A Canadian on Politics

Amelia Curran - Hunter, Hunter - the Mistress

Amelia Curran was described by the National Post as “a bit like Leonard Cohen being channeled in a dusty saloon by Patsy Cline”.  She is a musician from St John’s, Newfoundland and currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Last year, her 2010 album, Hunter, Hunter was nominated for 4 East Coast awards and won a Juno for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo.

The Once - the Once - Marguerite

This is the last CD I chose from Fred’s Record Store in St. John’s - and I originally did so actually because another album I was going to buy was not actually available.  When I walked up to the listening station, the guy who had been working beside me while I listened took one look at what I wanted to listen to, and handed it back, saying: “Don’t even bother.  Just buy it.  Trust me.”  And I did, and oh my god, was he so right.

The Once’s self-titled debut album in 2009 won 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards, 4 Music Newfoundland and Labrador awards, an East Coast Music Award, and a Galaxie Rising Star Award. 

This is one of my favourite songs off the album, and if you youtube it, you can find a video where the leadsinger performs it in a busy pub (the Ship Inn) and you can hear it go utterly DEAD SILENT to listen to her.  It’s amazing.

Amanda Lies - Mark Bragg - The Reckless Kind

When I was in St. John’s, last year, I met a musician who worked at Fred’s Records who offered to help me find music from Newfoundland (which was frankly awesome, because the whole reason I was in St. John’s was for music).  When I showed up, he happily danced throughout the store finding me things he thought I might like, and came back with like TWO GIANT PILES of music.  I stayed there for at least an hour at a listening station going through CD after CD, before finally having to whittle it down to specifically music I adored, rather than just liked, so I didn’t bankrupt myself.

I decided a few weeks ago that I would start posting a song from a Canadian artist or band on Sundays because I don’t tend to post a lot on weekends and Sunday is the day I go out and play my guitar, and in my wee head it just seems fitting.  I won’t just be posting Newfoundland music, since my stock is broader than that, but I will definitely be posting a lot.  Also, should you be inclined, I will probably take requests or suggestions! 

Mark Bragg, of course, from the story above is from Newfoundland.  His band is Mark Bragg and the Butchers and his new record comes out in September 2011.