Vinyl is being celebrated whole-heartedly Apr. 12, as Record Store Day Canada gears up for another year of highly-anticipated launches of special releases, re-releases and rarities at independent record stores coast-to-coast.
Big Wreck is this year’s Canadian ambassadors, releasing an exclusive deluxe edition of Albatross on vinyl for the first time.
Led by Toronto singer, songwriter and guitarist Ian Thornley, Big Wreck exploded onto the music scene in 1997. The band’s hits include That Song, Blown Wide Open, The Oaf and Albatross.
“Looking at the other people they’ve had do that in the past, the other Canadian artists, it’s nice to keep good company,” says Thornley, about Big Wreck being named RSD ambassadors. Last year, The Tragically Hip had the honour.
Thornley adds he’s old enough to remember music before the rise of CDs and digital platforms.
“There was something almost ceremonial about taking the disc out of the packaging. You’d look at the artwork and read all these names on the record. It just required a little more of the listener.”
Nowadays, you can just tell your phone to play something, he jokes.
Back then, Thornley adds, the activity itself was listening to music. “You’d take the record out, there was a smell and the visual component to it. You’d either sit in front of the speakers or put headphones on and get lost in the music. I have very fond memories of my relationship with the music when I was very young. A lot of it had to do with vinyl. There’s a distinct sound to it, as well.”
“You can argue if it’s better or worse or whatever. To me, there’s a warmth and almost 3D quality to vinyl. Certainly, a good record player and a good amplifier, it’s just a different way to appreciate something.”
Another honour, Thornley admits, is potentially being involved in somebody’s similar experience one day. “Music is very important because you never know what a little song you have written might do for somebody else or what it might mean. I say that from experience. I think we’ve all had the experience where a song can be so meaningful. It could almost be better than a best friend at that moment when you need to hear something. I’ve always taken great pride in being able to do that for a living.”
Crafting an album is also a different art form. “That attention to detail is maybe a little bit lost right now,” Thornley says. “Listening to an album forces you on this journey with the artist. In that sense, it’s almost like watching a movie or a TV show.”
Aside from the upcoming vinyl release, Big Wreck has a pretty busy summer booked.
“Before that, we’re going to do some stuff in the United States on our way down to doing one of those cruises,” Thornley notes. “Creed is putting on this cruise and invited us.”
Check out your local record store for this year’s Record Store Day Canada selection.
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