Songs of the Week: May 22 - 28, 2023

May 29, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Cracks in the Finish” by Shred Kelly

I was super stoked to see this new release from Fernie, BC’s Shred Kelly in my inbox, not only because I love the band, but the fact that I was on-site taking photos of them recording this new album!
“Cracks in the Finish” is the first single from their forthcoming album (no date or title yet!), and it focuses on the imperfections in relationships and challenges that see them grow.

The band is heading out this summer to do a big run of festivals and shows, the closest to Vancouver they’re getting for now is Kelowna and Sun Peaks at opposite ends of the tour - check out the dates here.

Christine

“Matchmaker” by Haley Blais

Not only was I excited to see new music from Haley Blais pop up, but also happy to see it came with the announcement that she had recently signed with Arts & Crafts!

“Matchmaker” features her smooth vocals over a dreamy groove, which she describes as “a love song about being so confident and safe in a relationship that you start to look for cracks out of fear.”

While no solid word on a new album yet, the new song comes with a tease of a full length project set to drop later this year. Until then, check out the video for “Matchmaker” below!

Kirk

“Skylight” and “Freaking Out” by Sleepy Gonzales

Vancouver’s Sleepy Gonzales announced a brand new EP last week, with not one but two new song!

“Skylight” is soft and gentle, before erupting into a chaotic finish, and in contrast, the aptly titled “Freaking Out” is a frantic race. The band explains that “‘Skylight’ embodies light in a dark world and ‘Freaking Out’ is the evil inside us demanding validation. Maybe they balance each other out, or maybe one eventually destroys the other. That depends on you.”

The new EP Mercy Kill comes out June 23rd on Light Organ Records. Check out the video for "Skylight" below, and stream both new songs here.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: May 15 - 21, 2023

May 22, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Parfaite à l'écran” by Karkwa

My eyes nearly bulged out of my head when I saw there was a new song from Karkwa out last week.

“Parfaite à l'écran” is the first new song from the Francophone band since they took an “extended break” over a decade ago, and it sounds like they haven’t missed a beat; rich and lush in sound, with Louis-Jean Cormier’s captivating vocals.

The song is just the first taste of a new album, which will be out September 8th, and Karkwa has announced a few tour dates, but mostly in Quebec with one Toronto date. Hopefully with a new album out, they make it back over to the west coast at some point!

Kirk

“Everyone’s Moving Out East” by Half Moon Run

Me: Is this going to be about everyone moving during the pandemic?
*checks press release……YEP!

We got another new tune from Half Moon Run this week, “Everyone’s Moving Out East”, a few weeks ahead of the release of their new album Salt, on June 2nd.

Of the song the band said “..it felt as if many people were uprooting their lives and moving on to some greener pasture. Perhaps part of you would want to go with them, but alas, you must stay.” I definitely said goodbye to a lot of friend that moved to the Maritimes over the last few years, so this one hits close to home.

Christine

“Laundry Pile” by Arkells

A sweet little ballad and an album announcement from Arkells!
“Laundry Pile” came out this past week with the news that the new release will be on September 21, and will also be called Laundry Pile.

Of the album, Max Kerman says: “… Laundry Pile is a chapter that documents some of the messy parts that end up teaching you a lot: love, regret, desire, shame, and the longing to get it right. The title track is out first, and it’s a memory honouring the little moments that represent a true partnership.”
Curious to hear more of the tunes, as it seems like a fun creative project for the band, and might be different from what we’re used to from them.

Christine

“Hulk Hogan Slammed Andre The Giant” by Wolfie’s Just Fine

The latest song from Wolfie’s Just Fine (the moniker musician/comedian Jon Lajoie) is a gorgeous ballad about inspiration and overcoming massive odds.

It is also, as you may have realised, about the night that Hulk Hogan bodyslammed Andre the Giant in front of 90,000 screaming Hulkamaniacs at the Silverdome for WrestleMania III.

But really, it’s about being nostalgic for those amazing moments as a child. Lajoie elaborates that “Hulk Hogan Slammed Andre The Giant” is “an ode to a window of time in my childhood when the world felt simple, and unfettered and unfiltered joy was still easily accessible. A time when Hulk Hogan defeating Andre the Giant meant that everything was going to be okay for ever and ever. When playing with my WWF wrestling figurines in my backyard with my older brother was more thrilling and exciting than any roller coaster ride or $200 million dollar blockbuster film. As an adult, I rarely have access to that kind of emotional exhilaration because, you know, life. However, that pure, blissful, unadulterated, child-like joy is so powerful, that even the memory of it can cause a small portion to travel through time to the present and put a silly smile on my much-too-serious forty-two year-old face.”

The song is the first single off his upcoming album, Everyone Is Dead Except Us, which is out June 16.

Kirk

“Everything Once” by Hotel Mira

The latest single from Hotel Mira is for everyone that struggles with addiction and metal illness. I don’t think there’s anything I can say that would be better than the poignant words words lead singer Charlie Kerr shared, so:

“He was the kind of guy who would come see your band even if only 6 people showed up. Risking humiliation, he would sing extremely loud and dance up a storm. It created an illusion that would have you thinking if just for a second, you were playing to a packed stadium. There’s undeniable bravery and kindness in that. Y’see he supported my pipe dream of being a singer. When he would have new people over to his folks’ place he would always take the time to show people what I was working on with whatever band I was playing with. He even had an ongoing joke that I should name my band after him. Hoping that a song in his honour will suffice.”

“When I think about him, I think about the unbearable pain someone can walk with and the lengths they go to not feel that pain. I think about putting your life in a stranger’s hands. I think about someone changing into something that no longer resembles the sweet kid that I grew up with. I think about the effort he was putting in to get out from under it all, and I think about how many loved ones I have lost with a similar story,”

“Everything Once” is the fourth single from Hotel Mira’s upcoming album, which we’ll hopefully get word on sooner rather than later!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: May 08 - 14, 2023

May 15, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Up 2 U” by Yukon Blonde

Yukon Blonde is back! Nearly three years after their last album, the group have dropped an incredibly earwormy new single, "Up 2 U".

Much like their last album, the new tune fuses some classic guitar licks & cowbell with more modern synth, and of course features their impeccable harmonies.

Singer Jeffrey Innes says “‘Up 2 U’ is a classic 120 BPM bop inspired by the kind of thing you’d see on the Midnight Special or Soul Train. I always wanted one of those DVDs you’d see advertised on those late night infomercials back in the day, but my family didn’t have any money and my mom thought they were a scam. She almost gave in once when we saw Marvin Gaye and Redbone on one, but in the end it never happened. Lyrically, the song is about personal choice and ignoring the narrow-minded folks who just can’t seem to stay out of your business.”

No solid word yet on a full length album to go with the song, but the band is teasing for later this year!

Kirk

“Shake It” by The Matinee

We’re gettin’ groovy this Monday morning!

Another new tune from Vancouver band The Matinee, “Shake It” follows the release of “Bad Addiction” and “Road To Hell”, and takes the band in another direction musically.

While listening I pictured a 50’s-era high school dance scene from a movie (the visualizer video below pretty much nailed that!), but lead singer Matt Layzell has a whole vision about the song:
“I imagine this song in an Audi or a Volkswagon commercial… A well-dressed guy pulls up at dusk to a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house and tosses a stone up at the second-floor bay window. His lover comes running out and hops over the door and into the convertible passenger side. They speed off all smiles grooving along to the song as they wind down the empty, lamp-lit street, likely headed for some late-night hot spot. I often picture the imagery this way in the songs we write, drafting the video as we craft the tune. In this one, it’s clear. Sometimes we all just need a good night out to get the blood pumping and feel that heart beating a little louder. Sometimes, things move fast. Sometimes, there’s someone that you just can’t resist.”

No official release date for the new album yet, but I’m sure there is more to come as the band gears up for summer touring.

Christine

Songs of the Week: May 01 - 07, 2023

May 08, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Blame Brett” by The Beaches

My first thought before even listening to the brand new song from The Beaches was, “jeez, I’d hate to be Brett”.

That’s because “Blame Brett” is the lead single for their upcoming album Blame My Ex, though Jordan Miller clarifies: “Blame Brett is a song with a little bit of a misleading title. It’s not really about my relationship. It’s about feeling vulnerable and afraid to open your heart to someone new. I'm basically talking to my future partners, explaining that I can only offer something casual while my heart heals—a song for all the hot messes out there.”

The new song is incredibly infectious and chaotic, as you would expect from the group, and you can grab the album when it comes out September 15. You can also catch The Beaches in a city near you when they hit the road this fall, including a show here in Vancouver at the Orpheum(!) on November 12.

Kirk

“Expensive” by Chin Injeti ft. Jarrel The Young

An 80’s inspired tune for a Monday morning? Yes please!

Chin Injeti teased in January that he would be releasing new music this year, and after “All For Nothing” a few months ago, we have another one.

“Expensive”, which features producer and songwriter Jarrel The Young, takes inspiration from Grace Jones’ hit “Crush” and is about “celebrating the decadence of love and all it comes with”.
It’s an infectious tune that has me excited to hear more soon!

Christine

“Cruel” by FRANKIIE

As we creep closer to the release of FRANKIIE’s new album Between Dreams, the Vancouver group is giving us another taste with the latest song, “Cruel”.

The third single off the upcoming album, “Cruel” is a dream-pop vibe that showcases the group’s ethereal vocals. About the song, the band saying “In an age of celebrated self-absorption, we were inspired to write this song about a fictitious character that we sing back and forth with. It is essentially an amalgamation of all the narcissists we’ve ever met and in turn we want nothing to do with.”

Check out the live performance video below, mark June 2nd for the release of Between Dreams. And if you’re here in Vancouver, check out their double album release party alongside Winona Forever at Green Auto on June 9th (please go in my place, as I’m out of town that weekend!)

Kirk

“The North Shore” by Gord Downie & Bob Rock

The long awaited album between the late, great Gord Downie, and Bob Rock, Lustre Parfait, is finally out, and with it’s release, another single titled “The North Shore”.

It’s a gorgeous ballad, and does a great job balancing the rest of the album, and while I immediately thought it was about the North Shore of Vancouver, Bob explains more throughly:
"I had the music to 'The North Shore' around for a very long time. I think when Gord came to Maui when we did The Tragically Hip records, he stayed on the north shore of Maui, so we were joking that there was a north shore of Vancouver, it seemed there was a north shore of every culture and every country. But in the end what Gord wrote, it's not about any north shore at all, but just this beautiful story of a couple with his incredible imagery as the backdrop.”

Definitely one of my favourite records this year so far - it’s always nice to hear new music from an artist that’s left us. Amazing work Gord.

Christine

Songs of the Week: April 24 - 30, 2023

May 01, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Replacements” by Chromeo (feat. La Roux)

Starting your Monday morning off with the Funklordz, Chromeo, is never a bad thing.
“Replacements” ft. La Roux (who made an appearance during their Coachella set recently) is the latest release from the duo, who seem to be amping up to a new album release.

The end of the press release said “More from Chromeo is imminent” and they have announced a tour, with a stop at the Vogue Theatre on September 26th.
Have a funky day!

Christine

“All Of This Time” by Jenn Grant (feat. Bahamas)

Jenn Grant recently gave us another glimpse at her upcoming album, which is full of collaborations with some of Canada’s finest musicians.

“All of the Time” is latest single, a beautiful tune that Grant wrote with Bahamas.
Jenn says: “So wonderful to spend an afternoon working up this little ditty with Bahamas. I will never forget coming up with that chorus together in our little studio singing in harmony. His voice felt like a big ship taking me out to sea. Watching him play guitar, and then casually stroll over to the piano to add little bits of music here and there was mesmerizing. He thought he was just tickling the ivories, playing a few notes here and there for fun. We kept everything.”
And Bahamas adds: “So great to spend an afternoon with JG and sing together. I think this song officially qualifies as a ‘ditty.’ Wish we had more time to write a bridge but the guys upstairs at corporate had us working to a tight deadline. Hope you enjoy the results!”

Champagne Problems is out June 21st, and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the collabs, which include Basia Bulat, Dan Mangan, Kevin Drew, Slow Leaves, Joel Plaskett, Tim Baker, Hannah Georgas & Amy Millan, and more!

Kirk

“Beautiful View” by Hannah Georgas

I’ll tell you what’s a beautiful view…the sight of new music from Hannah Georgas in my inbox!
“Beautiful View” is the second release from Georgas after “This Too Shall Pass” off of the album that is due to come out this summer.
Of the song she says it is “about seeing the beauty in the things we can take for granted. It’s about having perspective and recognizing the things we often overlook. It’s about enjoying the moment, even if it’s not a breathtaking high or grand achievement. Instead of sweating the small stuff I’m trying to be more present and thankful. Zooming out and seeing things from that perspective isn't always easy and it's all definitely still a work in progress for me.”
I cannot wait for more music, the album itself, and then hopefully some tour date announcements!

Christine

“Your Favourite Place” by Noble Oak

It’s funny that get to write about this new track “Your Favourite Place” by Noble Oak, because I ran into the man himself this week while we were both at work!

In addition to the new track, Noble Oak is announcing that his new album When It Finds You will be released on July 8th. The new tune, which I find incredibly ear-worm-y, is a song about finding optimism and “the desire to return to a place of comfort”.

No show announcements yet, but I might have got the inside scoop, so stay tuned!

Christine

Songs of the Week: March 06 - 12, 2023

March 13, 2023 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Fuck Around Phase” by Housewife

Housewife is in their “Fuck Around Phase”.

Taking no time to rest after last year’s EP You'll Be Forgiven, Housewife (aka 20-year-old Brighid Fry) released the gritty new song which Fry describes as “about learning to enjoy yourself and be present after going through a difficult time. I want to embrace being messy and not take things too seriously!”

“Fuck Around Phase” also promises to be “the first taste of Housewife’s more mature and intentionally genre-blending sound”, and I’m looking forward to hearing what’s next.

Kirk

“We Live On A Fucking Planet And Baby That's The Sun”
by ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT

First off, “We Live On A Fucking Planet And Baby That's The Sun” is the early contender for best song title of the year.

Secondly, I was all in on ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT as soon as I saw it was the duo of Ariel Engle (La Force, Broken Social Scene) and Efrim Manuel Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion).

I’m not sure how I managed to miss the self-titled EP they released a couple years, ago, but this ten minute(!) tour de force (no pun intended) that takes a journey from haunting synths to cacophonous drums. It’s the first song from their upcoming full length debut, Darling The Dawn, which will be out on April 21st, and if it’s any indication on the rest of the album, it’s gonna be one to pick up immediately.

So turn the lights off, close your eyes, hit play, and drift off through space for the next ten minutes.

Kirk

“Mom Jeans // Mom Genes” by Miesha and The Spanks

As we get closer to the release of the new album, Miesha and The Spanks are giving us another tease with a high energy song about the chaos of parenthood called “Mom Jeans // Mom Genes”.

Miesha Louie says: “It's more than just about the new mom-fit jeans that I'm wearing though, that's just the metaphor. It's also the super tough mom genes that get us through that day to day of ups and downs and emotional manipulations and breakthroughs and pure joy that come with our role as matriarch. My babies were a great gift to me and I wouldn't change anything, but as I try to balance motherhood with everything that I had before, things can't help but fall off the scales. Moms are just out here doing their best, loving their babies, and trying to make time for loving themselves too.”

Unconditional Love In Hi-Fi is out April 14 on Mint Records, and the duo announced a string of western Canadian shows, including here in Vancouver at The Lido on April 13.

Kirk

“Words With You” by Chromeo

I needed some funk this Monday morning - and low and behold, new music from Chromeo!

Been a while since we had something new from the Funklordz, after their lockdown-inspired EP Quarantine Casanova.
No news in the press release if this is the first of many, or (fingers crossed) a tour to happen in the future, but I’ll keep my ear to the ground.

Christine

“Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)” by Elisapie

It’s been nearly four years since Elisapie released her previous album, but last week we got a hint of something new with “Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)”.

The gorgeous cover of the Blondie classic was translated from English to Inuktitut by Elisapie, and inspired by a childhood memory, dancing with her cousins.

No word on a new album, but Elisapie also announced Uvattini, a series of shows that “combine music, narration, video and performance to create a space of ritual where past and present merge”. Those take place in Montreal and Quebec City in December of this year.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: November 14 - 20, 2022

November 21, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Wasted On You” by Andy Shauf

It’s going to be a BIG 2023 for Andy Shauf - but he’s capping off 2022 with the release of his new single “Wasted On You”.

The song will be on his new LP Norm, will be released on February 10th, and there’s also been a HUGE tour announcement, including a show in Vancouver at The Orpheum on March 11th!

“Wasted On You”, the opening track on the new album, is a quiet little pop/love song, but I’m going to go ahead and insist you watch the video below, to get a full sense of just how good Andy is at storytelling and duality.

Christine

“Floating Like” by Arkells

One thing about albums going mainly digital, that I never really considered, is the artist’s ability to make changes at any time. Case in point, Arkells releasing a surprise new song, and adding it to their recently released album Blink Twice.

“Floating Like” is heavily influenced by the band’s love of Motown, and frontman Max Kerman says the song is about “trying to free yourself of the allure and pull of material things and finding happiness in the simple wonders of life. It was written around a sample we cut up from The Impressions and their song ‘Seven Years.’ We added as many Motown soul tricks to the production with the goal of finding the joy and lightness of those classic tunes. It’s a special song for us, so we wanted to give it its own release and runway. Blink Twice is now complete.”

The song tacks on to the end of Blink Twice, which is out now on your digital distribution platform of choice!

Kirk

“I Love You, Dwayne” by Miranda Joan

If you’re going to release a love song about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, filled with references to his entire career, I am going to listen.

If you are going to release a video for that song, filmed with a cardboard cutout of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, I am going to watch.

That’s exactly what Canadian-born, New York-based soul singer Miranda Joan did. So pour yourself a nice glass of either Teremana or ZOA, put on that Project Rock gear, cue up a Seven Bucks film to watch after, and check out the video below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 17 - 23, 2022

October 24, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“East Coast” by Hayden

So, I sat straight up in my chair when I saw this in my inbox: The first new music from Hayden since 2015!

“East Coast” is a gorgeous ballad and has rolling piano throughout, with added guitar over the end. In the press release he says the song was inspired to write this song after covering a Leonard Cohen song (Avalanche) and you can definitely get those vibes when listening.

While he’s only touring in Ontario this November/early December, a new album is anticipated for early 2023, and I hope that a West Coast (see what I did there?) swing brings him this way as it’s been far too long.

Christine

“Another Level” by Hyaenas

Vancouver’s Hyaenas dropped their latest new single last week, “Another Level”, about the cult NXIVM — which preyed on the Vancouver acting scene — as well as the ‘Bargaining’ stage in the cycle of grief.

The band says, “Another Level was heavily inspired by NXIVM - a sexual slavery cult that lured people in under the guise of their personal and professional “Executive Success” seminars. The track begins with booming, roomy drums and then pulls into a tight, crisp, and punchy soundscape when the rest of the band kicks in. In the last chorus you’ll hear all four band members' individual voices overlapping and intersecting - representing the many voices of inner turmoil when you realize you got more than you bargained for in a deal with the ‘Devil’.”

(Not-so-fun fact: I went to high school with one of the more infamous members of NXIVM, Nicki Clyne.)

Check out “Another Level” below and just try not to have it running through your head for the rest of the day.

Kirk

“Smoking Weed Alone” by Tegan and Sara

After a whole slew of single releases over the last few months (including several different music videos), Tegan and Sara’s new album Crybaby is out now!

Also out at the beginning of next week will be the release of their new TV show “High School”, based off their memoir of the same name, and the duo will perform on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday.
If you’re in Vancouver on November 20th, they’ll be performing at the Commodore Ballroom.

Oh, and I can’t forget that this post is about a new single, “Smoking Weed Alone”, the 5th off Crybaby, of which they say “there’s a chorus where we’re sort of singing to each other, and we haven’t done that before, in our career”. Check it out below.

Christine

“Lustre Parfait” by Gord Downie & Bob Rock

I did a double take when I saw Gord Downie’s name alongside '“new music”, but I had to expect there would be a giant well of unreleased music from such a talented man to release posthumously.

“Lustre Parfait” is super fun and upbeat, in a very non-Tragically Hip way. Honestly you could swap in Max Kerman’s vocals and I would 100% have believed this was an Arkells song - between the keys, background vocals, and horns!
It could be because Gord wrote the lyrics over the music that Bob Rock provided him, and apparently there is more to come from the collaboration….MUCH more. I can’t wait, his voice has been sorely missed.

Christine