Kurtis Thomas
CCE CONTRIBUTOR
The word zeitgeist means ‘the spirit of the times’. Various items exist in a snapshot of an era, like Pepsi Blue in the early 2000’s, or Tiffany Amber Thiessen during any point of the 90’s.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a word to means ‘the spirit of a place’ though, which is a shame, because it would perfectly define Run Coyote’s debut album Youth Haunts.
Youth Haunts is made for the rural Canadian landscape – for driving down Muskoka roads in the fog, or that secret spot in your hometown no one else knows about.
Its atmospheric blend of country, rock and folk creates a rustic sounding album, which is perfect for the ever-apparent autumnal transition. Lead singer Sam Allen’s vocals take you by the hand and lead you from track to track with emotion and sincerity.
The real diversity of the band is showcased in the final two songs when the trumpet and piano from “Never Wanted To” fade away, and the energetic guitar kicks in for “Wreck of a Man” and we get the fastest song on the album. It’s a transition that would have of felt out of place if handled by lesser hands, but by the time the album reaches it’s conclusion, Run Coyote has let you know it’s a band that knows what it’s doing, and loves doing it.
There’s a lyric on the album, “and now I feel I trespass, in a familiar place” and it’s a statement that captures the essence of Youth Haunts perfectly. It’s music that sounds familiar; it’s covered in nostalgia; it’s somewhere you’ve been before; but things have changed, and the change is a welcome one.
Be sure to grab Youth Haunts when it’s released in October, and hear it live when Run Coyote heads out on tour this fall!
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