One stray moose

One stray moose's guide to his favourite Canadian music from the past 20 years

Monday, June 6, 2011

DOWN WITH WEBSTER - 'She's Dope'



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: I want to hate this band. Their name is annoying, their lyrics are vapid and cringeworthy, and they have nothing to say. Rich Girls, Your Man, and She's Dope are all about ...well, exactly what you'd expect, and their one foray into different subject matter resulted in a song called Whoa Is Me, where they told us how whoa they are. You know what, though? It's sunny out. Summer is approaching. I kind of like dumb summer music. Down With Webster knows how to write a catchy hook, I'll give them that much. Add a bit of depth to their formula and they could be something interesting. Maybe.

Friday, June 3, 2011

SIMPLE PLAN - 'Welcome To My Life'



Origin: Montreal, QC
Category: VOLCANO TOSS
Cherchez La Moose: This one's a no-brainer. Welcome To My Life may very well be one of the worst songs ever created. Every generation has their own angst-fueled bands to identify with - mine were Limp Bizkit and Slipknot, back in the late 90's. I'm not sure if there has ever been a band as obvious and manipulative as Simple Plan though. I couldn't believe what I was hearing when this song first came out. I actually thought that they were parodying themselves. A little part of me dies every time I hear the singer whine about "big fake smiles and stupid lies." Can 13 year olds not see through this?

Monday, May 23, 2011

D'EON - 'Transparency'



Origin: Montreal, QC
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: D'Eon is an emerging artist in the Montreal indie scene. He recently released a split LP with another buzz-generating newbie named Grimes, who directed this video. I actually love Transparency; it's strange, retro, hypnotic, and quite interesting lyrically. The video, unfortunately, is a piece of coal in a Christmas stocking. It's a wet fart on a rainy day. It's just lame. I understand that they probably didn't have much of a budget to work with, but that isn't the problem - the video reeks of pretentious Montreal hipsterdom. I want to hear more from d'Eon though; not only does he have a cool sound, but he has the talent to back it up (he is a classical pianist). 

Friday, May 20, 2011

K-OS - 'Crabbuckit'



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: K-os is long overdue for a Northern Elixir. Crabbuckit isn't my favourite from 2004's awesome Joyful Rebellion, but it's the song that many consider to be his breakthrough, at least in terms of mainstream appeal. Stylistically, it was on a different level when it came out. I bought the album and realized on first listen just how special an artist K-os is. Every song sounded totally different from the next, but they were all quite good. It feels like his star has faded in recent years, but K-os is still releasing albums. In fact, his single 4, 3, 2, 1 from 2009's Yes! is one of his best ever. He doesn't seem to be slowing down, so hopefully his audience can keep up.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

NELLY FURTADO - 'Promiscuous'



Origin: Victoria, BC
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: Did Nelly Furtado sell out on her 2006 album Loose? You bet. Something funny happened though - her new image and sound worked so well that pretty much no one held it against her. Promiscuous was a smash hit that propelled both Furtado and Timbaland back into the spotlight. It doesn't hold up quite as well these days, but at the time, it was the freshest thing on the market. Maneater and Say It Right were just as great, but Promiscuous started a trend and introduced a new phase in Timbaland's career as a producer.  

Sunday, May 8, 2011

MOTHER MOTHER



Origin: Quadra Island, BC
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: It's Mother's Day, and I am writing an entry on Mother Mother. Clever? I wish - I didn't even recognize the coincidence until 10 seconds ago. These guys have been in the grind for a while now, and they have earned their stripes for crafting consistently quirky indie rock across three albums. If you haven't heard their music, but you're a fan of The New Pornographers, give Mother Mother a chance. They're awesome; you won't regret it.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

THE ORGAN



Origin: Vancouver, BC
Category: LOST IN THE WILDERNESS
Cherchez La Moose: Although The Organ only released one album, they managed to develop a strong cult following and make their mark on the Canadian indie scene. They were ripping off The Smiths before most other bands in the 2000's started ripping off The Smiths, so The Organ gets props for that one. Katie Sketch was more than a poster child; her sexuality and androgynous look grabbed headlines (and also landed her some high profile modeling gigs), but her voice was quite powerful and well-suited for the music she was making. Memorize The City is what I consider to be their best single; I wish we could have heard more.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

THINK ABOUT LIFE



Origin: Montreal, QC
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: Think About Life isn't really 'emerging' - they have been scene favourites in Montreal for over five years. They were one of the bands that didn't blow up alongside Wolf Parade, Stars, Arcade Fire, etc. during the mid-2000's Montreal Explosion. With 2009's Family, these guys proved that they're worthy of recognition. Their album launch was a huge party, with probably the biggest turnout that I've ever witnessed for a local indie show. Graham Van Pelt's side project Miracle Fortress has been a big success as well; he released his new album this past week. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

ESTHERO - 'Heaven Sent'



Origin: Stratford, ON
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: Esthero has had an interesting career. She was never a household name, but she always managed to come to mind because of her X Factor and a few great singles from 1998's Breath From Another. Her sophomore album arrived in 2005 to mixed reviews. Although it wasn't a commercial success, Esthero still stood out from the crowd thanks to her willingness to follow her own path and fuse styles regardless of their trendiness. She is still finding lots of work these days, but it is mostly behind the scenes in the music industry. Heaven Sent is getting Northern Elixired because it is an oddball single, the music video is fantastic, and because it's just so....Esthero. 

Friday, April 22, 2011

THE MOFFATTS



Origin: Tumbler Ridge, BC
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: The Moffatts were basically the Canadian version of Hanson. They didn't do much to distinguish themselves - I'll Be There For You sounds almost identical to MMMBop. These groups had another thing in common - they were both quite a bit better than their detractors ever wanted to admit. These guys were excellent live performers before they even entered high school. All four of them have great voices, and although their current projects have slipped under the radar, they are all still pursuing music. This video is undoubtedly a cheese explosion; it's funny to watch though, and there's something kind of infectious about just how happy and enthusiastic they all seem. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

THE GANDHARVAS



Origin: London, ON
Category: LOST IN THE WILDERNESS
Cherchez La Moose: Not only is this band underrated, but this song is very, very underrated. It's interesting, unique, melodic, and a strange but awesome choice for a single. I always remembered this video for the creepy, Nine Inch Nails-esque image of the guy in the chair, but it took a while longer for me to really connect to the music. I'm happy to say that it has aged well. The Gandharvas went their separate ways years ago, but the bass player is now singing in the excellent Raised By Swans. 

MASSARI



Origin: Ottawa, ON
Category: VOLCANO TOSS
Cherchez La Moose: Massari's Real Love has over 27 million views on YouTube. How did this happen?! His awful videos were in pretty heavy rotation on MuchMusic, but I guess I never realized how many people were into them. This song is beyond generic, and the video is painful to sit through. Massari literally looks like he's made of plastic. The felt pen facial hair and unmasculine Dior shades don't add to his sex appeal. 1:48-1:51 is too ridiculous to be hot. All that we're left with is a sermon on "real love," and when it comes from a guy this narcissistic, I just don't buy it. 

Monday, April 11, 2011

SHALLOW NORTH DAKOTA



Origin: Hamilton, ON
Category: LOST IN THE WILDERNESS
Cherchez La Moose: BEST.SINGLE.EVER.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

LEN - 'Steal My Sunshine'



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: Steal My Sunshine was Len's one good song; it was pretty much an anthem for Summer 1999. I like the fact that this band has a brother-sister coalition, and that neither of them look like musicians. Too many artists get caught up in fashion, as if they're afraid that they won't be seen as credible if they aren't sporting the right look. Unfortunately for Len, they are extremely cheesy, and this song basically screamed One Hit Wonder the moment it blew up.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

SKY - 'Love Song'



Origin: Montreal, QC
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: Sky hit it big in the late 90's with their album Piece of Paradise, and Love Song was their crowning achievement. The duo split up soon after, and although a new singer joined the group and another album was released, they failed to recapture the spotlight. Love Song is interesting in that it's a great pop song that has aged pretty well, yet at the same time, there is something unmistakably 1999 about it.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

JANN ARDEN - 'Insensitive'



Origin: Springbank, AB
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: I feel bad making Insensitive Jann Arden's Northern Elixir, because it is the only song that she didn't write on 1994's Living Under June. It's a great album, one that I heard many times on road trips with my family when I was younger. There is something exceptional about Insensitive though, and it has long been considered her shining moment by many fans. I have always liked this video - the colours somehow match the mood of the song really well.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

BONJAY



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: Is it just me, or is Toronto bringing it right now? There is so much quality music coming from the T Dot that it takes work picking and choosing who I should write about. You guys remember urban electro duo Thunderheist? Bonjay is not Thunderheist....(I initially thought that they were the same group under a different stage name). Stumble is Bonjay's debut single, and it is pure fire. The additional staccato vocals in the chorus are a really nice touch. I also like how difficult it is to make out the lyrics in the verses. It's a bit frustrating at first, but the vocals just sort of melt into the beat, which is the true star of the song.

Monday, March 21, 2011

MATTHEW GOOD BAND - 'Everything Is Automatic'



Origin: Vancouver, BC
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: I loved Canadian alt rock as a teenager. I didn't realize how neutered most of it was until a few years ago, when I decided to play through my old CD's. Matthew Good Band were more radio-friendly than I had remembered, but good songwriting is good songwriting, and they wrote a lot of excellent music. Everything Is Automatic is one of many songs I could have posted. 1997's Underdogs is still a classic album, and 1999's Beautiful Midnight was a perfect follow-up. Matt Good's lyrics became very depressing over time, to the point where I didn't feel like listening to him anymore. He is still releasing music though, now as a solo artist.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

THE WEEKND



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: How's this for bragging rights - having The New York Times write an article about you after releasing only 3 songs. Such is the case with The Weeknd, a mysterious new R&B duo from Toronto. Drake, 2010's It-rapper, discovered them last Fall and plugged them on his popular blog. Their buzz started building from there, and the rest is history. I found The Weeknd's What You Need on Pitchfork a few weeks ago and I have been obsessed with it ever since.

Friday, March 11, 2011

NEVEREST



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: VOLCANO TOSS
Cherchez La Moose: This band perplexes me. How did they come up with their band name? "Hey guys, ever climbed Mount Everest?" "Never." ".......OMG! NEVEREST." Their stroke of genius continues on their revelatory first single, About Us. It is the band's debut single, so first impressions count. They seize the opportunity with these profound lyrics - "I hate hearing about us....I'm tiiiiirrrred."Neverest is overproduced to the max, and I get a manufactured feel from them. Young girls supposedly find them attractive, but the singer's 1cm forehead is nothing but a distraction to me. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

GEORGE



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: LOST IN THE WILDERNESS
Cherchez La Moose: Where is George?! He brought us two memorable videos back in the mid-2000's - Talk To Me and Lie To Me. I loved George from the get-go because of his stage name. Madonna....Beyonce.....George. George Michael? OF. COURSE. NOT. Just "George." I also love his dance routines. Both videos had cheesy yet enjoyable choreography, but this video takes the cake for unleashing a new move that sent Canadian audiences into a frenzy back in 2006: the arm piano at 2:25.  

Saturday, March 5, 2011

OWEN PALLETT - 'Your Ex-Lover Is Dead' (Stars cover)



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: Owen Pallett has written a lot of amazing music, but this cover of Stars' Your Ex-Lover Is Dead literally took my breath away the first time I heard it. The original version is gorgeous as well, and is one of Stars' shining moments (pun intended, bahaha). If you ever get the chance to see Pallett perform live, drop everything and go immediately. His live show is one of the best that I have ever seen.

Friday, March 4, 2011

STARS - 'Ageless Beauty'



Origin: Montreal, QC
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: Pure magic. 

Monday, February 21, 2011

DIAMOND RINGS - 'Wait & See'



Origin: Oshawa, ON
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: Ignore the blog praise - Diamond Rings is cheesy and kind of overrated. John O'Regan is definitely a talented guy though, and it's pretty clear that he knows how ridiculous his act is. I think I'm just ready for the style-over-substance movement from the late 2000's to end. O'Regan has X Factor, there's no doubt, so I can understand why the media is excited about him. Wait & See is my favourite single from his debut album Special Affections, and I'll admit that the hipster in me kind of wishes that I could have been in the final scene of the video, carrying Michael Jordan through the crowd.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

OUTLIERS


Some bands just don't fit in. They aren't old enough to be Lost In The Wilderness, not new enough to be Emerging Antlers, a bit too obscure for a Northern Elixir - no classification works. The following bands have all created something great though, and something that I am quite fond of. 

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS - 'Bodies And Minds'



Origin: Wainfleet, ON
Category: OUTLIER
Cherchez La Moose: My first Outlier pick was going to be Halifax band Wintersleep, but their video for Sore does not have an embed code. I don't mean to take anything away from Great Lake Swimmers though, also a great band. This song came out right when the folk revival was blossoming. These guys put on a really good live show, they are worth checking out.

MAGNETA LANE - 'The Constant Lover'



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: OUTLIER
Cherchez La Moose: Magneta Lane's The Constant Lover is the kind of fun, catchy indie rock single that falls through the cracks as the years pass. It stuck with me though, not only because I love its Strokes-y groove, but because I saw it almost every day on MuchMusic back in my third year of University. It brings back good memories, plus it makes me wanna dance. Win-win situation!

CADENCE WEAPON - 'Sharks'



Origin: Edmonton, AB
Category: OUTLIER
Cherchez La Moose: Cadence Weapon burst out of the gates in beast mode back in 2005 with his debut album, the cleverly-titled Breaking Kayfabe. His biggest single was Sharks, and it was accompanied by one of the best Canadian hip-hop videos of all time. 

MONEEN - 'Start Angry...End Mad'



Origin: Brampton, ON
Category: OUTLIER
Cherchez La Moose: Moneen released some awesome stuff in the early 2000's, but they eventually became overshadowed by bands like Alexisonfire and Billy Talent. This video for Start Angry...End Mad couldn't be more awesome if it tried. Every time I watch it, it reminds me that life rules.

Monday, February 14, 2011

TRICOT MACHINE - '25 Decembre'



Origin: Trois-Rivieres, QC
Category: OUTLIER
Cherchez La Moose: 25 Decembre is such a great song. It sounds a bit like Sufjan Stevens, but Quebec-ified. It's one of several singles they've released that have me convinced that they deserve more recognition.

Friday, February 4, 2011

BRYAN ADAMS - 'Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven'



Origin: Kingston, ON
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: Was Edwin's sensitive moment with a dolphin in his Alive video not cheesy enough for you? Try computer generated dolphins emerging from a giant field of wheat. If you have been craving some electric blue lately, this video for Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven has more than enough to satisfy you. I'll tell you what though, I have nothing else to say about this one. I like a lot of Bryan Adams' older music, and this song is actually one of my favourites. 

EDWIN - 'Alive'



Origin: Toronto, ON
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: Edwin's solo career as a whole felt kind of cheesy, but his video for Alive is a hall-of-famer. A lot of people like this song, so I guess Edwin's attempt at making a universal, relatable feel-good anthem was a success. I bought his debut album and heard this song before it was released as a single. After seeing the video, I was never able to take the song seriously again. Literally everything in this video is good for an unintentional laugh, but Edwin's tender interaction with a dolphin in the middle of the ocean takes the cake. CHEESEcake. Bahaha.

Monday, January 31, 2011

HAYDEN - 'Bad As They Seem'



Origin: Thornhill, ON
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: Hadyen's Bad As They Seem, which dates back to 1995, was a personal favourite of mine during my University years. The song is mopey yet beautiful, and the lyrics somehow manage to be depressing, creepy, and romantic, all at once. Ultimately, I think that there's probably a lot of guys out there who can relate to Hayden's slice-of-life musings. It has 90's Canadian indie classic written all over it. 

Saturday, January 22, 2011

BRAIDS



Origin: Calgary, AB
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: It's official - Braids just blew up. Say hello to your new it-band, Canada. They started generating buzz a few years ago back in Calgary, where they were known as The Neighbourhood Council. They managed to accumulate an impressive amount of press for only having released a few songs, and I was on the fence as to whether or not they just had the right connections. I am really happy to admit that I was wrong though, and that they are actually worth the hype. They just released their debut album Native Speaker, and it sounds like a million bucks. It's interesting, well-written, and it is starting to get some major attention in the US. Lammicken is my current favourite from the album, but I recommend Lemonade and Glass Deers for newcomers.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

1 GIRL 5 GAYS



Origin: Toronto, ON
Cherchez La Moose: I get a kick out of watching this show. I love learning things about people, and despite the fact that some of the show's personalities fit into gay stereotypes, every one of them is an individual and has a lot of interesting stories and opinions. My favourite thing about 1 Girl 5 Gays is how all-out it goes when discussing sex. It's liberating. Full blown conversations about semen, for instance, shouldn't be censored or made for some sort of gross-out punchline. It's funny how we can watch a program at 8pm and witness bodies being blown in half, yet we need to wait until 11pm to see something with nudity or graphic sex references. 1 Girl 5 Gays is pushing things in the right direction, and every episode contains at least a few hilarious quotes or revelations.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

ERIC'S TRIP



Origin: Moncton, NB
Category: LOST IN THE WILDERNESS
Cherchez La Moose: When I think about early 90's Canadian indie rock, I don't think about New Brunswick and Eric's Trip - I think about Halifax and Sloan. Eric's Trip was the first Canadian band to ever get signed to Sub Pop Records, which is bragging rights for eternity. 

Could you possibly look more legit than this? Not only did they have the perfect image, but they wrote a lot of great music as well. Julie Doiron is still making music today and has done very well for herself as a solo folk-rock singer-songwriter. 

Thursday, January 13, 2011

HABITAT 67 & FARINE FIVE ROSES





Origin: Montreal, QC
Cherchez La Moose: Montreal is Canada's coolest city. There's tons of diversity, an amazing music scene, a giant rollercoaster park on a separate island, a mountain in the center of the city, a Biodome, a Biosphere - the list goes on. Two of my favourite landmarks are Habitat 67 and Farine Five Roses. I thought that I had stepped into an alternate dimension the first time I saw Habitat 67 in person. No picture can do it justice - it's that awesome. I have always wondered what it would be like to live in one of the apartments. Farine Five Roses is a little more puzzling, in that it's really just a flour mill in Griffintown....but it's somehow so much more. Citizens of Montreal cherish it, fans have created blogs about it, and even musicians have tipped their hats to it (Miracle Fortress named their album Five Roses, for example). The building is situated close to the awesome indie venue Friendship Cove, and I'd always make sure to pass by the glowing sign on my bike after seeing a show. 

Monday, January 10, 2011

HIGH HOLY DAYS



Origin: North Bay, ON
Category: VOLCANO TOSS
Cherchez La Moose: High Holy Days (gah, even their band name makes me squirm) are so bad they're   good   just hella bad. I'd rather eat turd jambalaya than listen to their entire album. Many kids want to be doctors and astronauts when they grow up. These grown men want to be ....Creed. All My Real Friends is a weak single - even back in 2003, when I paid less attention to songwriting, it occurred to me just how bad this song is. The chorus, build-up during the bridge, and outro all hint that a big rock-out moment is around the corner, but everything simply fizzles. The cliched video is no better - even the door slam at the end of the video is just plain bad.

WOMEN



Origin: Calgary, AB
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: Women went on an "indefinite hiatus" (a.k.a. they broke up) after tempers flared live during a now-infamous show in Victoria late last year. They were on tour promoting their 2010 album Public Strain. I recently listened to the album for the first time, and there's no doubt in my mind that these guys are/were worth the hype. Shaking Hand, taken from their debut, is a good example of what makes Women special - the perfect balance between consonance and dissonance, the feel-good outro, the intricate guitars and time signatures...I could go on. I'm classifying these guys as Emerging Antlers because they still have so much to give. Whether or not it will be as Women remains to be seen.

Friday, January 7, 2011

SHAWN DESMAN - 'Electric/Night Like This'



Origin: Vaughan, ON
Category: STUFFED CRUST PIZZA
Cherchez La Moose: Shawn Desman is cheesy. Period. He's a talented guy, but I have never been able to take him seriously. I can't tell if he knows he's cheesy, and that is what intrigues me about him. The outfits in this video are tackier than ever, and his dancing at 0:56 is extremely dorky (are girls attracted to this?!), but here's the thing - his music is actually getting better. Shiver surprised me last year by not being lame, and I had Electric on replay a few nights ago. I've seen him in interviews, and he seems like a genuinely nice guy. He also scores bonus points for using the SYTYCD cast for his videos.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

MAKEOUT VIDEOTAPE



Origin: Vancouver, BC
Category: EMERGING ANTLERS
Cherchez La Moose: Lo-fi noise pop has been a major trend in indie culture these past few years, and although it feels like it's on its last legs, Vancouver duo Makeout Videotape makes me want it to stick around just a little longer. Deborah is an interesting song, and I love the WTF-ness of the video, but you need to hear a collection of their songs to fully appreciate their songwriting skills. Kudos to Unfamiliar for signing them.  

Sunday, January 2, 2011

PROTEST THE HERO - 'Blindfolds Aside'



Origin: Whitby, ON
Category: NORTHERN ELIXIR
Cherchez La Moose: I can't wait to hear the new Protest The Hero album, due out in the first half of 2011. It will be hard to top 2008's incredible Fortress, an album filled with so many riffs and ideas that you'd think they spent their entire lives writing it. This band is so technically proficient and ambitious that my hunch tells me we won't be disappointed. Blindfolds Aside was a major "wow" moment when I first saw it on MuchMusic. The fact that these guys are from Whitby is so classic. They have earned every bit of positive press they've received, and I think that they're one of the best bands in Canada at the moment.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


I hope you all have a happy and exciting year. Thanks again for reading Moose Tracks.

-Moose X