Featuring former The Bonaduces frontman, Doug McLean, The Paperbacks formed in 2000 in the indie hotbed that is Winnipeg, Manitoba and featured a lineup of Jaret Mcnabb, Jack Jonasson, Jason Churko and Tanya Jonasson. Burdened with constant comparisons to their Winnipeg compatriots The Weakerthans, The Paperbacks… Read moreShow less
Featuring former The Bonaduces frontman, Doug McLean, The Paperbacks formed in 2000 in the indie hotbed that is Winnipeg, Manitoba and featured a lineup of Jaret Mcnabb, Jack Jonasson, Jason Churko and Tanya Jonasson. Burdened with constant comparisons to their Winnipeg compatriots The Weakerthans, The Paperbacks blazed their own trail nonetheless playing shows across Canada and gaining a profile of their own.
The Paperbacks released their debut album, An Episode of Sparrows in July of 2003 on Minneapolis based Pshaw! Records, and gained critical praise in both North America and Europe, where the record was released in October 2003 by UK label Newest Industry. Mixing equal parts indie rock and power-pop with a dash of alt.country, The Paperbacks have an exceedingly mature sound. Showcasing McLean's unique lyrical voice, An Episode of Sparrows is an album that continues to grow deeper with each listen.
In the Fall of 2007, The Paperbacks released their sophomore full length An Illusion Against Death, produced by a long-time fan and supporter, The Weakerthans frontman John K. Samson, the album was released in Canada on the new Parliament of Trees label.
An Illusion Against Death sees the band continue its lyrical exploration of hitherto uncharted territory: the layered heartache of taking one's mentally ill sister to visit a dying parent (Institutions), the willfully veiled language of medicine and romance (Things Get Abstract), the limits that bureaucracy and institutional inertia put on emotional response (Holocaust Art). The lyrical weight does not, however, offset the tunefulness, allowing An Illusion Against Death to vigorously showcase the band's various strengths.
After the release of An Illusion against Death, Jason Churko and Tanya & Jack Jonasson quit the band, forcing The Paperbacks to undertake their 2007 album tour with a brand new lineup comprising original members Doug McLean and Jaret McNabb alongside newcomers Louis Levesque-Cote (guitar/vox) and Corey Biluk (drums/percussion).
Following the lineup changes of 2007, the following year would prove to be equally turbulent. Levesque-Cote left the band early in the year to focus on other projects (Crosstown Rivals and Boats), while the rest of the band embarked on fulfilling McLean's ambitious plan of recording and releasing a double album. Recruiting two new guitarists, Kevin Andrechuk and Andrew Filyk, the band spent the first half of 2008 working on a skeleton for the album before embarking on a Summer tour. Filyk left the band soon afterwards to focus on his role in Human Garbage, and Kevin McLean joined on keyboards and vocals.
Having spent the Fall bunkered down in Jaret McNabb's home studio, Doug McLean announced in early 2009 that the double album was nearing completion, with The Paperbacks' first double album (currently featuring 32 songs and lasting over two hours) due for release in the coming months.
