Some great Canadian music came out in 2004. In fact it was one of the best years Canada has had for music in quite some time.

Some bands that you might be interested in checking out.

Bedouin Soundclash: They have a completely original sound, combining reggae / dub/ and rock into one fused sound. An absolutely tremendous live show. Most notable influences Bob Marley and Joe Strummer. The new album is called Sounding a Mosaic.

Limblifter: The new album is called I/o (In/out) . And it is nearly impossible to find in Canada so good luck finding it in the states. Limblifter had brief success in the states about 8 years ago, but this is their most ecletic and ambitious effort to date. A really rich sound, with biting lyrics and top notch vocals.

Raising The Fawn: Actually made #1 on a few top 10 lists in canada this year. "The North Sea" is the name of the album and it is 8 tracks and about 50 minutes. Long and complicated songs in the spirit of Neil Young, but sounding a lot closer to Radiohead. Really interesting album if you can get any of it.

Hayden: Has been putting out quality albums for years and never gets a blip in the states. HIghly recommended. He started off as a depressing folk rocker but over time developed the ability to sing high and low which allowed him so much more range on his albums. The newest is called Elk Lake Serenade.

K-OS: Now I know K-Os gets some press in the states and has won a source award. But for those of you who haven't heard his blend of urban rap with a live backup band is seriously missing out. I preferred his first album, but Joyful Rebellion is blowing up in Canada right now. Some of the most ambitious rap going on.

Metric: Old World Underground Where Are You Now? Has a retro sort of feel to it, but not in the same way as the killers. The girl who sings for this band has one of the best voices in the country right now, and the way the songs combine rock/ pop/ and danceable backgrounds together makes for a great and unique sound.

Joel Plaskett Emergency: Joel Plaskett has been making truly Canadian music for a while now but has never had anything get as popular as his latest album Truthfully Truthfully. This album has a 70's kinda feel to it, wicked guitar and non complicated rock songs. My advice if you can find it look for "Come on Teacher".

Last but not least

The Rheostatics: Some of you might have heard of this band, they have been around for nearly 20 years. The band has perhaps the most loyal fans in the country, and their live show is ridiculously fun. Often described as truly Canadian, a lot of their lyrics are about our country. So it has kept them from expanding. But one of their singers Martin Tielli is in my opinion one of the best singers on the planet. And the quirky sound is still just as good now as it was 20 years ago.

Nice thread!

I've liked Hayden for a while now, and Elk-Lake Serenade has been slowly growing on me for several months. I really liked the live record he did...

A few other Canadian bands I like:

The Dears, The Heavy Blinkers, Blue Rodeo, The Guthries, and The Supers. Know any of them?

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Originally posted by Twowaymonologues:
K-OS: Now I know K-Os gets some press in the states and has won a source award. But for those of you who haven't heard his blend of urban rap with a live backup band is seriously missing out. I preferred his first album, but Joyful Rebellion is blowing up in Canada right now. Some of the most ambitious rap going on.

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Agreed!!I love him.

What about sixtoo....representing halifax!At least he was i am not sure where he stays now.He is easily one of the best producers on earth.

Also...most people say entroducing is the best instrumental hip hop album.
I personally think 'duration' is by sixtoo.I do know that he made it on a grant from the canadian gvt.Kind of cool.

Thanks for the scoops, I'll have to check some of them out.

I've been relying on Jamie Vernon's (Bullseye Records) posts to the Audities mail list for the latest goings-on in Canada.

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Sloan played a date in my West Michigan town last summer and drew a crowd of, oh, maybe 100 people, at most.

And most of those folks were ex-pats from over the border.

The Heavy Blinkers and Tegan & Sara are a couple of other Canadian Pop acts that I enjoy.

(Getting off-topic I suppose; those are bands that EVERYBODY's heard of...my apologies)

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OOH.


Forgot Sloan. Although, as you say, they are pretty big. Even in the US.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
OOH.


Forgot Sloan. Although, as you say, they are pretty big. Even in the US.

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They put on an arena-sized show, even if it was for a small group.

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I'd like to see the Limblifter find wider distribution. If memory serves, KEXP had it on their playlist in 2004. Great sound.

Despite recommendations from Imprezu21, Smenkharon, Vykromond, and Monheim, I haven't checked out the K-OS album yet. Given they've not steered me wrong yet and given another recommendation, I should do that before the new releases start coming fast and furious.

Agreed, too, on the Sixtoo. It didn't quite make my top 50, but I liked Chewing On Glass & Other Miracle Cures.

Probably my favorite Canandian band on the cusp of breaking through right now is The Hidden Cameras. I didn't spend enough time with Mississauga Goddam in 2004 to hype it too much, but "Ban Marriage" from 2003's The Smell of Our Own was one of my favorite singles of that year.

Edited to join in the accolades being heaped on Sloan. Action Pact was great!

Now Playing: "Sleepless Nights" Chris Stamey & Yo La Tengo V.O.T.E. (Yep Roc)

I know Blue Rodeo, The Heavy Blinkers, and The Dears.

My buddy actually does some of the art work for the Dears and might work with them for a video.

I didn't mention Arcade Fire as all of you know them. But it is kinda cool to me that pitchfork's number 1 comes out of montreal.

Hayden is great. Every album he has released has been quality, and you could argue that each album is better than the one before.

My advice is if you want a K-OS record I'd buy Exit. That's just me, and a lot of my friends bitch at me for hating a bit on the new disc. But I just feel Exit is a more complete album by K-OS.

I just listened to Raising the Fawn again.... such a great album. "Gwendolyn" is their best song, and it was a single so maybe with a bit of luck limewire might have it.

Hey in addition to my last post if someone wants to check out one of the aforementioned bands, or another canadian band that i happen to have in my collection.

i can rip and send some songs. MSN - randomrantingsandravings@hotmail.com (long i know)

and email - dwolovick@gmail.com

there's a fantastic singer/songwriter from calgary, AB. that everyone should know about. his name is lorrie matheson and he has two CD's out, the latest being A DIME AT A TIME. he's getting tons of A-1 press for it out west, top ten of 2004, blah-blah-blah, and frankly is one of the best unsung musicians in the great white north. trust me, he'll be massive one day... think paul westerberg meets wilco, meets dylan meets elvis costello... powerpop-roots-folk. all of them influence him, yet he's a singular voice... also for your consideration: kathleen edwards and jim bryson. oh, and neko case. check them out...

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Originally posted by albertarose:
oh, and neko case..

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Ms. Case is truly the shiz and all that....I've really got to make a point of catching one of her concerts.

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Originally posted by flem_snopes:

quote:

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Originally posted by albertarose:
oh, and neko case..

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Ms. Case is truly the shiz and all that....I've really got to make a point of catching one of her concerts.

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I hope you like it better than the ones I've seen. I saw her with the New Pornographers (for the first NP record) and it was pretty bad. And her solo show was not so hot, either. She's decent on record, but I've never been overly impressed live. But she is easy on the eyes...

My girlfriend adores Neko Case and Kathleen Edwards. I can't say i am as huge of a fan, although Neko Case is great for what it is.

I think pE will agree that any mention of Niko Case and The New Pornographers demands a mention of Zumpano. They may be no more, but Look What the Rookie Did and Goin' Through Changes are every bit as good as both New Pornographers albums or 2004's The Slow Wonder.

Now Playing: NPR's Morning Edition

i haven't seen neko live -- which is weird, given that either she or the NP's play here every fifteen minutes -- but her voice is spectacular... another amazing female vocalist that your girlfriend might dig, twowaymonologues, is jolie holland. (if she doesn't already...) she put out a disc last year called ESCONDIDA that is really remarkable...

That Jolie Holland album was terrific and if anything even more Old Timey than the two Be Good Tanya albums Blue House and Chinatown, whihch are both excellent.

Bloomington has been suffering from a dearth of quality live shows lately, but Holland is scheduled to play here on February 10th, so I'm hoping to catch her then.

Now Playing: "It's A Good Little Thing" Blind Willie McTell Sweet Petunia streaming on weeniecampbell.com <-- speaking of Old Timey, an online radio station that focuses on country blues AND takes requests...I'm on cloud nine!

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Originally posted by LinnTate:
I think pE will agree that any mention of Niko Case and The New Pornographers demands a mention of Zumpano. They may be no more, but _Look What the Rookie Did_ and _Goin' Through Changes_ are every bit as good as both New Pornographers albums or 2004's _The Slow Wonder_.

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I can't believe I neglected to mention them. I'm getting old and forgetful.

Seriously, I couldn't recall if Zumpano were from Canada or from the US. For some reason (because they were on SubPop?) I thought they were from Washington or Oregon.

If you like Carl (A.C.) Newman's stuff, you need to track down some bargain bin copies of the Zumpano records. And if you like THEM...you should find Zumpano drummer Jason Zumpano's new band Sparrow, which jumps off the mod-pop train and into more of an orch-pop territory...

NICKELBACK AND AVRIL LAVIGNE ARE GR8!

On a more serious note, I've just started listening to some Godspeed You Black Emperor! MP3s from Epitonic.com. They're a sort of modern classical/avant-garde group which is well worth checking out.

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Originally posted by Biggles:
NICKELBACK AND AVRIL LAVIGNE ARE GR8!

On a more serious note, I've just started listening to some Godspeed You Black Emperor! MP3s from Epitonic.com. They're a sort of modern classical/avant-garde group which is well worth checking out.

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Reall never heard of any of those guys!

GYBE! is actually kind of popular in the states...kind of...in certain circles.Most indie fand have heard of em' at the least.

Something about Metric has always bothered me. I can't quite put my finger on why, however.

I was surprised to see no mention of the band STARS. They just put out a new album, however it pales in comparision to their first.