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User
Reviews 7
Approval 95%
Soundoffs 430
Album Ratings 3494
Objectivity 83%
Last Active 06-26-22 8:04 am
Joined 10-21-17
Review Comments 5,537
| The Weakerthans/John K. Samson Ranked
I've been in my glory these past few days. I've been listening to The Weakerthans over the last month but I've recently come to fall in love with John Samson's solo music as well. It might be an impossible task but let's have a go at a ranking. | | 6 |  | The Weakerthans
Reunion Tour
Reunion Tour is, admittedly, a tad uneven as a full album. A couple of songs feel undercooked and there's a spoken word song in the middle that doesn't quite work (although the sparse instrumentation is gorgeous), but on the other side of the coin there are bangers like "Civil Twilight" and "The Tournament of Hearts." "Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure" is one of the most heartbreaking things you'll probably ever hear and "Night Windows" is incredibly entrancing. It's their weakest album yet still so essential. If that doesn't speak of the quality of Samson's music I'm not sure what will. 4/5 | | 5 |  | The Weakerthans
Fallow
A rough version of The Weakerthans, no doubt, but I kinda like that side of them. It rocks all the way through, slowing down only for the few beautiful ballads it generously gives a home to. "Wellington's Wednesday" and "Confessions...." are some of the best rock numbers they ever penned. "Oh you blue eyes, oh you got green eyes, oh you got grey eyes!" The title track is a wonderful foreshadowing of what was to come. 4.3/5 | | 4 |  | John K. Samson
Provincial
It's amazing how natural the progression is from Reunion Tour to Samson's debut solo record. You could slap The Weakerthans name on here and I wouldn't blink an eye. You have the signature up-tempo numbers ("Cruise Night," "When I Write My Master's Thesis"), and melancholic stunners ("Heart of the Continent," "The Last And"), and the quirky in-betweens that make Samson one of the most lovable songwriters of our time. 4.5/5 | | 3 |  | John K. Samson
Winter Wheat
Yesterday I had to speak publically and for a moment my mind went blank. I couldn't think of the next thing I wanted to say and I struggled to find the words I was looking for. You can imagine, then, how I felt when I listened to "Postdoc Blues." "Don’t despair you’ll get it right tomorrow night....So take that laminate out of your wallet and read it / And recommit yourself to the healing of the world." Immediately one of my favourite folk albums of all-time haha. Seriously, the music is sparse but so full of depth, emotion, and beauty. What a treasure. 4.7/5 | | 2 |  | The Weakerthans
Reconstruction Site
When people let me down or friends disappear this is the record I'm going to turn to from now on. It's like a warm hug that lifts you up after a bad day. You're discouraged, filled with self-doubt and anxiety, and then Samson sings "I know you might roll your eyes at this, but I'm so glad that you exist." We all need to hear words so simple yet so beautiful. 5/5 | | 1 |  | The Weakerthans
Left and Leaving
A big part of me believes that Reconstruction Site is the best record Samson has ever written but the emotional gut-punch of Left and Leaving cannot be understated. It's a steadily building atomic bomb. You know something is coming but when it does nothing can prepare you for it. That is "Exiles Among You." Thank goodness it settles down for the final few songs. A masterpiece. 5/5 | |
Lucman
09.23.19 | This man deserves so much more love on here. Listen to any one of these records if you haven't. He makes me feel things I never knew I could feel. | SlothcoreSam
09.23.19 | Winter wheat is awesome, I'd put that just after Left and Leaving | Lucman
09.23.19 | Is sure is. It could very well grow on me even more than it already has and by that I mean it's in my top 5 folk albums of the decade haha. | SlothcoreSam
09.23.19 | Nice. What are your 4 other top folk albums? | Lucman
09.23.19 | Carrie & Lowell, Wheel, The Wild Hunt, Helplessness Blues would round out my top 5. | SlothcoreSam
09.23.19 | Great top 5. You should check out. The Panics- Cruel Guards. Their album Sleeps Like a Curse is brilliant as well, but not on Spotify. and
Rainstorm Brother- Part One.
Should be right up your alley. | Lucman
09.23.19 | Sweet! I'll check em out, thanks man. | Sinternet
09.23.19 | 6 is way too low | Gallantin
09.23.19 | I'll never get why Reunion Tour always gets the short end of the stick. It's just as good if not better than Reconstruction Site. Fallow is easily the least-good Weakerthans. Also, Provincial destroys Winter Wheat. If Winter Wheat didn't have Virtute at Rest, it would almost be not even worth a listen. | Gallantin
09.23.19 | Also Elegy for Gump Worsely is incredible, in what world does it not work???
In essence, I'm irrationally mad that you gave an album you love a slightly lower score than the rest. | Lucman
09.23.19 | Lol Gump just feels really out of place to me. I still like the song though and the instrumentation is wonderful. I guess I feel the same way about Winter Wheat as you do for Reunion! There are a lot of subtleties that don't really reveal themselves on the first few listens. Like Reconstruction Site, I know it's going to be one of *those albums that I'm going to come to rely on. | AngryJohnny
09.23.19 | I'd have fallow and Provincial last and Reconstruction Site first but some people do prefer Left and Leaving, and that's cool.
Reunion Tour is underrated | Lucman
09.23.19 | Reunion Tour has so many gems. Could definitely end up growing past Fallow with a few more listens. It's just a bit wonky structurally. | Hendoi
09.24.19 | I can't let you disrespect Reunion Tour like that | Lucman
09.24.19 | I never knew RT had so many fans. I love it haha | SlothcoreSam
12.18.19 | You will be pleased to know, Johnny K, just, made my decade list! | Rowan5215
12.18.19 | 17th Street Treatment Center has been creeping up my list of greatest songs he's done
best lyricist of all time tbh |
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