Joe's Jams 09.02.08: My Favorite Canadian Artists A-Z
Posted by Joe Rivett on 09.02.2008
This week I will profile A-M
I want to thank everyone for the great response to the Metallica column. Another reason some songs weren't included is because the column is entitled: Joe's Jams which means that I only include what I own.
I have grown up in Western New York almost all of my life and live about 20 minutes from the Canadian border. Before I got satellite radio, I listened to mostly Canadian Rock stations like 97.7 hits FM. So for the next two weeks, here are my favorite Canadian groups A to Z with a recommended download.
A
Paul Anka is basically the Canadian Frank Sinatra. I bought the album "Rock Swings" he released a few years ago where he took alternative rock songs and jazzed them up.
Recommended Download: Wonderwall
B
The letter B was tough figuring out what group to pick Bachman Turner Overdrive or Barenaked Ladies. I have to pick Barenaked Ladies because they are still around. On my underrated artists column I profiled the song "She's on Time" about being overjoyed when your girlfriend gets her period. This week I'll give you their best ballad…
Recommended Download: Call and Answer
C
The Crash Test Dummies were my favorite band growing up as much as I dig country singer Terri Clark. As I previously stated I hate MMM MMM MMM MMM but the best song on the album God Shuffled His Feet is…
Recommended Download: Afternoons and Coffeespoons
D
I really didn't want to pick Celine Dion. Luckily I found out that Deborah Cox is Canadian and I had a couple of her dance tracks. She is like the Mary J Blige of Canada. After making it big on the R+B scene she did more dance hits and did a cover of one of my favorite Phil Collins' songs.
Recommended Download: Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
E
Ember Swift is finally getting some recognition in Canada. If you like celtic, rock, scat/jazz you'll dig this punky left wing chick.
Recommended Download: Ten Pin
F
Not only is Nelly Furtado hot but she's a damn good singer too. If you listen to any Canadian radio station that plays today's hits, you'll hear her about every hour. She made it big with "I'm like a bird" but I prefer "Say it Right" as it is a much better song to dance to. And yes, I hate Finger Eleven.
Recommended Download: Say it Right
G
The Guess Who is arguably the greatest Canadian rock band and by far the most popular Canadian band. They finally made it big in America with "These Eyes," which used to be my favorite song until I found out they wrote the song Undun which was their second big single in the states.
Recommended Download: Undun
H
I only own one song under the letter H and it is "I wear my sunglasses at night" by Corey Hart. I loved listening to this song playing GTA Vice City – The last good GTA game.
Recommended Download: I Wear my Sunglasses at Night
I
I Mother Earth made it big in the alternative rock scene in the early 90s. They sound a lot like Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers with more of an edge.
Recommended Download: Rain Will Fall
J
The Jeff Healy Band is one of the most talented Canadian Bands that you never heard of. I like a lot of their cover songs and he has a great blues sound. In Germany he did a cover of Roadhouse Blues by the Doors and did it better. I also recommend watching the video on youtube. Sadly he died at 41.
Recommended Download: Roadhouse Blues
K
Not much to choose from in the letter K. I have to go with KD Lang. She started out as a country singer but became a pop star with this hit…
Recommended Download: Constant Craving
L
This is an easy one as Loverboy's album Big Ones is one of my favorites. Most people know the songs: Turn Me Loose (I gotta do it my way) and Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend. Another great song on the album many people don't know is…
Recommended Download: The Kid Is Hot Tonite
M
Moxy Fruvous is another band like the Barenaked Ladies (cult band with a lot of talent and fun) although they never made it big in the states. They were the second band in Canadian History to have a number one single on an independent label… Barenaked Ladies were the first. That single was King of Spain which is an a capella masterpiece. If you only feel like downloading one song on this list this is the song to get.
other options for "H"
for 80's pop/rock - Honeymoon Suite
for 80's hair metal - Helix
Posted By: CK (Guest) on September 02, 2008 at 07:34 AM
I never listened to them extensively, but I Mother Earth never sounded anything like a combo of Primus and RHCP to me, more like a generic alternative band. Basically, they sounded like everyone else in the early 90's.
Speaking of generic bands, as long as Nickelback doesn't show up in the second half of this, I'm fine with this. Neko Case for N!
Posted By: Hawkeye (Guest) on September 02, 2008 at 08:01 AM
Pretty solid list, but a few comments (letter-by-letter):
A: Arcade Fire ("Keep the Car Running"), Ashley MacIssac ("Devil in the Kitchen"), Arrogant Worms ("Jesus' Brother Bob," "Canada's Really Big"). Lots of diversity here.
B: no complaints with BNL ("She's On Time" is a great recommendation), but Blue Roadeo ("Hasn't Hit Me Yet") is pretty solid also.
C: CTD a great pick, too. Captain Tractor ("Mmm...Donuts") is much fun.
D: yeah, not much here. Does Dave Foley from Kids in the Hall count (check out "These Are the Daves I Know")
E: Econoline Crush ("All That You Are")?
F: Five for Fighting should be given Canadian citizenship for his love of hockey
G: Can't argue against the Guess Who, but Newfoundland's Great Big Sea ("Old Black Rum") is an outstanding live band
H: Hayden ("Neil Young Song") is a decent indie singer-songwriter type
I: Well done on spotting I Mother Earth
J: Joni Mitchell ("Freeman in Paris") was born in Alberta
K: Kim Mitchell ("Go for Soda") is a Canadian institution
L: Loverboy is a fun 80's nostalgia trip, but Lowest of the Low ("Salesmen, Cheats and Liars") was Canada's version of the Replacements
M: Moxy Fruvous was certainly a no-brainer, but the Mathew Good Band ("Load Me Up") has a solid underground following, and its hard to forget Bob and Doug McKenzie ("Take Off). Hozers.
Posted By: DXMontagnes (Guest) on September 02, 2008 at 08:49 AM
Great Big Sea will probably be the best band that doesn't make this list.
Posted By: Joe Rivett (Registered) on September 02, 2008 at 06:44 PM
You forgot the best band ever: Big Wreck
Posted By: Got Pop? (Guest) on September 08, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Paul Anka over Arcade Fire?????
Not a bad list except for that ridiculous oversight.
Posted By: Mike (Guest) on September 08, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Check out the Headstones for H...Corey Hart!?
Posted By: Roland Bonk (Guest) on September 09, 2008 at 11:04 PM
