A Look at the Polaris Long List: 30. Ron Sexsmith – Long Player Late Bloomer

Ron Sexsmith is another critical favorite here in the city (Toronto). I’m not sure why. His music is a bit sentimental-sounding, verging on cheesy. Not really the kind of stuff critics are taken to championing usually. Musically it reminded me of MOR Canadian success story Michael Buble which apparently shouldn’t be a surprise since Sexmsith has written some songs for Buble. Others critics might be charmed, I wasn’t…..

Download: Ron Sexsmith Get in Line [MP3]

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 29. Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing

I was digging this one. To my ears, dude’s voice was like it you mixed Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins with a more melodic Dylan if he could actually enunciate instead of slurring everything he sung (also kind of reminded me of Citizen Cope too). Their name fit the music as well. This one’s definitely worth your time.

Download The Rural Alberta Advantage Stamp [MP3]

Download The Rural Alberta Advantage Good Night [MP3]

Download The Rural Alberta Advantage Tornado 87 [MP3]

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 28. Daniel Romano – Sleep Beneath the Willow

If I was turned off by the fact that Doug Paisley was a little too light on the alternative quotient in his supposed ‘alt. country’, Daniel Romano was like kryptonite to my ears by comparison. Maybe this is actually great and it’s execution of a down-the-middle trad. country sound (at least it didn’t sound like Top 40 country to me) noteworthy, but it was lost on me, frankly.

MP3 Stream (no download): Daniel Romano – Hellens Restaurant by woasong

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 27. PS I Love You – Meet Me at the Muster Station

When I first played this I wrote, “got some energy to it, reminds me of Passion Pit and MGMT.” Still stand by that, especially as compared to a lot of downtempo, ethereal fare that seemed to populate the Long List, but I’m 50-50 on the band references now. There’s definitely shades of those two band’s sound in the PS I love You sound but I think they stand on their own two legs with their own distinct sound. Or do they?

MP3 stream (no download): PS I Love You-Facelove by Canadian Blast

MP3 stream (no download): PS I Love You – 2012 by StreetlightX

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 26. Doug Paisley – Constant Companion

I’ve seen this one described as ‘alt country.’ Seemed a little too heavy on the country and a little short on the alt. side of the equation to my ears, frankly. As you are probably deducing, I wasn’t digging this one too tough.

Download: Doug Paisley I Stand Alone [MP3]