...Best Three Dollars I Ever Spent

Just wanted to give a heads up to the Hey Rosetta fans out there. About a year ago HR started playing a tune called Red Song and a great video for the track surfaced on Youtube. This song seemed to get some attention on the web, and rightfully so, and the band knew they had to record the track. This led to them releasing a three-track EP called the The Red Songs EP which according to ITunes was released this year. I just found out about it, and as one of my favorites live and recorded bands, I was extremely excited. At $2.88, the price of a caramel machiato, this is a must get. Three great tracks, as to be expected from a band which spews greatness. Red Song is a little bit of a move away from the crescendo-driven songs of normal and it highlights the songwriting and vocal talents of frontman Tim Baker. The other two songs follow the previously-seen but always refreshing Hey Rosetta formula: starting with the aforementioned talents of the lead singer on either piano or guitar, and slowly adding the guitar, drums and orchestral instruments to build to the climax of the tune. The formula usually gives me what I search for in a song and it has yet to wear on me.
You can also find a Hey Rosetta tune on the CBC Radio 2 Songquest CD where they made a song about Gros Morne Provincial Park in Nfld. Some great lyrics in this tune called Old Crow Black Night Stand Still, including the lines "There's another world. Better than this one. And that's where I'm trying to live. But I get dragged down". Heard him talk about his inspiration for the track, the national park, and he said how much he thought about how un-touched by man the park was and how it was like going in a time machine to another world. Can really see this in the lyrics with his idea of being dragged back to a world full of crazy human inventions, not seen in the park. Here is the Red Song video below.

...2009

As the year draws to an end I thought it a good time to summarize some of my favourite (Canadian) listens of the year. I did a top 30 songs at the end of 2008 and put in on facebook and some of the artists had great years this year. I had the likes of the Arkells, Dan Mangan, Hey Rosetta and Wooden Sky who all have had really great year. So here is to hoping that some of these mainstream unknowners described below gain a little attention for what has been a great year for them.

Timber Timbre- Timber Timbre (Acoustic)- This Toronto guy put an album on the tiny ‘Out of this Spark’ label and the 8 tracks drew the attention of the biggest label in Canadian independent music, Arts and Crafts. Now supported by the same label as the likes of Broken Social Scene, Stars, Feist, Constantines, etc. his next album will surely garner plenty of press. But before we get ahead of ourselves, this latest album shows off his talent and ability to create some great music which for some reason I feel would be perfect music played during a movie scene. Maybe it is because it is my favourite while listening to the Ipod on the bus or walking in a busy mall (a sort of life soundtrack). As many of my favourites do Timber Timbre creates simple music, and uses a haunting voice and a dark style to create pleasure for the ears (or for your eyes here).

Snailhouse- Lies on the Prize (Acoustic)- With a great musical pedigree (Belle Orchestre, Wooden Stars), it is no surprise that Mike Feuerstack solo work under the moniker Snailhouse has caught my ear. Originally heard his tune, ‘Dollar Signs’ and loved the lyrics and found similar fondness throughout the whole Lies on the Prize album. Look forward to seeing him at the Olympics with Belle Orchestre.

Ruby Jean and Thoughtful Bees (Dance)- This album got me moving the first time I caught wind of it and although I don’t give it to many more listens it is great for getting you moving. Starring the works of Nova Scotias Rebekah Higgs and Middletons Colin Crowell, this band really gets the dance floor gyrating. Higgs is as charismatic a female frontwoman as youll get and the well-crafted dance beats help to really get the bones twitching. Attended a show with this band with a total of 8 people there, and those 8 were left without inhibitions to shake their tailfeathers thanks to the beats coming from the stage.

Patrick Watson- Wooden Arms (Experimental Sounds that sounds Acoustic, I guess, oh genres)- This band is just extremely talented, that is all you can say. The way they makes the music almost float it reminds a little bit of Radiohead, if you take out the computerish sounds and substitute instrumental sounds. Wooden Arms, Big Bird in a Small Cage and Tracys Water were all some of my favourite songs from the past year. Hopefully this video sucks you in.

Elliott Brood- Mountain Meadows (Folk rock)- Probably one of the best live shows going these days. Do not miss a chance to see them. Hard hitting with their sound they take folk rock to a whole new place. Incredibly unique sound due to the lead singers voice and the use of banjos. You would not think that they could translate their energy to recordings but they have done their best job to date with Mountain Meadows. Best for house parties, if the house is a cabin in the woods. On Q.

Honourable mention- Hey Rosetta, Bruce Peninsula, Brian Borcherdt, The Acorn, Sunparlour Players

Specifically not mentioned- Fleet Foxes

Looking forward to in early 2010- Paul Murphy (Wintersleep), Jason Collett, Plants and Animals