Alright, so this song isn’t officially a part of Yellow Jacket Avenger’s excellent debut album 14th release (!), Double Nature, but I can’t stop listening to it anyway.

Flowing like the sly waterway that graces its lyrics ( “The river is following me” ), “Hiding Out” is a smooth and fluid tune complete with a driving rhythm that assures you’ll be carried downstream (cheesy, I know, but I’m too busy enjoying this track to really care).

Yellow Jacket Avenger - Hiding Out

Check out Yellow Jacket Avenger’s Myspace page to hear more or pick up a digital copy of Double Nature (which features “Hiding Out” as a bonus) from Zunior.

As the lead track from Haunting Moon Sinking, the recently released sophomore album by Forest City Lovers, this tune is all class.

Poised and elegant with a killer melody, “Don’t Go” is the sort of plea that makes you want to leave just so you can hear them ask you to stay again and again.

Forest City Lovers - Don’t Go

Check out the band’s Myspace to hear more or grab a digital copy of Haunting Moon Sinking here.

Taking a break from my seemingly never-ending CMW coverage (I’ve still got 3 live reviews in the pipeline), I figured it’d be a nice change of pace to take a look at some music that came out recently.

That said, while I’m still not 100% sure what to make of Afterparty Babies, the sophomore record from Edmonton’s Cadence Weapon, “In Search of the Youth Crew” is simply undeniable. Driven and relentless, this song is the equivalent of an instant party in a can—simply open the lid, press play and hit the dance floor.

Cadence Weapon - In Search of the Youth Crew

Cadence Weapon will be in Toronto with Buck 65 and Skratch Bastid at the Danforth Music Hall on April 25. In the meantime check out his Myspace page to hear more or buy a digital copy of Afterparty Babies here.

Spastic and ridiculously uplifting, this song from the Born Ruffians upcoming debut full-length, Red Yellow & Blue, is the musical embodiment of relentless energy—the sound of a kinetically charged bouncy ball with no choice but to let loose.

Check it out below (right-click, “Save Link As” to download) and do some bouncing of your own:

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird

Red Yellow & Blue is out on Mar. 4, but stop by the band’s Myspace page to hear more in the meantime. Also, catch the Born Ruffians with Miracle Fortress live in Toronto at Lee’s Palace on April 26.

Pounding, seductive and confident, this song from We Are the Hunters, the recently released debut full-length from Toronto’s The D’Urbervilles, is a volcanic march for a cocksure indie rock army.

Check it out below and join the movement:

The D’Urbervilles - Hot Tips

Head to The D’Urbervilles Myspace page to hear more. They’ve also got a whack of shows scheduled—suffice to say that they’ll be in Toronto at the Tranzac on Mar. 14 for a dual CD release with the Forest City Lovers. In the meantime you can grab a digital copy of We Are Hunters here.

Looking for a quick dose of energy to help with your snow-shoveling? Look no further than this latest single from UK indie-pop specialists, Los Campesinos!

As the lead track from their upcoming debut full length, Hold On Now, Youngster…, “Death to Los Campesinos!” is nothing short of the frenetic and palpable energy that we’ve come to expect from these Cardiff kids.

“I invented you and I will destroy you!”

Los Campesinos! - Death to Los Campesinos!

Check out their Myspace page to hear more and look out for the digital release of this anticipated Arts & Crafts album on Feb. 26.

Coming seemingly out of nowhere, Olivier Jarda’s debut solo album, Diagrams, has hit me like a ton of bricks. I easily could have chosen just about any of its excellent tracks to feature, but “Victorian Faces” is the one I’ve gone back to the most.

Crashing and melodic, this song is the explosive epitaph for a respected nemesis—or ex-girlfriend (“You had a Napoleonic run, but like Napoleon you’re done”). You better believe you’ll be hearing more about his album from me!

Olivier Jarda - Victorian Faces

Check out Olivier Jarda’s Myspace page to hear more tracks, or grab a digital copy of Diagrams here.

Taken from the latest Shotgun Jimmie solo release called The Onlys (a full review is forthcoming), “Bedhead” is the perfect soundtrack to an early morning road trip where the sun needs just as much help rising as you do.

Undeniably charming and fun, this ought to be mandatory breakfast listening for everyone.

Shotgun Jimmie - Bedhead

He doesn’t have any Toronto dates in the works for the near future, but if you’re on the East Coast check out Shotgun Jimmie’s Myspace page for some gigs. Also, you can grab a digital copy of The Onlys here.

I’m sick as a disoriented and dizzy dog today, but even that can’t stop me from getting into this song.

With blistering lead-guitar and fun backing vocals woven into an energetic romp, Halifax’s Sleepless Nights have unleashed an upbeat and nostalgic call to move (or flail lethargically in my case)—leave it to great East Coast indie-rock to get my sick fist pumping.

Check it out below:

Sleepless Nights - Got Caught

The Sleepless Nights’ latest album, Turn Into Vapour, is actually out today—check out Forward Music for where to grab a copy. Also, they’ll be in Toronto at Sneaky Dee’s on Jan. 27 and Lee’s Palace on Jan. 28.

Back with their third full-length release, Calgary rockers The Summerlad are offering up the challenging and atmospheric City of Noise. Aptly titled, it contains only two tracks of the same name, one of which being a 40 minute epic and the other an upbeat and apocalyptic romp that calls you to the dance floor while reminding you to bring your baseball bat.

Check out the latter below:

The Summerlad - City of Noise

Venerable Calgary wax provider Saved By Vinyl is putting this album out on 12″ while digital copies can be procured here.