Friday Find: Purple Hill

For those who like: Blue Rodeo, Grant-Lee Buffalo

Purple Hill are a Toronto band with a great Americana bent.  They release their new album, Top 40 Radio Memory Dream (Oh Yeah), on February 27th.

Watch the video for "Six Strings All To My Heart" (I already love this song) here:

Steve Earle & the Dukes: "Terraplane" (album review)

With Steve Earle and his estranged son Justin Townes Earle seemingly locked in and escalating war over who can release the most music in a short time span, music fans have had a lot to look forward to.

After Justin recently released his Absent Fathers album (review here), big papa Steve returned last week with his latest, Terraplane.

The very first thing you hear on Terraplane is the blast of harmonica, letting you know that you are in for one of Earle's bluesier records.  And he doesn't disappoint.

Patrick Watson announces new album "Love Songs For Robots", stream title track

Patrick Watson is renowned for his lush, moody music.  On May 12th he takes it all a step further with his new album Love Songs For Robots.

You can hear the spacey title track here:

Patrick Watson plays the CBCMusic.ca Festival at Echo Beach in Toronto on May 23rd.

Brandi Carlile: "The Firewatcher's Daughter" (album review)

There's something to really admire about Brandi Carlile.  Early in her career she probably could've achieved much greater stardom by pumping out a constant stream of albums.  But that's not what she has chosen to do.  Instead she's been meticulous, releasing material that is only of the strongest kind.

Her latest effort is the forthcoming full length The Firewatcher's Daughter (out March 3rd).

Carlile's vocals have always been a strength.  She absolutely booms with a confident delivery on "Wherever Is Your Heart".  It's an earthy, gritty performance that would shame Melissa Etheridge on "Mainstream Kid".

Girl Meets Bear: "Ignore"

In the path blazed by Toronto synth pop groups like Austra and Diamond Rings comes the duo Girl Meets Bear.  The group's delightful single "Ignore" has already been featured on the Eugene Levy vehicle Schitt's Creek.

Listen to it here:

New releases for Feb 24th: Dan Deacon, Mat Kearney

• The Black Ryder
• Dan Deacon- Review
• Falling In Reverse
• Gang Of Four
• Mat Kearney
• Screaming Females
• Torche

This week in Toronto concerts: The Lone Bellow, Dan Mangan

People will go crazy for Animal Collective at the Drake on Thursday (for me they are like nails on a chalk board, so check out  Billy Ocean that night instead!).  The Lone Bellow will have a tough time topping their last gig when they hit Lee's Palace on Friday.  Dan Mangan and Hayden hit Massey Hall on Saturday.

...also this week:

• Cannibal Corpse, Feb 24
• Snowday, Feb 24
• The Agonist, Feb 25
• Suuns, Feb 25
• Retox, Feb 25
• Hundred Waters, Feb 26
• Sweater Beats, Feb 27
• Nightmares On Wax, Feb 28
• Silverstein, Feb 28

Toronto concerts announced this week: Interpol, Jessie J, Hot Chip, Flogging Molly

• Beans On Toast, Horseshoe Tavern, Mar 9
• Public Service Broadcasting, Drake Underground, Apr 4
• Marian Hill, Drake Underground, Apr 15
• Testament, The Phoenix, Apr 15
• Kodaline, Danforth Music Hall, Apr 16 & 17
• Delta Rae, The Rivoli, Apr 21
• Smallpools, Mod Club, May 7
• Jessie J, Danforth Music Hall, May 7
• Gerard Way, Danforth Music Hall, May 20
• Hot Chip, Danforth Music Hall, Jun 3
• Speedy Ortiz, Horseshoe Tavern, Jun 5
• Clean Bandit, Danforth Music Hall, Jun 12
• Flogging Molly w. Gogol Bordello, Echo Beach, Jun 21
• Interpol, Danforth Music Hall, Jun 14 & 15

Playlist Of The Week: Valentine's Hangover

Valentine's Day was last week, but hopefully the romance continues.  Try this playlist to help.

Whitehorse: "Leave No Bridge Unburned" (album review)

It's great to see the success that wife/husband duo Whitehorse have had.  There are few musicians in Canada who can craft songs the way they can, both together and independently.

The new album, Leave No Bridge Unburned, is a slight departure for the pair.  The focus has shifted from the hushed, introspective folk influence of their initial releases, to a moodier sound with heftier arrangements.

Heartfelt numbers like "Dear Irony" take a backseat to more methodical and menacing tracks such as "The One I Hurt".  That comes through again on "Sweet Disaster", which sees Melissa McClelland channeling her inner Margo Timmins.