This is Jake Bugg’s second appearance on the Song Of The Day, as I highlighted Two Fingers last year. Today’s featured tune is Lightning Bolt and it continues his string of bluesy rock success. This young Englishman was all of 18 when he recorded this song. Amazing raw talent as both a songwriter and player. The video is Jake performing live on Late Night.  Not as good as the recorded version, possibly a bit nervous.
We move up to number 345 in this edition of Canada’s Best Music. We have another entry from the Spoons, some classic rock, some new rock from Billy talent and a song from a Canadian staple known as The Tragically Hip, who are, well, hip. Nice set if you like rock.
The Spoons were in my last post, Part 31. An 80’s hairband, they had several hits back in the day, including this one in 1983. Not a great video, but, hey, pretty lucky to find it at all, I’d say.
Winnipeg band, The Watchmen had a string of hits in the mid 90’s, including this song off their 1994 album “In the Trees”. Very good band in their time.
Billy Talent has been around since the early 90’s (known as the Pezz until 1999), but struck it big over the last couple of years, earning a deserved world-wide following. Turn Your Back is from Billy Talent III, released in 2009. They have been nominated for Junos every year since 2004, winning 7 times. The video is a live version. Great rocker voice.
5440 has been rocking Canadians since the 1980’s, releasing albums as recently as 2011. One of my favourite bands at one point. Still enjoy hearing them.
A legend to many Canadians, The Hip consistently release quality material, time after time. This tune was released in 1991 on their Road Apples album. Great song.
New Music from Eric Clapton, with a bonus, Chaka Khan. Slowhand has a new album out, “Old Sock” and this tune, “Gotta Get Over” is off it. Best song I’ve heard from him in a while, and nice to see some new music as well.
I loved this album. “Eye To The Telescope” continues to be a regular on my rotation after, what 9 years. This is one of the great tunes on the disc, “Under The Weather”. The album, released in 2004, and was her first studio album. The album gained her multiple Grammy and Brit nominations, winning the 2005 Brit for best female solo artist. KT Tunstall is Scottish born and plays a mean guitar as well as being a fine singer and songwriter. Her genre is hard to pin down as she moves effortlessly between rock, pop and folk. the cut I have selected is a live version, done on Jools Holland in April 2005. Enjoy, I have many times.
Today’s tune is by American folk/rock artist, Lissie. The song, “When I’m Alone” from her 2010 album, “Catching A Tiger”. The song is more rock than folk and showcases a strong voice and a pretty good band. The song was getting some major airplay in Canada on CBC2, likely in support of her upcoming album, “Back To Forever”. It is due to be released in September. An interesting note, the album reached number 4 in Norway, the featured song, number 2.
Another of my many finds on CBC2 here in Canada. Alejandro Escovedo released his latest album “Big Station” in 2012. This song, also titled “Big Station” is off this record. Alejandro is no stranger to the world of music as he has recorded 14 albums dating back to 1992. Born in Texas and the child of Mexican immigrants, he cut his recording teeth with several punk bands way back in the 80’s. Great singer-songwriter, well worth the effort to check out his material.
Today’s list makes a change. Time to go to a countdown. Only 350 songs to go. The play-list includes both classic rock and a classic player. Yes, the great one, Neil Young, makes another appearance here. It also includes Skinny Puppy, which is a new one on me.
Skinny Puppy was a Vancouver based electronic band, formed in 1982. They have recorded 15 albums, including a new one “Weapon” this year.
The band, Spoons, hail out of Burlington and were your prototypical 80’s synth-pop hair band that were everywhere back then. This song was one of their bigger hits and was recorded in 1984, only hitting 55 on the Canadian Billboard chart.
Trooper have played since 1965. I have seen them on two occasions. Once sitting in the front row at a bar in Winnipeg way back in the day, the second, about 10 years ago at the Brier (Canada’s Men’s Curling Championship) in Saskatoon. Don’t really remember either performance that well. This song was recorded in 1976.
Corey Hart was never my favourite, other than “I Wear My Sunglasses At Night” which was kind of cool. To me, he epitomized pretty much everything that I didn’t like about 80’s music. I am sure there will be some disagreement on that, or maybe not.
And now, The Master. Enjoy!! As an added bonus, live at the Fillmore East with Crosby Stills & Nash.
The Juno for Breakthrough Group Of The Year was given out to Monster Truck. It is kind of cool when a band gives you exactly what you expect when you hear first hear the name. They definitely do that. They hail from Hamilton, Ontario and play a 1970’s tinged rock and roll style. As happens a lot, the band is an overnight sensation that took many years of hard work to become. Well deserved award.
Marianas Trench was the 2013 winner in the Group Of The Year Category. They beat out Billy Talent, Rush, Metric and The Sheepdogs in this category. The band is a pop/rock outfit, based out of Vancouver.Their breakthrough album, “Ever After” was released in late 2011 and has gained them a wide following. It is their 3rd album. One of my favourites is the song they played on the big show, “Stutter”. Very cool video.
There you have it. An introduction to Canada’s group of the year.
I did a song yesterday on Winnipeg, so let’s call this a theme week and do songs about Canadian cities. Today is a new song from the front man of Our Lady Peace, a very good Canadian group. He is married to a Winnipeger (nice segue from yesterday’s tune), Chantal Kreviazuk. Chantal is a formidable artist in her own right. This tune “Montreal” is a recently released single and is off his solo album, new this year, “We All Get Lighter”.