Fefe Dobson

So this pick is probably going to make some of y'all's eyes roll, but keep an open mind. Fefe Dobson hasn't really made it big yet. Sure she has had a song here or there barely, but not much else. In fact her sophomore album was scrapped after her first two singles off said album failed to chart. Maybe we'll chalk her up to bigger in Canada.

But I ask why isn't she clicking with today's music scene? She fits into the same category as Avril Lavigne, and I would argue that she even surpasses her. I have a feeling that Fefe's time is coming. Her third (2nd?) album is entitled Joy and is set for release this fall on an independent label. One of her songs was recently covered by Jordin Sparks (Don't Let It Go To Your Head), and her first single, I Want You, is pure pop/rock bliss. From the simple guitar to the hand claps, everything clicks on this song. Fefe has never delivered such a sharp, catchy song before. Her punk snare is still intact and ready for a whole new chapter in her rising music star.

Fefe Dobson- Myspace
I Want You-

The Trews

I've been meaning to feature these guys for a while now, but am just getting around to it. From Canada, The Trews are big, loud rock and roll. There aren't any frills- just straight forward rock. They are all chugging guitars, pounding drums, and explosive vocals. But they somehow still manage to find a catchy hook every time. Some bands would just rather power through than find the melody.

Their album No Time For Later is filled with gasoline and sparks. There are a couple great tracks that make you want to sing out loud. The title track is one of the best with an energy level that stays at 11 the entire time. Lead singer Collin MacDonald sings every song like his life depended on it. I get a bit of Eddie Veder vibe from him. Feel The Pain is the catchiest song of the album with a killer the chorus. The Trews aren't playing around with their sound. They are rockers with a melodic side. A great side to be on by the way.

The Trews- Myspace
No Time For Later

Two Hours Traffic

Canada's Two Hours Traffic is unabashedly catchy and sincere. (They get their name from a line in Romeo & Juliet, by the way.) With their second release Little Jabs, Two Hours Traffic find themselves blending folksy rock with powerpop. Lead singer Liam Corcoran and guitarist Alec O'Hanley founded the group around 2002 while attending University of Prince Edward Island.

Corcoran's vocals are raspy and soft. The group's vibe is perfect for laid back summers. So it's fitting that the first single off Little Jabs is a track called Stuck for the Summer. Its got a peppy, guitar hook and bouncy chorus that is perfect for driving with the windows down. They've already been featured in many TV shows such Gossip Girl and Castle. Two Hours Traffic isn't really anything new, but create catchy hooks and tight pop songs.

Two Hours Traffic- Myspace
Stuck For The Summer-


Download This- Stuck For The Summer

Sam Roberts

Is it a band or a person? True, the lead singer's name is Sam Roberts and the band is called Sam Roberts as well. It's kind of like Daughtry or Bon Jovi. The name, not the sound. Anyway... Sam Roberts is wildly popular in Canada but not here; at least not yet. They have released a couple of albums with their latest, Love At The End Of The World, hitting stores in February.

Sam Roberts has a down-home indie rock vibe. Their hooks are catchy and the delivery is reminiscent of The Strokes through a southern rock filter. But strangely enough they never venture into country territory. (Thankfully.) Their best song is Them Kids, a rolling ode to the state of the current rock music scene. Roberts delivers swift lines such as: Them kids don't know how to dance to rock and roll, with the confidence of someone who does. Another track to get your hands on is Detroit '67 which incorporates a pounding saloon piano line throughout. This album may be one to put Sam Roberts, the man and the band, on the US radar.

Sam Roberts- Myspace
Them Kids-