We Americans tend to think we have a pretty amazingly musical and artistic country, but perhaps we should be paying a little closer attention to the music of our neighbors to the North. Pretty much anytime you want to get turned on to a new act that might not have made it down over the border and to your ears, all you have to do is check out the Junos or Polaris. This year, Plants and Animals were up for New Group of the Year, but lost to The Stills. more ›

So, in case you haven't heard, there's this little performance going on tonight at Emo's. This little sold out show by some mish-masher called Girl Talk. And say you were one of the unfortunate many who slept on buying tickets, and now you're locked out of one of the hottest Monday nights in months. Well, there's no need to fret or weep or pity yourself into your pillow, because you should know there's another option tonight, and it's not sold out, and as a matter of convenience, it's actually in the same venue as the night's "pretty big deal." So, without further ado, your official "next best thing" (or "best thing," if you're one of those who think Girl Talk's a hack, and we know you're out there): Canada's Born Ruffians, with support from fellow countrymen Plants and Animals, will be bringing the sound to Emo's Inside, and, actually, both of these bands are pretty darn swell, even if they do suffer from making their own music on true-to-life instruments. more ›