It’s a Canada Thing
A Look at the Long List: 8. The Dears – Degeneration Street
Our continuing series looking at all forty albums nominated for the Canadian Polaris Music Prize long list (CLICK HERE to see the full list once it’s complete….)
I gotta respect the sheer ambition and audacity of Montreal’s The Dears. They were definitely swinging for the rafter with this record which literally dripped epic-ness and the sweat of their effort to make a record that felt ‘important.’ The Brtipop/rock influence on their sound seems obvious too: musically, the album put me in the mind of Bends-era Radiohead (as did a couple other bands on the Polaris long list but we’ll get to that in time….) or The Manic Street Preachers and the lead singer at times sounded like Paul Weller but f-ck me if I didn’t get the shock of my life when I came to find out after the fact that he’s actually black! Well weller always did have a very soulful (or at least blue-eyed soulful) voice. You know, interpolating ‘Lady Marmalade’ on ‘Tiny Man’ should’ve been my first clue though. Seriously, which white dude would really do that in general but especially on the kind of records The Dears make??!
Anyway, these aren’t the tracks I would’ve highlighted from the album (probably would’ve gone for ‘Lamentation’ or ‘Galactic Tides’ instead), but these were the ones I could swipe from soundowl and with thirty-two other albums to do posts on still before July 6 (the date the short list is officially announced), I don’t really have a lot of time time to be f-cking around uploading tracks so enjoy…
‘Omega Dog’ (Live in Mexico City):
‘Blood’ (Live in Mexico City):
And some mp3’s…
Download The Dears Omega Dog [MP3]
Download The Dears Blood [MP3]
A Look at the Long List: 6. Louise Burns – Mellow Drama
This album had a twangy, power-pop feel to it which is not a sound I generally tend to dig so I didn’t give this one much time, frankly. UK singer Kirsty MacColl‘s name came to mind as I played this for some reason. Here’s a couple joints to hold you down which may or may not explain that last sentence:
A Look at the Long List: 5. Buck 65 – 20 Odd Years
Buck 65 is the kind of rapper and hip-hop the Polaris jury tends to favor (cf. K’naan, K-os etc.): more respectful of the old school and/or the four elements of hip-hop culture than most other contemporary, more commercial MC’s but at the same time incorporating more of rockist feel to their sound be it using instruments more than samples during recording or a band set-up for live performances. In Buck’s case that means exploring more a rootsy, blues-man feel in the music he’s released in the latter parts of his career. Although I won’t lie and claim to be an expert on his music or much of a fan based on the stuff I’ve ever checked out in the past but 20 Odd Years had it’s moments including actually a sense of humor on ‘Zombie Delight” and a dubstep and strings melange on the ‘Who By Fire’ track that features fellow Polaris nominee, Jenn Grant who also provides an assist of the moving, ‘Paper Airplanes.’
Buck 65 Superstars Don’t Love [MP3]
Buck 65 Zombie Delight [MP3]
A Look at the Long List: 4. Braids – Native Speaker
Truth be told, as far as this ethereal, electronic-indie pop from Canada goes, I might have preferred Grimes‘ Halfaxa album but that inexplicably did not make the long list whilst this did but at the end of the day this ain’t too bad either. Reminded me of Cocteau Twins and back in the day Blue Bell Knoll was my sh-t so anyone evoking that spirit, even a little bit, is alright in my books.
‘Plath Heart’ (video):
Download Braids Plath Heart [MP3]
Download Braids Lemonade [MP3]
A Look at the Long List: 3. Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart
This one just confused me. Whilst there was a bluesy thread running through most of the album, at times it was on some Black Crowes ish then at others I was getting a Soundgarden feel albeit with co-ed vocals instead of those tow group’s male lead vocal sound. The album was competent enough but ultimately I didn’t feel like there a lot of new ground being broken here and pushing the envelope of artistry and/or creativity kind of felt like it should be at the core of any album that was gonna be a serious contender to win the Polaris or at least be shortlisted from my point of view. Here’s a couple of the more notable tracks from Wilderness Heart album for you to check and see if I’m talking out my ass though:
‘The Hair Song’ (video):
Download Black Mountain The Hair Song [MP3]
‘Old Fangs (video):