Charlotte Cornfield announces release of full length "Two Horses"

There was a lot of buzz around Montreal-based folk singer Charlotte Cornfield during NXNE.  Now we get to see if it was all worth it as she prepares to release her debut full length, Two Horses, on October 25th.  From what I've heard there's a lot to look forward to.

Get a taste with this live clip of Cornfield performing "All the Pretty Mistakes":


Charlotte Cornfield plays a CD Release show at The Dakota in Toronto on October 27th.

Folk Songs Of Canada Now album including Al Tuck, Chris Eaton, Laura Barrett and more

Folk Songs Of Canada Now is an interesting project.  Henry Adam Svec has taken it upon himself to compile a record the documents Canada's rich folklore history.

The album includes contributions from artists such as Al Tuck, Laura Barrett, Wax Mannequin, Olenka Krakus of Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, and novelist/Rock Plaza Central's Chris Eaton.

Here's what's involved:
I. Bonnie Lasses

• Come, You Women (Andrew Penner [Sunparlour Players])
• Nellie Coming Home from the Wake (Mathias Kom)
• Poor Little Girls of Ontario (Chris Eaton & Idris Eaton Reinsborough)
• Maiden (Andy Magoffin)
• Maggie Howie (Olenka Krakus)
• Little Indian Maid (Tara Beagan & Henry Adam Svec)
• Discussion About Recording Levels for “Sally Go Round the Sun” (Bryan Pole & Henry Adam Svec)
• Sally Go Round the Sun (Bryan Pole)

II. Men and Shantyboys

• Kelly the Pirate (Ajay Mehra)
• July 4 (Michael Duguay)
• Down by Your Shady Harbour (Henry Adam Svec)
• The Hobo's Grave (Ron Leary)
• Save Your Money While You're Young (Laura Barrett)
• Is the Life of a Man Any More Than the Leaves? (Wax Mannequin)
• Old Time Mountain Dew (Henry Adam Svec)

III. Nature, Community, Religion, War, and Newfoundland

• When the Ice Worms Nest Again (Jenny Omnichord)
• How We Got Back to the Woods This Year (Andrew Vincent)
• Come All Ye Bold Canadians (Song of the War of 1812) (Geoff Berner)
• The Banks of Newfoundland (Al Tuck)
• All Cats Are Grey in the Dark (Henry Adam Svec)
• Cruiskeen Lawn (El Ron Maltan)
• The Cold Black River Stream (Steph Yates)
• Is the Life of a Man Any More Than the Leaves? (Andrew Sisk)

Samantha Savage Smith: "Tough Cookie" (album review)

There's going to be no confusing Samantha Savage Smith with any of the countless carbon copy whiny emotive female singer-songwriters that abound these days.  No, this young Calgarian has cobbled together her own unique style for her debut album Tough Cookie (out September 6th).

The vocals are really at the heart of these songs.  Smith has incredible range.  On "Devilman" her warble seems to come from a voice pushed to the emotional breaking point.  Compare that to a song like the compelling "The Fight" on which her voice exudes so much power that she seems to be almost physically pushing you forward.

Most of the tracks have a blues or soul feel to them, probably no more so than the dark melodramatic (in a good way) "Nobody Loves Me Buy My Own Kind".  However, when Smith branches out the results are tremendous.  "The Hats" is a fun, lively duet.  The sense of playfulness pops up again with the vibrant "The Score".

Not every song is as engaging as these.  Lulls come with the title track, "Ladybird", and a handful of others.  Redemption comes in the form of "Good of Goodbyes", which sounds like Dusty Springfield singing Etta James songs, and "1000 Days" that can be best described as Zooey Deschanel taking a stab at an Ella Fitzgerald number.

Anybody who can pull off something like that is definitely someone to be reckoned with.

Samantha Savage Smith plays the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on September 6th.

Best tracks: "1000 Days", "The Hats"

Track listing for Tough Cookie:

• Devilman
• Keep It In a Box
• The Fight
• Tough Cookie
• Ladybird
• The Hats
• Nobody Loves Me But My Own Kind
• The Score
• Good of Goodbyes
• 1000 Days
• What I've Tasted
• You Always Come To Mind

7.0/10

Adrian Glynn: "Blue Belle Lament" (MP3)

Adrian Glynn is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is set to release his debut album Bruise on September 6th.  What separates this Vancouverite from the rest of the folk music crowd is that he composes his songs primarily on lap-slide guitar and balalaika (The Scorpions would be so proud).

Have a listen to the track "Blue Belle Lament" now.

Here's the track list for the album:

• The First Time
• Blue Belle Lament
• Mother Mary
• Bruise
• Leavin' Alone
• If These Endless Days
• Seven Or Eight Days
• When Everything's Right With The World
• The Heart Of Every Lion
• On London Bridge
• The Failures
• Prayer (Sandy's Song)

Glynn will be touring western Canada throughout September.

Adaline unveils new album details, give away track "Wasted Time"

Toronto's Adaline has garnered comparisons to trippy elecro-folk acts like Bat For Lashes and Goldfrapp.  On November 1st she returned with her sophomore album Modern Romantics.  The new record was produced by the very busy Hawksley Workman.

Grab yourself a download of the first track "Wasted Time".

Here's the track list for the album:

• That's What You Do Best
• The Noise
• Keep Me High
• Wasted Time
• Rebels Of Love
• Say Goodbye (I Won't Even)
• Cost Is Too High (Not To Love)
• Sparks
• Lovers Collide
• Silent Player
• Stereo
• Heartache

Jane's Addiction: "Irresistible Force" (video)

I know most of you will be skeptical about a new Jane's Addiction album.  After Strays I can't say I entirely blame you.

The band are giving us all a first official taste of the new album, The Great Escape Artist, in the form of a video for the track "Irresistible Force".  My first impression is that it is a refreshing change of pace for the band.

Watch the video here:


The Great Escape Artist comes out on October 4th.

New releases for Aug 30th: Juliana Hatfield, CSS, Beirut

Looking at the scheduled new music this week, you may want to take note of:

• Beirut- Review
• Glen Campbell
• CSS
• Mike Doughty
• Juliana Hatfield- Review
• Tommy Keane
• Lenny Kravitz
• Male Bonding
• The Nightwatchman- MP3
• PS I Love You
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Tommy Stinson
• Tasseomancy- Review
• Butch Walker- MP3
• Whitehorse- Review

Lou Reed & Metallica reveal more album details

Okay, it's time to talk unlikely pairings.  We've been hearing about this one for a while, but it's now official, legendary art rocker Lou Reed will be teaming with the biggest metal band in history, Metallica, for a new album.

The record, credited to Lou Reed & Metallica, will be titled Lulu and comes out on November 1st.

The album will feature lyrics Reed wrote for the German Berliner Emssemble's theatrical production of Frank Wedekind's Lulu Plays.  The boys in Metallica provide the arrangements for the Velvet Underground founder's words.

This should be one of the most interesting listens of the year.  It would make for a very very intriguing tour as well (although to my knowledge no tour plans have been made).

Wild Flag: "Wild Flag" (album review)

When it comes to musical pedigrees, you'd be hard pressed to find a new act that has a better one than Wild Flag.  The band is comprised of former Sleater-Kinney players Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss, alongside Helium's Mary Timony, and Rebacca Cole of The Minders.  The quartet release their self-titled debut album on September 13th.

It would be easy to sit here and try to pick out every little instance where Wild Flag sounds vaguely like Sleater-Kinney.  It would be equally tempting to point out the slightest differences between the two bands.  The truth, as is usually the case, lays somewhere in the middle.

The Sleater-Kinney stutter step cadence is the cornerstone of many of these new songs.  That's particularly true when Brownstein's delivers her typical choppy vocal rhythm.  A track like "Something Came Over Me" serves as a strong example of that.

It's really what Wild Flag lay on top of that initial Sleater-Kinney building block that makes these songs so compelling.  On the album opener, "Romance", the adornment is a catchy, almost surf-inspired verve.  At the other end of the spectrum,"Boom" is a fuller, more all-encompassing sound than Sleater-Kinney ever really achieved.  Both "Short Version" and "Electric Band" inject a healthy dose of melody to fill the gaps within the ample power.

All of that gets flipped on its head with "Endless Talk".  That track places the punk rock guitar and drum attack at the forefront, leaving a breezy summer backdrop beneath to suck in the listener.

Timony's influence manifests itself strongest on "Glass Tambourine".  That track has an overwhelming Helium flavour with it's unique structure and chamber pop inspiration.  The album closer, "Black Tiles", is a kicking rocker that also features that cresting and crashing.

Wild Flag has managed to accomplish a difficult task.  They have come together with a long line of fans who have expectations based on previous work.  With this record they have keep their songs familiar sounding enough to placate those fans, while infusing just enough new elements to refrain from sounding derivative and tired.  It was a hard balance to strike, but Wild Flag have done it very well.

Wild Flag plays Lee's Palace in Toronto on October 11th.


Best tracks: "Endless Talk", "Boom"

Track listing for Wild Flag:

• Romance
• Something Came Over Me
• Boom
• Glass Tambourine
• Endless Talk
• Short Version
• Electric Band
• Future Crimes
• Racehorse
• Black Tiles

8.0/10

This week's entertainment picks: Peter Bjorn and John

Wow, this is one dead week for music in the Big Smoke.  Grab what you can.

Peter Bjorn and John, Lee's Palace, Sep 2 & 3
Always a fun show, it seems like PB&J are in Toronto at least quarterly.  I won't look a gift Swedish horse in the mouth though.

...also this week:

• Glen Campbell, Aug 31
• My Darkest Days, Sep 1
• Saga, Sep 1
• Male Bonding, Sep 2
• ANR, Sep 3
• Autoerotique, Sep 3
• Dubfire, Sep 3

Toronto concerts announced this week: The Sheepdogs, Bedouin Soundclash

Lots of great concerts are slated for Toronto.  Added this week were:

The Sheepdogs

• Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers, Mitzi's Sister, Sep 12
• Whitebrow, Free Times Cafe, Sep 14
• Charge of the Light Brigade, Mitzi's Sister, Sep 15
• Motopony, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 20
• Peaches (DJ set), Opera House, Sep 21
• The Sheepdogs, Sound Academy, Sep 22
• Les Breastfeeders, The Garrison, Sep 23
• Wiz Khalifa, Sound Academy, Sep 26
• Wiz Khalifa, Sound Academy, Sep 27
• Girls, Mod Club, Sep 27
• Bedouin Soundclash, Massey Hall, Oct 1
• Three Metre Day, Hugh's Room, Oct 4
• Viva Brother w. Motopony, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 13
• Uh Huh Her. The Phoenix, Oct 15
• Revolver, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 16
• Danielle Duval, The Rivoli, Oct 20
• Kate Voegele w. Parachute, Mod Club, Oct 21
• Kevin Devine, Drake Underground, Oct 27
• Little Red, Drake Underground, Oct 28
• Redd Volkaert, Great Hall, Nov 6
• Deer Tick, Lee's Palace, Nov 16

Quick Hits: Jeff Bridges

Among the things I couldn't deal with this week were:

Jeff Bridges, Jeff Bridges
I'm skeptical when it comes to albums made by actors.  Just because you excel at one aspect of entertainment doesn't mean you can (or should) attempt others.  The list of perpetrators is long.  Russell Crowe, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Costner, are all among the middle-aged thespians who have tried and come up short, sometimes hopelessly so.  With his self-titled album of country weepers, Jeff Bridges has firmly established himself as the exception to the rule.  This album will win you over with honesty and emotion, and some darn good songwriting to boot.

The Matthews Brothers release EP recorded in farmhouse

The back roads of Hastings County, ON are not the first place that springs to mind when you consider the sources of independent music in Canada.  It's here though, that The Matthews Brothers pulled together their new EP The Night We Left Here.

The 5-track EP was recorded in their farmhouse studio.  You can hear the folk-with-stomp songs on their Facebook page.

You can also hear their 4-track self-titled EP that came out last year here.

It serves as a reminded that good music can come from unlikely places.

Last minute plans: Machette Records showcase @ The Bovine

What are you up to tomorrow?  Instead of sitting around watching re-runs of Til Debt Do Us Part, why don't you swing on down to the Bovine to help Montreal's Machette Records celebrate their second anniversary.

On August 27th, the label will be holding their second monthly showcase at the Bovine.  Montreal soul/punk/rock outfit Rome Romeo will perform.  Also on the bill are psych-rockers Amanita Bloom and Toronto celt rock group Summer Of '92.

Cover is $5

3 More To Explore: Keith Top Of The Pops, We Barbarians, The Morning Clouds

Take a look at three more artists that you may not be familiar with.  Give them some time this weekend:

Keith Top Of The Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band
For those who like: The Fall, Art Brut

Now that band names' a mouthful.  Keith's band is a rotating cast that includes members of Art Brut, Carter USM, and We Are Scientists among others.  Their debut album, Fuck You! I'm Keith Top Of The Pops comes out in September.

Keith Tops Of The Pops' Soundcloud

We Barbarians
For those who like: slick alt rock

I wouldn't put this Brooklyn trio quite all the way into the Emo category, but they do go down that road a little bit.  Slick guitar-based alt rock and emotive vocals abound.  Their new EP, Headspace, comes out in a couple of weeks.

We Barbarians' website

The Morning Clouds
For those who like: The Jesus & Mary Chain, Spiritualized

This is the new project from Josh Wambeke, formerly of Fell.  They release their debut space-aged indie rock EP Wasted Youth Blues shortly.

The Morning Clouds' Facebook

Danielle Duval readies debut album

September 13th will mark the release of Of The Valley, the debut full length album from Montreal musician Danielle Duval.  The album was produced by Carlin Nicholson and Mike O'Brien, better known as half of Zeus.

There's no shortage of guests on the record, with contributions coming from The Golden Dogs, Bahamas, and Jason Collett.

Duval is no stranger to the Canadian rock scene, having worked in the past with Emm Gryner and Sam Roberts, among others.

You can download "Ambulance" now.

Danielle Duval plays The Rivoli in Toronto on October 20th opening for Royal Wood.

Rachael Yamagata: "Even If I Don't"

Rachael Yamagata is much more than your standard female-singer-behind-a-piano.  She's out to prove that once again with her forthcoming full length album Chesapeake.  The record has been set for an October 11th release date.

She's made another track from the album available.  Have yourself a good long listen (or many) to "Even If I Don't":

Even If I Don't by Sneakattackmedia

As well, you can still contribute to the album through Yamagata's PledgeMusic campaign.

Tommy Stinson returns with new album "One Man Mutiny" (MP3)

Tommy Stinson is likely known by most music fans for the integral role he played in one of the greatest rock bands ever, The Replacements, and for his work with the most recent incarnations of Guns N' Roses.  However, with his 2004 solo album Village Gorilla Head and his own band Perfect were pretty damn good in their own right.

On August 30th Stinson releases his new solo album One Man Mutiny.

You can get a free download of the title track here:

He does have a handful of dates scheduled in support of the album.  With any luck we'll get to see him in Toronto again soon.  One of my fondest concert memories is from the Village Gorilla Head tour when a few dozen people braved a wicked blizzard to see Stinson at the Horseshoe.  The set involved a bunch of songs he played while seated on the side bar.  Ah, the memories...

Carleton Stone: "Carleton Stone" (album review)

The sophomore self-titled album from Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Carleton Stone is one of those hit or miss efforts.  The songs on the album, produced by Hawksley Workman and coming out on September 6th, are either compelling roots rock or inoffensive forgettable pop.  There's little room in between.

Let's deal with the bad first.  Well it's not bad really, more like indifferent. Tracks like "Last Thing" and "Fit Together" are pop rock songs with little to separate them from hundreds of other radio-friendly tunes.  "Million Dollar Heart" is slick and over-produced.  For some reason Stone feels like he needs to make a big, important statement.  That manifests in the closing tracks "Bad Decisions" and "Gone", both of which are overwrought and grandiose.  The worst moment is likely "Never Felt a Thing", a cheesy piano-based ballad.

With that out of the way, let's look at the good.  When the twang gets turned up, Stone is all good.  "Moving On" sounds like a male Kathleen Edwards, which is a good thing.  You can hear some Ryan Adams-sound on "Dominoes", with an incredible gospel backing vocal.

There's a good old-time rock n' roll feeling you get from "Sheets".  "Strong Medicine" is a hard-charging rock cut.  The catchiest number is "Looks", which bends heavy under the weight of the sheer volume of hooks it contains.

Carleton Stone may infuriate you, because there are a lot of really good, engaging song on the album.  Unfortunately, for every yin there is a yang with this album.  That means there are far too many songs that sound about as interesting as Muzak.

Best tracks: "Dominoes", "Looks"

Track listing for Carleton Stone:

• Last Thing
• Moving On
• Sheets
• Million Dollar Heart
• Never Felt a Thing
• Dominoes
• Looks
• Strong Medicine
• Bad Decisions
• Gone

5.5/10

Elliott BROOD give away "If I Get Old" (MP3)

Toornto Polaris-nominated band Elliott BROOD release their new album Days Into Years on September 27th.  The band have decided to give away a second track from the album.

You can download yourself "If I Get Old" now.

Elliott BROOD have a bunch of southern Ontario tour dates booked with One Hundred Dollars, including:

• Guelph @ Club Vinyl, Oct 13
• Hamilton @ Leander Boat Club, Oct 14
• London @ Call The Office, Oct 15
• Kingston @ The Grad Club, Oct 22
• Sault Ste. Marie @ Loplop Lounge, Oct 27
• Thunder Bay @ Crocks, Oct 28
• Sudbury @ The Townhouse, Nov 17
• Toronto @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Nov 18
  

Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers announce new album details

Halifax's Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers have announced the details of their new studio album.  In The Time Of Great Remembering has been slated for an October 18th release.

The album should feature Caplan's unique vision of traditional folk dotted with instruments like clarinet, saxophone, and flute.

Here's the track list for the album:

• Southbound
• Beautiful
• Seed of Love
• Conduit
• Drift Apart
• Rest Your Head
• Down To The River
• Bang To Break the Drum
• Leave Me Longing
• Stranger

Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers play Mitzi's Sister in Toronto on September 12th.

Last minute plans: The War On Drugs

Philadelphia-based band The War On Drugs will be playing a show tonight in support of their Arcade Fire-esque second full length, Slave Ambient.  Judging from the album, it's shaping up as a must-see concert.

Check out the video for the track "Baby Missiles":

The War on Drugs "Baby Missiles" from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

You can also grab the download here.

The Pack A.D.: "Unpersons" (album review)

Vancouver's The Pack A.D. have made a lot of noise (literally and figuratively) on the Canadian indie rock scene over the past few years.  On September 13th they return with another wave, in the form of their fourth studio album Unpersons.

The duo, comprised of Maya Miller and Becky Black, aren't going to shock anyone with the content of the new record, but it should help reinforce their existing fan base.

The album kicks off with the forcefully grinding head-bopper "Sirens", while "Take" is methodically fuzzy.  It's the first of a long line of propulsive tracks, such as "Lights" and the early Kills-style "8", that assail the listener with a relentless bashing.  A thumping, menacing drum beat fuels the fire of what become furious and incendiary vocals on "Ride".

There's a pop sensibility buried deep within the music that goes a bit unappreciated with the band.  "Positronic", for example, has a strong melody underneath its gruff exterior.  Despite an unorthodox hook, "Haunt You", holds its own in terms of infectiousness.  When the bombast gets dialed down on "Seasick", a great groove rises up to fill the void.

Indie blues rock plays a big role in the band's music as well.  That's best heard in the Heartless Bastards-esque "Pieces".  Sure it's been done before, but The Pack A.D. do it very very well.

That can actually be said for most of Unpersons.  All of this has been done before, and much of it by The Pack A.D. themselves.  However, when something is good, it's good no matter how often it's been done.

The Pack A.D. play the Opera House in Toronto on October 15th.

Best tracks: "Seasick", "Ride"

Track listing for Unpersons:

• Sirens
• Haunt You
• Lights
• 8
• Rid Of Me
• Seasick
• Take
• Positronic
• Body Parts
• Pieces
• Cardinal Rule
• Ride
• Hear Me Out

7.5/10

Florence + The Machine: new video for "What the Water Gave Me"

It was pretty much unanimous as everyone in the Free World loved Lungs, the debut album from Florence + The Machine.  The wait for a follow-up is coming to an end as the still untitled sophomore record has been slotted in for a November 7th UK release (I assume that means November 8th in North America, but don't hold me to that).

The video for the first track, "What the Water Gave Me" is out now.  So check it out and get ready to salivate waiting for more:

Three Metre Day: debut album details, "Stay That Way" (MP3)

The Toronto-based folk/roots band Three Metre Day is comprised of Hugh Marsh, Don Rooke, and Michelle Willis.  Between them they have worked with a broad spectrum of musicians ranging from Bruce Cockburn to Loreena McKennitt to Mary Margaret O'Hara to Don Byron.

The trio will be releasing their debut full length album, Coasting Notes, on October 4th.

Download the first track from the album, "Stay That Way".

Three Metre Day play a CD release show at Hugh's Room in Toronto on October 4th.

Tom Waits reveals new album "Bad As Me" release date, track list, listening party

The long wait is coming to an end!

Tom Waits' new studio album, Bad As Me, has now been set for an October 25th release.  The record is already up on iTunes for pre-order and you can buy the single "Bad As Me" over there as of today.

Here's the track list for the album:

• Chicago
• Raised Right Men
• Talking At the Same Time
• Get Lost
• Face to the Highway
• Pay Me
• Back In the Crowd
• Bad As Me
• Kiss Me
• Satisfied
• Last Leaf
• Hell Broke Luce
• New Year’s Eve

The deluxe version comes with three bonus tracks:

• She Stole the Blush
• Tell Me
• After You Die

With any luck we'll see Waits pull through Toronto to tour this album.

UPDATE: Waits will be hosting an online listening party for the album this morning.  Keep tuning in here to join in.

Whitebrow preps debut EP, release show

Whitebrow is the stage name for Burlington, ON roots singer-songwriter Gabriel DeSatnis.  He's just recorded his debut EP, All's Still Before The Storm, which will be available for free download via Bandcamp starting on August 31st.

I've had a listen to the album, and it is a great mellow, slightly spooky take on the folk genre.  Think Bon Iver minus the soul-sucking boredom.

The record is a great fit for a late summer night.

Whitebrow plays a CD release show at the Free Times Cafe in Toronto on September 14th.