Songs of the Week: March 07 - 13, 2022

“Worm ft. Dill The Giant” by Royal Canoe

Surprise! Out of nowhere, Royal Canoe dropped a brand new album this past Friday.

Vault (2011-2021) is exactly what you may expect from the title; as the band puts it, it is a “collection of 10 songs that were pulled from a long list of unreleased demos, b-sides and oddities that have been accumulating on our various hard-drives over the past decade. These songs are the underdogs, the overachievers and the almost-fits that we just couldn’t quit. During this past winter we dusted off old backups, scoured mp3-vaults and even went back to the studio to finish up a few tracks that were uncompleted but long-time favourites of the band. For us, each song on Vault feels like a brief journal entry that captures a simple, but meaningful moment from the past decade of us making sounds together.”

Along with the new album, the band dropped a video for “Worm ft. Dill The Giant” with trippy stop motion animation courtesy of MIMI and lyric animation from the band's own, Matt Schellenberg.

Take a peek below!

• Kirk

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“Palm Slave” by Art d‘Ecco

Piano AND Saxophone?! You sold me right there Art d’Ecco!

“Palm Slave” give me major 80’s-vibes, but with a mix of experimental and chaos. Of the song itself Art says it’s "a cautionary tale about obsession, and how a misguided search for meaning and purpose, may lead some to very dark places”.

The full album will be coming out later this year, and the band are making their way down to SXSW, as well as a few other winter festivals. Last time I saw them live was at the Constellation Festival in 2019!, so hopefully there is a Vancouver date soon too.

• Christine

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“Devastatingly Mediocre” by Deanna Petcoff

Okay, this one came out last month, but the first time the latest single from Deanna Petcoff hit my ears was the other day. And from the raw catchiness to the biting lyrics and even the hilarious title, “Devastatingly Mediocre” hooked me immediately.

Not only that, but the backstory is equally great. Petcoff says she “wrote this song when my friend was dating the most boring guy alive. He really was so normal, met the bare minimum of being a decent person, and yet she was so infatuated with him. At first I wrote this as a joke because I always called him devastatingly mediocre just to tease her, but when I showed it to my band they loved it and we decided to make it something real. I think it actually holds a lot of meaning for a lot of people– it’s so easy to fall in love with someone just because you want to be in love, regardless of whether or not it really works.”

The single is off her debut album To Hell With You, I Love You, which is out April 8th on Royal Mountain Records.

• Kirk

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“Fuckboi” by Common Deer

Speaking of catchy songs with biting lyrics and titles that tickly my fancy… Common Deer just released their latest single “Fuckboi”.

The band’s latest single is a blast of synth energy, and singer Sheila Hart says: “I was going through another near-relationship falling apart, and feeling justified in my anger and resentment. After reconsidering the situation, I reluctantly realized that I may have been the problem after all.”

“Fuckboi” is off the album MAXIMALIST, which comes out April 1st, and also features songs with names like “Negative Thot” and “LonelyFans”, so it should be one to watch out for!

• Kirk

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“Sweet Dreams of Otherness” by Alexisonfire

Oh, I’m INTO THIS!

I was super excited to hear that Alexisonfire was putting out new music and hitting the road, and even more excited to find out that Matt Kelly (who has been playing with City and Colour as of late) performed on the record as well. Petal Steel on an AOF album?! I need to hear this.

“Sweet Dreams of Otherness” (which will be on the full album titled Otherness) is a BANGER, and I can 100% see the band starting their sets with this song.
Oh, and I almost forgot that Jay Baruchel directed the video for the track. Check it out below.

• Christine

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“Lonely Bong” by Cancer Bats

Okay, we might as well stay on the loud-band-from-the-Niagara-Region (my home turf) train.
Especially since the video for “Lonely Bong” by Cancer Bats includes a cameo from Alexisonfire’s Wade MacNeil!

In the video the Bats are trying to find new ways to connect with the kids (guys, if you’re old, I’m old), and fill in the lead guitar space left by founding member Scott Middleton (spoiler alert, it’s Stevis Harrison of Fever 333).

Cinnamon Challenge anyone?

• Christine

Songs of the Week: September 20 - 26, 2021

“Sweetheart” by Said The Whale

Just weeks ahead of the release of Dandelion, Said the Whale is giving us yet another tease of the new album with “Sweetheart”.

Singer Ben Worcester says the song is “an exploration of secrets. How (and why) we keep them, who we keep them from, and how they affect our relationships. This song doesn’t refer to a specific moment or circumstance in my life, but instead speaks to the idea in general - how revealing our innermost thoughts and fears can serve to weaken some bonds but other times can actually strengthen them - the beauty of sharing a secret with a lover, keeping something hidden from the world, a covenant of mutual trust.”

Have a listen below, and make sure to check out their tour dates, which include not one, not two, but three! consecutive Vancovuer shows, playing venues near & dear to the band’s hearts.

• Kirk

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“Spanish On The Beach” and “Jaywalker” by Andy Shauf

Whoops, i dropped the ball last week (well, I was working the election so I couldn’t post my songs!) and couldn’t express my excitement at the announcement of a new album from Andy Shauf!

Wilds was released this past Friday and is a collection of songs that he wrote when composing his last album The Neon Skyline. That was one of my favourite records of 2020, so I cannot wait to delve into this one.

The first two singles “Spanish On The Beach” and “Jaywalker’ are below for your rainy day listening pleasure.

• Christine

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“On The Beach” & “Oleander” by Jasper Sloan Yip

Speaking of beaches (oh, I wish), Jasper Sloan Yip released two new tracks from his upcoming double EP, Strange Calm / Blushing Autumn: “On The Beach” and “Oleander”

Both EPs revolve around the themes of life and death, and these two songs in particular are about gratitude. They’re lovely tunes and another set of ones I curled up with some tea to listen to this morning with the rain in the background.
The albums will be released on October 26th via Tiny Kingdom.

• Christine

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“Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui” by Lisa LeBlanc

Lisa LeBlanc has returned with a super catchy ode to procrastination, “Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui”, her first original song since the ‘016 album Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?

A disco-tinged tune with an incredibly infectious synth line — and sparkling video to match — the new single teases a brand new album next year, and I can’t wait to hear more.

Despite the title, you should take a listen today!

• Kirk

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“Caroline” by Lowell

Apparently I’ve got all the slow jams this week.

Holy moley, I missed Lowell. This little nostalgic pop ballad, “Caroline”, is beautiful and showcases just how talented she is lyrically. It hits on her childhood memories of: “sleeping bags and landlines, grass stains and pool parties, sneaking into cabinets and finding your parents' booze”.

I was happy to see that this single is going to be on an upcoming album in 2022, so hopefully we’ll get more from her soon.

• Christine

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“Surrender” by Royal Canoe

Hot off the release of their album Sidelining, Royal Canoe is dropping a brand new video for the song “Surrender”, as well as announcing some tour dates!

Directed by Vince Tang, the video is what can only be described as a ‘dance heist’ video, with a few fun twists and turns.

The tour sees them crisscrossing the country in April of next year, including a date here in Vancouver on the 20th at the Fox Cabaret, and finishing with a pair of shows in their hometown of Winnipeg.

• Kirk

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“Maudlin Days (Robocop)” by Gold & Youth

Okay, so I’m just gonna go ahead and fully copy-past the story about this song, “Maudln Days (Robocop)”, from the Gold & Youth press release, because nothing I write could do it justice:

”A substantial part of the lyrics for 'Robocop' are a near verbatim transcript from when I was sucked into a conversation at a party last year with some finance bros who kept insisting they had found truth (“about, like, everything man") after doing ayahuasca together on a boys trip. The entire exchange was one of total earnestness on the part of the bros, oblivious to tact, cultural sensitivities or fashion sense (one of them was wearing a pink and gold Givenchy tracksuit into the Ayahuasca hut) and I engaged with thinly veiled contempt and entirely in bad faith in a deeply embarrassing battle of wits. It wasn’t until later, when rehashing the story with my girlfriend, a story in which I was so sure I was doing’s God’s work in raining down ridicule and condescension with a half smirk (and to be clear, this story absolutely deserved ridicule and condescension), that it became obvious that I had slipped into just as much of a caricature as they had: The Lululemon wall street jabronis vs the smug lefty band guy who claims to love humanity above all else but rolls his eyes at actual humans (even finance bros are humans after all right). Low stakes and who cares right? Not exactly profound. But, it was a great jumping off point for writing about a real sense of alienation I’ve felt in so many social situations in my life and constantly wondering how much of it has been self imposed. How often am I preemptively detaching myself from potential human connection to preserve some abstracted convictions about what my chosen friend group might say about me? Aren't these convictions about love, empathy and understanding just empty high minded rhetoric if I don’t try to actually love, understand and empathize with the actual humans in my life? 'Aren’t people all we’ve really got man?!'. Deeply solipsistic bullshit. The name of the song is equally self involved. Any time I go cold and detach my girlfriend calls me 'Robocop,' which she stole from my bandmate's nickname for me on tour. Aloof, ultra stoic, but incredibly capable of driving from Vancouver to San Diego in a single go."

See? What did I tell you?
Gold & Youth’s album Dream Baby is out November 5th.

• Christine

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“Something Sweet” by Graham Wright

Tomorrow Graham Wright’s album The Cost Of Doing Business comes out, and this single really is “Something Sweet”.

The track is full on 90’s goodness, to which Gram says he “really went for it”, and that “the more ‘90s affect I piled on, the more exciting it got”. I have to agree, it’s pretty damn perfect and super catchy.

• Christine

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“Here’s To The Future” by Sam Weber

This new tune by Sam Weber is probably the best way to end this week’s Songs Of The Week.

Beautiful, slow, and includes a mini saxophone solo (which I’m always a sucker for), “Here’s To The Future” is Sam’s first release since 2019. He calls it “a toast and a prayer to the better and brighter days ahead”, which I can get on board with.

Here’s to more music from him in the future!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: May 24 - 31, 2021

“All Roads” by Arkells

Not content with one potential “Song of the Summer” (with their banger “You Can Get It”, released in March), Arkells are back with another candidate: “All Roads”.

Frontman Max Kerman says “As we start to find our footing on a road back to some normalcy in our lives the sentiment ‘all roads lead me back to you’ is about trying to find your way back home. Home could be a person, a place, or a personal truth - the goal is to keep moving, keep learning, and you’ll find your way."
A perfect sentiment for the upcoming summer, the video also fits that vibe with a long drone shot following the band members at sunrise.

• Kirk

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“Scratching Static (feat NNAMDÏ)” by Royal Canoe

Royal Canoe has revealed another track from their upcoming album Sidelining, out July 9th. “Scratching Static” features vocals from NNAMDÏ, and comes with a delightful video that is comprised entirely of animated gifs, appropriate to both the music and lyrics of the song. As someone that prides himself on his ability to find the perfect gif for any situation, I am very enamoured with this video.
Take a look below!

• Kirk

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“Remember 01” by The Halluci Nation
ft. John Trudell & Black Bear

A Tribe Called Red is now The Halluci Nation - and with the name change, a new single (“Remember 01”) and upcoming album - One More Saturday Night out July 30th.

You might recognize the voice in the video from the previous album We Are The Halluci Nation - it’s poet and activist John Trudell.
The song is an ode to him and his words that inspired the group and as it says in the press release, “the video can be compared to that of a trailer for a movie about the birth of The Halluci Nation”.

I cannot wait for more, and for the day when I can see them perform live again!

• Christine
  

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“Work” by Shad
ft. Skratch Bastid

This new song by Shad literally make my jaw drop. It hits so hard, has all of the classic Shad wit in the lyrics and features Skratch Bastid, so naturally I love it.

Then I cocked my head to the side and was like: “Wait…I know this drum beat.” - it took me a few second to realize it was sampled from a We Are The City song called “When I Dream I Dream Of You”.

Excuse me while I go listen to it 100 more times.

• Christine

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

“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

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“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

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“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

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“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

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“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

Song of the Day: May 28, 2020 - 'Living A Lie" by Royal Canoe

Earlier this year (in The Before Time), Winnipeg’s Royal Canoe decided to embrace their city’s reputation as the coldest place on the planet, and played an outdoor show.
In January.
In Winnipeg.

And if that didn’t already sound bonkers enough, they decided this live show would be played on ice. Not like Disney On Ice, but played on ice, as in, every instrument the band played would be made out of ice, making it look like they were playing in the middle of the Fortress of Solitude.

Some of the results of the live show is not only going to be available as a live EP tomorrow, but they’ve also put together a documentary called Glacial which debutes TONIGHT (5p Pacific) on YouTube.

Check out the video for “Living A Lie” below!

Song of the Day: June 23, 2019 - "Mo' Bing" by RC3PO

Last week saw the team up of Winnipeg powerhouses Royal Canoe and 3PEAT for a new project dubbed RC3PO.

“Mo’ Bing” is the latest song from the collaboration, which resulted in a 4-song EP, featuring some of Royal Canoe’s distinctive beats, underneath rapping from 3PEAT’s Steve, Egg, and Dill The Giant.

Check out the video below!

Song of the Day: January 11, 2019 - "77-76" by Royal Canoe

Their new album Waver comes out in 2 weeks, but we’re getting another sneak peek at it with the latest single from Royal Canoe, “77-76”

The slow jam is about “seeing a storm approaching on the horizon," says Matt Peters. "The ship is beginning to rock back and forth violently, but the captain is drunk. Your last captain was alright, but this new one is an idiot. You go up on the deck and see the sky darkening fast. In spite of that, all you can do is hope the crew can rally on their own and keep the ship above water. You always find a way."

Check it out below!

Song of the Day: October 25, 2018 - "Peep This" by Royal Canoe

The new album from Royal Canoe, Waver, is slowly creeping up to it’s release day of January 25th in 2019, and I’ve been loving all the singles being released from it.

The latest is this awesome slow jam below called “Peep This”, which hopefully we’ll get a video we can peep eventually as well.

Hopefully it is just the right vibe for your Thursday morning.