2016 was a huge year for Canadian album releases, we’ve compiled a list of 11 albums that we think you need to take a listen to! Whether you’re a fan of rock, country or anything between, there is something on this list for you! Enjoy!
Wintersleep – The Great Detachment
The Great Detachment is the sixth album released by the well-known Canadian band, Wintersleep. Here at Canadian Beats, we’ve had the chance to cover Wintersleep various times, and on top of putting out a great album, they also put on a killer show!
July Talk is no stranger to Canadian Beats, many of our contributors would say that they are one of their favourite Canadian bands, and it’s no secret why…they are amazing at what they do, and their newest album, Touch is another example showing just that.
Hamilton, ON band, Arkells released Morning Report last year, and what an album it is. As a band ages, the only sure fire way to keep attention is to change up your style a bit, and keep the listener’s attention. Arkells did this perfectly, keeping just enough of their sound so that the current fans enjoyed the album, but also changing it up enough as to bring in some new fans with songs like “Private School” and “Drake’s Dad”.
Dean Brody – Beautiful Freakshow
One of Canada’s favourite country artists released his sixth studio album in 2016 entitled Beautiful Freakshow. Of course, I’m speaking of the hugely talented Dean Brody. The album features the hits, “Bush Party” & his newest single, “Time”.
Rocker turned country star, Dallas Smith has been doing the country thing for quite some time now, and boy does he do it well. Side Effects was released last year, and features the singles, “Autograph” and “One Little Kiss”.
Charlottetown, PEI band, Paper Lions released their highly colorful album, Full Colour, which holds eleven tracks including “Believer” which is a song that will have you up and dancing around your house in no time.
Chad Brownlee – Hearts on Fire
MDM Recordings Inc artist, Chad Brownlee is a favourite among many of our Canadian Beats contributors, as well as many Canadians in general. With Hearts on Fire, it’s apparent that each of the track could easily make it as singles, just as “I Hate You For It” has!
Ontario based artist, Coleman Hell has a style all his own, and we sure do love it! His music mixes genres, and keeps the listeners attention throughout the songs. Summerland features the hits, “2 Heads” and “Fireproof” and trust me when I say, you don’t want to miss out on this energetic and exciting album.
Alternative pop group, The Strumbellas are certainly making a name for themselves. In 2016 they released their album, Hope and also played numerous shows and festivals throughout the year! If you have yet to listen to this album, do it now. “Spirits” and “We Don’t Know” are the singles on the album, and they are both killer tracks!
Tim Hicks is one of the busiest men in country music, he always seems to be on tour, or releasing a single, or video…or an album in the case of Shake These Walls. The album is full of great tracks, including “Stomping Ground” and “Slow Burn”. They are certainly songs that get you up & ready to party!
Gord Downie is a name that everyone in Canada knows as the lead singer of Canadian rock band, The Tragically Hip. In 2016 we got the bad news that Gord was battling terminal brain cancer, but that didn’t slow him down musically. The Hip took off on tour, and then Gord released Secret Path which is a solo album inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, an indigenous boy who died in 1966 after escaping one of Canada’s notoriously brutal residential schools. In conjunction with the album, a short film was also released and Gord performed several live shows. He’s devoting what remains of his life to advocating for indigenous people and helping to push the reconciliation between the aboriginal and non aboriginal communities in Canada.