Songs of the Week: November 04 - 10, 2024

“Adelaide” by CJ Wiley

Earlier this year, I saw Skye Wallace at Green Auto, and even though I only caught the last few songs of opener CJ Wiley, I made a mental note to keep an ear out for them in the future. So I was happy to see their newest single, “Adelaide” pop up in my inbox!

The song is a slow-burning, heartfelt track about chosen family and growing together instead of apart, with Wiley explaining: “When I was writing songs for my album, Boy Golden introduced me to the writer Bell Hooks, who has many beautiful perspectives on love. The quote, ‘Love is as love does. Love is an act of will—namely, both an intention and an action,’ really resonates with me. It reminded me of the relationship I have with my best friend.
I wrote ‘Adelaide’ for my best friend during a tough time she was going through. I wanted it to serve as a reminder that no matter what happens, I’ll always be there for her. We met in high school in grade 10 drama class—she was the ‘good kid,’ and I was the stoner kid always getting into trouble. As adults, we lead very different lives; I’m constantly on the road while she has a 9-to-5 job that keeps her anchored in Toronto. Despite our separate paths, we talk almost every day and go on adventures whenever we get the chance.
We’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs and seen each other evolve through many stages of life. ‘Adelaide’ is a song about choosing to grow with someone rather than growing apart.”

You can watch the video below, and grab their debut LP, So Brand New, when it’s out on February 28 next year, via Tiny Kingdom!

• Kirk

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“Heartbreak Autobahn” by The Harpoonist

I got immediately side-tracked when I saw the video for the song “Heartbreak Autobahn” from the new solo effort by The Harpoonist. I recognized the main character as Jonas Shandel from the (former) band Headwater, and then realized that he’s been performing with the band.

The music video is a cute one, where you follow Jonas’ character through the streets of Victoria as he nabs wallets, pickpockets phones, and convinces some kids to help him rob lead signer Shawn Hall of his guitar, change, and yes, his harps.

The new album Did We Come Here To Dance just came out this past week - and you can listen to it by clicking here.

• Christine

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“Lucky Dragon” by Odd Marshall

Last week, Ontario’s Odd Marshall dropped an ode to a rundown Chinese restaurant in Pittsburgh that frequented.

“Lucky Dragon” is a raw and energetic song, about the woman who ran the restaurant, Cici, as he elaborates: “I remember paying for a meal with loose change. The stoic lady behind the counter, Cici, never befriended me as much as I tried to learn Chinese. She was busy, I was usually drunk.”

The song is off Odd Marshall’s debut album out later this year, Sand & Glue, which was produced by Don Kerr, featuring Mike O’Brien on lead guitar and Jason Haberman playing bass!

• Kirk

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“Backwater, NW” by Menno Versteeg

We got the final single from singer Menno Versteeg’s debut solo album recently - and Why We Run’s release is just around the corner on December 13th.

After some solo shows around the country, Menno headed out with Elliott BROOD, and then Tokyo Police Club, and will be ending his string of tours back here in Vancouver on December 1st and 2nd opening for TALK.

I’m looking forward to finally hearing all the new music in person, and in the meantime will be listening to this new one “Backwater, NW” - a song about feeling lost and alone - a few more times.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: September 23 - 29, 2024

“Bad Dog” by Menno Versteeg

Another new song from Menno Versteeg this week that you should watch below for the video alone. Starring alongside him are comedian Chris Locke and actor Mary Hollis Inboden (Kevin Can F**k Himself, The Righteous Gemstones)…and a whole bunch of dogs, including his own (named Roger).

The track is about “loving someone or something through their worst moment”, and will be on his debut solo album, Why We Run, out December 13th!

Menno is in town this Thursday (October 3rd), performing at The Heatley with a few other pals.

• Christine

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“Great Minds” by TAURO

TAURO is the new collaboration between jazz pianist & singer-songwriter Cynthia Tauro and Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning, and last week they shared their debut single, “Great Minds”

With a groovy R&B beat, and Cynthia’s voice intertwining with Canning, the new tune is about a long lasting love between two people, with the band elaborating: “They know they shouldn’t be together, but somehow the feeling of them still lingers”

“Great Minds” also comes with a cool video, from animator Jared Sales, which you can watch below!

• Kirk

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“Earthsong” by Jennifer Castle

As we creep closer to the release of Camelot, the upcoming album from acclaimed songwriter Jennifer Castle, we’re getting another tease with the latest single, “Earthsong”

The gorgeous & sparse new single is driven by her incredible vocals, with Castle saying “‘Earthsong’ was one of the last songs I wrote for what would become Camelot. Seeded from hope, imagination, destiny and resistance, the line that works on me like medicine is ‘I belong to the world.’ Feels good to say and mean that.”

You can pick up Camelot when it drops on November 1st, and check out the video below, which Jennifer made with her sister Sarah!

• Kirk

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“1986” by The Darcys

The Darcys first album in four years, Rendered Feelings, came out this week and it’s another great one from the duo.

Drummer Wes Marskell has this to say about the record:

“Rendering Feelings took a really long time to… render. As it does, life got in the way. Jason and I were both going through massive changes, and at different times confronting past traumas, breaking up, making up, and relapsing to old behaviors and flawed patterns. At one point, we both found ourselves in long-distance relationships which, in turn, made the two of us in a long distance relationship. Spoiler: LDRs are bad for productivity.
In part, that’s why the record is so conversational, we wrote it as if every lyric could be pulled from a phone conversation (or text) one of us had over the past four years. Technology became a theme, as did UFO’s for some weird reason.”

I did wonder about the UFO themed merch they had going on. Listen to the track “1986” below and the rest of the album full of bangers (that I can’t wait to hear live) by clicking here.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: August 12 - 18, 2024

“Cliché Town” by Sunset Rubdown

As we creep closer to the release of the new album from Sunset Rubdown, called Always Happy To Explode (their first new album in 15 years!), we’re getting another tease with the latest single, “Cliché Town”.

Subscribers to Spencer Krug’s patreon may recognise it, as the original demo was released in 2020 as part of his song-a-month project, but now the tune has been reworked & re-recorded with the full band.

“Cliché Town” explores “feelings of frustration and hopelessness that can come with being stuck in a small town, specifically the sensation of being trapped next to, or rather below, unhinged neighbors” and at six minutes long, really gives strong ‘descent into madness’ vibes.

Have a listen below, and mark September 20 on your calendars for the release of Always Happy To Explode, as well as October 10, when Sunset Rubdown kicks off their tour with a show here in Vancouver at the Rickshaw!

• Kirk

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“Why We Run”, “Videostore”, and “Don’t Look Away”
by Menno Versteeg

I love a good multi-single drop, and that’s exactly what we got from Menno Versteeg this week.

Three new singles from his upcoming solo album (due out December 13th), including the title track “Why We Run”.
Of the song Menno says: "I was working on a soundtrack for a kids movie with my long time friend and Hollerado collaborator Nixon Boyd and we needed a song for a scene where some bullies were chasing a kid down the hall of a school. The lyrics evolved into being about way scarier stuff like the adults who are bullies professionally. Of course the movie people didn’t wanna use it. I mean WE ARE leaving the kids a pretty gnarly set of circumstances, but hey, maybe it’s funnier if we try to make it a surprise?"

He also announced on Instagram (along with a hilariously gross story) that he’ll be doing a string of solo shows including a stop in Vancouver at The Heatley on October 3rd (and I’m just hoping I can run between that and the Rich Aucoin show that night!)

• Christine

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“New Low” by Meko Brain

A few months back, we got our first taste of Meko Brain, the solo project from Mike O’Brien — who you may know from Zeus, or playing with Bahamas, Jason Collett, and Dan Mangan, among many others. Now, we’re not only getting a new song, but news of his debut album, Wonderment!

The latest single is called “New Low”, and comes with smooth vocals and grungy guitars, which Mike explains; “many of my other songs have a more acoustic folk sound so I wanted to bridge the more acoustic, organic folky sounds with this slinky pop song. I love how it turned out. I ended up layering the vocal several times to get a wide yet intimate sound. It all culminates with a satisfying fuzzed-out guitar riff to bring it home! As for the lyrical idea, I started to form this idea of a guy who knows his partner is being unfaithful but doesn't want it rubbed in his face. If it's not stated out loud then he can continue to carry on the charade that he doesn't know what's going on. So in a sense, it became a dance song about self-pity. I wanted to make a video that matched this idea but in a not-too-literal way, so we enlisted Jack Harrison who created an amazingly simple yet effective video that matches the song's mood perfectly!”

You can watch the trippy video now, and snag Wonderment when it’s out on October 9!

• Kirk

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“Future is Bright” and “Beautiful Sights” by Arielle Soucy

Coming off her ‘024 Polaris Long Listed debut album, Il n'y rien que je ne suis pas, Montreal’s Arielle Soucy just dropped a Double A-Side, Two Hopeful Songs featuring, well, exactly that.

“Future is Bright” and “Beautiful Sights” are a pair of gorgeous songs that feature warm acoustic guitars and soaring synth, mixed in with her incredible vocals.

Two Hopeful Songs is out now, and you can have a listen to both below!

• Kirk

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“Lost in the Plot (acoustic)” by The Dears

Nothing reminds you of the inexorable march of time like album anniversaries, but it’s worth it when they come with a beautiful new release.

This year, The Dears celebrate their seminal album No Cities Left with a Definitive 20th Anniversary Edition. Along with one of my favourite albums of all time on white vinyl, you’ll also get a a whole host of bonus acoustic tracks, like this version of “Lost in the Plot”.

You better believe I’ve already pre-ordered mine, and until it’s out on September 13, you can listen to Murray Lightburn’s fragile voice serenade you below.

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 22 - 28, 2024

“Fish Out Of Water” by Menno Versteeg

Menno Versteeg, former lead singer of Hollerado, and member of super group Anyway Gang, has released solo music for the very first time!

The single “Fish Out Of Water” (which features Doug Paisley on acoustic guitar and harmonies), is about “all the trials and tribulations” that come with growing up in a small town and “how it feels growing up an outsider used to getting your ass kicked”.

Menno’s voice is so distinct, and I’ve been missing Hollerado as of late, so this was a nice treat and I hope we get more tunes soon!

• Christine

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“Raven” by Ghostkeeper

You may know Ghostkeeper as the ‘ever-evolving project of Métis pop experimentalists Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle’, and now they’re back to follow up their Polaris Music Prize long-listed album Multidimensional Culture, with a brand new single, “Raven”.

The song is haunting, with a driving rhythm, and Shane describes it as “a mantra written to manifest a life together in which we walk, talk and breathe in a good way with nature and all her realms. Living in the realm of the raven and embracing that medicine keeps us in solidarity and committed to each other’s well-being. May the spirit of the raven keep us well as we walk in the realm of rock n roll.”

“Ravens” is the first single to their upcoming album due out August 28th, Cîpayak Joy — Cîpayak being a Cree term that translates as 'the ghosts are dancing' and is often used to describe the Northern Lights!

• Kirk