Mojave is an acoustic band from Vancouver with a strong passion for music and environmental causes.  They donate a percentage of their album sales to environmental charities through “1% for the planet and offsets all carbon emissions through tree canada.”  When I hear that sort of thing, I’m immediately more willing to hear what kind of message a group is sending through their music.

The songs are haunting and just absolutely gorgeous.  The music is minimal but that’s the beauty of it – they let their lyrics, chords and lead vocals speak without cluttering up their songs with useless layers and distractions.  I really can’t decide on which track is my favorite but you can get a preview of some of the songs on Mojave’s MySpace profile.

In the meantime, here’s the tracklisting (they have the titles in lower-case so I’ve kept them that way):

• faultline lyrics / listen
• lights out lyrics / listen
• hollow lyrics / listen
• not obsessive lyrics
• a place that time forgot lyrics
• casa rosita lyrics / listen
• here i am lyrics
• unbroken lyrics
• one will fall lyrics
• old dale road (instrumental)

If you like what you’ve heard, you can pick up a copy of the album through iTunes, CD baby and Amazon.

You can also check out the band at one of their upcoming shows:

• Jan 10, 2009: Wired Bean, North Vancouver, British Columbia – 8pm
• Feb 10, 2009: The Roxy, Vancouver, British Columbia – 8pm

image: Mojave Music.ca

Post from: Canadian Music News

Hannah Georgas will be releasing her debut album The Beat Stuff on January 27, 2009 and will be embarking on a cross-Canada tour with Jeremy Fisher to kick things off. 

The Vancouver native recently won the Music BC Songbird West Singer/Songwriter Competition for 2008 with the title track from the album and, I’ve got to say that judging from what I’ve heard on her MySpace profile, I’m really intrigued and impressed.  I’m a real fan of the American indie star, Meiko, and Hannah really reminds me of her.  Hannah’s MySpace music player features the tracks “Mama’s Boy,” “Let’s Talk,” “The Beat Stuff,” “The National” and “All I Need.”  Every single one of them is really good and I love the purity and honesty displayed in her lyrics and vocals.  Really nice!

Hannah got quite a year planned.  Not only is she releasing her first album and going on tour, she’s also slated to perform at New Songs, New Voices as well as at the Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad. 

Here’s the track list for The Beat Stuff:

1. Lets Talk
2. The Beat Stuff
3. Mamas Boy
4. The National
5. All I Need
6. Gabriella

Here are the Canadian tour dates (with Jeremy Fisher):

• January 24 – Victoria, Metro Studio
• January 28 – Vancouver, St. James Church
• January 30 – Calgary, The Gateway
• January 31 – Edmonton, Horowitz Theatre
• February 1 – Winnipeg, Park Theatre
• February 5 – London, London Music Hall
• February 6 – Waterloo, University of Waterloo
• February 7 – Toronto, MOD Club
• February 8 – Wakefield, Blacksheep Inn
• February 11 – Halifax, Seahorse Tavern

If Hannah is performing in a city near you, I would really recommend going out to see her because I think you’ll be witnessing the birth of a great new Canadian artist.  I see huge potential and I hope that 2009 is Hannah’s year!

images used with permission

Post from: Canadian Music News

Canadian trio, Heavy Jack, are pure rock and roll.  I haven’t listened to a new album in quite a while that made me feel like I was transported back to a time before I was even born but that’s how I felt when I listened to the group’s Multiply. 

The album kicks off with the high-energy track “Bushfire” that features a long guitar outro that you just don’t find too many places anymore.  I enjoyed it and was eager to hear more.  

“Blood Red Sun” is a drum-driven tune that borders on too repetitive but manages to work itself out in the end.

The third track, “What’s In a Name” is probably my favorite.  It reminds me of something but I just can’t figure it out.  Anyway the chord changes are really nice so it totally won me over.

The rest of the album proceeds pretty much the way you would expect.  Lead singer/guitarist, Ben, has a versatile voice that can sometimes remind you of Creedence Clearwater Revival right on through to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith (as is the case in “Moving On”). 

Here’s a tracklisting for the album:

1. Bushfire
2. Blood Red Son
3. Whats In A Name
4. Movin’ On
5. Jumpin Jack Flash
6. Bandits In The Night
7. Fly Away (Black Crow)
8. Peace Soldier

The group also did a cover of “Gloria” which you can listen to here.  I think the track features some really impressive guitar work.

If you would like to know more about Heavy Jack, visit their official website or their MySpace profile.  You can also pick up a copy of the album at CD Baby.

images used with permission

Post from: Canadian Music News

I got a copy of Hit Man: David Foster and Friends the other day and I really wanted to just sit down and get another album review "over with" (it is work after all). 

Thank goodness I put this CD on tonight – it was just what I needed!

It starts with the familial strains of "Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire" on which David is accompanied by Kenny G.  The piano, that horn-playing… I just felt a little more at ease all of a sudden. 

Then came "Home" by one of my favourite Canadian artists ever, Michael Bublé, who was accompanied by country music star, Blake Shelton.  The duet was inspired and I felt myself relaxing a little bit more.  I almost panicked for a moment because I wondered if this feeling could go on.  Thankfully, it did.

Teen sensation, Charice, delivered some standout performances of "I Have Nothing" and "I Will Always Love You" from the Bodyguard soundtrack.

I thought the Bublé/Shelton duet was great but I have to admit that the pairing of Josh Groban and Brian McKnight was just incredible!  They sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and it blew me away!  Maybe I’m biased because I love both of these singers more than anyone should but, again, it proves the genius of David Foster.

No one but Celine Dion should really sing "Because You Loved Me" and, fortunately, that’s exactly who performs the power ballad on the disc.  What can you really say?  It’s Celine.  It was fantastic!

"Wildflower" is just a gorgeous little song that makes me emotional every time I hear it.  Blake Shelton does a great job on this track.  I felt like the words meant something to him which lent real credibility to the performance.

American Idol season 5 runner-up, Katharine McPhee, sang "Somewhere," the signature song from West Side Story.  If you’re a fan of the movie you’ll understand why this gave me goosebumps.  She really softens some parts of the song which is a nice interpretation on this modern classic.

Just when I thought this CD couldn’t get much better, Peter Cetera and his glorious vocals flooded my ears.  He did a medley of "Hard to Say I’m Sorry/You’re the Inspiration/Glory of Love" and I really enjoyed it.  "Glory of Love" is from the Karate Kid 2 soundtrack (which I loved!) and I get teary every time I hear it.  This was my favourite section of the CD and I loved that it was a nice little gem towards the end.  Fabulous!

The final track is "The Prayer" which is sung by the great Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, and Katharine McPhee.  It was a decent version of the song but purists who love either the Celine Dion or Charlotte Church version might feel it’s lacking a little something.  It’s still pretty great, though

Overall, I would highly recommend this CD as a great holiday gift this year!  It also comes with a DVD which features the live performances that appear on the CD (and even more!!!).  PICK UP A COPY TODAY!

image used with permission

Post from: Canadian Music News