What makes Mountain Meadows by Elliott Brood notable?

'Mountain Meadows' received critical acclaim, landing on several year-end lists and earning a Juno Award nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. The album's rich narrative style and instrumentation helped to define the Canadian alternative country sound during this period. By the time 'Mountain Meadows' was released in June 2008, Elliott Brood had already established themselves with their debut album, 'Ghost Gardens.' This sophomore effort marked a significant step forward, showcasing their unique fusion of alternative country and rock while solidifying their presence in the Canadian music scene.

How many songs are on Mountain Meadows?

Mountain Meadows has 13 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

Mountain Meadows

Elliott Brood · 2008

47 min · 13 tracks · alternative country

A haunting blend of folk and rock that evokes the rugged landscapes of Canada with rich storytelling and raw emotion.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Fingers and Tongues — This opening track sets the tone with its intricate melodies and vivid visuals, effectively introducing the album's thematic depth.
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Write It All Down for You — The song features poignant lyrics that explore themes of longing and reflection, making it one of the emotional high points of the album.
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Miss You Now — Closing out the album, this track encapsulates the overarching themes of loss and yearning while showcasing the band's signature harmonies.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and production, with effective pacing and emotional storytelling.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
The interlude track 'The Spring Floods' serves as a reflective pause, creating a distinct shift in mood before the final tracks.

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

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.

Tracklist

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

1 Fingers and Tongues 5:04
2 T‐Bill 2:25
3 Write It All Down for You 3:58
4 Without Again 3:24
5 Garden River 4:26
6 The Valley Town 3:40
7 Notes 3:52
8 Woodward Avenue. 3:24
9 31 Years 3:21
10 The Spring Floods (interlude) 0:32
11 Chuckwagon 2:56
12 The Body 5:07
13 Miss You Now 5:07

What to play next

Listen next

Days Into Years

2011

Go back to

Ambassador

2005

Full Elliott Brood discography Artists like Elliott Brood

alternative country

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