What makes Cedar Shakes by Timber Timbre notable?

Cedar Shakes received critical acclaim for its distinctive sound, earning Timber Timbre a reputation as a significant player in the Canadian folk revival. The album's haunting atmosphere and lyrical depth resonated strongly with audiences, leading to its recognition as a noteworthy debut in an era rich with indie-folk exploration. When Cedar Shakes was released in 2005, Timber Timbre was still emerging in the Canadian music scene. This debut album marked their introduction to a wider audience, showcasing their unique blend of folk and blues influences that would later define their sound.

How many songs are on Cedar Shakes?

Cedar Shakes has 9 tracks, running approximately 27 minutes.

Cedar Shakes

Timber Timbre · 2005

27 min · 9 tracks · folk music

Haunting melodies intertwine with sparse instrumentation, evoking a sense of eerie nostalgia and folk-rooted storytelling.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Cedar Shakes — The title track encapsulates the album’s haunting essence, combining evocative lyrics with minimalist instrumentation to create an immersive listening experience.
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Home — Home features introspective lyrics paired with a melancholic melody, illustrating the theme of longing and belonging that permeates the album.
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So Much — Opening with a stark yet beautiful sound, So Much sets the tone for the album’s exploration of emotional depth through sparse arrangements and poignant lyrics.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

Cedar Shakes combines haunting melodies with minimal instrumentation, creating a distinctive folk sound that resonates emotionally.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of minimal instrumentation, often relying on acoustic guitar and sparse percussion to create an intimate atmosphere.
Tracks frequently employ a slow tempo, with several songs maintaining a haunting quality through the use of reverb and echo effects.
Lyrical themes revolve around nostalgia and storytelling, with many songs incorporating vivid imagery that enhances the emotional weight.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Home

A turn in the song shifts from nostalgic reminiscence to a stark realization of distance and separation.

This pivot in perspective reveals an emotional complexity, contrasting memories of comfort with the weight of absence.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 So Much 1:30
2 Home 3:06
3 Mercy 2:42
4 Cedar Shakes 4:00
5 As Angels Do 2:03
6 Black Creek Drive 3:47
7 It's Only Dark 2:32
8 I'm a Long Way 2:54
9 Each Good House 4:44

What to play next

Listen next

Medicinals

2007

Full Timber Timbre discography Artists like Timber Timbre

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata