The Rural Alberta Advantage (aka The RAA) are the little indie band that could, and everything there is to love about a band today. I say today because in another time when music wasn’t as readily available I’m not sure an honest, reverent little band like the RAA would’ve broken through. Thankfully for us, we don’t have to worry about that now.

Here’s why:

First, their Canadian, which means they’re automatically really nice – the kind of band you’d want to bring home to your parents house for Thanksgiving dinner. Except, their Canadian, so they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.

Second, they have with the kind of unabashedly genuine, heart on the sleeve-ness that makes it impossible to avoid smiling when listening to their amazingly flawless debut record Hometowns. And while the comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel may be unavoidable at first, I’m hoping The RAA make longer go of it.

Third, they really bring it live. I had the chance to see them on day 5 of the 100 Bands project in the tiny back room at Pianos. It was The RAA’s first gig anywhere outside of Canada and they were oozing with genuine excitement. If it were acceptable to do so, I’m sure they would’ve hugged every single person in the crowd that night. Cut to a few months later when I saw them post-1o0 days at a slightly larger venue (Mercury Lounge) – and was equally as blown away. Since that show they’ve signed with Omaha-based indie Saddle Creek, who will release Hometowns and undoubtedly send them on their way to indie fam