So I’m a huge fan of The Tragically Hip but somehow missed the release of frontman Gord Downie’s latest solo record, his third, this past summer. The first time I heard the album’s single on the radio was about a month ago, I immediately went home to do some further investigation.

The Grand Bounce sees Downie recording with some other pretty impressive Canadian musicians under the guise of Gord Downie & The County of Miracles. Joining Downie is, among other names, Canadian singer/songwriter Julie Doiron and Josh Finlayson of Toronto’s Skydiggers. Together, this Canadian ensemble manages to scrape together a rather impressive record and at least some songs that definitely deserves some time on your playlist, in my opinion.

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In 1967, a Winnipeg prospector was looking for quartz near Falcon Lake, Manitoba when he encountered a UFO. Two UFOs, in fact. When one landed near him, he cautiously approached. Later, he would describe the craft as something like a metal soup bowl with a dome on top. As he approached what he described as the door, he heard two voices inside and although he couldn’t make out what they were saying, he could make out two distinct speakers. Peering in the craft he saw only what he described as a maze of lights. Suddenly, the door slid closed and, stumbling backwards, he grasped out for something to grip onto. Touching the ship’s exterior his heavy work gloves were burnt. As the ship began to rise, an overwhelming stench of sulphur caused the man to be sick; heat from the craft caused his shirt to catch on fire and his toque to burst into flames as well.

When the prospector emerged to tell his story doctors and law officials could find no faults, however extraordinary. His clothes were burnt in unusual patterns and, what’s more, burns on his body were indicative of the same strange patterns and could only be explained by doctors as resulting from aircraft exhaust. To his deathbed, the prospector swore his story was true and to this day, the RCMP list the case as unsolved.

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Speaking to As it Happens on CBC, Romeo Dallaire, arguably Canada’s most respected soldier says in regards to Canada’s handling of the Omar Khadr case,

[Canada] has failed beyond description.

The rest of the interesting and compelling interview can be found here (part 2 of the program).

Am I qualified to review a rap album? Probably not. But I’m going to do it anyway.

The Kenya-born, Canada-based Shad is known to be an all around nice guy. A chum. In all the interviews I’ve seen, in every media encounter, and in the tweets and notes I’ve read from those that are close to him he seems like the kind of person that you’d want to surround yourself with. A really, truly nice guy.

And that’s kind of what comes through, for me, in an album like TSOL.

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I know enough pixels and paper have already been wasted on the long gun registry so I’ll try to make this one worth your time.

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the Conservatives seem to have something against the term ‘long’. Is this odd? If nothing, I find it a bit alarming. First, was the concerted move straight from the Prime Minister’s Office to scrap the long-form census. This important aspect of Canada’s national census was seen by the Prime Minister as intrusive, invasive and unnecessarily. Indeed, an unnecessary invasion into the homes and the lives of Canadians. Ultimately, the decision was met with chorus upon chorus of protest particularly from people we refer to in layman’s terms as experts. People who knew what they were talking about, who opposed dismantling our national survey.

The Conservative’s second attack in their campaign against all things long is the long gun registry. For strikingly similar reasons, a private member’s bill put forward in the House of Commons, and supported roundly by the Conservatives, aims to scrap the registry and do away with the registration program. Simply put from the governing party, it’s too intrusive and unnecessary. And, in what feels very much like a scene from Groundhog Day, the Conservative decision is opposed by experts. Experts like the R.C.M.P., like the Canadian Chiefs of Police, and like Nurses—who are apparently experts on gun control? Yeah, I don’t know about that last one.

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Tony Dekker, aka Great Lake Swimmers, has that kind of rare talent—the talent that can turn one voice and one guitar into something incredible, something beautiful. It’s absolutely compelling.

Moving Pictures, Silent Films

I’ve seen The New Pornographers live before but I don’t remember them rocking out quite this hard.

What I love about both of these tracks is that, first of all, they sound even more epic live. The New Pornographers put together such incredible songs, building instrument upon instrument and building them together in such a seamless way. That sound is made even more incredible live, especially when you can see all the pieces performed and see how they all fit. It’s neat. Second, I love the incredible energy in these performances. You can tell that they’re having fun, you can see just how much they love making music, and it’s awesome. David Letterman’s little, “Ooo-wee,” at the end of the second video says it all.

It’s a two-for-one because I can possibly pick which video I prefer more.

Crash Years (on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”)

Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk (on “Late Show with David Letterman”)