Canvas - Gold

1.   Who are Canva?

Canvas are an indie rock band from Toronto who have been making music since 2013. They describe their music as Electro-Springsteen meets Grouplove. Gold comes strutting off their debut album sticktoitiveness (Dec'16). 

2. What kind of song is Gold?

It kicks open the door with a massive strutting riff. All classic rock stomp, black leather and smelling of last night's whiskey. It keeps sauntering along in the same fashion though the chorus soars up lightly like an autumn leaf on a strong breeze. The song structure is intricate, all middle eights and bridges and wafting off into places four to the floor rock'n'roll rarely strays. Tight lead in the coda too.

3. Who do Canvas sound like?

Gold's shit kicking verses throws up thoughts of Ray LaMontagne's Pt 1. Hey, No Pressure,  Spoon's Rent I Pay, Twin Atlantic's Heart and Soul even Weezer's El Scorcho. Going back in the day, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks or even Cheap Trick.

4. So what is the good word from our friends in the press?

Sonic Bids are the lone piper here on the topic of Gold, “A tune that combines both a classic Canadiana rock vibe, and new-wave pop,” they knocked off. “A rocking tune whose simple opening riff is undeniably powerful and catchy as it carries through to the climactic solos at the end,” they continued playing with a straight bat.

The album sticktoitiveness has “a very modern sound, but that being said, also have certain moments that remind me of classic rock,” say Canadian Beats. “Blends futuristic synths - sometimes dark, sometimes playful - danceable grooves, hooky melodies, shimmering guitars and anthemic choruses into a post-synth-rock collage,” detailed Flat Car Records. Plug In Records plumped for “a rock record you should hear” after some solid deliberation.

5. So who are Canvas influenced by?

Canvas are fet their influences from Grouplove, Depeche Mode, The Strokes, The Killers, My Morning Jacket, The Morning Benders, Land Of Talk and The Dears. 

 6. Why should I give Gold a listen? 

The crushing riff will chew your mind up and spit you back out like worthless shit juice. But seriously singer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Chris Graham has said the song is a warning both to society and self about living to excess. When are we going to wake up to the mess we are headed for folks? Simple answer, never. We'll suck heartily from Earth's tit until it's a hollow husk and our children choke to death on their tears lamenting their brief and excruciatingly painful existence. Or not. Up to you. 

7. Do Canvas have any more of this rampant rock? 

Not at the moment.. 

8. Anything else I should know? 

Chris Graham let slip on how easy writing Gold was saying,“Sometimes you just pick up the guitar and the first thing you play is what you were looking for. That was the case with that tune.”  Chris Graham was formerly the lead singer and guitarist for indie rock band FIRExFIRE. He has written music for film and TV and produced and recorded the album Happy Times by Splash’N Boots.

“We treasure the treasure we found,
It’ll bury us under the ground.”

  

The daily double dip is pure sweet joy and happiness, the indie pop band Rabbit! Described as “sipping sunshine” and “a sonic celebration of love and life” the band hail from Mount Dora, Florida and have handed down a handful of stupidly brilliant albums for the people since 2007. Despite avoiding mainstream success; you can't google this band, find their music and they have next to no net presence; they put coin in pocket from some big advertising deals. No one has ever heard this band and not liked them. That comes with a money back guarantee. Be a better person. Listen to Rabbit! Magic (2011).

"Who's got he maps to the stars? 

Who can drive backwards in the car?

You say you're clever, well baby you are."

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - The Royal Concept

The Royal Concept came kicking out of Stockholm, Sweden in 2012. Fashion (Aug’15) comes off their third short player Smile (Aug’15). The band have one album to their name Gold Rushed (2013). Fashion is said to "...strut from a funky guitar into a disco-chant replete with sizzling falsetto and unshakeable beat."  The Royal Concept's music has been described as "sun-baked pop and compelling rock." The band's influences are Daft Punk, Paul Simon and The Strokes.

 

 

 

 

Fashion is a frivilous, rollicking number that saunters along with flashes off Rolling Stones-esque guitar and beat and then goes all Scissor Sisters in the choral choruses. Other tunes it minds me off are Spoon Rent I Pay and The Kooks Bad Habit. A song about feeling inadequate in a relationship it may be vacuous, but Fashion is as much fun as sex on methamphetimines and one of the best indie songs of 2015.
 

“I dress like shit, call it fashion

But your fashions the shit”

 

 
 

Shit you need to know:

The Royal Concept are often compared to Phoenix but I’m thinking New Politics, Youngblood Hawke or Grouplove.

The new EP Smile was produced by Tony Hoffer who did the same for Phoenix, The Kooks, M83 and Depeche Mode.

The music on the new short player has “...sunsoaked flavor, upbeat swing, and uncontainable energy” and a glam inspired change of musical direction.The band are big fans of St Vincent.

The Royal Concept's music has been called "electro-funk" and "nu-disco".

The Royal Concept have supported The Wombats, Misterwives and Switchfoot.

More feel good and get-off-your-arse and dance Royal Concept tracks are On Our Way, Smile and Higher Than Love.
 

 

Twice the love for the price of one comes courtesy of these two Swedish and Malawi musicians The Very Best. Makes A King (May'15) is a song that transcends cultural differences to provide a sublime musical experience. True to their name this tune is out-fucking-standing.

 
 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Spoon

Oh yeah! Yeah ya do! Spoon comes along with a turn it up laid back rocker Rent I Pay (June'14). Like the Rolling Stone's Honky Tonk Women or The Kinks You Really Got Me this songs rolls hard. Porn star, money shot, hard.

For all the arse shakers this will propel you onto the dancefloor.

 

 

 

 

Fighting out of Austin, Texas, indie rock band Spoon have been around for more than twenty years and this is off their eighth album They Want My Soul (2014).

 

They give a shout out in joy to The Ramones, The Bee Gees and The Pixies for inspiration.

 

Ready to go again? Give Inside Out or They Want My Soul a roll in the sack.

 

 

 

 

 

Another song with a killer guitar riff. That Petrol Emotion  were an indie rock band from Northern Ireland described by Rolling Stone magazine as like The Clash mixed with Creedence Clearwater Revival. Big Decision (1987) was an almost hit. Choosing whether to buy six beers or half a dozen is my guess.