Canadian Music News

Have you heard Erik Mongrain’s music?  His unique and distinctive lap tapping guitar work is just incredible (and I’m proud to say that he hails from Montreal, Quebec – my original hometown!).  There’s a real emotion to his playing that I immediately connect to.  It’s really special!
Last week, he released his second album Equilibrium and I’m sure it’s fantastic.  To learn more about the album and listen to clips, visit the On Target Media website.  I love the cover art (see below) too.  If I get my hands on a copy, I will definitely review it here. 

Without having …read more

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Here’s the official music video for the song “World Timebomb” by One Second 2 Late, off of their album entitled after this single. The album was released earlier this year and is their debut CD. I like the beat of the song and the message of it. The video for is interesting too. Check it out below.

Tags: one second 2 late, world timebomb, video, music video

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Remember when Nelly Furtado was not making music that sounded over-processed, over-mixed, over-synthesized, over-sexualized or over-Americanized?  Yeah, me too and I miss those days.  Her songs used to have meaningful lyrics and actual melodies. 
Take 2004’s “Try,” for example, from her album Whoa, Nelly! This isn’t my favourite version of this song but it’s still a lot more honest and beautiful than the stuff she’s making now.  What I love is how this song almost starts like it’s going to be acoustic then slowly builds and the emotion is undeniable.  How many times have you felt like all you …read more

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The Black Lungs is fronted by Wade MacNeil who is also the guitarist for AlexisonFire.  I’m guessing he just wanted a side project to be able to be the lead singer but it hasn’t been the most successful venture – all of the members of the band have quit so, when they tour, Pat Pengelly from Bedouin Soundclash will be playing drums, George Pettit from Alexisonfire will be playing bass, and Haris Cehajic from Moneen will be playing piano.
I have to say that, based on the song “Hold Fast (Sink or Swim),” I’m not terribly impressed.  I really applaude Wade’s …read more

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On November 3, 2008, one of my favourite shows, Video on Trial, will air its’ 100th episode on MuchMusic.  There have been times, and I am not even exaggerating, when I was in the worst mood and watching the jurors tear videos to shred just perked me right up (ha ha!).  I was thrilled when, this past April, I was able to meet Trevor Boris at the 2008 Juno Awards.  He was just as sweet and funny as I had hoped.
On the Much site, it describes the episode as follows:

For the first time ever, all your favourite VOT jurors are …read more

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Wow.  With the U.S. presidential elections just a little more than a week away, I got a real crack out of this weekend that pokes fun at some of the world’s most recognizable politicians.   You’ll see appearances from Barack Obama, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, President Bush and even personalities and stars like Anderson Cooper, David Hasselbeck and Alex Trebek (and many more!).
It’s a good thing the video is so entertaining because it distracts from the repetitive, banal song.  I am hoping that it is just because it is a remix but I have no desire to ever hear this song …read more

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MTV LIVE, which is hosted by Daryn Jones (remember him from the hilarious show Buzz?), has been honoured with a Gemini Award for “Best Talk Series.”  The daily talk show offers up a healthy dose of satire while reporting on the news, trends and pop culture.  It was nominated against MTV’s The Hills After Show and CBC’s The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.
image used with permission
Technorati Tags: daryn jones,mtv live,gemini awards

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I have to admit that Toronto-based punk rock group, Die Mannequin, is not my style but I know there are Canadians out there who love them.  It’s not their genre that I dislike but I think that their songs, like “Saved by Strangers,” are just really plain.  Anyway, the track originally came from their 2007 EP Slaughter Daughter which was eventually absorbed (along with their 2006 EP How to Kill) into a single album, Unicorn Steak, what was released this year.  

I just think that they try too hard to sound “punk” and it comes off seeming cheesy.  In case …read more

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I have to admit, that I didn’t see this coming!  This new Nickelback some “Gotta Be Somebody” really surprised me.  It’s got a real upbeat, 80s sound to it.  I can’t put my finger on what it sounds like exactly (my mind keeps going to Richard Marx but it’s more than that).
Anyway, people must be liking it because it’s currently #1 on Sirius satellite radio channel “Iceberg 85″ which is devoted to Canadian music.  I couldn’t find a video for it but you can listen to the track here.

Technorati Tags: nickelback,video,watch,gotta be somebody,sirius,iceberg 85

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I came across the new Feist video for her single “Honey Honey.”  The song is really strange even for the unusual Calgarian singer.  The video is even weirder.  The funny thing is that, while it is a haunting tune filled with wordless “singing,” it’s also comforting and warm.  The background “ha ha” sounds sometimes remind me of trains (what do you think?), the puppet work is inventive and, when you dissect the musical layers, it’s simple but when used all together with her vocals, you get a surprisingly intricate song.  For example, the xylophone sounding instrument is keeping the beat …read more

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