The Weakerthans

The Weakerthans are a Canadian indie rock band, whose blend of punk-inflected folk rock with literate, witty, introspective lyrics have made them one of the most popular new bands on the Canadian music scene.

Related Topics:
Canadian - Indie rock - Punk - Folk rock

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Formed in 1997 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the band was started by John K. Samson after he left Propagandhi to write and start a publishing company. Samson hooked up with bassist John P. Sutton and drummer Jason Tait, and created The Weakerthans as a vehicle for a more melodic, introspective brand of songwriting than his time in Propagandhi.

Related Topics:
1997 - Winnipeg - Manitoba - John K. Samson - Propagandhi - John P. Sutton - Jason Tait

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The band's debut album, Fallow, was released in 1997 on G7 Welcoming Committee Records, and garnered the band positive reviews from Canadian music critics. Guitarist Steven Carroll joined the band later, and in 2000, Left and Leaving was released.

Related Topics:
Fallow - 1997 - G7 Welcoming Committee Records - Steven Carroll - 2000 - Left and Leaving

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In 2003, the band released Reconstruction Site on Epitaph Records, and were awarded with rave reviews from Canadian and international critics for their ambitious combination of punk, rock, folk, country, Elizabethan sonnets and lyrics about getting an emotional pep talk from a cat. It also became their best-selling record to date, and their airplay breakthrough on Canadian radio.

Related Topics:
2003 - Reconstruction Site - Epitaph Records - Elizabethan - Sonnet - Cat

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Sutton, who played on all three of the band's albums, left the band in August 2004 and was replaced by Greg Smith.

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In 2005, Left and Leaving was named one of the ten best Canadian albums of all time in Chart magazine's reader poll.

Related Topics:
2005 - Chart

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