100 Mile House - Last Call

Random bandcamp finds are always gratifying. I was hooked on Edmonton's Le Wrens (thanks to Adam)  and started clicking through the tags. This is where I landed.

Take a bottle and lead the way.

Zerbin - New Earth

Sure, Zerbin's song has a slight hint of cheesiness that you need to get past, but then there is wonderful upbeat whistling that more than makes up for any bits you didn't like. There's nothing like a solid whistling section followed by an enthusiastic "hey! hey!" to make you smile, it works every time. See for yourself. And by all means watch the video.




Zerbin - New Earth - Official Video from Light Castle Productions on Vimeo.

Grand Theft Bus - No Easy Way

Grand Theft Bus is a Canadian band from New Brunswick, with an eclectic and quirky bunch of songs since they started in 2010. It's one of those bands that releases something and you have no idea what you'll come across, I like that. Today it happens to be 'No Easy Way' from their 2012 album, Say It With Me.


facebook // bandcamp

The Belle Game - I Would Wait Up For You

Having loved their song "Sleep To Grow" over a year ago, I've been waiting to find out what was coming next from the Vancouver band The Belle Game. We have to wait just a bit longer as they've announced that their debut album, Ritual Tradition Habit, will be out early in 2013. In the meantime, they have a few EPs and songs to check out on soundcloud, a name your price song on bandcamp, and be sure to keep your ears open for something soon.



Site // Facebook // Bandcamp

Jennah Barry - The Coast

Photo Credit: Stephen Cooper

Just when you thought the summer was coming to an end there was a wave of highly listenable summer songs that came crashing into sight. Jennah Barry, a country inspired Canadian, makes pop music that has a twinge of sadness which is often laying beneath her sweet voice. Plus, anyone who can write a song about Canadian Mounties deserves a listen.

connect: bandcamp // facebook

Jennah Barry - The Coast

Purity Ring - Fineshrine

Purity Ring is not a band I expected myself to like but now, for whatever reason, I can't get enough of the entrancing singles they've released over the past few months. They've built a nice momentum leading up to their debut album, Shrines, to be released on July 24 through 4 AD/Last Gang. "Fineshrine" is the lastest of the singles they've released which does a fine job showcasing singer, Megan James' vocals against the backdrop of some dark electro-pop.

Purity Ring - Fineshrine

Purity Ring - Obedear

The Trews - One by One

"One by one, every heart is a loaded gun" goes the hook of this catchy song. The Trews' song "One by One" is somewhere along the lines of poppy folk/rock music, but the rest of their music has a much stronger rock vibe. The Trews, a Toronto based band, are as polished and cohesive as bands come band. They've been around since the early 2000s and it's high time you hear their music in case you haven't already. Enjoy.

The Trews - One By One

If you're lucky, they'll be stopping by one of your fine cities.

The Trews Tour Dates

April 17 – Two Boots – Bridgeport, CT

April 18 – Club Metronome – Burlington, VT

April 19 – The Church – Boston, MA

April 20 – The Shaskeen – Manchester, NH

April 21 – Wellmont Theater – Montclair, NJ

April 24 – Fete Music – Providence, RI

April 27 – Hard Rock Café – Pittsburgh, PA

April 28 – Brothers Lounge – Cleveland, OH

May 9 – The Loft – Lansing, MI

May 10 – The Auricle – Canton, OH

May 11 – Frankies – Toledo, OH

May 12 – Rumba Café – Columbus, OH

May 15 – Preservation Club – Knoxville, TN

May 16 – Smithe’s Olde Bar – Atlanta, GA

May 17 – The Rutledge – Nashville, TN

May 18 – Gerstle’s – Louisville, KY

Yukon Blonde - Stairway

Yukon Blonde's new album Tiger Talk is due out March 20th and this is the first glimpse at what the Canadian band has prepared for us. This sounds incredibly different from the Yukon Blonde that sang the song "Wind Blows". This is like the rock-pop switch got flipped and they went with it. I think it'll work well for them. This one has more than enough energy to get you psyched up for the weekend.

Yukon Blonde - Stairway

Adam & The Amethysts - Prophecy

Not only did Adam & The Amethysts make one of my favorite albums of the year but they use the Auld Lang Syne melody so perfectly that this has become my official New Years song, plus it's a free download on bandcamp. It's a wonderful way to ring in 2012. "Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to problems that upset you" is good advice to follow. Stay tuned for a new years mix and my favorite albums list in the next few days. Best wishes to you all.

The Wooden Sky - City of Light/Dancing at My Window

The first thing I do when I return from work to my pitch black apartment, sometimes even before turning on lights, is I plug in my ipod to the good speakers. Recently, my end-of-the-day song has been The Wooden Sky's "City of Light" and it's usually being played on repeat until I feel appropriately decompressed from the day's stress. When I listen I feel like I'm finally breathing for the first time all day. This song is like a warm bath, when you get in to it you melt away. I honestly don't know how I lived without it. I'd be lying too if I told you that this ritual doesn't usually involve a glass of wine and swaying to the music while looking out the window toward the city. It's perfection.

"Soon I was lost, caught up in the light

And if I felt empty at least I was tired 

oh city of light"

Bandcamp // Website

Ohbijou - Niagara

Ohbijou, a Tornoto based band, released their sophomore album, Metal Meets, last month and has been getting a lot of spins around here. Part of the allure is lead singer Casey Mecija's youthful voice that you can't quite be described by words. I am certainly not the first, nor will I be the last, to say that this is a perfect fall album. It's cozy, warm, and something about the strong presence of strings feels autumnal. It's completely enchanting and worth checking out. Watch the beautiful black and white video for Niagara here.

Ohbijou - Niagara

Ohbijou - Anser

The Belle Game - Sleep to Grow

Definition of LYRICISM

1. the quality or state of being lyric : songfulness

2. a: an intense personal quality expressive of feeling or emotion in an art (as poetry or music)

    b: exuberance

Started off with a word of the day because lyricism is the foundation of all The Belle Game's songs (and I'm tired of seeing the word misused). When you really listen you'll hear an unrestrained joyfulness and that's what makes their music so potent. The Belle Game, a 7 piece band from Vancouver, is one of those indie-folk-rock-orchestral pop type bands that melt my heart. Think Hey Marseilles, Typhoon, Lost in the Trees kind of goodness. Layered instrumentation, musical saws, belting choruses all come together in "Sleep to Grow" and will have you playing the song on repeat if you're anything like me.

The Belle Game - Sleep to Grow

"You take a pull of the whiskey, lay your head back and say, “that sounds grand. Where will you take me now?” We’ll find dry land, with more people, we tell you. We’ll set up our instruments, make music and watch you all move to it.We’ll imagine some of you naked and loving it. Then we’ll pile back into our boat and do it all over again. Over and over…Because we love you." (from their website)

soundcloud // bandcamp // book of face

Coeur de Pirate - Wicked Games (Weeknd Cover)

Béatrice Martin is Coeur de Pirate of Montreal whose 2008 self-titled debut was widely successful. It came out when I was living in the french speaking part of Switzerland and it was all we heard on the radio and in the shops. We even had to write the lyrics to her songs in french class. I fell for that album and it led me into a world of french pop with which I'm still steadfastly obsessed. While she sings mainly in french she is bilingual and has done some great covers in english in the past.

The most recent cover is the song "Wicked Games" by the highly buzzed about Toronto group, Weeknd. What Coeur de Pirate usually sings is sweet, romantic, and innocent and this song is not at all PG. She simply plays the piano and sings lyrics like "let me motherf*ing love you" and somehow still sounds like her felicitous young self. The effect is not unlike when Anya Marina covered T.I.'s "Whatever you Want". It's easily one of the best covers of the year.

Coeur de Pirate - Wicked Games (Weeknd Cover)

Weeknd - Wicked Games 

Thanks to Chromewaves for this one. 

If you want to see what she sounds like singing in French, the lovely Wood & Wires filmed her singing at the piano for two songs from her new record, Blonde, which is out today. The songs are "Place de la République" and "Adieu". It's a gorgeous video. 

Cœur de Pirate- Wood & Wires Session from Adrian Vieni (Wood & Wires) on Vimeo

Evening Hymns - Asleep in the Pews

Canada's Evening Hymns caught the attention of many with their 2009 debut album, Spirit Guides, a folk album that exudes a woeful kind of peacefulness. They are now offering their first single "Asleep in the Pews" from their upcoming album Spectral Dust as a free download on their facebook page. Following their recording of the album on tumblr was a wonderful grouping of pictures from a one room cabin in the woods in a middle of a snowy Canadian winter and it's easy to envision this first song coming from such a place. The album features members of The Wooden Sky, Ohbijou, City and Colour, and more. It will be released in spring 2012 in Canada on Shuffling Feet Records.

Evening Hymns - Asleep in the Pews

Cabin where Spectral Dust was recorded

Buried in Bandcamp: Jesse Futerman

Found while browsing the "Toronto" tag, I settled right into this fully developed six song EP. The music uses samples but infuses a good deal of funk, jazz, soul, and plenty of vinyl pops and crackles and it gets smoothed right out into one crisp package. It reminds me of the lounge music I would encounter on a daily basis in europe with its cool and chilled out mystique. However not being much of a lounge person myself, I find that it's the perfect music to put on after a long day at work. It makes you want to throw your stuff down, sink into a comfortable couch, and let out a deep sigh, the one you've been holding in all day long. It's ultra relaxing. The album is a free download on bandcamp. Enjoy.

Jesse Futerman - Black is the Colour

Good Lovelies - Let the Rain Fall

Maybe I've glossed over my love of Good Lovelies before in doing a post that looks like any other. But this new album is as much a stand out as their last. So to celebrate the excellence of Let the Rain Fall, I'll do something a little special and different. I hope you like food and short stories.

If you don't know me, you should know that I love to cook. If I had the patience to take decent pictures I'd probably be a food blogger by now. Growing up, my parents were insistent on sit down meals every night. I've learned a lot about cooking from them as well as the importance of sitting down to enjoy a meal and conversation. Looking back, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Often, I would be sent to choose a dinner appropriate CD from my parents collection to play while we ate. Because of this, certain recipes I have borrowed from my parents come with vivid memories of listening to specific albums. For instance, there is one veal dish that we make in the winter that tastes best when George Winston's December album is playing. There are many more like that, but recently there has been one that is overwhelmingly perfect, and both the dish and the music were of my choosing and perfect for sharing with you.
 "Kiss Me In The Kitchen" - Good Lovelies
Broccoli and shrimp with the Good Lovelies is the epitome of perfection. This is one of the easiest recipes I know, so of course that means I make it often and usually it's likely that I have the ingredients on hand. Similar to how Good Lovelies is what I go to when I want maximum enjoyment and something easy to listen to. I originally saw this recipe from my long time favorite food blogger, Molly Wizenberg of Orangette, who linked to the Wednesday Chef, who borrowed the recipe from Melissa Clark, author and New York Times food columnist. I've been making this one for a while now and it's a wonderful and healthy stand by that you can make in a half hour easily. You just have to like the delectable combination of broccoli and shrimp. Find the recipe here.

Photo Credit: The Wednesday Chef

I've been looking for dinner appropriate albums of my own ever since I moved on from my parents outdated standbys. While a few albums come to mind, the Good Lovelies have been my favorite meal time music to play as of late. Their three part harmonies are supremely rich and warm. It's cutesy at times--usually with a bit of sass--and steadfastly romantic at others ("Every Little Thing"). It can be played in the background,  but only after you've listened to it at least five times over first. While they consistently win awards for best roots music, they give you a little jazz, rag time, folk, and an old timey sound that I have yet to hear another band replicate so flawlessly. I spent a lot of time with their 2008 debut album, but I think this new one is even better suited to dinner time. It's not just because of "Kiss Me in the Kitchen" either, although there are more than a few mentions of food, kitchens, and cooking throughout the album. Let The Rain Fall can make you smile, sing, laugh, and cry. I've done all of that with this album, but now I just like to play it as much as possible all the way through, and the best way to do that is when I take some time to make something delicious and savor both the meal and the music. It's one of the few times during the day that I'm not trying to do five things at once. Making the meal is stress free and then sitting down and enjoying it with some equally delectable music makes everything so easy. Thankfully all it really takes to make my day is a simple recipe and some good music that I can listen to endlessly, hopefully this suggested combination can do the same for you.
 "Old Highway" - Good Lovelies
The entire album is an absolute joy, choosing only two songs was difficult because it's really all that good. You can stream more of it at the Good Lovelies' website. It's one of my favorite albums of the year so I highly suggest making the purchase.

Folly & The Hunter - Folly

Folly & The Hunter hail from Montreal where they actually share a studio space with The Barr Brothers whom I posted about last week. Folly & the Hunter's debut album, Residents, fits right in a  little niche with bands like Little Scream, Seryn, and Frontier Ruckus to name a few. I crave this type of music on a regular, nearly daily, basis, so I've been overjoyed to have this new one in my rotation.

The music is the kind that can make you walk clear across town, lost in the music and your thoughts, without ever realizing how far you've walked until the music stops. The harmonizing voices act as another instrument in the line up, filling in the empty spaces with far away and drifting ahhs and oohs. You can stream three songs and buy the album on bandcamp. It's no secret that I'm a sucker for handclaps, so low and behold I'd like to present to you one of my favorite songs from the album, complete with banjo, beautiful harmonies, and of course hand claps.

Folly & The Hunter - Folly

Doug Hoyer - Oh, The Wind Will Blow (ft. Jessica Jalbert)

Doug Hoyer is a Canadian song writer who dabbles on the quirkier side of things. At least that's what I thought after listening to his Two New Songs (actually is the name of the 7"), until I heard this newer, slightly more serious sounding song that was released in February. "Oh The Wind Will Blow" has a very Jens Lekman feel to it with a beautiful harp and strings accompaniment and will be on his upcoming full length due out later this year.

Doug Hoyer - Oh, The Wind Will Blow (ft. Jessica Jalbert)

Get lots of music for free on Doug Hoyer's Bandcamp page. He also did a fun and goofy album with a bunch of his friends called Ultimate Sunset Vol 1: My Album with Andre that is worth checking out.

Redbird - Oh Please My Heart

I've been looking rather hard these past few days for a song to fall in love with because it feels like it's been awhile even though I've been overwhelmed by mass amounts of music the past few weeks. In music blogger terms of time that means it's been about 12 days or since I posted that Monogrenade song I played twenty times in one day. 

I've been digging hard in the Seattle music scene but some of those bands out there are scared of the internet or something because while I saw multiple recommendations for certain bands on various forums they were absurdly hard to find on the internets. I'm talking no bandcamp page, or just a shitty myspace page with only one song, no website, tumblr, or twitter. Yet the bands had shows booked at various locales and cds for sale but no means of previewing the songs. So I moved up north to trusty Vancouver where there is always something wonderful brewing. 

That's how I came to find Redbird, a band that is recording their debut EP, yet has a totally functional and well laid out website (Seattle bands take note!). Their EP should be out soon but in the meantime they have appeased their fans with this video for their lovely acoustic version of their song "Oh Please My Heart". It's enough to keep me looking out for their debut EP. 

Redbird - Giants of the Forest - Episode One from Amazing Factory Productions Inc. on Vimeo.

Wilderness of Manitoba - Orono Park

Wilderness of Manitoba is nearly as peaceful as listening to waves hit the shore on a calm day. It's rythmic and soothing. You barely notice the lyrics as it lulls you into a peaceful state, the banjo is never too twangy or distracting. Their four part harmonies fill in the empty spaces quite nicely. Watch the video for "Evening" to see their beautiful outdoor performance on a vast snow covered plain. If you really like them, you can watch their bio video here. When You Left the Fire, is their LP due out May 10th and one you should be on the lookout for. In the meantime, their EP, Summer Fires, will hopefully be more reminiscent of summer and will be out March 22nd. Orono Park is the A side of the Summer Fires E.P.

Wilderness of Manitoba - Orono Park