Some Gifts To Your Summertime Playlists

It's been awhile friends. Sorry for my marked absence in posting as of late, an awards show and a surgery got in the way of my blogging career, thanks to all those myspace keeners who flipped me notes while I was out of WNR commission.

This week I wanted to tell you a little about two bands from my native of Canada that make my music palate salivate, they're hot shit mark my words and if you have yet to check them out I sincerely suggest rectifying that situation.

First on the docket is a band called Knock Knock Ginger.


I think the best way to introduce you to the Waterloo, Ontario five-piece is by thieving the tagline from their myspace page which says, "You guys could be the band at an awesome prom." It's true. You can picture a bunch of suburban hipster teens from a fictionally cool high school breaking into a Fame-like choreographed pogo to these poppy, pleasing tunes. If John Hughes were ever to resurrect the Brat Pack, a song or two from either of their releases, Hurry! (2005) or Based on a True Story (2006) would certainly be soundtrack bound.

Singer Milosz Sikora anchors a tight outfit, he's got an undeniable Morrissey-esque quality to his voice, crooning over lighthearted melody. Picture the infectious pop of The Hopefuls then teach them to play the trumpet, and you've pretty much got the gist of Knock Knock Ginger.

The selection of songs below are a soon to be summer staple for me now that the winter hath passed, and the warm weather is on it's way.

Love Renee
Virginia Black
You Could've Been My Johnny Marr
+ Myspace

Next up...From London, Ontario (not London as in England as drummer Thom Drew so cleverly pointed out to me) is the four-man band called The Knaves.


They take their name from a poem by John Wilmot titled "A Satyr Against Mankind", by definition the word can also mean a deliberate scoundrel or be a synonym for a the Jack; the one face card in the deck that always keeps you on your toes. My best bet after checking out the 8 tracks that make up their debut, they're easily described as all of the above.

Their sound has a CBGBs heyday era quality, it's simple, with succinct & to the point guitars. Their songs are thus ridiculously catchy, and where some would draw comparisons to The Strokes, and while I do hear it, I'm hesitant to make the comparison myself. When I think The Stokes I think overproduced hits, whereas The Knaves tracks have a raw, off the studio floor quality which I love.

Check out these yummy tracks...
Knaves Theme
Gainful Employment
Midnight Action
Je Ne Sais Pas
To download more go to their website

I hate to end this happy post on a Debbie Downer note, but a good friend of ours here at WNR, whom I wrote about awhile back, named Patrick Krief (of The Dears) had to break some pretty brutal news recently... That his rehearsal space in Montreal had been broken into and had everything thieved from it. Everything was taken. This is such a shame. I know it's a long shot, but please go check out his blog to see if you can help him get any of his stuff back. At the very least, show him some love.

CA