Each year, our staff spend hours and hours going through the absolutely massive number of songs that hit our inbox. While we do our best to thoroughly digest each and every one of them, sometimes you need to experience them out in the wild. That’s why we like to ask some experts from the community what’s tickled their fancy; musicians who have their own educated opinions on the matter, or perhaps listened to these songs performed again and again while on the road, or even watch them develop in the studio.
Here is our annual Peer Review of the Best Music from 2021.
Breagh Isabel – “Girlfriends”
Love the message of this song. So great to hear someone sing about it. And there’s no one who can sing like Breagh. The vocal on this song is so understated, something I struggle with as a fella with an apprenticeship bawling over the pub din.
The production of this song is also wonderfully airy and light. Helps deliver the powerful message gently. Like a note left on a pillow. Beautiful all around. (Alan Doyle)
Breagh Isabel | WEB | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Zamani – “Selfish”
I’ve been consistently blown away by Zamani since meeting her and witnessing her talent at the Gordie Sampson Songcamp in 2019. She was 18 at the time, but clearly an old soul. To this day, regardless of her significant accolades and regardless of her age, she carries herself with humble confidence that all persons in the limelight should aspire to embody. Knowing she is as kind as she is talented makes the music that much better, and her most recent single, “Selfish” is a straight-up vibe. (Nicole Ariana)
Zamani | WEB | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Garrett Mason – “Song of the Summer”
There was so much great music to come out of the East Coast this year. The one that sticks out to me the most is Garrett Mason’s, “Song Of The Summer (Don’t Resist Paradise).” Garrett has a certain mojo with his recordings that is so genuine. He sounds like he hasn’t left the ’70s in the best possible way. The warmth and real sound from this recording is what, to me is missing in today’s over-processed recordings not to mention the arrangement and lyrical matter in the track is pure gold. Nothing seems forced or too manufactured.
The first time I heard the song was after a late night of gigging with our buds, The Town Heroes in Inverness, Cape Breton for their inaugural Sunset Series. Earlier that day we received the news that our Factor grant for marketing was approved. Our sound engineer, Kirstan Moore threw this on when we landed home as we sipped on a drink of Jameson in my living. Every time I hear the song now it brings me back to the dog days of summer and music being back to the foreground after the long uncertainty the pandemic blanketed over us. (Andre Pettipas, Andre Pettipas & The Giants)
Paul Dunn – “Carved in Stone”
Such a beautiful celebration of the music and life of Paul Dunn with a song written by him and on an album he laboured on for the last few years of his life. (Jah’Mila)
Paul Dunn | FACEBOOK
Shadow Folk – “Holiest of Days”
When you’re writing about a band like Shadow Folk, it’s tempting to say something along the lines of “while their production and writing style is clearly cemented in a West Coast 1960s sound, they put a modern spin on it!” But that would be a lie. And, that’s not what Shadow Folk does on their 2021 release “Holiest of Days.”
Don’t get me wrong, Shadow Folk has ’60s vibes coming out the ears! I’m pretty sure one song even features the distinct sound of deep hauls from a bong. The most modern comparison I could make is that lead vocalist Justin McGrath occasionally takes on a cadence that reminds me of Elliott Smith. But, Shadow Folk are more likely to remind you of the soft jangle of The Byrds, or in their more instrumental moments, the arrangements of Love. At their core, Shadow Folk is the sound of a few fine musicians doing what comes naturally. If you know Nova Scotian music from the last decade, you’ll likely recognize a few of the players in the credits from other projects (Walrus, Booji Boys, Garrett Mason), many of whom came to the Halifax music scene via Truro, Nova Scotia.
Shadow Folk’s music walks the same thin line that all great music walks, they are deceptively complicated in a way that feels effortless to the listener. Shadow Folk don’t have a modern spin and they don’t need one. And, that’s the way I fucking like it! (Adam Mowery, Papal Visit)
Shadow Folk | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Lisa LeBlanc – “Pouquoi faire aujourd’hui”
This song is my favourite because it made me smile ear to ear to see Lisa Leblanc bust back onto the scene with a new French single! This Chiac disco tune about procrastination is hilarious, joyful and just an all-around good time. It’s a new musical direction for Lisa, who is more known for her folk/trash tunes, it was a surprise at first, but now I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album! (Émilie Landry)
Lisa LeBlanc | WEB | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Julie Doiron – “You Gave Me the Key”
Among the wealth of fine stuff in the Atlantic, I decided to focus on music produced as close as I could to home here in Moncton. There is such fine stuff coming out of the Francophone side of things like Lisa LeBlanc, Salebarbes, Menoncle Jason, Hôtesses d’Hilaire (and side projects), Cy, Émilie Landry, Simon Daniel and the list goes on but settled on one of Moncton’s finest exports and someone who seems to keep coming up in my life at different times and never stops inspiring, Julie Doiron.
Here is Julie, the wonderful painful master of being herself who has gathered up her stuff and started to produce again. Here is a celebratory rock tune that is for all you out there who need a moving kick in the behind to get going after a crippling setback and those who forgot about the love around them.
Thanks for putting yourself out there once again with your beautiful brutal honesty, Julie. (Andrew Creeggan)
Julie Doiron | WEB | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
David Myles – “Bird Song”
“Bird Song” is quite a groovy and easy listening tune that stood out most for me. I enjoyed the arrangement, the diverse instrumentation and the improvised solos in the recording. It’s the kind of song that you can keep on loop to go for a drive and you will not get tired of it. (Behrooz Mihankhah)
David Myles | WEB | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Garrett Mason – “Song of the Summer”
Garret is probably one of the best guitarists on the planet but he’s also got a great and unique voice. That paired with thoughtful, sincere writing is a rare combination.
I love the gritty, raw production, the vibe reminds me less of blues which is what most people know Garret for and more of dirty rock in the Black Keys vein. (Jordi Comstock, Air Traffic Control)
Golden Cinema – “Dead Ringer”
It’s not often that I get a song stuck in my head after hearing it the first time, but this one did it. It only got better after repeat listens, AND it’s got a secret agent/spy-sounding lick which is something that always grabs me. On top of all that, the production is perfect and it’s got a great title. (Nathan Wiley)
Golden Cinema | WEB | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
Hullo – “Homesick”
I love the smooth sounds of this dreamy ‘nouvelle yacht rock’ jam by Nicholas Bendzsa of St John’s NL. His nerdy-chic vocals and heartfelt playful escapism is paired with very cool synth tones and funky rhythm and guitar for a nice combo of sexy, upbeat, soothing and timeless. I also find the slacker quality of his voice just raw enough to be endearing on top of his clear demonstration of being able to have a rich sonic vision and knowing how to pull it off. (Kelly McMichael)
Mhira Blood – “Falt Trom Trom Dualach”
When I listen to Mhira Blood, I am floating in the outer banks of the cosmos, somewhere on the edge of the Small Magellanic Cloud. Or I could be floating down the Margaree River, on my back, arms outstretched drifting into oblivion. Either way, I’m floating. In their songs, I find parcels of interwoven dichotomies. Bradley Murphy’s voice is a ghostly amalgam of the generations of Gaelic singers who came before him, yet affectingly warm and present. Their songs are heavy with tradition but curious and buoyant, like a new kind of cloud that just happened upon the sky one day.
There were a couple of songs from Mhira Blood’s self-titled release I considered for this list, but I kept circling back to “Falt Trom Trom Dualach”. I spent various stages of COVID lockdown listening to this song, initially by choice and subsequently after I was asked to make a music video to accompany it. Video editing required countless listens — one thousand twenty-two listens, give or take — enough to potentially drive you bonkers. But I never grew sick of this song. I grew to love it more and more. I listened to it again just now as I write this, and I hope you listen to it as you read. It feels familiar and good; like a hemlock tree that quietly burst through my floorboards and watched over me lovingly as I floated away, down the Margaree River and into the cosmos. (Ian MacDougall, The Tom Fun Orchestra)
Mhira Blood | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Kiwi Jr. – “Maid Marian’s Toast”
I can’t think of an East Coast song that gave me a shit-eating grin quite as quickly as this one did this year. It’s a twinkly 2.5-minute jangle-pop opus with smart-aleck lyrics, heartbreak guitars and references only an islander could love. HARMONICA.
For the uninitiated, it’s an ode to living the bad life in Charlottetown, PEI — in the heart and mind if not the very soul, if not the actual physical body. It’s also a smart, quirky little pop song that tickles the brain lyrically and tugs at your emotions sonically.
Their latest album, Cooler Returns, was one of my most-played of 2021. Instant good vibes with depth to keep me coming back. You can air-drum. You can air-guitar. You can switch back and forth. It’s all good.
I’d also recommend “Norma Jean’s Jacket” (and almost did, but it doesn’t encapsulate the band’s sound in the way this one does. It’s all here.) and all of the obvious ones. Just listen to the record. If you like this song, you’ll love it. (Ryan Brown, The Sunnyside Uppers)
Kiwi Jr. | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM