There are a lot of things to like about today’s tune.  There’s that sort of Jim Cuddy mixed with Joel Plaskett vibe that can be heard, there’s the fantastic harmonies during the chorus that just ache to be turned up, and then there’s the charming lyrics like “I’m too old for the girl I love but [...]

Yesterday, Vancouver’s indie/folk-pop ingénue Hannah Georgas walked away with CBC Radio 3’s Bucky Award for “Best New Artist”.  Not 10 minutes later, I received a text from a friend letting me know that Radio 3’s best new artist was somehow missing from my blog that was supposed to highlight best new artists; she quickly followed this up [...]

Another great song up today from the Toronto indie-rock trio The Rural Alberta Advantage.  Drain the Blood is off the band’s debut LP Hometowns, which was re-released (with the backing of Saddle Creek Records) this past July; Saddle Creek’s lineup also includes the indie acts Bright Eyes, Tokyo Police Club, and Land of Talk.  Drain [...]

I was violated by my dentist today.  I should clarify, I was financially violated by my dentist today to the tune of $485 dollars; though I imagine this sort of violation feels similar to the other kind of dentist violation.  So tell all your friends about BowlingStone.com,  my traffic will increase, and I can charge [...]

Tonight’s song comes from John O’Regan, and his indie-pop/electronic-folk (yeah I’m genre tagging something electronic-folk) side-project Diamond Rings; his main project is fronting the Toronto-based indie-rock act The D’Ubervilles.  As far as I can tell, the ridiculously charming All Yr Songs can only be found on a 7-inch vinyl split-release featuring Diamond Rings and Kingston, Ontario’s [...]

Today’s song comes in from the Raleigh, North Carolina indie-folk (sometimes described as nu-folk) band Bowerbirds.  Consisting of members Beth Tacular, Phil Moore, and Matt Damron, Bowerbirds have released 2 full-length LPs since their debut EP “Danger at Sea” in 2006.  Ghost Life can be found on the band’s most recent album Upper Air, released on July [...]

Today’s contribution to Music Monday comes from the Guelph, Ontario singer-songwriter Gentleman Reg, also known as Reg Vermue.  To Some It Comes Easy can be found on Gentleman Reg’s 4th studio album Jet Black, released on February 24th of this year via the Canadian independent label Arts & Crafts; the album features contributions from Metric front-woman [...]

I have not spent a lot of time in Saskatchewan; a Saskatchewan band with the name The Deep Dark Woods does not create the sort of imagery that will likely change this.  However, the music said band has created has piqued my interest in the land of rough riders and 80s haircuts; the 80s haircut [...]

Gone, Gone, Gone is another number from the pride of Nova Scotia, Joel Plaskett, and his 3-disc magnus opus Three.  Released in March of this year, Plaskett’s 3rd full-length solo effort captured his 2nd Polaris nomination, however I’m not completely convinced this album should be considered a solo-album proper.  For myself, the backing vocals (I use the word [...]

Thanks (in large part) to the strangely fascinating drum beat, I’ve found this song on repeat for the better part of today; if any music theorists reading this can explain what is going on with that snare, in terms of time signature, please feel free to comment.  Where and When comes from the Canadian indie-folk/rock [...]

Today’s song is another from the Toronto indie-rock act The Wooden Sky.  Unlike the last song I posted from the band, Darker Streets Than Mine can be heard on the band’s debut LP “When Lost at Sea”, released in January of 2007.  Both albums from the band have been released via the Canadian independent label Black Box [...]

I suppose it’s appropriate that with Halloween weekend around the corner, I post the most haunting song I’ve heard this year; I promise this wasn’t planned, it just sort of happened.  On a side-note, I remember using that line on an ex-girlfriend, after showing up to meet her parents hungover and still wearing clothes from [...]

This morning’s song is from my fellow Calgarian Chad VanGaalen.  Rabid Bits of Time became one my favorite Chad VanGaalen pieces after watching him perform it at this year’s Polaris Music Prize gala;  it was one of the most intense performances I have ever witnessed.  The song can be found on VanGaalen’s moody third full-length [...]

If you’ve ever sat down and attempted to pen a song, you’re aware that it is significantly more challenging than Dan Mangan would have you believe.  Finding a balance between telling a story, engaging a listener, evoking thought and emotion, and presenting it all in a way more eloquent than a slap to the face [...]

I know I say this about every song I post, but I’m really feeling today’s number.  With an amazing vocal tone, an irresistible beat, and painfully honest lyrics, Afie Jurvanen (aka. Bahamas) crafts a classic.  This isn’t an attempt to compare/liken artists (just an observation), but near the end of the song when I hear Alfie summon his [...]

Today’s song is one of those numbers that makes me wish BowlingStone’s audience was larger than 400-ish daily readers.  There’s still 2 months left in 2009, but I can’t see another tune replacing this as my favorite song of the year; so do me a solid and share this with everyone you know.  The opening line [...]

Today’s song comes to us from the American supergroup (yes I’m going to use that term) Monsters of Folk.  Consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, and M. Ward, the group released a debut self-titled album on September 22nd of this year.  The band kicked off [...]

Tonight’s song comes to us from the Winnipeg, Manitoba indie/folk-rock band The Weakerthans.  Civil Twilight can be found on the band’s fourth full-length album Reunion Tour, released in September of 2007.  The album was among an impressive group of short-listed releases for the 2008 Polaris Prize, which would ultimately be awarded to Caribou’s Andorra.  Though [...]

The Montreal Canadiens were in town last night, and in a similar fashion to last season my Flames sent me home happy.  This introduction has absolutely nothing to do with tonight’s song, I just feel that it is my duty to ensure as many people as possible know that the Flames won.  Tonight’s song comes [...]

Hailing from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Beirut is a band driven by the young and talented Zachary Francis Condon.  The band’s debut effort, entitled Gulag Orkestar, was released in 2006 to tremendous critical acclaim; This acclaim included a 7.7/10 from the stingy Pitchfork Media, and the title of best album of 2006 from Rough Trade Records.  The release is a fine [...]