Blog: BowlingStone.com

Today's song is another from the Toronto, Ontario indie-rock band Octoberman; on a side-note, Octoberman is tied with Green Go for my favorite music discovery of the year. The Backlash can be found on the band's third full-length release "Fortresses", which was released in Canada on September 1st of this year and in the US on October 1st. The band is currently on a Canadian tour, which can be followed via their tour blog on Exclaim! 's website here . [...]

Today's song comes to us from the American supergroup (yes I'm going to use that term) Monsters of Folk . Consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket , Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes , and M. Ward , the group released a debut self-titled album on September 22nd of this year. The band kicked off a North American tour last week in Vancouver that will hit 22 scheduled venues before wrapping up in Austin, Texas on the 13th of November; a European tour is scheduled for [...]

I've been listening to a lot of K'naan since seeing him perform at the Polaris Music Prize gala this year; an obscene amount of K'naan actually. Everything about his music, from the melodies he creates to his seemingly effortless delivery, is really really good. Take a Minute can be found on K'naan's second full-length album Troubadour , released in February of this year. K'naan performed a very cool stripped-down version of the song at Polaris this year, along with the Troubadour single Wavin' Flag which can be heard here . [...]

No. I don't know what is going on with this video. This summer, the Canadian indie/dream-pop ensemble Young Galaxy released their sophomore LP "Invisible Republic"; The album follows up their self-titled debut album, released in 2007. Though Destroyer is one of my favorite tracks from the band, it actually isn't a great example of what the band does best. In my opinion, the band really sets itself apart when the members find themselves wearing their shoegazing clothing. For a fine example of this, check out Outside the City here ; still check out the [...]

Tonight's tune comes from the Montreal indie-rock band Sunset Rubdown . The band originally began as the solo project of Spencer Krug from Wolf Parade . Following the release of Sunset Rubdown's debut album Snake's Got a Leg in 2005, the project evolved from a solo act to a full band. Idiot Heart can be found on the band's most recent album Dragonslayer , released in June of this year. The band is currently winding up a US tour, before heading to the land of the rising sun to promote the [...]

It's been far too long since I've posted a Crystal Castles tune, so here it is. I'm not sure how everyone likes to consume their Crystal Castles, but I highly recommend listening to them during household chores; I promise you have never had a vacuuming session more intense or enjoyable. Anyways, Black Panther can be found on the experimental/electronic duo's debut self-titled LP, released in March of 2008. If you want to check a couple other songs from the album, have a look here and here . [...]

Tonight's song comes to us from the Winnipeg, Manitoba indie/folk-rock band The Weakerthans . Civil Twilight can be found on the band's fourth full-length album Reunion Tour , released in September of 2007. The album was among an impressive group of short-listed releases for the 2008 Polaris Prize , which would ultimately be awarded to Caribou 's Andorra. Though my love of The Weakerthans tends to ebb and flow, I've always felt a strong familiarity with the band's lyrics. Civil Twilight is no different, as it delves into the disgusting experience of not being [...]

I often find that my reception of a song is overly coupled to my state of mind at the time. Julie is aware of this, as she has learned to never introduce me to a song first thing in the morning, after a night of drinking; I stopped listening to Crystal Castles for about 3 months after an episode like this. The first time I listened to Tegan and Sara 's 2002 release If It Was You , for whatever the reason, Living Room didn't jump out at me, and I've never really listened to it since. [...]

The Montreal Canadiens were in town last night, and in a similar fashion to last season my Flames sent me home happy. This introduction has absolutely nothing to do with tonight's song, I just feel that it is my duty to ensure as many people as possible know that the Flames won. Tonight's song comes from the Toronto-based indie/folk-rock band Great Lake Swimmers , and their 2009 Polaris -nominated album Lost Channels . The band is currently touring the United States before hopping the pond for their 2009 European tour, which will begin on November 11 in [...]

It's 4 hours into my word day, and I've already listened to this song 15 times. This means that at any given point this morning there was a 20% chance someone walking into my office would hear this track; I like to think I carry a lot of the cool around there. I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman can be found on the Canadian hip-hop/alternative artist k-os ' latest album Yes! , released in April of 2009. The song features contributions from fellow Canadian artists Saukrates and Nelly Furtado , and samples the [...]

I've got a Saturday afternoon tune for everyone, coming from the Victoria, British Columbia indie-rock band Immaculate Machine . C'Mon Sea Legs can be found on the band's third full-length album Immaculate Machine's Fables , released in the summer of 2007. More recently, the band released their fourth full-length album High on Jackson Hill on April 28th of this year. The album featured a new Immaculate Machine lineup, including new drummer Luke Kozlowski and second guitarist Jordan Minkoff. [...]

Fantastic song today to wrap up the bliss that is known as the working week. Bear comes to us from the Brooklyn, New York indie-rock band The Antlers , and their debut album Hospice ; technically there was prior release titled "In the Attic of the Universe", but it was released under the name of vocalist Peter Silberman. Hospice was initially self-released by the band in March 2009. However, after the critical acclaim began pouring in, and the stock began pouring out, the band signed with Fenchkiss Records and released a remastered version of [...]

Today's song comes to us from the Abbotsford, British Columbia indie-rock/dance-punk quintet You Say Party! We Say Die! , and their brand new album XXXX , released yesterday. The album is the third full-length effort from the band (not technically, but pretty much), and follows up on their 2007 release Lose All Time . The band will be kicking off a Canadian fall tour in Vancouver with a CD release party on the 2nd of October. Other notable stops include The Paragon in Halifax with Japandroids , and the Phoenix in Toronto with Little Girls. The full [...]

I returned to the office after lunch today and found a wonderful surprise in my Facebook news feed; that surprise was the new video from my Calgary indie-rock heroes The Dudes . The video is for Girl Police , which is the newest single to be released in support of the band's most recent EP "Blood. Guts. Bruises. Cuts", which hit shelves in June of this year. If you are going to be in the Calgary area on October 9th, I strongly advise you to get your hands on tickets to The Dudes' show at the MacEwan Ballroom. Also [...]

Today's song comes to us from the Vancouver-based indie-pop collective The Choir Practice . Described as "an excuse to drink wine and sing with friends", the group is made up of Vancouver artists who perform pop songs in a choral style. The song I chose to share today is the group's take on The New Pornographers ' Failsafe , found on their 2007 release Challengers . Interestingly, The Choir Practice's version of the song was released several months prior (via their self-titled debut album) to the official release of Challengers. [...]

I've got one more post for everyone tonight, to finish up the weekend on a high note. Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day) can be found on Broken Social Scene 's self-titled full-length album, released in October of 2005. Though the album would ultimately divide music critics, it was short-listed for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize in 2006 and went on to win the Juno for Alternative Album of the Year in the same year. One of the most common critiques of the album centered around the loose structure/delivery of [...]

I learned a valuable life lesson last evening. If your buddy pisses off a table of dudes by talking to one of their girlfriends, sending the alpha-dude a Pina colada does not smooth out the situation. Anyways, today's song comes from the Canadian hip-hop band Grand Analog . I Play My Kazoo can be found on the band's sophomore full-length album "Metropolis is Burning", released in May of this year. Typically, I don't listen to a lot of today's hip-hop, but I've made an exception for Grand Analog because of two reasons. The first is that the [...]

Like a grizzly bear awoken too soon, I am currently stuck between being hungry and wondering why I'm not still sleeping. While sorting these feelings out, I decided now would be a good time to post up a song that's been stuck in my head all week. Oh My God comes to us from the Toronto indie-rock band The Wooden Sky and their sophomore full-length album "If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone", released in August of this year; the release follows up the band's debut LP "When Lost at Sea", released in January [...]

Keeping with the theme of the last post, tonight's tune is another number that was performed at this year's Polaris Music Prize gala; The Toronto alt-country act Elliot Brood enlisted the audience's help on percussion, resulting in a performance that was hard not to enjoy. Write it All Down for You can be found on the band's second full-length album Mountain Meadows , released in June of 2008. On top of the Polaris short-listing, the album was also Juno nominated for "Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year: Group" and "Juno Award for [...]

Congratulations to the Toronto, Ontario hardcore punk band Fucked Up , whose album The Chemistry of Common Life took home the 4th installment of the Polaris Prize last night. As promised, here are my thoughts on the show last night; In point form of course, as proper sentence transitions are for suckers. Whoever decided to have all 10 short-listers perform last night is a goddamn Canadian hero. I would pay at least $27 for a DVD of the show. Free Steam Whistle was a fantastic decision, that resulted in [...]