Album Notes

Since early 2008, Troubadour has set out to make music that will move their fans the way music has moved them. As avid music lovers, Troubadour is inspired by an eclectic mix of bands ranging from Pedro the Lion and Radiohead, to Refused and Fugazi. The result is their sonically exhilarating debut album "It Grows and Grows and Grows". Although at times very aggressive, there are always layers of nuance underneath the rough exterior. On top of this, Troubadour has developed a way to push the listener right to the edge, and then abruptly land you in a calm and simple place, that can only be described as beautiful.

Not only does Troubadour look to move you sonically, but vocalist/guitarist Robbie Ernst brings out all the stops lyrically. He seems to be first and foremost a story teller. There are both dark tales of troubled familial relationships, and heartbreaking allegories about the human condition. But no matter what the subject matter, each song is permeated with hope. Even at the darkest times Ernst's cries for relief are answered in small ways. The darkness of this album is less like the middle of the night where the blackness weighs on you from all directions, and more like the darkness of the very early morning. It is technically just as dim, but you can feel that the light is just over the horizon.

- Charles Minn