In my younger and more vulnerable years...records that had a lasting impact on Raleigh

Welcome to a regular feature on Painting over Silence in which musicians share records that had an indelible impact on themselves and discuss what it is about these albums that were - or continue to be - so important toward their own musical development.

In this edition of In My Younger...we're joined by three members (sorta) of Calgary-based indie-folk-pop act Raleigh.

Seamlessly weaving in elements of pop, roots, and folk in its sound, the buzzed-about trio present these dynamic, quirky stylings to folks at the West End Cultural Centre on Friday, May 3rd. Also on the bill is Kieran West & His Buffalo Band and Poorboy. Show kicks off at 8 p.m.

Reminder: we're giving away tickets to the show, but the contest ends tomorrow.

All three members - Clea Anaïs, Brock Geiger, and Matt Doherty (via Clea and Brock) - selected one record vital to their musical development. Here’s what they had to say about each:

Clea's pick:

If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle & Sebastian (1996)

I was eight years old when I got into Belle and Sebastian. It was my older sister's record, but I had it on a constant loop in my room. It was a tough time in my life and this was the record that gave me solace through listening to music that was simultaneously melancholy, beautiful, and hopeful as well. I wrote my own first lyrics while listening to If You're Feeling Sinsiter, and discovered the subtleties and dynamics of indie orchestral pop.

Brock's pick:

Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads (1984)

When I first started playing guitar with my friends in junior high, we were set on being the next best classic rock heroes. We were maniacs about Pink Floyd and did a full set of The Who covers at our first show ever. My mom started dating someone new at this time and knowing I was a music fan he gave me three "recommended listens:" Wilco's A Ghost is Born, Frank Zappa's Sheik Yerbouti, and Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads. I was floored by all three, but the Talking Heads stayed in my sony discman for almost a year solid. I finally got to see David Byrne last year performing the 'Love This Giant' tour with St. Vincent. SO much swagger and personality. Amazing.

Matt's pick:

Greatest Hits Collection - R. Kelly

Matt didn't get back to us with a choice, so we decided for him. We don't think this pick is too far off though. Last tour he was glued to R.Kelly's autobiography and he started emulating the guy. He keeps wanting to sleep in hotel room closets and stuff.

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In my younger and more vulnerable years...records that had a lasting impact on Eagle Lake Owls

Welcome to a regular feature on Painting over Silence in which musicians share records that had an indelible impact on themselves and discuss what it is about these albums that were - or continue to be - so important toward their own musical development.

In this edition of In My Younger...we're joined by two members of up-and-coming Winnipeg folk group Eagle Lake Owls: leader-songwriter Andy Cole and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Dominique Lemoine. 

Rounded out by cellist Nathan Krahn, the trio will introduce the city to its stripped-down folk stylings this Saturday night at its EP release going down at the Exchange Community Church. Federal Lights and Man The Selector kick off the event. Show starts at 8. 

Both Cole and Lemoine each picked two records, and here's what they had to say about them: 

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Andy Cole's Picks:

Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

It remains something I often go to in my mind, intentionally or not, when I'm writing. It's sad, tragic, dirty, frenetic and raw. There are layers upon layers of meaning, but you can take a lot of it on face value and feel like you understand. It's one complete experience that leaves me emotional and exhausted every time. Musically, it taught me that a melody can expand greatly across just a few chords. I pretty much learned to sing by playing these songs on my guitar and howling the words when nobody else was home. 

Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. - Self-Titled

I was 16, and it was my first indie record ever. It's noisy in a way that serves the melody, and production tricks become a part of the music rather than just some kind of sheen. White noise, feedback and phone filters are as much a part of the songs as the guitar. The songwriting is very organic - if the point is made and it's only been a minute and ten seconds, then that's it. That was a big lesson for me to learn, that a song didn't have to fit the verse-chorus-verse template. It's such a "summer" album for me that I can only listen to it at that time of the year, and keep the CD stashed away til then. 

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Dominique Lemoine's Picks:

No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom

In 1995, I was in Grade 4 and the girls in my class were talking about No Doubt. I didn’t know what it was but I wanted to find out, so I asked for Tragic Kingdom on tape for Christmas and was surprised and ecstatic that my conservative parents actually bought it for me. It was a treasure, my first record, other than mix tapes of songs recorded from the radio. I still know it by heart.

The Beatles – 1

In 2000, my parents separated and my dad asked me for The Beatles’ greatest hits record for Christmas. I happily bought it for him, knowing they were a famous band from the 60’s but not knowing their music at all. The next summer, my dad took my siblings and I camping in the Whiteshell and we listened to the CD I’d gotten him on the way there. I was flabbergasted. For years after that, I couldn’t get enough of them.

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In my younger and more vulnerable years...three records that had a lasting impact on Devin Cuddy

Welcome to a regular feature on Painting over Silence in which musicians share records that had a lasting impact on themselves and discuss what it is about these albums that were - or continue to be - so important toward their own musical development.

In this edition of In My Younger...burgeoning blues-country maker Devin Cuddy (son of Blue Rodeo's Jim) shares three records (all live) with us that had an indelible impact on his formative music years.

Touring the country in support of his buzzed-about debut release, Volume One, Cuddy will be at the West End Cultural Centre on Tuesday, March 12th alongside tour and label-mate Whitney Rose. (Remember, you can win tickets to see the show through us...see here!)

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Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival

This was my favourite record by my favourite piano player of all time. Every note, whether quarter, eighth, sixteenth or thirty-second, is perfectly in the pocket. His rhythm is unmatched, and on this particular album, he's swinging with no drums. Something I have always admired about Oscar is how well spoken he is, like he was a CBC personality. I was unfortunately too young to attend his workshops at York, but I did see him play Massey Hall when I was 13. People told me that he'd slowed down from his stroke, something I did not notice at all. He flew like always and I sat there knowing that I wanted to play that instrument. My favourite track is “How About You?”

Randy Newman - Randy Newman Live
This record is pure gold. Great piano playing and great songs. Newman's ironic style of songwriting has been very influential on me, his lyrics are very well crafted and witty and his piano playing is excellent. One of the things I admire about his playing is how busy he can play under his singing. Although I love Newman's studio records quite a bit as well, this record seems to convey his personality well as you hear him make jokes and interact with the crowd, he even takes a request. I saw him play a few years ago and some of his jokes and banter were the same as on this record, which was quite a thrill. It's a collection of some of his finest work with such favourites as “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” “Yellow Man,” “Davy the Fat Boy,” and “Maybe I'm Doing it Wrong.”

Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner
I discovered this record after listening to Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, and Mule Variations, so I wasn't familiar with this style of Waits. My girlfriend had recently given me a cd of Jack Kerouac reciting excerpts from his works, with Steve Allen providing some nice background piano. I was just scratching the surface of the beatnik genre when I first heard this record. I loved it. The Waits' imagery is amazing, taking you right to the places and people that he's talking about, feeling their pain, angst, sadness and even intoxication. The band is hot, and the audience is digging it. Although I enjoy a lot of later Waits recordings, this one seemed to stand out the most in terms of influence on my own attempts at songwriting.  I even have a copy of the Edward Hopper painting "Nighthawks" that inspired the name and cover of the record. Favourite tracks include “Emotional Weather Report” and my most favourite “Warm Beer, Cold Women,” a beautiful description of a wandering lonely drunk.

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In my younger and more vulnerable years...three records that had a lasting impact on Lindi Ortega

Welcome to a new feature on Painting over Silence in which musicians share records that had a lasting impact on themselves and discuss what it is about these albums that were - or continue to be - so important toward their own musical development. 

For the inaugural edition of In My Younger...Tennessee-via-Toronto-based Lindi Ortega and her wonderfully powerful, show-stoppin' pipes shares three records with us that have left an enduring impression on her.

Touring in support of her fourth full-lengther, Cigarettes and Truckstops, the talented alt-country purveyor pops our fair city for a date at the Park Theatre on Valentine's Day. Dustin Bentall and the Smokes are also on the bill.

Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison

First of all, I don't know what's more outlaw than going to a prison and holding a concert for a bunch of inmates. Nothing gets me more than a live album, especially a live album done well. This record is a great example of that. Johnny Cash shines in this performance. I love all the little in between quips and the little mess ups here and there that remind us listeners that this is a live show -- raw, and unedited. Now lets get to the songs... I have to say Folsom Prison Blues is one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs ever, mostly because this line "I SHOT A MAN IN RENO JUST TO WATCH HIM DIE" crushes me every time! Johnny's juxtaposing lyrics and melodies have been a big influence on my own music as well as his signature chick-a-boom guitar stylings. With songs like The Long Black Veil, I Still Miss Someone, and amazing duets with June Carter Cash, namely an outstanding performance of JACKSON, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't love this record.

Hank Williams -  40 Greatest Hits

I love this record cause it's a compilation of all the great Hank Williams tunes and some of my most favorite are on it, like Lovesick Blues, I'm so lonesome I could cry, and Your Cheatin' Heart. The first Hank Williams song I ever heard was I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY, and I remember it really resonated with me. I'd say no one does a good old lonesome broken heart song like Hank. He's definitely inspired most of my love gone wrong tunes!  

Willie Nelson - Teatro

This is a great road album. I just love listening to it when I'm in the tour van watching the scenery blur by. First of all I love that its produced by Daniel Lanois. I've always loved his production style. Second, it has the wonderful Emmy Lou Harris singing harmonies, and last but not least it's chock full of stellar guitar playing and wonderful songs. 

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