Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #4

‘Ello! Kergin here on the west coast, back with another playlist. This time we’re going old school.

Yep, I’m sticking with my theme of doing themes, and this time it’s Canadian bands which have been around awhile. They’ve been fairly well known for a minimum 10 years in all cases. While that may not be THAT long, it’s pretty good in band years. And of course there are a couple that have been around for a lot longer. For the most part these guys still tour to some extent or are producing new music.

While I hope/know readers/listeners will know the majority of tunes on this list, I think it’s important that you look back once in awhile to see where the genres and trends we listen to nowadays came from. Ontario’s working-class rock, Vancouver’s indie-pop history, the East Coast punching above it’s weight class in musicians per a square mile and Toronto trying to push the edge like New York (but not always there); these have all been trends that stretch back decades while always producing new, fresh sounds and faces for the young people to listen to and connect with.

So here we are, reconnecting with some of Canada’s pop culture mainstays and bands that influenced the bands we listen to today.

Welcome to Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #3!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE MUSIC!

1. Sloan – Money City Maniacs
   In hindsight this was probably the first Canadian indie-rock song I really got into. Back in the days of cassette tapes this was on Big Shiny Tunes 3. If you don’t know what that is, you probably didn’t grow up in Canada. The wailing siren, the catchy hook, the rock’n’roll vocals, it was made to catch a 12-year-old and say, hey, screw pop music. Ok, so maybe it’s kinda pop-y, but it really struck a chord. And for Sloan it was already midway into there career. The Nova Scotians already had a couple of national hits and are still around now. I got to see them a couple years, and THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME LINE-UP. Very few bands hit 20+ bands, and even fewer keep their original line-up.
2. The Tragically Hip – Blow At High Dough
   Like a list of Canadian rock bands still around could leave out the Hip. This is the standard that any straight ahead rock band is held to in our fine nation. And personally, Blow at High Dough is one of their best. It changes day to day, but today it’s B@HD’s day. The intro (again? Yeah, I only listen to songs for 30 seconds for gapping out) is great, that slow burn, the talking about filming something in his home town, the wailing guitar that isn’t too over the top, it gets the foot tappin’ every time. I loose track of the lyrics half way through, but they work. Gord Downie and the Hip have been around for nearly 30 years and consistently sell out shows, seemingly to have nailed a niche between mainstream pop rock like Bryan Adams and critically appreciated mainstays.
3. 54-40 – Radio Luv Song
   Ok, I’m not a huge fan of 54-40. I saw them once, and it was kinda bland. However, this is most definitely the exception. It sounds like the music was written for some sort of metal song with rock instruments. The screaming guitar solo, the crunchy fast paced rhythm line, the speed metal intro. But then the lyrics and vocals come across like 54-40, and it works. And the lyrics aren’t bad, love the line about the DJ. Another group formed in the early 80’s these guys have been like a less successful, west coast Tragically Hip. Survivors of the 80’s rock scenes are rare though (think about what else came from that era, bleh), so something should be said for them still kickin’ it.
4. Hawksley Workman – Not Your Parents Music
   Mr. Workman (aka Ryan Corrigan) might be the young guy so far, but he’s still got some miles on him. Starting his career in 1998, he’s still got his original line-up too!; it helps that he’s a solo artist… (and yes, I wanted to use that punctuation that way, I think it creates the effect I wanted, an excited half-pause). This is probably the most eccentric track on this list, because it is definitely not your parents’ music. In fact, it seems to be created with the express intent of annoying the middle of the road rock fans that love blah-rock, that boring grey mush that’s popular with people looking for appealing noise to listen to while they work. Is it a surprise I’m a fan of the quirky squeeks and whirls in the middle of the half shouted lyrics with a tinny base line and strange back-up vocals? No, no it isn’t. While the first time I heard him was the kinda risque “Striptease” he’s released plenty more, all with that heavily electrified rock sound, something that he seems to be great at.
5. Matthew Good Band – Load Me Up
   Favourite Music Video EVER! Seriously, I love the vid for this. Hold on, I’m going to go watch it now. Ok, and Matthew Good is such a central player to Canada’s rock scene of the 1990’s and early 2000’s; first as a band  (The Matthew Good Band actually did Load Me Up), and now as a solo artist. He’s kinda dropped off the mainstream map a bit as he’s little more mellow with more personal songs. But he’s still got that bit of anger that seemed to drive early success. And how could I not be a fan? A politically aware, soccer-playing, west-coast rock band with an intelligent (if sometimes arrogant) Nickleback hating front man? If I could play music, it probably wouldn’t be too different. Anyways, Load Me Up is as good as anything else he produced in the angry-electric-rock side of things, but he’s got a wide range now.
6. New Pornographers – My Rights, Versus Yours
   Can this be called a super group? Almost, eh? Made up of a bunch of Vancouver residents/musicians, they’ve got some big names included in their line-up, though not always always there. Neko Case would be the biggest name associated with the New Pornographers, but Dan Bejar is there, and a couple of Limblifter’s members. My Rights vs. Yours is such a great indie-pop track, with the bouncy rhythm and friendly vocals, it’s easy to just start listening to the band starting with this track. Maybe not their most critically acclaimed song, but so accessible.
7. Destroyer – Poor in Love
   I just mentioned  Dan Bejar up there, and you might be wondering who he is. Perhaps the least known name on this list, Destroyer is (yet another) Vancouver based band, that is essentially Bejar’s solo project. While most of the songs on this list are considered classics from their respective bands past, this is actually off of his most recent release, because I love the lyrics. A kind of shoegaze-electro thing going on here with a mellow backdrop for Bejar’s vocals, it’s got just enough pop in it to appeal to the masses, I think. Compared to a lot of Vancouver’s burgeoning indie pop scene, this is pretty mature, and a nice counter balance to, say, Said the Whale.
8. Novillero – The Hypothesist
   The other lesser known on the list, these guys have been around for nearly 15 years. While the sound is kinda similar to a rambunctious New Pornographers, these guys are out of Winnipeg, but come out of the same era, so maybe something can be said about the end of the 90’s. With a few songs making onto TV and some great performances, it seems these guys should have a bigger name, maybe I missed something horrible they did in the past. They were hobbled a bit by The Waking Eyes, a band which shared members and took off for a bit during the mid-2000s. However, the W.E. have bit the dust and Novillero are still standing, so maybe they’re going back to the cusp.
9. The Weakerthans – Plea From A Cat Named Virtute
   John K. Samson has shown up on a previous Threat Shark list, and if you liked that, then check out his past. The Weakerthans have been a huge name in the Canadian indie scene for years, and while they aren’t really doing much these days, there’s a great back catalogue to go through. It includes a couple genius tracks from the point of view of a cat. A cat named Virtute. In this song Virtute is trying to get his(her?) owner to get out of his funk. With Polaris noms and Juno noms and few more minor award wins, there’s plenty of depth in their playbook, but I prefer the clever lyrics and great concept of a cat wondering what the hell humans see in TV.
10. Corb Lund – Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier
    Corb Lund has been all over the map musically, and that has created one of the most ironic award nominations I’ve scene. Emerging Artist of the Year at the Americana Music Association’s Americana Honors & Awards Show…for 2010. I appreciate that America looking north of the border for their Americana, but emerging might not be the appropriate category. I mean, among the awards he’s been nominated for, there’s even a U.S. Independent Music Award for Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year in 2003. And then there’s a slew of Canadian country, folk, bluegrass, western, roots and traditional nomination and awards dating back 10 years. And he’s been active longer. Lund’s solo work and work with the Hurtin’ Albertans (the touring band he works with) started in 1995, and thats not his origins story. Before he was country, he was a whole lot punk/metal as bassist of  the The Smalls, which has it’s own awesome backstory, connected with Vancouver legends punk DOA and a riot in Kamloops. Anyways, enough on Lund’s backstory, I’mma wrap this up with a second animal song, this time recounting humanities connection with horses over the centuries. High points for fitting in the historical terminology and references.

Ok, next time I promise to write shorter. Hopefully you’ll listen to the music, that’s the nugget of this blog, the words, while great (personal opinion flag), are superfluous. And hopefully you’ll’ve learned about Canada’s alt rock and independent music scenes today.

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #3

Tres ball! Ice tres! Tres bien!

Ok, so maybe languages aren’t my strong suit, but you get the picture. I hope.

In case you haven’t already figured it out, this marks the second week and third edition of the Threat Shark Summer Playlist series.

Unlike Brendan, I’m staying away from the themed playlists for now. Usually I am pro-theme, but this time around, I don’t want to limit myself or the music.

This week, I’ve got a great variety of tunes for you. From Vancouver to Nova Scotia, we’ll hear from one of my favourite bands and some other artists that just might become your new favourites!

Welcome to Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #3!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE MUSIC!

1. Grab Me by the Lapel by The North Lakes – Hailing from the Atlantic coast of Canada, The North Lakes call Charlottetown, P.E.I. When I first heard this track, I was instantly reminded of Foxboro Hot Tubs, a 1960s-influenced rock ‘n’ roll side project of Green Day. Grab Me by the Lapel comes from The North Lakes’ Music PEI-award winning album, Grand Prix.
2. The Night by Lioness – Another of the up-and-coming indie-alt. rock bands from Toronto, Lioness features the deep and energetic vocals of Vanessa Fischer. With a catchy guitar track and upbeat sound, Lioness has been garnering attention in the industry, having recently toured with acts like k-Os, You Say Party and The Cult. The Night can be found off of Lioness’s album, The Golden Killer.
3. Strange Film by Caracol – Earlier this year I reviewed Caracol’s latest album, Blanc Mercredi, for TRU’s Omega. Unfortunately the review isn’t on the web. That being said, Caracol’s soulful folk vocals and overall pop sound are very pleasing to the ear. Blending a few French and English language tracks, the Montreal-based Caracol is a fantastic representation of what Canada has to offer with its unique indie music scene.
4. Turn Around by Eight and a Half – Eight and a Half is an interesting and intriguing indie group. To a certain extent, you might even consider it a Canadian indie-super group. Featuring Justin Peroff of Broken Social Scene and Dave Hamelin and Liam O’Neil, both of The Stills, this group calls Toronto home. Eight and a Half is not considered a side project for the band members, rather they say they approach it as an opportunity to reinvent themselves. Turn Around can be found on the group’s debut self-titled album.
5. How Darwinian by Dan Mangan – After spending our first four songs in Canada’s eastern region, we jump back to the beautiful west coast and Vancouver, the home of Dan Mangan. This Canadian folk songster lists his influences as including Radiohead, Wilco and Bon Iver, just to name a few. Mangan won an iTunes Album of the Year Award for his 2010 album Nice, Nice, Very Nice. How Darwinian can be found on his latest album, Oh Fortune.
6. Drain the Blood by The Rural Alberta Advantage – We stay out west for this next track, well, sort of. The Rural Alberta Advantage (The RAA) technically works out of Toronto, but the band members all originate from the golden prairies of Alberta. Upon listening to the indie rock ballads of The RAA, the Alberta influence rings loud and clear to anyone within earshot. Drain the Blood comes from The RAA’s 2009 album, Hometowns.
7. Darling, Darling, Darling by Cory Isenor – Sticking with the overarching and somewhat existent folk theme of this week, Cory Isenor is a folk singer-songwriter from Halifax, N.S. And if you ask me, Isenor is a man who doesn’t get nearly the recognition that he should. He’s toured with the aforementioned RAA, Said the Whale and Two Hours Traffic. Darling, Darling, Darling is an emotional track about the ending of a relationship and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t pull on your heart strings, even if just a bit. It can be found on Isenor’s 2011 release, The Hunting Party.
8. Sentimental/Oriental by Boxer the Horse – The fact that we are back in Charlottetown, P.E.I. for the second time this week amazes me. Until we started this little Threat Shark summer foray into Canadian indie music, I didn’t realize that the Maritimes had such a rockin’ indie scene! In 2010, Boxer the Horse received the CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for Best New Band. Sentimental/Oriental comes from the band’s latest album, French Residency, released in March 2012.
9. No Common Ground by Gabrielle Papillon – When this track first found my ears via the CBC Music airwaves, at first I thought I was listening to a Caracol track. I was shocked to discover that I was listening to a different singer-songwriter, this one originally from New Glasgow, N.S., by the name of Gabrielle Papillon. With a very similar acoustic folk sound and deep soulful vocals, Papillon soothes the listener. No Common Ground can be found on her 2011 album, The Currency of Poetry.
10. I’d Raise My Hand by The Schomberg Fair – We spent most of this ten track trek listening to some relatively chill folk tracks. I figured I needed to kick it up a notch to close things out. The Schomberg Fair calls Toronto home and the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan as influences. This gritty track features elements of Audioslave’s heavy sound as well as backing vocals provided by gospel singers, making for quite the juxtaposition.

Thanks again for listening to Threat Shark Summer. I hope you’ve discovered some new Canadian talent that you enjoy. Share the love! If you liked the tracks, pass ’em on to your friends, family and pets! Music is meant to be shared, so do the world a favour and pass this along.

Tune in on Thursday for ten more tracks courtesy of Captain Victoria, Mr. Brendan Kergin! Cheers! – Taylor Rocca

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #2

Ok, so as anyone who has listened to an episode of Threat Shark knows, I’m a fan of my hometown. In an effort to further that interest and bait the haters, I made a playlist of some hometown favourites.

Victoria has a fairly strong music scene with a few regular locations to play, and plenty of events in the spring and summer to get out there. That, on top of a commercial radio station (the Zone) which actively promotes local talent and a  university station (UVic’s CFUV) playing a decent amount island music has created a place that, while not necessarily a great place for fulltime professionals, allows indie musicians a chance to get out and test their material. With Vancouver, Nanaimo and Seattle nearby any act with some success at home has options for short tours or one-off shows. If they really want to pursue the dream though, often they have to head over to Van or Toronto. Luckily quite a few stay in town and work normal person jobs and play when they can/want, keeping a decent talent pool around town.

So here it is, my first foray into the summer project.

Play me some music! <–Click here…NOW!

And here’s who’re you’re listening to:

1. Acres of Lions – Reaction
   Unfortunately this is the only song by Acres of LIons they have up on CBC Music, on the upside it’s by far their catchiest and my favourite. A indie pop gem, the band has more like this, but Reaction is the standout single from them…for now. They’re covering BC this summer, all of it. Vanderhoof, Chetwynd and Smithers are all part of it. They’ll also hit Toronto for Edgefest, so Taylor can check ’em if he wants.
2. Jets Overhaed – Boredom and Joy
   This is the title track of their new album. While I’ve found these guys a little on the bland side in the past (They’ve been together for almost 10 years) they’ve got a growing fan base and have had some noteworthy success, like songs showing up in American TV shows (like House). This is probably their most fun track, as the tend to create a bigger, more ambitious sound. They’ve got a sweet summer gig soon, opening for Sam Roberts a couple times and the Tragically Hip in Vic.
3. Jon and Roy – Little bit of Love
   Such a fun little band. Sometimes just the two guys, sometimes with some friends, Jon and Roy have a series of great little acoustic-indie-folk-pop gems to their name. I chose this one as it’s just the happiest little song ever. And good news everybody! They’re releasing an album June 12th! This is almost a “squee” moment for me, and that’s rare. Touring soon in BC and Alberta, hopefully with an album launch party in there.
4. Vince Vaccaro – Heart and Hands
   While Vaccaro is still around and creating a more acoustic-summertime sound, I went with this one as it’s the one that introduced me to his music. On top of that is the acoustic similarities to Sam Roberts, whom I’m a big fan of. This is much more robust than his more current work, which goes well with picnics.
5. Current Swell – Too Cold
   Winners of this years Peak Performance Project, Current Swell should be headed places with their aid back coastal/country style. This is just one of many great songs off their latest album Long Time Ago. With tours bouncing them all over the place, it’s best if you just check out their schedule, but Alberta, BC and Ontario all feature prominently, including a bill with Jets Overhead, Sam Roberts and the Tragically Hip.
6. Meatdraw – Are We Gonna Die?
   Heavy percussion, folk influences, big vocals at times, a country sound and aesthetic often, these guys skew away from the classic Victoria sound a bit, creating their own style. This little niche had them opening for the Red Elvises, a band that never has anybody open for them due to their odd nature. The music is a little more mellow out of the studio, much more raucous in person. While they still have a website and are on CBC Music, I’m not certain their still active, but they have an eclectic catalogue to rummage through for now.
7. The Paper Cranes – Rabbit in a Snare
   You may recognize this song from a Nissan commercial, since it was used in one. Also, this married duo is pretty talented, though not always working as the band. Ryan composed music recently for a silent film showing at a local movie theater. While they recently relaunched their site and have been posting some stuff online, they aren’t super active right now. On the upside there’s some remixes out there to check out.
8. Maurice – Friends
   Maurice, the band and man, has bounced around a bit. While he got a major label signing early in his career and a decent shot, it went sour and he’s come back to Vic and carved out his own following of local fans which is growing east. Building from past experiences and some obvious talent, he looks to take advantage of a second shot at the game with this mellow-indie/more introspective style. Another vet of the Peak’s Performance Project, he’s back at it this year.
9. Aidan Knight – Jasper
   This guy has talent. He’s just 25 and is already often on best of the city lists as someone to watch. Even though he’s described as alt pop he’s a lot softer than other acts in the same category. Often with just an acoustic guitar and some light back up for his recordings, it’s a quiet moment. With poetic, intelligent lyrics and a thoughtful voice, he’s got a lot going for him if you like critically popular singer/songwriter material. Side-note, he’s popular among the musical community as well, formerly playing with Maurice among others.
10. Hawk and Steel – Believe Nothing/Something
    As a kid of Victoria it’s not a surprise I know someone in a band. Well, actually I know a few. In this case I’m pointing out college acquaintance Peter Gardner and his band Hawk and Steel. Similar to Knight if he was a full band with a slower, more melodic style and then add on a slightly country sound on the odd track. I wouldn’t be totally surprised to see these guys open up for him somewhere locally. Be warned, they drop some rock right before the 2 minute mark in this track.

Until next week,
Brendan Kergin

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #1

Well folks, it has been quite some time since Brendan or myself took the time to update this good ol’ blog.

But, I am happy to inform you that we are back…with a vengeance.

It is the summer and Mr. Kergin and myself are both conveniently located outside of the Kamloops area. I am in Toronto and Brendan is back in the glorious Victoria. Unfortunately, this means no Threat Shark over the airwaves of 92.5FM in Kamloops during the summer of 2012.

Considering how much Kergin and I love music, but more importantly, considering how much we love YOU, we decided we would throw together twice-weekly playlists featuring 10 great Canadian indie tracks for you to check out.

From here on, every Tuesday and every Thursday we will feature a new playlist. I will take care of things on Tuesdays, while Mr. Kergin will handle the duties on Thursdays.

Each playlist will be available for your listening pleasures online at CBCmusic.ca.

We hope that this gives you the opportunity to hear some songs you haven’t heard, encounter some bands you haven’t encountered and enjoy the treasures that are hidden within the Canadian music scene.

Without further ado, I give you Playlist #1. <— CLICK ME for MUSIC!

1. Are You Gonna Waste My Time by Zeus – Hailing from Toronto, Ont., Zeus is a four-piece indie rock band whose latest album, Busting Visions, was hot on the CFBX airwaves earlier this spring.
2. When I Write My Master’s Thesis by John K. Samson – Samson, lead singer of The Weakerthans, takes his talents solo with his Jan., 2012 release, Provincial.
3. Child of the Valley by The Wooden Sky – Another Toronto indie band, The Wooden Sky’s newest album Every Child A Daughter, Every Moon A Sun is available for streaming on CBC Music.
4. Obedear by Purity Ring – Self-categorized as a hybrid of space pop and R&B, Purity Ring’s unique electronic sound is intriguing. Their upcoming album, Shrines, is set for release in July 2012.
5. Lose It by AUSTRA – The second so-called space pop band to appear on today’s list, AUSTRA calls Toronto home. Lose It is featured on their May 2011 release, Feel It Break.
6. Make A New Dance Up by Hey Ocean! – Now we head to the west coast for some indie pop courtesy of Hey Ocean! The Vancouver trio has taken the Canadian indie scene by storm, quickly making a name of themself.
7. Surprising Me by Will Currie and the Country French – Coming from Waterloo, Ont, Will Currie and the Country French are winners of a CBC Radio 3 Award for Best Collaboration thanks to the song Push Pins, which they recorded with Canadian rock heroes Sloan.
8. Out on the Shield by Said the Whale – Back to the west coast we go. Said the Whale is a Juno Award-winning band and this catchy track can be found on the 2009 album Islands Disappear.
9. Sidecar by Kathleen Edwards – This pop singer song-writer from Ottawa has a habit of charming me with her smooth sound. Her newest album Voyageur has been getting positive reviews and Sidecar, featured on the album, gets two thumbs up from me.
10. My 5 by Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party – When I saw this band roll up on my CBC Music player, my first thought was, “well, this should be interesting.” I was pleasantly surprised. Fun and upbeat, this Vancouver space pop group has upcoming shows in Vancouver on June 7 and Toronto on June 13.

Hopefully you enjoyed my playlist for May 22, 2012. Come back on Thursday for 10 more great tunes courtesy of Brendan! – Taylor Rocca