Music: Top 5 Best Canadian Bands

End on a Hinote

Registered Abuser
Aug 22, 2011
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Northern British Columbia
I don't understand Rush. I think their songs are long and boring. I have never liked them and they have still not grown on me.

I don't care for them either, I only added them to the list because of their success. They're the only band I listed that wasnt due to my personal preference. I probably should have replaced them with Loverboy.

Another Canadian band that has really surprised me is Honeymoon Suite. I always though "New Girl Now" was a Supertramp song, and "Wave Babies" is really catchy. Chilliwack is another good one.
 

Frankie Blueberries

Allergic to draft picks
Jan 27, 2016
9,080
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My favourites:

Rush
Arcade Fire
Sum 41
The Tragically Hip
Metric

HM: Our Lady Peace, Matthew Good Band, Bare Naked Ladies, Gob, and Neil Young/The Weeknd if they count.
 

Supermassive

HISS, HISS
Feb 19, 2007
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Sherwood Park
Rush
The Tragically Hip
April Wine
Matthew Good Band
Tom Cochrane & Red Rider

would be my favorites. There are many, many Canadian bands with a ton of domestic success but little international recognition, though.
 

Daximus

Wow, what a terrific audience.
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Oct 11, 2014
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Five Hills
I'm going to take a modern heavier route, because I like that shit.

Vancouvers Strapping Young Lad, featuring the legendary Devin Townsend. Not only a massive influence on Canadian metal but metal worldwide. Devin Townsend has his hands all over the heavy music industry.


Whitby, Ontario's Protest The Hero has had a massive influence on modern progressive metal all over the world, including my old band. Rody Walker is among the more talented vocalists I've ever heard and had the pleasure of opening for, going from distorted cleans to falsettos to high pitch and deep and heavy guttural screams on a whim.


St. Catherine's, Ontario's Alexisonfire whose influence is massive on the post-hardcore or "screamo" genre. Often credited with bringing the genre to the mainstream, especially in Canada where they managed to gain regular play on Toronto's Much Music channel. George brought perfect controlled chaos, while Dallas brought his hauntingly beautiful order and every now and then Wade threw in his raspy gutter vocals to bring it all together on a sonic melody that was unforgettable.
 

Daximus

Wow, what a terrific audience.
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Oct 11, 2014
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continuation of last post...

Although not fully Canadian, Misery Signals has featured members from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Edmonton, Alberta and Regina, Saskatchewan. A massive underground influence on modern melodic metalcore the band has been cited as an influence to hundreds of bands throughout the 2000's with their chugging riffs, melodic soundscapes and odd time signatures.


Winnipeg, Manitoba's Figure four started in 1996 but have been a staple of Canada's hardcore punk genre not only through this band but through many others, including a recent resurgence of Comeback Kid. They were part of a very vibrant hardcore genre that was heavily focused throughout the Canadian prairies.
 

Neutrinos

Registered User
Sep 23, 2016
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How is Rush getting so much love? I literally don't know anyone who likes them. Most actually are like me and hate them

While I only know/like a few of their songs, there's no denying how ridiculously talented they are
 

Gordon Lightfoot

Hey Dotcom. Nice to meet you.
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Feb 3, 2009
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I can only do “favorites” as opposed to “greatest” in terms of influence or “success.”

The New Pornographers
Gordon Lightfoot
Sloan
Leonard Cohen
Godspeed You Black Emperor

HM: Destroyer, Joni Mitchell

Rush mostly annoys me, as does the excessive quirkiness of Barenaked Ladies, though I do like a good portion of their first album. And the song “Jane” is quite good.
 
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TF97

Registered User
Jul 4, 2010
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Halifax, NS
My personal favourites, in no particular order:

- Our Lady Peace
- The Tragically Hip
- Matthew Good Band
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Neil Young
 

Shareefruck

Registered User
Apr 2, 2005
28,859
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Vancouver, BC
I honestly can't say that I particularly care for any Canadian artists besides Leonard Cohen and The Band (even supposed legends like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell don't do anything for me, and bands like Rush sound outright terrible to my ears). Kind of an underwhelming scene.

Arcade Fire initially got me into music, but my appreciation for them has completely waned into barely anything.
 

Habsfunk

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Jan 11, 2003
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Leaving out predominantly solo artists (namely Neil Young & Leonard Cohen):
The Sadies
The Deadly Snakes
F'ed Up
The Costantines
Simply Saucer
 

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