Toronto – JASON SCHNEIDER MEDIA

Out Now: John Borra – “The Wars ’21”

It was only in January 2020 that John Borra released his critically acclaimed album Blue Wine, but for obvious reasons it already feels like a lifetime ago. Normally, the veteran Toronto artist would have spent the past year doing what he’s always done best: Playing his ragged-but-right alt-country to his loyal audience, both at home and across Canada.

Instead, Borra has adapted to promoting the album in new ways, mainly through honing his video skills. However, now he’s utilizing his more well-known audio engineering chops by offering a new mix of one of Blue Wine’s standout tracks, “The Wars.” As one of the three songs on the album co-written with the award-winning poet Eva H.D., “The Wars” has a special meaning for Borra, which is why he felt compelled to revisit it.

He explains, “We wrote this song after everything else was recorded and mixed, but I was able to record it just in time to get it on the record. Because of the rushed nature, I never felt it had been given its proper due so I thought I’d give it a new mix and release it as a single. I re-did the bass but otherwise it’s the same song as on the record, just given a little extra love and attention it didn’t get the first time around.”

Indeed, “The Wars ‘21” glows with a classic country warmth, accentuated by Borra’s signature, timeless vocal performance. It is available April 23, 2021 on all digital platforms, and Bandcamp.

Out Now: Bryce Thomas – Across The Neuro Seas

Happy release day to Toronto singer/songwriter Bryce Thomas‘ Across The Neuro Seas!

Bryce made Across The Neuro Seas — his first collection since 2015’s Immovable Feast — in his home studio during a month-long creative burst at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

Curating the songs as if they were a short story collection, Bryce didn’t hold back musically, performing all vocals, guitars and keyboard tracks along with a variety of other instruments, only making exceptions for drums and some bass— performed remotely by Marito Marques and Chris Monster, respectively—a horn section, and additional vocals by his wife Lisanne. Tracks were later mixed by Josh Bowman and mastered by João Carvalho.

On songs such as first single “Perpetual Motion Machines,” “Young Lovers” and “Summer Nights In Summertime,” Bryce exquisitely captures a range of emotions in an immediate manner through his distinctive brand of folk-rock, while expressing the power of experience elsewhere on “Widow’s Walk” and “Hope And Chance,” two songs that had sat on the shelf for 25 years until finding their moment.

Indeed, when asked to describe his musical evolution, Bryce gives a straightforward answer: “Long.” Making music has been a part of his life since early childhood, and he became an active figure in the Toronto indie scene of the 1990s, recording an album with his art rock band Pellet at the city’s leading rock radio station Q107 and later creating and hosting a weekly songwriter’s circle at Queen Street West club Holy Joe’s that ran for two years.

During that period, Bryce was a regular on Toronto stages and a passionate supporter of numerous Canadian singer/songwriters of that era. Across The Neuro Seas pays tribute to some of them with the song “Up Around The Bend,” incorporating lyrics by Hawksley Workman, Joel Plaskett, Sarah Slean and Danny Michel.

The final results on Across The Neuro Seas clearly show that he made the right choice. While there are sure to be many “what I did during my pandemic lockdown” records on the horizon, Bryce Thomas’s Across The Neuro Seas bears all the hallmarks of a true folk-pop auteur, with its timeless sound sure to remain relevant long after we’re allowed to once again get close to our loved ones.

Get Bryce Thomas’ Across The Neuro Seas from Bandcamp, and watch the video for “Perpetual Motion Machines.”

Out Now: The Wanted – Strange Flight

Happy release day to The Wanted’s new album Strange Flight!

Produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies, his trademark sonic approach emphasizes The Wanted’s live group chemistry, created by the core trio of Natalie Rogers (vocals, guitar), Jeff Rogers (vocals, guitar) and Richard Henderson (lap steel guitar, vocals), along with bassist Dan Mock and drummer Kyle Sullivan—borrowed from Jerry Leger’s band The Situation.

The Wanted’s honest and gritty approach to roots music has greatly evolved since they released their self-titled debut album in 2010. That record has since tallied close to a half-million Spotify streams while earning them appearances at the Mariposa Folk Festival, Folk Alliance International, and the Canadian Country Music Awards.

However, the essence of their sound has remained consistent since The Wanted formed in 2003 out of informal songwriter gatherings centred around Toronto clubs the Cameron House and the Tranzac. They bonded over a shared love of classic roots artists such as Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt, and that connection continues to guide them nearly 20 years later.

Get The Wanted’s Strange Flight from Bandcamp, and check out their latest video for the track “Stand Up.”

Screening Room: Chairmen Of The Boards – “Booty Wiggle”

Toronto’s surf-rock kings Chairmen Of The Boards have released a new track from their debut album Surfin’ The Apocalypse. “Booty Wiggle” is their funkiest track, and essential for any Valentine’s Day playlist.

Here’s what the band has to say about it:
“Mid-winter means Valentine’s Day and Chairmen Of The Boards love to celebrate it. To mark the occasion this year, we are sharing the track ‘Booty Wiggle’ from Surfin’ The Apocalypse, out now on Weewerk Recordings. Please enjoy the video made by Dave Loblaw and imagine the sand between your toes… Then chill the champagne, sip and giggle, and let the Chairmen make your Booty Wiggle.”

Get it and the entire album from the COTB Bandcamp page!

Jerry Leger releases “Jumped In The Humber” single

Grab the great new single from Jerry Leger, “Jumped In The Humber,” now from Bandcamp. Produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies it features Jerry playing once again with his longtime band the Situation.

SCREENING ROOM: Jerry Leger “Read Between The Lines”

Jerry Leger‘s new video for “Read Between The Lines” is a brilliant piece of Rotoscope animation by Karly McCloskey. The song also happens to be my favourite from Jerry’s latest album Time Out For Tomorrow. Watch it here or at these links!

The Cassidys release new video for “Cannonball”

Toronto duo The Cassidys have released “Cannonball,” the second single from their intoxicating debut album Tula, with the video premiering at Canadian Beats. The song exemplifies the pair’s songwriting prowess, which combines stripped down traditional folk elements with ’90s Brit-pop grandiosity.

Check it out by clicking the logo below!

Out Now! The Cassidys release debut album Tula

Toronto folk-pop duo The Cassidys — singer/guitarist Mark Cassidy and multi-instrumentalist Lara Goulding — have released their endlessly charming debut album Tula. Get it from their Bandcamp page, and check out the video for the title track. Live dates to come!

Darcy Windover premieres “Lonesome Feather” video at Great Dark Wonder

With under a month to go until the release of his new album Cope on April 18, Toronto singer/songwriter Darcy Windover has released a new video for the single “Lonesome Feather.” It can viewed now exclusively at Great Dark Wonder.

WATCH HERE

The majestic Americana sound of “Lonesome Feather” is indicative of Cope as a whole, Windover’s most accomplished collection of material so far in his young career. Recorded with producer John Dinsmore (Kathleen Edwards, NQ Arbuckle) and his trusted band, including co-writer and duet partner Stacey Dowswell, the album sparkles with sonic and emotional depth recalling classic Tom Petty and Blue Rodeo records, but with an immediacy that places Windover squarely in the conversation about the best up-and-coming Canadian roots rock artists.

“Lonesome Feather” follows on the heels of the first single from Cope, “How To Be Lonely,” proceeds from which Windover donated to Cam’s Kids, a non-profit charity offering support to youth struggling with anxiety. Windover had previously entered “How To Be Lonely,” in the 2017 CBC Searchlight competition where it was named a regional finalist.

With other songs on the album dealing with issues surrounding mental illness, Windover has made one of the most inspiring and uplifting albums of the year. Its title, Cope, pretty much says it all.

Cope Album Launch: Thurs. April 18 @ Dakota Tavern, Toronto (7pm-9pm) TICKETS

darcywindover.com

Jon Stancer’s “Now That Summer Is Gone” tops New Music Weekly charts!

Congratulations to Toronto alt-pop singer/songwriter Jon Stancer, whose new single “Now That Summer Is Gone” has topped New Music Weekly‘s Indie chart, and also cracked the Top 10 on its Hot 100, alongside Taylor Swift, Maroon 5 and Ariana Grande! Give it a listen and decide for yourself if it isn’t the song of the season:

With its modern day Beatle-esque approach and soaring chorus, “Now That Summer Is Gone” perfectly shows off Stancer’s immense melodic gifts, honed over years as a vocalist and guitarist within Toronto’s alternative music scene. With For The Birds, Stancer set out to make a layered pop album, and achieved that goal in collaboration with producer Jono Grant, creating a collection of lush and lavish hook-laden rock ‘n’ pop songs connected by lyrical themes that touch on reclusiveness and resurgence, regret, revision and rejuvenation. Songs feature a multitude of instruments, sounds and opulent arrangements worthy of L.A.’s legendary 1960s studio collective, The Wrecking Crew.

Get Jon Stancer’s For The Birds here:
iTunes
CD Baby
Bandcamp