The Perms Go Back to High School

Winnipeg trio The Perms have pulled a Marty McFly and gone back in time, and they want to drag you with them. High School High is their new single featuring lyrics about Walkmans, high top sneakers, and teenage immortality, with a retro synth hook to boot. Think I hear a cowbell in there, too, but there's not enough.

The new album Sofia Nights is out mid-October. Meanwhile, you can grab High School High free for joining the e-mail list at the band's site. do it quick, maybe they'll give you a ride in the Delorean (I did it, and I hate those stupid silver doors).

High School High by theperms

Upcoming shows of note:

Friday October 14, 2011: Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre - Winnipeg release party for "Sofia Nights"

Saturday October 15, 2011: Brandon, MB - Clancy's Eatery & Drinkery - Brandon release party for "Sofia Nights"

Saturday November 5, 2011: Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre - Filming of live performance for upcoming DVD

Give Me All Your Lovin' by theperms

The Mess by theperms

World To Me by theperms

Running Away by theperms

As You Were by theperms






Buy The Perms on iTunes or Amazon.

Sloan is Unkind, Covers Gary Numan's Cars

I would never have predicted that Sloan would be around for 20 years, never mind releasing a corker of a record like Double Cross at this point in their careers. Four guys that all write their own songs? How long can that last?

Anyway, a nice, simple cheap video (no big effects, tricks, or punchlines) does duuty for Unkind. You regulars will remember that I rarely watch videos, it's the music that I want, and that's what you get. A typically bored-looking Andrew Scott, Chris Murphy barely in the spotlight (?!), some nice Thin Lizzy guitar later on, What more could you ask for?




Sloan covers "Cars" by Gary Numan






SLOAN - UNKIND by ASpencer

Sloan - Follow The Leader by mjvisme

Sloan "Take It Upon Yourself" by Frontside

Sloan - Laying So Low by sound vat

Buy Sloan here.

New Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

My first introduction to Dan Mangan was the song Road Regrets. I thought it was okay my first spin. But it kept popping up on my iPod, and every time I heard it I grew more attached to it. The new Dan Mangan tune, Oh Fortune, is from the forthcoming album of the same name and is due September 27. It's a little different, some ghostly backing vocals and ringing guitar framing Mangans's familiar warm rasp, punctuated by some explosive percussion. It's growing on me already. Dan Mangan plays at the Winnip[eg Folk Fest July 8.

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune by killbeat music

Dan Mangan by Arts & Crafts

Dan Mangan - Basket by Code One

Dan Mangan : Waltz #2 (Elliott Smith Cover) by billsvillehouseconcerts

Old 97's The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 is Out Any Second Now

So, what's new with Old 97's, you query? I'm glad you asked. Tomorrow the band releases The Grand Theatre Vol. 2. I haven't heard the whole thing yet, but I have heard Brown Haired Daughter, which manages to sound wistful and bright at the same time, alt country ballad-y and rock 'n' roll without approaching powerballad territory. Perfume is another new track the band has made available for previewing purposes, more of a mid-tempo rollicking number, some power-pop back up vox and trademark spot-on twangy guitar. You can download Brown Haired Daughter for free at the band's media page on their website, s well as a live Rhett Miller show. In fact, the Old 97's keep fans coming back by constantly giving away music on their media page - it's always good. What's that? Do I think Rhett Miller is one of the best singer-songwriters alive? Well, yes, I reckon he is.

Perfume by Old 97's

Old 97's - The Grand Theatre by NewWestRecords

The Dance Class by Old 97's

Barrier Reef by Old 97's

Won't Be Home by Old 97's

Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue by Old 97's

Dance With Me by Old 97's

Old 97's - Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You) by MMMusic
Big Brown Eyes - Old 97s by 30 Gallon Tank





Buy Old 97's here.

Is Cage the Elephant the new Everclear?

Am I the only guy that hears Everclear in Cage the Elephant's big hit Shake Me Down? It doesn't sound exactly like one particular Everclear tune, but it sounds vaguely like many of them. Maybe Cage the Elephant takes a lot of inspiration from the commercial "grunge" era, I don't know. The Elephant singer reminds me of the guy from Tripping Daisy, too. Perhaps I'm just getting old. What year is it again?



Everclear - Father of Mine by mike inpain1

Canada Day is Every Day, Isn't It?

Canada Day has come and gone and all I did was post some Jr. Gone Wild. But hey, I'm not on any timetable, I can post Canuck music any time I want. Like now. Listen, watch, grab some free and legal downloads, some very new, some very old, all there just because I can. I especially like Abstract Artform's Winnipeg, The Express's Nobody Knows, Matt Masters's Highways (Manitoba references!), and The Warped 45s Grandpa Carl (our country's answer to Drive-by Truckers, maybe?). How 'bout you? Leave a comment at the bottom, please!,

Feel by GregArcade

Winnipeg ft. Fashawn by AbstractArtform

I Am Canadian by AbstractArtform

Time Breaks Down by bendsinister

Wrong Piano - Cowboy Junkies by Cowboy Junkies

The Details - Weightless in the Dark by "http://soundcloud.com/killbeatmusic">killbeat music

Peter Elkas - Cool Thing To Do by woasong

"The End of the Day" by FemBots by (weewerk)

The Golden Dogs - Travel Time by Nevado

Lester by The Golden Dogs by littlestsounds

Handsome Furs - What About Us by subpop

Handsome Furs - Repatriated by subpop

Mysterio by The High Dials



Grand Mystifyer by kidsonfire

Ariel vs Lotus - Limblifter by wellsound

Mark Davis - Eliminate the Toxins by killbeat music

Matt Masters - Highways by killbeat music

Mike Angus - Swallow It Whole by killbeat music



Meligrove Band - Halflight by amediamindset

Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle - Canada Day Toronto by user5341127

One Hundred Dollars - Black Gold by Outside-Music

Joel Plaskett - When I Go by Le parallèle



Quinzy "Self Defense" by Frontside



Sloan - Follow The Leader by Outside-Music







What You Do To Me by thevibratingbeds

The Warped 45s - Grampa Carl by killbeat music

The Wilderness Of Manitoba - Orono Park by Jackplug

The Wilderness of Manitoba - November by tinyogre

Can we pretend the Express starts with an X? I can't think of any worthy Canadian artists that start with an X, can you?

The Express - Nobody Knows by killbeat music

Yukon Blonde - Wind Blows by DawsonCityMusicFestival

Zumpano - Oh That Atkinson Girl by subpop

Mike McDonald, Jr. Gone Wild, and Idyl Tea

It's Canada Day, plus Mike McDonald's Birthday a week ago, so I bring you one of my favourite bands of all time, Jr. Gone Wild. McDonald and his cohorts used to make me smile widely on a regular basis at the Spectrum with their unholy blend of rawk and roots and punk and pop. The following tune, I Don't Know All That (from the perfect album Too Dumb To Quit), may hold my personal record for most deliberate spins, if I kept records of such useless trivia. I definitely played this song so much at the record store I worked in that one (or more) of my co-workers tried to hide it, but my fellow Jr. fan sniffed it out so we could convert more unsuspecting locals to the fine flavours of JGW.

I Don't Know About All That - Jr. Gone Wild by scruffy the yak

McDonald also sings on Idyl Tea's new song, listen to the lyrics if you want to know why that is the case.

The Same Thing by Idyl Tea













Jr. Gone Wild music may be hard to find for purchase these days, but you can try contacting Mike at his record store, you can get the Idyl Tea there for sure:

Permanent Records
8126 Gateway Blvd NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 4B1
(780) 988-2112