Inbreds - Best Canadian songs of all Time No. 9

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order. Check out the list so far here.


How amazing can a rock band become with only two instruments? Clearly a lot of people jumped on The White Stripes bandwagon. But years before that pair managed to pull off garagey hits, The Inbreds were a duo that made their mark primarily featuring only bass, drums and voice. Joyrides of fuzzy bass propelled bittersweet choruses, oft-restrained percussion gave way to cymbal-crashing waves, voices straddled an invisible line between euphoria and melancholy.

The Inbreds - Any Sense of Time

hHead - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 8

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order. Check out the list so far here.


hHead filled a void in Canada which was taken up in the States by bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Meat Puppets. Guitar-based rock, laconic vocals, the ability to veer towards weirdness without always falling into a pit of bizarre ridiculousness. hHead had some catchy songs, and though the band's presentation included some fine harmonies, pop wasn't really in the guys' vocabulary. There also weren't easy signposts for punk and metal in their tunes, so listeners had to really pay attention to find the hooks to hang on to. Remedial is indicative of hHead's ability to write a pleasureable tune, then let it slide into slacker-rock, with Mintz's laid-back vocals intoning, "Welcome to special ed, get your education spoon-fed, now I think that I suck...do I have to be so well-rounded?"

Remedial

The Gandharvas - Best Canadian Songs of All time No. 7

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.

The Gandharvas hailed from London. Ontario, that is. The band often went against the grain of the time period in which their albums were released (1994-1997). Singer Paul Jago had an unusual voice which some likened to Perry Farrell's, and he sometimes wore a mask for entire shows. They put the inside of a urinal on the cover of their album. I once did an interview with Jago and another band member in which the singer maybe spoke 10 words at most - he just stared at me intensely for about 45 minutes.

But most of all, The Gandharvas rarely went for that big bombastic rock sound in an era where Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Green Day ruled the roost. No, The Ghandarvas often went for a subtler sound, with hypnotic riffs, a rhythm section that knew when to hold back, and a singer that knew a whisper can be as effective as a scream. Singalong choruses did not abound, but the band did create some unstoppable grooves, and unusual songs and videos such as the one for Masochistic Minstrel helped carve out a little niche in the rock landscape.

 However, First Day of Spring is the song that sidles up, passes you an intriguing note, meets you outside and hands you your favourite frosty beverage on a late Friday afternoon. From promise to jubilation in under 5 minutes.

First Day of Spring

54-40 - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 6

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.


54-40 seem to be one of Canada's longest running bands, since 1981, but the only song that ever had a monumental impact on me was Baby Ran. The rhythm section moves the song, the bassline being exceptionally musical (lots of early 54-40 stuff contained faint references to Joy Division/early New Order to my ears). Neil Osborne's vocals are especially impassioned, but when Phil Comparelli's backing vox kick in for the wordless WOAH-OH-OHHHHHHHHHHH, the tune is elevated. Hints of Neil Young guitar sqwawk near the end adds to the energy level, and points to one of the reasons I remember the song blowing listeners' ears back in small rooms back in the eighties.



Buy 54-40 music here.

Kathleen Edwards - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 5

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.


Kathleen Edwards is part of the new vanguard of singer/songwriters in Canada. like many great wordsmiths who make music, she doesn't readily fit into just one genre - is she pop, folk,rock, country, alt-country or some other new amalgam I don't know the name of yet? As her Twitter description says, "Don't make me choose between Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams. I won't do it."

Change the Sheets manages to sound both hopeful and haunting at the same time, a little melancholy and a little euphoric. KE's sweet voice soars over insistent keyboards, the band lays back and then pushes for a big climax that I can imagine being epic live, yet is still somewhat subtle on the recorded version. Edwards doesn't get sappy or overwrought, no big histrionics, yet she's still got the power to move listeners without trickery or pandering. There are a lot of artists who could learn a lesson or two from her. Heck, she even had the guts to call her album Voyageur, and I think that's all right.

Change the Sheets




Hockey Skates is another tune that deserves an honourable mention, as this video attests.

Hockey Skates


Photo at top of post by Kevin Lamb. You can buy Kathleen Edwards music here, as well as the usual digital outlets.

The Diodes - Best Canadian Songs of all Time No. 4

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.


All three of my kids know and love The Diodes' Tired of Waking Up Tired, and one of them is only three years old. It's the catchiest chorus ever made, released on an unsuspecting public in 1979, and it still sounds fresh to this day. It's the scene in Hardcore Logo where Hugh Dillon and Callum Keith Rennie are in the front of the van, driving to wherever, singing the chorus over and over and over. It's punk rock the first time around, when hooks were sharp, circus keyboards were cool, and nobody could really accuse Canadian punks of selling out 'cause no one was getting rich.






 Available on iTunes, Amazon, maybe even in a cool record store.

The Cash Brothers - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 3

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.

The Cash Brothers put out one album that was so good,the boys looked poised for the big time. How Was Tomorrow (2001) received some critical acclaim, sold a few copies, and seemed to set the boys up for a bright future. But although they did release one more record and then one with The Skydiggers, the big breakthrough never arrived. Night Shift Guru is a fine example of The Cash Brothers' sense of humour, smooth harmonies, and a touch of personal politics/social commentary.


Buy How Was Tomorrow from Amazon.
Buy How Was Tomorrow from iTunes.

Art Bergmann - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 2

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.

Art Bergmann walked slowly into the record store where I was toiling, his eyes focused on something no one else could see. He trailed behind the record company man as my friend and I, Bergmann fans both, looked at each other with our faces lit up like little kids on Christmas morn.

We followed them to the office in the back, where Art sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and fished in his pocket. He produced the world's most raggedy cigarette, crumpled and torn and exceptionally sad-looking. Our boss offered him a less violated smoke, but he just replied, "No thanks." My record store pal proceeded to tell him how we played the album in the store every day, to which Art scowled, rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Yeah, but did you sell any?"

Notwithstanding Art's cantankerous nature, he was a songwriting force to be reckoned with. I hope one day someone gets together a tribute album with others covering his tunes. It's probably the only way he will ever get recognition for his body of work.

The following song originally appeared on Sexual Roulette (1990), but this version is taken from Design Flaw (1998). Design Flaw is a testament to the man's songcraft, with Bergmann's spare vocals and guitars adorned with nothing but tasteful Chris Spedding six-string accents.



Photo at top of post by photographer Alex Waterhouse-Hayward.

AA Sound System - Best Canadian Songs of All Time No. 1

This series of posts will be offering the definitive list of the best Canuck tunes ever recorded, scientifically tabulated, collated and obfuscated by the Brain of Scruff, in absolutely-not numerical order.

In 2006, Edmonton's AA Sound System released a quietly brilliant album called Laissez-Faire, produced by Danny Michel. When I received it, I listened to it every day for about 6 months - I think the tracking on this record is perfect, starting out with the mellow tones of I Don't Get You At All and building up to the noisy guitar rush of Raw Joy. But I still keep coming back to I Don't Get You At All. It's a measured song, no rush, replete with a Canadian prairie drawl, an incongruous stars-on-45 beat, and subtly fine lyrical touches. I's a grower, listen, and then listen again. That's what I did.


 AA Sound System - I Don't Get You At All