This Thing About You - Miracle Fortress

Everyone we pass by
is stealing looks at you and I.
We're not dressed right for the season,
and we are smiling for no reason.

Five Roses is the debut album from Miracle Fortress, a Montreal based project from Graham Van Pelt, co-founder of Think About Life.

Through dreamy textured pop, Miracle Fortress gives us an album infused with euphoria and romance perfect for a beautiful spring day.

Check out MySpace for more.

Sure Can Start - Two Hours Traffic

Can't keep your head on straight,
the way the other's do.
You spend your nights in the city,
sleep away the afternoons.
And I'm alright when you need it,
take your time till you're ready for something new.

Two Hours Traffic played at Clark Hall Pub last week in Kingston. The bar was full and the crowd enthusiastic. They have played in Kingston before and many were looking forward to seeing the band perform again. They delivered an energetic, fun show covering all the favorites including an encore with Stuck For the Summer.

Two Hours Traffic is an indie pop band from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and have toured with East Coast artists such as Joel Plaskett, In-Flight Safety, and Wintersleep.

This particular track comes off their second full-length album, Little Jabs, produced by Joel Plaskett and released in July 2007. This album has been their most successful to date with nominations for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize and various East Coast Music Awards. The album consists of catchy crystal-clear melodies written into basic three minute pop songs.

You can also check out their most recent album Territory and there's a free download of the new single on their website.

You can also check out MySpace for more.

Santa Monica Dream - Angus and Julia Stone

Rob's in the kitchen making pizza,
Somewhere down in Battery Park,
I'm singing songs about the future,
Wondering where you are.
I could call you on the telephone,
But do I really want to know?

The second full-length album by Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone is set for release tomorrow across North America. Down the Way features delicate acoustic melodies and vocals by both Angus and Julia. This particular track showcases their combined voices against a background of faraway guitar and strings.

Stream the new album here: http://www.watch.muchmusic/first-spins

You can also check out MySpace for more.

Willow Tree - Chad VanGaalen

Take my body,
Put it in a boat,
Light it on fire,
Send it out to sea.

Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta. His beautifully written album Soft Airplane gives us tales of death, murder and rage. After listening to this album a few times I came to appreciate Chad's blend of intimate folky ballads and drum machine electro driven beats.

When Soft Airplane was released in 2008, it received great reviews and was nominated for a Canadian Juno Award, as well as shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize.

You can download the Soft Airplane B-Sides for free here: http://www.softairplane.com/

Down By the River - Giant Hand

Oh I swam too far,
I can't turn back,
If I stop I'll drown
And I'll never get to go back.

In 2008, Kirk Ramsay decided he wanted to pick up a guitar and write folk music. Today he has a full length album titled Coming Home and has opened for acts such as Handsome Furs, Ohbijou, Human Highway, Bruce Peninsula, Timber Timbre and Azeda Booth.

I saw Giant Hand last week when he opened for The Acorn at the Grad Club in Kingston. On stage he is enjoyable to watch and his songs show vulnerability and honesty. His unique voice shines on the new album, making it a great choice for mellowing down to.

Listen to more at his MySpace.

When People Go - Craig Cardiff

Please find a friend,
Have a drink and go home.
Take them into your heart,
Tell them how much you need them.
Go to bed and goodnight, go home.

Craig Cardiff is a Canadian folk musician from Waterloo, Ontario. Last week I saw him perform in Kingston and was presently surprised by how wonderful he was.

Everyone at the show crowded around the stage with pints of beer in hand, and some people chose to sit on the floor creating the cozy atmosphere encouraged by Craig. Craig prefers an intimate show and asked everyone to be silent and turn off their cell phones. When he started to play, his beautifully melodic sound had the crowd's unwavering attention. Craig's music is simple, honest and genuine. His performances are full of emotion and he holds nothing back as he sings about love, loss, the questions around religion and its impact on the day-to-day. His songs will break your heart and then pull it back together.

Craig's mature, polished performances are a clear result of ten years of touring and producing his own music which includes 12 albums. With only an acoustic guitar and loop peddles, I was surprised by how captivating Craig was on stage. I was also overjoyed about his invitation to sit on stage when we discovered there wasn't much room left on the floor. If Craig comes back for another show I will definitely be in the crowd and I think you should be too.

Find out more about Craig's albums by visiting his website: http://www.craigcardiff.com

Fighting Against Your Lungs - Aidan Knight

I met you at the border cross and,
Gave up kisses like a winter's frost,
Long shoulder in your overcoat,
I seen your eyes through a mouth of smoke.

I saw Aidan Knight last week when he performed at one of our student pubs. He was wonderful live and I loved his entire set. Check out his new album, Versicolour.

You can stream and download his whole album here: http://aidanknight.bandcamp.com/

Already Yours - Bahamas

Well I always said don't mind me,
But your love always seems to find me,
It's always creeping up behind me,
I was never yours.

Bahamas is a Torontonian named Afie Jurvanen, who has put together an album with a wonderful soft sound. Jurvanen and his roommate at the time, Robbie Lackritz, recorded Pink Strat in a cabin in rural Ontario. Many of the songs were saved up over a period of 5 years of touring as part of Jason Collett's band, and then Feist's band.

However Jurvanen is now writing for himself and giving us the dreamy folk tunes found on Pink Strat.

You can listen to more on MySpace.

I'll Never Leave You - Rogue Wave

These bottles and stones,
We collected from our shows,
We could line them one by one.

This album is Rogue Waves's follow up to 2007's Asleep At Heaven's Gate. Their new release, Permalight, came out this week and is an album full of indie pop wonder. Take a listen for yourself, it's worth it.

You can stream I'll Never Leave You and the rest of the album below:

The Loneliness and The Scream - Frightened Rabbit

Am I here?
Of course I am, yes,
All I need is your hand,
To drag me out again.

Today Frightened Rabbit released their third studio album entitled The Winter of Mixed Drinks. The new album is powerful, dramatic and full of emotional vocals. I really believe this album outshines their previous work. They sound as if they have found themselves as a group and discovered where they fit into the music scene.

The new album is certainly different from past releases, but it's a positive move forward where their sound will appeal to more people. After the release of this album it will be hard to keep Frightened Rabbit as one of indie music's best kept secrets.

You can listen to more from thier album on MySpace.