Put the Rifle Down is a Canadian electronic dance band based in Toronto, Ontario, that were signed to Montreal label Summer Lovers Unlimited. Their debut full-length, Selector, was released in 2009.[1] The band includes Michael Countryman (vocals), Anthony Bruno (drums/percussion), Jordan Bimm (guitar), and Mark Cassidy (synthesizers). The band formed while all four members were studying at the University of Toronto in 2004.[2] NOW magazine considers their sound similar to that of New Order.[3] In 2007, the band had their song Architekt featured on a vinyl-only compilation called Hordes Of Canada that was issued in the UK by Cheap Date Records. The release also included songs by Crystal Castles, We Are Wolves, and Duchess Says and is now out of print. Drowned in Sound described Architekt as "glacial downbeat-pop at its most irresistible" and wrote that Arcade Fire was "an obvious influence".[4]

Put The Rifle Down
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresSynthpop
Indie rock
Electronic dance
Years active2004–present
LabelsSummer Lovers Unlimited
Cheap Date Records
MembersMichael Countryman
Anthony Bruno
Jordan Bimm
Mark Cassidy

The band has played the North by Northeast music festival,[5] the CMJ festival, Pop Montreal, and Canadian Music Week. They were invited to play the 2008 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, but did not make it due to visa problems.[3] Put the Rifle Down has remixed tracks by The Coast and by the French band The Teenagers. Thunderheist remixed Put the Rifle Down's track My Industrial Park.

In September 2011, the band announced it will release a new full-length album, titled New Dance, on October 20, 2011.[6]

Discography edit

  • Hordes of Canada (Cheap Date Records; 2007) UK Comp, vinyl only, OUT OF PRINT.
  • Selector (Summer Lovers Unlimited; 2009) LP, OUT OF PRINT.
  • NRG (Independent; 2010) LP.
  • New Dance (Independent; 2011) LP.

References edit

  1. ^ (January 1, 2009). "Thoughts on 2008: Put the Rifle Down", Exclaim!. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  2. ^ Taylor, Ric. "Hamilton music notes[permanent dead link]", View Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  3. ^ a b Davies, Evan (March 6, 2008). "Music feature: Put the Rifle Down", NOW. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  4. ^ Dowling, Jordan (November 15, 2007). "Hordes of Canada Archived 2012-10-05 at the Wayback Machine", Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  5. ^ Dickson, Evan (June 11, 2007). "Put the Rifle Down @ NXNE[usurped]", Chart. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  6. ^ (September 29, 2011). ""THE iNDiE MACHiNE - Your guide through the world of independent music in Canada and around the globe". Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2011-09-29.", The Indie Machine. Retrieved 2011-09-29.

External links edit