Weak Size Fish – Roots of Creation
Fredericton’s Weak Size Fish released New Brunswick’s most widely anticipated album this year. The seven-piece reggae outfit and festival legends released The Drift, their first full album since 2012, and it’s a jam from start to finish, but since the whole point of this list is to narrow this down to our favourites…
FM Berlin – Packing Your Bags for Nowhere
FM Berlin’s “Packing Your Back for Nowhere” is probably the most appropriate track for your 2020 road trip soundtrack. Taking the band all of 10 minutes to write, the song is pure escapism, with a twist that just happened to lean into quarantine season.
The Trews – God Speed Rebel
Following up on their track “Touch” from 2019, The Trews released “God Speed Rebel” as a socially-distanced b-side. Doing what The Trews do best, it’s an energetic barroom anthem of enthusiastic encouragement for anyone who needs to be reminded they just need to do their own thing with no less enthusiasm.
Tim Baker – Survivors
Tim Baker has been on something of a role. The former Hey Rosetta! frontman officially embarked on a solo career last year with his album Forever Overhead, much to the delight of everyone. Not one to rest upon his laurels, he released “Survivors” in May, a song of perseverance resplendent with a Justin Vernon-esque flutter of horns.
Charke-Cormier Duo – Bathymetric Terrains
Charke-Cormier are really just capitalizing on how much we would love to see a sequel to Wes Anderson’s Life Aquatic with this nautically-themed and largely-instrumental album. The album’s title-track, Bathymetric Terrains, is just the tip of the iceberg for what should be the soundtrack to an underwater documentary film.
Radio Radio – Last Call
Capturing the high felt after a night out at the bar and the FOMO of missing the party happening after last call, “Last Call” is the late-night Chiac party we’ve all been waiting to attend. With no shortage of uplifting beats that’ll make you want to dance, the track by Acadian group Radio Radio is packed with summer energy and a yearning for the return of late-night public gatherings.
Rich Aucoin – How It Breaks
Rich Aucoin’s “How It Breaks” is the kick-off to his upcoming United States album. Written was bicycling around the country, the title should be a giveaway to the message he’s going for, if you’d somehow managed to miss the last four years of news broadcasts. Aucoin’s protest anthem shouts “it’s over when we say so and it’s already time” all while making nods to Rhianna, David Bowie and The Beatles.
Loviet – When It’s Over
The closing track to Loviet’s super-tight three-song EP exemplifying ng how the 80s came back in a big way for 2020, “When It’s Over” describes the fallout of a young infatuation that burns out before it gets a chance to rust, and making off with a case of their CDs as retribution.
Calm Baretta – Dusted
Calm Baretta first release of 2020 pits bassline against synths in a battle for your neurons. Working with producer/bop wizard John Mullane (In-Flight Safety) the band breaks down the molecular chemistry of emotional attachment and whatever it is that makes us love, while triggering our own dopamine receptors.
Language Arts – Sprout
This matter was settled back in April when we first heard Language Arts’ “Sprout”, a song imbued with magic and wonder. A modern art-pop love song if there ever was one, “Sprout” describes in lyrical detail the tale of Language Arts’ Kristen Cudmore and the day she met the song’s namesake, her now 10-year-old dog. It’s adorable, it’s heart-wrenching, it comes with an amazing video by animator and illustrator Pierre-Julien Fieux that features a giant flying dog that stands a chance at going toe-to-toe with Falkor or Totoro.
Congratulations for making it this far! You’ve been rewarded with a complete playlist to listen to at your leisure!