I don't know why it took me seven years to fully appreciate the allure of Canadian music. Probably because there's this underlying country music and folk influence in a lot of Canadian music that I can't seem to wrap my ears around. If you asked me a few years ago, if there were two kinds of music that I really can't stand, I would say that it's gangster rap and country music. Although, in the last few years I have slowly warmed up to folk - since it has this nice, simple, earthy kind of quality to it that I find so interestingly calming. There is that danger there, when you go on to liking folk, because there's a thin line delineating folk and country. Now somehow, I've gotten myself to appreciating a bit of country influenced songs as of late. I guess I'm just getting old, and being parent has mellowed me out. But hey, there's just something about the mixture of banjos, acoustic guitars and road trip inspired lyrics that warms up the soul. I still won't admit that I like country though - well, not the hillbilly type, I'd much prefer the sophisticated type of folk that Canadian musicians are really good at ;)
1. The New Pornographers - Challengers
The New Pornographers aren't a folk band, and most of the songs that they make are more of the pop and rock kind. Yet they made this song, and it's beautiful. Despite the hint of country with the use banjos, the allure Neko Case's vocals and the lovely melody makes 'Challengers' the type of song that would make anyone cross over to liking folk if they haven't done so.
2. The Mountains & The Trees - Up & Down
The Mountains & The Trees here provide a perfect road trip song. The steady plucking on the guitar seems to feel like the rhythm of a chugging train or the whirring of a moving car- as if you're currently in motion even if you're just sitting down listening. I also love how the song just slowly builds up as if unfolding a nice beautiful landscape while you go on your imaginary road trip.
3. Dark Mean - Happy Banjo
I featured Dark Mean before in Fresh from the Post, and sampled their electropop song frankencottage. In Happy Banjo, they forego the use of synths and beats and go the acoustic guitar route. Despite how much the guitars in Happy Banjo sound so heavily influenced by country , it really doesn't matter much since it was such a good listen - and weirdly, for non-country music lovers, you might even find that bit of it quite charming.
4. Lightning Dust - I Knew
Under the electro beats and heavy keyboards here's a bit of country in this song. It's that bit of acoustic guitar in the beginning and the little twang in Lightning Dust's Amber Webber's vocals that gives it that kind of country/folksy feel. To me, it's also this unique blend that makes this song absolutely irresistable - one that you'll definitely put on replay.
5. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Four Night Rider
If country music means creating guitar driven folk songs about your hometown, The Rural Alberta Advantage are undoubtedly country. The good kind of country that'll make you do a 180 degree turn and say - I should love country music!
Their album, Hometowns is a whole album dedicated to the lovely province of Alberta and it's just absolutely marvelous. Their less than two minute song, Four Night Rider, is infectious. It's the kind of song that grabs hold of you and goes deep into your veins to make your heart beat faster. It's also one of those songs that you wish could go on forever, because the adrenaline rush you get in 1:53 seconds just isn't enough. Everyone should definitely know how awesome this band is. I think, I should make that my mission in life.
artwork: cover art for The Rural Alberta Advantage's album 'Hometowns'
How do you do all of these
Ang galing mo...
Do not forget to send Raymond my CDs ha
I like this collection too
Your music is not heard in our radios here
Hurray for Canadian indie!
I must be deaf. Cleary. I have a hearing problem, or just don't know music very well.
There are so many better bands in Canada than those... I mean they might be good at what they do, but to call that country, or anything close to country, is absolutely absurd. And I don't mean new country pop, I mean old country, real country.
Nothing from the above list has anything to do with that form of music (or pop country for that matter). People should leave the term country, alt-country, etc.. to die, because not much of the music that gets that tag these days has any trace of country roots or belongs in that genre.
Call music what it is and stop trying to be part of a "country" revival, that music does not deserve the title.
Also your statement - "If country music means creating guitar driven folk songs about your hometown" is ridiculous. When did country music ever mean that? Go listen to some real country music before you write about it, please!
For real Canadian country/folk talent, I suggest you check out:
Corb Lund
The Divorcees
Brock Zeman
Tim Hus
Andrew Neville
The Sadies
The Foggy Hogtown Boys
Listen up, hipsters.
Country doesn't have glasses with no lenses unless its been in a good fight. It doesn't wear skinny jeans that don't fit, thinks ennui is a cologne, and laughs at you and your hello kitty man-purse.
Converse sneakers are for kids, scarves are for winter, striped shirts are for convicts, and PBR's for when you're too damned broke to buy anything else.
Country brews its own beer and you'd choke on their dandelion wine.
Country wears its Daddie's old belt. Country drives a truck, not a fixed-gear bike. Country doesn't BUY organic, it GROWS organic. Country wears real flannel, not flannel print.
Country doesn't read Pitchfork, it uses one.
Country will never ever be hip, because country....REAL COUNTRY...isn't cool or stylish. It's just country. You love it or you don't. Country is real. It's straight to the point. It's honest.
So next time, dig a little deeper. You might like what you find, instead of taking the frosting for the cake.
I've never had anyone leave such a heartfelt comment about stuff that I've written here before :) What I've written is just my experience on my burgeoning appreciation of folk - it's not really meant to be an in-depth sampling of Canadian country/folk. When I hear great music, I share what I know so that maybe others can appreciate it. I do appreciate your passion about country and thank you for posting your comments about it. This site does welcome article submissions about people passionate about music, so maybe you can write an article about real country...and the music that best represents it. I'd be happy to post it here so you can get a few more eyes open on what true country music really is and what it represents.
Im wondering... really asking myself how do you know so much about this kind of music... I think u're hell AWESOME! :D :D keep u on that way ;) by the way this page is one of my favs :) and also this people and you are not common are really awesomely specials :) take care ;)