Tomorrow is Canada Day, so I thought it might be nice to highlight some of my favorite Canadian songs for this week’s Friday Five. These are songs that are about Canada, or places in Canada, or being Canadian, or just have that distinctive Canadian vibe that I love so much.
B. Rich – Out for a Rip
The Tragically Hip – Bobcaygeon
The Arrogant Worms – Canada’s Really Big
PS I Love You – Princess Towers
Asani – O Canada
You might be wondering what the Friday Zero is. It’s when you get to the end of the week and realize that you’ve been so incredibly busy between work and travel and household duties that you never listened to a single new song. Not one. Not even the new Offa Rex track that you have waiting on your computer. And then you sit down Friday night after that very long week, wondering what the hell to do for your Friday Five.
Yes, I could just pull from the archives and give you five random songs, but if I haven’t been listening to them or thinking about them, it feels — I don’t know. Wrong.
Instead I give you a lame excuse, and an apology. Next week I will endeavor to set aside time for listening, no matter how hectic my days. And hey, if you’ve been listening to anything good this week, leave it in the comments!
Another great week full of music. Check out some recent faves below.
Stars – “Privilege” & “We Called It Love”
New Stars. How fantastic to wake up to new Stars. There are two tracks, and I’m posting them both, because NEW STARS.
Spotify sucks and won’t embed, so click this link
Gordi – “Heaven I Know”
I’m new to Gordi, but dang, I’m loving the Imogen Heap vibes. I spent Wednesday listening to hours of her music, and I’m hooked.
Charly Bliss – “Westermarck”
Fun tune, super fun video.
SOAR – “Fort Funston”
I kinda love music that references places (which is one of the reasons why I love Canadian music — Canadian musicians aren’t afraid to write about the places they know). Specificity never hinders music, in my opinion. So I’m digging this new tune by SOAR.
It’s late. I should be getting some sleep since I’m taking a trip tomorrow to visit a good friend and see a concert, but I couldn’t skip posting five bangers for you guys. This week has been flush with good tunes — so many that I have to save some for next week’s list.
I’m starting off with the brand new tune by Torres. I’ve been waiting for this for AGES. “Sprinter” was one of my favorite albums of 2015, and every time I listen to it, I just fall to pieces. It’s a stunning record. And I’ve been whining for months and months on Twitter, wondering when Torres would put out some new material.
And then she dropped her new track, “Skim.” I bounced around in my cube like a maniac all day. I posted gifs of a vintage Whitney Houston screaming and dancing. I was SHOOK. And the song is everything I had hoped it would be. The video is not exactly SFW, so if you’re worried about that, head on over to Spotify to stream it. But listen to it. You have to.
Torres – “Skim”
Beth Ditto – “We Could Run”
Hot damn! Another excellent track from Beth Ditto’s fresh solo album. (Also check out “Fire,” ’cause GIRL.)
Alvvays – “In Undertow”
Oh man. I love Alvvays. I picked up their self-titled album while on a trip to Canada last year, and it still gets a lot of play during my workday. Looking forward to their new album.
Waxahatchee – “Never Been Wrong”
The Crutchfields have superpowers. I’m convinced of it. Everything they do is amazing. Check out the second offering from Katie’s upcoming album, “Out In The Storm.”
Iron & Wine – “Call It Dreaming”
Call me the whitest hipster ever, but I can’t help it. Sam Beam’s voice just does something to me. I actually got teary toward the end of this video, y’all. But then again, I think that a lot of Iron & Wine songs make me cry. I’m a sensitive hipster.
Yes, the rumors are true. After many months, the Friday Five is making its triumphant return! Okay, well, triumphant might be a tad dramatic for a feature that probably has a total readership of two (my wife and my mother). But it’s long overdue, especially because of the constant flood of incredible music that this otherwise-horrid year has been producing. I’ve had to cut back significantly on my vinyl purchases (that whole building a new house thing, plus the ever-increasing cost of new vinyl), but I keep a list of everything I want so that I can slowly peck away at it when I get gift cards or have a few extra bucks. And that list is HUGE.
This week’s selections are all new releases from some excellent bands. Click on the name of the band if you like what you hear, and consider supporting them with a purchase.
Adult Mom – “Drive Me Home”
The newest record from Adult Mom, “Soft Spots,” has been in heavy rotation for the past few weeks. It’s an incredibly strong, solid offering, and I love the way the sound expands and contracts and expands again as the album progresses. This song takes the cake, though.
Big Thief – “Mary”
I hadn’t heard Big Thief before the release of their recent hit, “Mythological Beauty.” I consider that one of my favorite songs of the year, and hoped that each subsequent track premiered would also drag me in and slay me with equal brutality. I can’t say “Mary” destroyed me quite as completely as “Mythological Beauty,” but I’m weakened and crawling.
Tall Friend – “Oats”
Tall Friend is another new band to me, but I was immediately drawn to the sound. It reminded me of Told Slant, and O, and Florist. And then I found out that Emily Sprague (of Florist) was actually involved in the performance and production of Tall Friend’s upcoming album, so it suddenly made sense. This song alone has me itching to click that pre-order button.
Offa Rex – “Blackleg Miner”
I’m down for anything The Decemberists do. When they first announced their collaboration with Olivia Chaney, Offa Rex, I knew that I’d love it. The band is really at its best when paying homage to the sea shanty or Appalachian music, and Offa Rex continues in that tradition, covering old British folk standards. Seriously, if you didn’t know any better, you would think “Blackleg Miner” was a bonus track from “Castaways and Cutouts.”
Broken Social Scene – “Skyline”
Who else is incredibly excited about the return of Broken Social Scene?? I don’t even need to introduce this song. Just listen.
vinylhysteria.com 