Woodpidgeon originally came out with Treasury Library Canada, their sophomore full-length, as a limited release available only online and at shows. Now, the band’s giving it an official release along with a bonus 10-song CD, Houndstooth Europa. This Canadian collective from Calgary incorporates all the indie-rock gimicks – glockenspiels, whistles, hand-claps, unreasonably long song titles, etc. – but they do it in ways that make their songs a joy to listen to. Think Sufjan Stevens and Elliot Smith jamming with Broken Social Scene somewhere on the prairies and you’re imagining the rich yet subtle soundscapes Woodpidgeon has crafted on this narrative about place and the struggle to belong. It’s poppy, folky, orchestral, and with two CDs for the price of one, it’s hard to go wrong.

Published in Volume 63, Number 20 of The Uniter (February 12, 2009)