CBC Radio 3 : Breaking New Sound

Today's Track of the Week was hand-picked by CBC Radio 3 intern Jacqueline Ronson. She chose Rich Aucoin's "At War with the Cynics"

"I saw Rich Aucoin perform in Vancouver last year and it was awesome," recalls Ronson. "My favourite part of the show was when he jumped into the crowd with one of those giant rainbow parachutes from grade school gym class."

You can hear more tracks by Rich Aucoin at his band page on CBC Radio 3!

This week's track comes by request from Marti Sarbit and Rusty Matyas of the Winnipeg, MB duo Imaginary Cities. Sarbit and Matyas, who recently wrapped their North American tour with The Pixies, are eager to see Saskatoon band The Sheepdogs get on the cover of all covers.

"The Sheepdogs are good friends of ours...who are in the cover of the Rolling Stone Contest," says Sarbit. "Vote for them please!"

Imaginary Cities chose the Sheepdogs track "Let it All Show" as this week's track. The Saskatoon band made it to the final four in the Rolling Stone contest, and have even received the "blessing" of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Have a listen to the track, and let us know what you think. You can vote for The Sheepdogs in the "Choose the Cover Contest" at Rolling Stone.com.

This month, Canadian rockers Sloan are celebrating their 20th year as a band. CBC Radio 3 is shining a spotlight on this milestone with Sloan requests from some notable Canadian indie acts.

Today, we bring you a Sloan request from Victoria, BC's Aidan Knight, who picked the Sloan classic The Other Man. "I used to fall asleep with the radio on in my room," Knight says, "and this song used to be on all the time."

If you like what you hear, you can listen to Sloan's entire catalogue on their CBC Radio 3 band page. The band's latest album, The Double Cross, is out now.

Today's Track of the Week comes to you from CBC Radio 3 host Lana Gay. She chose a track by Toronto synth-pop band Martha and the Muffins:

In 1979 Martha and the Muffins released their debut album called Metro Music.  On the cover was a map of the city of Toronto, within a year this song, Echo Beach, was in the top 10 in Canada, Australia, Portugal and the UK.

Over 30 years later, Martha and the Muffins will now have a spot on the same map referenced on their debut album, as 'Echo Beach' the new 4,000-capacity venue in Toronto will be opening this summer.

I hope the band cuts the ribbon at the grand opening!

This week's CBC Radio 3/FMA Track of the Week comes us from Alex Zhang Hungtai, A.K.A Dirty Beaches. Alex chose the song "Gum" by Montreal, QC trio Postcards.

Alex has played shows with the band, and says "more people should know about them and check them out." So here's your chance!

Tell us what you think of Postcards. Post your comments!

Our CBC Radio 3/FMA Track of the Week was hand-picked by Katie and Taylor of the Calgary, Alberta band Braids. The song is called "Memory" by the Halifax, Nova Scotia band Cousins.

Katie says "everytime [Cousins] play this track, my heart melts." Cousins' band's latest album, Out on Town, is available on Youth Club Records.

You can stream the latest songs from both bands on our website, cbcradio3.com. You can also subscribe to our Track of the Day podcast.

Happy New Year, FMA!

Start your year off with nine great tracks you might not have heard. CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence shares his favourite Canadian indie songs of 2010 in our first podcast of the new year. You can subscribe to the CBC Radio 3 podcast through our website, CBC Radio 3.

The Arcade Fire rarely give interviews, but the band always make time for CBC Radio 3, this time answering both Grant's and YOUR questions! Also, the music that inspired Grant Lawrence's new book "Adventures in Solitude".

Early this summer, Daniel Romano of Attack in Black, Fred Squire of Shotgun and Jaybird and Julie Doiron came together in a dimly lit club in Montreal's Little Italy to perform a collection of songs that evoke the spirit of early American folk music. These songs spin tales of injustice, murder, gambling and grief to an audience that hangs on every word.

TRACKLIST | DOWNLOAD | SUBSCRIBE

As the weather heats up, so too do the number of people hoping to entertain you for money. Wait, that sounds wrong, I'm talking about busking and street performing.

On this edition of the CBC Radio 3's Extended Play podcast, we talk to a professional busker who started playing violin in San Diego, California; an artistic director of Cirque de Soliel, Plants and Animals and the Mayor of Charlottetown, PEI - Clifford Lee.

Join in the discussion on our Facebook group.

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Check out a live performance of Plants and Animals below.