On today’s episode we have Toronto rock band Bike Thiefs and their most recent five-track recording “Lean Into It.” They bill themselves as quote “grammatically inept three-piece rock band,” but that’s where the ineptitude ends; it’s loud and messy, but it’s also heartfelt and emotional. Punk-adjacent alt rock with a biting attitude and strong poetry, it’s surely not to be missed.
Episode 71: Jeff Eager
Neo-soul, funk, disco, R & B… Jeff Eager’s Bonavista has it all. Dancy groovy hits, an ode to Toronto’s beloved Hideout and this generation’s Isn’t She Lovely (Once in a While) are all on the horizon of this slick, soulful record. Plenty of flange guitar tones and shades of Stevie Wonder, Prince and Lenny Kravitz make this an instant classic. Get in the loop!
Episode 71: International Sample Platter
We’ve made fans and friends across the globe, so today we share selected tracks from 3 such bands. Shun The Raven, Eyeball and The Romeo Knights span heavy metal rock, ambient pastel acid trips and contemporary pop rock. A great sample platter for discovering new tunes. Check them all out and get in the loop!
Episode 70: Ben Edwards
Nova Scotia born Ben Edwards takes us through a blues-inspired soft rock story of longing, wanderlust, melancholy and ultimately hope. Acoustic guitars, gently gruff vocals and vibes of Coldplay, U2 and Daughtry fill out this early release Bright Light Catastrophe while his latest single serves as a fitting epilogue. Get into it!
Episode 69: Sean Pinchin
Modern blues, hints of country and plenty of stomps and slide guitars, we listened to Sean Pinchin‘s Juno award winning Monkey Brain. It’s whiskey heartache fun with a surprisingly accessible polished aesthetic that doesn’t undermine its grime. Get in the loop!
Episode 68: Quinnzelle
Jesse and Dylan tackle Ottawa Pop Punk band Quinnzelle and their self-titled debut EP. It’s hard, heavy, and a little raunchy; it hit all of Dylan’s Blink 182 nostalgia buttons. Jesse contemplates the nature of authenticity and appreciates the rhythm section. There’s also some talk about Star Wars, and we get news of the podcast being contacted from other worlds (well, the United States at least). Have a seat and get ready to go back to the late 90s as you enjoy Quinnzelle!
Episode 67: Tea & Table Talk w/ Ai Rei
After her debut release with Ink Sticks and Stones, Jesse sat down with Ai Rei to dig into her making her first record, All That Gets Left Behind. Ai Rei gets into her unique sound and influences, and the balance between careers both behind the scenes and front and center as a performer. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all from AFL!
Episode 66: Carmen Toth
There’s more than a few flavours in this pack of bubblegum. A mature take on finding strength and yourself after love, Safety Net is a take on 80’s pop, full of shimmering synths and catchy hooks but grounded in brutally honest lyrics. Ethereal, fun and edgier than her first release, Carmen draws on Kate Bush, Cyndi Lauper, and Stevie Nicks in this incredible, personal follow-up record. Find her at carmentoth.com and get in the loop!
Episode 65: Ink Sticks & Stones
Today we tackle the delightfully difficult to categorize Ink Sticks and Stone’s release All That Gets Left Behind. It’s a storyteller’s epic that weaves in classical piano, Chinese mythology, French waltz, and folk noir to create an utterly unique sound so get in the loop!
Re-release Episode 31: SirenPhase
In memory of Corey Woodrich. Rock in peace.
Windsor-based metal prog rock with an intense apocalyptic maybe-not-so-distant future narrative. The most densely concise concept album we’ve done on AFL, its Siren Phase’s Origins EP. Dylan muses on the influences of H.R. Gieger in sci-fi, and Jess recounts her experience with The Purge franchise. Check them out at sirenphase.bandcamp.com for this and more releases from them!