A loved one passes away, and it’s hard not to write about it. It’s also hard not to let those songs become bogged down in grief and melancholy, making it a drag for listeners. On his debut full-length, Orono native Jonas Bonnetta (aka Evening Hymns) channels the sadness that came with his father’s illness and death into nine emotional songs and soundscapes that avoid these pitfalls.

His lyrics, for one, are vivid and original, particularly in Dead Deer, when he compares someone to a factory blowing smoke and to a dead tree whose leaves are falling on him. The orchestration, too, is fearless. Often he starts with sparse acoustic guitar and snare drum, expanding suddenly to include distorted guitars, accordions, violins and full-throttle choirs. Always his voice is warm and worn.

Broken Rifle is a welcome slice of lo-fi, life-affirming pop, while November 1 2008, Lakefield, Ontario, offers five and a half minutes of thunderstorm sounds.

Top track: Broken Rifle

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http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=173120

Thanks CBC!

Evening Hymns:

Who: Understated troubadour Jonas Bonnetta, a satellite affiliate of the Toronto scene that produced chamber-pop darlings Ohbijou.

Home bases: Toronto and Peterborough, Ont.

Why he’s great: A native of Orono, Ont., Bonnetta brings his love of pastoral spaces to his sophomore album (and first under the pseudonym Evening Hymns), Spirit Guides (2009). His rousing, rootsy songs bring rural vignettes to life – the crumpled bodies of fallen deer, the scent of cedar, the sensation of pilled flannel, factory smoke and busted rifles.

Recommended if you like: Iron & Wine, Magnolia Electric Co., Hayden.

Stay tuned for: A number of Canadian critics included Spirit Guides on their best-of-2009 lists. With any luck, those boosts will heighten the band’s profile in 2010. (Out of this Spark)

http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/arts/2876/

Evening Hymns
Spirit Guides (Out of This Spark) You can’t listen to “Lanterns”, the opening track on Spirit Guides without getting swept up in its power and beauty.  Like The Antlers, Evening Hymns taps into a  deep vein of sadness and pain, but does so in a way that is redemptive and healing.  Spirit Guides is an album that constantly changes shape and mood and, late arrival to this list it may be, it’s definitely one of the year’s most welcomed.

http://www.quickbeforeitmelts.com/2009/12/albums-2009/

wow. thanks!!!

http://londononburgeoningmetropolis.blogspot.com/2009/12/torontos-best-albums-of-2009.html

Evening Hymns / Spirit Guides (Out Of This Spark)

Initially I worried that my warm feelings towards this record came from its familiarity, as it draws together most all of the best aspects of the current Toronto “Bellwoods” scene into a single distinct statement, rich with atmosphere, emotion and melody. And then I realized that complaining about that was like complaining that someone gave you a mix tape that contained all your favourite songs that somehow sounded entirely new. Which is to say, ridiculous.

http://www.chromewaves.net/2009/12/chromewaves-favourite-albums-of-2009/#respond