“…effortless, effervescent pop that doesn't call undue attention to
its carefully constructed layers of intertwining melodies… the ork-pop genre has produced
some of the best bands in the Chicago underground in the last decade… Canasta certainly
deserves a place on this list…
”
— Chicago Sun-Times
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“…Canasta can be called an indie-pop band for good enough reasons, but on
their debut album We Were Set Up they display both an ambition and a
sense of range that any number of early 21st century American groups described
in similar terms would be wise to follow… subtle… mesmerizing… stunning…
”
— AllMusic
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“…Canasta’s strength has been mixing genres, ever so slightly, to keep it
unpredictable… The band’s impressive orchestral pop, which really could catch on at
any moment in a big, big way, will not cease in its power – listening to We Were Set Up
again for the first time in a long while, I can’t believe I was able to put it down in the
first place.
”
— New City
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“Musically there's a lot going on; the listener can spend hours exploring the same song,
peeling back the layers of music and lyrics to reveal different perspectives each time…
poignant lyricism contrasted with bouncy happy pop… thoughtful, superbly arranged,
interesting music…
”
— Chicago Journal
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“Chicago’s Canasta play a rich and usually satisfyingly lush brand of orchestral pop… impressively diverse… rapturous…
”
— PopMatters
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“Trumpet. Upright bass. Cello. Pedal-steel guitar. these tools are integrated into the mix in a smart and subtle manner, and the album's 13 songs never feel cluttered or convoluted… I'm sure that both Belle and Sebastian and The New Pornographers would be proud to claim it as one of their own.
”
— Plague of Angels
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“How does one improve, or better yet expand on a full-length debut as swell as Canasta’s We Were Set Up? By turning the whole kit and caboodle over to remixers to work their magic on the songs, that’s how.
”
— Chicago FreePress
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“It’s harrowing and beautiful. This is maybe the best pop band
you’ve never heard of.
”
— The Stir Online
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“Canasta has slowly made a name for itself in recent years,
thanks to its inventive arrangements… (the band) has separated
itself by layering its sounds while retaining remarkable catchiness…
Canasta looks primed for a considerable breakthrough.
”
— NPR’s “World Cafe”
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