artist Treelines

If the Weakerthans had a love child with the Gaslight Anthem, and Joel Plaskett raised that child, you would have something close to Treelines.  Their music can be described as an unassuming brand of indie rock, often painting a lyrical picture of anything from the old west, to wintry northern landscapes. There’s a quality about this band that can only seem to be described as sounding nostalgic and ‘unintentionally Canadian‘; something you can’t really pinpoint.

The band was birthed in July 2009, when they released their debut album; a self titled full length that showcased the song writing of singer Matt Lockhart.  While it was only their first effort, the album prompted Exclaim! Magazine to quip that “[the record] earns Matt Lockhart and friends an invitation to one day joining the good company of Canada’s most outstanding folk rock musicians.” CBC Radio 3 also joined in, asserting that the band’s song ‘Canadian Airlines’ “says more about [Canada] in three mere minutes than a three-hour Throne Speech could.”  With rambling guitars, wilderness imagery you can lose yourself in, and hints of harmonica filling in the scenes it’s tough to describe the record as anything but Canadian, and for the band, anything but honest.

July 2010 saw the band release their follow-up effort Young Man, a sharper, livelier effort than the its more laid-back predecessor. Shiny brass, rock organs, cellos and soaring guitars highlight the upbeat release which the band has described as a more “cohesive” effort.   NxEW confidently asserted, “The album is summer listening at its finest,” while CHARTattack reflected that the songs “seem more mature and hint at a Weakerthans vibe.”  Lyrically the release continues in the vein of the debut CD, and seems to paint the scenes of Young Man in the faded colours of an old photograph: warm, honest, and strangely familiar.  The songs seem to possess a nostalgic quality that is so inviting, after a few listens you’ll be singing along and reminiscing like the lyrics were taken from your high school diary.

In the fall of 2010 the band will follow the migratory patterns of so many previous bands from Kelowna and head South to Vancouver.  While they will miss the orchards, wineries, and lakes, the move is the perfect step for a band that is just beginning to hit their stride.