Blog: Snob's Music

Toronto pop singer/songwriter Elise LeGrow has been making waves with her new single "No Good Woman". On May 22nd she'll set up at The Drake Underground in town for a show that should take her up to yet another level. Check out an unplugged version of the track here:

I'm torn about the demise of Nick Cave 's Grinderman project. On the one hand I hope it means we'll get more Bad Seeds music. On the other, I think we were treated to two albums that took us to a different extreme. So it's nice to get to milk a bit more out of it with Grinderman 2 Rmx , a remix album of the second record. Anyone who bought the deluxe version of the original album has already heard the standout "Super Heathen Child", which features the legendary Robert Fripp. [...]

It's a pretty good week for music lovers. You can look forward to new releases from: Brendan Benson- stream Brad Billy Bragg & Wilco CFCF Dandy Warhols- stream Diamond Rugs Eve 6 Hermetic Huoratron- Review Kodacrome Greg Laswell Orcas- stream Public Image Ltd Jack White- stream

Mad Chatter is a progressive electronic act based in that hub of progressive electronic music Antigonish, NS. They have three Toronto dates coming up as part of their second tour beyond the Maritimes: June 8th at Rancho Relaxo June 9th at The Hideout June 12th at The Horseshoe Have a listen to their EP Suits which comes out on May 29th: <p><p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;lt;a href=" http://madchatter.bandcamp.com /album/suits"& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Suits by Mad Chatter&am p;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;am p;lt;/p&am p;amp;amp;gt;& lt;/p></p>

Brantford, ON's The Raccoon Wedding are set to release their sophomore album. Onondaga will come out on May 15th. The Raccoon Wedding play a CD release show at the Silver Dollar in Toronto on May 11th.

Vancouver's dark avant garde rockers Mode Moderne release their new mini-LP Strange Bruises on May 19th with a CD release show at The Biltmore in Vancouver. Check out the video for the lead single "Nightly Yours" here: Mode Moderne "Nightly Youths" from Light Organ Records on Vimeo . Mode Moderne play Parts And Labour in Toronto on June 1st.

This is one of those rare weeks. My two favorite live bands are in town on back-to-back nights (not an accident I'm guessing). I've seen the two of them live more than any other acts, and I'm not missing these either. Supersuckers, Horseshoe Tavern, Apr 26 Almost no band on the planet puts on as good a rock show (or country show) as the Supersuckers . I make a point of never missing them when they're in town. Nashville Pussy [...]

Toronto's Alright Alright are a quartet who are recording indie rock tracks that they are referring to as 'Cellar Singles'. The second in the series a track called "Swimming". Check out the all things aquatic video for the catchy ditty here: Let's all hope there's many more like this to come.

Here's a look at the concerts announced for Toronto over the last week: Xiu Xiu , Lee's Palace, May 12 Leonard Cohen , Massey Hall, May 14 PS I Love You , The Garrison, May 15 Bad Religion , Yonge Dundas Square, Jun 14 Matthew Good , Yonge Dundas Square, Jun 15 Flaming Lips , Yonge Dundas Square, Jun 16 Volbeat , Kool Haus, Jun 18 [...]

Toronto rockabilly act The Royal Crowns aren't known for working fast. The fan favorites celebrate their 20th anniversary this year by releasing their third full length. The 15-track album, Volume 3 , comes out on May 22nd. The Royal Crowns play a pair of CD release shows May 25th & 26th at The Dakota Tavern.

Zoë Wick is a Seattle-based singer/songwriter who has an EP, Lose The Moon , out now. She also has a great stripped-down cover of CunningLynguists ' "Love Ain't". Check it out here:

Okay, I was lazy in my theme this week. Have a listen to some of the new Canadian music that came out in April here .

Toronto singer/songwriter Lesley Pike releases her new album Tug Of War on May 29th. The record includes a track co-written by Emma-Lee as well as a cover of Tears For Fears' " Head Over Heels ". You can hear the first track " White Lies " now. Here's the track list for the album: Continue reading »

Lisa Michelle is a Greensboro, NC musician who has just released her debut EP Cloudy Visions . It's a soul and R&B inspired indie music that seems to take cues from Janelle Monáe . Have a listen for yourself here: <p><p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;lt;a href=" http://lisamichellemusic.bandc amp.com/album/cloudy-visions-2 "& amp;amp;gt;Cloudy Visions by Lisa Michelle&a mp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &a mp;lt;/p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;lt;/p></p>

Walrus For those who like : Belle & Sebastian Walrus a duo comprised of brothers from Halifax. They make some pretty restrained, sleepy indie pop. I don't know much more than that. Their debut EP Onetwotree came out at the end of March. Have a listen here: <p><p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;lt;a href=" http://walrustheband.bandcamp. com/album/onetwotree"& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt ;Onetwotree by Walrus&amp ;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp ;lt;/p&amp ;amp;amp;gt;&l t;/p></p>

Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that they will be releasing an EP of covers. The digital-only We Salute You comes out on May 1st to help celebrate their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame . I'm familiar with a couple of the tracks already. One, The Stooges' " Search & Destroy ", is exceptional, the other, their lazy rendition of The Ramones' " Havana Affair ", is atrocious. So expect a hit and miss record. Here's the track list: Continue reading »

PEI garage rockers The North Lakes will release their 8-song sophomore record, Grand Prix , on May 15th. The group's 2011 debut won them a Music PEI Award for Best Alternative Album. Listen to the new album track "Grab Me By The Lapel" here:

Treason Van Arch is from the Kitchener, ON rock outfit Lucky Stabb . This week he released a solo record, The Peephole . Have a listen here: <p><p&a mp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p& amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; amp;lt;a href=" http://thepeephole.bandcamp.co m/album/the-peephole-2"&am p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; gt;The Peephole by Treason Van Arch&a mp;amp;amp;lt;/a&a mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp ;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;l t;/p&a mp;amp;gt;< /p></p>

Halifax MC Ghettosocks is getting set to release his Fresh Kils -produced solo album. In the run-up he's dropped a video for the first single "Invincible". Watch the video here:

Interpol lead singer Paul Banks is donning his Julian Plenti persona once again. He releases a new EP, Julian Plenti Lives... on June 12th. The five-song EP serves as a teaser for a new full length from Banks this fall.