Basic White

Basic White are a four-piece band from London, Ontario who play that old time rock n roll. Their debut EP, Long Time Comin', came out in November 2016. This thing is five tracks of killer hooks and riffs, complimented by some slick leads and blues-tinged rhythms. Fans of other great Canadian rock bands such as The Trews or Sam Roberts will definitely see the appeal here. They've got a fantastic kick-back and let loose energy to them, which really translates well in a live setting. Check out their latest video for the song "Glory Years" below. If it suits ya fancy, I definitely recommend picking up the full EP, which is available below and well worth the listen. Enjoy!

Long Time Comin' (2016)

1. Glory Years

2. Something In Between

3. Willing & Able

4. Waiting For Change

5. Way Up

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Laughing Hyenas

Laughing Hyenas were a punk/blues band from Ann Arbor, Michigan that were around from 1985 to 1995. In the band's ten year run, they only had two consistent members, which was vocalist John Brannon (formerly and currently from Negative Approach) and guitarist Larissa Strickland (formerly from L-Seven, not to be confused with L7). They had a few different bassists and drummers, though their original two (Jim Kimball and Kevin Munro) did later play in a fantastic band called Mule. Kimball also played drums in The Jesus Lizard a few years down the line. Those two guys were replaced by the bassist and drummer from Necros, to continue the hardcore punk lineage in this band.

Regardless, back to Laughing Hyenas. Though the band's background was definitely hardcore punk, they took a markedly different approach to punk as a whole. They came out with the same blisteringly intensity, but with more blues/garage rock influence, making these songs just as visceral, but with a larger musical palette to take from. Brannon's vocals just shred, and he does sound quite different to his distinct bark in Negative Approach. Strickland comes up with some very inventive riffs that blend punk, blues, and a hint of noise rock together effortlessly. Their sound did progress through the years, though. Their first two LP's are sonically similar, with their magnum opus Life Of Crime having slightly slicker production (with play sin their favour). It's their final LP, however, where the band's change is sound is definitely apparent. It kind of likes a cross between The Rolling Stones and Nick Cave (who was a definite influence on their whole career, especially his stuff with The Birthday Party), which is a fantastic mix. It's darker than the rest of the band's material, and the early raw punk influence has clearly matured into a full, deep sound in which the band really explores its ideas in length.

Since it doesn't really fit naturally anywhere in this post, I must as well as just lump it in and say that almost all their releases were put out through Touch and Go. After they break up, Brannon formed Easy Action, and years later reformed Negative Approach. Strickland sadly died in 2006, but with phenomenal music like this, her legacy won't soon be forgotten. Enjoy.

Laughing Hyenas (1986)

1. Stain

2. Hell's Kitchen

3. That Girl

4. Gabriel

5. Playground

6. What Tomorrow Brings

7. 18

Note: This was their demo tape

Merry Go Round (1987)

1. Stain

2. Hell's Kitchen

3. That Girl

4. Gabriel

5. Playground

6. What Tomorrow Brings

7. Soul Kiss

8. Candy [Bonus Track]

9. Dedications To The One I Love (Live) [Bonus Track]

10. Don't Bogue My High [Bonus Track]

11. Public Animal #9 [Bonus Track]

Note: Bonus tracks from a 1995 reissue of this EP

You Can't Pray A Lie (1989)

1. Love's My Only Crime

2. Seven Come Eleven

3. Black Eyed Susan

4. Lullaby And Goodnight

5. Sister

6. Desolate Son

7. Dedications To The One I Love

8. New Gospel

Life Of Crime (1990)

1. Everything I Want

2. Hitman

3. Let It Burn

4. Kick

5. Here We Go Again

6. Wild Heart

7. Outlaw

8. Life Of Crime

Crawl (1992)

1. Crawl

2. Living In Darkness

3. Walk

4. Girl

Hard Times (1995)

1. Just Can't Win

2. Hard Time Blues

3. You're So Cruel

4. Stay

5. Slump

6. House Of The Blues

7. Each Dawn I Die

Timber Timbre

Timber Timbre are a four-piece indie/folk/blues band from both Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec (both in Canada) that formed in 2005. The band has since then released a total of five albums. Their sound has progressed quickly in that time, both due to artistic advancement and production quality. The band's sound is often defined by their ethereal, baritone vocals, which sounds like that of the greats (Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits), with a more modern touch of Nick Cave and Jeff Buckley (though those could also be classified as "greats"). The vocals are intimate, but laden with reverb and an entrancing persona. This could be said about the entire band, actually. The bass and drums jam along at mid-tempo, creating a walking/slight swaying vibe, displaying the blues influence. The other instruments, often keyboards and guitars, and occasionally strings/horns, add layer upon layer to the basis of each song. This makes them distinct, and gives each song its own characteristic while filling up a lot of space. This is a major reason I am so into this band. They make very filling songs without sound too complex or cramped. There's a fullness to it, but there's room for every instrument to breath. Basically what this band does is take the down-trodden, dark aspect of blues, the chords and storytelling of folk, a tinge of psychedelia with the reverb/tremolo sounds, and mix it with the modern experimentation and production of indie rock. As far as their modern comparisons, bands such as Broken Social Scene, M. Ward, The National, and Editors could be some examples. Though Timber Timbre certainly has a sound very distinct to that of the aforementioned. This is a great band that more people need to hear. If you're new to them, check out their most recent material and work your way back. Enjoy.

Cedar Shakes (2006)

1. So Much

2. Home

3. Mercy

4. Cedar Shakes

5. As Angels Do

6. Black Creek Drive

7. It's Only Dark

8. I'm A Long Way

9. Each Good House

Medicinals (2007)

1. Window Talk

2. There Is A Cure

3. Devil's Dress

4. Like A Mountain

5. Beat The Dead Horse

6. Under Your Spell

7. It Comes Back To Haunt Us

8. Werewolf

9. Oh Messiah

10. Patron Saint Hunter

Timber Timbre (2009)

1. Demon Host

2. Lay Down In The Tall Grass

3. Until The Night Is Over

4. Magic Arrow

5. We'll Find Out

6. I Get Low

7. Trouble Comes Knocking

8. No Bold Villian

Creep On Creepin' On (2011)

1. Bad Ritual

2. Obelisk

3. Creep On Creepin' On

4. Black Water

5. Swamp Magic

6. Woman

7. Too Old To Die Young

8. Lonesome Hunter

9. Do I Have The Power

10. Souvenirs

Hot Dreams (2014)

1. Beat The Drum Slowly

2. Hot Dreams

3. Curtains!?

4. Bring Me Simple Men

5. Resurrection Part II
6. Grand Canyon

7. This Low Commotion

8. The New Tomorrow

9. Run From Me

10. The Three Sisters

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