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Day 16: Fred Eaglesmith - Small Motors
Fred has an incredible skill for story songs. He tells these haunting little Southern (Ontario) Gothic tales in three verses, every word perfectly in place.
This one always makes me cry.
youtu.be/VDfny-KK7oA?...
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Day 15: Rheostatics - Saskatchewan
I sent Tielli and Bidini emails the morning after my band released our album. Only fan mail I ever sent?
Martin said something cryptic. Dave asked me to buy his book.
This might be their best song.
youtu.be/jcxOygqqvl0?...
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Day 14: Starling - Don't Deflate
Ontario band with squandered potential, destroyed (as per the cliché) by internicine strife*.
Was quite fond of this album when it came out.
*at almost the precise time my band immolated
youtu.be/N5wC_T6_vn0?...
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Day 13: Levon Ichkhanian - After Hours
The first time I heard Levon, I was floored by versatility.
Whether playing Armenian folk styles, Scofield-inflected fusion, or—as is often the case—an emergent hybrid of both, he kicks ass.
youtu.be/0gvTB2FsKY0?...
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Day 12: Colin Linden - Blind River Bound
Linden's a great lyricist and a killer bottleneck slide player. This song, with a guest cameo from Bruce Cockburn, is a killer pop blues.
Also, been to Blind River, so I get the story. :)
youtu.be/uIZAXnushrg?...
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Day 11: John Arcand - Grey Owl
John ran an eponynous Métis fiddle festival at his acreage outside Saskatoon for 20+ yrs. Fave parenting memories are watching kiddo, 11, compete in the fiddle contest there
This is my fave Arcand tune.
youtu.be/n2Vn1H1CCNw?...
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Day 10: Matt Osborne - I Want a Girl with Glasses
Matt was a friend and mentor—big guy who let his pisant little buddy play in shows while supressing eyerolls.
He let slip once that he liked her songwriting.
RIP Matt. We miss you.
youtu.be/t0GOH73QDPQ?...
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Day 9: The Fretless - Dirty Harry
Top notch progressive strings band. Prog bluegrass-adjacent.
Tight, creative arrangements and some top notch playing.
youtu.be/Gb-GQUG9K9A?...
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Day 7: Neil Young - I am a Child
The first album I loved in an "on repeat" way was Live Rust, at 10.
This simple song, originally recorded a Buffalo Springfield, is chidhood in the form of a musical hug. Pure, uncritical nostalgia.
youtu.be/Dl0SSEUeOYc?...
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Day 6: Willie P. Bennett - Blackie and the Rodeo King
I learned about Willie from the band that took their name from this song....
And what a song.
Heartfelt, sorrowful, and problematic in all the right ways.
Real storytelling.
youtu.be/CEqJDILaeL0?...
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Day 5: Chris Coole - Old Dog
I first encountered Chris busking in Toronto, then again years later via Lonesone Ace Stringband.
His clawhammer is delicate and intricate, raw and technical. His songwriting is sublime. He's a real joy.
youtu.be/218tAJxg-jA?...
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Day 4: Sarah Harmer - Around This Corner
I knew Weeping Tile/ Sarah Harmer for years, but was a little late to the appreciation society.
This song, with it's jaunty groove and clarinet(!) solo is the song that finally got me hooked.
youtu.be/LTfV03Ad0co?...
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Day 3: The Deep Dark Woods - 18th of December
I've lived in SK for close to 20 years and am always impressed with the quality and variety of music this little province produces.
This song rocks. Top-notch stuff.
youtu.be/dtntturqVIg?...
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Day 2: Don Ross - Klimbim
Don's combination of technique, creativity, and groove has inspired me for 30 yrs.
I'll never forget first hearing this song—almost single-handedly motivated me to switch from flatpick to fingerstyle.
youtu.be/gBwM9VqmxQE?...
