Glory Glory

This is a lovely little thing if I ever heard one. Glory Glory present to us three tracks from three Canadians, each one worth of being the lead.

Opener Take My Time is fast paced and contains more key jumps and twists than an extreme jumpy-twisty thing. Funky guitar riffs and a chugging bassline accompany a lovely vocal which is beautifully layered, and Beach Boys style harmonies complete the choruses. It’s an instantly memorable melody which is different enough to please both the pop purist and the Indie seeker.
Sandwiched in the middle of the EP is Indigo Son which again contains some rather lovely vocals in a clean and effective production. A welcome guitar solo supplies backing towards the end of the track and the apparently Nile Rodgers inspired thang works a treat.

Perfectly mixed by the Grammy nominated Justin Gerrish (The Strokes, Muse, Vampire Weekend) each track shows why this EP has been three years in the making. Glory Glory write catchy dancy songs and are clearly ones for perfection. There’s not one blemish in sight and it’s probably that which is most significant, clean clinical noise is the order of the day.

Ending with Everybody Lies, another pop protégée, it’s easy to see an appeal to Glory Glory. Interestingly, all three tracks seem to be being promoted equally and it’s a completely valid move. They aren’t just another boy band, far from it as they exude a professionalism way beyond their young years. They’re simply a three lads making mighty fine music which everyone should take the time to enjoy. - Louder Than War

Another new Canadian band to get your ears around now in the shape of Halifax trio Glory Glory and their new EP, 'So Long'. The first of the three tracks on this CD is 'Take My Time' which is an instant and joyous slice if indie-pop with sunshine guitars, sexy bass and vocals full of charm and style. These guys would easily make a high school dance go off like Christmas Eve at the Playboy Mansion but there's a certain sincerity about the music that suggests they could easily put together an album full of cracking hooks and tunes as well. Next up is 'Indigo Sun', a song that belongs to the 80s in terms of the gentle, synth heavy melodies and guitars the echo so much you're not sure where they began anymore. Finishing up with 'Everybody Lies', Glory Glory show off their ability to switch styles with ease as they present a song pitched somewhere between Radiohead, latter day Incubus and Black Kids with one of the best indie guitar riffs I've heard in quite a while. I can't get enough of the Canadian music scene at the moment such is the quality but these guys stand out among their peers as being a bit special. All together now, Glory Glory = Hallelujah. - Listen With Monger

Seemingly holding a torch for eighties new wave and indie pop, Canadian band Glory Glory unveil their new tantalising EP, a release which mesmerises and tempts with a melodic seduction which is hard to find any resistance to. So Long is an encounter which makes a pleasing impression on first listen but evolves into an irresistible and essential breeze the more you allow it to stroke and coax the imagination. There is a smile to the music of the band which radiates incessantly from within the release, an enticing charm which caresses senses and thoughts whilst an understated but rich invention blossoms deep within the songs. It all adds up to a rich persuasion which maybe does not give its recipient a blood rush but certainly leaves them smouldering with content.

Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Glory Glory was formed in 2006 with a sound which was said to be more post punk sculpted. They create a brew though which merges a wealth of styles and essences to defy any exact labelling, So Long just as its slightly rawer and darker predecessor, the You Need a Heart to Live EP of 2011, providing the richest evidence. The new three track proposition was mixed by Grammy nominated producer Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, The Strokes), and pushes the band’s presence into an even greater potent spotlight which is sure to open up wider attention on the band. The trio of Adam Warren, Ryan Brown, and Gavin Maclean has already drawn references to the likes of Rush, Grizzly Bear, Caribou, and Twin Shadow their way but as So Long wraps its suggestive arms around the ears there is a definite feel of China Crisis and Scritti Politti to the offerings.

The first of those two comparisons is loud in opening track Take My Time. From its opening lure of dark bass tempting the track has intrigue and attention gripped and primed for the swiftly following tangle of guitar crafted melodies, they having a ABC whisper to them, and excited percussive endeavour. It is a gentle but lively start given extra warmth by the flowing mellow vocals and occasional backing harmonies. The song strolls with relish through the ears, casting a dream bred elegance and glaze over its captivating narrative, whilst a slight Two Door Cinema Club air adds to the textured beauty of the song.
The impressive start is backed up by the slower gaited but equally absorbing and immersive Indigo Son. The atmosphere of the song is part celestial and part sultry, its melodic romance nestling provocatively with thoughts whilst the poised joyful swagger of the song provides that Scritti Politti enticement to its enthralling textures. Though not as dramatically gripping as its predecessor, the song holds imagination and appetite firmly in its resourceful enterprise whilst providing a hazy climate to the emotively engineered suasion.

The closing Everybody Lies envelopes and dances with the senses much as the opening song, it’s certainly individual adventure wrapping a refreshing weave of invention and evocatively hued melodies around body and reflection like a graceful temptress, one as across all the tracks driven by a dance seeded pulsing and rhythmic ensnaring. Though much like the surface of the music lyrically everything seems a peaceful soar, beneath shadows and flirty twists play their part in trapping imagination and emotions. It is a clever and imaginative underbelly which only adds to the overall caressing whilst forging deep textures and colour to the songs.

Though So Long is the first we have heard of Glory Glory, a swift look at their previous and also thoroughly appealing EP shows the evolution in progress within the band’s songwriting and sound. It is an exciting emergence which is increasing its potential to spark a greedy anticipation for their forthcoming horizons. Glory Glory looks like being a band we are destined to hear and enjoy for a long time to come. - Ringmaster Reviews

“Canadian trio Glory Glory’s psychedelic loops have a dreamy quality which recalls MGMT or The Drums... the perfect soundtrack to a balmy evening with a few beers.” - The Telegraph

Having shown off their versatility within their genre, Glory Glory opts for short and sweet [...] you can’t fault the band for choosing to leave you wanting more. It’s a game they have the talent to play.

Top Track: “Take My Time”
Rating: Proud Hoot (Really Good) - Grayowl Point

When it comes to being an independent band, you have to seize every available opportunity to work on your craft and the promotion machine behind it.

For Glory Glory guitarist and vocalist Adam Warren, this means silk-screening band posters during his child’s nap-time. Not that he minds, however because the truth is, the Halifax band – performing at Moncton’s Tide & Boar Saturday evening – has much going for them.

This past Tuesday, the group released So Long, a three-song EP that sees the group diversifying their sound to incorporate new wave, indie music along a heavy reliance upon syncopated dance rhythms.
“Things are going fantastic,” Adam says. “It feels like a new beginning for the band in a way. The response given to So Long has been really encouraging so far. It is awesome to have this attention because the material on So Long is so different from what we have done in the past, it is almost like a complete reboot for the band.”

Their new EP is a welcome return for the Halifax-based group. Following the release of their critically acclaimed album Zombies!!! in 2010, the band released an EP, You Need A Heart To Live the following year. Then, they just kind of disappeared for a little while.

“I had gotten married around the time of You Need A Heart To Live and then my wife and I began tearing a house apart that we had purchased. Glory Glory was still performing, writing and rehearsing, just not in a focused way that we had been doing in the years prior.”

Adam looks back upon those “quiet” years of the band as beneficial in helping strengthen their chemistry and desire to make new music.

“The time away was good for us, even on a personal level,” he says. “We lived together for a year around the time that we were making Zombies!!! and while it strengthened our friendship in one respect, it got to be a challenge to step into our practice space to rehearse and write new material. Now when we get together, everyone is truly excited to be there and be a part of what we are creating.”

Although the three songs on So Long might fall short in terms of the actual quantity of new music fans might have wanted from the group after their layoff, there is indeed a method to their madness.

To mix the EP, the group enlisted Justin Gerrish whose impressive resume includes work with The Strokes, Vampire Weekend and Muse. From an independent group’s standpoint, it simply wasn’t economically feasible to have Justin mix a complete record from the group.
Rather than focusing upon what they couldn’t have, Adam says they picked the three songs which they felt demonstrated the most cohesive and definitive statement on their new musical direction. More importantly however, Adam says that the group was also curious to see what kind of impact hiring a world-class mixer would have upon the end result.

“We kind of made this an experiment of sorts. We thought we would get a heavy hitter to mix the material and see if it makes a difference sonically. And to that point, it was crazy worth the money spent. Justin has worked with a bunch of different rock groups but has also worked alongside jazz legends. That diversity was really appealing to us because it is how we approach the music that we make as well.”

Along with their new EP the Glory Glory trio, including Ryan Brown and Gavin Maclean, has expanded to quartet status with the addition of former We’re Doomed member Nick Jones on guitar.

Thanks to the heavy layering of guitars heard on So Long, Adam says that adding a second guitarist was a decision as practical as it was necessary to help translate their songs in the live setting.

“We found that our live sound was sometimes feeling really empty. Adding Nick into the band has definitely helped fill that emptiness that we were noticing. But perhaps even more significantly, we had been playing some songs live for more than five years. After awhile, you just fall into a rhythm and start playing the songs the same way each and every time. Bringing Nick into the band has gotten us to go back and think about our songs in a different kind of way. It is exciting to have some new blood among us.”

As Glory Glory prepare to head to the United Kingdom for their first-ever performances at the start of May, Adam feels fairly certain that they will be following up So Long in the not too distant future:

“We are already talking about the next EP. I love the album format and hopefully within the next few years, we will be at a point where we will make another full-length record. In the meantime, it is nice to focus on releasing EPs. With releasing EPs instead of full-length records, we like to hope that it leaves people wanting more. Either way, regardless of the format that our next releases fall into, we do not want to wait three years until our next release.” - The Music Nerd Chronicles

Glory Glory, the Halifax-based indie band that refuses to be pigeonholed into a single genre, are back with the single, ‘Indigo Son’, off their new EP, titled So Long, and they’re more glorious than ever . . .
The album sees Glory Glory tag-teaming with Grammy-nominated producer and mix engineer Justin Gerrish (of Vampire Weekend and Strokes fame), and what a tag team it is. But you didn’t come here to hear me repeat something you can read on their Facebook page. You came here with a question: Should I be excited about ‘Indigo Son’, and the album it belongs to, and if so, why? (okay, so that’s two questions, but whatever).
Well, first off, my answer is: Be excited. Be very excited.
‘Indigo Son’ opens with a swathe of sun-kissed, dream-pop-ish dreaminess. A muttering bass line in the background, as well as a light, airy backing beat, serve as this track’s foundation. It’s over this aural foundation that clean, swirling, chiming guitars interweave, giving the feeling that we’re floating around in a sea of sound.

Warm, melodious vocals that blend immaculately with the sonic canvas, seem to take our hands and lead us through soundscapes suffused with a warm, afternoon glow. Arpeggiating, almost bell-like synth textures, well up like an underwater river (yeah, I said “underwater river”. Google it, if you think I’m making it up), around the three-minute-and-thirty-seven-seconds mark, serving as a nice interlude, and adding a great element of variety to the track. Interestingly enough, it was during this bit that I was reminded somewhat obliquely of the Beach Boys’ ‘Feel Flows’ (it has the same, lush, summery afternoon feel). Sneaky, minor chords make this interlude sound kinda like a sonic interplay between golden, sunset light and shadow.
The whole thing is basically like a vacation in a can. Just add headphones (or better yet, blast it out of your car speakers and give the whole neighbourhood a dose of second-hand sun). ‘Indigo Son’ reminds me of a sort of cross between Beach House, and fellow Canuck artist, Caribou. Don’t let that fool you, however. Glory Glory’s sound is still firmly unique.

This track was an absolute joy to listen to (especially after the sucker punches our glorious Toronto weather treated us to lately), and I for one, am going to be first in (virtual) line at the iTunes store on April 1 to get the full album. - Raz Mataz Magazine

Glory Glory has been together since 2006, so it makes sense that there would be some peaks and valleys. Thankfully, So Long wasn't marking the end of the band, but instead a shift to a new sound. As they say, band that evolves together stays together (they say that, right?). - The Coast

Depending on the track, Glory Glory Man United sounds like the next great shoegaze band (“Congrats”), like the band that could usurp the title of “Greatest moody group in Canada” from The Constantines (“Maintain Your Composure,” “The Fish In The Water”) or the slightly more melodic little brothers of Sonic Youth (“Sun Don't Come Out”). Such slight alterations as those made here shouldn't change the focus of a band so dramatically, but that's exactly what happens here and the results are captivating because they're so mercurial.

Because of all those things, ZOMBIES!!! marks Glory Glory Man United as a band to watch in the coming months. This album and the directions it takes combined with the overall sound of it seem destined to attract the attention and favor of Constantines, Sonic Youth and Mission Of Burma fans, but the record is made all the more exciting by the fact that Glory Glory Man United is only getting started; what they do next is anyone's guess, but hopefully we won't have to wait long to find out. - Ground Control Magazine

[Y]ou get the feeling after a few spins of Zombies!!! that this Halifax, NS-bred three-piece could write perfect, hook-driven pop songs in their sleep. The manner in which they crank out the ten classics on Zombies!!! is so pure and seamless that it's a little disconcerting - these three are really onto something. [...]

The legacy of Halifax';s pop scene has never diminished, but Glory Glory may be the kind of act that can carry the torch and bring back wide scale attention. It's a big weight on their shoulders, but something about the honest, well-rounded feel of Zombies!!! tells me these guys are up for the challenge. - Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority

Arguably the most impressive indie pop band to come out of the East Coast since Two Hours Traffic, this Halifax trio sits easily along a musical continuum that includes Thrush Hermit and Sloan. More importantly, like all of those bands, they seem to have arrived fully formed. - The Toronto Star

This album is already a fantastic collection of songs for such a young band, and one can only imagine what these guys will be like ten years down the road. They’ll probably be mentioned in the same breath as Thrush Hermit and Sloan, and I don’t think that’s too assuming a statement to make. - Grayowl Point

Just a single listen to one of the Glory Glory’s spastic rock/pop hybrids and you are theirs forever; the song’s catchy hooks and ferocious grooves lodged into your mind, slowly transforming you into one of their own. There’s no escape at this point, so don’t struggle. Early symptoms of indie pop zombie transformation include uncontrollable urges to air guitar and drum, singing along off key, and keeping Zombies!!! playing in an endless loop. Or at least that’s what happened to me. - The Scrapyard

So fluent and uncompromising, the hooks seem capable of writing themselves until the trio bends the song’s urgency around pristine guitar chasms and, suddenly, the automaton switch has turned off. Halifax-based Glory Glory Man United prove talented at this, laying familiar indie-rock dishes throughout Zombies!!! before pulling the tablecloth and sending listeners teetering into richly integrated guitar tones[...] a meticulous example of how well indie-rock can resonate when done right. - Skeleton Crew Quarterly

ZOMBIES! feels like the remarkably polished and precise evolution of countless summer jam sessions when close friends crank up the amps and leave the garage door open, killing time and exploring new sounds[...] with ZOMBIES! they firmly define their sound and have written a record that local slacker kids will cop and try to imitate in the years to come. - Herohill

"The record is a vortex of breakneck rhythms, swirling guitars and heartfelt vocals. At times it's hard to believe the band is only a trio."

-- Stephen Cooke, July 24, 2008 - The Chronicle-Herald, Halifax, NS