Free Music Archive - CBC Radio 3 Blog

Demetra Penner "I Am Written"

2012-01-19T13:36:56-05:00

Hailing from the geographical centre of the nation comes Winnipeg's Demetra Penner with I Am Written off of Lone Migration.

With the help of Andrew Braun from Rococode, Matt Peters of Royal Canoe and Paul Bergman, Demetra takes her experiences as a globe wandering troubadour and distills them with inspiration from her native Manitoba.

I am Written is a haunting and weighty track that somehow manages to encompass a vastness of emotion beyond her sweet and delicate voice.

Ben Wilkins "Through to You"

2012-01-20T19:01:14-05:00

Like many talented Canadian musicians, Ben Wilkins made the trek from his home and native land, in this case Ontario, to find inspiration in Montreal. Now the piano pop crooner plinks his way onto Radio 3 with Through to You.

Formally trained in music at McGill and with a sound that could probably be folded in with a certain keyboard-playing Ben from south of the 49th parallel, Ben Wilkins dons the role of piano man with ease.

Filled with tales of travel, trumpets and swelling strings, Through to You shows how Ben Wilkins finds 88 ways get through to listeners.

Top 10 Songs of Canadian Indie Music of 2011: CBC Radio 3

2011-12-29T11:58:12-05:00

On December 24th, CBC Radio 3 will start broadcasting the 8 hour musical behemoth that is The R3-103 - Radio 3's countdown of the Top 103 songs of 2011.

But you don't have to wait to find out what those songs are.

Here are the Top 10 Songs of the Best Canadian indie music of 2011: Now go rock out!

1 - Arcade Fire - "Suburban War"
2 - Dan Mangan - "Rows of Houses"
3 - Austra - "Lose It"
4 - Chad VanGaalen - "Sara"
5 - Hey Rosetta! - "Yer Spring"
6 - Young Galaxy - "Peripheral Visionaries"
7 - Coeur de pirate - "Adieu"
8 - The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Stamp"
9 - Destroyer - "Poor in Love"
10 - Ohbijou - "Niagara"

10 Acts To Watch Out for In 2012: Radio 3 Predictions

2011-12-22T14:40:25-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am so done with 2011. I've read the "best of" lists, I've seen the movies and listened to all the songs...now it's to time to look foward. And you know - 2012 is going to be the best year EVER.

So to get you ready for all the excitement, here at Radio 3 we've come up with a list of acts to look out for in 2012.

Not only does Madonna have new music coming, but also Nicki Minaj, The Shins and John K. Samson.

So look into the future and think big. Who do you think is going to break out in the New Year?

LISTEN: Marine Dreams with "Season in Hell"

2011-11-30T11:57:49-05:00

Marine Dreams is the new project for former Attack in Black member Ian Kehoe and his new self-titled debut has been on constant repeat for me in my car. It's gritty-pretty on one hand, like a number of other releases on You've Changed Records, but Kehoe also has a really amazing knack for catchy pop and rock song dynamics; his choruses are clever and stay with you and his voice is deceptively dynamic and strong. "Season in Hell" perfectly exemplifies some of the great stuff you'll hear on Marine Dreams, though nothing else on the album quite reminds me of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet like this song

Listen: Brasstronaut with "Opportunity"

2011-11-27T05:14:03-05:00

Channeling their inner Bootsy Collins beats and Bee Gees vocals, Brasstronaut will challenge your preconceptions of their sound with their new EP. Sparse, jazzy and funky, Opportunity feels like it's going to break into a dance song at any moment. The fact that it doesn't, doesn't make it any less groovy.

LISTEN: Library Voices 'If Raymond Carver Was Born In The 90's'

2011-11-15T20:38:45-05:00

Raymond Carver was a hard drinking American writer who, in his lucid moments, was capable of startling and beautiful insights into the human condition. In other words, if he had been born in the 90's, he probably would have started a band.

'If Raymond Carver Was Born In The 90's' takes Carver's point of view in just such a scenario, but it isn't hard to see that lyricist Michael Dawson is really examining the ups and downs of being in an indie band and watching your peers grow up and settle down around you. Heady stuff that, in true Library Voices style, is lightened by a bunch of bubbling synths and irresistible hooks.

LISTEN: Dirty Beaches "Lone Runner"

2011-11-09T22:06:02-05:00

Dirty Beaches, AKA Montreal's Alex Zhang Hungtai, calls himself a crooner wild at heart. He makes music that sounds like the desert-baked, fever dream of a Las Vegas Elvis impersonator.

With "Lone Runner" it doesn't get much cooler than this. It's the kind of track that would fit in perfectly as part of a compilation of the creepiest scenes from Twin Peaks. Or as the soundtrack to a post-nuclear clam bake.

Turn it on and turn off the lights.

Track of the Week: Emm Gryner "Ciao Monday"

2011-11-02T15:42:51-04:00

We finally know what Emm Gryner and Garfield have in common: They don't like Mondays. And neither do many of you, because Emm's song "Ciao Monday" is the Most Thumbed Up song on cbcradio3.com this week. We promise we will never talk about Garfield again.

The End According to Ian Blurton of C'mon

2011-10-27T12:53:56-04:00

Bands, like couples, break up all the time. But like Thurston and Kim, not all break-ups make the news…or more importantly leave people heartbroken.

But the demise of Toronto’s C’Mon had just that effect. “What? You’re leaving us…purveyors of all things rock and roll; torch bearers of a fine tradition of hitting the road and playing for the kids…”

More than anything, news that C’Mon was breaking up meant that Ian Blurton would be without a band. And for those who have come to appreciate the bearded indie rock pioneer – this was not good news. Not good at all.

But surprising, well – as it turns out – not so much when it’s all laid out.

In what is becoming a new tradition, Ian and his two bandmates: Katy Lynn Campbell and Dean Dallas Bentley – set out to write a resignation letter of sorts. Like the famed Toronto Whole Foods employee who laid out in detail all the reasons for his departure in an epic resignation letter to the entire company or the latest folk hero who a few days ago quit his hotel job by sending in a marching band and already has over 850,000 views on youtube.

You can listen to the band talk about their break up here on CBC Radio 3 but first check out some of their awesomeness below.

Sandro Perri New album and Out on Tour

2011-10-26T15:46:23-04:00

Sandro Perri is one of my favourite songwriters and musicians and his work, it just really gets to me in the best ways. His latest record Impossible Spaces is gonna end up on a bunch of "best of the year" lists made up by music fans and critics and that's all well and good. For me though, I'm pleased just to share the first song from this new record with you. It's called "Changes," and it's gorgeous. Please listen to Sandro Perri and see for yourself.

Sandro Perri's Impossible Spaces was out on Tuesday, October 18th on Constellation Records and he's heading out on tour very soon, perhaps to a city near you.

Bruce Peninsula LIVE in Concert at NXNE 2011

2011-10-14T11:04:34-04:00

The multi-musician ensemble of Ontario's Bruce Peninsula brought their music to Toronto's North by Northwest festival this year in June 2011.

North by Northwest is one of Canada’s leading music festivals for unsigned bands, indie favourites and major label headliners. The festival is in it’s 18^th year based out of Toronto and Radio 3 is always their to celebrate some bands.Winnipeg's Imaginary Cities, Toronto’s Peter Elkas and multi-musician ensemble Bruce Peninsula played at our showcase. Bruce Peninsula is a 10 piece band who had just released their sophomore album, Open Flames before playing at the festival. Playing songs from their recent album as well as their first album and Polaris Music Prize long list nomination A Mountain is a Mouth the crowd was in for a treat. And now you here are three songs by Bruce Peninsula.

Dan Mangan Recorded Live off the Floor

2011-10-06T03:49:52-04:00

Dan Mangan sings his new album "Oh Fortune" in its entirety at CBC Vancouver studio 40 cabaret style. Draw the curtains, darken the lights and let Mr. Mangan sing.

CBC Track of the Week for September 28th, 2011

2011-09-29T00:08:25-04:00

It is with a heavy heart that CBC Radio 3 brings you this track from Toronto’s mighty C’mon…because the band has decided to call it quits. No more rocking shows or albums filled with riffs and sexy swagger.

In a letter at the band’s website, singer/songwriter and rock legend Ian Blurton writes: After 9 years, 4 full lengths, 4 7″s, 1 10″, 3 EPs, 1 compilation album, 8 Canadian tours, 1 European tour, a couple rounds of SXSW, and NO stupid videos, the Canadian/USA cross-border Rock and Roll of C’mon will cease to exist after Saturday Oct 22 2011.

So that’s it, well until October...and after this. From 2005's In the Heat of the Moment this is "Call My Name."

CBC Radio 3 Track of the Week for August 25, 2011

2011-08-26T10:50:33-04:00

This week's featured Polaris Prize short list artist is Toronto's Ron Sexsmith for his album Long Player Late Bloomer. Long regarded as Canada's most under-appreciated songwriter, Ron was the focus of the 2011 documentary Love Shines. The documentary focused on Ron's attempts to make a commerically successful album with the help of legendary producer Bob Rock, who produced Bon Jovi, Metallica and Mötley Crüe to name a few.

To help you get to know Ron Sexsmith, our Track of the Week comes from Ron's 2001 album Blue Boy. It's called "Cheap Hotel."

If you like what you hear, you can find more music from Ron Sexsmith on his CBC Radio 3 artist page.

Said the Whale Documentary Premiere + Playlist

2011-08-18T12:34:24-04:00

This week, CBC Radio 3 will be hosting the web premiere of Winning America: The Story of A Canadian Band Trying To Make It In The States.

Vancouver band Said the Whale are at the center of this documentary which deals with the struggles that Canadian artists face when trying to gain a following in the US. "If you want to have a career as a musician [in Canada]," says Tyler Bancroft of the band, "you absolutely have to break into the United States."

Director and R3 Producer Brent Hodge takes us on the road with Said the Whale as they look to build their US following at SxSW in Austin, TX. The documentary highlights the challenges unique to bands working in Canada.

You can stream the documentary from Friday August 19th at 2pm PST until Sunday August 21^st at 11pm PST at CBC Radio 3.

Right now, get aquianted with Said the Whale by listening to a playlist made by Winning America Director Brent Hodge!

CBC Radio 3 Track(s) of the Week for August 16, 2011

2011-08-17T14:55:56-04:00

This week's featured Polaris Prize short list artist is St. John's, Newfoundland's Hey Rosetta!, with their album, Seeds. This is the six-piece band's second time on the Polaris Prize short list. They were first short listed for their 2008 album Into Your Lungs.

So, this week, we're giving you two track from Hey Rosetta! The first is from their 2008 short listed album, and the second is from this year's short listed album Seeds.

If you like what you hear, you can find sessions from Hey Rosetta! at CBC Radio 3!

CBC Radio 3 Track of the Week for August 9th, 2011

2011-08-09T18:29:45-04:00

As part of our 2011 Polaris Music Prize coverage, we will spend the next few weeks helping you get to know each of the 10 short listed artists, one per week, in alphabetical order. This week, we highlight Montreal band Galaxie with their album Tigre et Diesel.

This is the band's third LP since they formed under the name Galaxie 500 (not to be confused with the American band of the same name). They call themselves a "genuine piece of rock machinery," and this song bolsters that claim. From Tigre et Diesel, check out this track called Piste 1.

You can hear more music from Galaxie at CBC Radio 3!

CBC Radio 3 Track(s) of the Week for August 3, 2011

2011-08-04T12:50:11-04:00

In our continued effort to bring you the best in Canadian independent music, today we have more great music from Polaris Music Prize shortlist! This week, we have tracks from Montreal via Calgary band Braids, and Vancouver's Destroyer. Both acts have been shortlisted for the Polaris Prize, which is awarded to the Best Canadian album as chosen by members of the music media. The prize is awarded based on artistic merit, without consideration for sales figures.

This year, Braids released their first full-length album, became one of the most buzzed about bands at SXSW, and have earned comparisons to Arcade Fire. Destroyer, fronted by Dan Bejar of The New Pornographers, is probably the one short list artist other than Arcade Fire to be recognized by a large international audience. This week's tracks are "Savage Night at the Opera" from Destroyer's Kaputt, and "Plath Heart" from the Braids album Native Speaker.

You can find out more about Polaris, and these featured artists, at CBC Radio 3.

CBC Radio 3 Track of the Week for July 19th, 2011

2011-07-20T12:31:52-04:00

Last week, we brought you a track from Arcade Fire. This week, we bring you music from Toronto band Austra.

Nominated for their debut album, Feel It Break, Austra is considered an impressive contender for such a new band. From Feel It Break, your Track of the Week is Austra's "Lose It."