Oh, Canada!

Ah, Canada. Ten provinces, three territories, and an overall population of 34,295,000 according to the 2010 census. Known for maple syrup, hockey, free healthcare, and those Canadian accents Americans love to mock.

Canada is also known for its thriving music scene, which boasts many famous artists from hip hop/rap artist Drake to pop diva Céline Dion. But in addition to these individual artists, there are a variety of bands, some well-known, others indie, dominating the Canadian music scene. I have quite a few favorites, but this post will list merely three of them, primarily from the indie side of the spectrum because honestly, I'm a huge indie lover. So eat some poutine , adjust your mountie hat, and enjoy.

Name: Arcade Fire (2003- present)
Origin: Montreal, Quebec
Discography:  Arcade Fire EP (2003), Funeral (2004), Neon Bible (2007), The Suburbs (2010)
Genre(s): indie rock, baroque pop, art rock
Websites: http://www.arcadefire.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial (Myspace), http://twitter.com/arcadefire (Twitter)

Touting numerous music awards and critical acclaim for their albums, this multi-instrumentalist band is, arguably, one of the best bands to emerge from the Canadian indie scene. Arcade Fire has a unique sound that can't be specifically described in one word or labeled under just one genre. They create lyrics that are sometimes poetry, sometimes a love letter, other times just something to open your ears to and enjoy. In any case, this is a band that should definitely be listened to because while they might not always have a hit with their songs, they put passion into their music and can instantly become the newest band you're sure to adore.
5 songs to check out: Neighborhood # 1 (Tunnels), My Body Is A Cage, The Suburbs, Modern Man, Neon Bible

Name: Tokyo Police Club (2005 - present)
Origin: Newmarket, Ontario
Discography: A Lesson In Crime EP (2006), Smith EP (2007), Elephant Shell (2008), Champ (2010)
Genre(s): indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival
Websites: http://tokyopoliceclub.com/home/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/tokyopoliceclub (Myspace), http://twitter.com/tokyopoliceclub (Twitter)

Tokyo Police Club is, in my words, a collection of different aspects of awesome that have been combined and mixed in a blender, served in a tall glass with one of those cool little umbrella straws in it. In short, these guys are pure unadulterated fun, whether it's through their music, Twitter posts, or video blogs. This youthful band often creates bouncy, enjoyable tunes (an example being "Wait Up (Boots of Danger)" but collections like A Lesson In Crime also bring out their garage rock roots. Their lyrics are often quirky but understandable, and quite catchy...I warn you that certain songs will be stuck in your head for a while. All of their albums and the Lesson In Crime EP are showcases of their genius and how a bunch of early twentysomething boys can jam together and make wonderful music.
5 Songs to Check Out: Citizens of Tomorrow, The Nature of the Experiment, Breakneck Speed, Wait Up (Boots of Danger), Tessellate


Name: Tegan and Sara (1995 - present)
Origin: Calgary, Alberta
Discography: Under Feet Like Ours (1999), This Business Like Art (2000), If It Was You (2002), So Jealous (2004), The Con (2007), Sainthood (2009)
Genre(s): indie rock, indie pop, New Wave
Websites: http://teganandsara.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/teganandsara (Myspace), http://twitter.com/TEGANandSARA (Twitter)

This softspoken (or rather, soft-sung) duo comprised of identical twins Tegan and Sara Quin has been making wonderful music together since their teen days at age fifteen, though they didn't professionally record until 1999 when they released their debut album, Under Feet Like Ours. They often switch on who's singing lead and backup voices, but figuring out which twin sings what part in a particular song just might be part of the fun of listening to them. Their songs are great easy listening with beautiful lyrics and often contain an infectious background beat that will have you bopping your head in time with the music. They are a truly creative force in the world of music, with unique music videos as well as songs to establish them as great artists. All in all, the Quin sisters are double the fun, creativity, and listening pleasure for any music fan.
5 Songs to Listen to: Back In Your Head, Hell, Where Does the Good Go, Underwater, Alligator

Whew, that was a boatload of words to write and probably even more to say out loud. Hopefully you've seen some artists you want to check out, or gotten another person's perspective of artists you do like. And if you have any other Canadian favorites not on the list, feel free to rave about them in the comments. :)