Arcade Fire won the Grammy for Best Album of the Year – take that Top 40!!! Now that I have that out of my system lets discuss some other things having to do with Canadian music, specifically Toronto-based. BlogTO, the online go-to source for what’s happening in Toronto, has started a weekly edition called The Neighbourhood Mixtape which features 5 tracks of newly released songs by Toronto artists. It’s a great way to sample the new sounds coming from local bands.
I listen to it every week and not only do I get introduced to new bands I’ve never heard before but also hear the latest in collaborations and new releases. Diamond Rings is Toronto’s darling at the moment – having opened for Robyn and now touring with PS I Love You. The man, John O’Regan, gets right on that synth-pop pulse but with an earnestness that gives depth to the simple hooks that are rumoured to have been made with Garage Band. If you don’t know Diamond Rings check him out, or if that’s not your speed listen to The Neighbourhood Mixtape to discover other new talent. At least then you won’t be saying ‘Who…?’ when they win a Grammy.