Sarah Slean

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Slean is releasing a new studio album, that as far as I know is yet to be titled, in March. The first single from this album is "Get Home" and she has made it available via her website until the album's release. She asks that you sign up for her mailing list in order to download it, but it isn't necessary (but please visit her website and follow the link to join the list if you are interested, she's worth it).

Sarah combines the styles of her fellow Canadian songstresses named Sarah (McLachlan and Harmer). She has the ambient and beautiful vocals of McLachlan and the strong folk lyrics of Harmer. Many of her songs would suit a smokey piano bar, but she can also crank out a poppy little number as well, like her amazing "Sweet Ones". Her new song "Get Home" is a beautiful ballad that hints at great things for the new album.

• Get Home (demo version)

Tegan and Sara: The Con

Canada's most talented (I'm assuming) twin lesbians, Tegan and Sara, will be releasing their latest album, "The Con", on July 24th. But their website says that the digital version will be available on iTunes later this month (they seem unsure whether it will be June 19th or the 26th). Of what I have heard of the new album I would say it is definitely quality material but I am not sure it is quite as uncommonly catchy and worthy of the "DAMN this is good!" comments as their last two albums were. But it's definitely on my list to get this summer, and if almost all the American dates weren't already sold out, so would be seeing them in concert again.

For now, you can listen to tracks from the new album at their MySpace page and check out a few tracks of some of their previous work below.

• I Know, I Know, I Know
• I Bet It Stung
• Walking with a Ghost

Holly McNarland "Every Single Time"

Holly McNarland's next full length album "Chin Up, Buttercup" has been in the works for a while now, but they finally set a date for it's release....June, 5th, 2007. Praise be! In the meantime, she has posted the video for the single "Every Single Time", a catchy little upbeat love song, on YouTube and I thought I would share.

From this one song it seems as though the album will be more produced, perhaps less angsty than some of her others. She has some great more-produced albums though, so even though I am crazy about just a woman and her instrument, this being more heavily produced doesn't mean it won't be excellent. But, I do love her acoustic stuff, it really is amazing. In fact, I have had her song "Bye Bye Boy" (from her acoustic EP "The Komrade Sessions) in my head for over a week now, I recommend it to everyone. It is available on iTunes.

But now, enjoy her new video featuring a new short hairdo and a lack of clothing!