by Megan Heise

The first thing that popped into my head when I heard about The Racoons was Bert Raccoon and his many run ins with Cyril Sneer on the beloved Canadian cartoon series. But these Racoons don’t hail from Evergreen Forest. Instead, they originated in Victoria BC and have now made the move to Vancouver. The band consists of friends Matthew Lyall (vocals/guitar), Jeff Mitchelmorem (drums), Murray McKenzie (keys/guitar) and Alex Bodman (bass), and they are a refreshing addition to the Vancouver indie pop music scene.

Their first EP, entitled Islomania, was produced by Jean-Paul Maurice (of Victoria band Maurice) and boasts both infectious dance tracks like Rise and Fall, which has an unforgettable synth-infused melody, as well as a few lyrical masterpieces such as Islomania – my personal favorite. It is definitely the most swoon-worthy track-you can hear a hint of The Killers’ front man Brandon Flowers in Lyall’s voice as he sings “I don’t care, I’m a sucker for a good time.” Be My Television and Room to Operate also stick out as overall solid tracks on the EP.

I was lucky enough to see The Racoons at their recent show at the Media Club in Vancouver supporting Vince Vaccaro and was delighted to find that these guys are even more amazing live, not to mention easy on the eyes. Despite the small crowd they filled the entire room with their energy and perfected sound. I do not have enough nice things to say about this band and definitely recommend that you check them out if you can – their EP is available on itunes. They are definitely one to watch in the upcoming months.

http://www.myspace.com/theracoonsmusic