Album of the Week

I've recently been contracted to do a weekly music show much like my blog but for airing purposes on Radio Humber. Due to this, I will probably start posting my scripted pieces along with the albums, but I won't be doing an album this week. I'll probably head into the studio next week to put the first episode together. It will be focusing on new Canadian releases, but I hope to have a more independent artist take on it. I will also be posting the audio from those weekly features along with the posts and albums. I think I might start scoping the albums as well in order to advocate actually buying the artists' album. Anyway, I'll be posting some stuff in a week or so. Keep your pants on, my friends.

o6. Shapes and Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner

Back to good old Sunday posting...


Shapes and Sizes is an indie rock band from Victoria, British Columbia. After releasing their first self-titled album, it caught the eye of Sufjan Stevens and his record company "Asthmatic Kitty". Soon thereafter, Shapes and Sizes re-released their debut under "Asthmatic Kitty". In January they released a split 7" album with The Weird Weeds as part of a split 7" series project record company Asthmatic Kitty was working on. Five months later, Shapes and Sizes released their second full-length album "Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner". The Canadian foursome, three guys and a girl, have since been featured on CBC Radio 3's "R3-30" with Craig Norris as well as "The CBC Radio 3 Podcast with Grant Lawrence" and a CBC Radio 3 "Session" on May 8th, 2006.

This album is soft and quiet, rough and loud and all around great. If you're not falling asleep with it on, you should be makin' love. I present to you "Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner" by Shapes and Sizes.

Download
It's a .zip file so you must have winZIP or winRAR to extract the files!

Tracklisting
1. Alone/Alive - 3:37
2. Head Movin' - 2:53
3. Geese - 3:46
4. The Taste In My Mouth - 5:31
5. Teller/Seller - 2:22
6. Grassy Corner, A Sunset - 0:44
7. Highlife (I Had Been Duped) - 4:47
8. Can't Stop That (Sinking) Feeling - 4:08
9. The Horse's Mouthy Mouth - 5:45
10. The Long Indifference - 4:04
11. Canvas Skies, Muslin Trees - 1:38
12. Victory in War - 4:08
13. Piggy - 3:53
14. One, Two, Three - 4:00

o5. The New Pornographers - Challengers

The second that I heard the first release from this album, I knew it would be the next post for Album of the Week. In fact, I had to try my very hardest to not post two albums last week because I wanted to post this one so badly.

The New Pornographers formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Almost immediately after banding together they recorded the classic "Letter from an Occupant" and since then, it's been on. With eight members in this highly successful Canadian Indie group, The New Pornographers have put out four full-length albums and have been featured on three compilation albums, more recently on the CBC Radio 3's "Sessions Volume III" released earlier this month. With their latest release, "Challengers", The New Pornographers have amassed positive reviews and it gives you almost everything you would want and expect from the band. Considering the band has eight members, this album succeeds in showcasing a bit of each personality but still keeps the group meshed together. After your first listen to this great piece, you will be won over. But with repeated listens, I can almost guarantee that it will not only become part of your "Top 5", but will stay there for some time to come.

If you don't like this album, you are crazy and I probably don't want to know you anymore. I present to you "Challengers", the latest, and perhaps greatest, release from Canada's very own The New Pornographers.

Download
It's a .zip file so you must have winZIP or winRAR to extract the files!

Tracklisting
1. My Rights Versus Yours - 4:17
2. All the Old Showstoppers - 4:08
3. Challengers - 3:31
4. Myriad Harbour - 4:00
5. All the Things that Go to Make Heaven and Earth - 3:09
6. Failsafe - 2:37
7. Unguided - 6:33
8. Entering White Cecilia - 3:28
9. Go Places - 4:32
10. Mutiny, I Promise You - 4:12
11. Adventures In Solitude - 4:16
12. The Spirit of Giving - 4:01

o4. Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara

What can I even say about this week's album? I've chosen to post "Ongiara" by Great Lake Swimmers. In one word, this album is indescribable.

Hailing from the good old township of Wainfleet, Ontario (population 6 258), Great Lake Swimmers is the dream of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. The bands current line-up includes Erik Arneson and Colin Huebert. Often compared to artists such as Red House Painters, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, and Neil Young, Great Lake Swimmers have formed a category all their own. Their third full-length album, Ongiara was released on March 27th 2007. Blending the banjo, dreamy acoustic guitar lines and gentle rhythmic drumming, the band has put together an amazing album that will live on in record collections for years to come. They've even released this album on vinyl (which I am lucky enough to not only own but have autographed by Tony Dekker himself) which has garnered decent sales. In early 2007, Great Lake Swimmers signed onto Nettwerk records and have since managed to prosper.

In my opinion, their second greatest album (closely following Bodies and Minds), here is Ongiara from Great Lake Swimmers.


Download
It's a .rar file so you must have winZIP or winRAR to extract the files!

Tracklisting
1. Your Rocky Spine - 3:38
2. Backstage with the Modern Dancers - 4:30
3. Catcher Son - 4:13
4. Changing Colours - 4:46
5. There Is a Light - 5:08
6. Put There by the Land - 2:45
7. I am Part of a Large Family - 4:25
8. Where in the World Are You - 3:51
9. Passenger Song - 4:31
10. I Became Awake - 5:53

o3. Malajube - Trompe-L'oeil

This week's contribution comes from a Dare to Care artist. Malajube is a Canadian Francophone Indie band hailing from Montréal. Forming in 2004, the band released their first album titled "Le Compte Complet" which garnered positive reviews and sparked a province-wide tour with Malajube hitting up some of the hottest music festivals in Québec. In 2006, the band released "Trompe-L'oeil". Malajube got even more of a response after being nominated for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize. In 2006, the band won awards for "Best Album", and "Best Cover Art". The same night, Malajube were proclaimed "Revelation of the Year 2006" with the CBC describing them as "one of very few Québec musical groups who have achieved success in English Canada despite not performing in English, something the band states they have no interest in doing."

While listening to "Trompe-L'oeil" you might find yourself recognizing songs and dancing around the room. Malajube know how to make music to tap your toes to and fall in love with after the first three chords. Even if you don't speak French, I don't see how it is at all possible not to enjoy the hell out of this album!

Here for your listening pleasure, I give you 2006's "Trompe-L'oeil" by Malajube. Bon appetit!


Download
It's a .rar file so you must have winZIP or winRAR to extract the files!

Tracklisting
1. Jus de Canneberges - 0:58
2. Montréal -40ºC - 3:19
3. Pâte Filo - 3:44
4. Le Crabe - 4:43
5. La Monogamie - 4:56
6. Ton Plat Favori - 2:32
7. La Russe - 1:45
8. Fille à Plumes - 3:42
9. Casse-Cou - 4:06
10. Étienne d'Août - 5:27
11. St-Forunat - 3:45
12. La Fin - 10:53