Songs of the Week: August 15 - 21, 2022

“Dark Times” by Jason Collett

Not counting last year’s Best Of collection, it’s been six long years since we last got an album from Jason Collett, but that’s about to change.

“Dark Times” — the first single off his upcoming album Head Full Of Wonder — is Collett at his best; jangly, folky guitars punctuated by his thought provoking lyrics, inspired by a famed Bertolt Brecht epigram:
”In the dark times
will there also be singing?
Yes, there will be singing
about the dark times.”

The new album is out November 4, on Arts & Crafts, and you can check out the first single below!

• Kirk

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“Haystack Rock” by Limblifter

Limblifter is back! This is not a drill!
I was incredibly excited when I saw this land in my inbox the other day.

They’ve announced their fifth studio recording, Little Payne, will be released on October 31st and the first single is titled “Haystack Rock”.
In reading a little bit about the album, there was the promise of “mind-bending sax solos” - which if you know me, you know I’m stoked on this. Little Payne was built on a base of five years of jams made by songwriter, singer, guitarist Ryan Dahle, that he recorded while working on other artist’s albums.

Can’t wait to hear more!

• Christine

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“We Just Wanna Dance” by Blonde Diamond

We’ve already heard a couple previews off the upcoming debut full length album from Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond. Now we get yet another with a sultry, sweaty anthem, appropriately titled “We Just Wanna Dance”.

Magnetic Strangers is due out September 23, and the band promises a “menagerie of operatic, late-night indie rock, dive-bar R&B, charred disco, and wide-eyed electro-pop and plays host to a warring between choice, agency, reason, and compulsion.”

Have a listen for yourself below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: August 08 - 14, 2022

“Retriever” by Braids

Clear your next ten minutes, because you are going to want to just sit back and let the luscious new song from Braids wash over you.

“Retriever” is the group’s first new music since their 2020 album Shadow Offering, which the band describes as “a 9-minute journey track, simple in its sentiment of love and friendship, yet complex in its lush arrangement and textural experimentation. We returned to our roots with this one, exploring new corners of sound, collaboration and a ‘DGAF’ attitude with where we ended up. This song is a trip back to euphoric freedom and lightness during a time of intense isolation. We were happy to travel there, and for you to now dive into it.”

No word yet on a new album from the Montreal trio, but here’s hoping we find out something soon!

• Kirk

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“The TFD” by TOTAL FUCKING DARKNESS

Torquil Campbell has been busy as of late. Even with a new Stars album (and tour) and working on his personalized song commissions, he still had time to team with longtime friend and collaborator Stephen Ramsay (of Young Galaxy) for a brand new band.

Going under the name TOTAL FUCKING DARKNESS (or just TFD), the duo released their debut single “The TFD” last week. The synth-pop jam was written & recorded “in 20 minutes on the verandah of a rich woman's house.”

And how can you not love a song with the stark opening lines: “death to fascism, death to men, death to the politicians and the women who live with them”

• Kirk

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“Scattered Ashes” by UWUW

Speaking of new supergroups…
Vocals from Chris A. Cummings aka Marker Starling, and Drew Smith (Bunny, The Bicycles), and a band consisting of Jason Haberman of Dan Mangan and Yeahsun, Jay Anderson of Badge Epoque Ensemble, Biblical and Lammping, and Ian Blurton of Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Change of Heart, and C’mon have joined forces to form UWUW.

UWUW (which is pronounced “you-you”), will have a self-titled debut album out in October of this year, and the first single “Scattered Ashes” is out now. It’s got a jazzy, yet 70s fuzzy rock vibe to it and I’m always in for a good horn section! Check it out below.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: August 01 - 07, 2022

“Sweet Relief” by Colyn Cameron

Start your Monday off with this soft and sweet new song by JUNO Award nominated songwriter Colyn Cameron.
Cameron released his new album Freehand last week, almost four years after his last (Sad & Easy), and says that the “materials for Freehand emerged within the paradoxical spaces of experimenting with dispersed and concentrated rhythms”.

The single off of the new album that was released this week, “Sweet Relief” was written smack in the middle of the pandemic and is about trying to find love and relief in that kind of world.

• Christine

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“I’m Spent” by Housewife

Toronto duo Housewife released yet another new songs this week, a slightly melancholic yet incredibly catchy song “I’m Spent”.

The band explains that the new tune “deals with fading friendships. You have this group of people you're really close with for years, but as you both grow and change, you start disagreeing more often and eventually drift apart. Growing up and moving on can feel sad, but mostly necessary so you can continue to evolve as a person."

No word yet on a new album, but with three new songs out in as many months, fingers crossed for something soon!

• Kirk

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“Party4One” by dwi

How can you not love a song with a lyrical reference to the classic ‘97 N64 game GoldenEye 007?

That’s exactly what we hear from the opening lines of “Party4One” by dwi, the solo project from Dwight Abell (The Zolas). As you may guess from the title, the song is a “celebration of being a loner” and captures dwi’s “experience of cabin fever and losing touch with reality, all the while falling in love with himself.”

Check out the song below, and check out dwi live at Light Organ’s 10th anniversary celebration, the Summerlight Festival on August 20!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 25 - 31, 2022

“Human Being” by Arkells feat. Lights

Arkells continue their string of collaborations with yet another team up with Lights!

“Human Being” is the latest from their upcoming album, Blink Twice, which features other collabs with the likes of Cold War Kids, Tegan and Sara, Cœur de pirate, Aly & AJ, and Joel Plaskett.

The new track is exactly as catchy as you’d expect from the pairing of Arkells and Lights, with a chaotic energy; and energy that singer Max Kerman says is “something like Talking Heads meets Billy Joel. We are learning a lot about ourselves on this record. This song is about finding a truer version of yourself - the one you’ve hid in the past. The song is searching for a kind of freedom that conventional life paths have to offer. Once we had it in good shape we sent it to our friend Lights who is the best at writing about this kind of discovery.”

The new album is out September 23, and you can also catch Arkells on tour later this year with K. Flay, including a stop right here in Vancouver at Rogers Arena!

• Kirk

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“Fear That Closes The Hear” by Partner

I ended up getting heat stroke this weekend (HYDRATE PEOPLE), so that blurb is going to be short and sweet.

Partner released another single, “Fear That Closes The Heart”, from their upcoming album Time Is A Car (out October 7th). The music video is a collaboration with Cartel Madras, whom they met during a trip up to Folk On The Rocks in Yellowknife, and it has yielded a wonderful result. Fear, passion, impulsiveness and nostalgia all on display. Give it a watch.

• Christine

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“Into the Woods” by PHILDEL

It’s been a hot minute since we heard anything from the English singer/songwriter PHILDEL, but last week she released the first track from her upcoming album, “Into the Woods”

The new song is a dark fairy tale, with PHILDEL’s breathy & haunting vocals on full display. Hit play, close your eyes, and prepare to just drift off.

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 18 - 24, 2022

“Grow Up Tomorrow” by The Beaches

Reading the words “the song was co-written with LOWELL”, I already knew this was going to be a great new song by The Beaches, and I wasn’t disappointed.

”Grow Up Tomorrow” is super fun, incredibly catchy, and has one hell of a house party music video to go along with it.
I expect to hear this on the radio for the rest of the summer.

• Christine

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“Fire Escape” by Dan Mangan

I can’t imaging anyone wanting to hurt Dan Mangan, but that’s exactly what Steven Ogg is set out to do in the brand new video for “Fire Escape”.

Dan shares that the song “is about our unshakable longing to be seen, heard, and understood. When everyone was isolated at home I became enamored with the idea of fire escapes becoming a gathering place, a way to connect with your neighbors. I love the idea that even in the very worst of circumstances or with limited resources, humans will find a way to feel unity.”

The video, directed by Lester Lyons-Hookham, features Ogg following Dan around to attack, abuse, assault, and generally make his life a bad time… though it might not quite be what it seems at first.

• Kirk

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“Causeway Road” by Adam Baldwin

East Coast artist Adam Baldwin has released a new live video for his song “Causeway Road” off his upcoming album Concertos & Serenades (due out September 23rd).

I love both Adam’s voice and storytelling ability in his music, and this new tune is no different.
So in that vein, I’ll let HIM tell you what the song is about: “"Neil Young sang, 'The devil fools with the best-laid plans,' and in this case, a fellow's well-meaning ambition costs him a brother, a boat, and ultimately his livelihood. From betrayal to revenge, this story affirms another adage, 'An eye for an eye makes the world go blind.’"“
More please!

• Christine

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“Survivor’s Guilt” by Haley Blais

After headlining Khatsahlano and playing the Squamish Constellation festival this month, Vancouver’s Haley Blais isn’t slowing down, having just released another new song, “Survivor’s Guilt”

Haley says, ““Survivor’s Guilt” puts us at the scene of the crime where everything fell apart: the death of the family dog. I originally wrote it as this sad piano ballad, but David Vertesi (Producer) shifted the song towards something more summery and upbeat, contrasting the song’s stark lyrics and showcasing a sweltering slide guitar a la the style of Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do”. As we get older, inevitably we’ll lose things that are important to us. And when those losses come out of decisions, sometimes you can’t help but blame yourself. Sometimes the death of a childhood dog bursts up out of you, representing so much more than a dog, representing nothing more than a dog.”

The song is out now on Tiny Kingdom, and you can check out the video below!

• Kirk

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“Year of the Dog” by Tim Baker

At last, we have a release date for the new Tim Baker album! The Festival will be out on October 7th via End Times Music, and the announcement comes with yet another tease of the album.

“Year of the Dog” starts with a soft piano, the song builds to an emotional release, possibly emblematic of the album as a whole; Tim says the album is “about living through, and actually being thankful for, difficulty and pain, for how they make you grow and appreciate beauty you couldn’t otherwise.”

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 11 - 17, 2022

“Shake & Shutter” by A Family Curse

Another single from the new project (A Family Curse) of father-daughter duo Kandle, and Neil Osborne.

The two created the music by sending voice notes across the country and doing DIY tracking, and the self-titled album was born.

”Shake & Shutter” is about a partner of Kandle’s leaving her behind like “a lonely withered cactus in the desert.” It’s a super groovy song and “a Texas blues inspired shuffle with a little San Antonio slide guitar”.

A Family Curse is set for release on August 19!

• Christine

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“I Can’t Wait” by Miesha and The Spanks

You may just have found your new ‘song of the summer’ with the latest single from Miesha and The Spanks.

The fun & raucous “I Can’t Wait” is a high energy tune, produced by The Buzzcocks’ Danny Farrant. Miesha Louie says, “‘I Can’t Wait’ is meant to be a sweet summer jam, somewhere between a fond callback to summer shenanigans and daydreaming about what’s coming up next. We’ve got some laid-back garage beats, big gang vocals and oohs, hand claps, tambourine - good vibes are all over this one.”

Crank it loud, and then catch the duo this weekend at the Constellation Festival in Squamish on Sunday. Or if you’re not heading up to Squamish, they’re also playing The Lido on the 21st!

• Kirk

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“Fever Pitch” by Hotel Mira

Hotel Mira just dropped their first new single since the release of 2020’s album Perfectionism. “Fever Pitch” is a glossy indie-pop jam with Charlie Kerr’s usual unfiltered lyrics, about diving headlong into a new relationship.

The new single was produced alongside Ryan Worsley, and the band has also been working on new material with the likes of Steve Bays, so you might just be able to hear “Fever Pitch” (and maybe a few other new songs?) tonight at the Pacific Coliseum when they open for Billy Talent(!), or this coming Saturday at the Constellation Festival!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 04 - July 10, 2022

“Africvillean Fun” ft. Trobiz by Aquakultre

I’m heading camping in Ontario with my family (on a plane probably when this comes out) and I REALLY wish the new album by Aquakultre, Don’t Trip), was already out, because it seems like a perfect summertime jam album.

Will have to wait until the 22nd (of July) for the rest but in the meantime crank the speakers and open the windows or lie in the sunshine and listen to “Africvillean Funk (ft. Trobiz)”

• Christine

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“Right Love” by Hannah Georgas

Hannah Georgas is back with new music! Well, new to us, anyway. “Right Love” was recorded along during sessions for her 2020 release All That Emotion, but has only just seen the light of day.

Hannah says “I recorded ‘Right Love’ at Long Pond with Aaron Dessner and Jon Low while we were working on songs off my album, All That Emotion. We decided not to include it on the album because it had a bit of a different feel. I thought it would be nice to release it in the summertime (feels kinda summer-y), and while I've been working away on new music. It was inspired by feelings that come up when you meet someone new that you have a connection with. It all feels exciting and fresh. You want to be in the moment and not get too wrapped up in things, but there's a small part of you that wonders if it could be something more than a fling.”

Stream the sparking summer jam below!

• Kirk

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“In The Dark” by Blonde Diamond

Not only did we just get a brand new song from Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond, but we also got a release date for their full length debut!

The aptly titled “In The Dark” is a dark anthem (for seventeen year-old girls) about how high school was maybe not quite the best experience for some, with Alexis Young’s powerful vocals driving home that emotion.

The new album Magnetic Strangers will be out September 23, and you can check out the video for “In The Dark” — directed by longtime collaborator Brandon William Fletcher — below. (But note there is a content warning that the video contains depictions of suicide)

Or, if you’re heading up to the Constellation Festival in Squamish, make sure to catch them on the Friday!

• Kirk

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“Deepfakes” by Colyn Cameron

New song from Vancouver (and now LA based) songwriter Colyn Cameron, titled “Deepfakes” from his forthcoming album Freehand, which is due out August 5th.

Cameron was reading a book also titled “Deepfakes” by Nina Shick. “It got me thinking about this AI technology but also the veil of capitalism that we already exists under and how this particular corner of the near future relates to the mega-marathon of consumption and distorted nature of our current priorities,” says Cameron. “From my understanding, the fundamental anxiety of the tech is that we will have no way to decipher between the real and the unreal in the digital domain. And adjacent, how being an economic cog in the current era can feel like a burden, but also like you are burdening something. It can all make one easily feel replaceable, invisible, and yet responsible.”

Bonus? It’s also a super pretty song.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: June 27 - July 03, 2022

“Bones (God Like You)” by Housewife

Toronto’s Housewife has just released their second single of the year, the gorgeous and incredibly catchy “Bones (God Like You)”, which was co-written and produced by Jackson Phillips of Day Wave.

The band says "Bones is about struggling with ongoing mental health issues and feeling like you won't get better, like a broken bone that can’t heal properly. It always seems like everyone around you is doing better and it reminds you of how lost you are in your own illness. There's also an interesting juxtaposition with this track that Jackson helped us create; lyrically it's quite dark and touches on suicide, but it has this bright rhythm to it."

Have a listen below, and if you’re on your way to the Vancouver Folk Fest later this month, make sure to seek them out!

• Kirk

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“Hamptons City Cowboy” by Lowell

More new music from Lowell, and I gotta guess an album is going to be announced soon - but in the meantime we’ve got “Hamptons City Cowboy”!

This one is upbeat and catchy, and is about the start of a new relationship. About the tune Lowell says: “unlike some of my other more introspective songs this is really just a fun and flirty Friday night out.”

And fun and flirty it is! Have a listen.

• Christine
  

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“Green Tea” by Matthew Barber

Matthew Barber’s new album, No Singing, No Dancing, is set to be released on July 22nd, and we recently got a new single from it called “Green Tea”.

”Green Tea” was written quickly in one backyard sitting on a warm spring day in May of 2020;" shares Barber. "The song’s mellow feel reflects a world that had slowed down from the frenetic bustle of public life. A world in which the changes in the garden that come with the changes in seasons become more apparent and take on more significance. In this world, one can more easily meditate on gratitude - both for heroic acts and simple pleasures - and that’s what this song tries to convey."

It very much does (I’m sipping tea while I write this - not green, but it has the same effect). Barber has released a few tour dates, but nothing on the west coast as of yet.

• Christine