Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together

26Mar08

If, like me, you are an avid fan of Bryan Lee O’ Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels will probably be aware of Plumtree, the Canadian all-girl indie pop band, whether you not it or not. The books are peppered with references to the group, from the titular character’s “Mass Teen Fainting” t-shirt (the name of the foursome’s first album), to the name of the series itself; O’ Malley, under his recording name of Kupek has also covered their songs (see last week’s Weekend Mix).

So, why have you never heard of Plumtree until you read Scott Pilgrim (or, if you still haven’t, until this stupid blog post)? That is a question I wish I could answer, but can’t. Because there is no reason. The group are just such a perfect pop-rock group, I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them when I first got my hands on their sophomore, and possibly best, album, Predicts the Future.

Formed in 1993 when the Gillis sisters (Lynette, aged 14, on drums; Carla, 17, on guitar and vocals) met Amanda Braden (15, guitar and vocals) and Nina Martin (16, bass) through mutual music teachers, in their hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The teaming of Amanda and Carla’s duelling rhytmn and lead guitars, along with their sweetly harmonising vocals, are what underpins the greatness of Plumtree. By 1995 the group had recorded Mass Teen Fainting, their debut full-length album, which was a college radio hit. Around this time, Nina Martin left the band go to McGill University, and was replaced by Catriona Sturton.

Plumtree’s second album, Predicts the Future, was recorded in 1997 and released in 1998, and was full of awesome indie-rock pop songs, from the melancholic “You Just Don’t Exist” to the heavy-ish riot-grrrl style “Scott Pilgrim” (which you can download below). The album found it’s way to the #1 spot on the national college radio chart, Earshot, as well as propelling Plumtree onto the covers of weekly magazines, including Canada’s music monthly, Exclaim!.

Soon after the release of their third album, This Day Won’t Last at All, which saw the band’s sound mature in the direction evident from the sad, country-ish “I Love You When You’re Walking Away” from Predicts The Future, Plumtree played their final show at the Marquee Club in their hometown of Halifax, before following their original bass player by returning to their respective university.

This isn’t the end, though; the talent that was evidenced by this group of individuals was not squandered (Christ, I sound like a narrator in a CS Lewis novel). While Amanda Braden, Catriona Sturton and Nina Martin continue to study, Lynette and Carla Gillis continue to perform in the trio Bontempi, and Carla also records solo under her own name. They’re really rather good, and I’d recommened you to check both them, and Plumtree out.

Download “Scott Pilgrim”

Buy Plumtree’s albums in MP3 format @ Zunior

Plumtree on MySpace
Bontempi on MySpace
Carla Gillis on MySpace

References
Stained Pages interview with Plumtree
Plumtree on Wikipedia
Plumtree biography on MapelMusic