One of the more surprising collaborations we’ve seen this year is You+Me, a folk duo compromised of Pink (who is credited as Alecia Moore on the album), and Dallas Green, of City And Colour, and formerly of the hardcore punk band Alexisonfire. Their debut album Rose Ave. debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, and has been quite a success. With that in mind, here’s a guide to some of City And Colour’s best songs for Pink fans who just recently became aware of the genius that is Dallas Green.
1. “Hello, I’m In Delaware”
The first City & Colour album, 2005’s Sometimes was an extremely raw affair, featuring Dallas’s acoustic guitar as the only instrument most of the time. While Green’s sound would evolve considerably, the raw, confessional lyrics of this song, and the rest of the album make it a fascinating listen. This tale of a man separated from his lover, and feeling lonely in our nation’s first state is easily the best track.
2. “The Girl”
This track went a long way to introducing City And Colour to a wider audience, and on 2008’s Bring Me Your Love, it was the clearest example of Green’s evolving songwriting ability. “The Girl” is a seemingly autobiographical song from the point of view of a man who is thankful for the support of his significant other as he struggles through the lonely life of a touring musician. It starts out as a tearjerker, but after about two minutes, it turns into a hootenanny. I totally cried when I saw him play it live this summer, though.
3. “Against The Grain”
This song is one of the best showcases of Green’s harmonica-playing talents, and musically, it sounds a bit like something you might hear on Another Side Of Bob Dylan. The song’s oft-repeated line “you need not…” reminds us to not be overwhelmed by the stressful elements in life, and to do what we want to do rather than what is expected of us. As you might guess, I was really, really grateful to discover this song in college.
4. “We Found Each Other In The Dark”
For the first two albums, City & Colour was mainly a solo project (the name is a joke; Dallas Green = city and colour, get it?), but on 2011’s Little Hell, a full band played on the majority of the tracks, representing another major shift in City & Colour’s sound. The music felt more complete without sacrificing any of its intimacy. On this track in particular, things feel more atmospheric. The song creates a lonely country-tavern-at-closing-time vibe while telling the story of lovers who met under mutually dark circumstances.
5. “Fragile Bird”
A hit single in Green’s native Canada, this track is notable for being as far away from folk as City & Colour would ever get. The electric guitar is more prominent than ever, which led to the song getting a fair amount of play on alternative rock radio. For fans of the early, acoustic material, it might have felt like a sellout, but when it sounds this good, it’s hard to complain.
6. “The Hurry And The Harm”
The title track and the opening song of City & Colour’s most recent album, this song continues the atmospheric vibe of “We Found Each Other In The Dark,” while adding considerably more reverb. The addition of My Morning Jacket keyboardist Bo Koster was a key move during the recording of this album. If you’ve ever wondered what Brian Eno producing a folk album would sound like, this song is likely as close as you’re ever going to get it.
