I found this band, the Weakerthans, on iTunes, and fell in love on the first clip play. This is the sort of discovery I used to make on the radio, back when they played stuff like this. Now, I listen to a public radio alternative station and hear mostly stuff I liked 5 years ago–and that's my best option.
The Weakerthans are from Winnipeg. But they sound like someone did a statistical analysis of the contents of my iTunes library and record collection and created an optimized band ( “3/4 Icelandic”, as their site proclaims) matched specifically to my musical tastes.
And the lyrics…
How I don't know how to sing,
I can barely play this thing,
But you never seem to mind,
And you tell me to fuck off,
When I need somebody to,
How you make me laugh so hard,
How whole years refuse to stay,
Where we told them to back off,
Locked up blindly in a word,
Or a misplaced souvenier,
How the past chews on your shoes,
And these memories lick my ear.
I know,
You might roll your eyes at this,
But I'm so,
Glad that you exist.
–the Weakerthans, “The Reasons”
Sean M. Gallagher 