Paper Bag Records is a Toronto independent label that is celebrating their tenth anniversary this weekend with three shows at the Great Hall in TO. Over the past decade, some of Canada's very best bands have called the label home at one time or another.
Arcade Fire's Funeral was even rumoured to come within a power chord of being released on Paper Bag back in 2004.
With the anniversary in mind, here are two sets of Top 5 Lists to celebrate the fantastic Canadian music Paper Bag Records has brought us over the past ten years.
Top 5 Paper Bag Records Bands - PAST
5. Broken Social Scene: It can't be ignored that PBR was the first label to release BSS's breakthrough first album You Forgot It In People.
4. Tokyo Police Club: When PBR released TPC's first EP they had an instant indie smash on their hands.
3. Laura Barrett: I loved that PBR took a chance on a petite, quiet girl in library glasses playing an African thumb piano.
2. Controller.Controller: I adored this death-disco electro-clash urban dance punk outfit to death. Best Canadian lead singer name to say on the radio ever: Nirmala Basnayake.
1. The Deadly Snakes: The Snakes succumbed to their own venom when they released their swan song album Porchella on PBR in 2005, and it is one of the greatest Canadian albums of all time.
Top 5 Paper Bag Records Bands - PRESENT
5. Young Galaxy: This band writes anthems, pure and simple! The Fleetwood Mac of Canada.
4. PS I Love You: PBR may have unleashed Canada's greatest rock guitarist since Randy Bachman in Paul Saulnier. (That's a compliment, by the way).
3. Cuff The Duke: Their songs sound like Canada. Timeless singing and songwriting skillz from Wayne Petti.
2. You Say Party: XXXX, the album released just before the tragic death of drummer Devon Clifford, is a classic.
1. Elliott BROOD: An unbelievable band both on record and in concert, the Brood are essentially a barbed wire acoustic trio who have managed to create a gigantic sound built on great songs.
Honourable mention: Stars, the Rural Alberta Advantage, The Acorn, Austra.
This brings me to my...
Poll Question of the Day:
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PAPER BAG RECORDS BAND PAST OR PRESENT? (FULL LIST BELOW)
Let me know what you think by posting on our blog, or you can email me grant.lawrence@cbc.ca, or tweet us up @cbcradio3 or @grantlawrence.
Hear many of these bands and listen to the live conversation on Grant Lawrence Live on Radio 3, starting at noon ET / 9am PT.
The complete Paper Bag Records roster past and present (Canadian artists only):
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
The Luyas
Tim Hecker
Moonface
Cuff The Duke
Elliott BROOD
Austra
Rural Alberta Advantage
PS I Love You
Winter Gloves
Young Galaxy
You Say Party
The Acorn
Woodhands
Born Ruffians
Slim Twig
CFCF
Monogrenade
Rock Plaza Central
Two Fingers
Josh Reichmann Oracle Band
Laura Barrett
Tokyo Police Club
Uncut
Mathemagic
The Deadly Snakes
Matthew Barber
Plastikman
Jake Fairley
Fembots
controller.controller
Cities In Dust
Stars
Andre Ethier
Magneta Lane
Montag
Memphis
Broken Social Scene
Related links:
Paper Bag Records celebrates 10 Years
Grant Lawrence's Top 5 Polaris Prize Gala Moments