Percy Farm
The End's in The Beginning
By Pras Rajagopalan

Judging by this debut, Percy Farm are first and foremost an album band. The Montreal quintet are all about creating atmosphere, shifting momentum and telling stories, using a ton of instruments and vocalists in the process. You'd be hard-pressed to pick out any singles from the pessimistically titled The End's in The Beginning — the songs are by and large, strong and consistent throughout. That said, tracks like "People of Plenty" and "Route 132" exemplify this album's key merits: the wandering philosopher narrative, eminently singable melodies and wonderfully dense pop/folk arrangements. Sure, some of these compositions could use a little streamlining but the overall sophistication of the album renders this quibble a minor one. Here's to hoping Percy Farm's end is not at their beginning. (Ships at Night)