The Daily Earworm: Starstruck by Santogold. It's good. It's sexy. You'll like it.

Sorry sorry sorry this is late again! I've only heard a bit of today's Daily Earworm band: It's Hayloft by Mother Mother. Think White Stripes mixed with a bit of Vivek Shraya and Tegan and Sara. I'm undecided on the band as a whole, but I like this song.

I missed yesterday's Daily Earworm, I apologize, but I moved to Montreal! And in honour of this lovely city, today's Daily Earworm goes to The Suburbs, by Montreal-based Arcade Fire.

Daily Earworm of today: Fool by Cat Power. Simple lyrics, beautifully haunting voice. Never loses its strength, no matter how many times you hear it.

Just to change up the pace a bit, today's Daily Earworm is Andare by Ludovico Einaudi. It's long: seven minutes and two seconds, and it's also completely instrumental. But it's so beautiful that it's worth it.

Daily Earworm: It's Okay by Land of Talk, off the album Some Are Lakes. It's mellow and sad, but has beautiful lyrics. My favorite: "Maybe when I die I get to be a car/Driving in the night, lighting up the dark".

The (belated) Daily Earworm of today is: What The Water Gave Me by Florence and the Machine. New release of the new album, which is set to be released in November. Although very different from her previous work, it's still quite ethereal and her voice is as gorgeously rich as ever. I'm loving it.

The Daily Earworm of today is: Sheets by Tegan and Sara. Its on the B-side of their record Sainthood. I don't know why it wasn't included on the main disc- it's one of my all time favorite T&S songs. Like the lyrics say, "it's a heart attack that you feel".

Daily Earworm for this stormy day: Some Boys by Death Cab For Cutie off their new album, Codes and Keys. Vocalist Ben Gibbard has found his groove- the song is repetitive yet thoughtful, and incredibly catchy.

And the Daily Earworm of today goes to: Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine. The cadence of Samuel Beam's voice is almost hypnotic, as he sings "Have I found you/ Flightless bird, jealous, weeping/Or lost you?" This is one of my all-time favorite Iron & Wine songs.

Today's Daily Earworm: Lover's Spit by Broken Social Scene (the Leslie Feist version). While not anywhere near the traditional love song, this song is both quirky and romantic. There are two versions, one with Kevin Drew on vocals, and one with Leslie Feist. I find the Feist version to be more heartfelt, her voice is rich and slow, as if she's savouring the lyrics. If someone serenaded me with this song, I'm not sure I could say no.

Daily Earworm: Calendar Girl by Stars. Suffice to say this song has been stuck in my head for the past three and a half years. Enough said.

So I downloaded the Audio Blood Media mixtape today. It was a compilation of 22 songs by 22 new artists. Here are my favorites:

The Keeper by Emma Hill and Her Gentleman Callers

Hush by Jenn Mireau

Through the Winter by Make Your Exit

Tiger Hugs byThe Archives*

Ritual Union by Little Dragon

*absolute favorite.

Download the mixtape and leave me your thoughts.

Catching Up With Dinosaur Bones

So I had the good fortune of interviewing Toronto-based alt-rock band Dinosaur Bones. You might have heard their song "N.Y.E" on the radio, or seen them live at Edgefest or SXSW. Let me just say that this band has got talent. If you haven't heard them, their style is kinda like Foster the People mixed with Blind Pilot. Their songs are mellow, they're great in concert, and they were nice enough to let me interview them! Here's what I found out in my email interview with Ben Fox.

Tell us a bit about the band- origins, inspirations, interesting facts?

We're from Toronto, Ontario. We're inspired by the success of Canadian artists. And fun fact: D-Bones keyboard player Dave Wickland is an accomplished flutist.

Where did the name "Dinosaur Bones" originate?

I saw it in a dream in bright shining lights. Sort of like that scene in Boogie Nights.

You recently performed at Edgefest, along with the Arkells and Tokyo Police Club. What kind of experience was that for you?

That was an incredibly fun day. The Arkells and TPC are two bands we've gotten to tour with and become friends, as well as The Reason and Hollerado. So it was really great for all of us to be playing the same festival. It was like a family reunion. And with all of us crashing eachother's sets throughout the day, shaking tambourines and singing along, I have a feeling it was pretty obvious we were all having the best time. And to top it off, I'm pretty sure that was the biggest crowd we've played for thus far. Pretty bonkers.

What's been your all-time favorite venue to play?

Well, the Horseshoe Tavern has become sort of our home base, so I definitely have to show them some love. But I think the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver may take the cake. Such an incredible venue, we're really lucky to have gotten the chance to play there. The Phoenix in Toronto is really fun to play as well. It's always exciting when you get to play some of the bigger venues in your home town.

Do people recognize you on the streets?

Haha, occasionally when we're out at other shows, but its not like we have people running up and asking for autographs. We're not exactly the Jonas Brothers (remember them??).

I've been hearing your song "N.Y.E" on the radio all summer. Can you tell me a bit about the song (the writing process, inspiration, etc).

I wrote that song shortly after moving back to Toronto from Montreal where I was going to school. It centers around the cause-and-effect of making that move and choosing to leave important things behind. It's kind of funny having our radio single turn out to to be the song that's closest to my heart.

Who would your dream collaborator be, living or dead?

John Lennon.

The artist/band you dream of being compared to is:

John Lennon. I realize that makes no sense considering our music, but I'd probably put him down as the greatest songwriter of all time.

What's the best part of being in a band? The worst?

Best: Quitting your day job. Worst: Realizing that was dumb and getting a new day job.

Any parting wisdom?
Eat your veggies. And support the bands you love!

The Daily Earworm is: Left Brain Blues by Fish & Bird. I must admit I have a soft spot for folk music, but Fish & Bird is my absolute favorite. They're like a Canadian hybrid of Mumford & Sons and Iron & Wine (what is it with folk bands and their ampersands?!). This song is sure to make you want to dance, and yet there is an unmistakably mellow vibe to Taylor Ashton's voice. After you listen to this I swear you will never get the line "My right brain has got the left brain blues" out of your head- but why would you want to?

Today's Daily Earworm goes to: If You Would Come Back Home by William Fitzsimmons. Off his third album The Sparrow and the Crow, this song should be the anthem of anyone who's experienced heartbreak or longing. Fitzsimmons' soft croon heightens the despair that is plain in the chorus: "If you would come back home/We could start all over/If you would come back home/I swear it would be better". But be warned, dear readers, this song may drive you to tears.

The Daily Earworm: Fragile Bird by City and Colour, off the new album Little Hell. It is definitely the strongest song off the record: frontman Dallas Green has expanded his vocal textures, giving the song a layered quality that reminds listeners of the transition between dreams and reality. This is underscored by the lyrics: Green has explained that the song is about his wife's night terrors. Both haunting and somewhat sexy, you'll want to listen to this song on repeat for hours.

Earworm of the day: Soft Rock Star by Metric, off the album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? I have long nursed a soft spot for frontwoman Emily Haines, but this song is especially good. Haines capitalizes on both her uncannily sweet voice and her powerful lyrics to swing together an unforgettable tune.The carefree, haunting chorus, "Choose the highest bidder, was my answer when they told me I was up for sale", stays in my head for hours, if not days.

The Daily Earworm

My new feature, and just what it sounds like- every day, a song I can't get out of my head.

Today's earworm is Michicant by Bon Iver, off the new self-titled album. Which I would buy, if I were you.

A Belated Dance Party with Ellie Goulding and the Bag Raiders

Dear readers, I apologize for the time that has elapsed between my seeing Ellie Goulding live and my report on it. I usually try to write these immediately after the concert, so the memory is still fresh, but let me say that in the week that has passed the experience has not faded.

I saw Goulding at Toronto's Kool Haus venue, and because I got there more than two hours early I managed to get a spot up close. Goulding's style seemed to be as addictive as her music- I saw several young Ellie Goulding lookalikes.Her opener, Australian duo Bag Raiders, got the crowd dancing with their electro-pop remixes, and their adorably bearded Chris Stracey won some hearts with his sweet accent and jokey demeanour. For those of you who don't know them (I didn't!) I'll post a link to some of my favorites.

Goulding came on around 9 (the doors opened at 7) with the crowd favourite "Under the Sheets". Everyone in the crowd knew the words, and was singing their heart out, which seemed to delight her. The British singer has shot up in popularity since the American video version of "Starry Eyed" was released in July this year, and has been compared to Kate Nash and Lykke Li. Going in, I have to say I was skeptical- though I've long been a fan of Goulding's music, I've found that most artists who rely heavily on electronic sound don't pack a punch in concert- but I was wrong about Ellie Goulding. Not only can she sing, but she also is quick to remix her own songs, using her considerable vocal talents to hold notes for so long that the audience stopped singing along and applauded in wonder and making slower songs more danceable. Her rendition of Elton John's classic "Your Song", which has won her awards in her home country, was sweet and soulful, one of the only quiet songs of the night. Though at first she seemed a bit crowd shy, going straight from one song to another, she warmed up to us, regaling us with the stories behind the songs. "The next time you think you've made a mistake, well, I made a bigger one, so I win," she told us, giggling, before launching into "Your Biggest Mistake".

Although the concert was short (including the encore, we got out at 10:15), Goulding packed a punch- the crowd was cheering even as it streamed out of Kool Haus. Keep an eye on Goulding- I have a feeling she'll be making a lot more critics go "Starry Eyed" in the future.

photo credit: Rachel Gould