Songs of the Week: May 27 - June 02, 2024

“Kate Moon” by Said The Whale

Last week, Said the Whale released their 163rd song, “Kate Moon” — though members of their recently relaunched patreon may have heard it a bit sooner.

Joined by their long-time friend David Vertesi, who produced as well as played bass, the band described the new tune as “a warm hug on a cold and damp west coast day” which has been needed after the last few days here in Vancouver!

Sink into the embrace by listening below!

• Kirk

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“Say Goodnight” by Debra-Jean Creelman

Okay, this new single from Vancouver’s Debra-Jean Creelman is STACKED with talent.

First off, obviously the woman herself, but on trumpet on “Say Goodnight” you’ve got JP Carter (of Destroyer), multi-instrumentalist Sean Cronin, and Jo Passed’s Jo Hirabiyashi! And on top of that, in the live version below, Jasmin Parkin of Mother Mother on vocals, as well as a whole horn section.

The song itself “questions whether it’s possible to maintain one’s artistic edge while being in love”, and comes from DJ’s upcoming album Ego Death, which is out on July 12th (and I cannot wait!).

• Christine

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“Keep Me Free” by Peter Dreams

You probably know Peter Dreams better as July Talk’s Peter Dreimanis, but last week he unveiled a brand new solo project with the first single, “Keep Me Free”.

A bit lighter than July Talk’s grittiness, the new song is a breezy summer jam that was made in collaboration with the fine folks of MOONRIIVR.

No word yet on a full album from Peter Dreams, but he will be at the Hillside Festival in Guelph this summer, so here’s hoping we hear more soon!

• Kirk

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“Anyone Else's Eyes” by Meko Brain

Speaking of solo acts using a pseudonym that’s close to their real name: Mike O’Brien has debuted his latest project, Meko Brain.

Best known as part of Zeus, O’Brien has also worked with the likes of Dan Mangan, Bahamas, and Jason Collett (among many others) but now dropped his solo song, “Anyone Else's Eyes”.

The new single is a chill tune perfect for a warm evening, and Mike explains “I think we can all benefit from the old adage of walking a mile in someone else's shoes. It has to be possible to step back and zoom out and try to see someone else's point of view. The easiest way to adopt this mentality for me is to apply it to my immediate personal relationships. In a sort of montage way, I think I wanted to express this idea/feeling in the song.”

Have a listen below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 09 - 15, 2023

“Live a Lie” by Kandle

Kandle is back with a dark and hypnotic new song called “Living a Lie”. It’s the first tease of her upcoming, self-produced album, which will be out in the spring of 2024.

The single is accompanied by an X-Files inspired video directed by Jeffrey Mitchell — who co-wrote the song, and is the Mulder to Kandle’s Scully. Kandle elaborates that “this cinematic homage still layers in some welcome levity, with epic performance pieces and considerably more dancing than an X-Files episode typically contains. Happy 30th anniversary X-Files!”

• Kirk

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“Never Grow Up” by Said the Whale

Said the Whale wants to “Never Grow Up” with their latest single. The Vancouver band recorded this new rocker at the end of August with frequent collaborator (and local legend) Steve Bays, and admit it’s the fastest they’ve ever turned a new song around, from recording to release.

Check out the video below, which is a peek behind the scenes at the process, and includes Tyler Bancroft getting not one, but two new tattoos, including one he did himself!

• Kirk

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“I'm Starting to Think I'm Bad at Parties” by The Darcys

Yay! A new banger from The Darcys!

Released on Friday the 13th, the new track, “I’m Starting To Think I’m Bad At Parties”, is about “the malaise of the human condition and confronting the monotony of daily life”.

Despite that sounding super melancholy, it’s a super fun song with a hell of a catchy chorus (“hands up, hands high, if you don’t feel like feeling lonely tonight”), that kinda reminds me of some of the songs by The Zolas. (I think I just built myself a very fun touring duo!)
Check it out below!

• Christine

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“Old Familiar Drunken Feeling” by Corb Lund

Corb Lund is back with a new song, album on the way, and a tour to follow after that.
The new record, El Viejo, pays tribute to his late friend and mentor, Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson, and was recorded fully acoustically, live off the floor (of Corb’s living room).

The first single, “Old Familiar Drunken Feeling” is based on a true story of Corb being way too high off of edibles during a show.
Here’s his account of it: “It was all totally above board, the state had just legalized it, so it was kind of a novelty field trip for the band to visit the shiny new dispensary. Some songs are 'based on truth' but this happened EXACTLY as I sing it. Turns out weed ain't my thing. And eating it's even worse, it lasts forever. Fronting a band can occasionally be terrifying at the best of times, doing it high as a kite and super paranoid was hell on earth. When I started feeling like myself again in the second set after a bunch of cowboy whiskey, I confessed to the audience what had happened and offered them all their money back! No one took me up on it.  Bottom line? If this doesn't get me a Pendleton whisky endorsement, I don't know what will." 

You’ve gotta see the video below as well!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: October 31 - November 06, 202

“Road to Hell” by The Matinée

It’s my birthday today and I’d like to think that The Matinee released new music just for me, but either way, I’m excited!
The band has been working on a new record that’s set to be released in 2023, and they posted a behind-the-scenes from the studio (click here) - side note, that 1-800 number at the end didn’t work.

”Road To Hell” will be on their new album, and below is a live version that Steve Bays filmed at his studio with the boys.

• Christine

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“Right Here” by Begonia

I was very excited when a new track from Begonia hit my inbox last week. The Polaris Prize- and JUNO-nominated singer has announced a brand new album with her lead single, "Right Here", which highlights her catchy indie-pop and incredible voice.

Alexa Dirks describes new tune as “a love song for all my friends. The Matts (Schellenberg and Peters), Marcus Paquin, and I started writing it in December 2019 about how I was on tour all the time–always feeling like I was missing my friends’ milestones, parties, birthdays etc. I love what I do, but the sacrifice is that you're not really someone who can like...BE THERE physically for a lot of important (and unimportant) things back home. We never fully finished the song that December, but then we picked it up again during pandemic lockdowns and it started to take on a whole new meaning. At that time, it felt like everyone was missing everything / everyone because we had to stay apart. Another way this song could be interpreted (that I didn't originally intend) is that I’m haunting all my best friends when they go out without me. Maybe that's creepy but also...tender? It's meant to be tender, haha.”

The new album, entitled Powder Blue, is out February 24!

• Kirk

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“See You” by Louise Burns

It's been a minute since we've heard from Vancouver's Louise Burns, but last week she released her first new single in a while, a haunting cover of Depeche Mode's "See You"

Burns says “Depeche Mode are iconic and beloved, so it felt like I was entering blasphemy-territory by choosing to cover them. I chose See You because despite being one of their earliest hits, it’s not as well-known as some of their later catalogue. It’s a perfect pop song, and exemplifies what Depeche Mode do best – incredible production and instrumentation that only enhances what was already a great song. We went with a more slowed down, elegant Bryan Ferry-esque treatment. I was (and always am) feeling that energy, and knew the song would hold up no matter what we did with it”

Hopefully the new single means more on the way soon!

• Kirk

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“Disarm” by Shred Kelly

Speaking of fun cover songs... Shred Kelly just released a gorgeous cover of "Disarm", originally by The Smashing Pumpkins!

During the pandemic, singer/banjoist Tim Newton learned the song and recorded an acoustic version in his bedroom, which was shared by Billy Corgan himself. Since then, the alt-folk band has added the song to their live set, and now it’s out for everyone to hear.

The band is just about to launch a European tour, but fingers crossed they'll be playing "Disarm" live in Vancouver soon after that!

• Kirk

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“Girls Night Out” by Said the Whale

I’m just going to copy what Said the Whale’s Tyler Bancroft said on their instagram post about this song, because I don’t think there’s anything I can add:

Hey STW fam, Tyler here. I lost my mom yesterday so as you might imagine I’m having a hard time pivoting right back into “promote a song” mode (especially a song as silly as this one) but here’s something worth sharing: when I turned 30 I asked both of my parents to write a story for me about their lives. My mom delivered a succinct, 12-page summary of her entire life from the day she was born up until March 3, 1985 (the day I was born). If you’d known her you might find that amusing because she really was a master of concise and clear communication. Anyways, in that story was the following excerpt, which I think is somewhat relevant to the song we released today: “I preferred to hang out with gay guys, a safe bet and a new experience for me. At the time there was a social stigma attached to the term ‘divorcée’ - that was one of the seeds of the women's movement. In those days it was assumed that a divorcée was ‘easy pickins’ for guys on the prowl. I was very careful to never allow a guy to buy me a drink or accept any gifts from anyone in case the meaning of the gesture gave the wrong impression.”
So maybe this song is actually the perfect send-off for my mom, who is currently on her own celestial (and eternal) girls night out🍸.
I love you mom.

Songs of the Week: June 13 - 19, 2022

"And (Samantha Sarty Version)” by Michael Bernard Fitzgerald

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald (aka MBF) announced this week that his 2020 LP, Love Valley, will be released in an entirely new format - featuring all female vocalists, - titled Love Valley Rearranged (Deluxe).

The original album contained a female voice for one line on each track, the rest being Michael's, but the “Rearranged (Deluxe) songs are all newly fronted with female voiced interpretations and Michael is the singular line sung per track”.

The first release is Winnipeg artist Samantha Sarty (“who plays in Living Hour and Veneer, and collaborated with US/CA group Central Heat Exchange. She also explores soundscape composition in her experimental solo project, purepulp”).

Other ladies on the record of note include Ashleigh Ball (of Hey Ocean!), Hannah Epperson, and Jaycelyn Brown (of Said The Whale) and more. Can’t wait to hear them all.

• Christine

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“love and anarchy” by Little Destroyer

Vancouver’s Little Destroyer is back with their second single of the year so far, the infectious “love and anarchy”.

A song about navigating love & relationships, frontperson Allie Sheldan says “I think love as a liberator is a radical idea because so much of our learned behaviour around love is to be possessive, scared, insecure. There’s a big difference between conditional and unconditional. As somebody who’s always had a really complicated relationship with relationships, it took crashing head first into a rock bottom before I did the work to learn how to love unconditionally. This song is a thank you to, and celebration of, the people (and person) who helped me get there, and still be here.”

No word yet on a new album from the trio, but hopefully we hear word soon!

• Kirk

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“Eiffel Tower” by KINLEY

Just a warning off the top: after you listen to the latest single from KINLEY, you will have it stuck in your head for the rest of the day. “Eiffel Tower” is the lead single to the PEI singer’s upcoming album Daylight, and is an incredibly catchy indie-pop breakup tune.

KINLEY says “I wrote this song after reflecting on a breakup. I got in a fight with my boyfriend in Paris. We were surrounded by couples in love at THE most romantic landmark in the world, the Eiffel Tower. I should have known it would never work out!”

Have a listen to “Eiffel Tower” below and mark November 4th for the release of Daylight.

• Kirk

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: 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: July 26 - Aug 01, 2021

“The Alchemist” by The Wilderness of Manitoba

It’s been a while since we last heard from The Wilderness of Manitoba. Three years, in fact. But the Toronto band returned last week with a brand new single, “The Alchemist”. The new single is as dense and gorgeous as the band ever was, sounding like they never missed a step.
Have a listen below, and keep October 29th marked, as the release date for the new album, Farewell To Cathedral.

• Kirk

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“99 To The Moon” by Said the Whale

We’ve got an album name (Dandelon), a release date (October 22nd), and a new single (“99 To The Moon”) from Said The Whale and I couldn’t be more excited.
Oh wait, how about a 3-day home stand in Vancouver in March of next year at the Fox Cabaret, Biltmore Cabaret, and Vogue Theatre?! (and hints at a 4th show if you go to all 3!)

• Christine

Songs of the Week: June 07 - 13, 2021

“Sick of the Silence” by Mother Mother

Fresh off an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Mother Mother drops another new single, “Sick of the Silence”. The frenetic song is the latest off their upcoming album Inside, which is due out next week (June 25) and they’ve also booked not one, not two, but four hometown shows at the Commodore, (December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) heralding the return of live music!

• Kirk

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“Show Me Everything” by Said the Whale

Forget the MCU, we’re starting to see the STWCU form (okay, doesn’t quite roll off the tongue the same).

The latest video from Said the Whale continues the narrative from their last video “Everything She Touches is Gold to Me“, seeing mountain man Krock Dynamo (Ben Worcester) breaking down while being haunted by the ghost of the local reporter (Tyler Bancroft) that he shot with an arrow.

The song itself is a gorgeous indie-pop jam featuring a string section that includes members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. It’s off their forthcoming album which doesn’t have a name or date yet, but at the rate they’re releasing new music, we might be hearing the whole thing sooner rather than later (hopefully?)

• Kirk

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“Feels Like Summer” by Left Field Messiah

I don’t think I’m going to have to sell you on this new song by Left Field Messiah, but here goes.
It’s titled “Feels Like Summer” and it actually FEELS like summer, and there is a massively awesome saxophone solo in it.
That’s the pitch. What else could you possibly want?!

• Christine