Monday, 19 May 2014

Five Star Songs; The Primitives- Thru The Flowers


Beautiful, sunny and warm, holiday Monday here in Toronto, and what better way to cap off this day than to play some 80's indie pop from The Primitives. The Coventry band were best known for their hit song "Crash" here in North America, but they had a string of really great singles throughout the 80's in the UK. "Thru the Flowers" was the first single they ever released in 1986 on Lazy Records, however just before they signed with RCA records, they re-released a more polished single of the song, which also appeared on their 1988 LP Lovely. Check it out below, especially if you are into bands like Veronica Falls, Fear of Men or The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.

The Primitives are still together and touring. Let's hope they come back to North America in the near future.





Wednesday, 14 May 2014

New Music: Sharon Van Etten: Every Time The Sun Comes Up + Your Love Is Killing Me


Is there a better female indie singer-songwriter hailing from North America right now than Sharon Van Etten? Other than Feist or Angel Olsen, I cannot think of any. And Feist is between albums right now, so that means Miss Van Etten is deservedly receiving a lot of attention. Just listen to "Every Time The Sun Comes Up" and "Your Love Is Killing Me", two truly majestic songs that are probably going to be on a lot of top 10 lists at the end of the year.

Both tracks are taken from her new album Are We There, out May 27th via Jagjaguwar.






New Music: Total Control- Expensive Dog


After featuring "Flesh War", the new song from Australian post punk band Total Control, I learned something that I never knew about the band. I found out their guitarist is Eddy Current (Mikey Young) from seminal Australian punk band Eddy Current Suppression Ring. ECSR are probably my favourite group to emanate from down under from the last few years.

Getting back to Total Control, these guys recently dropped a second single from their upcoming new album Typical System. The song is called "Expensive Dog" and it is guitar driven raucous track that wouldn't be out of place on an Eddy Current LP. Check it out below:

Typical System will be out June 24th via Iron Lung.




Tuesday, 13 May 2014

R.I.P. : Nash The Slash


I spent my youth listening to a lot of Nash The Slash. I was too young to a big fan, and did not own any of his albums, however he was a favourite of my brothers, and he used to play his music almost every day. When you are a kid, though, and you see a man playing music dressed like a mummy, you become very intrigued.

If you are not familiar with Nash The Slash, aka Jeff Plewman, he was a Toronto experimental musician, who made a name for himself in the 1970's with the Prog rock band FM, and in the eighties as a solo artist. He was probably best known  in Canada as that weird, avant grade rock star, who wrapped himself in bandages, wore a top hat, and played an electric mandolin. But he was more than just an odd musician. Nash the Slash was an electronic pioneer, who had an influence on Gary Numan. and he was a performance artist who's live shows were a spectacle to behold.

Sadly, Nash The Slash passed way last weekend at the age of 66.

Chart magazine did a really good interview with Plewman in 2012 and they re-posted it today. Read it here.

Watch him below do a live version of "Children Of The Night" from just a few years ago.






New Music: Beverly- You Can't Get It Right


We first introduced you to new indie duo Beverly back in February, with their song "Honey Do", which they recorded for a compilation put together by their record label. Now, the duo of Frankie Rose and Drew Citron are back with another single, but this time the track is taken from a brand new album. "You Can't Get It Right" is a lo-fi charmer, and sounds like the music Rose made when she was with The Outs. Check it out below:

The track is taken from the album Careers which is out July 1st via Kanine.





Monday, 12 May 2014

New Music: Hockeysmith- Hesitate


A couple of months ago we featured the Hockeysmith song "But Blood", and we told you at the time the sister act had a new EP on the way. We now know that "But Blood" is the title track of the new EP and that it will be out at the end of May. The cute caravan couple from Cornwall have also shared a brand new track from the EP titled "Hesitate". The song starts out with a bit of an R&B swagger reminiscent of some of the music on Warpaint's last album, but as it progresses it morphs into a synth-y, reverb friendly track, complete with the backing of industrial strength guitars. Listen Below:

But Blood is out May 26th via Double Denim.





Friday, 9 May 2014

New Music: PS I Love You- For Those Who Stay


With a new and cleaner look plus a new and cleaner sound, Kingston Ontario indie rock duo PS I Love You have returned with a brand new song. "For Those Who Stay" is the title track of their new album, which will be out in July via Paper Bag, and it finds the band progressing from their noise rock roots. The sonic palette of the track features various textures, Neil Young-like guitar solos, and (I could be wrong) a hint of synth throughout the six and half minute track. There is one thing that hasn't changed- Paul Saulnier continues to be one of the best guitarists in indie rock today. Check out the track below:





Wednesday, 7 May 2014

New Music: Austra- Habitat


Austra have announced a new four song EP,  and "Habitat" is the title track and first single from the release. If you are a huge fan of the band you may recognize the song. The track is something they have been playing live for a couple of years now, but they never got around to releasing it. "Habitat" sounds like their darker, older material, and lacks the shine of the songs off of Olympia. That's okay, I prefer the icier, gloomy version of Austra. Listen below:

Habitat is out June 17th via Paper Bag.







New Music: School- Easier


School are back, and there here to "school" you on making really good music. If you may recall we posted a couple of the Swedish band's songs, "SoLong" and "Clouds Aside" back in January and now they have provided us with their newest track "Easier". The new song keeps the same sound of those earlier tracks, in other words, extraordinary indie pop for people who like their music with a side of jangle guitar. Check it below:





Tuesday, 6 May 2014

New Music: Beta Frontiers- So Cold (featuring Carmen Elle)


If the voice on this track sounds familiar, you are probably a fan of synth pop band Diana, and their lead singer Carmen Elle. (also the singer for the under appreciated Toronto indie rock band Army Girls). Toronto producer Beta Frontiers (Michael Butler) has enlisted Elle for his newest track, " So Cold", and the singer has never sounded so smooth. The title may be "So Cold", but the music of the this song is anything but.

Check it out below and if you like it buy it from Buzz Records Bandcamp.





Monday, 5 May 2014

New Music: Christopher Owens- It Comes Back To You + Stephen


Early last year former Girls front man Christopher Owens released his solo debut album, Lysandre, an inconsistent effort, but the album did contain a couple of treasures- most notably the lead single "Here We Go".  No word on a new album from Mr. Owens, but there are rumours that an announcement on the new LP could be forthcoming in the very near future. To tease us the singer-songwriter has dropped a couple of new songs over the past few weeks. First, is the beautiful " It Comes Back To You", a heartbreaking song reminiscent of the music from his old band. And even more heartbreaking is the soulful "Stephen", which according to Stereogum, is an ode to Owen's late brother, who passed away at the age of two, when their family was living in a cult. Check both tracks out below:








New Music: Papertwin- Alkaline


Some nice synth pop from Brooklyn band Papertwin. The band already have a couple of EPs under
their belt and are poised to release a third, Vox Humana, which will come out on June 17th. Listen to "Alkaline", the dreamy lead track from the new release.





Sunday, 4 May 2014

Five Star Songs: The Walkmen- Heartbreaker


This song goes out to all of the long suffering Toronto sports fans (including myself)-second year in a row of heartbreaking exits from playoff series.

"Heartbreaker" is taken from the 2012 LP Heaven, possibly the last album The Walkmen will ever release.