Each week, staff from CBC Music, Radio 2, 3, Sonica, CBC Hamilton and Whitehorse collect songs they just can't get out of their heads, and make a case for why you should listen, too. Press play below and you may just find your new favourite track.
Let us know in the comments what catches your ear, or if you have new song suggestions.
Loon Choir, 'Bug'
The Ottawa-based avant-pop band is back, and this excellent first single from their new record is full of urgent, climbing strings, pounding keys and the soaring, strangled vocals of lead singer/guitarist Derek Atkinson. The band says "Bug" was inspired by Timothy Findley's 1977 book, The Wars, which focuses on a young Canadian officer in the First World War. The description of the book fits beautifully with the song's feeling of tightly restrained chaos and palpable tension. Check out the remarkable animated music video for "Bug" below, and find out more about the band's comeback here. — Andrea Warner
Like a Motorcycle, 'Hands' (Searchlight contestant)
This song wraps up the energy of Halifax's north end music scene in three ways: crunch, energy and attitude. That's exactly what you get with Like a Morotocycle, who are Searchlight entries from the Halifax neighbourhood. It's like a donair for your ears, minus the clean up. — Kerry Martin, Searchlight associate producer
Jamie Lidell, 'Believe in Me'
It's been a few years since we've heard anything from U.K. soul singer Jamie Lidell. His most recognizable work comes from his 2005 album, Multiply, but he's been active since then, with his most recent eponymous album (there are two, just to confuse you: one is Jamie Lidell, the other simply Jim) coming out in 2013. "Believe in Me" is a bit of a departure for Lidell, eerie vocals expressing a darkness that isn't his usual MO. That being said, the track lives up to the standard we've come to expect from Lidell — which is, to say, very good. — Nicolle Weeks
Kendrick Lamar, 'King Kunta'
On his new album, How to Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar grabs from a whole range of influences. While much of the album is heavily funk-infused, the furious "u" is more jazz than anything. Full of discordant saxophones, the two-movement song is half spoken-word, half rage-filled rap, and a worthy but uncomfortable listen on an album that’s already one of the best rap records of the year. — Chris Dart
Editor's note: strong language warning, NSFW.
Andrew Bird, 'The Fake Headlines' (New Pornographers cover)
The Yellow Bird Project is the Montreal-based charitable organization that does good things for good people. Their latest project is a compilation of stellar cover songs called Good People Rock , out on April 14 on Dan Mangan's Madic Records. On it you'll find Hayden interpreting TV on the Radio, Dry the River taking on Metric and this song, Andrew Bird performing "The Fake Headlines" by the New Pornographers. Cover songs are always popular, as demonstrated by the love for the Under the Covers feature on Radio 2 Morning (heard twice daily at 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.), and this track is a great one. Bird takes the jaunty rock of the original and transplants it with whimsical violin-playing and plucking, plus his signature whistling. — Jeanette Cabral
Sufjan Stevens, 'Should Have Known Better'
We’ve seen a lot of different sides of Sufjan Stevens over the years. He's most famously known for his folk-indie side, but we’ve also heard electronica throughout the years, including his most recent work, The Age of Adz (2010), which has a slew of different genres woven throughout the record. On his latest, Carrie & Lowell, Stevens returns to the lo-fi folk many of his fans have come to expect, but this time he's gone even further: most of the tracks don’t have anything more than his vocals, a guitar and a piano. The sombreness of the tracks may be a reflection of the relationship, or lack thereof, that he had with his deceased mother, after whom the record is partially named. "Should Have Known Better" is the second track from the new album, coming March 31 on Asthmatic Kitty Records. — Matt Fisher
Braids, 'Taste'
One of my favourite quotes comes from The Perks of Being a Wallflower: "We accept the love we think we deserve." Braids' new song, "Taste," takes that thought and expands on it. The result is a sweetly delivered song about a blossoming love with the person you didn't think you deserved. If only second chances weren't so rare. A lovely track that goes along quite nicely with the promise of a crisp Canadian spring. — NW
Lindi Ortega, 'Tell it Like it Is'
Straight-talk seems to be the new-country theme this month: last week it was Kacey Musgraves with "Biscuits" ("Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy"), and this week it’s Canada’s own Lindi Ortega with the lyric video for her new track, "Tell it Like it Is." I am a fan of the message, and also Ortega’s delivery: her vocals sit so nicely with what starts as a country tune, and then gets all blues nitty-gritty. — Holly Gordon
League of Wolves, 'Runaway' (Searchlight contestant)
The Fratellis and the Arctic Monkeys must have stopped in Saskatoon for a little while, because this song from Saskatchewan Searchlight contestants League of Wolves summons those bands' inner indie garage-rock dance jams like few others can. — KM
LeE HARVeY OsMOND, 'Blue Moon Drive'
Beautiful Scars is the third of what one can only hope will be a long line of albums from LeE HARVeY OsMOND, and "Blue Moon Drive" is the lead single. Produced by Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), the song makes the most of singer Tom Wilson's rich baritone, keeping it at once both menacing and warm. It's like Leonard Cohen meets Tom Waits, and they're in your arteries drag racing toward your heart. Beautiful Scars is available April 7 on Latent Recordings. — Judith Lynch
Mating Ritual, 'Hum Hum'
If you need a little more (accessible) rrrock in your life, might I suggest Mating Ritual's "Hum Hum"? If you need a strutting song, "Hum Hum" is just the thing. It has a good yell-y part, there's a guy shouting, "Hey!," there's a real electric guitar solo and it's just catchy as heck. I have a feeling the remixes will be the icing on the indie pop-rock cake. — NW
by Holly Gordon via Electronic RSS
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