Northern Exposure is a weekly feature where I (Mark) present you with something from the underground of Canadian music.
Essentially this post is just an excuse for me to gush over how much I’m looking forward to a new Cold Warps full-length, but there is some new music involved here as well. Yesterday the band put up five demos of songs for their upcoming full-length. If you’re familiar with Cold Warps then you’ll know exactly what to expect. If you aren’t familiar with the band then just be prepared to have some energetic power pop drilled into the cavernous depths of your brain where it can’t be easily removed. Maybe the only surprise from these five demos is the final song “Worry Worms”, which reminds me a lot of something acoustic you may have heard from Jay Reatard while he was still alive. Of course, it’s important to note that these songs are only demos, so it’ll be interesting to see how the finished product of some of these tracks turn out. As an added bonus, even though these are demos, they’ll be released on cassette this march via Bruised Tongue (a cool little tape label from Ottawa). So keep an eye out for that next month and I’ll no doubt have a post up when Cold Warps releases their upcoming full-length.
Halifax fuzz poppers Cold Warps are back with their second 7" of the year and it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect from them. The A-side "Don't Haunt Me, OK" and the B-side "Stuck On An Island" are just two quick, fun and catchy garage pop tunes. If you enjoyed any of Cold Warps' past work then I can't imagine how you wouldn't enjoy these two tracks.
This single is the being released as the 6th installment of the Noyes Records singles series and it's available right now through Noyes' website on vinyl or digital. The first official release of the 7" with be this coming Saturday during the Halifax Pop Explosion when Cold Warps plays their show with The Black Lips. Have a listen to both tracks down below.
(Northern Exposure is a feature where Mark incessantly rambles about music from his home country of Canada.)
I’ve mostly stuck to some more well known bands in this feature so far, but I figured it was finally time to go for some deep cuts. So without further ado, it’s time to introduce you all to Cold Warps.
I have to admit that I was completely ignorant as to what this band had to offer about a month ago. But, since the release of their new 7” titled Slimer, I’ve since fallen in love with this four-piece outfit from Halifax/Ottawa.
Cold Warps released their first self-titled cassette tape back in 2009. Since, I’ve discovered Cold Warps I’m pretty sure that I haven’t found a better way to spend 10 minutes than listening to this tape. It basically encompases everythying that I love about music. It’s just plain and simple raw, energetic, and catchy as hell power pop. It actually reminds me a lot of Jay Reatard’s Blood Visions. It probably isn’t as visceral as Blood Visions, but I’d call this tape equally as catchy. Like I said, it’s only 10 minutes long and it’s available for free on their bandcamp, so you really have no excuse not to listen to it.
In 2010 Cold Warps released their second cassette tape titled Endless Bummer. Overall the sound of Endless Bummer was maybe a little less in your face than Cold Warps was, but it’s no less catchy. Again, this is only 12 minutes long and it’s free, so go ahead and listen your heart out.
Even though both these cassette tapes sold out within a year of being released, you can still get a physical copy of them. The tapes were released as an LP compilation on Noyes Records, who are an awesome label from Halifax. I’m really glad that these tracks got a release on vinyl because they definitely deserve it.
More recently Cold Warps released a new 7” titled Slimer was released on Fundog Records. The A-side”Slimer” and the B-side “Dream Creepin’” are two more solid catchy as hell tracks. I haven’t disliked anything that I’ve heard from Cold Warps and I don’t think I will in the future.
Although there aren’t many out, Cold Warps’ videos have become an iconic part of my YouTube watching diet. I think my favourite video is for their song “Stupid Tattoos”. It features the band getting... well... stupid tattoos. My favourite of which is a heart with the word “tattoo” inside of it. I’m not planning on getting a tattoo any time soon, but if I do that one is going to be on the top of my list for sure.
All things considered, Cold Warps aren’t reinventing anything with the music they make, but they do what they do amazingly well. The band describes themselves as “Joey Ramone beating Paul McCartney over the head with songs about science fiction, teenage apathy and summer love”. I guess that also means they make really to the point power pop music, which is just fine with me.
If you know me at all, you'll know that I have a love affair with Canadian music. Specifically music from the east coast of Canada because that's where I grew up and listening to music from there kind of brings me back home.That might be the reason that I love this new Cold Warps 7" so much, or it could just be because the songs on it are awesome.
Cold Warps are 4 piece band haling from Ottawa/Halifax who make some really catchy and fun sounding garage pop. There aren't really any frills here to speak of because they aren't necessary at all, what you see is what you get with this group.
The record is being released on Fundog Records, which is a label started by one of my favourite Canadian bands, Dog Day. I already have my 7" and I have to say that the quality is immaculate. The sleeve is screen printed by hand and the 7" itself comes on slime green coloured vinyl.
So if you dig these songs I'd urge you to pick up this 7", it's definitely worth it.
