My Fav Albums of 2017

December 28, 2017  /  Shawn Clarke

And we're at the end.  2017 was another crazy year for the world, but a pretty solid year for me.  I released what I think is my best work yet, TOPAZ (which you can listen to by clicking this run on sentance).  I also toured Europe for the first time ever, and that was such an amazing experience.  I'll be heading back soon, you can bet on that.  In the new year you can expect more shows in Ontario, an East Coast tour in April/May, and as I just mentioned, a trip back to Europe.  Know any places I should play?  Send me an email at shawnclarkemusic@gmail.com

Now on to something I love to do every year, somehow take the hundreds of albums I heard and narrow them down to a few for totally arbitrary reasons!  At the bottom you'll find a super handy Spotify link where you can listen to a track from all the albums I mention (or just click on this sentence!).  Enjoy!

The Top 10

  1. Weather Station - Weather Station
  2. Alvvays - Antisocialites
  3. Little Kid - Sun Milk
  4. Sampha - The Process
  5. Moses Sumney - Aromanticism
  6. Land of Talk - Life After Youth
  7. Abigail Lapell - Hide Nor Hair
  8. Fiest - Pleasure
  9. Jon McKiel - Memorial Ten Count
  10. Big Thief - Capacity

The Next 5

  1. Richard Laviolette - Taking The Long Way Home
  2. Jerry Leger - Nonsense And Heartache
  3. Kelela - Take Me Apart
  4. Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution
  5. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN

Extra: Two Reissues you should definitely own

So here are 2 fun extras for you.  I absolutely loved these reissues, and played them so much.  First, Jackie Shane - Any Other Way .  Jackie was a pioneer of transgender rights born in a male body, living her entire life as a woman at a time when to do so seemed unthinkable.  And she was an icon in Toronto during the 60's.  All that and the music is fantastic.  She should be more well known.

Next is the longest title of the year, World Sprituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda .  Another artist who should be better known.  This is a collection of her spiritual music, recorded at the Ashram she established and directed in 1983. As someone who spent a lot of time with Ambient, New Age and Spiritual music this year (and as someone who's spent a lifetime exploring the world of Free Jazz and experimental music), this comp is a must get! 

Thanks folks!  I hope you had a great 2017, and if you think I missed any great albums, please comment below! 

Love, and best wishes for the new year


SWC

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RIP Gord Downie

October 18, 2017  /  Shawn Clarke

We have a lost an important Canadian voice today.  In tribute, this is a repost of something a wrote a year ago for Anne Theriault's compilation of essays on the man himself, Gord Downie, and the songs that have inspired us.  You can read all the essays here:  For Gord: 27 Short Essays About The Tragically Hip, Plus One Poem 
I've posted my essay on the song 38 Years Old in full below, followed by a cover of Gord's tune "Trick Rider"

I don't remember a time when the Tragically Hip weren't in my life. Their first LP (1989's Up To Here) was released at the beginning of my early musical exploration. When I was asked to sing in my first high school band, we learned 5 or 6 tunes, including "New Orleans Is Sinking" and "Blow At High Dough". They were the soundtrack to bush parties, high school basketball games, long car drives, proms, they were everywhere.

And I hated them.

Let's talk about a song, though. Actually let's talk about songwriting. Even in the days when I hated the Hip the most, I always had this nagging inner voice telling me that I might be making a horrible mistake in harbouring such a negative (and unpopular) opinion about the band. Eventually that voice became too loud to ignore, and at that point I began to pay attention to what these tunes were actually about:

Canadian cities.

Canadian people.

Canadian history.

They were telling their Canadian audience that there was no shame in telling Canadian stories, and they're right. There isn't.

Jeez, Gord. I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.

In 1989, when Kim Mitchell was vapidly lamenting his "Rock And Roll Duty", and long-forgotten chanteuse Candi was reminding us that "Love Makes No Promises", The Tragically Hip were singing about The Millhaven prison break ("38 Years Old"). That particular story is just as interesting as anything from San Quentin or Folsom, but what made Downie's telling of it extraordinary was the choice he made in focusing on the emotional and the familiar instead of the sensational. And, with all due respect to Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, that's what holds this song above your average prison song. Downie creates an empathy for the song's protagonist, Mike, that I've never felt for Cash's chain gang murderer. But at the same time, Downie manages to avoid the weepy sentimentality of a "Moma Tried"; When Mike's mother cries that "the horror has finally ceased," the scene is played in such a matter-of-fact way that it feels real. It feels like it could be my family.

"38 Years Old" is just one example of Gord's genius for combining Canadiana with brilliant storytelling. Since that first LP, The Tragically Hip have told the stories of Bobcaygeon, The Isle Aux Morts, Sault Sainte Marie, Niagara Falls, Toronto, a lake in Quebec, Algonquin Park, The Prairies, the 100th Meridian, a cemetery in Kingston, hockey, bears, CBC, Canada — just to name a few. Put it this way: if it's a Canadian event, place or feeling, the Hip have probably sung about it. And all of this has paved the way for other Canadian singer-songwriters to explore their own relationship with this country and its history.

Jeez, Gord. I'm sorry I didn't see these things earlier.

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First single: Autumn In New Brunswick

July 07, 2017  /  Shawn Clarke

The beautiful first single from Shawn William Clarke’s upcoming album TOPAZ is a homage to finding windows of solace amidst the chaos of life.

Departing from the more acoustically-driven tendencies of his past release, William, the transition comes with ease. Shawn William Clarke has curated his textures to follow his lyrics. Effortlessly bringing on a more electric and 70’s AM Radio Gold feel to his newest single, “Autumn in New Brunswick”.

Shawn’s signature hypnotic and autobiographical lyrics present the resting and calming points of the hectic nature of touring. Feeling much like a road diary, “Autumn in New Brunswick” is an emotional postcard to a friend. The song is serene and pastoral, matching up as a perfect companion to the subject. Clarke shares a glimpse into his life on the road with Olenka and Autumn Lovers, and fittingly adding the vocal prowess of Olenka herself on harmonies. Sink into your seat, close your eyes and let the words paint the picture for you.

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Folk Roots Radio Interview

April 22, 2017  /  Shawn Clarke

Back in October I found myself at the Folk Music Ontario conference in Ottawa.  While there I had a chance to chat with Jan Hall, who has featured me on her program in the past.  She's a really wonderful interviewer, and great human being.  It was fun to talk with her, and I played 2 new songs that'll appear on my upcoming album!  Please check it below, the interview starts around the 18 minute mark.

It's really interesting to listen to those songs, they've gone through some changes since October!  I can't wait to play them for you soon! 


SWC

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