Hot Mondy – Desert Moonlight
“Desert Moonlight” is a pulpy roadhouse epic that tells the story of a bagman who does his work under the cover of night. The second single from Hot Mondy is a wild ride that sounds like it was tailor-made for a film soundtrack. (Read more…)
Joshua Carter – Under My Skin
As his first solo release apart from his band Calm Baretta, Josh Carter’s “Under My Skin” expresses genuine emotion in an elegant softness that resonates with the listener. After society’s collective experience of a rough couple of years, Carter’s expression of what gets under a person’s skin manages to instead wrap the listener in a comforting familiarity. (Read more…)
Melonvine – Sail Away
Looking for an act for your next COVID-friendly boat party? Melonvine is up for the challenge. “Sail Away” is a fun and poppy rock song that reinforces the importance of taking time to recharge when life gets too heavy. (Read more…)
Maximilian Flint – Blue
Flint draws on his days as a vagabond to pay homage to the great singer-songwriters of American tradition. Though it has many Americana sensibilities, Flint also brings a certain dreamy layer to the mix. (Read more…)
Hillsburn – Husha
In this return to the folkier roots of their debut album, Hillsburn get downright relatable with their portrayal of uprootedness and the economic decline of a place once called home. Telling the story of a hometown visit gone wrong, complete with the dissolution of a relationship, the narrative in “Husha” unfolds against a backdrop of unforeseen circumstances. (Read more…)
Keeper E. – Leaf in a River
Singing about independence and personal power, Keeper E. expresses how she will not slow down or wait on anything or anyone on her journey to getting where she wants to be in life. “Leaf in a River” is a subdued track with a big message about fulfilling your journey on your own terms. (Read more…)
Nico Paulo – Warrior
A song about stability, focus, and new beginnings, Nico Paulo’s “Warrior” features mournful vocals and delicate guitar work, which have a timeless feel. Combining her Portuguese roots with the influence of her new home of Newfoundland, the soothingly enchanted track speaks for itself. (Read more…)
Aaron MacDonald – Gonna Get There
Aaron MacDonald’s “Gonna Get There” turned out to be one of our top stories of the year. Given the year that we just experienced, it’s not all that surprising. MacDonald captured a glimmer of hope just when things were at their darkest and coaxed it into a catchy chorus. (Read more…)
The Town Heroes – The Walk
The Town Heroes’ stripped-down heavy groove “The Walk” acts as the point of the band’s concept album when one of the main characters, a young man living in Cape Breton, hits the milestone of getting drunk for the first time. The track exudes feelings of invincibility and confidence, which go hand-in-hand on such an occasion. (Read more…)
Virginia Fudge – Dragonfly
One of our favourite tracks from the first half of 2021, “Dragonfly” slowly builds from a simple beat to a crescendo of organ. The subdued power of Virginia Fudge’s lament for a complicated relationship provided a spectacular re-introduction to this Newfoundland-based artist. (Read more…)
Kiwi Jr. – Waiting in Line
The deeper meaning of Kiwi Jr.’s “Waiting in Line” continues to elude us, but no more than finding the thread of the last two years. It’s as if the band compiled a loose history of personal anxieties that manifested since the beginning of the pandemic and pushed it through the processes of their never-ending hit machine to arrive at something far more palatable. (Read more…)
Shane Pendergast – Autumn Rain
With his soft voice and twangy acoustics, Shane Pendergast tells a vivid story, set on a lonely night with chilling rain, of the inevitable toll that time takes on us all. (Read more…)
Garrett Mason – Song of the Summer
The ever-mysterious Garrett Mason is continually named as a real musician’s musician. He’s the stuff of folk legends. True to his image, he channels a vintage sound into “Song of the Summer” that’ll have you yearning for a love that will live forever.
Horsebath – Often
Mixing East Coast folk instrumentals with a Spanish influence, Horsebath’s spicy flamenco ballad “Often” feels like playful outlaw country served on a spurred platter. (Read more…)
Language Arts – Forgotten
From Language Art’s album Lemon/Lime, a complex work of art about surviving a car accident and the ensuing concussions, “Forgotten” is full of haunting layers and melodies, with a slow build that will have you on the edge of your seat. (Read more…)
Dennis Ellsworth – Bound By Love
Dennis Ellsworth practically turns nostalgia into its own genre of music. Ellsworth rhythmically lulls into the warm fuzzies of his youth, complete with a glimpse into the record collection that provided a soundtrack to his adolescence. (Read more…)
The Town Heroes – Fuse
The Town Heroes introduced us to their small-town Cape Breton concept album, full of young romance and heartbreak, with their single “Fuse.” More importantly, it re-introduced us to Michael S. Ryan and Bruce Gillis working as a duo. This stripped-down single of guitar on drums packs all the energy of a firecracker. (Read more…)
Dave Sampson – All My Friends
Dave Sampson has crafted an awfully fun song about some of the less fun aspects of adulthood. “All My Friends” is Sampson’s outward expression of the inner dread that comes with the unfortunate arrival of one’s thirties. (Read more…)
Dillon Ryan & The Dream Romantic – The Story
Dillon Ryan would have been right at home in the ’80s. Produced by John Mullane (In-Flight Safety), “The Story” channels artists like The Cure, The Smiths and Joy Division in a way that screams synths and hairspray while offering up the woes of a relationship that has lost its way. (Read more…)
Joce Reyome – Cross My Heart
The raw edge of Joce Reyome’s voice absolutely rips through “Cross My Heart.” This Prince Edward Island-based powerhouse is just getting started and is clearly an artist to watch as they breathe new life into the genre of blues rock. (Read more…)
Pillow Fite – Alkali
Written as a eulogy for a relationship and drawing on influences like Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail, “Alkali” is so upbeat and fun you’ll almost forget it’s about tears and breakups. (Read more…)
Andre Pettipas and The Giants – Homesick
Andre Pettipas and the Giants’ single “Homesick” almost didn’t make this list, because it almost didn’t make their album in the first place. Nearly discarded as a sappy bit of rubbish, the song turned out to be one of the band’s sleeper hits. Featuring the legendary Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon) on guitar, “Homesick” taps into the musical trope of spending long stretches on tour and away from home—something the band are probably having second thoughts about. (Read more…)
Fuzzed Out – My Own Worst Enemy
Sloan’s Patrick Pentland surprised us this year by dipping into his private reserve of songs for his Fuzzed Out solo project. “My Own Worst Enemy” gave us a fascinating look into the individual components of the larger Sloan hit machine. (Read more…)
Gabriel Minnikin – The Downtrodden Jubilee
With many ups and downs as well as ominous horns and vocalizations, “The Downtrodden Jubilee” takes listeners on a wild journey with a cinematic feel. Its guttural growls and heavy dose of drama are paired with soft harmonies, making the track stand out for its intrigue. (Read more…)
Breagh Isabel – Girlfriends
Breagh Isabel’s “Girlfriends” takes the hurt of unrequited love, and all of the confusion and heartbreak that comes with growing up as a queer woman in less welcoming times, and wraps it up in a shiny soft-pop package.