Music N' Other Drugs

Kim Mitchell’s 1992 album, “Aural Fixations,” was the first cassette I ever owned, so it’s safe to say that Canadian music has been an obsession of mine from the moment I discovered just how much commercial radio wasn’t allowing me to hear. I’ve even been told by Canadians I’ve met and Canadian artists I’ve interviewed that my passion runs deeper than a lot of people in their own country.

Despite the smoke from the Central Canadian wildfires that continues to billow into Western New York, I’ve decided that the musical gifts we’ve received from the Great White North outweigh a momentary disruption of my summer routine.

In honor of Canada Day tomorrow (July 1), I’ve curated a list of my 35 favorite albums from Canada for your listening pleasure. I’ve spent hours and hours with each of them during my 35 years, which is exactly what I hope you’ll be inspired to do after reading this.

The Tragically Hip – “Day for Night” (1994)

In many ways, The Hip are the quintessential Canadian band and this is the album that should have broken them in America.

Rush – “Permanent Waves” (1980)

“Moving Pictures” is arguably their best album, but “The Spirit of Radio,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” and “Natural Science” are all can’t miss classics.

Triumph – “Allied Forces” (1981)

Rik Emmett was one of my earliest guitar heroes and this album is the reason why.

Sass Jordan – “Rats” (1994)

Sass is the baddest female rock vocalist not named Ann Wilson.

Barenaked Ladies – “Gordon” (1992)

They’re a novelty band in America, but the material here has a jazzy shuffle to it that I find irresistible.

The Lowest of the Low – “Shakespeare My Butt” (1991)

I never fully embraced this album until I saw them perform the whole thing live back in 2021, but I’m now among the converted.

Bruce Cockburn – “Stealing Fire” (1984)

In a world desperate for social media attention, Bruce Cockburn lets his songs and allegiance to the truth do the talking.

The Pursuit of Happiness – “Love Junk” (1988)

Moe Berg’s lyrics would have made him an indie legend in America, but not even the production by Todd Rundgren was enough to make people take notice.

Gowan – “Strange Animal” (1985)

This would make the list for “A Criminal Mind” alone, but the presence of Peter Gabriel’s band takes Gowan’s work to another level.

Neil Young – “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” (1969)

Neil’s second album is his best.

Our Lady Peace – “Clumsy” (1997)

There are plenty of people who can’t get past Raine Maida’s nasally delivery, but I’m not one of those people.

The Tea Party – “The Edges of Twilight” (1995)

Jeff Martin, Stuart Chatwood, and Geoff Burrows generate a Zeppelin-esque mystique that grows even stronger in a live setting.

Leonard Cohen – “Songs of Leonard Cohen” (1967)

The legend of Leonard Cohen as a poet began with this album.

Coney Hatch – “Coney Hatch” (1982)

I’ve interviewed both Carl Dixon and Andy Curran in recent years, and their love for this album still rivals my own.

Headstones – “Picture of Health” (1993)

Hugh Dillon has seen some shit in his time and the raucous vibe of this album matches his attitude to a T.

Sloan – “Smeared” (1992)

American music magazines swooned over Pavement in the ’90s, but I’ll take Sloan any day of the week.

Billy Talent – “Billy Talent III” (2009)

One of my favorite hard rock bands to emerge from the 2000s.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive – “Not Fragile” (1974)

Classic ’70s rock with riffs for days.

Joni Mitchell – “For the Roses” (1972)

“Blue” is the critical darling, but the follow-up is emotionally sprawling and intimate all at once.

Big Wreck – “In Loving Memory Of…” (1997)

Ian Thornley is another guitar hero of mine.

Sarah McLachlan – “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” (1993)

The whole album slays, but “Possession” remains her crowning achievement.

The Guess Who – “Canned Wheat” (1969)

No list of this nature would be completed without “Laughing” and “Undun.”

Cowboy Junkies – “The Trinity Session” (1988)

Margo Timmins will seduce you from the opening note.

Voivod – “Nothingface” (1989)

Experimental metal from a band that never makes the same album twice.

Buffy Sainte-Marie – “She Used to Wanna Be a Ballerina” (1971)

Her activism is equally as important as her artistry.

Max Webster – “Universal Juveniles” (1980)

Their last album is also their heaviest.

Saga – “Worlds Apart” (1981)

An ’80s prog classic.

K.d. Lang – “Ingénue” (1992)

What a voice.

April Wine – “The Nature of the Beast” (1981)

Another band that should have been huge in America.

Kim Mitchell – “Akimbo Alogo” (1984)

Mitchell fires on all cylinders with his first full-length release post-Max Webster.

The Northern Pikes – Secrets of the Alibi (1988)

They’re probably too smart for the charts, but they’re one of the finest bands to come out of the ’80s.

Dream Warriors – “And Now the Legacy Begins” (1991)

One of my favorite hip hop albums of all time.

Pat Travers Band – “Live! Go For What You Know” (1979)

Travers, Pat Thrall, Mars Cowling, and Tommy Aldridge melt your face off.

Colin James – “Colin James” (1988)

James expertly blends pop with the blues on his debut.

The Trews – “No Time for Later” (2008)
I saw them four times on that tour and every night was unforgettable.