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: April 18 - 24, 2022

“In Your Corner (for Scott Hutchison)” by Dan Mangan

Get ready for a heavy one from Dan Mangan. As you may guess from the title, “In Your Corner (for Scott Hutchison)” was written for the former frontman of Frightened Rabbit — who tragically passed away in 2018 — and is a direct response to their song “The Woodpile”.

Dan says “We’d only met once but Scott’s passing eviscerated me. He was my age and very close with several dear friends of mine. Either he couldn't see how deeply he was loved by the world, or he didn’t feel worthy of it. How come he could bring joy to so many people but not to himself? I remember weeping as I poured cereal for my boys that morning. This song came very quickly in the days that followed.”

Have a listen to the song below (perhaps with some tissues on hand) and be on the lookout for Dan in your town, as he starts a Canadian tour this week — with a pair of dates here in Vancouver on May 11 & 12!

• Kirk

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“Oh, Shadowless” by Neko Case

Surprise! This past Friday Neko Case released a digital retrospective of her entire career, consisting of 22 of the “most impactful tracks from her discography” as well as one new song, “Oh, Shadowless”.

The new song features a delightfully animated video by Laura Plansker, who also did artwork for the entire Wild Creatures album, which you can see on the website here.

Alongside the new artwork for each track, there are a series of short essays and track-by-track commentary from long time collaborators A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar, and M. Ward to David Byrne, Shirley Manson, Jeff Tweedy and Rosanne Cash, and a ton more!

• Kirk

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“Not Today” by Partner

“Not Today” by Partner was released last week on 4/20 and how appropriate for a rock ballad style tune.
The band wrote some songs, including this one, from their new album on Gabriola Island here in BC in 2020. T

They said that because they missed playing shows so much a lot of the songs ended up sounding like arena rock - and I’m not mad about it.
I can’t wait to hear even more!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: January 17 - 23, 2022

“Time is a Car” by Partner

We’ve got a new single from from Partner, that came about from a writing session on none other than Gabriola Island. “Time is a Car” is the first from that session to be released, with more to come, but I want to talk about the music video.

The band wanted to collaborate with a director, but the distance was unworkable, so as you’ll see in the video, they made the best of the circumstances and it turns out awesome. “Time Is A Car is a meta music video. A music video in a music video. It's what would have happened if Thelma and Louise escaped with all the money and drove happily ever after off into the sunset and had wonderful prosperous lives.”

(I’d honestly watch that movie!)

• Christine

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“Return to Me” by Said the Whale

Oh HELLO new Said The Whale!

I actually heard this song before the official release when Tyler played it on his radio show Discovery on 102.7 The Peak, so I was very excited for it to be launched into the world.

“Return to Me” is a stand alone single, but it came with the announcement of the deluxe version of their latest album Dandelion’s release on February 11th, which it will be featured on (as well as a remix of “Honey Lungs”).

Also, cross your fingers we’re good to go in society in March because Said The Whale are playing THREE shows (and a bonus one if you attend all 3) and I cannot wait - details here.

• Christine

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“The Ostrich” by Bad Pop

Vancouver trio Bad Pop is gearing up for a new EP, and recently released a video for their second single, “The Ostrich”.

The song is described as “a love song from the gutter”, and the video features singer Chris Connelly strutting around Vancouver, visiting a few notable landmarks, wearing a full-on ostrich costume.

As a side note, I am pretty sure I’ve passed by Chris on the street a few times in my neighbourhood, and I am now disappointed it’s never been in a bird costume.

Have a watch below!

• Kirk

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“Robot Writes A Love Song” by PUP

PUP seems to be getting more and more meta, but does it matter when every song they release ends up being a banger?

The band announced a new album called THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHE BAND, written in the summer of 2021, and “Robot Writes A Love Song” is the seconds single to be released. The song was apparently written in 15 minutes in the back of lead singer Stefan Babcock’s car.
I’m curious if it was spurred on by the car radio, as one of the lines (that made me laugh very hard) is "Black Hole Sun, on 102.1 FM, I think I'm gonna self destruct if I ever hear that song again".

I cannot wait for this album to be released.

• Christine

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“Light of Dawn” by Riches

Riches continued their release of gorgeous singles last week, with the brand new song, “Light of Dawn”.

The intercontinental collaboration of Catherine McCandless and Wynn Holmes, welcomed the new year with a song that uses “the metaphor of a maypole dance to bring sunlight and celebration into the repetitive and insular routines of our pandemic lives.”

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: February 15 - 21, 2021

“Obeah” by Haviah Mighty

2019’s Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty continues to kick ass and take name (check out that awesome promo pic above!). Her latest single “Obeah” which she co-produced with her brother ocuses on “trust, spirituality, her close connection to family and a belief that the energies around you dictate what you allow in your life in order to prosper”.
The whole release seems like a family affair, with her father also appearing in the video!

-Christine

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“Good Place To Hide (At The Time)” by Partner

I’ve enjoyed Partner since discovering them via their Polaris Prize nomination, and since that debut album, their sound continues to evolve. When I saw the words “RUSH-inspired” in their press release for this song (“Good Place To Hide (At The Time)”), I knew it was going to be a banger.
In true Partner form, the press release also came with a content warning, which I’ll also pass along……..
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There are clowns/mimes in this video.

-Christine

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“Slow Riser” by Bad Pop

If you’ve been a fan of Bad Pop since their days as Hot Panda, then you may just recognise this first single since their three year hiatus. “Slow Riser” lands directly in the middle of the trio’s Venn diagram of catchiness & grittiness, and is the first tease of a brand new album, due out in March.

- Kirk

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“Don’t Panic” by Mike Edel

Victoria’s Mike Edel kicks off his new series of cover songs with a classic from Coldplay. The first of four covers, Mike’s version of “Don’t Panic” both honours the original while still putting his own style on the song, somehow managing to make it more mellow.

- Kirk

Song of the Day: September 04, 2019 - "Limelight" by Partner - covering Rush

I knee-deep in Polaris Prize research (you knew I am going to be part of this year’s grand jury right?!) and this email popped up with a new Polaris Cover by last year’s short listed band Partner!

The band covered Rush’s song “Limelight” for the Polaris Heritage Prize, and are now heading out on a big fall tour, with Europe in September and America in November!

Check it out below!

Song of the Day: March 31, 2019 - "Les ailes d'un ange" by Partner

Only a few more days until Toronto band Partner release their new album Saturday the 14th.

The other day, they gave us their first french song, which if you have heard some of the other songs we have shared of theirs, you might be taken by surprise.

It’s a Céline Dion inspired power ballad, with an epic guitar solo…and really, I wouldn’t expect anything less from these two.

The english version will also be on the album, which is due out on April 5th, and I implore you to come see them when they come to Vancouver next month with Wintersleep at the Commodore Ballroom on April 26th!

Song of the Day: March 02, 2019 - "Tell You Off" by Partner

I’ve been running around all week photographing the wine festival, and a tonne of new music is piling up in my inbox, but I wanted to share this one with you while I had a free morning.

I was lucky enough to catch Partner when they were in Vancouver last week and had an amazing time. They played a bunch of new music. I honestly don’t think I hear this one, but maybe it was because the recorded version of the song has harmonica, and…barnyard animals sounds… on the track?!

Either way I wasn’t expecting what “Tell You Off” gave me, but damn, this band can do anything.

Their new album, Saturday The 14th, is out in just over a month, and hopefully we see them again soon.

Song of the Day: January 31, 2019 - "Long And McQuade" by Partner

If you are a musician or play a musical instrument in Canada it is likely that you are very familiar with the chain of Long and McQuade…

Well, Toronto band Partner wrote a kind of ode to the retailer and it’s everything you’d want…including a video of the duo at the actual store.

Partner also announced their new EP entitled Saturday The 14th, and they will be cruising into Vancouver to kick of their first ever west coast tour on February 20th at the Fox Cabaret.