Blog: Snob's Music

Veteran Canadian singer/songwriter Al Tuck has announced the details of his seventh studio album. The revered musician releases Stranger At the Wake on May 14th. Listen to the first track "Five-o" here: Al Tuck plays an album release show at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto on May 11th.

What do you get when you take some hard plucking hillbilly banjo, gorgeous melodies, and a cold creepiness?  Well you get Just Rivers , the debut album from Toronto's Beams  (out May 14th). The lead single is "Be My Brother" is the template for the record.  It's a roots-based track with an eerie swirling atmosphere.  The results are as desolate, harsh, and lovely as a Canadian winter. Following tracks like the lilting saw-bending "Sun Wraps 'Round" and the rollicking "What Would You Say" tone down the ethereal for a more down to [...]

It's not the best week for new music in terms of volume, but there's a lot of quality that can be found in: Appleseed Cast Laura Cortese Dark Dark Dark Junip No Joy Phoenix The Veils Young Galaxy

Lots of acts may be coming through town this week, but I'm not jacked about many (hard to get excited Trent Reznor 's other band).  Here's what you can catch: about Ivan & Alyosha w. The Lone Bellow, Drake Underground, Apr 22 I & A may be the headliner on the bill, but it's The Lone Bellow that is really the interesting draw here. CD release shows There are [...]

Dana Falconberry , Horseshoe Tavern, May 5 Alan Braxe , Wrongbar, May 11 Bravestation , Drake Underground, May 15 Joshua Radin , Mod Club, May 17 Richard Buckner , Horseshoe Tavern, May 23 The Bloody Beetroots , The Phoenix, May 24 Chris Malinchak , Wrongbar, Jun 1 American Royalty , Drake Underground, Jun 11 Yeasayer , The Phoenix, Jul 2 The Specials , Kool [...]

I'm not sure if 'dance punk' has reached full-fledged genre status, but that's the phrase that's been used to described Toronto duo TJ Hollywood . If you can get passed the terrible band name, you may want to check them out tonight at the Mod Club. Doors open at 10:00pm. Listen to "Cocaine Jane" here: Free music player widget at ReverbNation.com

For no reason whatsoever I've decided that this week's playlist would be dedicated to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. So have a listen .

Vancouver's Louise Burns has announced the details of her new studio album. The Midnight Mass has been pegged for a July 9th release. The record is the follow-up to her Polaris-long listed debut Mellow Drama . You can listen to the first track "Emeralds Shatter" here .

For those who like : Small Sins, Hot Panda Uxbridge's Air Marshal Landing are putting the finishing touches on their debut full length record, You Used To Me Mine , which is schedule for a June 4th release date. In the meantime, they've put a video together for the album track "Little Town". You can also download the track from the band's website. Watch it here: Air Marshal Landing play The Box Tiger's CD release show at Lee's Palace in Toronto tomorrow [...]

It takes a lot of gumption to name your album after one of the most iconic and best selling records of all time.  If there's one thing that !!! have proven to have loads of over the years it's gumption. On April 30th the indie dance outfit will release their fifth studio album, Thr!!!er . Disco meets acid jazz on the stylish "Get That Rhythm Right".  "Californiyeah" and "Except Death" provide a funky, groovy one-two punch. Continue reading »

Today We're Believers , the debut album from Winnipeg's Royal Canoe , comes out on June 25th. They've got a video for Beck 's song "We All Wear Cloaks". Watch it here:

Toronto rock outfit The Cliks are on the verge of releasing their new album, Black Tie Elevator . The record comes out on April 22nd, but they've got a new video for the track "Savanna" now. Watch the video here:

Unlike the recent album from The Strokes , the announcement of which fills you with immediate dread, a new record from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs supercharges you with expectations.  The band don't disappoint with their fourth full length album Mosquito . You can always count on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to come up with some new twists in their music. The first is the presence of a choir on the opener "Sacrilege".  The song begins with a catchy drum beat, and sees Karen O alternate between shouted and muted [...]

The good folks at the S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival have decided to celebrate my birthday by having over 140 bands playing the streets of downtown St. Catharines on June 9th. The festival has just announced the first batch of bands. Among them are Hollerado , and the headliners Tokyo Police Club . You'll be able to keep up-to-date on the entire line-up here . Tickets go on sale April 18th. You can get yours (for a measly $32 plus charges) here .

Toronto's Odonis Odonis released their new EP Better today. To go along with the record, they've also released a video for the killer title track. Watch it here:

Raised on the Canadian prairies, chamber musician Elise Epp now calls Toronto home. She is on the verge of releasing her EP, Brains, Hearts, and Stomachs , which was produced by Laurence Currie (Sloan, Wintersleep). Listen to it here: Brains, Hearts, and Stomachs by Elise Epp Elise Epp plays a CD release show at Supermarket in Toronto on April 25th.

It's a big week in new releases, with something for fans of almost any genre: Art Brut (best of) Born Ruffians- Review Dead Confederate Steve Earle- Review Flaming Lips- Review Groenland- Review Houses Iron & Wine- Review Meat Puppets Willie Nelson Odonis Odonis Reversing Falls Continue reading »

We're closing on thirty years since Steve Earle first burst onto the scene as a country rock rebel, aiming to through kerosene on what was a pretty stagnant and homogeneous genre. He's back this week with another album of new material, The Low Highway , with his road backing band The Dukes (& Duchesses) getting billing as well.  However, now it's Earle that's become stagnant. Tracks like "After Mardi Gras" are listless numbers, and the sounds of a man going through the motions.  They are a far cry from the passionate declarations [...]

It's a big week in new releases, with something for fans of almost any genre: Art Brut (best of) Born Ruffians- Review Dead Confederate Steve Earle Flaming Lips- Review Groenland- Review Houses Iron & Wine- Review Meat Puppets Willie Nelson Odonis Odonis Reversing Falls Continue reading »

Fake Shark Real Zombie released their new album Liar back in February. Now they've got a new video for the album track "Paint It Gold". Watch it here: Fake Shark Real Zombie - Paint It Gold from Light Organ Records on Vimeo .