Music Blogs

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Yep, our hockey and Tragically Hip-loving neighbors to the north celebrate turkey day too. Seeing as how Thanksgiving is such a prominent day on the American calendar, it's a little goofy to think that Canadians also annually sit down to a meal where both stuffing and cranberry sauce figure prominently, but hey, there's plenty of both to go around. So in the spirit of giving thanks, I've listed my ten favorite Canadian pop/rock acts. You won't find Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morrissette, Feist, the New Pornographers or Bryan Adams on this list, but if you think they, or any other Can-rock stars, deserve mention, make sure to say so in the comments section.

1. Neil Young: In terms of longevity, popularity, influence, and talent, only Joni Mitchell comes close as a Canadian rock legend.

2. The Guess Who: There's way more to Winnipeg's favorite sons than "American Woman." Like, for example, rock's best ever Prairie province shout-out (on 1972's "Running Back To Saskatoon.")

3. Willie P. Bennett: The most obscure musician on this list. The Toronto-born Bennett passed away in February, but left behind a catalogue of musically sparse, emotionally rich country folk.

4. Destroyer: A part-time member of the New Pornographers, Vancouverite Dan Bejar's shambling, Bowie-esque guitar jams and densely-packed lyrics reach full fruition on the albums he records under the Destroyer moniker.

5. Broken Social Scene: 2002's You Forgot It In People is a modern classic and helped shepherd in the era of multi-member indie collectives. But aside from being influential, the Toronto-based BSS also kicks ass--in a distinctly ethereal way.

6. Leonard Cohen: "Hallelujah" alone would have earned Cohen a place on this list. So would "Bird On A Wire"; "Suzanne"; "Tower Of Song"; "I'm Your Man"; etc.

7. Tegan & Sara: Jack and Meg White have good taste. Hence, the White Stripes covered this Calgary folk duo's "Walking with a Ghost" on a 2005 EP. A band with really good taste should cover "Back in Your Head," from the Tegan & Sara's 2007 album The Con.

8. Joni Mitchell: I haven't loved her late-career forays into more impressionistic material, but Alberta's Mitchell had about a 10-year run from the late-‘60s to late-‘70s that's pretty much beyond reproach.

9. Rush: More than 30 years after forming, this virtuosic trio can still compel arenas full of dudes to air drum along to multi-part epics about the temple of Syrinx, By-Tor and the Snow Dog, and Tom Sawyer.

10. Voivod: French Canada deserves representation, and these metal lifers are Quebec's best heavy music act. Check out 1989's Nothingface for a blast of proggy and melodic thrashing.

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