Decidedly - Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans

All the coniferous trees, they bend in the wind,
If I could I’d run around and put it all together again.

All the deciduous trees, they’re blowing in the wind,
Why would you ever grow leaves, just to watch them fall off again?

This track comes of a lovely album, The Falcon Lake Incident, put together by Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans. I've been away travelling the past two months and what better way to start things off than with two Canadian indie music icons. This album was released at the end of October and I was excited to hear about the collaboration between these artists. They recorded the album in two cabins during January 2010. The result is a unique collection of songs inspired by the crisp Canadian winter.

Read more about the album here: The National Post

mp3: Decidedly - Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans

Candy Candy - Guilty About Girls

Follow me, I know where I'm going,
Not messed up like all those hoes,
Stay with me and all will be golden,
Walk away and be broken-hearted.

With a love for rock and electronica, Jordy Birch and Mark Henning have mixed these two genres nicely in their latest single, Candy Candy. This track comes of their new album The Very Best Of...

Jordy Birch and Mark Henning are from Vancouver and were originally part of the 90's rock band 'Pure'. Ten years later they are having fun experimenting with a new sound. This infectious 7 track album is a great mix and you can go listen to it yourself at http://guiltyaboutgirls.bandcamp.com/.

Guilty About Girls - Candy Candy from Boutique Empire on Vimeo.

Everybody's Dancing - Sleepless Nights

We were the weird kids,
We got the job done,
Did everything the wrong way.

Summer has been great and I've been outside much more than I've been inside updating this blog. However I would like to take some time to leave you with a summer tune. (And a free download!)

Sleepless Nights are a great band from Halifax. Check them out if you like what you hear.

Not Your Parents Music - Hawksley Workman

And now you're finding that you can't stop singing all my lyrics,
And you're feeling sick cause all you want to do is hear it,
You try to sleep at night but can't because you can't get near it,
I make you crazy and you want to but you just can't fear it.

This, this ain't your parents music.

Hawksley Workman is a Canadian electro-rock singer-songwriter from Toronto and has been releasing albums since 1998. This year Workman has been working to release two albums, Milk and Meat. Having produced debut albums for many people like Tegan and Sara, Hey Rosetta, Serena Ryder and Great Big Sea, Workman says that only now is he beginning to feel comfortable producing music of his own using all that he's learned throughout the years.

After listening to Meat, I have to say I've become a fan. It's something a little different that you can either rock out to or play on a hazy Saturday afternoon.

Check out his website and get a free download: http://www.hawksleyworkman.com/
I'm also a fan of this track: We'll Make Time

Hawksley Workman "Not Your Parents' Music" by Frontside

Les Chemins De Verre - Karkwa

Dans un camion de glaise la braise sur le moteur
mutants couverts de terre à l'intérieur

Nos dents fines et longues déchirent le décor
Nos yeux vides et froids escortent la mort

Released in March 2010, Les Chemins De Verre is an excellent album from the francophone band Karkwa. Also a Polaris Prize shortlister, Karkwa's latest effort is a lovely blend of intricate mellow folk, atmospherics and energy contributed by tracks such as "Les Chemins De Verre". On my first few listens, the beautiful sounding French lyrics are what really drew me in.

Listen to tracks from the album: http://www.karkwa.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/karkwa

mp3: Les Chemins De Verre - Karkwa

Drinking Games - Library Voices

She's not one for love,
But she sure loves the chase,
Don't act so amazed when she drifts,
And she sways.

And she sails away,
And she wanders off,
Ohh some wonderlust.

With the Love, Saskatchewan festival coming to Harbourfront this week in Toronto, I though I would give you a sample of one of the great bands coming to perform.

Library Voices is an indie pop group from Regina, Saskatchewan. On April 13, 2010 they released their first full length album Denim on Denim. With down to earth lyrics and an anything goes style, Library Voices is starting to get some well deserved attention.

Stream the album: http://libraryvoices.ca/
Festival Information: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldroutes2010/saskatchewan

mp3: Drinking Games - Library Voices

Here's To Now - Ugly Casanova

Sitting on your doorstep,
Waiting for you to come home or come out,
Well apple seeds have cyanide,
That we don't care about.

So here's to now,
Here's to now.

Ugly Casanova is the side project of Issac Black, the lead singer of Modest Mouse. The last thing we heard from Ugly Casanova was an LP, Sharpen Your Teeth, released in 2002. However, recently Issac Brock was back in the studio recording some new songs for the documentary 180 South: Conquerers of the Useless. The soundtrack is simple and perfectly captures the empty landscapes of Patagonia featured in the movie. Complementing the sounds of Ugly Casanova are tracks from James Mercer and Jack Johnson. The album was certainly a refreshing addition to my music collection.

Ugly Casanova: http://www.subpop.com/artists/ugly_casanova
Stream the album: http://www.last.fm/music/Various+Artists/180+South+Soundtrack
Watch the Trailer for 180 South: http://www.180south.com/trailer.html

mp3: Here's To Now - Ugly Casanova

Restoration - The Acorn

Concentric circles signal dinner time,
The tidal waves skim the surface.

I have always enjoyed the joyful, folk melodies of the The Acorn. Hence my excitment over the release of their new album, No Ghost. With the familiarity of Glory Hope Mountain, it's a great album with eleven beautiful songs. I was happy to see The Acorn featured on Southern Souls last week. Here's one of the three videos that were posted.



Video courtesy of Mitch Fillion at http://www.southernsouls.ca/

mp3: Restoration - The Acorn

Arrows - Rah Rah

I feel just like an arrow,
Shooting high,
Shooting high away.

Rah Rah is a group from Regina, Saskatchewan that have just released a new album titled Breaking Hearts. Breaking Hearts is the follow up to their debut album, Going Steady, released in 2008.
Their energy is what caught me a first, but I have come to enjoy the male/female vocals and diverse instrumentation. Definitely a band worth checking out.

Check out their site here: http://rahrahband.blogspot.com
Listen to more at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/rahrahband

mp3: Arrows - Rah Rah

Juliette - Hollerado

She's got houseplants,
To keep her company.
I bought her a goldfish,
She named it after me.
We look at old photographs,
Of lovers come and gone.
Ask her if it makes her sad,
She says "Son you've got so much to learn."

I don't think I've mentioned this before but I really like Hollerado. Hollerado is this awesome band from a small town just outside of Ottawa that have a great energetic sound. Their album, Record In a Bag, is actually a record in a bag. (see more here) How cool is that? This one belongs on the summer playlist.

I've also heard their shows are a lot fun, so check them out if they're in town. (Shows)



Learn more and listen to their full album: http://www.hollerado.com/

mp3: Juliette - Hollerado