The Weakerthans — Left And Leaving
Album: Left and LeavingAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 225
Length: 4:40
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I liked that on first hearing — made me look up and see what was on. I'm surprised to see how many hate comments there are.
scraig wrote:
I thought the same at first.
I thought it was the Decemberists
I thought the same at first.
...so I was at this little indie festival and heard some great melody open for a band that had been greeted with fervent applause even before they had started. I slowly walked up to the stage, bewitched by the music radiant with a distant longing - and those words:
My city's still breathing (but barely it's true)
through buildings gone missing like teeth.
The sidewalks are watching me think about you,
sparkled with broken glass.
I looked around and I saw that the whole first row of the crowd -girls and guys, teens and parents- were crying because of the song. Then I heard Samson's words create stories with images of such splendor and beautifully painted truth that, when listened to on the road, make you park the car on the side-strip until it's over. Or, like I did a few minutes later, just cry because of the sheer beauty of it all.
Ever since then, their songs, and especially this one, which tells of the feeling of being lost like no other, have been a part of my life. I've started listening to a whole range of other genres but The Weakerthans manage to bring me to a halt and listen everytime. They have won several acclaimed awards and are, in my humble opinion, most definitely worth getting into.
PS: If you want to try it in context, watch this short film with the same title.
My city's still breathing (but barely it's true)
through buildings gone missing like teeth.
The sidewalks are watching me think about you,
sparkled with broken glass.
I looked around and I saw that the whole first row of the crowd -girls and guys, teens and parents- were crying because of the song. Then I heard Samson's words create stories with images of such splendor and beautifully painted truth that, when listened to on the road, make you park the car on the side-strip until it's over. Or, like I did a few minutes later, just cry because of the sheer beauty of it all.
Ever since then, their songs, and especially this one, which tells of the feeling of being lost like no other, have been a part of my life. I've started listening to a whole range of other genres but The Weakerthans manage to bring me to a halt and listen everytime. They have won several acclaimed awards and are, in my humble opinion, most definitely worth getting into.
PS: If you want to try it in context, watch this short film with the same title.
SYG
one word: innocuous. no, two words: innocuously impotent.
I thought it was the Decemberists
Bill, please take another look at these guys, "Sun in an Empty Room" is a recent, excellent track !
peter_james_bond wrote:
if he writes as good as he sings nobody reads him
The lead singer of The Weakerthans, John K Sampson, is a very literate guy. He formed a publishing company and he championed 2 novels that one national book contests in Canada.
if he writes as good as he sings nobody reads him
The lead singer of The Weakerthans, John K Sampson, is a very literate guy. He formed a publishing company and he championed 2 novels that won national book contests in Canada.
I was glad to hear this wailing stop...maybe just too interesting for me
Another Canadian band. I swear, we are at risk of losing our American cultural identity to those guys.
RadioDoc wrote:
Wow!
I didn't know this.
I have only heard it here.
The slide didn't start yesterday.
And, unfortunately, this particular musical fungus has consumed much of the pop landscape.
And, unfortunately, this particular musical fungus has consumed much of the pop landscape.
Wow!
I didn't know this.
I have only heard it here.
TrebleStauter wrote:
And, unfortunately, this particular musical fungus has consumed much of the pop landscape.
RadioDoc wrote:
Because of a record that was released eight years ago?
The slide didn't start yesterday.Yet another reason why CD sales are down.
3
3
Because of a record that was released eight years ago?
And, unfortunately, this particular musical fungus has consumed much of the pop landscape.
Exquisite chord progressions.
YAY for Weakerthans!
RadioDoc wrote:
Because of a record that was released eight years ago?
Yet another reason why CD sales are down.
3
3
Because of a record that was released eight years ago?
Yet another reason why CD sales are down.
3
3
LikesEarCandy wrote:
I don't know.. maybe I'm just in a bad mode today...but this singer sounds too much like a muppet... or the love child of weird Al and Kermit.
Weird Al and Kermit=Chris Martin
This guy sounds more like Kermit's little cousin.
rah wrote:
(deathcab for cutie - passion) + (explosions in the sky * dullness^2) = weakerthans
nice math. i would say that equation is accurate where the result = 4.
Pretty Good- nothing to get excited about.
(deathcab for cutie - passion) + (explosions in the sky * dullness^2) = weakerthans
It's curious but in AMG all their albums are rated with 4 stars.
So they are good, not excellent but regular.
:-)
Has he reached puberty yet?? 
It sounds much better after you turn it off.
This sounds an awful lot like Death Cab / Postal Service.
Any relation?
LikesEarCandy wrote:
Yeah, this is awful!
I don't know.. maybe I'm just in a bad mode today...but this singer sounds too much like a muppet... or the love child of weird Al and Kermit.
Yeah, this is awful!
I don't know.. maybe I'm just in a bad mode today...but this singer sounds too much like a muppet... or the love child of weird Al and Kermit.
denmom wrote:
My first experience with these guys -- pretty interesting; great lyrics...
Absolutely. Excellent, in fact.
jenseda wrote:
It's interesting to see that Wierd Al Yankovic has decided to go serious.
phrawzty wrote:One Great City!"
Hint: the city he's making reference to is Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They've actually got another song called "I Hate Winnipeg" as well, which is absolutely fantastic. :)
It's actually called "Me thought it was another Ben Gibbard project.........nope.
My first experience with these guys -- pretty interesting; great lyrics...
thank you! thank you! thank you! RP
MORE WEAKERTHANS! ...luv em! Nice visuals, nice songwriting.
Neverheardof'em... Thanks RP, again
Could our friend be persuaded not to sing any words with letters 'r' or 'l'.
I thought this was Tom Mcrae , then Tom Mcrae came on!!!
8 just the same.It's interesting to see that Wierd Al Yankovic has decided to go serious.
is it just me... or did the tempo just slow by 10 or 20 bpm?
Like the band, hate the voice
weaker than death cab.
trekhead wrote:
Interesting word play.
8 out of the chute.
I was about to say the opposite. "Buildings like missing teeth" isn't light word play, it's heavy-handed simile.
New band for me. Based on this song, I'd be interested in hearing more from them!
Pleasant stuff. I saw them live in a bar a couple of years ago. I like their music.
i can't think of many people whose singing ability is weakerthan this.
Interesting word play.
8 out of the chute.
Purty good - and awfully Placebo-ish.
I could not agrre more about the Weakerthans being:
1. Being amazing lyricists and musicians!
2. Putting on an awesome show!
I saw them live with Sarah Harmer & with Danny Michelle on lead guitar spine tingling! Listen to the actual lyrics of this song it is one of the sadest tunes ever written if you can get into the artists headspace.
camarkim wrote:
Sounds like vanilla ice-cream. Nothing to love-nothing to hate.
Yes, but if you play this song too fast it will give you a brain freeze.
These guys are awesome. This is an excellent addition to RP
I do not know really why, but i love, perhap's because there is something that's sound real. Try also "This is a fire door never leave open"
Yeah they're from my hometown.
Love their stuff. Typical of this city, you get more attention from outside than from within.
edit: Take a look at the talent out of this tall town in a big ditch.
Raised but not born in Winnipeg:
Tommy Douglas, father of Medicare in Canada
Chris Jericho, professional wrestler
Rowdy Roddy Piper, professional wrestler
A. E. van Vogt, science fiction writer
Neil Young, musician
Bif Naked, musician
Born in Winnipeg
Randy Bachman, musician (from the Guess Who)
Ashleigh Banfield, TV host
Burton Cummings, musician (from the Guess Who)
Len Cariou, actor
Bill Cody, actor
Deanna Durbin, actress
Brendan Fehr, actor, star of the television series Roswell
Ken Finkleman, director, writer and actor
Terry Fox, cancer activist and national hero
Aaron Funk, musician
Joanna Gleason, actress
Monty Hall, television game show host
Bob Hunter, co-founder of Greenpeace
Doug Henning, magician
Terry Jacks, singer
Tom Jackson, actor
Chantal Kreviazuk, musician
Mimi Kuzyk, tv actress
Kyle McCulloch, writer for South Park
Todd MacCulloch, basketball player
Mary MacLane, writer
Guy Maddin, director
Bob Nolan, musician
Anna Paquin, actress
Fred Penner, musician
Frank Pickersgill, SOE agent in World War II executed by the Nazis
Douglas Rain, actor
Brad Roberts, musician
Gabrielle Roy, author
Ray St. Germain, musician
John K. Samson, singer-songwriter (The Weakerthans)
Terry Sawchuk, NHL goalie
Remy Shand, musician
David Steinberg, actor, comedian
Sir William Stephenson (aka Intrepid), spy, man on whom the character of James Bond is based
Nia Vardalos, actress and writer (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding)
Catherine Wreford, stage actress, wife of Jeff Goldblum
Hint: the city he's making reference to is Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They've actually got another song called "I Hate Winnipeg" as well, which is absolutely fantastic. :)
John K Sampson has some music on www.justconcerts.com
I have seen them twice in concert.
Heathen wrote:
Great song.... I've never heard of these guys before... must check 'em out.
I would recommend the disk this song is from, also called "Left and Leaving". They have a new one out called "Reconstruction Site" but it is taking a seriously long time for it to grow on me in the slightest bit.
(This was my upload BTW.. ;) )
Great song.... I've never heard of these guys before... must check 'em out.
Sounds emo to me. Which I like. :)
Schmackdown wrote:
I like this, though there are parts where the lead singer sounds like Kermit the Frog. Good pauses here and there.
I had the same thought before reading your post! Kermit trying to imitate Neal Young. All the same, I like being exposed to music that I haven't heard a gazillion times on the radio.
Great song. I\'ll be looking for this CD.
The Weakerthans. Wonderful addition to RP!!
If you ever get a chance to see these guys live, GO. Run! They are such a good live show, you won\'t regret it.
Keep up the great work Bill!
Sounds like vanilla ice-cream. Nothing to love-nothing to hate.
I like this, though there are parts where the lead singer sounds like Kermit the Frog. Good pauses here and there.
What an intriguing delivery! Despite a low key approach,it sure catches your attention. Nice add to the mix.
My city's still breathing (but barely it's true)
through buildings gone missing like teeth.
The sidewalks are watching me think about you,
sparkled with broken glass.
I looked around and I saw that the whole first row of the crowd -girls and guys, teens and parents- were crying because of the song. Then I heard Samson's words create stories with images of such splendor and beautifully painted truth that, when listened to on the road, make you park the car on the side-strip until it's over. Or, like I did a few minutes later, just cry because of the sheer beauty of it all.
Ever since then, their songs, and especially this one, which tells of the feeling of being lost like no other, have been a part of my life. I've started listening to a whole range of other genres but The Weakerthans manage to bring me to a halt and listen everytime. They have won several acclaimed awards and are, in my humble opinion, most definitely worth getting into.
PS: If you want to try it in context, watch this short film with the same title.