The Pinecones

In January 2009, Halifax’ Brent Randall & his Pinecones released their debut album, We Were Strangers in Paddington Green. The acclaimed piano based orchestral pop of the album garnered comparisons to classic songwriters such as Paul McCartney, Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson. One year later, the band is back with a new name, a new sound and the new album, Sage.

Following a move from Halifax to Toronto, and a new line-up consisting of Brent Randall, Brian O’Reilly (Their Majesties, Meligrove Band), Joel Goguen (Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts) and Paul Linklater (Bidiniband) the band reformed simply as The Pinecones. With all members contributing and singing their own songs, Sage is a fully collaborative effort produced and recorded by Paul Linklater.

Unlike the soft pop and polished studio sound of We Were Strangers in Paddington Green, Sage is a lo-fi experimental psychedelic pop-rock adventure. Combining mid-60’s British psychedelia with a contemporary DIY aesthetic, The Pinecones’ focus on melody and whimsical lyrical matter is paired with unusual arrangements and bizarre recording techniques.

Praise for The Pinecones:

“Randall is an old-fashioned songwriter who has no time for the crippled tunelets that pass for songs on Top 40 radio these days.”

- The Globe and Mail

“[The] Pinecones, recalled classic seventies pop and rock music, from the likes of the Kinks and Neil Young. “
– The Argosy

“Brent Randall termed the trio format of this gig his “mini- Pinecones,” but the Halifax-based tunesmith doubled ably on both keyboards and guitar. Their very tuneful songs showed 70s AM pop influences on some tunes, while “Mr. Shoemaker Man” had an almost vaudevillian approach. Sweet stuff.”
– Exclaim!

 

MP3: “Sage” from Sage:
http://pigeonrow.com/ThePineconesSage.mp3

 

High-Res Photo of The Pinecones:

http://pigeonrow.com/ThePineconeshires.jpg

 

The Pinecones: “Sage”
Courtesy of Just Friends on YouTube