Great Lakes - Harlan Pepper

A woman asked if I like cake,
I said no ma'am, just like Great Lakes.

I was surprised to hear that Harlan Pepper is a bunch of kids from Hamilton, Ontario. They have just released a debut album called Young and Old, on which this track can be found. Great Lakes is one of those Canadian folk songs I could play over and over. If you like what you hear, head over to their site and listen to the album.

Preview Young and Old and Download the track free here: http://harlanpepper.bandcamp.com

mp3: Great Lakes - Harlan Pepper

King of Spain - The Tallest Man on Earth

Why are you stamping my illusion?
Just cause I stole some eagle's wings,
Because you named me as your lover,
Well, I thought I could be anything.

Tallest Man on Earth is folk musician Kristian Matsson of Dalarna, Sweden. He released a lovely album, The Wild Hunt, this past April. About six months later along came Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird. This EP consists of 5 new tracks including "Like a Wheel" which can be heard here.

I like this song because it reminds me of Spain.

mp3: King of Spain - The Tallest Man on Earth

In the Family - The Wilderness of Manitoba

All the times we laughed,
All the times we cried,
I will remember them,
And always cherish them.

I once saw The Wilderness of Manitoba in a small dark theater venue in Toronto. I had heard some of their music before, but it was nothing compared to how wonderful they were live. Mitch Fillion catches this perfectly in his video filmed in Toronto this past December.

Watch more here: Southern Souls

THE WILDERNESS OF MANITOBA - In the Family from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Quarry Hymns - Land of Talk

How deep is this soul I feel I'm in?
Seen a lot of light and done a lot with it
How deep is this hole I feel I'm in?
Seen a lot of light and done a lot with it.

This track comes off Cloak and Cipher, the second full-length album by Canadian indie rock band Land of Talk. The thing I love most about Land of Talk is Elizabeth Powell's mesmerizing vocals. See what she had to say about Quarry Hymns below.

"Everything fell into place quickly and surely on this one. The lyric is one that struck me hard, a quarry of quandry, a distinct loneliness, all set to E-Street band momentum. How things hit us is often incongruous with our surroundings – this song is a sad summer day and the happiest snowfall you’ve ever run through. This is a song for friends and lovers, a call to arms for falling and turning leaves."

Read more: http://arts.nationalpost.com....

Catch them at Canadian Music Fest in Toronto, March 9-13 2011: http://canadianmusicfest.com

mp3: Quarry Hymns - Land of Talk

Changes - Champions

Only in our dreams we can be who we used to be,
so let them be real.

You could be alright,
We could be alright, tonight.

Germany’s Champions have released a cool track of their self titled album. It sounds a bit like relaxed Phoenix inspired pop. Check out the track below.

I Just Came to Say Hello - Mashup-Germany

I have this thing for obscure remixes. I found this one today and felt like sharing.
Also, there's more where this came from: Mashup-Germany

mp3: I Just Came to Say Hello - Mashup-Germany

Lions in Cages - Wolf Gang

In the city,
Where I'm from,
There are lovers to the dawn
And you stayed up to see the sun
I couldn't wait that long.

Out of the UK, Wolf Gang has provided us with an infectious pop single from their soon to be released Suego Faults, an LP that's expected early 2011.

mp3: Lions in Cages - Wolf Gang

Facing the Sun - Fritz Kalkbrenner

And the faces get void,
And the lights get too thin,
And the roads become uneven,
So we don't know where we've been
And those who doubt us will soon believe,
We are never supposed to win - or even to achieve.

Having just come home from Europe, I have been looking into things people passed along or told me to check out. Which has also lead me to all sorts of crazy and cool things. Today I came across Fritz Kalkbrenner. He's one of the many artists that are part of Berlin's awesome music scene.

This killer track comes off Fritz Kalkbrenner’s new Here Today Gone Tomorrow LP. The video is pretty cool too. Check it out below.

Wasted Hours - Arcade Fire

Wishing you were anywhere but here
You watched the life you're living disappear,
and now I see, we're still kids in the buses longing to be free.

I realize this album came out a little while ago, so many of you have probably listened to it already. However, if you haven't, I encourage you to give a spin. It's definitely my favourite Arcade Fire album yet, and so I had to share it with you.

I prefer the album as a whole, with its "letter from the suburbs" theme and all, so it was hard to pick out one track. 'Wasted Hours' has just kind of grown on me over the past few months. So give this track a listen and then go type your address in at The Wilderness Downtown and watch some guy run around your neighbourhood to 'We Used to Wait'. It's cool, I promise.

mp3: Wasted Hours - Arcade Fire

Green Eyes - Wavves

Green eyes, I'd run away with you
Green eyes, 'cause I'm a fool,
I try staying away.

Back in August Wavves released an infectious, energetic album that brings me back to summer. Unfortunately there's snow on the ground now, but King of the Beach is still a fun listen. Expect to see this album on many of the year-end lists.

Listen and download the album's single, Post Acid, here: Wavves - Post Acid

mp3: Green Eyes - Wavves