A Canadian on Politics

Baisa Bulat - Oh My Darling - Snakes and Ladders

Basia Bulat is from Etobicoke, Ontario and attended University of Western Ontario. She is known for playing an autoharp, but also plays guitar, ukelele, piano and the hammered dulcimer.

(Hee.  The description tickles me because I am like: I play guitar! and autoharp! we have a connection!

… no we do not.)

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune - Row of Houses

Born in Smithers, British Columbia, Dan Mangan has also lived in the province of Ontario.  He currently makes Vancouver his home.  He has released two EPs and three LPs and I kinda sorta think he’s awesome (only without the kinda sorta).  So have a song.

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.

Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day - Tailor

Julie Doiron is from Moncton, New Brunswick.  She has had a varied music career both with bands and as a solo artist, releasing mostly solo material in English, but also one French album (Désormais).  She has played as a guest musician with bands such as the Tragically Hip and artists such as Gordon Downie.  

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.

Stars - 5 Ghosts - I Died So I could Haunt You

Stars, a Montreal-based band first released in 2001.  Since then, they’ve released twelve additional albums or EPs.  All the members are also a part of Broken Social Scene.  I got 5 Ghosts last week, and it feels very appropriate for the never-ending rain my city has suffered the last few weeks.

Pathological Lovers - Calling All Favours - Sister Cities

Pathological Lovers is from St. John’s, Newfoundland and started out in 2006.  They’re an indie band and are incredibly popular in NF.  I think they are awesome and am pretty disappointed I didn’t get to see them in St John’s while I was there.

I’m still sick so have music from a Canadian singer-songwriter, Basia Bulat.  This is Little Waltz from her first full-length album release, “Oh, My Darling”

Basia Bulat is from Etobicoke, Ontario and attended University of Western Ontario. She is known for playing an autoharp, but also plays guitar, ukelele, piano and the hammered dulcimer.