Carla Chanelle’s Music Is On Our Cheeks

Scholarship recipient from the Canada Council for the Arts, Carla Chanelle, recently dropped a first-rate EP, with a splash of perfume, entitled Sur nos joues. With this, find yourself swimming in pensive waters harbouring a syrupy melancholy while stately beats keep things flowing along gracefully and intricate details convey a charming loneliness that will have the listener immersed in a warm glow. There are some subtle funky grooves, massaging keyboards, and soothing guitar strokes on this little gem. And, my goodness, Carla’s voice is like honey. All five tracks have us hooked, smiling, and … entering this as a contender for 2022’s EP of the year. Don’t miss out on this, folks! The embedded MV for “Mandarine” (track 3) below will give you a taste.

New Singer Alert! Emmy Rouge

New Canadian singer Emmy Rouge recently launched her debut disc: Catalogue, a five-song EP. We feel it has more going for it than recent releases from the A-listers. Beauteous vocals self-penned lyrics, catchy writing, progressive sounds, assuaging moods, delicious beats, random details, and expert production. It’s pop sprinkled with a jazzy vinaigrette and wafting chillout aromas. And to think that Emmy leapt into the music community a mere 1.5 years ago! We have embedded the MV for “Laisse-moi” below but bear in mind that all tracks on the disc are winners.

Besides the funky electropop of the latter, clap-along opener “Miroir” hits the spot. The hazy “Tours les jours” comes complete with teasing vocals and colourful chords, and then it casually tosses in a sax! OMG! “Girls Night” contains some urban jazz vibes and intricate percussion. Capping things off is groove extravaganza “Miami Vice”. Emmy Rouge’s Catalogue hits a homer, and so we hit the golden buzzer. Top marks from Canadian Music Blog. Very, very cool EP. We’re hoping for a full-length on CD as soon as possible.

Take a Satellite Ride with Geneviève Racette

Satellite is the latest album crafted by the genius of Canadian singer & songwriter Geneviève Racette. On the disc she explores the concept of love as a satellite which is attracted to and encircles another object. When the love ends, it loses orbit and crashes down in painful ruin. Popular artist City and Colour makes an appearance on the album in the track “Someone”. The album offers soul-stirring moods of pensive melancholy and heartfelt reflection. We were hooked immediately. Geneviève’s voice is lovely and the music charming. We have embedded a live version of opening track “Hostage” below. Don’t let this one pass you by.

BAAB’s La Cible Hits the Target

Montreal’s BAAB consists of aces Charles-David Dubé and Mariève Harel-Michon. Joined by musicians Olivier Bernatchez and David Marchand, EP La Cible came out last month, and we are really taken with it. The four-track effort, dressed with silky female vocals, is detailed, soothing, jazzy, and funky – an electronic chillout disc that cast us into a curious world of energizing dreams. La Cible is really, really good and has been targeted as a strong contender for 2022’s EP of the year. If you like this, check out also the full-length Rédactions tranquilles BAAB released last year. Embedded below is audio for the title-track of the new EP to give you a taste.

The Silence In Between Bob and Moses

Four-time Juno nominated Vancouver duo Bob Moses (Jimmy Vallance and Tom Howie) recently released its latest album The Silence in Between. The disc, the outfit’s best yet, benefits from inspired composition and is, as one would expect, sprinkled with savoury EDM spices. Though we would not call every track dancefloor ready, the excursion through droning bass pulses, synthy burbles, and the occasional unexpected crescendo is satisfying. The energy pumping through the album never runs dry, and we never lose interest. It’s a most worthy effort impressing the CMB. Do check this one out.

Avril Lavigne’s Love Sux: CMB Review

Diamond recording artist and nine-time Juno winner Avril Lavigne of Napanee, Ontario has released her seventh studio album, Love Sux. It’s a return to the style she popularized in the early noughties and a follow up to her more adult contemporary dressed Head Above Water album. Love Sux hurls a punch that feels like a next-door volcanic eruption. Somehow she has tapped into a searing energy pumping through her arteries that will thrill her fiercely loyal little black stars and introduce the genre to a new generation of fans who think autotuned rap is the best thing since Beethoven. The song lengths are remarkably short even clocking in at under two minutes. For those seeking more than just crisp, pumped up jams, “Avalanche” offers some impressive musical composition. Avril ensures the album contains a slow number as well: “Dare to Love Me”. Other standouts include “Kiss Me Like the World Is Ending” and “Déjà-Vu”. Avril Lavigne’s Love Sux does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it shreds concrete. The queen of rock is back.

From AM Dusk to Dawn FM, The Weeknd Kicks Off 2022

From dusky AM beginnings, Canada’s foremost crafter of R&B meets new wave, The Weeknd, recently dropped his eighth album, Dawn FM. The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Tesfaye of the Toronto district of Scarborough, boasting Ethiopian roots. The album follows his lavish halftime Superbowl performance last year (championship game of US football) and his Music Canada diamond certifications for two singles: “Starboy” and “Blinding Lights”. The Weeknd has won 15 JUNO awards to date. 2014 single “Love Me Harder” with Italian-American singer Ariana Grande marked his foray into the official Top 40. That song peaked at #10.

Dawn FM is narrated by Canadian comedic actor Jim Carrey and features guest vocal work from Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne. Spoken word appearances emanate from legendary producer Quincy Jones and filmmaker Josh Safdie. Production was handled by such greats as electronic musician Oneohtrix Point Never, the ubiquitous Max Martin, EDM slayer Calvin Harris, and house group Swedish House Mafia.

The album has attracted rave reviews from the magazines; however, The Weeknd endorses brands that pay the media a small fortune for advertising.

Dawn FM was preceded by single “Take My Breath” which reached #3 on the Hot 100. “Less Than Zero” (our pick for the best the album has to offer) and “Sacrifice” appear to be the most popular tracks from the disc in terms of digital downloads. The concept of inserting DJ type banter among the tracks, though not new, is a nice touch, making the experience of listening through the album feel like the radio’s on. The album offers a spicy blend of upbeat music, glistening with synth pop and iced with the author’s R&B inflected vocals. Overall, Dawn FM is a fun record to listen to. Our main criticism would be the lack of a track anywhere near the greatness of “Starboy” or “Blinding Lights”.