Single Servings, Sept. 27, 2021
On this week’s Single Servings, Snotty Nose Rez Kids stand up for their symbols, Lisa LeBlanc throws a roller disco party, Pink Mountaintops reimagine a Teenage Fanclub classic, and much more!
By Jason Schneider
On this week’s Single Servings, Snotty Nose Rez Kids stand up for their symbols, Lisa LeBlanc throws a roller disco party, Pink Mountaintops reimagine a Teenage Fanclub classic, and much more!
Julie Doiron – You Gave Me The Key
Release Date: Sept. 21
Label: You’ve Changed Records
The erstwhile co-founder of Moncton’s alt-rock legends Eric’s Trip has forged a solo career in a quieter vein. However, Doiron sounds as if she’s ready to turn things up again a little on the forthcoming I Thought Of You, her first bona fide solo effort in nine years, made with the ever-busy Daniel Romano. You Gave Me The Key is an uplifting, groovy rocker in the style Romano’s been delving into lately, suggesting that Doiron is likely to add a new twist to her already widely diverse body of work.
Pre-Order here
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – No Jesus Piece
Release Date: Sept. 23
Label: Distorted Muse/Fontana North
The Indigenous hip-hop unit of Young D and Yung Trybez is set to return soon with a fourth full-length, Life After, and this latest preview is a well-timed swipe at the Catholic church, as well as a call to all Indigenous people to embrace their traditional spiritual symbols, such as the copper shield. As the pair noted in a statement, “The Catholic church and the government of Canada used Catholicism as a tool of annihilation of Indigenous culture, practice, teachings and ways of being. While we respect people for having their own religions and religious symbols, we’d rather rock our copper shield.”
Pre-Order here
Joe Nolan – Mountain
Release Date: Sept. 24
Label: Fallen Tree Records
Coming off his acclaimed, acoustic-based 2020 album Drifters, the ever-mercurial Joe Nolan’s latest music is more akin to reflective indie-rockers like Grandaddy and Eels than the folk-rock he’s perhaps best known for. Nolan’s new album Scrapper, out Oct. 15, takes us headfirst into the underdog Edmonton singer-songwriter’s realm of swirling alternative sounds, as he prepares for his career’s post-Covid title fight.
Stream/Purchase here
The Franklin Electric – Ten Steps Back
Release Date: Sept. 24
Label: Nettwerk
The Montreal-based indie collective just released its fourth album This Time I See It, with the results offering more of the group’s signature cinematic undertones, alt-folk arrangements and layers of vocal harmony. It’s all there in the moody Ten Steps Back, which builds off a delicately plucked guitar part from frontman Jon Matte.
Stream/Purchase here
Lisa LeBlanc – Pourquoi faire aujourd’hui
Release Date: Sept. 22
Label: Bonsound
LeBlanc continues to tease her yet-to-be-announced follow-up to 2016’s Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen? and this latest taste shows how far she’s willing to push her sound. There’s nary a banjo to be heard on Pourquoi faire aujourd’hui, a surprisingly slamming disco tune, complete with an accompanying roller skate party video.
Stream/Purchase here
KTheChosen – LONO
Release Date: Sept. 24
Label: Organised Noise
Along with being a top-shelf rapper, Calgary’s KTheChosen is also a community builder. LONO is part of his upcoming album +Vice, whose central female character allows KTheChosen to explore themes of feminism, colonialism and grief. LONO itself is being released to mark this year’s Orange Shirt Day in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation.
More Info here
Death Party Playground – Upside Down
Release Date: Sept. 24
Label: Independent
The Waterloo, Ontario power pop outfit is coming back strong in October with a six-song EP called The Good Years, and the mid-tempo Upside Down once again shows off the melodic dexterity of singer/guitarist Kyle Taylor. If you’re someone who still regularly spins Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend or 100% Fun, you need to know Death Party Playground immediately.
Pink Mountaintops – The Concept
Release Date: Sept. 24
Label: Jagjaguwar
Powerhouse American indie label Jagjaguwar has just released the compilation Join The Ritual, featuring much of its roster covering ‘90s alt-rock classics. Vancouver’s Pink Mountaintops—the quieter side project of Black Mountain’s Stephen McBean—tackles the opening track on Teenage Fanclub’s 1991 classic Bandwagonesque, and anyone expecting a recreation of its glorious fuzz may be in for a shock. McBean and co. instead turn The Concept into something more suited to the haziness of Big Star’s third album, which I’m sure the Fannies don’t object to.
Stream/Purchase here
T. Buckley – Holding My Place
Release Date: Sept. 24
Label: Fallen Tree Records
This latest taste of the Calgary singer/songwriter’s new album Frame By Frame, out Nov. 5, offers a further glimpse of its overarching theme of how those closest to us make us who we are, from the touching moments to the dark truths. As we continue to grapple with our personal disconnection over the past two years, Buckley’s work on Frame By Frame, as exemplified by Holding My Place, balances both sides of that divide, delving into the bleakness and offering guidance to help us reconnect to what’s important.
Stream/Purchase here
The Garrys – Get Thee To A Nunnery
Release Date: Sept. 23
Label: Grey Records
With a sound they describe as, “dreamy blood harmony surf rock doom-wop on morphine,” Calgary trio The Garrys couldn’t have found a better producer for their new album Get Thee To A Nunnery than The Sadies’ Dallas Good. Implementing his mastery of twang and echo, Good brings out the best in The Garrys on this debut full-length effort, which should hopefully soon put them on the national map.
