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Pearl Jam – World Wide Suicide (2006)

For the most part, the lead singer of a band becomes the person most associated with the music. In the case of Pearl Jam that certainly has been the case (and deservedly so) Eddie Vedder is one of the great front men of all time. But the reason we have Pearl Jam with Eddie Vedder is because Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were in a band together called Green River followed by Mother Love Bone. Mother Love Bone were and are the MOST important piece of the grunge movement. It’s because of that band and the impact of their late singer Andy Wood that today we have Pearl Jam. This is one of the many things you will learn in class January 27th, 730 pm ET, for the Canadian Broadcast Premier of “Pearl Jam Twenty”. Don’t skip class kids.

The Abrams Brothers – Northern Redemption (2010)

More than ever the lines are blurred between what is considered straight up country music and what could crossover. Obviously artists like Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum are a distinct type of pop country that is working on different radio formats in a big bad way, but then there are Mumford and Sons, The Civil Wars, and Fleet Foxes who are more roots based but could just as easily have the same type of success. Canada’s own The Abrams Brothers, despite their young age, have performed at The Grand Ole Opry already but are also getting love on rock radio with their version of a classic Alex Chilton tune. Bluegrass is the backdrop of this group but they fit somewhere nicely in between the country and non country worlds that could potentially find them love from both.

Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains) (2010)

Before all the indie music geeks get all bent out of shape and take to the internet to rip me a new one, let me say this: I like Arcade Fire, I love that they have broken through with a sound that doesn’t sound like the typical band that breaks through on radio, it’s good for music. However, I haven’t been as enthralled with their records as many have, I like them but I’ve yet to flip out over their songs the way many people have….until now. This song is incredible, the video is fantastic and it all just makes me want to start the campaign to make Régine the new lead singer of the band. Sorry Win.

k-os – Man I Used to Be (2004)

Some of the most interesting conversations I’ve had over my past 9 or 10 years of interviewing musicians have been with k-os. We have covered many topics but the most interesting has always been the dichotomy between making music just for the love of making music, and making money from that music. He has always seemed conflicted with his own success and the idea of a hit song and I respect that, and those conversations, for me, have made listening to his music and lyrics that much more interesting. This is one of my favorite k-os Tracks, he’s a great singer and doesn’t seem to get the credit he deserves for that.

The Guess Who – These Eyes (1968)

As infamous Rock and Roll partnerships go Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are right up there with Jagger & Richards or Tyler & Perry. Burton Cummings joined The Guess Who in 1965 when they were still called “The Expressions” and after some massive international success, in 1970, Randy Bachman left the group and both men had successful post Guess Who careers. Along the way however they kept coming back to the band but it’s always difficult trying to figure out when they actually came back to the band together. But before all that went down, before the egos took over, together they wrote one of the great love songs of all time.

enjoy,
=m