Canasta

Posted by Garrett

THE SKINNY: A generally easy listening eclectic pop band with emphasis on vocals and lyrics.

WEBSITE: http://www.canastamusic.com/
MYSPACE: http://myspace.com/canasta
PURCHASE: Amazon MP3

Canasta is a six-piece pop group out of Chicago with a sound varying between rollicking, guitar-driven anthems and bouncy, horn-spiked ditties. The band keeps an ever mindful focus on sophisticated songwriting, dramatic dynamics and meticulous orchestration, according to the band’s official website. Canasta have been together since 2002 and in 2005 they released a full-length album titled We Were Set Up, which garnered critical acclaim from more than 70 different publications including Popmatters, The Onion, and Chicago Sun-Times.

Instrumentation on We Were Set Up includes guitar, violin, keyboard, percussion, bass, trombone and piano. The band has been likened to Arcade Fire, Belle & Sebastian, The Decemberists, The New Pornographers, Sufjan Stevens and Wilco. Wilco holds my vote for a roughly comparable sound, though I cannot say I am very familiar with the first four bands listed.

"Head Hurts Better" off of We Were Set Up

FAVORITE TRACK: "Microphone Song", "Head Hurts Better"
FOR FANS OF: Wilco and Sufjan Stevens