Biography
Toronto-based outfit Alvvays fused ringing indie-pop hooks with sweet melodies and bursts of melancholy noise-rock, earning a loyal audience and positioning themselves as leading exponents of the revived C-86 aesthetic. Their initial breakthrough arrived via the charming yet uneasy single “Archie, Marry Me,” which anchored the confident self-titled debut issued in 2014. Subsequent releases kept those foundational elements while expanding the palette; Blue Rev, their 2022 album, incorporated strands of ’90s indie-rock and shoegaze.
Molly Rankin, daughter of John Morris Rankin from the Rankin Family, handled vocals and guitar. Keyboardist Kerri MacLellan, a neighbor from childhood, joined after Rankin encountered guitarist Alec O’Hanley at a teenage gig; the pair soon began writing together. With O’Hanley’s assistance, Rankin issued a solo EP in 2010 before assembling the full Alvvays lineup that included bassist Brian Murphy and drummer Phil MacIsaac. The group toured extensively behind Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Peter Bjorn and John while stockpiling material. In 2013 they tracked their first album with Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen, later collaborating with Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck and producer John Agnello, whose résumé includes Kurt Vile and the Hold Steady. Buzz generated by their SXSW appearances and the online circulation of the “Adult Diversion” demo prompted Polyvinyl Records to sign them, resulting in the 2014 release of the self-titled LP. Propelled by “Archie, Marry Me,” the record gained widespread attention and launched an intensive touring cycle that included headline slots at Glastonbury in 2015 and Coachella in 2016.
While on the road, the band began testing new compositions. Rankin completed the songs during solitary day trips to Toronto Islands, working inside an empty schoolhouse. Once finished, Rankin, MacLellan, and Murphy laid down basic tracks in Los Angeles; Rankin and O’Hanley then relocated the sessions to a Toronto basement, where Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake contributed. Antisocialites appeared on Polyvinyl in September 2017. The following year the album earned two Juno Award nominations—one for Group of the Year, which they won, and another for Alternative Album of the Year.
Misfortune followed: Rankin’s laptop containing song sketches and demos was stolen, and a basement flood destroyed equipment. Murphy and MacIsaac departed, and the pandemic complicated rehearsals with new rhythm-section members bassist Abbey Blackwell and drummer Sheridan Riley. Rather than disband, the group reconvened with producer Shawn Everett—previously at the helm for Kacey Musgraves and the War on Drugs. The resulting Blue Rev, released in 2022, retained the band’s core sound while introducing denser guitar textures, intricate arrangements, and more assertive vocals from Rankin. Widely praised, the album brought a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance for the track “Belinda Says” at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Molly Rankin, daughter of John Morris Rankin from the Rankin Family, handled vocals and guitar. Keyboardist Kerri MacLellan, a neighbor from childhood, joined after Rankin encountered guitarist Alec O’Hanley at a teenage gig; the pair soon began writing together. With O’Hanley’s assistance, Rankin issued a solo EP in 2010 before assembling the full Alvvays lineup that included bassist Brian Murphy and drummer Phil MacIsaac. The group toured extensively behind Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Peter Bjorn and John while stockpiling material. In 2013 they tracked their first album with Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen, later collaborating with Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck and producer John Agnello, whose résumé includes Kurt Vile and the Hold Steady. Buzz generated by their SXSW appearances and the online circulation of the “Adult Diversion” demo prompted Polyvinyl Records to sign them, resulting in the 2014 release of the self-titled LP. Propelled by “Archie, Marry Me,” the record gained widespread attention and launched an intensive touring cycle that included headline slots at Glastonbury in 2015 and Coachella in 2016.
While on the road, the band began testing new compositions. Rankin completed the songs during solitary day trips to Toronto Islands, working inside an empty schoolhouse. Once finished, Rankin, MacLellan, and Murphy laid down basic tracks in Los Angeles; Rankin and O’Hanley then relocated the sessions to a Toronto basement, where Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake contributed. Antisocialites appeared on Polyvinyl in September 2017. The following year the album earned two Juno Award nominations—one for Group of the Year, which they won, and another for Alternative Album of the Year.
Misfortune followed: Rankin’s laptop containing song sketches and demos was stolen, and a basement flood destroyed equipment. Murphy and MacIsaac departed, and the pandemic complicated rehearsals with new rhythm-section members bassist Abbey Blackwell and drummer Sheridan Riley. Rather than disband, the group reconvened with producer Shawn Everett—previously at the helm for Kacey Musgraves and the War on Drugs. The resulting Blue Rev, released in 2022, retained the band’s core sound while introducing denser guitar textures, intricate arrangements, and more assertive vocals from Rankin. Widely praised, the album brought a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance for the track “Belinda Says” at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Albums
