Jessica Lewis returns for another edition of Monthly Music. If you enjoy this feature, you can read more of Jessica’s musical musings at Round Letters.
While most people are either avoiding or embracing popular holiday music at this time of the year, I’m here to tell you there is other music out there that can cheer up your winter blues. To me, a lot of music can be categorized by seasons. My picks for December reflect this.
Three Toronto bands you should know:
The Constantines – This rogue city band is celebrating a ten year anniversary this winter and will be playing celebratory shows at Lee’s Palace for three nights mid-month. What’s great about this band (seasonally-minded) is that they effortlessly put the rough edges back into the pale wet patches of snow in our concrete jungle. They embrace the sludge and sling it back to the listener songs that will show a snowstorm who means business.
Timber Timbre – Sleepy, are you? Well, Taylor Kirk and company will just make your warm nap even warmer. Only really perfect in black and white, this folk-blues outfit graced the streets in the summer and autumn with the self titled album, but to me, this music is the best in its hollow form.
Forest City Lovers – This cute group occasionally performs with the above-mentioned Timber Timbre as well as separately, but they are extremely strong on their own. They released Haunting Moon Sinking in 2008 and a 7” Phodilus and Tyto in early November. Both are full with pretty melodies, the urge to hold hands and no sense of letting a season get them down.
