Shapes and Sizes Tonight @ Emo's

Yet another emerging indie act from Canada, Shapes and Sizes’ self-titled debut blends earnest pop-rock with somewhat abnormal meter. Out now on Asthmatic Kitty, the record kicks off with “Island’s Gone Band”, a peculiar two songs in one introduction to the band. “I Am Cold” builds from a sparse arrangement into a multi-instrumental crescendo while “Wilderness” features the band’s trait of melding melody with noise. Caila Thompson-Hannant’s vocal chops rank up there with the best in the business, while her choral harmonies with Rory Seydel arrive appropriately, on cue, throughout the album. “Topsy Turvy”, as the name might imply, twists and turns through a series of changing rhythms while “Oh No, Oh Boy” is almost too predictable for the band's standards, perhaps even radio-friendly. All in all, the band’s shape-shifting pop keeps the reader engaged with a number of inventive tracks, and we plan on filing Shapes and Sizes in the “best of the year” bin.

Tonight at Emo's S&S will be on hand to further explain in the universal language why American Indie-rockers could use another Canadian band in their record collection. A slew of locals will precede headliners, a combination of performances that should be quite a treat. The Lovely Sparrows, tender folksters in the vein of Pinetop Seven open, as well as the onomatopoeia-ish Benko (prominent vibraphone, duh). Hypnotized by the pretty music, don't let Weird Weeds slip through your fingers as they successfully marry Low and Mogwai's respective sadnesses. It's gonna be a beautiful one, folks. Get yourself in a reflective mood before the upcoming holidays kill your sense of wonderment.

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Shapes and Sizes w/ Lovely Sparrows, Weird Weeds & Benko
Thursday, December 14
Emo's (inside stage) [map]
Doors at 8 PM, Show at 10 PM
[tickets]

[Shapes and Sizes official site]
[Shapes and Sizes MySpace]
[Lovely Sparrows MySpace]
[Weird Weeds MySpace]
[Benko MySpace]

Additional text by Joshua Huck