Kevin Drew - Spirit If....

Kevin Drew is one of the founders of Canadian super group Broken Social Scene. He recently released some solo material in the form of the album Spirit If... on the Toronto-based label, Arts and Crafts. Considering that Drew is one of the chief songwriters of Broken Social Scene, it's hard not to hear remnants of BSS all over this album. And it doesn't help that certain members of BSS, such as Feist, Emily Haines and Amy Millan, appear on the album. However, this is in my opinion, a good thing as the Canadian group contains several noteworthy individual talents. The first single 'Tbtf' is a mellow offering, as are many tracks on this album. Yet, Spirit If.... still manages to provide a chaotic dreamy feel and that alone makes Drew's solo effort solid and worth checking out.

If you're wondering why the album title appears as Broken Social Scene Presents....Kevin Drew Spirit If...., it is because the album is apparently the first in a series of solo releases from members of Broken Social Scene. Next up is BSS's founding member Brendan Canning's in 2008.

Download: Kevin Drew - Safety Bricks [mp3]

MySpace: Kevin Drew

Kevin Drew: Official Web Site

Buy Spirit If...

Feist; The Canadian Chanteuse

Ok, so I think I've waited long enough to post some Canadian talent. I have no idea what has taken so long. The amount of talent in Canada right now is limitless. We all know about The Arcade Fire by now, so I can think of no better Canadian talent to discuss than Feist. And even though she no longer calls Canada home, we can still consider her ours.

If I had to sum up Feist's music in one word it would be 'brilliant.' Honestly, her soft raspy vocals are as good as it comes. It is perfection. And Feist has a strong musical background. She played in several bands including Placebo and By Divine Right. Not to mention, and another indication of the Great White North's strong music scene, Canadian super group Broken Social Scene. In 1999, Feist began recording her solo albums, the first of which (called Monarch) is no longer being pressed. Her second album, Let It Die, is the one that shot her into the mainstream. If you don't have this album or have never listened to Feist before, this is the one that I would pick up first. It is a great collection of work. This year she released her third solo album called The Reminder. In it, Feist picks up just where she left off. The songs are a little more poppy but again vocally, no one compares.

And Canada knows it because 'The Reminder' is on the shortlist for 2007's Polaris Music Prize. This is Canada's equivalent to the Mercury Music Prize in the UK. Feist is up against such artists as The Dears, The Arcade Fire, Junior Boys and Joel Plaskett Emergency.

Interesting tidbit: She once shared an apartment in Toronto with electro-punk artist, Peaches. Seriously. I can't make this stuff up.

Download[mp3]: Feist - My Moon, My Man
MySpace: Feist
Feist: Official Webpage

Buy The Reminder