31 March 2026 - Felix Cartal & Fionn - The Way

I have rarely done what I did today.

But when I tell you that Fionn is by far my most listened to artist so far in 2026, this cover of the Fastball classic is a big reason for this. 

OK, sure, it's really Felix Cartal's song - he's providing the music while the Finn-Morris twins are giving you the great harmonies - but c'mon.  He's not why you're here. 

This video was filmed in five hours in Mission, British Columbia. And yes, they did turn a motor vehicle into a ball pit. 

31 March 2026 - Fionn - I Might Start Smoking

I have traditionally saved the last day of March for the last few years for a newer artist I have recently discovered that has been on heavy rotation for me. 

In 2021, that was Cœur de Pirate. In 2022, that was Lights.  In 2023, that was Lennon and Maisy Stella. In 2024, that was The Beaches. 

Let's not talk about last year. 

For this last day of March, I'm going to talk about a band I only just discovered a few months ago. 

In fact, I first heard them and their latest album, scum., on December 10th of last year.  It was so good, I rated it my 16th favorite album of 2025.  Let's read what some critic said about them:

"Fionn’s scum. is pure femme‑rage pop‑rock, a tight, snarling little record where every chorus feels like finally saying the thing you swallowed at work, at the bar, on stage. Songs like “Blow” and the title track turn mansplaining, bad exes and low‑level everyday misogyny into sugar‑rush guitar anthems, all Veruca Salt/Elastica‑coded hooks and twin‑sister harmonies that made this one of my go‑to “I'm pissed, but I need to be pissed safely” albums of 2025." - literally me. 

Since then, I've had a chance to live with Fionn's catalog and music.  Not only would I rate scum. higher now than I did in December - and spoiler alert, I'm going to revisit that list - it's likely a top 10 album and woefully underappreciated. They are my most listened to artist so far in 2025 - and I have branched out further than their latest album.  

Today's song is the title song from their 2023 set that featured the same femme-rage pop rock and same twin sister harmonies - and may have been been a little angrier. 

I kind of like the Vancouver-based harmonies even more live.  And, here, you can tell that - although they do have a drummer - the signature sound is all Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris's work. 

Yes, the band's name is a play on their last name.  

I think this video probably shows best why Fionn's music resonates with me.

Literally anyone can dance to this. 

30 March 2026 - Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

I was looking through my drafts after hearing last night's tribute to her on the JUNOS as she received the Lifetime Achievement Award... and it was given to her by the literal Prime Minister, Mark Carney.  I've never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan - but she was a fantastic songwriter and performer. 

Sarah McLachlan and Alison Russell did a brilliant job performing this song in tribute... and then Joni walked out on stage and tried to perform as well... but her mic wasn't working for some reason.  I feel like someone else up there could have given her a working microphone... but anyway.  Because she got cut off from singing more, I wanted to make sure *I* paid tribute to her here.

This performance is from 1970 and the Isle of Wight festival.

Now, what is maybe not so well-remembered is that she also won a lot of Grammy Awards... and her last win came in 2024, with her live album from the Newport Festival.  She performed this song live in the ceremony that year, and it was very different sounding.... not just her voice, which was huskier, sure, but also a woman who had lived a life and a GREAT one at that. 

It is a chillingly good performance. 

30 March 2026 - Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Valse frustrée

A year ago, I had no idea who Lou-Adriane Cassidy was. 

Well, I will admit that I have a draft from 2024 of one of her songs for this blog.  I literally didn't realize that until I was writing this post. 

Three months ago, I declared her FIRST 2025 album, Journal d'un Loup-Garou, my favorite album of 2025.  I would reconsider a number of my 2025 list choices.  THAT is not one of them.  CLEAR best album of 2025.  If that album had not won the Francophone album of the year at the JUNOS this weekend (which, of course it did), I would have been shocked!

One of the choices I would reconsider is on my honourable mentions list - and it is Triste Animal, Lou-Adriane Cassidy's SECOND 2025 album.  Whereas the former tells a huge, sweeping story, the latter is more intimate - a quieter, different-sounding album.  Both albums deserved top 10 spots, and I really hope Triste Animal is a Polaris consideration this year. 

So, what better way to show you a frustrated waltz than a huge crowd?

I think it's telling that there aren't really videos for the songs on Triste Animal.  There's just her, her huge voice, and the strong emotion from the songs she wrote with Alexandre Martel.

YES, that is Thierry Larose on guitar.  Let's just dispense with that right now. 

But if you REALLY want to hear the studio version, here ya go.  It's still pretty great!

Lou-Adriane Cassidy and Thierry Larose will return.

29 March 2026 - The OBGM's - Buffalo

I know we talk about the Polaris Music Prize an awful lot here. 

However, the shortlist for that prize has a long history of excellent music. 

The OBGM's (Oooh Baby Gimme More) 3rd album, Sorry It's Over, was shortlisted for the Polaris Prize last year, and is nominated for a JUNO award this weekend.  The album is an angry and noisy sonic masterpiece, and you should check it out.

The band got a big break from an audition for a Budweiser ad, when the black Canadian-fronted band went from being booked for "urban" gigs to punk festivals.  

I mentioned that they were black Canadian-fronted.  In the video above, you saw Densil McFarlane.

In this live video, you can see that they're a Canadian punk band and no other adjective matters.

28 March 2026 - cootie catcher - ontario

cootie catcher are a band from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

I'm kidding.  They're from Toronto.

For those unfamiliar with Canada, three guesses as to what province Toronto is in.  For those familiar with Canada, THEY LITERALLY WROTE A SONG ABOUT THEIR HOME PROVINCE.

I mean, they didn't write a POSITIVE song about their home province, but they DID write it. 

From their 2023 EP 5678, this is a great representation of the lo-fi pop music cootie catcher has been making for years. 

Even small bands perform live. 

In people's living rooms.

Specifically, the drummer's living room.  

Which is, presumably, in Ontario. 

27 March 2026 - Nelly Furtado - Maneater

Did you realize that we've never posted Nelly Furtado during March?

We didn't.  

Which is a shame, because on Sunday, Nelly Furtado - who announced her retirement from live performances that she better be breaking tonight - is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.  And, really, we should have given her more due before today. 

So, we chose this song, co-written by Furtado, Jim Beanz, and producers Timbaland (who appears on a different Nelly Furtado song that was an even bigger hit than this one, and who also provides background vocals to this) and Danja (who ALSO contributes background vocals), that is Nelly's 2nd biggest hit in Canada (to date, I presume), making it to #2 in 2006.  

Of COURSE she went on Letterman and performed the hell out of the song.