Single Servings, Nov. 29, 2021
In this week’s Single Servings, The Weeknd revisits Starboy, Anthony OKS and Begonia celebrate Winnipeg, and we catch up on some unjustly overlooked indie rock from across Canada.
By Jason Schneider
In this week’s Single Servings, The Weeknd revisits Starboy, Anthony OKS and Begonia celebrate Winnipeg, and we catch up on some unjustly overlooked indie rock from across Canada.
The Weeknd – Die For You
Release Date: Nov. 25
Label: Republic Records/Universal Music Canada
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of his Starboy album, The Weeknd has produced a new video for the track Die For You, containing visual references to the ‘80s-inspired TV show Stranger Things, as well the movies from which it’s taken a lot of cues. The Weeknd has his own HBO series entitled The Idol in the works, while he’s currently finishing up his fifth studio album.
Stream/Purchase here
Anthony OKS – Fortified Bond (feat. Begonia)
Release Date: Nov. 25
Label: LHM Records
Winnipeg hip-hop artist Anthony OKS recently released the EP In the Garden and has shared a new video for one of its more uplifting cuts, Fortified Bond, featuring fellow Winnipegger Begonia. The visuals capture their hometown in the sweet spot of autumn, a perfect reflection of the song’s message to savour special moments with someone close to you whenever they happen to occur.
Stream/Purchase here
Softcult – Perfect Blue
Release Date: Nov. 26
Label: Easy Life Records
This guitar/drums duo comprised of Kitchener, Ontario-born twin sisters Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn continues to build anticipation for their forthcoming EP Year Of The Snake—the follow-up to last April’s Year Of The Rat—with the shoegazey Perfect Blue. Described as a response to the restrictions they felt that inhibited their previous musical incarnation, Courage My Love, the track definitely finds the pair pushing some sonic boundaries.
Stream/Purchase here
Lenny Bull – Elevator
Release Date: Nov. 26
Label: Cock & Bull Records
Toronto garage-rock firebrand Lenny Bull returns with this punchy homage to late ‘70s punk and power pop. Delivered with a cool directness reminiscent of Chrissie Hynde, Elevator’s lyrics convey Bull’s frustration over being stuck in a bad relationship—as a lot of great rock and roll songs tend to do.
Stream/Purchase here
Botfly – Cowards
Release Date: Nov. 25
Label: No Funeral Records
Halifax hardcore outfit Botfly has just released their sophomore album Lower Than Love and its themes of depression, heartbreak and grief provide the motivation for some cathartic performances. Cowards is a prime example, with its dissonant guitars, intricate rhythms and larynx-shredding vocals echoing vintage Alexisonfire.
Jasmyn – Find The Light
Release Date: Nov. 10
Label: Royal Mountain Records/ANTI-
Jasmyn Burke, former frontperson for Toronto’s Weaves, is embarking on a solo career under her first name, and Find The Light gives a good indication that it will be a dynamic blend of styles tied together by her distinct vocal stylings. That freedom is further conveyed by the playful video created by July Talk’s Leah Fay and Peter Dreimanis.
Stream/Purchase here
Lemongrab – Guitar
Release Date: Nov. 24
Label: Independent
Guitarist/vocalist Léonie Dishaw and vocalist Gaëlle Cordeau had been around the Montreal alt-rock scene for a while as Lemongrab, before resurfacing this year in Berlin where they’ve reconstituted the band in classic slacker rock style. Guitar follows that formula to a tee (think early Pavement), and expect more of that on the band’s new collection, The Wet Album.
Night Court – Fractions
Release Date: Nov. 22
Label: Debt Offensive Records
Despite clocking in at 1:45, this track by the latest project from Vancouver alt-rock scene veterans Dave Soul and Jiffy Marx still leaves a lasting impression with its spiky melody and shout-along chorus. There are 12 more just like on Night Court’s just-released debut, Nervous Birds! One, another worthy addition to Calgary label Debt Offensive’s growing catalogue of new Canadian indie rock gems.
Century Egg – Mirror
Release Date: Nov. 22
Label: Forward Music Group
Halifax’s Century Egg has followed up their Little Piece Of Hair EP from earlier this year with a “double A-side,” Mirror and Moving On. Mirror in particular is a powerful slab of post-punk, sung entirely in Mandarin by Shane Keyo Song. Even without understanding the words, the struggle against depression at its heart comes across loud and clear.
Confusionaires – A Million Dollars
Release Date: Nov. 19
Label: Independent
This Edmonton trio deftly walks the line between punk and rockabilly and their new EP Jerk Reaction Vol. II offers three new songs that put them squarely in the same league as The Sadies. A Million Dollars is the most straight-ahead rocker of the bunch, with guitarist/vocalist Dave Johnston laying down some seriously evil twang on his Gretsch.
