It looks like I’m running out of time and will fail to feature all the music that matters to me before this 2018 chapter will become part of the history. I’m already in the midst of writing the year end lists, but before them a couple of quick roundup posts in the next few days. Starting with a Canada special tonight. Mostly just great music/videos, not a whole lot of words.

Kicking off this Canada special with some Mom Rock from Toronto-based songwriter Julie Arsenault. I loved her Softness EP a year ago and actually I think it’s the only 2017 release that has survived a year on my iPod. I’ve had to remove everything else to make room for 2018 stuff, but I haven’t been able to let go of Chain or Monsters. This new transparently feminist EP is equally impressive and very powerful. Extremely highly recommended.

What’s a year without one or four Daniel Romano albums. Latest work of art Finally Free came out on the 30th of November or New West Records / You’ve Changed Records. One of the best things about Daniel Romano is that you can never know what to expect. Except that it’s going to be unparalleled in its quality. This is my favorite from the new album. All The Reaching Trims by the mystical genius Daniel Romano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FGDcCyVJIM

Daniel Romano Website

Next up is Foxwarren from Regina, SK and their self-titled debut album that is out and available on Anti- and Arts & Crafts. Foxwarren is a project of Andy Shauf, Darryl Kissick, Avery Kissick and Dallas Bryson. It feels great to hear that voice again, because I’m big fan of Andy Shauf (The Party was the album of the year on this blog back in 2016). This is To Be from the brand new Foxwarren album.

Foxwarren Website

Let’s wrap up this blog entry with a couple of gorgeous singles. Bob Sumner (The Sumner Brothers) is getting ready to release his debut solo album Wasted Love Songs. The album is due out on the 25th of January, but the gorgeous first single Riverbed is already out and available. Check it out below and start counting days to the album release.

Bob Sumner Website

And last but definitely not the least, the new Ian Daniel Kehoe single Secret Republic that is out on Tin Angel Records. I don’t normally listen to synth pop with 80s vibes, but hey, how could one not love this. This is inconceivable! (sorry went a bit 80s in that word choice). If the name doesn’t ring a bell, Ian used to operate under the moniker Marine Dreams and have released several great records on You’ve Changed Records. And lots of other cool things too. Attack in Black in the day, playing drums for The Weather Station, Andy Shauf and so on. Anyway here’s the gorgeous Secret Republic to end tonight’s Canada feature.

Ian Daniel Kehoe Website

Again one of these round-ups while I try to feature most of the music that matters to me before focusing on the pointless year-end lists in mid-December. This time just a quick video post and surprisingly it isn’t the same old country/folk stuff. I hit the 40 year mark yesterday, so maybe I desperately try to convince myself that I’m not too old to rock. Just kidding of course. I might be old, but I’ll never be too old to rock and I love this kind of stuff too.

Kicking off with a song from the new excellent Swearin’ album Fall Into The Sun that came out on Merge Records on the 5th of October. I could basicly pick any song for this, but let’s go with the awesome album closer Future Hell.

Swearin’ at Facebook

Next up is some upbeat power pop from Washington D.C. The new Bad Moves album Tell No One hit the stores and our hearts on the 21st of September via Don Giovanni Records. It’s super catchy and especially Spirit FM and Cool Generator should be hits. Everything else works too. A damn good album.

Bad Moves at Facebook

Moving on to Portland, Oregon and to the new Alien Boy album Sleeping Lessons. The album was released by Tiny Engines on the 31st of August. 600 Days is probably my favorite song, but this album opener Somewhere Without Me is also a winner. Bonus points for the Oasis shirt and Stone Roses reference.

Alien Boy – Somewhere Without Me (Official Music Video) from Long Drive Films on Vimeo.

Alien Boy Website

Last stop for tonight is New Brunswick, New Jersey and the latest Screaming Females album All At Once. I had missed this when it came out on Don Giovanni Records on the 23rd of February and actually just found it today thanks to Laura Jane Grace who shared her favorite albums of 2018 with Brooklyn Vegan. So thanks Laura for bringing this to my attention. I’ve just a spent a couple of hours with it, but I’m already loving it. This is I’ll Make You Sorry from the album.

Screaming Females Website

We don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Finland, but lately I’ve been grateful of having the chance to live side by side with the new brilliant Grand Salvo album Sea Glass. Australian Paddy Mann has again written and composed something remarkable. This is exceptional art built around a single vivid memory that is presented to the listener on the second to last song Field of Flowers. A gentle male voice singing softly in an almost repetitive loop, often accompanied with a heavenly beautiful choir and instruments that I couldn’t name without the press release (qanun, kora, koto etc). It’s a wondrous stream of magical music that flows through me creating its own strong and compelling memory that I will carry with me wherever I roam. This and the new Laura Gibson album are the current contenders for the album of the year title. Not that music is a competition. I love both madly. Here’s the memory Field of Flowers and a live version of an album track In The Water. Still probably the best way to introduce your heart to this music is to to just listen to the whole album from the beginning. Sea Glass is now out on Mistletone.

Grand Salvo Website

I love Woodpigeon and therefore I’m thrilled that the man behind the moniker, Mark Andrew Hamilton, has released a new fabulous album together with Kathryn Calder (The New Pornographers). Their band is called Frontperson and the album Frontrunner came out on the 21st of September on Oscar St. Records. Beforehand I was more familiar with the work of Mark Andrew Hamilton, but I’m equally mesmerized with the songs of Kathryn Calder. Frontperson is a gorgeous collaboration of two great Canadian songwriters. Here’s a couple of personal favorites from the album.

One more for this quick round-up post. Ballad Of The Quiet Citizen is a song by a Dutch songwriter VanWyck written for What the World needs Now platform. It’s a powerful protest song against a culture of fear and hate. A welcome reminder that love speaks louder still. Also remember to check out her 2018 album An Average Woman.

VanWyck Website

Frontperson at Facebook