"Swirl" is the perfect name for the latest single from Vancouver's I M U R, because as soon as you hit play, the soulful, sensual song swirls around you like an embrace.
It's off their album Little Death, which will be out March 24th, and celebrated by their album release show this weekend, the 18th, at Celebrities.
Saskatoon band Close Talker's new album Lens is coming out in just over a month (April 21) and we've got a new single called "Okay Hollywood".
The band is also heading out on a big North American tour, including a stop here in Vancouver on April 27th at the Biltmore with Yes We Mystic.
Photo credit Vanessa Heins
Check out the post-apocalyptic video for the Lisa LeBlanc rager, "City Slickers & Country Boys". The black & white video (more of a short film, really) was directed by Émile Lavoie and follows a man searching for his son among a zombie outbreak.
The album Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen? came out last year, and is up for a JUNO under Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. You can also catch Lisa touring Canada, including March 25th at the Biltmore (you'll find me there!)
Yesterday Young Galaxy released a brand new single called "Stay For Real", put out in reaction to, well, a lot of what is going on in the world today. The haunting song features Catherine McCandless' ethereal voice encouraging everyone to fight on.
They're releasing it independently, and partnering with Plus1 so all net proceeds from the sale of the song go to defending the rights of the marginalized through PIVOT (Canada), ACLU (USA), and W.A.V.E (EU). The band said in their press release: “We can no longer stand idly by and rely only on the people who shape the world for us culturally and politically. We must stay true to ourselves and feel the courage of our convictions in the face of polarizing political and personal views. But most of all, we must show empathy, compassion and love - even when faced with increasing existential threats, and fear and hostility. This song is a statement of intent, as we enter a new era, to hopefully serve as a reminder to ourselves of what our responsibilities are as artists in this troubled time.”
I have waited eight years for this: Do Make Say Think made their triumphant return with the announcement of their new album, Stubborn Persistent Illusions. It's their first release since 09's Other Truths, and will be out May 19th on Constellation.
The first single is "Bound and Boundless", a 12 minute instrumental -- split in two parts on the album itself -- full of twists and turns, soothing lows and dizzying highs, and exactly what you were hoping from the band. Take a listen for yourself:
A little while ago we heard the first single from Matt and Sam's Brother, the solo project of JPNSGRLS Charlie Kerr. Now we all get another taste of the album -- titled My Brain Hurts A Lot and out April 21, 2017 on Light Organ Records -- with "Chloe".
Toned way down from the frantic rock of JPNSGRLS, "Chloe" is a slower and a bit of a heartwrenching tune. Check it out below!
I think 2017 shaping up to be one of those years where artists we haven't heard from in a long time give us new music.
In this case, it's been 7 long years since we've had a release from Land Of Talk (I did see a performance in Toronto during NXNE last year), but that's all changing now.
The first single, "Inner Lover" from the recently announced album Life After Youth, is out, and you can hear it below. The album drops on May 19th, so I suspect we'll hear more new stuff between now and then, and on top of that we have a Vancouver tour date - June 26th at the Imperial!
Another new song from Hollerado, ahead of the release of their new album (Born Yesterday) on April 14. "Grief Money" is a political anthem that the band wrote before Trump became a candidate, but is obviously even more appropriate now.
I don't think it's a typical Hollerado song in sound (I would never have picked it out, like I usually could), but it's a great one, especially if you're angry about the world.
Check out the band's statement on the song below!
"We wrote this song before trump was even a candidate. It’s sad that it’s an age-old problem; people who are stronger, wealthier, or more powerful trying to impose their will on others.
It is wrong that rich white men have the power to decide what women can do with their bodies, or who is welcome in a country, or that billions of dollars a year are spent to fight a war on drugs that only serves to further institutionalize racism and further marginalize the poorest segments of our society. There is so much wrong with how the world is being run right now, I don’t know where to begin.
The way our band sees it is that if you want to shoot ecstasy into your eyeballs and pay another consenting adult to ride around on a unicycle while you fuck a jar of mayonnaise, then good for you! As long as you are not hurting anyone then you should be allowed to do and say whatever you want. And also if you are a mayo banger you are not allowed to criticize those folks who prefer to be dead sober and suck off bottles of ketchup while watching Coronation Street. Those two things should be able to co-exist.
It’s easy to feel helpless and frustrated. I feel like rappers are the only ones who are writing protest music these days, almost as if it’s an uncool topic for rock bands. Maybe that’s because it’s futile or maybe because we don’t want to sound like our parents in the sixties. Maybe because if someone has the means to be in a touring band, they probably have mainly first world problems they have to face on a daily basis. But we are now way past the point of worrying about being cheesy in a song. We have to say something whenever we have the chance. It doesn’t even have to be articulate, as long as the intention is true, the message will send. And we have to do the right thing whenever we can. Small acts of kindness and protest WILL make a difference.
This world is a beautiful place and full of perfect creatures of all shapes and sizes. We don’t need to all be best friends but we have to find a way exist on the same planet. For now, it’s the best one we have.
In the words of Bill S. Preston Esq. – “Be Excellent to Each Other”
P.S. If you are extremely wealthy, good for you! Hopefully you did or are doing something to earn it. All you have to do now is show empathy and compassion toward your fellow humans and once in a while do something with your money that benefits people less fortunate. If that’s the case, then, CONGRATULATIONS! This song is no longer about you!"