Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 15
Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 15
Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 15
Category: Folk
Talent Tuesday – Canadian Releases – February 28, 2012
A bit different from last week, lots to choose from this week.
Teenage Kicks, a rock band out of Toronto released an album today titled “Be On My Side”. They play an energetic rock style, utilizing all 5 members. I definitely enjoyed the attached track. This is their second album. Stop by their home page.
Setting Son
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Next up is a new album from Plants and Animals titled “The End Of That”. They are and indie/ alternative band out of Montreal, with some Halifax added to the mix. They have recorded since 2005, this being their 5th release. The following is off the album. Good tune, consider it downloaded.
Song For Love
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Singer songwriter Rose Cousins released “We Have Made A Spark” today.
Born in Prince Edward Island, Rose has carved a nice place in Canadian folk music. This album is her 5th release. I have attached a live version of “All The Time It Takes To Wait”. The music starts at the 1:24 mark. Very nice song. She is with Royal Wood at the piano.
All The Time It Takes To Wait
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My last Canadian release this week comes from Toronto band Memoryhouse.
Memoryhouse (Photo credit: : : Kasper) The band has released their first full length disc this week titled “The Slide Show Effect”. Interesting sound as shown in the attached video. This is a live version of “Punctum”, which is on the album.Punctum
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My last song for this weeks new releases is not a new release. I heard this song the other day and I hit instant like. The band is Graffiti6 and the song is titled, simply, “Free”. Great tune. The song is off the recent release called “Colours”. They are out of London in the UK and are breaking out in a big. It seems their music is everywhere on TV now. Songs have been featured on CSI: NY, Grey’s Anatomy, Football Wives, One Tree Hill and Covert Affairs. An early candidate for the top 10 of 2012.
Free
Brian Larsen – Twitter Thursday
Brian Larsen is a singer-songwriter out of Laurel, Maryland. Interestingly, he has recorded since 1997, when he was 11 years old. Kudos for that. In the years since then, he has recorded 11 albums and EPs with a 12th coming in April. This a man than lives, breathes and loves music.
The first video is from his 2009 album “Breaking”.
In The Winter
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Brian is an active self promoter, with extensive forays into social media. I was quite happy to note that he had followed me on Twitter, and a bit surprised. I have had a couple of quick conversations with him (very quick) and he is very upfront with his answers. I say, good on you Brian, and keep rolling out the music. I will finish with a couple of more videos, one live (I love live) and one from his new record, out April, 2012, titled “Building”
Part of Me
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Hold Me Down
Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 7
Been feeling really tired here lately. Winter is setting in with a vengeance (minus 25 predicted next week), the snow is here and no chinook in sight. Had to work 5 days this week for the first time in what seems like months. All in all, very depressing and hard to motivate to do any posts other than the really easy stuff, therefore I apologize. In an effort to cheer myself up, and I am posting another 5 Canadian tunes. Hope you enjoy.
1. Gino Vanelli
“People Gotta Move”
A second entry from Montreal singer Gino Vanelli. Kind of sings about what I need to do this weekend. Gotta move. This is a live version (I love live music, it separates talent from pretenders) and has a great vibe.
2. Blue Peter
“Radio Silence”
Some 80’s stylish rock from a pretty good band. This song channels Bryan Ferry and David Byrne.
3. Bryan Adams
“Somebody”
Another Bryan Adams classic. A true anthem.
4. Paul Anka
“You’re Having my Baby”
Canadian 70’s crooning.
“Mimi on the Beach”
Jane is an interesting artist. Quite the songwriter, yet she seems to shun the spotlight.
Related articles
- Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 5 (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
- Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 4 (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
- Mission: Immersion 4.0 – Cuts Like a Knife and Reckless by Bryan Adams (recordgeekheaven.wordpress.com)
My Top Tunes of 2011
This post includes songs that were new to me in 2011, meaning some of them may not be real 2011 releases. Once again, my blog, my rules. Now that I have set the ground rules, I will not mince words or platitudes on these bands or songs and will simply post the video with a link to their website. Please visit them, and remember, support these artists and any others that strike you, be they authors, musicians, sculptors etc. It is hard to be creative when you are starving.
10. Adele       Rolling In The Deep
Could have picked any of the songs on this album.
9. Matthew Barber   Keep It Alive
A beautiful ballad.
8. Foster The People  Pumped Up Kicks
The lyrics are what sets this song apart from the pack. Easy to sing along, but what is it that you are singing.
7. Sara Bareilles   King of Anything
A light pop sound, but done, oh so well.
6. Amos Lee   Windows Are Rolled Down
This guy has been blowing me away for years. Great, great song.
5. Cake   Sick Of You
My solar-powered entry.
4. Frank Turner  If Ever I Stray
British folk songs, sung by ex-punk stars with really cool videos seem to be very popular now.
3. Eliza Doolittle  Pack Up
Another cool retro style British pop song, and I have no idea why I liked it so much.
2. Raphael Saadiq  Stone Rollin’
Saw him at the House of Blues in New Orleans. PERFECT!!! If R&B hadn’t been invented, he would be right now.
1. Trombone Shorty    Do To Me
I was stunned when I first heard this album. Couldn’t download it fast enough.
New Canadian Music Releases – December 6, 2011
It has surely been a dry spell for new releases by Canadian artists. I skipped last weeks post due to nothing to post on and almost decided to do the same this week.  Fortunately, songstress Kathleen Edwards released a single anticipating her Mid-January release of her album “Voyageur”, As I normally don’t post on singles, I thought this would be an opportunity to, first, have some continuity in my posting, and second do a 2fer. Consider this to both be an entry on new music and a Canadian Classic post as well. Ottawa born Edwards has been recording since 1999, and has released 4 albums and 3 EPs since then. Her work has recently been featured in the movie “Elizabethtown” and she has played with such notables as Bryan Adams, Jim Cuddy and the Arkells. She is a two-time nominee for Canada’s Juno Awards. The video off her new album is titled “Change the Sheets” and the classic video is “I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory”. The second song is a popular Canadian hockey related tune, and features NHL greats Marty McSorley and Paul Coffey, among others.
Change The Sheets
I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory
Related articles
- Kathleen Edwards promises early 2012 cheer (thefifthtop.wordpress.com)
- New Canadian Music Releases – November 22, 2011 (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
- New Canadian Music Releases – November 15, 2011 (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
- Stream: Kathleen Edwards Returns With Dreamy ‘Change the Sheets’ (rollingstone.com)
New Canadian Music Releases – November 22, 2011
I have nothing. Other than a raft of Christmas albums, which I refuse to review, there were no releases of Canadian albums at all in the past week. In the place of new music, I bring some people I have been listening to lately.
First is Edmonton singer/guitarist/songwriter Michael Rault. His album Ma-Me-O has been receiving extensive play on my iPod of late. I have attached a live video of him and his band playing “I Want To Love You ” at The Artery in Edmonton. Kind of an early Beatles/rockabilly sound. Very good when he cuts loose, which is in the second video titled “Don’t Need No Help Gettin Down”. Enjoy
I Want To Love You
I Don’t Need No Help Gettin Down
Another artist I am enjoying right now is Matthew Barber. He hails from Port Credit, Ontario, and is becoming a very popular singer/songwriter in the Amos Lee style of folk and indie. I am beginning to really like him. The attached song “Keep It Alive” has been growing one me in recent weeks. Matthew plays a live version of the song, recorded at CBC 3 studios.
Keep It Alive
Here’s hoping we have some new stuff to share next week.
Related articles
- New Canadian Music Releases – November 15, 2011 (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
- New Canadian Music Releases – November 8, 2011 (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
Western Canadian Music Awards
The Western Canadian Music Awards were held in Whitehorse, Yukon on October 23.
These awards have been happening in one form or the other since 1995 and were created to recognize musicians from, you guessed it, Western Canada. A link to all the winners is here. I have included some video and links to showcase some of the winners in categories I follow,.
Outstanding Blues Recording ~ Little Miss Higgins ~ Across The Plains
Little Miss Higgins was born in Brooks, Alberta, grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and now has roots in Saskatchewan. The award is for her 2010 album and the song I have attached is “Bargain Shop Panties”. Lots of Saskatchewania in this tune.
Outstanding Rock Recording ~ The Sheepdogs ~ Learn & Burn
On the Cover of the Rolling Stone. What a year for these Saskatoon players. They won the contest to be on the cover of Rolling Stone, they will clean up at the Junos and are taking the music world by storm. In the meantime, they have won Outstanding Rock Recording for their recent album. The Sheepdogs are riding the wave. The video is “I Don’t Know” off the album. I do believe they are channelling Lynyrd Skynyrd or something, what a great song.
Outstanding Roots Duo/Group Recording ~ The Wailin’ Jennys ~ Bright Morning Star
Winnipeg’s Wailin’ Jennys have been around since 2004 and have been creating excellent roots/folk music since that time. Attached is “Storm Comin'” off the album, performed live at CBC Radio 3.
Listening to Canadians – The Deep Dark Woods
The Deep Dark Woods are from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and could be considered as an alt-country band. Regardless, they have been carving out a fan base with their smooth sound and strong song writing. To date, they have released four albums and have contributed a song to CBC Radio 2‘s Great Canadian Song Quest. When we lived in Saskatoon we had occasion to see them a couple of times and enjoyed their music. Their most recent release “The Place I Left Behind” has just been released worldwide, a big step for the band. The video attached is from their previous album “Winter Hours” and is titled “All The Money I Had Is Gone”.
Enjoy.
Related articles
- Deep Dark Woods’ roots stretch further than the Prairies (canada.com)
- Listening to Canadians – Royal Wood (therealcanadianmusicblog.wordpress.com)
- New Canadian Music – Library Voices (therealcanadianmusicblog.wordpress.com)
- Listening to Jordan Cook (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
New Canadian Releases – September 27, 2011
Our first new release is by Dan Mangan. The album name is Oh Fortune and was released today. Born in Smithers, BC and now living in Vancouver, Dan is an indie-folk-rock singer songwriter. This album is his third as he steadily grows in popularity. The video is the song “Rows of Houses” from the new album.
The second new release is by Canadian alternative band “Cuff the Duke” and is titled “Morning Comes”. Hailing from Oshawa, their sound is kind of country folk mix in the style of Blue Rodeo. The video is a cut from the album “Count On Me”
The Barr Brothers, are a Montreal based rock band and just released their self titled album. They are not an in your face band and their music is very lyrical and though out. The video is a lve version of “Beggar in the Morning” off the album. As you will see, it is very laid back, but nicely done.
Our 4th entry is from Juno nominated artists, The New Cities. Their latest album is called “Kill the Lights” and the attached video is “Heatwave” off the album. This Trois-Rivieres pop band is riding a wave of popularity with the release of this, their second album. Their music has been featured on “Gossip Girl” and “So You Think You Can Dance”.
Our final entry is a new release by Pickering, Ontario’s favourite songstress, Sarah Slean. This is Sarah’s 11th album (6th studio). Her first album was released in 1997. She has cultivated a large following in Canada. The video attached is titled “Set It Free” and is a catchy number that will continue to win new fans for her work.
Related articles
- New Canadian Releases – September 20, 2011 (therealcanadianmusicblog.wordpress.com)
- Listening to Canadians – Fearing and White (therealcanadianmusicblog.wordpress.com)