Songs of the Week: April 28 - May 04, 2025

“Olive Garden” by PUP

I got so excited when I saw that PUP announced a tour to support their new album Who Will Look After The Dogs?, and then I saw that they’re touring with Snotty Nose Rez Kids and my little brain exploded. That’s going to be a hell of a tour and you can count on me being at one of the shows on November 24th at The Pearl, and 25th at the Commodore (ugh, that’s so far from now!).

The latest track off of the album is “Olive Garden” - yes, about the chain restaurant - and the band even did a release party on the first of May with a whole Olive Garden theme.
About the song itself, lead singer Stefan Babcock says:
“This is a very stupid, but also wonderful song. The band gets all the credit for turning it into something really special. Zack (who plays drums) heard my cute little acoustic guitar demo and decided we should try and make it as heavy as possible. Which is objectively, a very annoying thing to suggest. But you know what, I’m glad I kept my stupid mouth shut, because it works. There’s a real magic in the way these sweet vocal melodies are bludgeoned by a wall of disgusting, grinding, detuned guitars. The whole song is kinda upsetting and uncomfortable but also, catchy and fun. And I don’t care what anyone says, ‘Olive Garden’ rhymes with ‘Grandma in a coffin’ –  listen to this crap and tell me I’m wrong."

• Christine

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“Dreaming” by The Darcys

The Darcys tour with The Blue Stones starts up again this week, and I can’t wait to see them when they play Vancouver on June 6th.

The band also announced a new EP, I Must Be Dreaming, with a few different versions of the track “Dreaming”, and a cover of Dua Lipa’s song “Don’t Start Now” that SLAPS (here’s the Spotify link).

I can’t wait to hear all new new music from their album Rendered Feelings live next month too!

• Christine

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“Take It On” by Georgia Harmer

Last week, Georgia Harmer released her third single of the year with “Take It On”, a slow-burn introspective piece driven by her raw vocals.

Harmer explains the song is “about the way I see myself, and the ways I have assumed others see me. It’s about the emotional labour of taking on conflict around me - and creating it internally - sometimes for the sake of having something to solve, to worry about, and noticing how that habit has weighed me down. This song is me holding a mirror up and being very honest about what I see.”

Hopefully we get news of a new album soon, but until then you can watch the video below, directed, shot, and edited by Nora Rosenthal.

• Kirk

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“eau miroir” by Ambre Ciel

I know there is less than zero chance this song was written & recorded for me, specifically… but everything about the new track from Ambre Ciel — from the haunting vocals to the beautiful piano to the sweeping orchestral arrangement assisted by Owen Pallett — is square in my wheelhouse.

“eau miroir” is the second single from the Montreal singer’s recently announced debut album still, there is the sea, which immediately shot up the list of my most anticipated albums of the year.

Have a listen below, and grab the album still, there is the sea when it’s out on June 6 via Gondwana Records.

• Kirk

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 19 - 25, 2024

“Demons” by The Darcys

Almost missed this announcement from The Darcys, but we have new music (“Demons”) and an album release date September 27th for their new album Rendered Feelings.

Of the new track the band say it is “raw and honest and a bit melancholic, if we're being real. It's about how love sometimes falls apart even when you're doing your best to hold it together. You know you should let go but you're compelled to keep trying to make it work which only makes it harder.”

The band always has the best merch, and aside from pre-ordering the (clear!) vinyl, they’ve got water bottles, sticker sheets and very cozy looking sweaters!

I can’t wait to hear more from the album, get my hands on it soon, and hope there’s a tour announcement on the horizon!

• Christine

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“Let It Rain” by Valley

Toronto’s Valley has dropped their latest single from upcoming album, Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden.

“Let It Rain” is the fourth single from the upcoming album, and features lovely vocals from the trio, and a plinking piano sounding like raindrops.

Frontman Rob Laska explains “‘Let It Rain’ is a song about change and overcoming. It’s very much dedicated to the band and how it’s been the one constant in our lives through love and loss. To the people we’ve become, to the people we’ve left behind and the people we have yet to meet. Acceptance of growing old and learning to be ok with that is at times a difficult conversation to have with yourself. Being in a band and specifically in the music industry, it can at times feel like a storm hanging over your head symbolizing that it’s too late. Who said you’ve run out of chances? It’s about letting all those feelings come out and taking them for what they are, which often results in you realizing that you have so much life to live ahead of you.”

Check out the lyric video below, and you can grab Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden when it’s out on August 30.

• Kirk

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“Pray For You” by MAUVEY

Last week, MAUVEY announced the third and final instalment of his Before The Album series, Before The Album 3:1, with the afro-fusion “Pray For You”.

The new single is an anthemic tune, with MAUVEY explaining, “Each song on Before The Album 3:1 is an anthem, designed to inspire, celebrate and uplift the listener. Distributing love is my purpose and my goal. “Pray For You” has a no frills message that gets straight to that point.” 

You can grab Before The Album 3:1 on October 25th!

• Kirk

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“Sweet Surrender” and “Basement Apartment” by Haley Blais

Haley Blais has decided to pay tribute to two of Canada’s best Sarahs, dropping a pair of cover songs last week.

First up is a gorgeous rendition of Sarah McLachlan’s classic “Sweet Surrender”, followed up with the incredibly vulnerable “Basement Apartment” from Sarah Harmer. Blais reflects, “Sarah McLachlan was a huge musical inspiration to me growing up; Sarah Harmer was integral to the journey of Wisecrack. I wanted to pay homage to the two artists that shaped me as the artist I am today.”

You can listen to “Sweet Surrender” and watch a live performance of “Basement Apartment” below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: April 29 - May 05, 2024

“Get To You” by Begonia

Begonia has to be one of the hardest working people in Canadian music right now. It’s been a little over a year since her Polaris short-listed album Powder Blue, and she’s already set for her next release, The Open Swim EP.

The first single off the EP is “Get To You”, featuring Alexa Dirks’ powerful voice over a groovy R&B beat. Alexa says “this song is about trying to get through to someone you can't seem to get through to. When you feel like you're constantly showing someone who you are and they can't or don't want to see it.”

The Open Swim EP is out July 17 on Birthday Cake Records, and was co-written & produced by Begonia & Marcus Paquin, with contributions from her frequent collaborators and producer duo, deadmen!

• Kirk

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“Talking” by The Darcys

The Darcys just feel like summer to me, and I’m extremely excited that they’ve announced their next album! No official date yet, but if the new single “Talking” is any indicator, I know I’m going to enjoy Rendered Feelings.

The track was on a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy (may this show never go away so more indie bands can get their music on it!), and the band joked that “watching the episode taught us how to remove a fence pole from another human’s body without using anesthetic.”

Listen to the sweet track that feels like a hazy summer afternoon below, and then go stream it a few hundred times for them!

• Christine

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“Harsh” by BOBBI

As we creep closer to the release of her EP, BOBBI has released the title track, “Harsh”

The new single is a haunting song, and BOBBI says “This is the first song I ever produced by myself. It’s the sum of all the lessons I learned while creating this body of work. I went through a lot personally while this project came together, and this song kind of felt like the punctuation to a very tumultuous time.”

Harsh is out May 24th, and you can stream the title track HERE, or check out a gorgeous live version below!

• Kirk

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“Nothing To Report” by Fold Paper

You’re going to want to crank it for the brand new song from Fold Paper.

“Nothing To Report” features ripping guitars and pounding drums, with raw vocals from singer Chell Osuntade, for an energetic post-punk tune that immediately hooked me.

“Nothing to Report” is the first single from the band after signing to Royal Mountain Records, and you can check out the video 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: February 27 - March 05, 2023

“Bad Addiction” and “Stay Gold” by The Matinée

After teasing with some acoustic, live-off-the-floor tracks, The Matinée has finally dropped the first new single(s) from their brand new album, due out later this year.

The new songs are classic roots-rock tunes from the Vancouver group; “Bad Addiction” featuring soulful backup vocals from The McCrary Sisters, and “Stay Gold” inspired by a compliment singer Matt Layzell gave to fellow Vancouver musicians John Sponarski and Brandon Wolfe Scott.

On “Stay Gold” Matt says “Our pal Brandon Wolfe Scott made the video, and both the song and video were smoking hot. I commented on Johnny's social post that I wanted to “roll this up and smoke it. It was that good. And then I realized that was a lyric in itself and I should find a way to write it into a song. I think I even commented something to the effect of “and don’t use that... it’s a lyric I am working on!” That was the spark for "Stay Gold". Thanks Johnny!”

It’s been a minute since The Matinée’s last album, so hopefully we hear it sooner rather than later!

• Kirk

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“Apple” by Braids

The release date for the new Braids album is fast approaching, and we’re getting another look at the album, with the latest single “Apple”.

The bubbly, upbeat track is punctuated by a swell of orchestral strings, as singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston conveys “a celebration of seeing new possibilities in the eyes of a lover, acknowledging past loss with a new state of heart that’s been opened and filled.”

Check out the trippy video below, while you wait for the new album, Euphoric Recall, out April 28

• Kirk

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“Trouble Found Me” by The Darcys

Another banger of a song from The Darcys came out this week and it’s been stuck in my head the whole time.
“Trouble Found Me” centres around trying to outrun yourself, and the trouble you “guess you were looking for” finding you anyways.
It is the latest release from what is an expect fall album from the duo and I can’t wait for more

• Christine

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“Marker” ft. The Zolas by dwi

On the latest track from dwi, he’s joined by some familiar faces.

“Marker” features his bandmates from The Zolas, on a punchy tune that features what dwi calls a “kiss track” from The Zolas’ Zach Gray.

dwi explains, “I’ve always wanted to write a song where I could experiment with rapping. It’s the first time I’ve ever done it. ‘Marker’ is a song about people who use power to take from others but eventually will get caught. Zach’s (The Zolas) verse is a kiss track, which we coined to be the opposite of a diss track.”

The new track is off dwi’s upcoming project “Zoo Life”, which will be out later this year, in July.

• Kirk

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“On A Beach” ft. Feist by Hayden

A new track from Hayden that features Feist?! I’m in.

But wait… the video for “On A Beach” also stars Matt Berninger from The National, and Steve freakin’ Buscemi!? I don’t think I need to sell you on this one.

Are We Good is set to release on April 5th, and I’ve loved everything from it so far, and can’t wait for the rest.

• Christine

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“You Can Let Go” by Half Moon Run

Half Moon Run is back with new music, and a massive fall tour announcement that will see them perform two nights at the Commodore Ballroom on November 2nd and 3rd.

“You Can Let Go” is accompanied by a lyric video that sees Eli Tomlinson starring as “disgruntled office drone”, with the seamless camera shot, swinging around an office watching the man and his increasing boredom.

The style of the song harkens back to OG Half Moon Run sound, with the ever-present harmonies the band is known for. Stay tuned as I am sure there is more music (and an album announcement) to follow.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: April 04 - 10, 2022

“Washed Away” by The Darcys

I was really excited this morning, knowing that I’d get to share the new single from The Darcys, and then I woke up to news that their van was broken into!
The culprit only stole an iPod Touch (lolz) but caused $1000 of damage to the van! BOO!

SO, here’s two things you can do - listen to the awesome new song, “Washed Away”, below (and stream it on your preferred playform) and buy some merch from the duo. I got two vinyl, a hat , (plus Kirk and I both got socks) at their Vancouver show last week. I recommend one of everything!

• Christine

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“Never Been” by Darkometro

What happens when you combine Maia Davies (of Ladies of the Canyon) and Patrick Krief (of The Dears and, uh, Patrick Krief)? Darkometro.

“Never Been” is the first single from the collaborating pair, who are long-time friends, and blends Davies’ gorgeous voice with Krief’s fuzzy guitar.

Maia Davies says the song “is a place created where wild love feels safe. This naively beautiful aspiration I carry around, that just a touch or a look to someone can electrically forge all the highs of love. It’s a moment I’ve lived but never maintained. So in this song my fantasy comes to life, somewhere to drink too much wine with someone, party and kiss and have it never end.” And Krief adds: “The sounds of ‘Never Been’ were created as if scoring a movie, one of a murky night, of low visibility, with high lush vocals calling through it. I wanted the bass to feel wooly and warm like a blanket over the whole thing. Summoning Bowie's cacophony on ‘Heroes’, I layered guitars and synths forever, til they grungily and joyfully become one thing.”

Here’s hoping that this is just the first tease of things to come, and we get more from the pair real soon.

• Kirk

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“Trash Bag” by Deanna Petcoff

I have a feeling that a lot of people who have simply existed for the last two years are going to relate to the latest from Deanna Petcoff, “Trash Bag”.

The incredibly charming and catchy song was written at the beginning of the pandemic, Deanna says “as a little tongue in cheek moment. I was starting to see someone new in the throes of the pandemic, and I had to cancel on them almost every time we had plans because I was having an anxiety attack or a depressive episode or a chronic pain flare and couldn’t get myself out of bed. I didn’t want them to view me as a sick person, and I wanted them to still want to see me when I got better. This song came out of nowhere one day while my roommate was doing laundry and moving around bags of garbage that we hadn’t been able to take out in a few days because neither of us had our shit together. In the end I hope this song resonates with anyone that has a mental illness, chronic illness, or anything that prevents them from feeling normal, healthy, and cute.”

“Trash Bag” is off Deanna Petcoff’s latest album To Hell With You, I Love You which came out this past Friday, and you can check out the very fitting video below!

• Kirk

Song of the Day: June 21, 2019 - "Better Days" by The Darcys

Okay, so I’m a little late on this new one from The Darcys, but “Better Days” is the newest in a string of singles from the band, hopefully leading up to a new album (though nothing official is announced… yet).

Sure to be a staple on all summer jam playlists, singer Jason Couse says “For us, ‘Better Days’ is about trusting that even in the darkest moments, better days lay ahead. We want everyone to know that we’ve been there, that we all face moments of sadness, fear, regret and frustration, but these experiences allow us to grow. We hope this song encourages people to keep their heads up, to stay optimistic and to take care of themselves.”

Take a listen below!