Digging For Roots

Okay, so it’s Tuesday. Yesterday was pretty typical eyetunes music, so today I’m going to switch it up and go for something a little out of the box for me. This band I first saw in a workshop with Michou. Who, by the way, were great in the workshop but not so great on their own. The drummer was too loud and I think they were too nervous, but I’m still a fan. But let’s get back to the band at hand — Digging Roots. They won the Juno this year for best Aboriginal album of the year, as well they’ve been on tours for years with sold-out shows and I can see why. I hope they get more popular soon. They’re worth it, mainly because they’re strangely unique. There’s not much out there like Digging Roots.

I was a little put off by the woman, Kish, at first, especially seeing them live. But after a few songs I found her voice pretty impressive. The male lead, Kanatakta, also has a great voice. It’s got this real blues growl but also a higher sweeter note as well. I love how they combine blues with traditional aboriginal sounds. It’s a great combination. It goes to show how great Hillside really is. This is something I never would  have looked at twice, but am really liking. Their a perfect Hillside band, and I love how much they show their background in their music. It’s cool to see and not very typical, usually people try to hide their heritage not embrace it. It’s not completely my taste, but I think they need to be heard. They have far too much talent to waste.

So far I’ve only checked out a few songs by them. Spring To Come being the stand-out song in my opinion, but check both their CD’s — We Are, and Seeds. For now here’s the video for Spring To Come. Being a spring baby I really love both the song and video, I think it really showcases their talent.

After watching this video I fell completely in love with the rap part the woman does so I decided to look her up. Turns out she’s a pretty well known R&B singer named Kinnie Starr. I checked out more of her stuff and surprisingly really liked it, be sure to check it out as well.

It’s Called Summer

Okay, so I thought today was a good day (or night) for my new favourite musicians. Kinda like my summer music list. I’m going list my favourite song by each band but be sure to check out all the songs of each one.

1. Juliette – Hollerado (this indie boy band to the max, but perfect for the pool)

2. Bulletproof – La Roux (not my usual, a little to electronic and well…female, but for some reason I really like it)

3. Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons (one of my favourite bands of the year, check ‘em out)

4. Kindergarten – Zeus (another one of my new favourite bands, also invited to the Sensitive Bearded Boys Festival “SBBF”, ‘course theirs are a little more hipper than say Bon Iver or Iron and Wine)

5. Babies Don’t Like Blue Anymore – Yukon Blonde (wasn’t sure about the band or song but it’s really growing on me)

6. Caught In The Crowd – Kate Miller-Heidke (for some reason I’m really loving this right now, kinda quirky, but super good. She’s classically trained as an opera singer, so it’s really interesting. This song is a bit of an eye-opener and a little cheesy, but I’m always up for a little cheese)

7. Your Island – Young Rival

8. This Feeling – Danny Michel (you must check out his newest CD Sunset Sea, it’s fantastic, I’ve had it on non-stop for weeks. Has a very Caribean feeling, yet still very Danny)

9. Golden Age – Jay Jay Pistolet (this guy is very quirky, but quite fantastic)

10. MIA – Emmy The Great (she’s really interesting, love her lyrics, especially in this song, although it’s actually very sad)

11. Bright Future – Bowerbirds

12. Airplanes – Local Natives (this is yet another really fantastic indie rock band, it’s also a really lovely song)

13. Dreamer – Jenn Grant (upbeat and happy, kinda reminds me of Sarah Harmer)

14. Captive – Sarah Harmer (this is from her new CD Oh Little Fire. I Think this song sounds a lot like Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I Am. The whole CD’s really good in a happy go-lucky, Sarah Harmer way)

15. Not Your Parent’s Music – Hawksley Workman (I’m kinda bummed this is the music that’s making Hawksley popular it’s pretty generic and if it wasn’t him I’d think it was great, but if you’re lookin’ for some good ol’ Hawksley Workman, check out his older stuff)

16. Without A Doubt -Isbells (I’m not even going to say it, I think it’s pretty obvious what it is)

17. Floating In The Forth – Frightened Rabbit (indie boy band, but with a scottish twist, even better. For some reason this song just really gets me and I can’t help but love it)

18. Leftovers – Johnny Flynn (everyone’s favourite British boy)

19. John Had a Bell and a Whistle – Sunparlour Players (a very strange song, a little like Rock Plaza Central)

20. Crooked Legs – The Acorn (taking place as one of my new favourite bands, you have to check them out, you won’t be disappointed)

I just want to clarify, these bands aren’t all knew to me, some of it is just new music and some of them really are new to me this year.

So I have a video I’ve been wanting to share forever. This is video for The Acorns song Crooked Legs. I think it’s a great video and really clever.

I like the editing of this video, and of course the song. I just think it’s super clever, and although it doesn’t quite make sense with the song, some how it works. I like video’s that are a little more abstract, and this one certainly is that.

I and Love and You

Wednesday. Hump day. Not the beginning of the week and not the end. In my opinion Wednesday is a good day. And a good day calls for good music, so here it is. Considering my marathon post yesterday, I’m going to quiet it down tonight. Just a little Avett Brothers and than a little (or a lot) of bed.

The Avett Brothers. A pretty awesome band if you ask me. A little country, a little alt-country, a whole ‘lotta bluegrass, and just a pinch of folk, not to mention a large portion of talent. All of that combined gives you The Avett Brothers, consisting of well the brothers Scott and Seth, oh and some other people too. I can’t say I’ve listened to a ton of their music, but what I’ve listened to hasn’t disappointed, actually its had quite the opposite effect. At first I only knew their song Kick Drum Heart and what a good song it is, with its fantastic shouting and of course the kick drum, but a few days ago (during a thunderstorm of course) I was introduced to a new Avett Brothers song called I and Love and You, the title song of their latest CD. It’s a fantastic song (especially for a thunderstorm). At first I wasn’t crazy about it, but after quite a few listens it really grew on me. It went from whiny alt-country crap, to a really awesome and fun song (still with some alt-country minus the crap). I’m not sure whether Brooklyn is a person or the place, but either way its good.Imagine whatever you want with it, its good music for that.

To me The Avett Brothers is what would come out of the meeting of The Burning Hell and Rock Plaza Central. They’ve got a little bit of The Burning Hells crazy rhythm and beats and Rock Plaza Centrals vocals. Of course they’ve also got themselves to, which is a pretty good thing to have.

Below is the video for I and Love and You. Words cannot explain how much I love this song right now. Listen to it now, and than again and again. If you don’t get it the first few times keep trying I promise you at some point you will see the light, and hopefully a pretty freaking awesome song.

I wasn’t sure about this video at first but it’s really growing on me. There’s nothing much to it, but maybe that’s a good thing. I especially love the singing crowds at the end, apparently their audience is pretty passionate about their music to. I love that. Anyways enjoy the video and their song, and check out more. I’m slowly listening to more and really liking it as well. Especially check out Kick Drum Heart, but for now goodnight, and farewell until next time.

Music On The Hillside

So it’s only Tuesday, which sucks because that means there is still 3 days of school left. But to make this Tuesday better I have some good music to talk about which in my opinion makes every day better. I’ve created yet another playlist but this one is super exciting. This is my Hillside 2010 playlist (yes I know I’m obsessed). It features bands that are playing at Hillside this year. I’ve gone through and picked ones that I thought sounded interesting, but feel free to check it out for yourself here. I’ve added bands I already knew that were playing plus I went in search of some new ones and think I made some pretty fantastic discoveries. Below is my playlist, the ones with the *’s beside them mean their new to me and maybe to you too.

1.  Heart of my Own – Basia Bulat

2.*City Lights – Bent by Elephants (this is awesome, I got a few songs, I highly recommend checking it out)

3.*Girls’s Night – First Rate People (I think this will be good live, but it sounds interesting, I’m liking it for a young indie canadian band)

4.  Babies Don’t Like Blue Anymore – Yukon Blonde

5.*Slow Knots – Brasstronaut (I’m really happy about this discovery, it has a cool beat and the voices are awesome)

6.  Winnipeg Winds – Jason Collett (I’m excited for him live)

7.*River Song – The Wooden Sky (another great discovery)

8.  The Hideout – Sarah Harmer (of course she’s a classic, a classy classic)

9.*Dark Eyes – Calexico & Iron & Wine (I got this song just because I have an Iron & Wine thing, sorry if I excited you although Calexico is sounding good too)

10. Take Me To The Riot – Stars

11. Kindergarten – Zeus

12. Doot Doot Plot -Hidden Cameras (I really love this song, but check out the rest it’s awesome, I can’t wait for Hillside)

13.*Firecracker – Frazey Ford (so I didn’t know she was from the Be Good Tanyas until I heard her voice, than I knew)

14.*Even While You’re Sleeping – The Acorn (another indie boy band but trust me I’m not complaining)

15.*Curs In The Weeds – Horse Feathers (to feed everyone’s need for some good ol’ twang, although he isn’t as twangy as I thought, he’s more pretty voice)

16.*Your Island – Young Rival (more indie boy, although more upbeat)

As you can see alot is new to me, which is great. Please check out all of the bands and listen more, these are just songs I kinda liked — you may feel differently. Featured below is The Acorn with Even While Your Sleeping. It’s awesome to see the band play live and it makes me even more excited.

I hope you don’t mind my many Hillside rants. I thought this would be okay because it’s giving you awesone new music that maybe you wouldn’t have found any other way, I know I probably wouldn’t have. Check out more  by all the artists.

Melancholy Sunday

So, I’ve been sitting here thinking about topics to talk about today. My 3 ideas were Bon Iver, The National or Frightened Rabbits. After long deliberation (5 minutes to be exact) I’ve decided today is a Bon Ivery kind of day. I’m sure you’ll hear about the other 2 later in the week.

It’s  a cloudy, cool and rather depressingly lovely Sunday which in my opinion screams a Bon Iver day. His eerie vocals and mysteriously awesome music screamed today. My dad first discovered Bon Iver a year or two ago. He played it non stop. I loved it instantly (and not just because it had my name in it which is Emma). My mom also really fell in love with the CD and she still to this day always plays is. He’s only released one full CD called For Emma Forever Ago and a EP called Blood Bank. His music has been featured in many movies like the newly released movie The Twilight Saga: New Moon (my rant on this whole series will come in another post I’m sure) that fits his voice perfectly. My favourite Bon Iver songs are For Emma, Flume and Blood Bank. He needs to get back to the cabin in the middle of no where and make another perfect CD, or maybe he should try another setting like on the top of a skyscraper in New York City or even better the top of the CN Tower. Who knows what you’ll get from that setting. Beneath is Flume. My mom and I always think it’s funny that it starts off with I am my mothers only one, because well I am and the CD has my name in it. Bon Iver knows me a little too well I think. Anyways, enjoy the song.

I really enjoy watching him live. I also think it’s funny that a guy that looks so much like a lumberjack from the middle of no where can have such a beautiful voice. He’s even wearing plaid!