Weakerthans – Left and Leaving

Left and Leaving is the second album released by Winnipeg-based foursome The Weakerthans, which includes John K. Samson from Propagandhi.

Although it has been named one of the best Canadian albums of all-time on numerous occasions – sixth best by Chart magazine in 2005, 21st by the Mar*Star in 2011, 60th by CBC Radio in 2013, 75th by Mersereau in 2007 – and it was nominated as the Best Alternative Album at the 2001 Juno Awards and received favourable reviews in Germany, the mainstream music press doesn't think as highly of it:

• AllMusic gives it 4 stars out of 5
• Robert Christgau suggested "Pamphleteer" and "This Is a Fire Door Never Leave Open" as choice cuts on an album otherwise not worth buying
• Pitchfork rates it a 6.1 out of 10

It remains in regular rotation at my house, with different tracks taking pre-eminence over the years: currently, "My Favourite Chords" holds the place of honour.

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Track Listing

1. "Everything Must Go!" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 4:35
2. "Aside" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 3:21
3. "Watermark" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 2:38
4. "Pamphleteer" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 5:16
5. "This Is a Fire Door, Never Leave Open" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 5:07
6. "Without Mythologies" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 3:12
7. "Left and Leaving" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 4:45
8. "Elegy for Elsabet" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 6:20
9. "History to the Defeated" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 3:55
10. "Exiles Among You" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 5:11
11. "My Favourite Chords" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 4:27
12. "Slips and Tangles" (John K. Samson, Jason Tait, John P. Sutton, Stephen Carroll) – 3:00

Personnel

• Stephen Carroll – guitar, vocals, whirly-wind, piano, Rhodes, lap steel
• John K. Samson – vocals, guitar, wurlitzer, acoustic guitar, 12-string
• John P. Sutton – bass, vocals, piano, synth
• Jason Tait – drums, percussion, saw, Rhodes, switchblade, glockenspiel
• John Collins – bass, producer, engineer
• Fisher Rose – drums
• Blaine Thurier – keyboards
• Davidian Chorley – saxophone
• David Carswell – producer
• Blaine Thurier – keyboards

• Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site (album)
• Weakerthans – Tournament of Hearts (song)