Canadian Indie Geography – Pt. 3: Ontario
Ruby Coast
The five, now turned three-piece band Ruby Coast have run over a few bumps along the road during the past little while, but they are nonetheless going strong with their latest full-length release, Whatever This Is, which was recorded in Montreal’s own Hotel 2 Tango studio. At times dark, and other times hopeful-sounding, their fantastic mash-up of indie/pop/rock makes this band worthy of not just one, but many listens!
Ruby Coast – “Made to Change”
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Dinosaur Bones
Dinosaur Bones have been generating quite the buzz for themselves for a while now, and we believe it’s well deserved because they really are a talented bunch of Ontarians. A nice combination of grungy rock, with enough spacey ambience to make you want to listen to their record My Divider, over and over again. They can’t be too bad if they’re sharing stages with the likes of Broken Social Scene and Tokyo Police Club to name a few. Go ahead, give ‘em a try!
Dinosaur Bones – “Ice Hotels”
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The Acorn
The Acorn are a wild sounding bunch. No really, you listen to their music and you might just get the feeling as if you’re lost in a wild and untamed forest! Well, that factor may be due to the inspiration given by the natural surroundings of the quiet cottage they decided to write their most recent album, No Ghost, in. Their experimental-folk vibe is quite the charmer. Get on it!
The Acorn – “Restoration”
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Forest City Lovers
Toronto sweethearts Forest City Lovers‘ infectious music is, well, highly smile-inducing. Kat Burns has a way of singing not-so-happy lyrics in a way that makes you disregard the sadness, and feel careless, happy and free. It’s like the weight of it’s been thrown off, making you feel as light as a feather and in a skipping-on-sidewalks sort of mood by the end of your listen. Who’s in for some positive neurochemical reactions? (me, me, me!)
Forest City Lovers – “If I Were A Tree”
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The Rural Alberta Advantage
Not to sound uberly indie or anything, but the first time I heard The Rural Alberta Advantage was on a mix CD my penpal from Maryland, USA sent me. Of all the people I know, it obviously had to be my American friend who introduced me to this Ontario band. Nevertheless, i digress; the song was “Rush Apart“, and I instantly fell in love with it’s acoustic-country sound. They just recently released their sophomore album, Departing, which I personally find has more of an alternative-rock influence to it. It’s also kind of epic!
The Rural Alberta Advantage – “Stamp”
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The Wooden Sky
The Wooden Sky play the type of music that should be labeled as ”perfectly suitable for a sunrise after a sleepless night”, whatever be the cause of you not being able to get your beauty rest (be it party-hardy, or heartbreak). It just consolidates the start of a new, and hopefully beautiful day, and it will never be too hard on your tired mind. As a matter of fact, it gives you a moment’s rest before you head out to face the world again. With that said, we recommend purchasing If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone, for smoother all nighters.
The Wooden Sky – “Something Hiding For Us In The Night”
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The Balconies
The Balconies: A classically trained trio that let loose in the name of rock music. They are undeniably talented, but they also have the proper background of training which really sets them apart from the rest and stops them from sounding as scattered as some of the bands we hear today. Two lovers, and a brother; who would’ve thought this odd grouping would come up with such catchy, toe-tapping music!
The Balconies – “300 Pages”
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Honourable Mention
-Apostle Of Hustle
-Born Ruffians
-Attack In Black
-The Most Serene Republic
-Great Lake Swimmers
-Basia Bulat
-Will Currie & The Country FrenchThe Elwins
-Megan Bonnell
-Valery Gore
-Evening Hymns
-First Rate People
Hylozoists
-Meligrove Band
-The D’Urbervilles
-Octoberman
-Still Life Still
-Tasseomancy
-The Paint Movement
-Woodhands
-DD/MM/YYYY
-The Bicycles
-Freedom of Death
-Gravity Wave
-The Coast
-Canadian Indie Geography – Pt. 2: Great Plains
-Canadian Indie Geography – Pt. 1: West Coast
