Category: Folk

New Canadian Releases – September 20, 2011

elliott brood @ westfest

I am adding a new weekly posting, usually on Tuesday, that will highlight new releases by Canadian artists.

First up is Elliott BROOD and their new album “Days Into Years”, released on September 20, 2011.  This 3 piece band is out of Toronto, Ontario.  Mark Sasso plays harmonica, string instruments an handles the lead vocals.  Casey Laforet handles backup vocals, guitars and bass pedals.  Stephen Pitkin plays drums and does some backup vocals as well.  their music is self described as “death country”.  I would call it more of alt-country with pieces reminiscent of Blue Rodeo.  This release marks their 4th album, their first “Tin Type” was released in 2004.  The cut featured is called “Northern Air”.

Next up, The Midway State released a single this week, a remake of Bryan Adams classic, “Run To You”.  An interesting and very well done version of one of Adams best songs.  Another band out of Toronto, they have released 2 albums and an EP since 2007. The band was nominated for 2 Junos in 2009.

Other notable releases this week are

Rock and Roll Romance by “State of Shock”  Alternative rock.

Unpersons by “The Pack A.D.”  Fusion of garage rock and blues, with tones of Jack White.

Fire/Water and EP released by “Yukon Blonde”.  Great band, just couldn’t find a video.

See you next week.

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Frank Turner – New Music

Frank Turner at an XFM radio session in London.
Frank Turner

With the success of Mumford and Sons, and folk in general, when I run across an English folk musician, I give it a thorough listen.  Frank Turner is an English folk singer and songwriter, with some undertones of punk and alternative.  He was the singer in a hardcore punk band called “Million Dead”. He embarked on a solo career when the band split up in 2005.   Since the break up, he has recorded 4 EP’s and 4 albums.  His most recent album is called “England, Keep My Bones” which was released in June of 2011.  The cut I have added here is “If I Ever Stray”, his most recent single release off the album (August 29, 2011).   A very enjoyable video.

Frank Turner Discography and other stuff can be found here.

http://frank-turner.com/blog/music/

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Listening to Canadians – Fearing and White

Andy White (singer-songwriter)
Andy White

Kind of a cheat here.  Stephen Fearing and Andy White (Stephen is Canadian, Andy should be) have successful solo careers, but have teamed up here as Fearing in White to record an album and tour together.    The album, Fearing and White, was released in March of 2011.  They toured Western Canada and recorded the attached video on an iPhone.  Nice job.  I clued in on this band as Andy White and Fearing and White both follow me on Twitter.  When I got the follow, curiosity drew me to YouTube to check them out and was pleased with what I found.  Promotion in any way always helps.  They made me a fan, and maybe you as well.

 

A bit about them now.  Stephen Fearing is out of Vancouver and is a double Juno winner (Canada’s Grammy for the non-Canadians reading this).  He is well-known roots and folk artist.  He has been successful as a solo artists and as a member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.

Andy White hails from Northern Ireland and is basically a rambling troubadour.  He tours constantly and has played  with a who’s who of Irish players, including Van Morrison and Sinead O’Connor.

The video is “Under the Silver Sky”.

Remembering Billy Grammer

From left to right: Governor Wallace, NASA Adm...
Image via Wikipedia

A quick note to mark the passing of Billy Grammer.  Not someone that I had ever been into, but one song stands as a classic “Gotta Travel On”.  the song was written by Paul Clayton and recorded in Nashville in 1959.   Although basically a one hit wonder, this one hit is a standard, known by most people, and he made a career of it, touring extensively with his band the the Travel On Boys.  A historical sidelight.  He played at a rally in Laurel, Maryland, followed by US presidential candidate George Wallace speaking to the rally.  After speaking, Wallace mingled with the crowd and was shot, and made a paraplegic.

 

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Listening to Canadians – Jill Barber

Cover of "Chances"
Cover of Chances

A different like (for me anyway).  Jill Barber is a Canadian songstress out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  A very folk/bluegrass style with country overtones, she released her 4th album, “Chances” in 2008, which the attached video is from.  The song is “Oh My My” and showcases her considerable talent.  She has a new album out “Mischievous Moon”, and I am guilty of not hearing much of it as yet.  I will make a point of checking it out in the next week or two.  In the meantime, enjoy.

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Listening to Classics – Donovan

The very first record I bought was Donovan’s Greatest Hits, right around the time of Hurdy Gurdy Man and Atlantis.  Doing some nostalgia surfing while watching the Bruins destroy the Canucks and came up with this one.  Sunshine Superman.  Donovan is still around.  He recorded as recently as 2004 and has recently been placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  He still tours on occasion.