Little Symphonies

After three years of building songs up, then carving them back down to their essentials, My Dad vs Yours has broken the post-rock mould into sparkling gems. Their second full-length album, Little Symphonies, is built around philosophies of pop music by balancing aesthetic and practical landscapes influenced by Phil Spector’s “wall of sound”. And they’ve done it with style, using delicious layers of melody and samples that include analog synths, beat-boxing, local church bells (backed by road construction), family recordings and lush string arrangements. The album is more upbeat than its predecessor, with a pop-inspired intensity varnishing the band’s careful instrumentation. This positive energy supports the album’s overall message: that the small things matter, and that our everyday battles will ready us for whatever life throws our way.

My Dad vs Yours

Ottawa’s own, My Dad vs Yours has achieved more success than was expected and feel humbled to be together in the present day. Formed in 2000, the band have gone through some personnel change but always re-emerge with a new, musical endeavour. MDVY have released 2 previous critically acclaimed works (Winning Hearts and Minds EP & After Winter Must Come Spring LP) to a very receptive audience worldwide. Most notably, their song “Habla Paisano” was used during a pre-game interview in Superbowl 2008.

MDVY continue to receive accolades for their work, allowing for various tours at great venues throughout Eastern Canada and special performances at Ottawa’s Bluesfest and Toronto’s International Film Festival. The band has had pleasure playing alongside local treasures, Saint Bernard of Love, The Empiricals, J’envoie, The Acorn and also with Apostle of Hustle, Miracle Fortress, Think About Life, Scratch Bastid, The Clientele and Beach House.

The first My Dads EP, Winning Hearts and Minds, earned the group sound indie credibility: They taped two songs for Canada’s underground art program, ZedTV; the album was released through Duotone Records in Japan; and it received regular airplay by American radio guru, Nic Harcourt.

After Winter Must Come Spring was recorded and mixed by Howard Bilerman & Efrim Menuck at Montreal’s Hotel2Tango (Wolf Parade, Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor).

My Dad Vs Yours Press

“I love this band, I love this band, I love this band. In this biographer’s humble opinion, this is the best music in Canada these days. My Dad vs. Yours isn’t afraid of a great pop melody here and there and a little hand-clapping between their instrumental post-rock experimentation. Honestly, can you think of anything better?”

- Pop Montreal

“These people care highly about both the music and the emotions being conveyed…This album [is] a lovely soundtrack to both the blooming flowers and the re-emergence of people to a snow-less world.”

- Exclaim Magazine

“You can almost see them saying, ‘We just invented the sort of masterful meditation practiced in the east by accident with our electric guitars.’”

- Chart Magazine

“My Dad vs. Yours has a leading voice and melodic centrality their peers often lack, and this melodic center is a winding path that leads from the album’s opening to its closing moments.”

- Coke Machine Glow

“My Dad Vs. Yours are pure musical bliss. The band transcends its genre, post-rock, and reinvents its rules. Their delicious pop hooks offset the droning guitars and epic crescendos that have defined that musical style.”

-Jonathan, Mocking Music

“Besides having one of the greatest band names in Canada, MDVY make dazzling instrumental music that soars, swoops, and glides. And it sometimes crashes, but it’s okay, there’s always survivors, because how else could the music continue? Think about it.” -Dial613

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