ITT: We talk about rocking Canadian rock

[Edler]

I'll start off with a band that is very dear to my heart: The Tragically Hip.


For those of you unfortunate Americans who only have Nickleback and Avril Lavigne to call "Canadian Rock", take a step back and forget all that shite. It's really difficult to explain into words what Gordon Downie's music does to me, what with songs like "Fireworks" to remind you that there are more important things in life than Hockey (obviously made for Canadian audiences), "Vapour Trails" which most likely retells a story about depression, and various other songs laden with rich poetry and beautiful melodies.

My only gripe(s) would be their albums Music @ Work and In Violet Light. M@W was more of an experimental album for the band, and there were only 2 tolerable tracks.... Not a good album if you're just starting to get into them. In Violet Light isn't so much a terrible album as it is just incredibly mediocre. There really isn't a single song on the entire album that catches your ear. Again, don't listen to it if you're just starting to get into them.




OH HEY NOW WHAT'S ECHOES GONNA DO?!? OH HEY I KNOW IT'S RUSH RIGHT!?


AM I RITE?

[Troggles]

There is absolutely nothing more important than hockey, but I will check it out nevertheless.

RUSH!!1!! FUCK YEAH!!!!!! :D :D

[echoes]

HEY SHUT UP TOM SAWYER IS DOPE



But seriously, the Tragically Hip are amazing. If you think they are your parents music, then simmer down, your parents just happen to have great taste. Although I distinctly remember hating "Music @ Work". What a terrible song. However, their other music is some of the best Canadiana out there. "Wheat Kings", "Little Bones", and "The hundredth Meridian" all do things to me that most other songs can't. Plus their guitarist plays a MEAN lead guitar. Thenly other bad thing I can say about them is that they charge to much for tickets in Canada, because they are like the friggin' Messiah up there.

[Lerxst]

Did someone mention Rush? I thought I heard Rush... Vapor Trails; that's Rush, right? :iffy:

Rush is the one reason Canada is awesome... well, that and VGCats of course! lol

[Vicious27]

Don't forget we have Chris Jericho's band Fozzy also

They're winners :zzz:

[echoes]

Rush is maybe 5th or 6th on my list of great Canadian bands. "2112" is arguably the best song to come out of this country, and Lee, Peart, And Lifeson are prog rock pioneers (and excellent at what they do). "YYZ", "SOmething For Nothing", and "Working Man". Oh wow. These guys are solid. However, they are very polarizing. A lot of people will either adore them or vigorously hate them. I myself, like htem

but there are better canadian bands.

[Sarge McD]

Favorite Canadian band for me has to be Our Lady Peace.. Everyone of their CDs sound different and great. Cant wait til the new one coes out in July!

[Martian Kyo]

Death From Above 1979 is probably the best candian band i head recently. I never like the garage rock thing....but these guys rock, and it's only drums and bass :thumbsup:

[Azrael]

Indeed. The Hip definitely do rule.

Songs such as "Ahead By A Century", "New Orleans is Sinking" and "38 Years Old" are my favorites.

They have a very intriguing sound; its great for relaxing to.

[HadriansHaberdasher]

Barenaked Ladies...my fav. Canadian music import...some of those I didn't even know they were Canadian...like Nickelback...

I know, I live in a hole...

[echoes]

Death From Above 1979 is probably the best candian band i head recently. I never like the garage rock thing....but these guys rock, and it's only drums and bass :thumbsup:


I threw in their album today, and I must say, I love it more and more. VERY full sound for a 2 piece, and definate rockage. Really dig the last half of the album.

[mad_cat_42]

I really don't think that Tragically Hip is all that good. Their lead singer was definately stoned when they played at the Junos which added to the insanity.

I havn't heard much of Fozzy but the little of heard(thank you very much, Monday Night Raw) I've liked so I'll be taking a closer look at their albums.

Nickelback...I'm Albertan and I don't really like them too much. Probably the only song I remember from them, even though I hear them EVERY FIVE MINUTES on the radio, is Hero and only because it's on one of LegendaryFrog's flash movies.

Simple Plan is the same as Fozzy. Their only performance I've heard is when they played at the Junos and I definately liked that.

Billy Talent. I will come out and say it right now: their live performances blow. BUT! I have heard their CD many times and it is majorly different from their live performances. These guys rule as far as their recordings go.

[ChainChompMan]

Canadian music...
I own an Avril Lavigne CD *hangs head in shame*
I also own a Nickelback CD, I quite like them. Haven't listened to them in ages though.

[Edler]

Tricky Woo:


Like high energy rock? Then this band is for you. A lot of songs from these guys sound very The Who inspired, and thier consistant adreneline rush doesn't seem to let up. For good music to rock out to, pick any song and you'll be set for throwin up the horns.

[Mitch]

wait, Death From above are Canadian? Didnt know that. Got their album quite some time ago. It's really really good too, Even if they did bring out a second version with an extra disc afterwards. Grrr. Was gonna see them live recently but I couldnt afford it.
I like a canadian band! I have cultural tastes!

[Ronald MacKinnon]

I too am fond of BNL, they're my favorite band and not just because they have the same passports as I do. Creative, and they can equally create humourous lighthearted cheerful and dark emotional dramatic pieces.

Trooper will always be a piece of Canadian gold. Raise a little hell, boys. Raise a little hell.

And can't forget CCR.

*Edit* I'm still quite happy to listen to the song Live by Crush. Not bad. They were pretty big here a few years ago, back when Mike Bullard was considered a celebrity.

Death from Above? I'll have to check that out. Heard of them, but never knew they were Canadian.

[echoes]

And can't forget CCR.


Creedence Clearwater Revival?

they're from California, dude

[wotu]

Death from above is not the same as death from above 1979 there different bands one much much more awesome than the other but if your going to look into it the canadian and more awesome one is DFA 1979 and probubly the best song by them is blood on our hands.adn for those with the moneys there cd is called your a women i'm a machine. oh n on there site u can listen to like the whole album apperently here
http://vox.bandzoogle.com/users/deathfromabove1979/?CFID=429153&CFTOKEN=38347104

also me being a bass player i'm soooo sad it's a 5 string bass me with only 4 strings i am soooo sad

[Mighty Ponygirl]

Easily, handily, best Canadian Band goes to Magnetic Fields (and ilk) -- Edit: Allmusic is saying Boston. I have reason to believe they are wrong... anyone have the skinny on this?
I do believe Machines of Loving Grace are Canadian
Godspeed you Black Emperor!

[Marble_Head_Johnson]

Ok, time to educate the masses, since no-one has mentioned:

Big Sugar - The best hard rockers in Canada, which cracks me up, since they weren't hard rock.

The Trews - They're new, but they're good. They rock, the singer is awesome, and they're catchy.

And as for bands that have been mentioned, allow me to bandwagon:

Death From Above 1979 - Very peculiar. I saw them when they opened for Billy Talent and I was just blown away by how good they are. Strangely, their album kinda sucks! o_o Definitely a band that is WAY better in person than on CD.

Tragically Hip - THE Canadian rock band. Although not hard rock, they have a soul of classical rock. 38 Years Old, Hundedth Meridian, Locked In The Trunk Of A Car, Wheat Kings.... all amazing, amazing songs. Even the songs of theirs I don't like, I still kinda like.

Two Houses - Overlooked, since it's a two-piece band, and one of them is one of the most well-known Canadian TV actors, Paul Gross. Still, the man can really sing, he can really play, he can really act.... stupid talent going to all the good looking people.

The Smalls - Possibly the best punk-rock-grunge-funk bands ever, they have about fifty amazing songs. Payload, Pity The Man, BB on the B, and my personal favorite, There's No Question. I can't listen to There's No Question while driving, because I get so depressed I feel like crashing into a wall.

Cozy Gelpod - Creators of the #1 request song in BC in 1998, "Beautiful Thing", Cozy Gelpod was a local band that made it BIG... for a month. They broke up, got straight jobs, their albums vanished, and you can't hear them on the radio anymore. I saw them live three times, mainly because they're from my town.

The Odds - Wierd, strange Maritime band, their radio hits were all gently-rocking, toe-tapping tunes. They hit stardom with the incredibly catchy, unsubtle, and amusing song "Heterosexual Man", but their truly great stuff is in the middle of their albums. Break The Bed, Jack Hammer, Radio In Heaven... all had the potential to be radio stars. While not brilliant, these guys are GOOD, and will NEVER fail to entertain.

Sloan - They're everywhere. Money City Maniacs was great easy rock... Underwhelmed was all about the Indie scene, baby. You can't get a Canadian compilation disc without them.

The Watchmen - Tragically undervalued, they had a one-hit wonder with Stereo, the song that EVERY SINGLE PERSON in my music class learned as soon as they could. The man had an unbelievable voice, but they vanished after their follow-up album. They shall be missed.

Wide Mouth Mason - Are they hard rock? Are they punk? Are they funk? Is the lead singer gay or not? All these questions and MORE will NOT be answered as soon as you buy their albums! "My Old Self" seemed destined to be used in a beer commercial. Their cover of "Superstition" is still one of my favorite mp3's, just because it's a) incredibly accurate and b) it is impossible for a human to not bounce while listening to it.

Rainbow Butt Monkeys - The voice of Canadian metal breifly with their one album, "Letters From Chutney". Part metal, part funk, ALL ROCK, this album is very near to the top of my list of favorite albums EVER. "Lets Pretend" was the second song played at my wedding, if that says anything about how good they have to be for my family to let me get away with THAT. And then they became...

Finger 11 - Who's first album "Tip" was just beautiful new-wave rock-metal. Almost entirely minor chords, it seems noise and confused at first, until you hear that every song is, deep down, depressed and angsty, and yet hopeful. His voice still comes through, and the band still looked human. They jumped on the "lets look like FREAKS" bandwagon with the next two albums, and coincidentally, those albums sucked harsh. I saw them in concert after their third album, and I spent the whole time sitting at the back talking with my buddies, since the music was, well... lacking. I only paid attention when they played "Above" off the first album.

Billy Talent - Mentioned.

Our Lady Peace - I LOVE their first two albums (although I can no longer listen to Clumsy for various ex-girlfriend related issues).

Radio Free Vestibule - "Christmas On Acid". Nuff said.

Noise Therapy - OH MAN, they were so close to making it big! From Vancouver, this power rock-metal-punk band had huge airplay in Vancouver, and then BC, and then..... nothing. AWW, MAN! Cyclops is an incredible album, as denoted by the first track, a demented gnome growling "First, we go fast like a rabbit, followed by the slow, slow grinding. Then fast, like a rabbit again, followed by the slow, slow grinding." True enough, the album did just that. They also did the theme song for the Detroit Red Wings, I believe...

Danko Jones - Power-rock-porn trio from Ontario, their songs go into more detail about relationships than me and my buddies do after a twix of Lambs. Although "Lovercall" came out almost four years ago, it is currently one of the number one videos on iFilm.com . Are they making a comeback, or what? With great romantic songs like "Fucked Up" and "Take It All Off", how could they NOT make it big?

Sum 41 - Going from fast indie punk to mainstream punk to new rock to new rock metal, you have to ask yourself: Does each band member take turns writing one album? What the hell? WHY DOES YOUR SOUND KEEP CHANGING? Fortunately, it's all good, so I don't mind.

Barenaked Ladies - WOO! GORDON!

Uhm... thats all I got right now.

Edit:

MORE!

Rumsfield - Heavy metal in the truest sense of the word, and yet capable of long, rambling, and fairly complex guitar-driven rants. The lead singers voice is raspy and kind of hollow, but hollow in a "Boy, this gigantic cave sure is big and hollow" kind of way. It seems to come from somewhere in his diaphragm, or maybe in his bowels, but it sure knows how to sing. The lyrics ain't bad, either. I first heard them when I was pacing in my living room while my wife was in the hospital trying for her second drug-induced labor, on Valentines Day. It was the YTV "Valentines Day Massacre Special" on Chart Attack.

Chevelle - Almost-famous, not-quite-metal but harder than rock, Chevelle is bitching heavy skater music. Their first hit, "Red" may be simple, but it has infinite replayability, with plenty of pent-up angst for the rest of the album.

The Arrogant Worms - The best musical comedy group, they don't try to change the world with "serious" songs, like Moxy Früvous. Classic Canadian anthems, like "Canada Is Really Big", "Me Like Hockey" and "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate (cover)", they also have songs that ring true the world over, like "Malcolm (solves his problems with a chainsaw)" and "Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass".

Moxy Früvous - What started out as a goofy comedy musical group developed into a real band, with real talent, and really depressing songs, mixed in with great funny tunes like "Spiderman" and "King of Spain" and "The Lazyboy". They also have really pointless confusing songs like "Video Bargainville" and "Fell In Love", and pretty good rocking political songs like "Michigan Militia", which has, oddly, really great guitar, bass, and drums! Quelle confusion!

Bif Naked - She may have 118 tattoos and 50+ piercings, but this scary little tiny punker rocker still has the biggest voice in Canadian female music. Lets see Shania Twain or Celine Dion DRIVE A TANK AROUND VANCOUVER! Come on!

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Instrumental pseudo-goth surfer rock, you've heard their music if you've ever seen Kids In The Hall.

[echoes]

Good choices!

but not enough matt Good, The Guess Who or the Weakerthans.

Or Rush or Neil Young.

I LOVE my countrymen

[Edler]

Much love for Neil Young. My god he did an awesome job on the Dead Man soundtrack.

[Marble_Head_Johnson]

Yeah, I thought of Matthew Good in bed last night. NO, NO!!! NOT LIKE THAT!! I mean... in terms of the LIST! Yeah, the list.... thats right. Dammit.

And DEFINITELY The Guess Who, but I thought we were sticking with contemporaries. My bad. I do not acknowledge the existence of Neil Young. Rush is cool just for showing up on Trailer Park Boys last year.

Whats a Weakerthan?

[Sarge McD]

Ok, time to educate the masses, since no-one has mentioned:

Big Sugar - The best hard rockers in Canada, which cracks me up, since they weren't hard rock.

The Trews - They're new, but they're good. They rock, the singer is awesome, and they're catchy.

And as for bands that have been mentioned, allow me to bandwagon:

Death From Above 1979 - Very peculiar. I saw them when they opened for Billy Talent and I was just blown away by how good they are. Strangely, their album kinda sucks! o_o Definitely a band that is WAY better in person than on CD.

Tragically Hip - THE Canadian rock band. Although not hard rock, they have a soul of classical rock. 38 Years Old, Hundedth Meridian, Locked In The Trunk Of A Car, Wheat Kings.... all amazing, amazing songs. Even the songs of theirs I don't like, I still kinda like.

Two Houses - Overlooked, since it's a two-piece band, and one of them is one of the most well-known Canadian TV actors, Paul Gross. Still, the man can really sing, he can really play, he can really act.... stupid talent going to all the good looking people.

The Smalls - Possibly the best punk-rock-grunge-funk bands ever, they have about fifty amazing songs. Payload, Pity The Man, BB on the B, and my personal favorite, There's No Question. I can't listen to There's No Question while driving, because I get so depressed I feel like crashing into a wall.

Cozy Gelpod - Creators of the #1 request song in BC in 1998, "Beautiful Thing", Cozy Gelpod was a local band that made it BIG... for a month. They broke up, got straight jobs, their albums vanished, and you can't hear them on the radio anymore. I saw them live three times, mainly because they're from my town.

The Odds - Wierd, strange Maritime band, their radio hits were all gently-rocking, toe-tapping tunes. They hit stardom with the incredibly catchy, unsubtle, and amusing song "Heterosexual Man", but their truly great stuff is in the middle of their albums. Break The Bed, Jack Hammer, Radio In Heaven... all had the potential to be radio stars. While not brilliant, these guys are GOOD, and will NEVER fail to entertain.

Sloan - They're everywhere. Money City Maniacs was great easy rock... Underwhelmed was all about the Indie scene, baby. You can't get a Canadian compilation disc without them.

The Watchmen - Tragically undervalued, they had a one-hit wonder with Stereo, the song that EVERY SINGLE PERSON in my music class learned as soon as they could. The man had an unbelievable voice, but they vanished after their follow-up album. They shall be missed.

Wide Mouth Mason - Are they hard rock? Are they punk? Are they funk? Is the lead singer gay or not? All these questions and MORE will NOT be answered as soon as you buy their albums! "My Old Self" seemed destined to be used in a beer commercial. Their cover of "Superstition" is still one of my favorite mp3's, just because it's a) incredibly accurate and b) it is impossible for a human to not bounce while listening to it.

Rainbow Butt Monkeys - The voice of Canadian metal breifly with their one album, "Letters From Chutney". Part metal, part funk, ALL ROCK, this album is very near to the top of my list of favorite albums EVER. "Lets Pretend" was the second song played at my wedding, if that says anything about how good they have to be for my family to let me get away with THAT. And then they became...

Finger 11 - Who's first album "Tip" was just beautiful new-wave rock-metal. Almost entirely minor chords, it seems noise and confused at first, until you hear that every song is, deep down, depressed and angsty, and yet hopeful. His voice still comes through, and the band still looked human. They jumped on the "lets look like FREAKS" bandwagon with the next two albums, and coincidentally, those albums sucked harsh. I saw them in concert after their third album, and I spent the whole time sitting at the back talking with my buddies, since the music was, well... lacking. I only paid attention when they played "Above" off the first album.

Billy Talent - Mentioned.

Our Lady Peace - I LOVE their first two albums (although I can no longer listen to Clumsy for various ex-girlfriend related issues).

Radio Free Vestibule - "Christmas On Acid". Nuff said.

Noise Therapy - OH MAN, they were so close to making it big! From Vancouver, this power rock-metal-punk band had huge airplay in Vancouver, and then BC, and then..... nothing. AWW, MAN! Cyclops is an incredible album, as denoted by the first track, a demented gnome growling "First, we go fast like a rabbit, followed by the slow, slow grinding. Then fast, like a rabbit again, followed by the slow, slow grinding." True enough, the album did just that. They also did the theme song for the Detroit Red Wings, I believe...

Danko Jones - Power-rock-porn trio from Ontario, their songs go into more detail about relationships than me and my buddies do after a twix of Lambs. Although "Lovercall" came out almost four years ago, it is currently one of the number one videos on iFilm.com . Are they making a comeback, or what? With great romantic songs like "Fucked Up" and "Take It All Off", how could they NOT make it big?

Sum 41 - Going from fast indie punk to mainstream punk to new rock to new rock metal, you have to ask yourself: Does each band member take turns writing one album? What the hell? WHY DOES YOUR SOUND KEEP CHANGING? Fortunately, it's all good, so I don't mind.

Barenaked Ladies - WOO! GORDON!

Uhm... thats all I got right now.

Edit:

MORE!

Rumsfield - Heavy metal in the truest sense of the word, and yet capable of long, rambling, and fairly complex guitar-driven rants. The lead singers voice is raspy and kind of hollow, but hollow in a "Boy, this gigantic cave sure is big and hollow" kind of way. It seems to come from somewhere in his diaphragm, or maybe in his bowels, but it sure knows how to sing. The lyrics ain't bad, either. I first heard them when I was pacing in my living room while my wife was in the hospital trying for her second drug-induced labor, on Valentines Day. It was the YTV "Valentines Day Massacre Special" on Chart Attack.

Chevelle - Almost-famous, not-quite-metal but harder than rock, Chevelle is bitching heavy skater music. Their first hit, "Red" may be simple, but it has infinite replayability, with plenty of pent-up angst for the rest of the album.

The Arrogant Worms - The best musical comedy group, they don't try to change the world with "serious" songs, like Moxy Früvous. Classic Canadian anthems, like "Canada Is Really Big", "Me Like Hockey" and "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate (cover)", they also have songs that ring true the world over, like "Malcolm (solves his problems with a chainsaw)" and "Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass".

Moxy Früvous - What started out as a goofy comedy musical group developed into a real band, with real talent, and really depressing songs, mixed in with great funny tunes like "Spiderman" and "King of Spain" and "The Lazyboy". They also have really pointless confusing songs like "Video Bargainville" and "Fell In Love", and pretty good rocking political songs like "Michigan Militia", which has, oddly, really great guitar, bass, and drums! Quelle confusion!

Bif Naked - She may have 118 tattoos and 50+ piercings, but this scary little tiny punker rocker still has the biggest voice in Canadian female music. Lets see Shania Twain or Celine Dion DRIVE A TANK AROUND VANCOUVER! Come on!

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Instrumental pseudo-goth surfer rock, you've heard their music if you've ever seen Kids In The Hall.

I mentioned Our Lady Peace! So hah

[Marble_Head_Johnson]

Uhm..... super.

[echoes]

The Weakerthans are an excellent band out of Winnipeg. Not too big, but large enough that lots of people know who they are and they will sell out bars here in vancouver. To describe their sound, I would say at first punk/folk, but now they have been adding a more alt-country sound to their repetoire. The important thing is their lyrics, however. Best lyrics from Canada, IMHO, and that is saying a LOT for me.

[Max Cola]

I think the only Canadian band I consistently listen to and like is Barenaked Ladies. Gordon is a classic CD, but Maroon is my personal favorite.

[Marble_Head_Johnson]

I forgot:

Default - A band out of Vancouver. The lead singer worked as a sheet metal worker until his buddies convinced him to get up on stage at a Karaoke Night. The rest is history, as they produce some of the best vocal-driven hard rock in the past couple years (although they have been wimpening out lately. I should get the new album and see what the non-radio play stuff is like).

[wotu]

isn't metric from like quebec or something i seriously forgot n although i have allready read all the earlier posts i forgotten them somewhat ne way metrics cool too.

if theres mistakes uhh to lazy to fix account of hot out side... :shifty: i swear