Lineup: 2010
English Words
Charlottetown, PEI
On January 15, 2010, surrounded by a typically packed hometown crowd, Charlottetown, PEI band Smothered In Hugs made a liberating on-stage announcement: they were changing their name to English Words. Accompanying this proclamation was a brand new four-song EP, which the band personally handed out for free to each fan in attendance. The EP, appropriately titled, Customer Appreciation, maintains the group’s tradition of intensely melodic, densely layered pop rock, but with cleaner edges, more breathing room and an added rhythmic focus. English Words consists of two song-writing brothers (Ryan and Aaron Crane), a close cousin (Todd MacLean), a childhood friend (Josh Byrne) and newest member, Andrew Murray.
The band’s debut LP The Healing Power Of Injury, released regionally in June of 2008, and nationally in February of 2009 was welcomed by rave reviews. The album received play on CBC Radio 1 (Q, DNTO), CBC Radio3 (R3-30 chartbuster, “Track Of The Day”, various podcasts) and entered the top 50 on Earshot Magazine’s weekly national campus and community radio report. Touring in support of the album found the band playing an Ontario tour with Toronto electro-rockers and ardent fans Holy Fuck. Additional touring included showcases at NXNE, POPMontreal, and the Halifax Pop Explosion with Collagen Rock label-mates Two Hours Traffic, Mardeen and The Danks. Other highlights include performing as the closing act at the 2009 Canada Summer Games Closing Ceremonies, a nationally televised event. The Healing Power Of Injury recently won 2010 Music PEI Rock Recording of the Year at the 9th Annual Music PEI Awards Gala and was nominated for 2010 ECMA Sirius Satellite Rock Recording of the Year.