Pick of the Week #29: The Parkas - You Should've Killed Us When You Had the Chance

Most of the picks of the week that are made on this here blog are because I really, really, like the albums; many of them are from bands that I feel are under appreciated, and, occasionally, its because I have some type of personal connection (real or imagined) with the band... this time its all of the above!

... read the rest of the story plus mp3s here...

Pick of the Week #23 - Still Life Still

This week's pick = Still Life Still... "not just a Broken Social Scene knock off!"

See the full post at the BM.

Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck - How to Fall Down in Public

The executive summary: How to Fall Down in Public is certainly one of the better singer-songwriter albums released during this (2008-2009) Polaris calendar. It has a kind of nostalgic, golden age sound that reminds me of driving up to a beach with my parents in the 80s.

See the full post at the BM.

Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade

I suspect everyone here is on board with how awesome the Black Hat Brigade is, so, the fact that Fathers is pretty excellent shouldn't really surprise anyone. What might surprise you is the range that the band shows in their new 8-song album/EP.

You might also be excited to learn that they've got a few shows coming up, in particular, Torontonians will want to check out their May 29 CD release at the El Mocambo as part of the Pitter Patter Music Festival ...

See the full post at the BM.

Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players

The Sunparlour Players are my favourite band. They have a new album called Wave North, which is going to be released this coming Tuesday (May 19th). The album is awesome, the band is awesome, and you better believe their CD release show (June 26th @ the Horseshoe) is going to be awesome.

Start saving your pennies to pick up a nice mustard or some preserves at the show. If you're in Ontario they're probably playing dates near you. See their myspace for details.

See the full post w/ mp3s and a video of their cover of 'Thunderstruck' here.

Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians

The executive summary: The Liptonians s/t album is, in my estimation, like vintage Ben Folds except more Canadian... which is to say that they're nicer, less abrasive, and write songs more about/for real people and not... characters.

See the Liptonians myspace for the dates for their cross country (Canada) tour, their tour blog for videos of said tour, and their twitter page if you're wondering what they're doing right now.

See the Burgeoning Metropolis blog for the full post w/ mp3s, and possibly in the coming weeks for an email exchange (emails pending) with the band.

Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers

Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers

The executive summary: An album (s/t), which feels like the story of Olenka Krakus' youth in Poland, really should've been somewhere (probably top 15 on my year end list last year) and is making me think I should go back and re-evaluate my picks.

See the full post here.

Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson

The executive summary: Yes, Patrick Watson won the Polaris Prize with his last album, but I think this one is better.

See the full post here.

Pick of the Week #14: Justis

The executive summary: A rap album that, if you're looking to nod your head, is just what you should be listening to...

Full text at the BM (Burgeoning Metropolis).

Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands

I was surprised (based on nothing at all) how much I've enjoyed Gentlemen Husbands EP, Something Along the Lines of 'A Lesson in Unprofessionalism'.

The executive summary (for fans of Friday Night Lights - the TV Show): They are Tim Riggins in band form.

For anyone who needs more convincing than that (by way of a comparison w/ Cuff the Duke), please refer to the full post here.

Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou - Swift Feet for Troubling Times

The fact that Ohbijou is awesome, I suspect, is not exactly breaking news around here. But to the readers of AWmusic it may be, so there's that... and, well, they're releasing a new album, Beacons, in a little over a month... not exactly a timely post, but its not like I'm getting paid to do this...

The executive summary:
If you like Stars (without the electronic business) or Feist (with a strings behind her) then its an absolute lock that you'll like Ohbijou.

And the text of the post at Burgeoning Metropolis.

Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys

... I guess my invite got lost in the mail... nobody invited me to the blogger convention....

This week's pick: The Darcys.

The take home message:
The Darcys and their album Endless Water are Toronto's answer to Montreal's Plants and Animals Parc Avenue. I'm not sure the album really captures how good they were/are live, but its certainly worth your time...

Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula

Bruce Peninsula's A Mountain is a Mouth was my pick of the week.

The executive summary:
The album is like spending 40 mins inside a haunted country church, (which is to say that AMIAM is an experience... and there are very few bands that can create an experience).

I'm going to check them tonight at the Horseshoe, so, probably a review and some photos tomorrow...

Pick of the week 2.

I've got mine up (Zunior), and Rob has his up (Rah Rah). Check 'em out! I wonder if we'll ever pick the same thing? That'd be weird.