Canadian Album of the Month Series: January to June 2015

Our album of the month picks are back! We have listened to all LPs from Canadian artists released through the first half of 2015 and settled on our favourites by month of release. The number of albums that came out each month are as follows: January 2015 – 30, February – 57, March – 67, April – 61, May – 56, and June – 47. Pictures of our picks are below with brief write-ups on each work. We highly recommend checking out these charmers. They contain really good songs throughout.

ALBUM OF JANUARY 2015: LET IT STORM BY SCOTT SHEA

British Columbia’s Scott Shea has graced 2015 with clearly one of its best albums, Let It Storm. This is his debut solo LP (he previously recorded music in a duo with his brother), and the writing is first rate. The singer-songwriter’s style of choice is folky roots music. Scott’s father Red Shea was guitarist for such legends as Gordon Lightfoot and Ian and Sylvia, so the greatness that is Scott’s is definitely in his blood. Some impressive players joined him on the album including Willie Nelson’s sister Bobbie and Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar). Even if you are not into roots music, you will appreciate the writing and skilled delivery from the genius of Scott Shea. Beautiful album. iTunes

ALBUM OF FEBRUARY 2015: NIGHT EYES BY SAVVIE

Vancouver’s Savannah Leigh Wellman proves her songwriting genius on new solo album, Night Eyes. She previously led folk act Redbird, and now as a soloist shifts gears into a rich and tasty brew of catchy alternative rock delights complete with gritty vibes, punchy beats, reverb-drenched electric guitars, and fuzzy bass throbs. Little splashes of new wave appear at times to add extra charm. “Trust the In Between”, “Gravity”, and “The Tower” are fine examples of very sharp composition making Night Eyes one of the year’s best albums to date. iTunes

ALBUM OF MARCH 2015: REMINISCE BY ETIQUETTE

Julie Fader and Graham Walsh (the latter worked on LIGHTS’ Siberia album) are duo Etiquette, releasing debut album Reminisce. Avoid the danger of lumping the act in with other electronic outfits. The hooks dangle in abundance as the music waddles its way through raw climes decked in some of the experimental garments worn by such predecessors as The Legendary Pink Dots and Cabaret Voltaire. It’s not all subdued; there are a couple of peppy inclusions that twinkle like stars on and on. Overall, on Reminisce, the ethereal drones effectively hypnotize in ways that will leave you reclining in satisfaction. iTunes

ALBUM OF APRIL 2015: SUUNS AND JERUSALEM IN MY HEART

Montreal band Suuns bonds with Jerusalem in My Heart, a project of producer Radwan Moumneh, and the result is music that is undefinable and fairly glorious. Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart is a mostly instrumental album of heavily spicy rather than light and sweet electronica injected with Middle Eastern flavours and chants. The atmosphere is dense, gritty, and ethereal as if we are stranded in the midst of a desert sandstorm brightened by fluorescent lights. This album will perk up your ears and get your heart pumping. It’s pretty wonderful stuff. iTunes

ALBUM OF MAY 2015: FÉLIX DYOTTE

In the Canadian music scene for 15 years, Félix Dyotte has both sensitive talent and seasoned experience. He made his debut in 1997 in the group The Undercovers who recorded an album with producer Gus Van Go and then transformed into 2-time JUNO winning group The Stills. In 2006, Felix formed Chinatown who released a couple of discs. The success of the group’s music enabled Dyotte to work with a number of high profile artists including Jean Leloup, Pierre Lapointe, and Valérie Carpentier. Under Coyote Records and with support from Malajube’s Francis Mineau, Philippe Brault, and new recording artist Kandle Osborne (daughter of 54-40’s Neil Osborne), Félix Dyotte has launched a self-titled solo album, and it is absolutely brilliant. The album very cleverly blends 60s baroque pop, orchestral flourishes, carnival pep, good bass grooves, and shimmering synth accents. This is a fine work of art. iTunes

ALBUM OF JUNE 2015: LOVE LIFE BY TAMIA

The expert songstress from Windsor, ON is giving it all she has and going for the jugular of success on her newly released, big, anthem-drenched album Love Life. You will hear the finest examples of all elements of the recording process: writing, singing, arrangement, and production. There is not a weak moment on the entire disc; every track oozes with class and charm. Deep grooves, nocturnal ambiance, romantic vibes, and warm sparkles abound. The songs contain meticulously crafted, catchy details like little electronic riffs which make the music highly engaging. Even if R&B is not your cup of tea, we guarantee that this excellent work will win you over. Tamia’s Love Life is one of the finest R&B albums ever to proceed from a Canadian artist. iTunes

Music That Got Us Through the Winter of Early 2015 – CMB Picks

From the beginning of the year to the spring equinox, a whole bunch of Canadian music was released to make our ears happy. Just in terms of LPs, there were 128! We have listened to everything and settled on our picks. These winter 2015 releases of albums, EPs, songs, and MVs were the ones we couldn’t get enough of and are happy to share them with you.

In terms of LPs, the Portrait of Ludovico Einaudi by Angele Dubeau and La Pieta proved to be classical music at its best. Elliot Maginot’s Young Old Everything In Between is an album that sets the standard for any aspiring singer songwriter with beautifully crafted, rich, folky treats. Jerome Miniere’s Une Ile, worth buying as a whole, is a quirky, fun electropop ride. Alternative rock didn’t get much better than Savvie’s Night Eyes. Scott Shea’s gorgeous Let It Storm gave us roots music to die for. There is no question that Beatrice Deer had the season’s finest EP, Fox, an eclectic brew of savory pop-rock.

Singles that bowled us over included Carly Rae Jepsen’s golden delight “I Really Like You”, Ryan Stewart produced dancefloor thumper “Spotlight” by Every Last Chance featuring the exquisite vocals of Crystalyne’s Marissa Dattoli, Jean Leloup’s delicious novelty rock anthem “Willie”, Navert’s progressive gem “Ma Chanson”, and pop-rock charmer “Aime/pardonne” by Tremblay. We would also add tracks from the aforementioned albums: “Still Alive” by Elliot Maginot and “Gravity” by Savvie. We’ll let you decide on the best track from the Miniere, Shea, and Deer albums. Although we cannot classify it as Canadian, we sneak in the honourable mention of “Lighthouse” by Emmalyn Estrada and G.R.L.

In the realm of music videos, there is no question that Carly Rae Jepsen’s “I Really Like You” with Tom Hanks was a standout. We also liked Ariane Moffatt’s eye pleasing “Debout”.

Savvie’s Got Night Eyes

Vancouver’s Savannah Leigh Wellman proves her songwriting genius on new solo album, Night Eyes. She previously led folk act Redbird, and now as a soloist shifts gears into a rich and tasty brew of catchy alternative rock delights complete with gritty vibes, punchy beats, reverb-drenched electric guitars, and fuzzy bass throbs. Little splashes of new wave appear at times to add extra charm. “Trust the In Between”, “Gravity”, and “The Tower” are fine examples of very sharp composition making Night Eyes one of the year’s best albums to date.  iTunes

Selected New Releases, 10 February 2015

Heads up! The quality of music on this week’s releases is even better than usual. Del Bel is a collective from Toronto/Guelph. The new self-titled album is very good with cinematic, alternative music that would serve as fitting soundtrack for a noir, spy flick. Hard rock, 4-time JUNO nominated outfit Danko Jones is back with Fire Music. Hearts is the latest album from Calgary alt-pop duo Sidney York. The highly anticipated debut album Kings of Nowhere from Toronto rock band The Mohrs is finally out! Singer-songwriter Savannah Leigh Wellman from Vancouver, under project name Savvie, gets the alt-rock going on excellent new album Night Eyes.

Montreal based artist Vernier, is the invention of songstress Gen Vernier Blouin. Album Things We Do For Love is described by the artist as “melancholy grunge pop” and another winner this week. While on tour in Europe, platinum 3-time JUNO nominee Pierre Lapointe swung into a Paris studio and recorded a batch of songs, mainly piano and voice. The result is the beautiful Paris tristesse. Neuville, QC’s Carotté gives us something different by combining fiddles and folk music with punk on new album Punklore et trashdition. Lynn Lake, MB’s Tom Cochrane needs no intro. The diamond 8-time JUNO winner delivers his first offering in nine years, Take It Home. Finally, Montreal’s Elliot Maginot churns out an alternative, folky, artistic charmer, Young/Old/Everything.In.Between.

This week’s single releases include Shawn Desman’s “Victoria”, Dean Brody’s “Upside Down”, Tyler Shaw’s “House of Cards”, and Bryan Finlay’s “Rich”.

Enjoy the music!