Canadians: I need some suggestions... (1 Viewer)

[David Lawson]

I'm applying for a program slot at one of the local volunteer radio stations here in Cincinnati. The only prerequisite is that the program must fulfill a need not addressed by another local radio station, which won't be difficult at all. I thought I'd do a program featuring only Canadian music, since we're too far south to pick up any of the stations that Detroit (for example) can receive across the border.

I could use some suggestions (and, no...Bryan Adams and Celine Dion don't count). Sum 41 gets way too much airplay, so I won't be featuring them. Less Than Jake is a possibility; the band doesn't get much airplay here, but a lot of people seem to know about them. The Hip, Treble Charger, and The Watchmen get little to no exposure at all, and I wouldn't even have known about Chris (Brown) & Kate (Fenner) if they hadn't opened for The Hip last year.

I wouldn't mind showcasing some local talent, either, if any of you have bands. Of couse, there's no guarantee I'll get the program slot at this point, but even if I don't, I'd still like to hear about some obscure or unknown artists from north of the border. Thanks!

 

[RobertW]

i'm not canadian, but blue rodeo is one of my favorite canadian bands. add in jim cuddy's solo album, sarah harmer, sloan, 54-40, the new pornographers etc.

i could give you a ton more if i checked on rollingstone.com but you could get as many just as easily. go to rollingstone.com message boards, and find the "influential music" board. then ask tuneschick for her recommendations, she's from toronto. plus, there's a bunch of other canadians, from the maritimes to vancouver, who also post there.

 

[Peter_A]

Here's some of the bigger Canuck bands and their songs:
Nickelback(rock) - God, you even have to ask for a song title? Way too overplayed IMHO. Their early stuff was better.
Default(rock) - Deny, Wasting My Time
Swollen Members(hip-hop) - Bring It Home, Take It Back, Fuel Injected(I'm normaly not a rap/hip-hop fan, but these guys are really good)
Age Of Electric(rock) - (not together anymore, but their songs are pretty good)
Bif Naked(rock) - Moment Of Weakness, Love Myself Today
David Usher(rock/pop) - Alone In The Universe, Black Heart
Great Big Sea(pop) - ?(can't think of any titles at the moment)
Big Wreck(rock) - Blown Wide Open, Under the Lighthouse, Ladylike, The Oaf
Copyright(rock) - Rock Machine
Gob(punk) - For the Moment, No Regrets, I Hear You Calling (these guys kick ass on Sum 41)
Matthew Good Band(rock) - Apparitions, Anti-Pop, Carmelina, Load Me Up, The Future Is X-Rated, I Miss New Wave, Giant
Philosopher Kings(rock/soul) - Cry, Hurts To Love You, I Am The Man
The Watchman - Holiday, All Uncovered, Absolutely Anytime
That's all I know off the top of my head, I'm sure other members can add more.

 

[David Lawson]

I'm ashamed to admit that I forgot all about Philosopher Kings, Matt Good Band, and Big Wreck.

I wasn't aware that Nickelback and Default were Canadian bands, which further showcases my disdain for that type of music. Fortunately for my intended playlist, the local stations have those two covered, over and over and over again.

Keep them coming!

 

[Luis Esp]

Damhnait Doyle and is a great female singer here, although her record label has dropped her. Check out "Hyperdramatic", it's an amazing cd.

Another one would be Chantal Kreviazuk. She sang "Leaving On Jet Plane" for the movie "Armageddon" and she sings the title song for the show "Providence".

Unfortunately she's married to lead sing from Our Lady Peace.

 

[Martin Fontaine]

I listen to quite a few Canadian singers/groups... Most of the music I'm into is either Canadian or British but country of origin is not a criteria for me... Here is my list of artists I have albums of (In alpha order):

Amanda Marshall

Amy Sky

Chantal Kreviazuk

Damhnait Doyle (*)

Deborah Cox

Emm Gryner

Jann Arden

Kim Stockwood

Lili Fatale (**)

Loreena McKennitt

Maren Ord

Melanie Doane

Nelly Furtado

Roberta Michele

Sarah Harmer

Sarah McLachlan

Sass Jordan

Tara MacLean

Tegan & Sara

(*) Yeah Luis, I like her too!

(**) She is from Montreal, she sings mostly in french, but she does have a few very good Biligual Song.

 

[Jagan Seshadri]

The Odds
(Vancouver band, now disbanded)
"I'm a heterooooo---sexuaaaaal----heterosexual maaaaaaan"
(Get the song "Heterosexual Man" for an awesome groove and some tongue-in-cheek lyrics)
The Grapes of Wrath
(Vancouver band, now disbanded)
Softer stuff, but very pretty acoustic guitar, especially on "All The Things I Wasn't" off of their "Now and Again" album.
Hemingway Corner
(Americanadian band, now disbanded)
Acoustic and CSNY-ish harmonies. Very very good stuff!
But, if you like to rock, go with the Odds.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...164758-6897455
And David, I hope you get the slot!!
-JNS

 

[Graeme Clark]

Big Wreck are from Boston, are just very popular in Canada and have one Canadian member.
So, my list then
Tragically Hip
Moist
David Usher
Nickelback
Default
The Tea Party
Age of Electric
Static in Stereo
Limblifter
Our Lady Peace
Barenaked Ladies
Mattew Good Band
The New Pornographers
Rusty
Treble Charger
54-40
Edwin (now Edwin and the Pressure)
I Mother Earth
Econoline Crush
Damn The Diva
Shocore
Morning Maker
Holly McNarland
Big Sugar
Crash Test Dummies
Cowboy Junkies
Esthero
Great Big Sea
Joydrop
Young and Sexy
The Watchmen
Gob
Rymes With Orange
Sandbox
Scratching Post
Serial Joe
Wide Mouth Mason
Zuckerbaby
and of course... Neil Young.
While looking for a few names, I found http://www.canadianmusician.com which has a good list of artists. It may help you continue the search.
Good Luck

 

[Charles Gurganus]

How about the Northern Pikes...Kiss Me You Fool, Echos Off the Beach

 

[Jagan Seshadri]

Limblifter is Canadian? Cool. The unofficial anthem of engineering school here (especially after a bad exam) was:
"I screwed up. Screwed it up up screwed it..I screwed up"
Catchy riff on that song.
"I ain't lying, I ain't lying."
Have we mentioned Colin James yet? Another artist originally from Saskatchewan (as were the Northern Pikes, if I recall correctly).
-JNS

 

[Andrew Pratt]

Guess Who

Burton Cummings

Dust Rhino's

Shania Twain

Holly Cole

 

[Graeme Clark]

Limblifter is Canadian?

Yup. Age of Electric, Limblifter and Static in Stereo are all related. AOE were a 2 sets of brothers. The Dahl brothers went off and formed Limblifter as a side project between AOE albums, then one AOE broke up, the Kerns brothers formed Static in Stereo (which includes their other brother).

Kurt Dahl is also the drummer for the New Pornographers.

 

[Samuel Des]

Wow - where do you guys find such bands? I'm asking with true admiration!

 

[Miles]

My votes are for:

The Tragically Hip

Big Sugar

Blue Rodeo

Neil Young

54-40

Grapes of Wrath

Guess Who

Colin James

The Rankin Family

Rush

Loreena McKennitt

 

[Graeme Clark]

Samuel, it's called CanCon. Canadian radio and TV stations have to play/show a certain amount of Canadian content as regulated by the CRTC. For some radio stations, this means "My Heart Will Go On" every hour, others will actually try to find some good stuff.

 

[Sheldon]

Tea Party and Colin James have already been mentiones so how Matt Minglewood,The Rankins,Barra McNeils,for East Coast Music or even an older band Haywire,Streetheart,The Payolas,Roch Voisine,Trooper,Stampeders,Joni Mitchell,old Glass Tiger,April Wine and the list goes on...

 

[Gui A]

I don't think Sloan, Moist and David Usher are mentioned enough in this thread...

 

[Trevor H]

check out The Headstones IMO they are the best Canadian band, Big Sugar is also very good.

 

[Sheldon]

More Canadian Content:

Carole Pope,Rick Emmitt,Rush,Robbie Robertson,The Band,Cutting Crew,Daniel Lanois and David Foster(producers for U2 etc)Paul Anka,Jeff Healy Band,Heart,Bruce Cockburn,Tom Cochrane and Red Rider,Chilliwack,Loverboy,The Parachute Club,Luba,Taylor Dane,Bachman Turner Overdrive,Leonard Cohen,Ty Backman,Triumph,Dianna Krall and those wonderful legs...want anymore?

 

[JamieD]

Rheostatics! Simply Because I'm listening to Whale Music right now.