Civic Holiday... um, Simcoe Day!

It's the August long weekend here in Toronto. Widely known as Civic Holiday, it is beloved for breaking up the dog days of summer. But it's also known as Simcoe Day in Toronto, Mountie Day in North York, Colonel By Day in Ottawa, George Hamilton Day in Hamilton, British Columbia Day in British Columbia, Heritage Day in Alberta, as well as various other names in other provinces and municipalities (Wikipedia told me so). Oh Civic Holiday, why didn't we just stick to one unifying name?

In celebration of this holiday that seems to have an identity crisis across Canada, I present Broken Social Scene's new video for their single Forced to Love. Awesome song, trippy video. I generally dislike describing something as "trippy" because really, what does that mean? But this video is what I imagine hallucinating would be like.

I also highly suggest picking up the CD (Forgiveness Rock Record). It's short-listed for this year's Polaris Music Prize for a very very good reason! You can stream this entire record at their website.

Avalanche of Canadian Heavyweights

Get ready for a busy summer as Canadian heavy-weight indie darlings, the Stars, Broken Social Scene and the New Pornographers get ready to release new albums.

The Stars' the Five Ghosts will be out June 22, 2010. This will be released on their own Soft Revolution label and their first not on Arts & Crafts.

Stars - Fixed (mp3) (download free from official site)


Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record is out May 4, 2010. Recorded in Chicago, it ends their four year indefinite hiatus.

Broken Social Scene - World Sick (mp3) (buy)

The New Pornographers' Together is out April 22, 2010. The first single is the mighty catchy "Crash Years."

New Pornographers - Crash Years (mp3) (buy)

All three groups will be touring heavily in the coming months so hurry up and get your tickets. They're already been sold out in quite a few cities.

The New Girl

Broken Social Scene's hiatus is over. They're playing in Canada and the states in October!

Monday October 13th, 2008 /Minneapolis , MN /First Avenue
Tuesday October 14th, 2008 /Omaha , NB /Slowdown
Thursday October 16th, 2008 /Kansas City , MO /Beaumont Club
Friday October 17th, 2008 /Columbia , MO /The Blue Note
Saturday October 18th, 2008 /St. Louis , MO /The Gargoyle
Sunday October 19th, 2008 /Urbana , IL /Foellinger Auditorium
Tuesday October 21st, 2008 / Richmond , VA /Toad's Place
Wednesday October 22nd, 2008 /Falls Church , VA /The State Theatre
Friday October 24th, 2008 /Brooklyn , NY /Masonic Temple
Saturday October 25th, 2008 /Brunswick , ME /Bowdoin College
Sunday October 26th, 2008 /Boston , MA /The Wilbur Theatre
Thursday October 30th, 2008 /Ottawa , ON /Bronson Centre
Friday October 31st, 2008 /Montreal , QC /Metropolis
Saturday November 8th, 2008 /Mexico City , Mexico /ManiFest
Tuesday November 18th, 2008 /Nashville , TN /Cannery Ballroom
Wednesday November 19th, 2008 /Atlanta , GA /Variety Playhouse
Thursday November 20th, 2008 /Tallahassee , FL /The Moon
Friday November 21st, 2008 /St. Petersberg , FL /Jannus Landing
Saturday November 22nd, 2008 /Pompano Beach , FL /Club Cinema
Thursday November 27th, 2008 /Toronto , ON /Sound Academy
Friday November 28th, 2008 /Toronto , ON /Sound Academy

And they also have a new addition to their family. It's a girl! Liz Powell of Land of Talk will be taking on some vocal gynastics for Broken Social Scene at the shows as well as opening for them with her band, Land of Talk.

Land of Talk's new (yet untitled) album is out Oct. 7, 2008. Check it out.

Broken Social Scene - Swimmers (mp3) (buy)

Land of Talk - Corner Phone (mp3) (buy)