The first hump day in March here in Halifax called for a very specific soundtrack this morning. Spring is coming, but there's still a fairly bitter chill in the air, so I searched for a band whose name reminded me of winter, but whose music could energize me and get me prepped for the warm weather on the horizon. And preferably, the artwork from said band's most recent album could have some sort of Napoleonic cat on the cover. I'll admit I thought that finding such a thing would be impossible, but into that void stepped You Should Have Killed Us When You Had The Chance from southern Ontario foursome Parkas.

Ordinarily finding an album that matches such an eclectic set of criteria would be a victory, but this is a bittersweet one, because, as anyone familiar with the band knows, this was the groups farewell album. This is a shame, because listening to You Should Have Killed Us a few times today brings to mind a band hitting their stride - indie pop sensibilities mixed with 90's riffs and catchy hooks aplenty, it's really an enjoyable listen in my humble. So it's a shame the Parkas are no more, but thanks to the miracle of recorded sound, you can treasure this, and their previous albums, forever. And here's hoping some/all of them are still making music and not toiling with the rest of us in the dreaded "real world".

MP3:: Parkas - The Gang's All Gone
MYSPACE::www.myspace.com/theparkas

Labels: Ontario, Parkas, R.I.P.

It's not surprising that Matthew Barber's upcoming release - True Believer - is flying under the radar of most of the sites I read and most of the music loving public in general. Barber is easy to classify - essentially he's a rock solid song writer that could charm you with just an acoustic or a piano - but the surprising range he presents when he writes songs makes it almost to lock into a sound or style. His understated arrangements consistently display his talent, but really don't translate into press quotes and hyperbole. He can't be put in a box with a generic, "he sounds like X + Y and a little Z" and sadly, that leaves this incredibly talented musician in a bit of a critical purgatory.

Descriptors like effortless, timeless, and classic are easy to throw around but really don't equate to anything you can hold onto. At the end of the day - to bastardize a Miles Davis quote - music either makes you smile and tap your foot or it doesn't. It would be easy if saying that Barber's songs make you move was enough, but the undeniable shift in how we gauge song writers makes that almost impossible. Barber's influences are people that wrote songs for the masses, unashamed that their strums made people happy, dominated the radio and could be enjoyed by anyone that listened, so why should we not extend the same courtesy to song writers in the current age?

I guess in an ironic twist, Barber puts out record after record of songs that fit all of those qualifiers but you rarely hear his name mentioned among our nation's best. To be honest though, I think Barber is ok with that and if pushed, he might say that he'd rather his songs be compared to his predecessors instead of his peers. So when he and producer Howie Beck sat down to record True Believer and Barber says that he was influenced by Neil Young, Tom Petty, Al Green, The Boss and The Band, I think those names are listed as a sign of respect and a potential measuring stick but not a blueprint for his sound. Barber doesn't want to sound like them, he simply wants his catalog to stand alongside theirs. Even when he adds some summery Paul Simon-esque guitar and percussion, the song is still built on Barber's musical foundation.

That small but significant difference is why the stripped down melodies he offers on True Believer are so infectious. Instead of forcing comparisons, you simply settle into the record knowing Barber's sound is his own. With only some perfect harmonies and a picked guitar line, Barber captivates the listener on The Little Things. Even when he beefs up the sound, layers are added for impact, not novelty. The booming horns and strings that get you nodding on the title track or the banjo and finger snaps that catch your ear on Comeback Baby never detract from the guitar and vocals, they just complete the sound. The gentle swell of horns on Revolution of the Sun don't overwhelm you, they force you to focus on his words and feel his emotion.

The ten songs on True Believer show the trademark flexibility of his voice - it's hard to imagine another contemporary artist that can deliver a perfect road trip anthem (Hawks on the Highway) and still sound completely comfortable on the most spare arrangements (Suddenly) or sharing the vocals with his talented sister (@JillBarber) - and should help cement his status as one of Canada's greats. I guess it all depends if people are ready to say sounding like Matt Barber instead of the slew of artists on which we gauge every song writer is finally good enough or not. Hopefully you are, because I certainly am.

MP3:: Matthew Barber - Revolution of the Sun
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/mbarber
BUY:: outside-music.com

Labels: Canada, Matthew Barber, Music, Ontario, Reviews, Toronto

One of my favorite things to look for when the Year-End floodgates open are bands/albums that affected other artists over the course of the previous year. When it comes to '09, the one new name that kept coming up was Toronto's Lisa Bozikovic. Her record - Lost August - was recommended to us by a few musicians we trust and love, and despite the staggering depth of the record that hits you right out of the gate (and even in today's 'me first' blog culture), I wanted to wait until the new year to talk about this unique song writer, so Ms. Bozikovic wouldn't get lost in the shuffle.

I had no idea what to expect when I hit play on Lost August. It's rare that a record gets sent my way that I have never heard of, so I wanted to relish the excitement and let her songs soak in without any context or preconceptions. The talented multi-instrumentalist writes songs on piano, organ, accordion and guitar, and remarkably uses each sound and texture to weave a beautiful, perfectly flowing tapestry.

With support from some terrific artists - members of Ohbijou and Steamboat make appearances on Lost August - Bozikovic's songs are diverse and detailed, but still crackle with a spontaneity often lost in the melancholic world she prefers to write about. She can strip back any superfluous sound to expose a single, pure emotion (remarkably over spare piano keys, strums or accordion), but Lisa is just as comfortable spiking the tempo and energy with quick moving melodies (Phone Card) or lush, well constructed arrangements (the organ heavy Take and Take).

But without question, what Lisa does best is executing a subtle shift and just the right time. She pulls you close as she whispers her words on No Denial, and just before you hang your head and wish for something better for her (and you), James Bunton's drums kick in, strings are added, and some surging harmonies. The confessional builds into something epic, but remarkably stays grounded to its roots.

Lost August accomplishes something remarkable; it plays start to finish (and with help from co-producer Sandro Perri) and you wouldn't change a note. Lisa's voice is different, slightly off-kilter but full of soul and heart. You can't decide if she's a folk artist with a soaring imagination or a dreamer that makes sure to keep one foot on the ground just in case. Whatever side of the fence you think her songs rest, we can all agree that this young Toronto singer is a talent we should all keep an ear on.

MP3:: Lisa Bozikovic - Phone Cord

MP3:: Lisa Bozikovic - No Denial

MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/lisabozikovic
BUY:: BUY FROM ZUNIOR

Labels: lisa bozikovic, Music, Ontario, Reviews, Toronto

We've talked about The Burning Hell until we are blue in the face here on herohill. Although Mr. Kom is usually given the credit for the tracks - deservedly so - his traveling collection of rogues transform ukulele tracks from whimsical, witty treasures into smoking romps that get even the most strict of video lotto machine player at Gus' Pub to shake their ass quarters cup.

One of those essential cogs is Mike Duguay. You might know him from countless other projects as well (Evening Hymns, Weird Weather) but Michael is also a prolific song writer and right now you can grab his debut EP for free over at Zunior.

It's a quick hitting three-song treat - essentially an amuse bouche to pique your interest for his debut full-length - but don't let the price tag cheapen the affair. Lion's Share kicks off with the rollicking, electric guitar and keys heavy anthem, Not My Party. The 5-minute jam builds off a simple guitar riff and some nice keyboard work, but slowly gains confidence and swagger. The last-two minutes finds Duguay cranking up the guitar and keys, throwing in some great group vocals, horns and a bouncing bass line that gets you moving. It's a more complete effort than anyone has the right to expect from a solo, songwriter EP and shows the talent the young Peterborough stable possesses.

What really grabs me about this EP is that even though Duguay obviously crafts these songs on his own and the core of the tracks form the foundation, he never shies away from stepping layers into the mix. The title track starts like a tender, coffee shop affair but blossoms into a fleshed out track that has you straining to hear each and every subtle texture that's introduced as you nod along to the hook. On the final track, The Kettle Black, Duguay proves he's a convincing story teller. The two-minute folk nugget never moves faster than a leisurely walk, but Duguay's voice keeps you listening.

Basically, Lion's Share EP does exactly what it sets out to accomplish. Duguay gets his name out there, and proves he can be the center of attention, not just a key supporting player. I'm already looking forward to the full length, and I think after a couple of listens, I think you will be too.

PS - Head over to his myspace and take a listen to his electro Xmas duet with Evening Hymns. He sets the bar quite high for Ricardo and his Oldfolks Christmas project that we will be revealing soon.

MP3:: Mike Duguay - Not My Party

MP3:: Mike Duguay - The Kettle Black
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/mikeduguay
BUY:: Download at Zunior

Labels: Canada, Mike Duguay, Music, Ontario, Peterborough, Quick Hitters, The Burning Hell

A few years ago, I was sent a record from an young two-piece from Guelph called Arrows. I liked Knives Are Falling From the Sky (review), but thought that they were struggling to find their sound as they sampled from the sounds we all the love (Pixies, Nirvana and Hey Mercedes were three that I heard).

Then they kind of disappeared. It's not unusual for a DIY act to lose steam so when I hadn't heard anything from them in a couple of years I assumed they packed it in. So when an LP from Cursed Arrows showed up in my inbox, it took a few google searches to figure out that Cursed Arrows were in fact Arrows, they just added another word to the mix. It only took a few seconds of their new LP - Telepathic High Five - to figure out that Ryan and Jackie definitely found "their" new sound.

The album opener, Run Forever, comes out swinging like an underdog heavyweight fighter, knowing there is only one chance to grab the spotlight and like Little Mac they shock us all and connect square on the jaw. It's not often I'm left staggered by a band after one song - especially on a sophomore effort - but Ryan and Jackie certainly crush any of your preconceived notions in that first 6-minutes and the LP never lets up.

To be honest though, every note on Telepathic High Five seems denser and crisper than their previous work. Instead of recording a record that sounds like shit on purpose, they took the time to get the sound just right. The kick drum beats through your chest, the sing/screamed vocals make you pump your fist and the sludge filled riffs they loved have been replaced with hard hitting, assaulting tracks that have enough energy to make The Junior Boys seem like an Amish act.

Lyrically the duo attacks some heavy subject matter. Whether it's the most basic of human emotions, terror at the way we treat the environment or the chilling realization that we might actually be alone in this universe, Jackie and Ryan refuse to let the lyrics on these heavy songs come across as an afterthought. Cursed Arrows successfully bridges the gap between the conscious DC punk acts that talked loud and still had something to say and a modern sound that doesn't sound like yet another band aping the past greats.

CURSED ARROWS - Chop You Up from Mitch Fillion on Vimeo.

MP3:: Cursed Arrows - Run Forever
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/arrowsband
WEB:: http://www.cursedarrows.com/

Labels: Canada, Cursed Arrows, Music, Ontario, Reviews

Do you remember when you were 18 years-old? Well, actually some of you might just be a toe-headed youngster that is new to the world, but for most of us silverbacks those awkward days of slef-discover, when love’s up and downs seemed as monumental as a plate tectonic shift are just memories kept tucked in old boxes like faded pictures and high school yearbooks.

I could barely articulate what was going on in my head, let alone display the maturity to handle those tides of emotion in sunshine laced pop melodies full with hooks and clever word play. Kalle Wainio on the other hand, seems to be wise beyond his years musically and emotionally. The Sault St. Marie native his band – Kalle Mattson - show more potential than any young band I’ve come across lately (other than maybe York Redoubt). With no member older than 22, these classically trained musicians have an obvious understanding of chords and melody, but the instinctual feel they have is what helps them shake free of the shackles of education and let their songs breath.

In true pop form, Whisper Bee is 11-songs focused on the universal muse of love. While the message might not be unique, the different ways the band approach the subject certainly are. Obviously, they prefer to travel on the same easy breeze that Wilco has perfected (Drunken Sweaters) fused with some nice feedback and sonic exploration (check the end of Mourning Dove) but whether it’s Weakerthans inspired stories (Whisper Bee, Come To Me), rollicking rock numbers (Bomb Threat Blues) or straight ahead pop hooks (Hall of Oats, these young men seem comfortable branching out in countless directions, but talented enough to make all the tracks fit together.

Like most people still waiting to reach their twenties, the guys in Kalle Mattson are still trying to find out where they fit and gain the life experience to help their songs blossom into something special, but they are a lot farther along than lots of their older peers. More importantly, if they keep writing and keep playing live, they will eventually – unlike most of us graduates - help them make a career out of their discipline.

MP3:: Kalle Mattson - Drunken Swaters

MP3:: Kalle Mattson - Hall of Oats
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/kallemattson

Labels: Kalle Mattson, Music, Ontario, Quick Hitters

Yesterday Shane mentioned that very few records are crafted to accentuate the oranges and yellows that grab your eye when the first cold winds hit. While I don’t really agree with that, he certainly gave me a jump off point for the new Ox record. The newly appointed kings of the Sudbury, alt. country scene are fixing to release their new long player, Burnout and it’s perfectly tailored for the mornings when the sun just just can't warm you enough and leaves float sadly to the ground.

On that inevitable day when summer fades, you get hit with reality and are left with lonely nights thinking about the good times long since past and regrets you hold as close as your most treasured childhood memory. If these songs are like a glimpse into front man Mark Browning’s mind, you can see that he’s looking back on the last few years with that same mix of pride and lament. Mark’s drawl still hits you in the gut, but the band seems to have taken a step back from the muscular riffs that you settle into on the road when the frustrations that go along with night after night playing shows and day after day watching the odometer turn. Burnout plays more like a band coming to terms with life than avoiding those realities with booze, weed and the adrenaline you only get when the stage lights clink on.

That common ground helps make Burnout a record you absorb and fall in love with, not just listen to when the mood feels right. When the record opens with Burnout, Mark looks back on the hardships you have to deal with on tour, but unlike so many Springsteen-ian glory days type tracks, you wonder if he wants to leave that life behind. Stolen gear, hangovers, car accidents and the heavy weight of not having a home have taken a toll on the band. You can hear the exhaustion tucked into every line and those disappointments are the type of moments most people try to gloss over. We tend to remember only the best moments, but Mark’s refuses to mask his honesty and when he follows up his road confessions with the melancholic Unknown Legend, you wonder if Mark feels the strain of the band not making it, knowing that they can’t keep up the touring schedule needed to keep the band moving forward.

Really, you could point to any of the seven tracks, settle into the pace and see the shift the band has made, but the obvious track is the reworking of American Lo Fi standout Miss Idaho. The slowed down take on Miss Idaho (redux) strips away the bounce from the original and the harmonies and steel give it a more subdued, back porch feel. That angst has disappeared and the band is more content, not just with the song but with life in general. Even as the song surges to a climax, and the guitars and vocals build you picture the band smiling and laughing. It’s the perfect closer for this record, simply because it lets you remember that no matter how bad you might think it is, how many bad decisions you replay in your mind night after night, it will get better, the sun will come out, your friends will always be there to drink some beers and sing some songs and life is never as bad as you think it is.

Here's the video for another track from the new record, Unknown Legend.

MP3:: Ox - Burnout
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/oxmusic
LABEL:: Weework Records

Labels: Canada, Music, Ontario, Oxen Talk, Reviews, Weewerk

I have to say, if, by some crazy and incredibly unlikely set of circumstances, I were forced to relocate back to Upper Canada, but this time to a city similar to Halifax, Guelph would likely be high on the list. Like Halifax, it's a smallish university city that appears to have a vibrant local music scene that produces a large number of solid acts for a place its size. Oh, and if this Wikipedia the kids are all talking about is to be believed, Thomas F. Ryan, the inventor of five-pin bowling, grew up in Guelph. So yeah, it's got plenty going for it.

Here's something else Guelph can count as a positive: being the current homebase of young indie rockers Burn Planetarium. I've been listening to BP's new self-titled EP for a couple weeks now, and I must say, I'm rather a big fan of it. This five piece delivers energetic indie rock in the vein of the Collagen Rock stable, to use a local Maritime example. Consistent drumming and taut basslines keep things moving at a brisk pace, and loud, angular guitar-work helps turn the chorus on pretty much each of the five songs on the EP into a raucous sing-along.

I certainly don't mean to over-simplify these songs, because although the band members seem young, they appear to have spent some time crafting their songs. The themes are definitely young adult in nature, with loneliness, alienation, and the general trying to find one's place in the world taking centre stage on most songs, but they are able to keep the attention of even a crotchety oldster like myself, so that's a good sign. They also use their 5-man size to their advantage, juxtaposing shout along group vocals with softer two-man harmonies on songs like Young Chameleon and Chimney Sweep. But they also know how to put their indie pedal to the metal, as straight-ahead boppers like Death!Death!Death! and Green To Orange quite capably display.

It's safe to say I'm looking forward to a Burn Planetarium full-length, so here's hoping one is in the works. For the time being, check out their EP, and if you happen to be in Toronto, you can check the band out live at their album release party tomorrow night at The Silver Dollar Room (College and Spadina).

MP3:: Burn Planetarium - Young Chameleon
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/burnplanetarium

Labels: 5 Pin Bowling, Burn Planetarium, Guelph, Ontario, Quick Hitters