Andy Shauf : The Party(10th Anniversary Edition)

Andy Shauf appeared on my musical radar 10 years ago with the release of his album The Party. The Canadian singer/songwriter came to me more so in happenstance than anything. Listening to Sloan on internet radio led to a “more like” algorithm push which led to hearing Shauf’s “The Magician”, the opening track from his then new record The Party. I was floored to say the least.

This young-ish Canadian multi-instrumentalist started out playing Christian music with his parents as a kid, then moved on to form the Christian pop-punk band Captain ultimately quitting to start a solo career.

“The Magician” showed a fully formed singer/songwriter digging in deep with lush piano, gentle guitars, and Shauf’s knack for clarinet. It was more likened to classic 70s singer/songwriter fare and baroque pop than pop-punk sprinkled with scripture.

The Party was a concept album about a group of people at party and conversations, interactions, and misunderstandings that can take place at a gathering with alcohol and hidden agendas. It was to my ears an instant classic pop record with plenty of creative and melodic heft. It was like if you took Randy Newman and had him write songs based on a Whit Stillman film about post-college friends gathering for one more party before adulthood started.

It’s been ten years since the release of Shauf’s pivotal record and ANTI- has reissued it in a 2LP form. The first LP is the original, and the second LP is The Afterparty, a collection of alternate takes and material not used for the original release. It is an essential collection as you get to hear known songs in rawer form, while the unreleased songs are as good as anything that saw the light of day.

The original LP remains one of the best pop records of the last 10 years; its concept of a party and all its dysfunction solid and Shauf’s gentle, intimate vocals feel as if you’re hearing about the night’s proceedings from the shyest partygoer. The subtle arrangements perfectly constructed to give room to the storytelling. But the best part of this 10-year anniversary edition is The Afterparty.

It opens with an airier version of “The Magician”, Shauf’s vocals feeling even more sparse and intimate. His piano playing almost majestic. Even in skeletal form it’s stunning. We then get the jaunty “Angela The Traveler”, a track that feels and sounds like something Harry Nilsson might’ve dropped in 1969. Shauf’s clarinet playing on full display here. “The Interpreter” is another unreleased track and it boggles the mind as to how this ended up on the cutting room floor. “Fake your smile but don’t fake everything” Shauf sings over contemplative piano. Almost has a Zombies feel.

One of my favorite songs is the melancholy “My Brother Jeremy”, an ode to a brother with no ambition. The torch song-like piano chords, the mournful strings all come together in such a beautiful way. Maybe one of the best songs I’ve heard…period.

If you never took the time to listen to Andy Shauf’s The Party, then what are you waiting for? Go buy it now. The Afterparty makes this an absolute no-brainer purchase. And even if you do have The Party, this 10th anniversary edition is essential. Martha Sways, and so do I.