Triumph - Lay It On The Line

Live in '87. I can't even imagine a show this epic coming to Halifax now.

Quake Matthews - Down With The King

Reppin' the 902! Only in Halifax do you rap about donairs. With Randy.

Wintersleep - Jaws Of Life

These guys have just completely sunk into oblivion. They had so much promise and somewhere the edge got just fell away. Mismanagement maybe? This is from their 2005 album, a brilliant offering, and one that had, unbeknownst to me, a plethora of videos released, all seemingly directed by Sean Wainsteim. Maybe he was a friend of a friend, or a label hiree, but I just feel like every one of them completely missed the mark. As if they were more to act as a show reel for what tricks the director had rather than actually having anything to do with the music.

Sloan - The Other Man

So I guess it's sort of an unofficial Canadian rock day too? Fair enough. These great east coasters have a new album out. It's a serious throwback album. It sounds like it could have been released in the early '70s. Not as good as their earlier stuff I don't think, but worth checking out. This track... yes.

The Daisy Anthesis - Rails

It's Monday. Labor Day Monday. And that can only mean one thing:

METAL! METAL!! METAL!!!

I posted a little blurb about seeing this St. John band a while back at The Capital, and they were awesome, easily one of the best metal bands I've ever seen live. I've said it a bunch of times, but let me re-iterate that screamo metal isn't my thing. It's unlikely I'll sit down and listen to their recorded stuff once a year, if that. Live though, I will happily check them out. They are true musicians and tremendous performers in person. Seriously, so see them and be entertained. I think they're actually just called Anthesis now, but frankly I like the original name better. Switch it back, fellas.

Down With The Butterfly - Tanks

Great song from an underrated band out of Halifax. That said I'm not even sure if they're still a thing. It's a shame, if not. Not too many bands like this right now.

Steb Sly - Roadtrip

Straight outta the 'fax, some steady beats from Steve Sim.

Kayo Guevarra - Couldn't Buy Her

Getting 2014 off on the right foot. American hip hop is incredibly dark and grungy right now, which normally might sound appealing but I just don't think the production is tight enough. Canadian hip hop, on the other hand, just seems to have more soul. Here's some quality Halifax flavour comin' atcha.

Nicole Ariana - Everytime

Chillin' and illin', smooth grooves reppin' the 902.

Wintersleep - In Came The Flood

Brand new video from one of Halifax's best musical exports.

Sloan - Money City Maniacs

Mat Trevors has a blog up and going now. It's a good read, particularly if you're into fishing, or geology, or music, or politics, or minimalism, or drinking, or... well anything really. It's worth a visit. This post is a good read, about how Mat would fix New Brunswick. Next election, I'm voting Mat, whether he's running or not.

Anyway a few days ago Mat posted this lovely song by Halifax rockers Sloan, who were at one time the premier act in the east coat. They've slowed down a bit in recent years, but I guess that happens after nearly 20 years on the road. Their 10th studio album is due out in 2011, and with a little luck they'll be back in the limelight again. Here's their party anthem to help ring in November.

What an intro. The siren gets 'em every time.