First Spin O’Rama!

July 8th, 2009

mash1

We like to be generous here at the good old ‘blog, and give out presents to everyone just because we feel like it (or because Tom Felton is on MOD today and we want to get his attention).

Ahem. So, stemming from the goodness of our collective hearts, I bring you the most recent albums to be added to our player. May they bring you many years of good health, and a pocket full of sickles and knuts.

Billy Talent brings you III (Listen Now!)

In the honourary-Led-Zeppelin-esque-tradition of producing wickedly rocking sequentially numbered albums, Billy Talent brings youIII. After their MMVAs rooftop performance, which you certainly saw, these guys need no other introduction. This shiny vessel houses the hit “Rusted from the Rain”, as well as “Devil On My Shoulder”, in which, by the way, is a totally kicking Ian D’Sa guitar riff. But you knew that.

Marcy Playground – Leaving Wonderland (In A Fit of Rage) (Listen Now!)

This isn’t the Marcy Playground you (may) remember from the 1997 super-hit track “Sex and Candy”. Leaving Wonderland is bringing a much mellower sound to the table, and the single “Good Times” features Canadian recording artist Daniel Powter on piano. Those should be strong indicators of what you should expect to hear. This is definitely not your 90′s throwback, g-slice.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns (Listen Now!)

The Rural Alberta Advantage singer-songwriter Nils Edenloff is legitimately from rural Alberta, and that upbringing infuses the grassroots-indie-folk the band have been producing… in Toronto. But don’t let their name confuse you into expecting a backwoods washboard sound – the addition of vocalist Amy Cole and the intensity of Woodhands Paul Banwatt turn this threesome into high energy back-of-the-truck-with-no-seat-belt road-trip through the Prairies.

Discovery – LP (Listen Now!)

Discovery is like a cake baked on a Light Bright (if such a thing were possible). Ingredients: one part Vampire Weekend, one part Ra Ra Riot!, one part guest artists from both bands, one part insanity. Mix well on high speed, leave out to chill. Also, check out “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend“.

The Most Serene Republic – …And the Ever Expanding Universe (Listen Now!)

As is becoming the standard of Toronto many-piece ensembles, TMSR’s third album is a vast outpouring of symphonic sounds and orchestral grooves mixed with a tinkly and ethereal instrumental backing. Adrian Jewett’s vocals sometimes come across as no more than whispers over all that’s going on, but it’s not a bad thing, since it blends right in with the dreams of fields and forests you were getting from this disk anyway.

Tags: billy talent, discovery, first spins, marcy playground, the most serene republic, the rural alberta advantage