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The Rural Alberta Advantage is the New Buzz Band...But Wait, Just What is a "Buzz Band," Anyway?

3:43 p.m. · July 7, 2009 · by Rachel Brodsky

Holy buzz band, Batman! Isn't it strange the way a seemingly miniscule and generally unimportant indie band can go from yesterday's cake to tomorrow's fame and fortune? The writer of Hit Singularity wondered the same thing. In a probing "case study" about how a buzz band becomes a bona-fide buzz band, Hit Singularity discusses the role web 2.0 plays in creating word of mouth, and friendly Pitchfork ratings. The buzz band in question are The Rural Alberta Advantage, a darling and versatile indie band from Toronto, together since 2005. The Rural Alberta Advantage are blessed with catchy but bittersweet tracks, a rootsy-tootsy tone, and a singer who is a dead ringer for Jeff Magnum. Swoon! Hit Singularity's "case study" goes on to analyze the Rural Alberta Advantage's history, starting with their first ever show, and moving on to pinpoint the exact moments of buzz. But let the moral of the story show, a buzz band's popularity may seem sudden, but in the Rural Alberta Advantage's case, it's been a long time coming. [Hit Singularity via The Daily Swarm]