Bishop Allen
My mp3 player feels like it’s been stuck in a rut lately. Not because I haven’t been listening to anyone new, but because I’ve been listening to everything on CBC Radio 3 and MySpace instead! So my only choice is to get some new music on it NOW! I’ll have to go out and do some quality CD shopping tomorrow, but for now I’m still cruising MySpace. Here’s what I’ve been busy listening to though!
1. Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
I’ve always stuck by Lily Allen. I think she’s talented, wild and out-spoken – which I love. Her Brit-pop melodies are catchy and they’re feel good tunes to listen to when you need that jolt of energy on a grim day! On her new release, It’s Not Me, It’s You, she still maintains that cute, memorable pop sound, but is considerably matured. She’s still witty and packing loads of attitude, but it definitely sounds more refined. Personal favourites at the moment include “Fuck You” and “Not Fair”. Make sure to catch her when she comes in town on April 22 at the Phoenix!
2. Thunderheist – “Jerk It”
This Toronto electro-rap duo has been around for quite some time now but it wasn’t until recently that I grew an obsession with them thanks to the lovely folks at CBC Radio 3; particularly their hot single, “Jerk It”. Their hard-hitting beats and rhythms are danceable, fun, and seriously addictive. As an added bonus, the video for this single is also amazing. Watch here and jerk it, jerk it, dust it off and jerk it! Watch for them to also drop by the Phoenix on April 30 as the headliners for this year’s Exclaim Anniversary tour.
3. The Rural Alberta Advantage – “Sleep All Day” (Green Go Remix)
I haven’t stopped listening to Green Go since the Singing Lamb launch party, to be honest. But their upcoming remix album I’m hearing about is really getting me excited lately. With mixes of amazing bands such as The Rural Alberta Advantage, Woodhands, Gentleman Reg, Women, The D’Urbervilles and more, this is building up to sound like one of the best remix albums of the year (so far at least…it is February after all). Go to CBC Radio 3 now and look up Green Go’s profile under New Music Canada for their remix of the RAA’s “Sleep All Day”. What was originally a subdued, calm track driven by Paul Banwatt’s drumming is now an ambient, dark and danceable hit that also picks up on the original’s beat mixed with layers of synths and tambourines. I LOVE IT. Look for the Guelph beat makers this Saturday at Sneaky Dee’s for Whale Tooth’s EP release show, along with The Balconies.
4. Bishop Allen – Grrr…
With their new album, Grrr… coming out on March 10, the band recently released two new tracks online, including album opener “Dimmer” and “The Ancient Common Sense of Things”. From the sounds of these new songs, the band still possesses the indie-pop charm that first won their way into the hearts of anyone who heard “Click Click Click Click” on the TV somewhere or watched Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. “Dimmer” seems to pick up perfectly from 2007′s The Broken String with it’s sweet sing-along melodies, joyful string arrangements and simplistic guitars. “The Ancient Common Sense of Things” also proves the same points. Definitely an album to look forward to next month!
Happy listening!
Musically,
Melody
