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On August 11 of 2009, Dan Mangan released his sophomore album, Nice, Nice, Very Nice in Canada. And it was about time. After three and a half years of touring his sleeper-hit debut, Postcards and Daydreaming, Dan was ready and eager to unveil a collection of lyrical ruminations that showcased his growth as a songwriter. 2010 will see releases throughout Europe, America and Australia. The album immediately shot to #1 on the iTunes Canada Singer/Songwriter Album chart, and #7 at ‘Earshot!’ College/Co-Op radio (#1 roots category). Rave reviews came from heavy hitting national music-mags such as Exclaim!, CHARTattack and Metro as well as countless blogs and print media. Then came the news that Dan had won “Artist Of The Year” from XM Satellite’s Verge Music Awards, beating out acts like Joel Plaskett and Alexisonfire for the top spot – a high profile award with a $25,000 cash-prize. All of this just as Dan hit the road across Canada with his four piece band. |
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Things only got better. Sold out shows became the norm and Mangan graced the covers of three arts/weekly papers; meanwhile, Nice, Nice, Very Nice hit #1 on CBC Radio 3, XM The Verge and 100.5FM The Peak (Vancouver). Dan performed live in studio on CBC’s national programs ‘Q’ and ‘Drive’ and found himself the beneficiary of outstanding rave live concert reviews from print and online media alike. Titled in reference to a Kurt Vonnegut poem, Nice, Nice, Very Nice was recorded in Toronto in fall 2008 under the creative eye of producer John Critchley (Elliott Brood, 13 Engines, Leather Uppers). Dropping in to add their talents were such hero Canadian artists as Justin Rutledge, Veda Hille, Mark Berube, Hannah Georgas and members of Elliott Brood, Said The Whale, The Hidden Cameras, Major Maker and Small Sins. Mangan has toured Canada, the UK, USA and Australia numerous times. He’s played coffee shops to six people and festival stages to many more. He has showcased at Canadian Music Week, South-By-South-West, North-By-North-East, The Great Escape (UK), MusExpo (LA), Big Sound (AUS). Whether alone or with his Vancouver-based band, Dan continues to work all the time. Dan’s debut album has kept him on the move with opportunities. Britain’s NME magazine featured him as one of Canada’s most promising acts. Back home, he has become a darling of the CBC. Gaining respect amid his peers, he has shared stages with Patrick Watson, The Acorn, Elliott Brood, Said The Whale, Great Lake Swimmers, Basia Bulat, Stephen Page, Ohbijou, Arkells, Hey Rosetta!, Geoff Berner, Carolyn Mark, Veda Hille, Mother Mother, and has collaborated with spoken word artists such as Ivan Coyote and the internationally renowned Shane Koyczan. Mangan weaves unique lyrical phrases that simply and subtly unfurl complicated ideas. He delivers them with his signature graveled vocals and understated humour. What Mangan has to offer isn’t overly precious or delicate. He simply writes songs that evoke the wonder and the absurdity in what we do. |
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Press Praise for Nice, Nice, Very Nice (2009):
"...Knocks you flat on your ass... Mangan's career is clearly on the rise. Hop on board and enjoy the ride." “From his unusual and razor-sharp phrasing to the sage poetry in his everyday-life observations, he’s in the ranks of geniuses such as Greg Brown, Nick Drake or Badly Drawn Boy.” “He’s an observer in the sense you’d want to join him on a patio for a drink just to see the city through his eyes for an afternoon. Until then, Nice, Nice, Very Nice effectively lets you pretend for just over 40 mesmerizing minutes.” “With some of his strongest work to date and an already large fan-base, Nice, Nice, Very Nice could very well be the album that solidifies Mangan as the standout artist he is.” “It’s hard to believe that this new collection of stellar songs won’t help him leave each tour stop with countless new fans in his corner.” “Ultimately, it’s that ability to write lyrics that beg for some consideration of their meanings” “If you like The Weakerthans or early Hawskley Workman, you’ll love this record. It’s all well crafted singer-songwriter stuff with impressive range.” “Listeners wouldn’t expect the cheeky content to sail through waves of dynamic choral balladeering and colourful instrumentation, but Mangan doesn’t only pull it off, he makes it soar. “ For (many) more reviews of Nice, Nice, Very Nice, click here Praise for Roboteering EP (2009)
“If this is the quality of the forthcoming album then it will be immense.” “It’s all great, just great. Hurry up with the rest of it, dude.” “Mangan’s distinctive voice, which is confident and weary beyond his years, sounds like it’s been aged in oak… Compelling, twisty and imaginative.” “Mangan’s next move is definitely going to be worth waiting for.” “Feels so beautiful and personal that time ceases to exist.” “A slightly rough-at-the-edges troubadour, singing true with a golden heart and an earnest charm.” “Think Jim Bryson tubing down the Red River with a bottle of rum” Praise for Postcards and Daydreaming (2007)
“This folk singer may only be 23, but he sings with the soul of Woody Guthrie - if Woody Guthrie had listened to Godspeed (You Black Emperor)” “The deliciously downbeat Postcards and Daydreaming is a good sulky-day companion for anyone who has already invested in the collected works of Hayden or Crooked Fingers.” “Reverential elegance… It’s not easy to play slowly but Mangan’s growly ruminations demand it.” “There is poetic power here.” “In the end, the real appeal of this album is that even through a static speaker, it still seems as though Dan Mangan is singing only to you.” ”His gruff croon has enslaved my ears, it’s just so horribly beautiful… Resistance is futile. There is no escape. Let this be a warning - once you’re into this album, there is no getting out.” (Rating: A) ” * * * * * ” “It is a mystery to me why Dan Mangan has not yet reached superstardom…” “Patrick Watson plays the creepier Jeff Buckley to Dan Mangan’s Damien Rice, but Watson can’t touch Mangan’s live ode to MySpace.” “A knack for the kind of sad songs that could potentially drive you to drink.” “His voice opens up and loats around the room like the smells from my cup of coffee and really let’s you have something to hold onto on those days where everything else seems lost.” |
