Look at us now. | DOminiONATED July 2019
a monthly(ish) mini round-up of music and creativity from across Canada by DOMINIONATEDHey, what's up? You might remember this newsletter as being a round-up/regurgitation of previous posts and news from the best-kept secret in Canadian music blogging DOMINIONATED. That was cool, but it wasn't cool, you know? Don't get us wrong, we'd love for you to go back and check out all the great music we've been blogging out. But if you're going to go through the trouble of inviting us into your inbox every few weeks, the least we could do is share something special with you. Do something different than we're doing over on the blog itself. Spread the word about all the other great music that comes our way, music that — for whatever reason — just didn't make it onto DOMINIONATED.
So that's what this is now: a round-up of mini-reviews and recommendations about music and creativity from across Canada that's come across our collective radar in the last little while. We're calling it DOminiONATED. Don't laugh; we think it's cute. Everything you hear and read here is collected by our intrepid team of contributors and distilled down to bite-sized portions. If you like it, tell everyone you know. Don't keep it a secret, okay?
▶︎▶︎ LPs / EPs
Property, How to Be Human (H2BH) (St. John's, NL)
Dream pop with world rhythms. Danceable and foreboding. Great melodies, affecting voice and clever, inquisitive lyrics about growing up, identity and the world around us. Property for the people!
Mac Cameron | RIYL Twist | Have you also heard? Lo Siento
Tanika Charles, The Gumption (Toronto, ON)
Smoothest of soul from the country's brightest star in the genre. Tanika Charles is a powerhouse performer and The Gumption is a confident contender for album of the year.
Jim Di Gioia | RIYL Bonjay | Have you also heard? mita
birdboy, Lifestyle (Toronto, ON)
Some nice downtempo electronica for your summer nights; a rather chill EP.
Josh Weinberg | RIYL Saxsyndrum | Have you also heard? Sun Sets West
- Jacques Kuba Seguin, Migrations (Montreal, QC)
- Drama Queen Martyr, leave the bikini atoll nightlight plugged in (Saskatoon, SK)
- Veranda, Woodland Waltz (Montreal, QC)
- Crabstyle, Bucket Soup (Saskatoon, SK)
- MSEA, Hiding Under Things (Toronto, ON/Reykjavík, Iceland)
▶︎▶︎ SONGS
“Game Over” by margø (Edmonton, AB)
After showing a willingness to be big and bold with “In Between”, margø's second release similarly swings for the fences. "Game Over" is a song about seeing the problems in a relationship and being willing to move on; it moves seamlessly between tender verses and belt-along choruses just as it moves between vulnerability and power.
Michael Thomas | RIYL Carly Rae Jepsen | Have you also heard? Eden Samara
“Casting Stones” by Mariel Buckly (Calgary, AB)
"Casting Stones" is a smokey b-side from Mariel Buckley's standout 2018 sophomore album Driving In The Dark. The Calgary country singer-songwriter snarls in anger about systems of oppression - "Your words are a choice. You can't speak for someone who don't have no voice," Buckley repeats - alongside some bluesy guitar playing and the result is a sizzling protest track.
Laura Stanley | RIYL Orville Peck | Have you also heard? Nicolette & The Nobodies
“Traveled” by Little You, Little Me (St. John, NB)
Off of Little You, Little Me's forthcoming LP Hard To Say, Not Knowing (out August 9th), "Traveled" is packed with fuzzy guitars but has a bright and catchy melody that cuts through the din. If your summer plans entail any or all of the following activities, the Saint John, NB band's grainy pop-punk track will make for great company: having a crush, getting your skateboard out to see if you can still ollie, going on road trips with your friends, drinking too much.
Laura Stanley | RIYL PUP | Have you also heard? Fine
“Reverie” by Bodywash (Montreal, QC)
Luminelle Records seems to be intent on signing up MTL bands and catapulting them to superstardom. Dreamy & bombastic at the same time.
Jon Neher | RIYL Helena Deland | Have you also heard? Bart
- “Cool Kids Radio” by Autogramm (Vancouver, BC)
- “Waterboy” by Fungus (Dartmouth, NS)
- “Leavin' It All Behind” by Most People (Toronto, ON)
- “Crashing Down” by Madame Psychosis (Toronto, ON)
- “Relax” by J Blissette (Lethbridge, AB)
- “Everlasting” by Matthew Bailey (Toronto, ON)
- “Sadie” by Olivia Sea (Winnipeg, MB)
- “Cruising” by Stellaleona (Saint John, NB)
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