Jordan Klassen

"Calgary musician Jordan Klassen's marriage of delicate acoustic guitar, melodic whistling, rhythmic toy drums, soulful fiddle and singing wine glasses have been creating a buzz in the independent music scene since his debut solo album was released in May of 2009.

Always a perfectionist, Jordan spent four years working and re-working the songs on his album, before deeming them worthy for others to hear. What resulted was a quietly intricate collection of tracks that are brimming with musical experimentation. His lyrics, both poetic and whimsical, add a charmingly quirky aspect to his multi-faceted melodies. Titled Tempest and Winter for its exploration of life's storms and the soul's winter, the finished album is a journey through periods of doubt and depression, waiting and self-discovery.

Originally hailing from Abbotsford, B.C., he got his start playing in the Indie-rock three-piece Sub Rosa before embarking on a solo career. The musician now calls Calgary, Alta. his home, and there has developed a loyal fan following as well as significant play time on the Canadian college radio circuit and podcasts.

While his music has been said to resemble the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird and Simon & Garfunkel, Jordan continues to present a unique sound that escapes comparison." (Kerianne Sproule).

Shot at the Dark - Jordan Klassen from Brock Mitchell on Vimeo.

Mix: Sometimes I Still Need You

"Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said 'This is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy.'"

1. "The Garden That You Planted" - Sea Wolf
2. "Heart Skipped a Beat" - The XX
3. "Believe in Love" - The Wooden Birds
4. "Written in Heart Signs, Faintly" - Throw Me the Statue
5. "First Day of My Life" - Bright Eyes
6. "As Tall As Cliffs" - Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
7. "Talking Backwards" - Fanfarlo
8. "Don't Stop (Loving Me Now)" - Floating Action

This mix was made on 8tracks where you can follow me, mustbeyou.

Born Ruffians

Hands down, my pick for most anticipated album of 2010 is Say It by Born Ruffians. There's no set release date yet, but if their last album Red, Yellow, & Blue is any indication at all, then it will be worth the wait.

Born Ruffians is definitely the Little Indie Band that Could. They formed in a small Canadian town in the early 2000s and began to gain popularity locally and on the internet. Since moving to Toronto in 2004 they have released an EP and a full-length album, and toured with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Tokyo Police Club, and Hot Chip.

Some may find their sound annoying, but once you get past the sharp vocals there are catchy basslines, shout-along lyrics, and upbeat, addicting guitar riffs to be discovered. I can vouch for the replayability of this band. I've been listening to their tracks on a semi-regular basis for the past two years. Just wait until Say It comes out...