Autumn Still

Perfectly embodying the band name, Autumn Still is primed to be on your end of fall/early winter playlist. They’re reminiscent of the Smiths and other iconic mood rock bands. Don’t miss “Graduation” and “Lights Out Before The Dawn.” - CMJ

Autumn Still’s forthcoming album, When It Was, fits right into the catchy-soft-rock direction that alternative rock seems dominated by. The entire album has a gentle singer-songwriter vibe, but the Winnipeg band somehow manages to make each song sound special.

With lyrics that could have been taken straight from a diary, the album begins with “Let Champagne Go,” a passionate ballad with an angry sad feel. Later on, the tempo picks up for upbeat alternative rock tunes, “Lines” and “The Accused,” which have a subtle but striking splash of electro-pop. This juxtaposition of contrasting emotional impact continues as the heartfelt ballad “Home” starts off slow then swells in speed and impact. The smooth vocals of Bethany Swanson, Trevor Graumann, and Grant Partridge blend well together perfectly in “Home.”

Later, the slow, gentle female vocals, the basic acoustic guitar, subdued drums and the heartbreaking lyrics make tracks “And If You’re Leaving Me” and “Doom and Gloom” perfect to play on any gloomy, rainy day.

Closer “Graduation” brings an eerie and unique sound to the album. It includes passionate piano playing and hauntingly beautiful vocals, concluding the album brilliantly. - BeatRoute

The debut EP from Autumn Still is a dreamy pop affair that evokes the empty, windswept spaces of the band's hometown Winnipeg. Made up of veterans from a number of local projects (Sit Down Tracy and Roger's Arsenal, among others), the band demonstrate a solid sense of self, especially for a debut. With airy vocals and a mellow, meandering pace to the music, the three songs here dance in a manner reminiscent of ice crystals and snow blowing in the dusky glow outside of living room windows.

The sense of urgency that comes only at the end of closing track "Our Last" manages to convey a sense of cabin fever, and that something needs to happen, but just what it might be is never quite resolved. Certainly, Autumn Still have crafted a lovely debut that leaves the listener wondering just what comes next. If they can develop their sound and songwriting, it will be interesting to see what Autumn Still are able to do with a full-length record. - Exclaim!

When I reviewed Autumn Still’s self-titled EP back in January, I spoke of the calmness that filled their simple folk-pop songs. In less than a year’s time the Winnipeg band are back with a debut LP that, for the most part, forgoes this earlier hushed soundscape. In its place is bolder instrumentation, lots more energy, and a huge dose of confidence.

In their ongoing exploration of “the lump in the throat and the pit of the stomach”, the band’s founding mission, Autumn Still utilize a beefed-up guitar section, add synths to their repertoire, and craft pop melodies that make their emotional examinations very easy to enjoy. Bethany Swanson’s voice shines amongst the steady beat of the opener “And If You’re Leaving Me” while “Lights Out Before The Dawn” grows to one of Autumn Still’s most emotional epics. The playful groove of the energized lead single “The Accused” also excels at showing off this fresh side of the band.

Throw on a cozy sweater, watch the leaves fall, and take in When It Was. After all, it’s autumn still. - Grayowl Point

Autumn Still’s self-titled debut EP couldn’t have come out at a better time of the year. While it’s only three songs in length, every second of this EP is airy, beautiful and relaxing - the perfect music to warm you up on cold winter evenings. For a debut EP, these three tracks are incredibly strong, solid, and evoke a sense of calm as they progress.

The first song on the EP, “Long Terms,” begins with a simple and soft guitar and drum part, quickly joined by a gorgeous bass line, and by when the piano and vocals come in, the song truly blossoms. The soft vocals and breathtaking harmonies in this track are relaxing and airy, and as the track progresses, it only seems to get stronger. “Bartholomew” feels like more of a love song, and again, this track is perfect to listen to in front of the fireplace on a cold winter evening. The vocals on this track are both warm and beautiful, and while the tempo of the song is slow and similar to first track, it still sounds unique.

For a debut EP, Autumn Still have definitely hit the nail on the head. This group of musicians have managed to find a sound all their own, and by the time that the final track, “Our Last,” fades out, I’m left wanting more and excited to see what this group can do with a full-length album to really explore their sound. With folk-like harmonies and a mellow, laid back sound similar to bands like Vacationer or even Young The Giant, Autumn Still absolutely show incredible potential with this release.

Rating: 4/5 - Prelude Press

Autumn Still is relatively new to the Winnipeg scene, but their eponymous debut release has the carefully crafted sound of a band that has been together much longer. Putting quality before quantity, their EP clocks in at under 15 minutes, but certainly gives the listener a taste of the sort of dreamy indie-pop music that seems to suit them so well. The lyrics are disjointed, creating stream-of-consciousness narratives, but the music is stylistically coherent throughout. The standout track here is “Bartholomew,” which seems to exemplify the pop-rock sound of the band, and features Bethany Swanson’s vocals floating effortlessly over old school guitar tones. Also of note are the beautiful harmonies throughout the album, which add space and dimension to each of the songs and are a testament to how well suited the members of this group seem to be for each other. With a debut release which demonstrates such a certain identity, things will surely continue to look up for Autumn Still. - Stylus Magazine