Songs of the Week: May 03 - 09, 2021

May 10, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“No Good” by Kandle

Last week Kandle released the fourth(!) single from her upcoming album, but this one came with some details on the release. Set The Fire comes out on May 28, and the latest single “No Good” is also the first in the Garden Sessions, an open-air series with Kandle, Debra-Jean Creelman and Kendel Carson performing acoustic versions of songs from the album.

Kirk

“Am I Just Gonna Stand Here (While You Take My Girl Away)” by Whitehorse

With their album Modern Love still hot off the presses, Whitehorse has announced yet another new album to come this year! Strike Me Down comes out September 10, and it’s heralded by the (awesomely titled) “Am I Just Gonna Stand Here (While You Take My Girl Away)”. The song comes with a kaleidoscopic video that is very fitting of the dizzying, swirling 60’s tinge.

Kirk

“When I Come Around” by Nap Eyes

Yes, that “When I Come Around”. I love hearing cover songs, but am usually bored if it’s just a 1:1 exact copy of the original (what even is the point, in that case?). Luckily, that’s not at all what we get with this version of a Green Day classic from Nap Eyes, as the band turns the angsty anthem into a heartfelt, introspective tune.
The EP (which also features a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s Thank You) is out at the end of the week.

Kirk

“Muse Needs A Wife” by Debra-Jean Creelman

Speaking of Debra-Jean Creelman, the Vancouver singer/songwriter has announced a brand new album of her own, and released lead single “Muse Needs A Wife”. The song features her vulnerable voice lilting over gorgeous strings, exploring themes of duality, or as Creelman explains: "It feels like there's a 50’s housewife and a road-dog warring it out inside of me.”
The album, Threshold, comes out July 16th, and features some familiar names like Joseph Hirabiyashi, Jesse Zubot, James Meger, Molly Guldemond, Louise Burns, and Peggy Lee.

Kirk

“On & On” by Half Moon Run

The new Half Moon Run EP (titled Inwards & Onwards) is set to be released on June 18th and I’m pretty darn excited for it. It feels like from this new single “On & On” and the previous one, “How Come My Body”, that the sound of the new record might be closer to vintage Half Moon Run, which is all thumbs up from me.
Check out the spacey visuals in the video below while sitting in a sunny patch of light.

Christine

“Unsolicited Advice” by Charles Spearin

In recognition of Mental Health Week last week, Charles Spearin released a song he had been pass around among friends for the better part of the past year. Spearin wrote the words and music to “Unsolicited Advice” as a “raw, spontaneous, heartfelt letter to his two teenage kids. After recording it, and listening back, he felt it was something larger - a letter to friends and family, a letter to his younger self, a love letter from Generation X to Generation Z; basically a letter to everyone who needs it.”
Check out the video, animated by Jared Sales, below!

Kirk

“Winter Is Coming In” by Alex Henry Foster

Alex Henry Foster was brought to my attention in our 3AM inbox and watching the video for “Winter Is Coming In” just made me miss live shows so much I almost cried.
Give it a view below - and click here for another one from him from the same live show called: “The Son Of Hannah”. (Both are from his most recent album Standing Under Bright Lights.)

Christine

Songs of the Week: April 26 - May 02, 2021

May 03, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Butterfalls” by Royal Canoe

Royal Canoe returns with not only a brand new single, but a new album coming out later this year! Sidelining comes out July 9th on Paper Bag Records, and first single “Butterfalls” somehow manages to sound nothing like the band has put out before, but simultaneously very recognizably “Royal Canoe”.
Have a listen below and join me in eagerly anticipating more from the Winnipeg group.

Kirk

“Everything She Touches is Gold To Me” by Said the Whale

Weezer-esque new tune (“Everything She Touches Is Gold To Me”) and a Wes Anderson-style music video from Said The Whale.

That’s it. That’s the post.
Because what else do you need to hear?

Christine

“Let's Talk About Love” by Chersea

It’s been a few years since we last heard from Chersea, and now she’s back with a pop banger. "Let's Talk About Love" is the first single from her upcoming album, Divine Comedy, and she says it’s an “anthem for the defeated: the ghosted, the blocked, the gaslighted, the punching bag, the jilted lover, and the scorned.”
The album comes out June 25th, and I’m pretty sure this song is going to be stuck in my head until then.

Kirk

“Let’s Go” by The Beaches

I feel like the same could be said about every song today, but if you need big “song of the summer” vibes, The Beaches have you covered with their new track “Let’s Go”.
The band’s latest EP, Future Lovers, comes out in a couple weeks (May 14) but for now the first single is an anthemic banger that’ll get you moving. Have a look/listen to the lyric video!

Kirk

“One Headlight” by Mike Edel

My heart hurts with this pick, as I wish I could just tell you to listen to this beautiful cover Mike Edel did of “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers. However, Mike and his pregnant wife recently packed their world into a van to do a tour up the west coast of the States before settling into a home to become parents. And then, the other day he had a stroke and is now recovering. It’s a scary situation and I’m quite worried for my friend. Awesome human Colin McTaggart set up a GoFundMe for Mike and his soon to be growing family - if you can, please donate while listening to his gorgeous song below.

Christine

Songs of the Week: April 19 - 25, 2021

April 26, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Lay Low” by Dan Mangan

I’m sure when Dan Mangan wrote “Lay Low” — a song about bailing on social events to stay home — for his 2018 album, More Or Less, he wasn’t expecting… *broadly gestures around*.
The new video was shot by director Deryn Robson over the span of the last year, and follows the experience of a toddler confronting emotions of frustration, sadness, fear and happiness amidst life in lockdown.
Have a look & listen below!

Kirk

“Shelf” by Gillian Stone

Toronto’s Gillian Stone released her latest song “Shelf”, which she describes as “an offering, a sacrifice song. It's about rejoining the steadiness of life after bearing witness to a former lover plummeting into mental and physical decay.”
The gorgeously haunting song comes with an equally haunting video, as Stone performs her interpretation of a blót, a Norse pagan blood sacrifice and ritual of my ancestors. It’s all simulated, but if even fake blood makes you queasy, you may want to have the tab in the background while you listen…

Kirk

“Bloodthirsty” by Lowell

Speaking of blood…
Lowell released a new EP of songs that she penned for the movie “Bloodthirsty” about a young indie singer who is turning into a werewolf while recording her second album. It sounds like a perfectly weird enough premise for Lowell to me!
The EP has four songs and is also called “Bloodthirsty (Music From The Motion Picture)" . The track below doesn’t any blood - but if you want to see the trailer for the movie, click here.

Christine

Songs of the Week: April 12-18, 2021

April 19, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Eulogy Of Regret” by Rich Aucoin

This coming Friday, Rich Aucoin is releasing the Deluxe Edition of last year’s United States. The new version includes remixes from the likes of Double A, Steve Bays, and Shmu, as well as a bonus disc featuring instrumental versions of all the album tracks (for all your karaoke needs?)
To celebrate, Rich released a video for “Eulogy of Regret” which he says was “the last track written for United States and was the only one not conceived somewhere while on the bicycle. I wrote it for director/musician/multi-disciplinary artist Dustin Harvey. Dustin hired me to write a 7 minute version of the song for a short film/theatre piece he was working on called How Quickly Things Change. I liked the song and ended up cutting a track for United States so “Eulogy Of Regret” could take its place. Now, full circle, Dustin and his team have made a shorter piece which also doubles an appropriate music video for the song. Some excellent animation by Aiden Searle and acting by Stephanie Yee."

Kirk

“Out Of Touch (Feat. Phoenix Pagliacci)” by Shad

Gonna be honest - I was a little upset that this wasn’t a Hall & Oates cover - but I’ll take new music by Shad any day!
This single “Out Of Touch” is the first new music we’ve had from him since his album A Short Story About A War, so I hope this means more is on the horizon.
It’s a perfect song to listen to out in the new spring sunshine and warmth. Enjoy!

Christine

“Oh Stanley Cup” by Elliott BROOD

When this landed in my inbox, I got VERY excited. Not only did Elliott BROOD remake the country song “Red Solo Cup” to be about the Stanley Cup (I’m a huge hockey fan), but they want to make a video with people in their hockey gear singing along:

”We’d love to get as many people as possible to send us a recording of themselves or in groups singing along to the chorus parts: “Oh Stanley Cup…. I lift you up…..let’s have a party!… “Oh Stanley Cup…. I fill you up…..proceed to party!…

Just record yourself or groups on your phone signing along in your team gear (if you have it) or in your hockey den or wherever you want. (horizontally preferably) and send it to the email address below.

We’d love to see whole families, groups of friends, pets in team gear…. you get the idea.

If you’re more the shy type, you could alternatively send in your hockey photos or memories including but not limited to: Pictures of you or family with the Stanley Cup - Footage of rec league or peewee games - Still shots of you in your team gear.”

And you can email it to: ohstanleycup@gmail.com

You better believe I’m sending them the photo of me below!

Christine

Songs of the Week: April 05 - 11, 2021

April 12, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“The Melting of the Sun” by St. Vincent

With a new album out May 14, St. Vincent has released a video for her second single, “The Melting of the Sun”. The sultry ballad (anyone else getting Jenny Lewis vibes?) features a video co-directed by St. Vincent and Bill Benz, paying animated tribute to the song's lyrical icons, rendered in Schoolhouse Rock! style by Chris McD.
Watch the video here, and mark May 14th in your calendar for Daddy’s Home.

Kirk

“When a Love’s Not Around” by Layten Kramer

We’re just a few days away from Victoria’s Layten Kramer releasing their brand new full length called Dear Apathy. The “psychedelic-western” album is out April 16th on Oscar St. Records (the label started by Kathryn Calder).

Kramer says “We are living in a strange, mundane world full of apathy which has taken over parts of my life. Choosing to recognize this and act on it is what I intended to highlight with this record.” And you can hear exactly that on the first single, “When a Love’s Not Around” below!

Kirk

“Misty Morning” by Kandle

Shocked that Kirk didn’t spot this new release from Kandle for this week’s songs! “Misty Morning” is the third single from her soon to be released album Set The Fire and the video has her teaming up with “Honey Trap” director, Brandon William Fletcher, for a 40s noir-inspired music video. It’s a beautiful and soft song, that’s perfect for a…you guessed it…misty morning.

Christine

“Dreams” by Shred Kelly

Probably the toughest part about covering songs is finding that balance of honouring the original, but also putting your own spin on it (who wants to hear an exact beat-for-beat cover?). Especially for a song so iconic, which is why it took me a few days to actually hit the link for Shred Kelly’s cover of “Dreams” and listen to it.
Last week they not only released their version of the Fleetwood Mac classic, but also a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” with their pals Moontricks. Did they manage to do them justice? I say yes, but make your own mind up below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 29 - April 04, 2021

April 05, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Fading Graffiti” by Spencer Krug

Last week, Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug released the title track for a band new album, Fading Graffiti. The album is, perhaps surprisingly, the first time Krug has released an album under his own name, as opposed to his previous solo projects like Moonface and Sunset Rubdown.
All ten songs on the new album were born out of piano ballads on Krug’s Patreon page, and were reformed with the help of a full band. Fading Graffiti is out April 16 on Spencer’s own label Pronounced Kroog (which answers that question) but in the meantime you can check out check out the lyrics video for the title track (which gives me vibes of The Lido) below!

Kirk

“Get High” by Hillsburn

Hillsburn took the name of their new song "Get High" quite literally for the new video, which follows Rosanna Burrill and Clare Macdonald from the Halifax band get suited up, loaded into an airplane, and skydive from 10,000 feet.
The song itself is a ridiculously catchy indie pop tune, and comes out ahead of their new album, Slipping Away, due on May 28.

Kirk

“Destructo” by Bad Pop

Hot off the deluxe re-release of their self-titled album (originally released under their previous moniker Hot Panda), Bad Pop isn’t slowing down at all.
This coming June they’ll be releasing a brand new EP, Dark Metal, and have given us a taste with the first single “Destructo”. The The crunchy new track lives up to both its name, and the title of the album, so crank it up.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 22 - 28, 2021

March 29, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“You Can Get It (ft. K.Flay)” by Arkells

New Arkells banger? Check.
Awesome verse from K.Flay? Check.
Super fun video? Check.
What more do you need from me? Get it into your ears (and eyes) right now!

Kirk

“Slayer Moon” by Braids

Last week on a livestream, Braids debuted not one, but TWO new songs. Recorded while making their latest album Shadow Offering, both songs have the same restrained chaoticness, and introspective (sometimes even anxious) lyrics of the album.
Watch “Slayer Moon” — which was “inspired by a Sailor Moon phone case bought in Tokyo, at 3 am while on tour in Japan” — below, and head to this link (or the above livestream) for “2020”

Kirk

“Case of You” by I M U R

Vancouver’s I M U R released the steamy new song (and video) last week, the first single to their upcoming album My Molecules. “Case Of You” is reminiscent of “the first moments of falling in love. A snapshot of flirtation, infatuation, and living in the moment.”
You can watch the very fitting video, directed by Sebastian Hill-Esbrand, below!

Kirk

Said The Whale photo credit to, Sterling Larose

Songs of the Week: March 15 - 21, 2021

March 22, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Honey Lungs” by Said the Whale

Despite certain… worldwide events… 2020 was a very busy year for Said the Whale. Along with frequent livestreams, the band was hard at work on a new batch of songs, with the first self-released single dropping last week.
“Honey Lungs” reminds me of the grittiness of some of the bands early songs, but with modern day production — even if I didn’t know they were working with Steve Bays (of Hot Hot Heat, Mounties, and like eleventeen other bands) I feel like I would have been able to tell just from listening — and will absolutely be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
Risk the earworm below, or check out the band’s Patreon for sneak peaks of more to come!

Kirk

“How Come By Body” by Half Moon Run

Beautiful new single from the newly JUNO-nominated (for Group Of The Year and Adult Alternative Album of The Year) Half Moon Run. “How Come My Body” is dreamy and simplistic, and comes with a video that made me miss live shows and people even more. We don’t have a set date for the new album, just a “later this year” - but in the meantime, more of this please!

Christine

“I Wanna Make Promises (That I Can’t Keep)” by Whitehorse

Surprise! Not only did Whitehorse release a new song last week, but announced a brand new album was to come mere days later! Modern Love released Friday, and lead single “I Wanna Make Promises (That I Can’t Keep)” is a laid back, sultry number, with an early contender for lyrics of the year:

Let’s argue in Ikea
Make a scene, go home and fuck
On unassembled furniture
Fresh off the moving truck

Kirk

“Parade” by Lydia Ainsworth

Ahead of her brand new album Sparkles & Debris (due out May 21), Lydia Ainsworth has released a gorgeous new song called “Paradise”. Her ethereal voice is backed by her usual electronic soundscapes, but in a departure from her previous albums, Ainsworth is also joined by live drums, guitars, and bass for this album. If the first single is any indication to how the rest of the album will be, I can’t wait to hear it.

Kirk

“Starlight” by Chad VanGaalen

Two weeks ago Chad VanGaalen released another song from his now-released album World's Most Stressed Out Gardener, and I lamented the fact that it didn’t come with a music video.
Well, cut to this week, the full album is released and another single, “Starlight”, gets the signature VanGaalen music video treatment. This is slowly becoming one of my favourite records of the year.

Christine