New music from Lowell: Blow The Bass from Part 1: PARIS YK EP

Back at the end of June, I got to share a new tune from Lowell's forthcoming Part 1: PARIS YK EP. That tune is "High Enough" and I found it a moody, quirky and ultimately addictive track. Now we get to hear "Blow the Bass".  It rides a wave between dreamy and driving.

The EP's out August 26.

Next step, see Lowell on stage again...

New music from Lowell: High Enough from Part 1: PARIS YK EP

Toronto pop singer songwriter Lowell has just announced the August 26 release of her next EP, Part 1: PARIS YK. We get to hear the moody, quirky and ultimately addictive "High Enough" and see its video now. We can look forward to the other two tracks on the EP " West Coast Forever" and "Blow The Bass".

I enjoyed both her debut EP I Killed Sara V. and her debut album We Loved Her Dearly, and I enjoyed seeing her live on two occasions. The new tune sounds great and I look forward to my next opportunity to catch a Lowell live experience.

Way Home Festival Line-Up

There's a new festival coming to town. It's called WayHome and it's taking place north of Toronto, near Barrie, in Oro-Medonte, at Burl's Creek, July 24 through 26. All the details are on the festival site. It's put together by Republic Live and AC Entertainment who just happen to be the co-founders and producers of Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, so you know this is going to be a well-run festival. Tickets go on sale today, so check out the great bands that are playing, get excited, choose your camping options, and break out your credit card!

Here are a bunch of the bands that I want to catch at the festival:

Modest Mouse

The Decembrists

Passion Pit

St. Vincent

Vance Joy

Future Islands

The Gaslight Anthem

Walk the Moon

Hey Rosetta!

July Talk

Metz

Alvvays

Yukon Blonde

Broods

Viet Cong

Lowell

Just for starters.

Looking forward to this new addition to the Toronto area festival season.

Pic from Facebook.

Best of: Top 10 Canadian Bands from 2014

Another great year for music? Check

Another great year for Canadian music? Check

Here's a list of the 10 awesome Canadian artists that appear on my Favourite 60 Songs of 2014 list and my Favourite 25 Albums of 2014 list.

Public Animal "Careful" and "High Pony"

The Balconies "Boys and Girls", "The Slo" and "Do It In The Dark"

Lowell "The Bells", "Cloud 69" and "Palm Trees"

Little Foot Long Foot "Woman" and "Mess"

Mounties "Headphones" and "Pretty Respectable"

The New Pornographers "Dancehall Domine" "Brill Bruisers"

The Pack A.D. "Big Shot"

The C'Mons "Only Ghost" They're currently on hiatus, but they're one of two great discoveries at 2013's Indie Week (along with Little Foot Long Foot). I love their EP Places and am hoping for great things from them upon their return.

Death From Above 1979 "Trainwreck 1979"

Stars "From The Night"

Best of: My favourite 60 songs of 2014

It's the time of year for reflection. I say it was another great year for music. I think I saw more bands this year than any other year in my life. I had a great time taking pics of shows. Most of all, I loved the music. It's always about the music. And so without any further ado, here is my list of my favourite 60 songs of 2014.

60. Stars "From the Night"

59. The War on Drugs "Red Eyes"

58. Interpol "All the Rage Back Home"

57. Royal Blood "Come on Over"

56. Lowell "Palm Trees"

55. Blood Red Shoes "An Animal"

54. Band of Skulls "Asleep at the Wheel"

53. Elbow "New York Morning"

52. Temples "Mesmerise"

51. Alex Clare "Never Let You Go"

50. Split Single "Never Look Back"

49. Bob Mould "Hey Mr. Grey"

48. The New Pornographers "Brill Bruisers"

47. Death From Above 1979 "Trainwreck 1979"

46. Mounties "Pretty Respectable"

45. Ex Hex "Don't Wanna Lose"

44. PAWS "Tongues"

43. The C'Mons "Only Ghost"

42. Drowners "Luv, Hold Me Down"

41. Little Foot Long Foot "Mess"

40. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart "Simple and Sure"

39. Dum Dum Girls "Rimbaud Eyes"

38. The Pack A.D. "Big Shot"

37. Augustines "Weary Eyes"

36. Elbow "Charge"

35. The Districts "Funeral Beds"

34. Dinosaur Pile-Up "Peninsula"

33. The Both "Milwaukee"

32. The Balconies "Do It In The Dark"

31. Band of Skulls "Nightmares"

30. Royal Blood "Little Monster"

29. Lykke Li "Gunshot"

28. Spoon "Rent I Pay"

27. Kasabian "Eez-Eh"

26. Jimi Goodwin "Oh! Whiskey"

25. The Jezabels "The End"

24. Lykke Li "No Rest for the Wicked"

23. Bob Mould "The War"

22. Kasabian "Bumblebee"

21. Owl John "Red Hand"

20. The Balconies "The Slo"

19. Public Animal "High Pony"

18. The Hold Steady "I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You"

17. Blood Red Shoes "The Perfect Mess"

16. St. Vincent "Birth In Reverse"

15. The New Pornographers "Dancehall Domine"

14. Augustines "Cruel City"

13. Split Single "Monolith"

12. Lowell "Cloud 69"

11. Haerts "All The Days"

10. St. Vincent "Digital Witness"

9. Mounties "Headphones"

8. Little Foot Long Foot "Woman"

7. Strand of Oaks "Goshen '97"

6. Lowell "The Bells"

5. Royal Blood "Out of the Black"

4. Bob Mould "I Don't Know You Anymore"

3. The Balconies "Boys and Girls"

2. Public Animal "Careful"


1. Augustines "Nothing to Lose But Your Head"

Check out my Favourite 25 Albums of 2014 list, too.

Best of: My top 25 favourite albums of 2014

As 2014 draws to a close, I've taken a few moments to assess my favourite albums of the year. This list is always harder, and shorter, for me than the songs list. A song jumps into my consciousness quickly and I can say, "Yup. Great tune!" much more easily than I can say, "Wow. Solid album."

The other thing I've noticed is that I've seen 18 of the 25 artists on this list live in the past year. Perhaps that's a reason for more of the bands' tunes making an impact.

So, for better or for worse, here's my list of my 25 favourite albums of the past year.

1. Augustines Augustines

2. Royal Blood Royal Blood

3. Public Animal Habitat Animal

4. Bob Mould Beauty and Ruin

5. The Balconies Fast Motions

6. Strand of Oaks Heal

7. Lowell We Loved Her Dearly

8. Split Single Fragmented World

9. Little Foot Long Foot Woman

10. Kasabian 48:13

11. Blood Red Shoes Blood Red Shoes

12. The Districts The Districts

13. Haerts Haerts

14. Dinosaur Pile-Up Nature Nurture

15. The Hold Steady Teeth Dreams

16. Owl John Owl John

17. The C'Mons Places

18. Spoon They Want My Soul

19. Drowners Drowners

20. Mounties Thrash Rock Legacy

21. Elbow The Take Off And Landing Of Everything

22. Lykke Li I Never Learn

23. The Jezabels The Brink

24. St. Vincent St. Vincent

25. Steel Panther All You Can Eat

Lowell's post-birthday Noisemakers session

Chart Attack does this thing called Noisemakers. Lowell did a session, just after her birthday, earlier in November. It features cool renditions of "Cloud 69" and "Palm Trees" from her full-length album We Loved Her Dearly.

She's on tour with Generationals and stops in at The Garrison in Toronto on December 5.

Indie 88 First Birthday Party: Lowell

On September 13, local Toronto radio station Indie 88.1 celebrated a year on the air with a birthday party at The Opera House. The on-air personalities were there along with a big baby, cupcakes, the obligatory singing of "Happy Birthday" and loot bags at the end. Good times!

On stage for the night were three amazing Canadian artists: Dan Mangan + Blacksmith, The Darcys and Lowell. This post is on Lowell's amazing performance.

Lowell was born in Calgary, currently calls Toronto home and plays unique pop music. I first caught her show when she opened for Cayucas at the Garrison after the release of her I Killed Sara V. EP

Lowell is a very active and interactive performer. She's animated on stage, roaming from edge to edge and back to her keyboard while dancing, making sure no one feels left out. And she's not afraid to get into the crowd, too. She ventured into the audience twice during her set. The first time, she found a willing guy who she rode like a horse. The second time, she found a willing girl to get down on the floor with for an intimate and impromptu party. Fun!

A Lowell show is an engaging, danceable good time. I'd definitely recommend getting yourself out to a show. And buy her album We Loved Her Dearly. It came out on September 16.

Here's a sampling of great Lowell tunes:

"Cloud 69" Great song! Definitely a live highlight!

"The Bells" Another live highlight!

"88"

"Palm Trees"

Lowell closed out the set with "Kids", which doesn't appear on her new album

New video for Palm Trees by Lowell

I caught Lowell opening for Cayucas a while back and took a bunch of pics. Good time.

Lowell's got lots of exciting stuff happening, like a new video for the tune "Palm Trees" and she's playing the Arts & Crafts Field Trip. Very much looking forward to that gig. Let's hope it's not -5 for that show.

Lowell gets The Garrison crowd going

I saw Lowell opening for Cayucas on March 2 at The Garrison. The band provided lots of good dancy fun with tons of energy. Great way to warm up the crowd. Lowell puts out great vibes and really wants to make sure we all have a good time. Mission accomplished.

And I have to say - great kimono. I just wanted to write that. I might never get the chance again.

Check out some tunes from Lowell. Her EP I Killed Sara V. is out now on Arts & Crafts.

"The Bells"


"88"


"Kids"


"Cloud 69"