ExploreMusic » Indie Track

JK Mantis: “Waves”

Adam Morrison — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:45:56 +0000

Toronto-based quartet JK Mantis plays alternative rock with a classic rock feel.

The band formed in June 2008, and the lineup was completed in September 2009.

Their self-produced debut release, 1, came out in March 2011.

Listen to “Waves,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out JK Mantis’s official site.

Shoot the Image: “Lithograph”

Adam Morrison — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:45:20 +0000

Things got rolling for Toronto-based five-piece Shoot the Image when they met producer and guitarist Boz Boorer (The Polecats, Morrissey) on MySpace.

After a year of online communication with Boz, the band was surprised when he showed up at a show of theirs in London (England) and, after a few pints, he invited them to record at his Serra Vista Studios, which is located deep in the mountains of Portugal.

Recording lasted 12-15 hours a day for three weeks, with no cell phone or internet service.

The result is Shoot the Image’s ten-track debut album, Cranes In The City.

The band plans to have a video created for each of the album’s tracks—a working relationship with Vancouver director Olaf Blomerus, who helmed the band’s debut clip, actually began with a Tweet from ExploreMusic’s own Alan Cross about another video that Olaf had directed.

Listen to “Lithograph,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Shoot the Image’s official site.

Mark Davis: “Eliminate The Toxins”

Adam Morrison — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:45:22 +0000

Edmonton-based roots artist Mark Davis helped guide Old Reliable through fifteen years and four recordings, and, in the studio, he’s collaborated with the likes of Joey Burns and John Convertino (Calexico, Giant Sand), Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Corb Lund, Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco, Freakwater), and Romi Mayes.

Mark’s third solo full length, Eliminate The Toxins, is the follow-up to his highly-acclaimed 2007 dual release, Don’t You Think We Should Be Closer? and Mistakes I Meant To Make.

Listen to the title track, “Eliminate The Toxins,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Mark Davis’s official site.

JF Robitaille: “Modern Love Song Pt. 1″

Adam Morrison — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:45:08 +0000

Folk artist JF Robitaille, a former member of indie-rock band The Social Register, was playing in New York City in 2006 when he was discovered by Nona “Lady Marmalade” Hendryx.

Robitaille’s six-track The Blood in My Body EP was recorded by Howard Bilerman at Hotel2Tango (the Montreal producer and studio behind Arcade Fire’s Funeral album) and released in 2007 via Hendryx’s label, Rhythbank.

After the label folded in 2008—meaning that a fully recorded and mastered full length will likely never see the light of day—Robitaille returned home to Montreal.

He wrote a dozen new songs, then recruited drummer Chris Wise (Elephant Stone, Sunfields), bassist Tavo Diez De Bonilla (Octoberman, Two Minute Miracles), and guitarist Andrew Johnston for his backing band.

The new album, Calendar, was recorded with producer Adrian Popovich (ex-Tricky Woo) and released on July 5th, 2011.

Listen to “Modern Love Song Pt. 1,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out JF Robitaille’s MySpace page.

Metro4: “Disease”

Adam Morrison — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:45:50 +0000

London, Ontario-based band Metro4 formed in 2005 and went through three vocalists before finding Jason Mercer, the right fit for their catchy, emotional rock sound.

Their new album, Day One, is more guitar-driven than their debut self-titled album, since it’s the first Metro4 release since keyboardist Adam Plante left the lineup—meaning that there are now four members of Metro4.

Listen to the lead-off track, “Disease,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Metro4′s official site.

Priory: “Lady of Late”

Adam Morrison — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:45:52 +0000

Portland-based indie-pop/electronic-folk four-piece Priory has followed up their 2010 EP, Cold Hands, with their self-titled debut full length.

“It’s finding that balance between the standard acoustic instruments and partnering them with huge electronic bass and keyboard licks,” says the band’s Kyle Dieker when asked to describe their sound. “Priory is all about tones and where those sounds sit in a song. Blending folk melodies with pop sensibility, Priory takes from a collection of sounds and brings them together into something that is familiar yet innovative.”

Listen to “Lady of Late,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Priory’s official site.

Rebel Emergency: “Up All Night”

Adam Morrison — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:45:43 +0000

After Panic was forced to leave an emerging band called Panic and the Rebels, one of the remaining members, Roddy, took over vocal duties… and Rebel Emergency was born.

The Toronto-based four-piece plays a mix of rock, reggae, and ska, taking influence from the classics of each of those genres.

Their third and latest album is Aphrodisiology.

Listen to “Up All Night,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Rebel Emergency’s MySpace page.

JoJeto: “Your Best Dress”

Adam Morrison — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:45:26 +0000

JoJeto is a progressive-leaning rock band based in Oakville, Ontario.

Their latest release, the Lights & Speeches EP, came out this past March.

Listen to “Your Best Dress,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out JoJeto’s official site.

Left Turn City: “Low”

Adam Morrison — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:45:10 +0000

Rock four-piece Left Turn City was formed by three members of a Toronto-based metal band called Six On Nine, which broke up in 2001.

For the first few years of their existence, Left Turn City handed out self-recorded CDs at their shows in the hopes of gaining fans, and it worked. They also played on bills that didn’t fit their genre, winning over some of the audience members at everything from anarchist punk to death metal shows.

In January 2011, Left Turn City released a five-track EP that was produced by Matthew von Wagner (USS, Crystal Castles, Alpha Galates) and mastered by Brett Zilahi (Alexisonfire).

Listen to “Low,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Left Turn City’s official site.

Joel Plaskett: “Jimmie’s Still Jimmie”

Adam Morrison — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:45:44 +0000

Joel Plaskett is the former lead vocalist/guitarist of Thrush Hermit, the former drummer of Neuseiland, the leader of The Joel Plaskett Emergency, a solo artist, a Juno/East Coast Music Award winner, a Polaris Music Prize nominee, and an altogether beloved musician and record producer from Nova Scotia.

The latest release in the New Scotland Records 7-inch single series features Joel’s song, “Jimmie’s Still Jimmie,” on the A side, backed up with Shotgun Jimmie’s “Joel’s Not Joel” on the flip side.

Listen to “Jimmie’s Still Jimmie,” right-click here to download an MP3 of the track, and click here to check out Joel Plaskett’s official site.