Jimmy Hunt, you’re a brave man. Well, not as brave as the guy riding this elephant, but still. Great song, too.

Today, we celebrate albums coming out by two great musicians, who are releasing their first solo albums in years. NENEH CHERRY For Those Who Like: Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, St. Vincent In 1989, acid-wash jeans and denim jackets were in style, Converse shoes were trendy, and my beloved Calgary Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup. It was […]

For fans of: Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr, Pinkerton-era Weezer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Screaming Females Last year, I wrote a very short intro to Brooklyn-based grunge trio Slothrust, and their untitled-at-the-time album made the list of albums we’re looking forward to in 2014.  One day after we posted that list, Slothrust announced they would be releasing Of Course You Do on Ba […]

If you’re a fan of great pop, rock, country, folk, and just about any other style you can imagine, check out Matt Ouimet. The “gig” page on his website reads like a who’s who of Eastern Ontario artists, as he’s playing with someone, somewhere, just about every night. http://www.mattouimet.com/Matt_Ouimet_Muiscball/Live_Shows.html Here’s a track from 2010. True to form, it’s great. Mellow, […]

YOUNG FATHERS For Those Who Like: K-os, Shabazz Palaces, Massive Attack, TV on the Radio Young Fathers is a self-described “psychedelic hip hop band” by Edinburgh, Scotland. I guess that’s one way to describe this young band, whose music combines many genres – hip hop, R&B, rock and pop with heavy percussion and staggered melodies. While melding together so many […]

Californian singer-songwriter Nedelle Torrisi has been making music for a long time. Her parents were musicians, and she has been performing since she was a child.  She’s toured with a bunch of acts, Deerhoof, Destroyer, Magnolia Electric Co, Xiu Xiu, and most recently opened for Julia Holter.  She’s also collaborated with Xiu Xiu, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, and Half-Handed Cloud. […]

Starting today, I’ve added a new section called Sound Bites, which will just be tracks that artists have randomly released or have released as a teaser for an upcoming album. But first, let’s get started with a couple of bands with new albums out. Dum Dum Girls For Those Who Like: Frankie Rose, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Go-Gos For […]

Recorded in Winnipeg, Del Barber’s fourth record is a success on a number of fronts. He continues to display his soulful country voice and songwriting, but on this record he’s really gone experimental in terms of his recording process. A plain old studio isn’t enough for this guy, no sir. Most of the tracks were recorded in a fairly traditional […]

DAMIEN JURADO For Those Who Like: Neil Young, Nick Drake, Bon Iver, Over time, I’ve begun to truly appreciate the masterful work of Damien Jurado, the Seattle-based singer-songwriter who last week released his 11th album, Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son. For the last three albums, including Brothers and Sisters, Jurado has teamed with Richard Swift (an accomplished singer-songwriter himself) […]

Boston based singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler has been releasing some great music over the last few years.  Her music is chilling, haunting, and beautiful. On February 4th, Nadler will release her latest album, July. The album doesn’t feel quite like an album that would be named July, it definitely represents its release month, February much better. Unlike her self-titled 2011 album […]

Today’s Mundo Musique is dedicated to two musical acts coming out with albums tomorrow – albums that should be part of anyone’s collection. THE PACK A.D. For Those Who Like: The Black Keys, The White Stripes, Joan Jett, Savages Back in September, I had a chance to speak with The Pack A.D. following their performance at the Ottawa Folkfest, at […]

One of the albums I’m most looking forward to this year is Real Estate’s Atlas, which is due out on March 4th. Last year, two Real Estate members released their own albums, guitarist Matt Mondanile’s Ducktails released the excellent The Flower Lane, and bassist Alex Bleeker’s Alex Bleeker & The Freaks released How Far Away. Today, I introduce you to […]

We’re going across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for today’s Mundo Musique. BLANK REALM For those who like: Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin, Kurt Vile, Pond I have to admit that when psychedelic rockers, Blank Realm, released its debut album, Go Easy, in 2012, I wasn’t all that thrilled with the album. However, with their sophomore effort, Grassed Inn, the […]

Folks, this is Alex Silas. He’s one of those guys who has a vision that’s a bit all over the place. He’s strongly influenced by hip hop, rock, folk, country. I haven’t seen a lot of jazz yet, but I’m sure that’s coming soon. I really dig his work because Alex finds a common space for all these sounds and […]

Brooklyn-based, indie-pop trio Hospitality’s upcoming album, Trouble was on our list of albums we were really looking forward to in 2014. Their self-titled 2012 album, Hospitality was a really addicting album, catchy tracks like “Friends of Friends”, “Liberal Arts” and “Betty Wang” kept me coming back for more. On January 28th, Hospitality will release their second album, Trouble. On Trouble, […]

Today’s feature focuses on two stylish, synth-dream-pop bands to keep an eye on in 2014.  Both dabble a bit on the darker side of the genre, but in a way that is accessible and atmospheric. GEMS Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher form the duo GEMS, the Washington, D.C.-based band that has been receiving a lot of buzz among music […]

Jim Bryson and Jeremy Fisher are both legends in the Ottawa area (ok, elsewhere too, but we love them best at home). They started this series of collaborations a couple of years ago, but it seemed to stall after two tracks. Damn shame, this is some beautiful country-twanged folk.  

Elizabeth & the Catapult Elizabeth & The Catapult are back with the 11-track compilation, Like It Never Happened, which is its first since 2010’s The Other Side of Zero.  On Like It Never Happened, Elizabeth Ziman and company continue to produce piano-infused pop music and ballads.  However, for long-time fans of the Brooklyn-based band, the third LP also sees the […]

Kate Schroder was the final artist I wrote about for Ye Olde Version of Capital Revue in the Ottawa Citizen. At the time, I gave her a fairly positive review and basically said “it’s not perfect, but Kate’s one to watch.” She mixes pop, electronica, but not in that Kelly Clarkson Top 40 way. She’s a strong vocalist, with some […]

On February 18, Chicago based singer-songwriter Angel Olsen will release Burn Your Fire For No Witness, the follow-up to her 2012 LP, Half Way Home. Half Way Home grabbed quite a bit of attention in 2012, due in no small part to Olsen’s unique singing style.  Olsen’s voice is unique and captivating, changing octaves and throwing her voice around almost […]