By Sarah MurphyCanadian songwriting darling Dan Mangan is returning with his highly anticipated follow-up to 2009's Polaris Music Prize-nominated Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Oh, Fortune hits shelves next week, but you can stream the album on Exclaim.ca now.
The new record finds Mangan "further exploring folk music's boundaries" and features a bevy of ambitious arrangements, ultimately creating a noisier, bigger sound from the Vancouver songwriter known for his sing-along-friendly tunes like "Robots."
Album opener "About As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All" draws the listener in with its combination of snappy string arrangements and Mangan's rough but reassuring voice. The tracks that follow blend melancholy themes ("If I Am Dead," "Regarding Death and Dying") with folk pop tunes ("Leaves, Trees, Forest") that are more intricate than catchy this time around.
This fall the Vancouverite will be taking the new record on the road for a Canadian tour stretching from Newfoundland to British Columbia. You can see the dates here.
Listen to the stream below to hear for yourself how Mangan's sound has changed. Oh Fortune is out September 27 via Arts & Crafts.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 12:26:11Thank you so very much for having this available. It has made my day. :)
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 12:35:27sooooooooooo good cannot wait for the release in uk!! thankyou
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 12:43:05I, AM, NAMELESS POSEUR
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 14:03:37His new band sucks. Wankers who jerk off with their instruments.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 14:30:05This great, translates much better on the album than it did live. Awesome arrangements.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 15:52:48Sounds promising! I find that Dan Mangan's tunes are of the kind that you kinda have to get used to to fully appreciate them. I didn't like Oh Fortune very much the 1st time I heard it, and now I listen to it a few times a day and really can't wait to have the album in my hands :)
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 22:51:11I kinda miss the stripped down folk style off the last album. I'm sure this will still be awesome though once I get used to it. Dan always delivers!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 23:35:43Thank you so much! This was wonderful :)
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-21 01:50:42Mangan is the man. Such an evolution of sound. This band is nutzz.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-21 04:06:15Sounding great Dan, can't wait for the release!!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-21 10:21:03lovin evry album! can't choose which is my favourite! how great is that ..my ears are so in love right now :)) thanks for the early treat :))
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-21 16:10:20I never knew what the hype was all about!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-21 22:31:28Oh, how delightful!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-22 15:36:25Love new Dan, but also miss the stripped down, accoustic Dan. Saw him in concert and wished all the other instruments were turned down (to a sane level). Completely appreciate that the artist is growing - just wish he'd throw in a track of two of accoustic!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-22 15:37:42(Thanks for #4!)
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-22 15:37:49(Thanks for #4!)
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-29 01:13:26Thanks, exclaim.
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Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-20 12:26:11Thank you so very much for having this available. It has made my day. :)
