In The Press Archives
View Magazine, Hamilton's Weekly Alternative
http://www.viewmag.com/spins.php
Sept 28, 2006 (View Magazine, Hamilton) - Never Would Have Guessed We Were All Blessed Independent Conrad, the songwriting vehicle of Vancouver’s Larry Lechner, has an impressive sophomore album on their hands. With simple, guitar driven indie pop at the helm, Lechner sings lovingly about transportation, love and other unrelated topics that would satisfy fans ranging from Modest Mouse to REM. “Airstrike,” with its accompanying animated video straddles both aforementioned influences while throwing in flecks of The Arcade Fire’s lengthy chord jaunts and Radiohead’s ethereality, is the best song on the record, showing another youthful Canadian act that can write a good pop song. Half the time, Lechner sounds like a love–scorned poet trying to salvage what’s left of his heart, while other times he is a melodic guerilla warrior, pointing the weapon right at his convictions. An accessible, emotively jarring pop feast indeed. [SHAIN SHAPIRO] p>
Scene and Heard, Toronto
http://www.sceneandheard.ca/article.php?id=1748&morgue=1
September 2006 (Scene and Heard, Toronto) - A cartoon mouse in a blue bonnet, swimming in a sea of pink and orange swirls is the first hint that Vancouver-based Conrad’s sophomore album will be fun and a little mysterious. From track one, this music grabs the senses with curious sounds and doesn’t let up. Catchy melodies appear from within the captivating tangle of inventive keyboard and guitar styles that run the gamut from almost twangy to psychedelic and the clear, sweet-but-powerful voices of guitar/singer Larry Lechner and bassist/singer Adrian Popple. This is not a disc for lovers of irony. Stand out songs include politically charged ‘Waiting for a Message’ and ‘Airstrike’ which features an accompanying video starring our friend the mouse. There is more than meets the eye with this band. This album requires a few spins to really catch the layers that showcase the band’s intelligence, both musically and philosophically. It’s worthwhile to pay closer attention to the lyrics that can get lost amidst the scintillating atmosphere of the music. - Erin Taylorp>
Guess again
http://www.vancourier.com/issues06/071106/entertainment/071106en4.html
JULY 5, 2006 (Vancouver Courier) - One of the best local discs we've heard in awhile, Conrad's Never Would Have Guessed We Were All Blessed is as graceful, tasteful and sweet as its title. The second album from the band, the disc features guitarist/singer Larry Lechner's hook-filled pop and includes an animated video for the criminally catchy "Airstrike," which is getting some attention from MuchMusic.
IMU & CITR Present Conrad CD Release Party
http://www.imuproductions.com/events.html#july8
The Hard Rock Miners, Billy Bones & The No Good Loud Mouth Back Stabbing Jerks & Stephen Hedley @ The Railway Club, 579 Dunsmuir Street. Doors 8pm / Info: 604 681 1625
Join Vancouver's Conrad as they celebrate the release of their new CD "Never would have guessed we were all blessed" along with special guests The Hard Rock Miners, Billy Bones & The No Good Loud Mouth Back Stabbing Jerks, Stephen Hedley, and Chris Murdoch's amazing contact juggling act. Conrad will also be screening their new animated music video for "Airstrike", which is included on the disc. The video has already been seen by audiences coast to coast on MuchMusic's The Wedge and is also being shown at the IMFV Festival from Vancouver to Austin, Texas. With 2 Canadian Tours already under their belt, watch for Conrad to hit the road again in support of their newest CD!
CONRAD - Veering from hook-filled indie rock to swirling dream pop, Conrad's alt-pop-twang is atmospheric and poetic. Their lyrics deal with revolutionaries and love, moving from personal introspection to the current political landscape with edgy ease. Comprised of singer/songwriter Larry Lechner, guitarist Mark Eddy, Adrian Popple on bass, vocals and keyboards, and Marc L'Esperance on drums, Conrad delivers "richly textured jangly pop" (Queue Magazine) journey. "Quirky and clever...sad coolness... will appeal to anyone who actually listens to lyrics." Discorder songs that to cautious twang.
Conrad Get Animated On Their Latest Release
http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/06/1610.cfm
Friday June 16, 2006 @ 05:30 PM by Max Hayman, ChartAttack.com
Vancouver alternative pop-rockers Conrad are preparing to deliver the follow-up to their 2002 self-titled debut with the July 4 release of Never Would Have Guessed We Were All Blessed courtesy of Killbeat Music.
Conrad have been working on the 11-track album since 2004. It was produced in Vancouver by the band and Joey Vantol and was mixed and mastered at Capitol Mastering in Hollywood, California.
Conrad founder, singer and guitarist Larry Lechner wrote a majority of the songs, which feature a mix of indie rock, country twang and jangly pop. Conrad are rounded out by guitarist Mark Eddy (who wrote one song for the album), bassist/vocalist/keyboardist Adrian Popple and recent addition Marc L'Esperance on drums.
Conrad's eclectic sound has drawn comparisons to Straitjacket Fits, Lloyd Cole, The Pernice Brothers, Galaxie 500 and Cracker.
In addition to the 11 new tracks, the animated video for lead single "Airstrike" is also included on the disc. The clip has been shown on MuchMusic's The Wedge and is part of the Independent Music Video Festival that's travelling around North America.
Canadian tour dates are expected to be announced soon.
Here are the tracks on Never Would Have Guessed We Were Blessed:
- "Intro"
- "Ending 1st"
- "Airstrike"
- "Bullet 4"
- "Send A Chill"
- "Waiting 4 A Message"
- "Bigger Machine"
- "Around The Stars"
- "Everything We Ain't"
- "On A Plane"
- "Always Something"
Not Lame - August 2003
A beautiful, personal record that reminds us of Pernice Brothers, King Radio, Gingersol, Steve Wynn and Cracker with its expansive atmospheres and highly polished arrangements . If anyone has heard Fire In The Kitchen, Conrad sounds like them on a roots-pop kick. "Richly textured jangly pop....a charming debut"- Queue Magazine. "Throws just the right amount of curve balls into its debut....this is tastefully arranged, pleasantly mellow pop with hints of twang"-Georgia Straight. "Dreamy and pleasantly subtle and will appeal to anyone who actually listens to lyrics"-Discorder. The gentle jangles and well-crafted mosaics cover each song with memorable,quiet melodies. Very Highly Recommended.
Exclaim Magazine - June 02, 2003, by Rob Nay
Vancouver's Conrad, featuring former members of the Velveteens and Wayne Omaha, play deftly measured pop and refined alt-country. The disc resonates with placid, melodious tunes, united by well-crafted songwriting and a very strong sense of unity. Throughout the band's debut, Conrad displays a transparent skill at invoking soothing, campfire sentiments.
Scratch Records - September 2002
CONRAD-s/t CD (Swoop Discs/SW4134) .50 Sophomore effort from this Vancouver trio. Their previous CD, Dangle, was distributed in Canada by Cargo (R.I.P.) and garnered national press and radio play. Current key press and radio mail-outs are underway. The band is made up of ex-members of The Velveteens and Wayne Omaha, laying down some heartfelt and inspired indie-guitar-rock. They have instilled comparisons from us and others to Straitjacket Fits, Lloyd Cole, Pernice Brothers, Galaxie 500, Cracker, all of which the band keeps comfortable company with...you should be so lucky. no UPC
Discorder 2002, Janis McKenzie
Conrad's self-titled debut (Swoop Discs) is quirky and clever but also dreamy and pleasantly subtle, and will appeal to anyone who actually listens to lyrics.
Beautiful Indie Music Store - Canada's Online Indie Music Store
Not much to say about this understated psychedelic country rock trio and their heart-felt indie guitar rock sound, except for stellar. We're in total agreement with the Georgia Straight's recent rave review - Conrad's self-titled debut CD features their heartfelt indie-guitar-rock a la Straitjacket Fits, Lloyd Cole, Pernice Brothers, Galaxie 500 and Cracker. Songs include: Paisley, Me and Gauguin, and more...
FFWD - Calgary's News and Entertainment Weekly, Sep 29, 2002
Who the hell is Conrad? And why did they name a band after him?
IRONWOOD - So who exactly is this Conrad fellow, anyway? Do a simple Internet search for the name (or "Google it," as the hip kids say), and over 3.5 million listings appear. Add "Vancouver," and you just narrow it down to a mere 77,000 websites (and just so you know, the 16-64 Conrad BMX bike handlebars are available in at least one Vancouver store). Throw in the word "music," and right at the top of the list is conradmusic.com.
As it turns out, "he," is actually "they." An "alt-pop-twang" they, to be exact.
On the phone from Conrad's Vancouver rehearsal space, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Larry Lechner says the "he" versus "they" dilemma is a relatively common occurrence. "As a general rule, all people get easily confused," Lechner observes. "Including about the name."
"We played a show in Vancouver where some guy came up to me and said, 'Oh, I wanted to meet you, because my name is Conrad, too,'" he sighs.
And while you might think that a Conrad concert would feature a lone guitar-foisting troubadour who sings woeful songs of dearly departed relationships, what we're really talking about is an atmospheric pop outfit, featuring Lechner, Adrian Popple and Brett Galliford, as well as the newest member of the quartet Mark Eddy who lends slide guitar and keyboards.
And the name? Well, Lechner explains it best. "We were kicking around some new names (they used to be called The Velveteens) and a former member of the band said Comrade, but I thought he said Conrad," Lechner says. "I was kind of ecstatic about that name because it sounded like a construction company or something like that. It sounds completely unlike a pop band. And actually there is an electronics company in Germany called Conrad."
A versatile name for a versatile band.
Being rooted in the rock-pop genre, with a dose of what has been described as "cautious twang," means that Conrad finds itself playing an interesting range of venues.
"One night we played a Clash tribute and a wedding," recalls Lechner. "The Clash thing was basically a freebie where we had great fun, then we went across town and played a wedding. So we covered two sides of Vancouver in the same night. One gig we got nothing, the other we got ,000 to play 35 minutes, so there is no rhyme or reason."
Something that does have both rhyme and reason is the music itself, which Lechner sees as purposefully evolving, particularly with the addition of keyboards to the band. "We're kind of getting into the synth sound a bit, sort of toying with that idea," he observes. "So that will probably be a direction for the new album."
So if you're into bands that aren't afraid to experiment with sounds that range from "cautious twang" to "jangly pop", you may want to introduce yourself to Conrad (the band). But forget about Google, and go directly to the source.