Toronto — As much as the sophomore album from The Rural Alberta Advantage, Departing,  was originally conceived as a companion to their acclaimed debut Hometowns (which earned an 8.0 from Pitchfork), the band has allowed itself to stretch  out. “It’s ok to be bombastic at times,” says Nils Edenloff with a smile.

One of the most striking aspects of The RAA is the propulsive drumming by Paul Banwatt. Songwriter and singer Edenloff outlines the songwriting process  as he brings a song or an idea to the band, and “we’ll all tear it apart and  build it back up,” he says.

Banwatt echoes, “Once we have a song, we work out the rhythmic aspect and  build the song from that. The vocals are the core so I try to keep my drum  parts related to the vocal melody.”

His meticulous approach to the drums  helps to give Departing its dynamic ebb and flow, from the big floor toms  that kick off the record (“Two Lovers”) to the linear drumming on “North  Star,” (a beat created by only hitting one drum at a time). Paul also had a  few revelations, like opening his hi-hat on “Muscle Relaxants,” which filled  out the space of the intense, driving track.

Another trick that the band uses to keep the songs fresh is to write a song  on guitar and then switch the main instrument to keyboard during the  rebuilding process: “The Breakup,” “Under The Knife” and “Tornado ’87” each  came about this way,” says Edenloff. Amy Cole then adds another element, be it  percussion, vocals, or keyboard, filling out the arrangements.

After a breakthrough past couple of years that saw them earn comparisons to  The Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel, capture SXSW buzz playing on a bill  with Grizzly Bear, sell out tours around the world, sign to Saddle Creek and Paper Bag Records, and  score a “Breaking Out” feature in SPIN Magazine, The Rural Alberta Advantage  are poised to explode in 2011 with Departing, out March 1st.

The Rural Alberta Advantage Tour dates:

2/4 – Guelph, ON – River Run Centre (Hillside Inside) with Sarah Harmer

3/9 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Café

3/10 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

3/11 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church

3/12 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory

3/13 – Washington, DC – Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel

3/14 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506

3/15 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl

3/ 17-20 – Austin, TX – SXSW

3/20 – Dallas, TX – The Loft

3/22 – Ames, IA – The Maintenance Shop at Iowa State University

3/23 – Milwaukee, WI – Mad Planet

3/24 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon

3/25 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue

3/26 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall

3/27 – Windsor, ON – Phog Lounge

3/31 – Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret

4/1 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina

4/2 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room

4/5 – Calgary, AB – Republik

4/6 – Nelson, BC – The Royal on Baker

4/7 – Kelowna, BC – Habitat

4/8 – Vancouver, BC – Venue Nightclub

4/9 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir

4/10 – Seattle, WA – The Tractor Tavern

4/12 – San Francisco, CA – The Bottom of the Hill

4/13 – San Francisco, CA – The Bottom of the Hill

4/15 – Indio, CA – Coachella

4/20 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive

4/19 – Salt Lake City, UT – State Room

4/21 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown

4/22 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird

4/23 – Indianapolis, IN – Radio Radio

4/24 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

Toronto — After a breakthrough 2009 that saw them earn comparisons to The Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel, capture SXSW buzz playing on a bill with Grizzly Bear, sell out tours, sign to Paper Bag Records and Saddle Creek Records, and score a “Breaking Out” featuring in SPIN Magazine, The Rural Alberta Advantage are poised to explode in 2011 with Departing out March 1st in Canada on Paper Bag Records. The band will play an intimate set at The Mercury Lounge in New York City on January 12th.

With Departing, the band further refines their exuberant guitar work; everything-on-the-table vocals; songwriting full of conviction; the intricate, majestic drumming and keyboard-sprinkled arrangements that won them so many fans around the world. Departing strings together themes of small towns, Canadian fall and winter, breakups and redemption, and serves as a companion piece to their beloved debut album Hometowns. Highlights include the affecting “North Star,” the stark regret of “Tornado,” and the storming, percussive surge of “Stamp,” all of which vividly set the scene.

The group consists of singer/guitarist Nils Edenloff, also the chief writer in the group; Paul Banwatt, whose raucous percussion pushes the songs into overdrive; and multi-instrumental Amy Cole, who provides keys, percussion, and backing vocals. Borrowing a regional slogan, Edenloff grew up in rural Fort McMurray, Alberta, and draws on his experiences there in his songwriting.

The band will play an already-sold out intimate set to preview the album for fans at The Mercury Lounge in New York City on January 12th. Full North American tour dates will be announced shortly.