Alvvays is a Canadian indie pop band formed in Toronto in 2011 around Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanley, blending jangle pop, dream pop, and shoegaze into concise, bright songwriting. Blue Rev (2022) topped year-end lists from Pitchfork to Rolling Stone, and Antisocialites (2017) is every bit as sharp. Browse Alvvays vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Alvvays formed in Toronto in 2011 around Molly Rankin (of the Rankin Family lineage) and Alec O'Hanley. The original lineup also included Kerri MacLellan, who has remained a member alongside Rankin and O'Hanley as the band's core. The lineup has shifted on bass and drums over the years, with Sheridan Riley and Abbey Blackwell joining in 2021. The band has been associated with Royal Mountain (Canada), Polyvinyl (US), and Transgressive (UK). Their 2022 album Blue Rev appeared on numerous year-end best-of lists across publications including Pitchfork, NME, and Rolling Stone.
Alvvays' sound combines indie pop, jangle pop, dream pop, and shoegaze with bright guitar tones, lush vocal harmonies, and concise songwriting. Their work draws on Scottish indie pop traditions (notably the C86 era), 1990s American indie rock, and contemporary atmospheric production.
All three Alvvays albums have been issued in standard and limited color variant pressings. Blue Rev in particular has appeared in multiple anniversary and retailer-exclusive editions.
Listeners new to Alvvays typically start with Antisocialites (2017) or Blue Rev (2022). The self-titled debut Alvvays (2014) is a common entry point.
