The Heartfelt Apologies - Bandroom Debris

"No pretense - just good music" aptly self-describes the brother-sister duo Andrew and Melissa Barton from Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

After years of training as a classical vocalist, Melissa teamed up with her brother to form The Heartfelt Apologies.

If you enjoy Fiona Apple or Cat Power, then you need to check out this band. Sit back, listen and enjoy. Great talent here.

Be sure to listen to Long Road. This is a beautiful haunting track that kind makes me reminisce Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album.

Download and listen:
The Ballad of John Brown MP3 (Legend Be Told - 2005)
On My Way MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
Follow MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
Mr. Indifferent MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
The Little Things MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
Your Personal Stalker MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
Cracked Wheat MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
Long Road MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006) (Highly Recommended)
Yellow Girls MP3 (Bandroom Debris - 2006)
Standin' In Line MP3 (Unreleased)

Check out their sense of humor with these tracks.

Stream all 3 EP/LP releases here.

The new album: Bandroom Debris can be purchased here.

The Heartfelt Apologies Homepage

The Russian Futurists -17 Tracks

Drawing praise from Pitchfork and Coke Machine Glow, immensely talented musician Matthew Adam Hart continues his pursuit of reconstructing the pop/rock genre.

Under the moniker of The Russian Futurists, Toronto, Ontario native Hart composes, writes and performs the recorded material. The results are staggering as he has an undeniable ability of producing infectious and endearing replayable tunes.

To get a picture of Hart's work, combine Matthew Sweet's song writing with the instrumental arrangement of Sufjan Stevens and Beck's originality mixed by Fat Boy Slim. All this talent by one individual is simply outstanding!

Upper Class Recordings and Coke Machine Glow have made the following tracks available from the Russian Futurists last 2 albums. Download and enjoy but keep reading this blog because you're in for a huge treat.

Download and listen:
Paul Simon MP3 (Our Thickness - 2005)
Our Pen's Out Of Ink MP3 (Our Thickness - 2005)
Still Life MP3 (Our Thickness - 2005)
2 Dots On A Map MP3 (Our Thickness - 2005)
A Telegram From The Future MP3 (Let's Get Ready to Crumble - 2003)
It's Actually Going to Happen MP3 (Let's Get Ready to Crumble - 2003)
Let's Get Ready to Crumble MP3 (Let's Get Ready to Crumble - 2003)
New England Warriors MP3 (Ecole De Neige - 1998)
Troy Weight MP3 (Ecole De Neige - 1998)
Goodbye Razor, Hello Lazer MP3 (Ecole De Neige - 1998)

Watch Hart's wicked video:
Paul Simon

And now for the really cool news...

Apparently the radio station CHRW 94.9 FM from my alma mater the University of Western Ontario has archived The Russian Futurists' debut LP (2001) - The Method of Modern Love. The entire album is made available for free MP3 download here. The individual tracks are:

Your Big Brown Eyes and My Big Broke Heart MP3
The Science Of Seasons MP3
Red Red Wine MP3
Pine Prison Yard MP3
C'Mon
A Mind's Dying Verse 1 MP3
Karkarodon Karkarius MP3
The Hall Of Fame Of Things I Despise MP3
A Song For Sports MP3
A Mind's Dying Verse 2 MP3

And if that is not enough, check out the Russian Futurists' gig on CBC radio here.

Buy Our Thickness (2005) and Let's Get Ready to Crumble (2003) from Emusic.

Appreciate and enjoy!

The Russian Futurists Homepage

Air Traffic Control

Hailing from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Air Traffic Control is a family affair consisting of brothers Kirk (lead vocals/guitar) and Jordi (drums/vocals) Comstock and their cousin Luke (bass) Comstock.

Kirk and Jordi began their musical careers at an early age with their first group - Madhat and achieved great success and national attention.

Now forming Air Traffic Control, the Comstocks continue their brand of hard edged rock somewhat of a hybrid between popular musical acts such as Sloan and Treble Charger.

In 2005, the group released its self-titled LP that was well received. They were contacted by EA Sports and agreed to license the track "Feel Proud" on the 2005 Rugby video game. As well, their singles are utilized for an upstart Canadian television program. Details are available here.

Download and listen:
Feel Proud MP3
At Any Cost MP3
I've Been Down MP3
Enemies MP3
Me And You MP3
Burn MP3

MP3 clips of Air Traffic Control and Madhat can be found here.

Purchase Air Traffic Control LP here.

Air Traffic Control Homepage

Autoviolet With Amy Arsenault Has Arrived

While surfing the web a few days ago, I happened upon this Vancouver, B.C. based independent pop/rock/electronica band's website.

Picture Garbage containing traces of Filter electronica accompanied by better than Gwen Stefani style vocals and you have Autoviolet.

After listening to their well produced MP3 demos, Autoviolet should have everything in place to launch a massive career in the music industry, especially down here in the US.

Autoviolet originated in 2003 and released a self-titled EP the following year. After their original vocalist departed, the band struck gold by bringing Amy Arsenault into the fold.

The early results are very impressive and it is obvious that this group is clicking together.

Amy has a strong R&B training background and brings incredible presence in her vocals for Autoviolet's 3 new demo tracks which are now available:

Fade Away MP3
Die For A Day MP3
Double Life MP3

Video:
Fade Away (WMV)
Coming Down (WMV)
#1 Crush (Garbage cover)(WMV)
Die For A Day (WMV)


For earlier work performed by Amy (she was around 18), you can check out here earlier pre-Autoviolet days here (pretty tame stuff here but the talent is obvious). Her first group was called The Midnights.

Listen:
Signed, Sealed, Delivered MP3
Nowhere to Run MP3
Bye Bye Baby MP3

Video:
Bye Bye Baby (WMV)
Superstar (WMV)

Download these tracks and save them for future reference. Years down the road, the MP3s will be regarded as the "early recordings" for these upcomers.

Autoviolet Homepage

Magneta Lane - New Album Released

It must be "Toronto" week for this new blog of mine, yet it would be a disservice not to mention Magneta Lane as emerging stars in the punk/pop/garage musical genre.

Formed in 2003, the band's talent comprises of Lexi Valentine (Vocals, Guitars), Nadia King (Drums) and French (Bass, Guitars).

The group lists The Kinks, Sonic Velvet Underground and Nancy Sinatra as musical influences. Upon listening to their work, my untrained ears hear a composite of Hole and Veruca Salt blended with the attitude and energy of The Strokes.

In 2004, The Constant Lover EP was released with critical acclaim. Read reviews from I94 Bar and Pitchfork.

Their new LP Dancing with Daggers was released in October 2005 in Japan followed by the Canadian release on Valentine's Day 2006 (very nice marketing...)

They have progressed very far in a very, very short time. Enormous potential with high expectations for future releases down the road for Magneta Lane.

Download and listen:
Constant Lover MP3

Stream and listen:
CBC Radio 3 Session (Approximately 20 minutes)
Ugly Socialite (Constant Lover EP)
Broken Plates (Dancing with Daggers LP)
22 (Dancing with Daggers LP)

Video:
Constant Lover
Ugly Socialite

Special Bonus:
Visit CBGB Lounge's website. Free registration to watch a clip of Magneta Lane's live performance (approx. 10 minutes).

Buy the Constant Lover EP from Emusic.

Magneta Lane Homepage

Controller.Controller - US Release Soon

Intelligently articulating the sound and feel of a new band has never been my strong point.

But I suppose if you threw Patti Smith, Garbage, Sonic Youth and Bloc Party all into the proverbial musical blender, then your drink of choice would be Controller.Controller. Cheers and enjoy because the formulation works!


Yet again, another Toronto-based group is revitalizing music's landscape with their crisp guitar sound and vocals belted out by soon-to-be famous Nirmala Basnayake.

Receiving praise from Pitchfork is never an easy accomplisment but its worthy to read their review of the band's History EP.

Check out these downloadable tracks:
PF MP3
Poison/Safe MP3
The Raw No MP3
Silent Seven MP3
Watch MP3

Stream and listen:
Disco Black Out
History

Watch:
History (Quick Time) (Windows Media)

Buy the History EP from Emusic.

Their highly anticipated X-Amounts LP was released October 2005 in Canada. The US release is scheduled for March 7, 2006.

Controller.Controller Homepage

Death From Above 1979

Okay, I know I'm a bit behind the times regarding new music talent, but I have just listened to You're A Woman, I'm A Machine from Toronto's Death From Above 1979 and have to give these guys there due credit.

I love the loud guitars and monster noise produced on this very raw albeit exceptional record.

The two piece band consists of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keller.

It immediately reminded me of the early 1990s when Kirk et al. broke out in a big way and helped change (for the better) the musical landscape forever.

Death From Above 1979 have that same type of opportunity to be just as groundbreaking as well.

To read the Pitchfork review on their album, click here.

Download and listen to:
Dead Womb MP3
Romantic Rights MP3

For videos, watch:
Sexy Results
Blood On Our Hands
Black History Month
Romantic Rights

You're A Woman, I'm A Machine can be purchased on Emusic.

Enjoy!

Death From Above 1979 Homepage

Jeff Martin - Exile & The Kingdom

After serving 15 wonderful years as the frontman for the Tea Party, Jeff Martin has relocated to Ireland to begin a solo career.

Utilizing a diverse range of middle eastern instruments, great guitars and a leading vocalist (Martin) sharing traits of Ian Astbury (The Cult) and Jim Morrison, The Tea Party quickly became Canadian college campus favorites.

About a year after the release of Seven Circles, Jeff Martin announced his desire to leave band. You can read about his departure here.

Now on his own, Jeff is in the studio working on his first solo effort - Exile and the Kingdom. The album is scheduled for a Canadian release later this year on April 11th. More details can be read here.

Be sure to check out Jeff's first single - The World is Calling already playing on Canadian radio. Butterfly (Live) is also available to stream here.

Also, the Capital Demo Tape for Tea Party has been remastered and is available for free download:
The River MP3
Timing Song MP3
In This Time MP3
Pie Dog On The Prowl MP3
On My Knees MP3
Solomons Blues MP3
Dancing in the Moonlit Night MP3
Haze On The Hills MP3
The Majestic Song MP3

Videos from the last Tea Party CD - Seven Circles are available here.
Writings on the Wall
Stargazer

Jeff Martin Homepage
The Tea Party Homepage

The Uncut - New Violence Rocks

Almost hard to believe that these guys hail from Toronto, Ontario rather than the current New York scene, but the The Uncut have definitely arrived and deserve a listen from those of us below the northern border.

Simply put, if you like Interpol and The Killers (both equally deserving of their current status as 'IT' bands), then you are going to love The Uncut. For those of us who are not teenagers and twenty-somethings, comparisons to Joy Division and Bauhaus with traces of the Velvet Underground might be more relevant (but still check out Interpol and The Killers).

The band generously provides 6 tracks that can be downloaded off their 2004 debut effort - Those That Were Hung Hang Here.

Understanding the New Violence MP3 (Awesome Tune)
Intentions Change MP3
Taken In Sleep MP3
Copilot MP3
Buried With Friends MP3
Day Breaks Red Light MP3

Also check out a live video (a bit dark perhaps but you get the picture):
Understanding the New Violence

Read some of the press received from these guys so far - its pretty impressive:
"the best album to come out of Toronto this year"
- Exclaim
"one of the best guitar-rock records in recent memory"
- Toronto Star
"perfect glistening melancholy, post-wave fuzz-pop"
- Now
"Jagged riffs and hypnotic beats yield the album Interpol should have made."
- Billboard
"crosses the stripped-down power of the Strokes with the noise of Sonic Youth and a dash of Bauhaus gloom.”
- New York Post

Check out Pitchfork's Review.

Looking forward to their next effort. Keep working hard guys as a bright future lies ahead!

Support the band. Those That Were Hung Hang Here available at Emusic.

The Uncut Homepage

The Sam Roberts Band - New Album in 2006

For the holidays, my brother and his wife gave me a copy of Sam Roberts' last CD, We Were Born In A Flame.

With so much garbage polluting the corporate driven radio air waves, its refreshing to hear straight forward albeit well harmonized rock. After a couple of listens, I was hooked.

Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Sam Roberts has put together a great sounding rock band. The lyrics are well written and I've haven't gotten tired of listening to the album since I got it for Christmas.

The band has been receiving its props since winning a few Juno Awards (Canadian version of the Grammy Awards). I haven't seen them play live but looking at the videos, it looks like they put on a crowd pleasing performance.

So far, they have appeared (videos available) on The Tonight Show and The Late Late Show with Adam Carolla.

I'm looking forward to the new album Chemical City apparently scheduled for release on April 11, 2006.

The following songs are available for download:
Brother Down
Rarefied
When Everything Was...
On The Run

Reward yourself and give these tunes a listen.

The Sam Roberts Band Homepage

Grady - Y.U. So Shady?

During the 1990s, Big Sugar was a great Canadian blues-rock ensemble from Toronto, Ontario. They were huge favorites on the college campuses and I still listen to their CDs all the time. Their catalog makes a great playlist for the clinic.

Check out these two tunes from their Hit and Run - Greatest Hits album (Real Time Player required).
I Want You Now
Three Minute Song

After Big Sugar called it a career (last show was December 23, 2003), founding member Gordie "Grady" Johnson relocated to Austin, Texas. Gordie formed a new band - cleverly called Grady and released a terrific new album in 2004.

The band has won a bunch of local awards since the release and apparently are in the process of shooting a video.

Many in the U.S. still have not heard of Big Sugar or Grady. I haven't seen them mentioned on the blogs I visit now and then, but the time has arrived to give these bands (R.I.P. Big Sugar) their due!

Have a listen to Grady's tunes from the Y.U. So Shady? LP.
Hammer in My Hand
Woman Got My Devil

Y.U. So Shady? is available on Emusic.

Can't wait for the next album!

Big Sugar Homepage
Grady Homepage

UK's Arctic Monkeys

Apparently the next big thing in the UK, the Arctic Monkeys are breaking all sorts of LP sales records across the pond. Many on the web have compared the craze over this group to back in the early 90s when Oasis came upon the music scene.

From what I've listened to so far, the band has definitely earned the praise!

Anyways, the following URL has some downloadable MP3s that are apparently still available to check out the band:

Arctic Monkeys' MP3 Demos

Does anyone know when their LP will be available in the US?

Arctic Monkeys Homepage