2007 was a prolific year for Canadian label Arts & Crafts, with Kevin Drew’s Spirit If. and Stars’ In Our Bedroom After The War dropping in the fall, and Jason Collett’s Here’s To Being Here being released in February.
Despite such strong discs by established Canadian indie artists being stocked at your local record shop last year, the Junos still failed to take notice.
The lines may become blurred when alternative rock began to encompass artists like those on the Arts & Crafts label, but the Junos have given a nod to Stars in previous years. In 2004 their sophomore disc, Set Yourself On Fire, was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year, and again in 2005 with Hearts.
Stars, the Toronto-by-way-of-Montreal indie-pop group, have been together since 2000. The band includes members of Toronto indie rock collective Broken Social Scene.
One important thing to consider when it comes to awards like the Junos or Grammys is that these types of institutions espouse mainstream culture and popular music, hence “pop.”
Only in recent years have artists like Feist (who is a label mate with Stars) been able to crossover into the mainstream to find a large and accepting audience. Apple commercials certainly don’t hurt either.
Music snobs will largely ignore the Junos, or any other music award ceremony for that matter. It doesn’t mean that the music nominated for this year’s award show is in any way bad or lacking in artistic merit though.
Simply put, no matter how much acclaim a group or artist receives, chances are it will go under the radar if it lacks mainstream appeal.
In Our Bedroom After The War may have fallen victim to this – the very nature of the music industry. It is still an amazing CD, boasting strong vocals, catchy choruses and lovely melodies. Listen to “Take Me To The Riot” for proof.
As well, until they add a Montreal date to their five-stop mini tour, you can see them play in Ottawa on April 7 at the Bronson Centre.
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