It’s Canada Day, which leads me to some Canadian navel-gazing for this week’s music blogorama. At first I thought I’d do a good old retrospective of years gone by in Canadian music videos, but then I realized that a huge Canadian music personality was releasing an album today. So I settled on a bloggoriffic mishmash of the two.

Ron Sexsmith is sort of a sad dude. I see him all the time walking along Toronto’s Queen Street West, looking positively melancholic (which isn’t that surprising, if you listen to his music). The fact that you can see one of Canada’s most important songwriters walking around on the street is part of the charm of living in Toronto. It’s always sort of surprising when you see that local talent is so saleable elsewhere. There’s no doubt that despite his indie status, Sexsmith is known around the world – he’s even recorded a duet with Chris Martin, arguably one of the biggest names in music at the moment.

Though our country being in its adolescence means that we sometimes need international superstars to justify our own musical tastes, I think we’re doing an okay job of appreciating Sexsmith. Today he releases Exit Strategy of the Soul, his ninth album. You can listen to a few tracks from the album at RonSexsmith.com.

And onto the Canada mishmash. Take a look at some old standby Canadian indie rock faves, from someone whose coming of age happened in the 90s:

I’m An Adult Now – The Pursuit of Happiness



I couldn’t find Heterosexual Male by The Odds, so here’s Eat My Brain

Remember when Treble Charger was cool before they sold out to the man? This one features lots of Canadian indie musicians from the 90s, when indie still mean independent.

Red – Treble Charger



Money City Maniacs – Sloan



Okay! Go forth and be Canadian! Perhaps start a letter-writing campaign of some sort!!!

You’re welcome,

SS