Music

10 bands you can't miss at CMW 2012

by Nicole Villeneuve

While it usually precedes it, this year Canadian Music Week lays in the shadow of the beast that is SXSW. Even though we’re still sluggish from our Austin adventures, we couldn’t be more stoked to be back for everything that’s happening around Toronto this week. CMW kicks off tonight and the next four days hold a whack of great music movies, the always fun Indie Awards, and Young Lion Music Club’s neat Artist Select Series, where showcases are curated by other artists such as Shad, Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan, and Brendan Canning—but we’ve selected handfuls of stuff besides those things that we’re going to make sure to check out, too.

Get the full scheduling details and tickets for all these shows over at CMW’s website, and stay tuned for interviews with some of our picks over the next couple of days.

Careers In Science Careers in Science call themselves “post-ironic approaching-30’s core,” and though its more than anything a sign of the band’s hyper self-awareness and terrific sense of humour, it’s also accurate. The Toronto four-piece tear through melodic 80s American underground-sounding punk with an obvious reverence, and examine everything from videogames to quarter-life crises, all tempered with that smart dose of self-deprecation. Let’s go relate and mosh.

Louise Burns You’ve likely had numerous chances to see Vancouver’s Louise Burns play the festivals that come through Toronto (or even on her own), but if you haven’t gone to do it yet, this is us giving you another chance. The former Lillix (!) member’s debut Mellow Drama was one of last year’s best, proving Burns one of the country’s best pop singer/songwriters.

Reversing Falls We first heard of Montreal’s Reversing Falls when we saw them play at Halifax Pop Explosion last fall, and they’ve since charted high on CBC Radio 3’s countdown, so we basically feel like we’ve watched them grow up. The trio will be playing with a drummer for the CMW shows (fun fact: I didn’t even notice they weren’t playing with a drummer when I saw them at HPX, which I don’t want to talk about)—their friend Jamie Thompson, who you might know from the Unicorns and Islands, will join and fill out the distorted left-of-centre fun.

Army Girls Army Girls are one of your best bets for a night of live music in Toronto regardless of CMW, so go see them. We really really love them.

The Slakadeliqs Longtime Toronto-based producer/artist Slakah the Beatchild threw a bit of a curveball with latest offering The Other Side of Tomorrow, blending elements of psych, folk, soul, and funk into an incredibly accessible and rich listen. It’ll be interesting to see the sounds recreated on stage.

Cold Specks You’ve probably heard this name being bandied about with some buzz; Cold Specks, also known as 23-year-old Al Spx from Etobicoke, ON, describes her powerful sound as “doom soul,” citing Alan Lomax’s Field Recordings, Tom Waits, and Bill Callahan as influences. She’s nothing short of arresting, as heard in this newly released song “Winter Solstice.” Her debut album I Predict a Graceful Expulsion will be out sometime this year via Arts & Crafts, who quickly, smartly, scooped her up, and it will be excellent.

Longwalkshortdock Gonna be honest here and admit I know nothing about Vancouver, BC’s Longwalkshortdock, but he describes his weirdo electro mishmash as DEATHNO, which I don’t know if that’s a thing, but sometimes it’s nice to take a break from guitars so see you there, pretending we’re at Skrillex? READY TO BOUNCE I don’t know if I’m ready, actually.

Badbadnotgood Like, duh. But good luck getting in probably.

Jesuslesfilles Montreal’s Jesuslesfilles seem to juuuust fly under the radar, which is good in this instance because that’s a good time to go check out a band at a festival. If you’re a little bit tired of the tired old garage sound, how about a dash of Pixies to go with it? If you’re tired of that too I don’t think we should see each other anymore. Anyway, recordings don’t do the band justice. Check them out.

The Inbreds SO SUE US, we love The Inbreds and nostalgia too okay and this is the best bet of the other Canrock reunions happening this week (I Mother Earth and Treble Charger). Singer/bassist Mike O’Neill just released his first new solo album in eight years, too, so let’s celebrate!