Mixing
Stephen Carroll   Composer