Toronto Star Podcasts

Anti-Hit List - May 3

This week we have new music by Belgium's Styrofoam f. Jim Adkins, Brooklyn's Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens and El Paso's Sleepercar.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 26

This week we have fresh offerings from Irish singer Gemma Hayes and our favourite new band out of Seattle Fleet Foxes. We also have a bittersweet ode to love by UK singer-songwriter Justin Currie.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 19

This week we have new music by Young And Sexy, Bonjour Brumaire and Wolf Parade.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 12

This week we have a track by Norah Jones's punk band El Madmo, a top-notch, power-pop original by Jordan Zevon, son of Warren, and a sample of the highly anticipated follow-up by Toronto pianist Elizabeth Shepherd.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 5

This week we preview fresh music by a former member of Toronto's Lake Holiday, Aaron Booth, who has moved back to his hometown of Calgary. We also have the most danceable song sung in Bulgarian that you'll hear all year by Liverpool-based quartet Ladytron and a track by the much buzzed-about duo from Stockholm The Sound of Arrows.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 29

This week we preview new music by an electro duo from Australia, The Presets, who deliver a punchy and instantly addictive track to our podcast. We also have music by Montreal band Islands, one-man jukebox from Manchester Jim Noir and Chicago singer-songwriter Cameron McGill And What Army.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 22

This week we have new music by UK favourites The Charlatans and Toronto band The Coast. We also have the long and better version of TV's Corner Gas theme by the new/old act out of Vancouver, The New Odds.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 15

Hear new music by 21-year-old Swedish siren Lykke Li and indie electronic German band The Notwist. We've also got a glorious, synth-drenched 80's homage by long distance duo Neon Neon and a stunning travelling song by Toronto's Forest City Lovers.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 8

This week we have the return of an oddball five-piece out of Omaha, Tilly & The Wall, who are known for using tap dancers as their rhythm section. We also have new music by Toronto Collective Hank, Will Currie & The Country French, who got their start at Waterloo's Wilfrid Laurier University and Borko, an exceptional export out of Iceland.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 1

This week we preview new music by young British group, Cajun Dance Party, whose music projects take place after school, a soulful track by Billy Bragg, a highly textured track by Seattle's Throw Me The Statue and an acoustic lament by Justin Townes Earle.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 23

This week we preview new music by goth pioneers Bauhaus, UK newcomers The Accidental, an L.A.-based duo called The Submarines and a spectacular song by Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli who together are The Gutter Twins.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 16

This week we have new music by Vancouver act Destroyer, a New York singer-songwriter Dawn Landes, Brooklyn's My Teenage Stride and San Francisco band Scrabbel.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 9

Listen to fresh music by Calgary singer-songwriter Kara Keith, a sample from an upcoming album by Little Rock-via-Brooklyn quintet American Princes, an evocative track by New York's Cassettes Won't Listen and last, but not least, new music by this week's entry in Britain's Next Big Thing sweepstakes, These New Puritans.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 2

This week we preview new music by a pair of below the radar Toronto acts - The Rural Alberta Advantage and The Black Fever - and a pair of bands from the fertile Seattle music scene - Say Hi and The Kindness Kind.

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Anti-Hit List - Jan. 26

This week we have new music by underrated UK singer-songwriter Malcolm Middleton, superstar Irish band Bell XI, who are unknown over here, a track from the debut full-length by post-punk British four-piece The Hair, and a song that follows an unconventional melodic structure by a Toronto singer-songwriter with a varied resume, Katie Stelmanis.

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Anti-Hit List - Jan. 19

This week we preview fresh music by Virginia four-piece Driving East, the terrific Baltimore duo Wye Oak, London singer-songwriter Rod Thomas and blogosphere darlings Beach House.

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Anti-Hit List - Jan. 12

This week we preview new music by talented Canadian record producer and singer-songwriter Daniel Lanois, and Toronto band the Born Ruffians, with a track from their highly anticipated new album. We also have new music by country siren Tift Merritt and a tune by a new pop band out of LA, The Playing Favorites.

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Anti-Hit List - Jan. 5

Exhausted from all the holiday festivities, we, of the Anti-Hit List, have taken a vacation. The podcasts will resume on Jan. 12.

Anti-Hit List - Dec. 29

The List winds down the year with a look at some of the best tracks of 2007 starting with the rock anthem of the year by Joel Plaskett Emergency, followed by the subdued title track from the debut full-length by New Jersey native Nicole Atkins, and a mesmerizing tune from Toronto's most prolific musician Sandro Perri.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 22

This week we have new music by Kathleen Edwards, one of the country's finest singer-songwriters. We also have a lovely new track by London, Ont.'s Kaya Fraser, new music by one of the List's favourite bands with their brand of progressive southern rock, the Drive-By Truckers, and the anti-Christmas carol of 2007 by The Evangelicals.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 15

The Anti-Hit List podcast will return.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 8

This week we have a jazzy epic from a pair of 22-year-olds who hail from Cambridge, England and call themselves The Last Dinosaur, a beautiful and plaintive ballad from a young singer-songwriter from Bristol, Jane Taylor, and new music by hard-luck Philly band Marah, which has yet to obtain commercial acceptance. We, however, like them here at the List.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 1

The list previews a joyful ode to singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins' adopted hometown of Brooklyn, a solo effort by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla and a 60's inspired pop tune by Edmonton's The Whitsundays.

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Anti-Hit List - Nov. 24

This week we have new music by a buzz generating band out of Birmingham, Alabama, Wild Sweet Orange, an upbeat, full-bodied taste of album No. 5 by Toronto singer-songwriter Hayden, and a superb re-mix of an already stellar track by dream pop act Madrid.

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Anti-Hit List - Nov. 17

Listen to fresh music from Broken Social Scene member Jason Collett. We also have new music by singer-songwriter Imani Coppola, and a beautiful track by Dan Behar, of The New Pornographers, and his romantic partner Sydney Vermont who together make up Hello, Blue Roses.

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Anti-Hit List - Nov. 10

This week the list previews new music by a four-piece out of Bristol called Babel, a coolly emotional track by Kate Tucker & The Sons Of Sweden, a group out of Leeds, The Insect Guide, who is clearly resurrecting the shoegazing genre and a standout tune by one of Seattle's most highly regarded young bands - Siberian.

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Anti-Hit List - Nov. 3

We have breakthrough music from a new act out of Echo Park, California, Hearts Of Palm UK, Toronto's Scott Cooper, Los Angeles-based musical collective West Indian Girl, and a much raved about four-piece out of Brooklyn called Yeasayer.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 27

This week the list checks out new music by the oddly charming Guelph band The Barmitzvah Brothers. We also have a track by Adele, the next big thing out of Britain and a new solo effort by former Grapes of Wrath frontman Kevin Kane.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 20

Hear a glorious preview of an album to come by Brooklyn trio Nada Surf. We also have new music from Charlotte, N.C.'s favourite new band The Houstons, a side project by Toronto's own Kat Burns and the debut of an interesting band out of New York, Ravens & Chimes.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 13

This week we have fresh music from Eskimo Joe, one of Australia's best young bands. We also have a jangly pop tune from Brampton five-piece Five Blank Pages, a shiny single by Cut Off Your Hands, a new act out of New Zealand, and a tune by Office, a Chicago indie arena act.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 6

This week we check out some great new music by Neverending White Lights, Sam Sparro and Sandro Perri, plus a debut from Toronto five-piece Sing Leaf.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 29

This week we have new music by a buzz worthy new five-piece from Brooklyn, Seems So Bright. Also on the list this week is a breakthrough act from Quebec Tricot Machine, the Neil Young enamoured Craig Smith and the popular cult trio Enon.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 22

This week we have new music by local alt-country siren Lori Yates. We also have new music by a highly buzz-worthy new band of college students out of Boston, The Young Republic, and a track by Athens, Georgia based Jim White.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 15

This week we have new music by Paul Humphrey, the former frontman of Toronto's Blue Peter. Also on the list this week, is the ultimate break-up song by Julia Greenberg and a soul throwback tune by Andy Lewis and Paul Weller.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 8

This week we check out new music by a superb singer-songwriter from Toronto, Claire Jenkins and by one of the best emerging bands out of Montreal, Plants And Animals. We also have a follow-up by relocated Band Of Horses without Mat Brooke, as well as a sample of new music from Mat's new band Grand Archives.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 1

This week sees a stunning return by Halifax's Wintersleep. Also on offer is a country soul track by soul survivor Bettye Lavette and a melodic tune by Denmark five-piece, Figurines.

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Anti-Hit List - Aug. 25

This week we have a highlight from the solo debut by former Delgados singer Emma Pollack. We also have  much anticipated new music by Winnipeg's The Weakerthans and a track from a band that we nominate for best name, Pale Young Gentlemen.

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Anti-Hit List - Aug. 18

This week we have a track by Brit stars Hard-Fi, a gauzy pop tune from rural England's Songs Of Green Pheasant, a bare-bones song by former Demics singer Keith Whittaker and a bonus track from The Go! Teams' upcoming album.

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Anti-Hit List - Aug. 11

Hear music by Baltimore's Animal Collective, four-piece L.A. band Shiny Toy Guns, and moody-sounding L.A. trio Una.

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Anti-Hit List - Aug. 4

This week we have tracks by Dublin-based band Fight Like Apes, New Zealand alt.country act Grand Prix and London's Sleeping States.

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Anti-Hit List - July 28

We're back from vacation with a spectacular single from a new UK five-piece called Stateless. We also have tracks from little known Vancouver duo Crescent Heights and from the pride of Milton, Ont., The Most Serene Republic.

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Anti-Hit List - July 21

We are on vacation. We return July 28.

Anti-Hit List - July 14

We are on vacation. We will return July 28.

Anti-Hit List - July 7

This week we have a brand new track from Stars, one of Canada's best bands. We also have a track by the exceptional singer-songwriter Jessie Hain, and a taste of new music by Metric's rhythm section.

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Anti-Hit List - June 30

Celebrate the holiday weekend with some great music by Hamilton's Wax Mannequin, electronic shoegazer Ulrich Schnauss and Vancouver/Seattle's Baby Control. We've also included a bonus track by the terrific Danish band People Press Play.

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Anti-Hit List - June 23

Canadian bands are well represented this week with new music by Charlottetown's Two Hours Traffic and Toronto's Raising The Fawn. We round out the podcast with a track by North Carolina trio Bowerbirds, and a track by our favourite new band out of the U.K., The Indelicates.

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Anti- Hit List - June 16

We are on vacation this week. We will return next week.

Anti-Hit List - June 9

This week we preview the lastest from Spoon, the pride of Austin, Texas. We've also got a track by The Parkas who hail from London, Ont, and a track by revamped Swedish outfit The Concretes.

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Anti-Hit List - June 2

This week we preview new music by: fast-rising Icelandic outfit Bang Gang, Stephanie Dosen, a Wisconsin singer-songwriter, and Swedish five-piece Surrounded, whose arrangements remind one of the Flaming Lips.

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Anti-Hit List - May 26

This week on the list we have new music by one of London's most talked about new singer-songwriters, Jack Penate. We also have a sample of a new single by the Rumble Strips and a song by Toronto band Kids On TV.

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Anti-Hit List - May 19

This week we have a dreamlike ballad from Pakistan-born, London-based singer-songwriter Rumer Joyce, an elegantly refined take on electro-pop from Plastic Operator and a standout track from Robert Harrison's new band, Future Clouds & Radar.

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Anti Hit List - May 12

We have our usual Brit rock track - this week brought to you by the seven-piece Esiotrot, a solo track by Mark Davis, an Alberta singer-songwriter who has spent more than a decade with country rockers Old Reliable, and a cover by Sam Gomm, of one of his dad's hits from the '70s.

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Anti-Hit List - May 5

The three tracks featured for this week's podcast are from Immaculate Machine, Neat People, and the Hundreds and Thousands.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 28

On tap this week is Donovan Woods, Rod Thomas and Lickpenny Loafer.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 21

On the list this week we have brand new music from Oh Susanna, a lullaby from Eiyn Sof and an eccentric track by Richard Swift, a Minnesotan who has created a bigger stir in Britain.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 14

This week we have a bumper crop of sounds from Scandinavia that includes tracks from Benni Hemm Hemm, Datarock and Tobias Hellkvist. Plus a folkie tune from Vancouver's Adam Nation and The Great Outdoors.

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Anti-Hit List - Apr. 7

We open the podcast with a Canadian anthem from Halifax-based The Sleepless Nights and end with new music from the Cowboy Junkies. In between we have a track by a Pennsylvania-based band called Illinois.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 31

This week we feature the debut of a new, ska-influenced band out of Burlington, The Saint Alvia Cartel, who are named after a Canadian war hero. Plus tracks by Sister Vanilla and The National.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 24

We have a veritable bonanza this week that includes a track from an unjustly overlooked band from Philly and one of the list's favourite pure pop songs of 2007.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 17

This week the AHL brings you a taste from a new release by singing fashion model Carla Bruni, a hypnotically pretty track by Kathleen Edwards band mate Jim Bryson and our favourite collaboration of the year so far by Stars and Final Fantasy.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 10

We start off the week with a bonus track from Calgarian Chad Vangaalen. Next up is the startling British singer-songwriter Rose Kemp. And we end this week's trio of tunes with The Michael Parks.

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Anti-Hit List - Mar. 3

This week we bring you a track that could turn out to be the rock anthem of the year, by a band out of Halifax, a breakthrough release by a band from Hamilton and an ambivalent yet comforting piece from a Brooklyn singer-songwriter.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 24

We open with a track from an oddball trio out of Denmark, who bring their brand of psychobilly and guitar riffs to Toronto in March, and end with a lovely piece of music from Rio En Medio.

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Anti-Hit-List - Feb. 17

This week we start off with a track from a solo album by indie titan Mitch Easter, we then go across the pond to Belgium, France and, of course, Britain.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 10

Sample some alt-prog rock out of Portland, the debut from one of Canada's best young bands and a track from a one man band out of Tulsa.

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Anti-Hit List - Feb. 3

From slashing guitars to what may be the only example of serious ukulele music out there, the AHL offers up an interesting quartet of new music this week.

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Anti-Hit List - Jan. 27

This week's list has new music from a young U.K. artist, an exhilarating preview from an American band and a punchy affair from Canada's Great Lake Swimmers.

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Anti-Hit List - Jan. 20

Spooky, jaunty, melancholy and moody describe our tracks this week featuring Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Kim Barlow and Do Make Say Think.

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Anti-Hit-List - Jan. 13

We offer an eclectic mix of music this week from: David Vandervelde, Basia Bulat, Low and Apostle of Hustle.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 30

The Anti-Hit List celebrates the end of another great year of music with five full tracks from our top picks for 2006: Final Fantasy, Candy Bars, Ox, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Castlemusic.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 16

This week we present a special holiday edition of the Anti-Hit List with three full seasonal tracks. And for those of you who just can't take one more holiday tune, we've thrown in a track by last week's best new British act Maps because we really like it.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 9

We have three full tracks for you this week. The first from one of the most acclaimed acts working out of New York. The second from a former member of the Irish superstars Ash and the third from a former touring guitarist with Stars.

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Anti-Hit List - Dec. 2

This week, we kick off the podcast with a track from Attack In Black, the pride of Welland, Ontario. Followed by full tracks from Julie Doiron and a one man band out of the UK, Sleeping States.

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Anti-Hit-List - Nov. 25

We start off this week's podcast with a track by British pop outfit The Ghosts. Next up is an intimate yet dynamic lullaby from French singer-songwriter Benjamin Lozninger. We close out the week with an epic instrumental piece by Milhaven that appeals to our most rockist impulses.

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Anti-Hit List - Nov. 18

Hear a new track from a group of stellar musicians who call themselves The Good, The Bad And The Queen, a track by an alt. pop outfit from Boston and a haunting ballad by the core of the Skydiggers - Josh Finlayson and Andy Maize.

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Anti-Hit List, Nov. 11

A Remembrance Day edition, thanks to a beautiful and haunting track from Toronto artist Bunny Brown, plus a hot full download from Portland band Wet Confetti.

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Anti-Hit List - Nov. 4

This week we have a half-rapped/half-sung ode from Nellie McKay's long delayed album, a track from Brooklyn trio Oxford Collapse's most accessible album to date and a work in progress by Daves Merritt and Bidini.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 28

We have a full track bonanza this week with offerings from: a band that's big in their hometown of Ottawa, a band from the musical hotbed of Chapel Hill, N.C., a spin-off of Deerhof and this week's number one band, Owen, the moniker for Mike Kinsella.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 21

This Anti-Hit List podcast is no longer available.

Anti-Hit-List - Oct. 14

Listen to full tracks from Lotus Club, a well-known band in Western Canada but virtually unknown everywhere else, and from a radical project that reworks the music of the White Stripes.

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Anti-Hit List - Oct. 7

Full tracks this week from Liverpudlians Hot Club de Paris and an unmentionable bit of romantic despair by the Pernice Brothers, plus a bonus track from Cold War Kids that arrived too late to be featured last week.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 30

This week we bring you a trio of downloads from: one of our favourite bands out of the Maritimes, a San Francisco-based quartet of anglophiles, and an atmospheric bonus track from Cale Parks.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 23

This week we have full tracks from a one-man band out of Windsor, a whispery voiced singer-songwriter from Vancouver and a Pink Floyd influenced five-piece out of Leeds.

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Anti-Hit List - Sept. 16

Full tracks this week from a piano led Ontario band and a young buzz band out of Dublin and a sampling from an undeservedly obscure act from the past and a trio from Glasgow.

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Anti-Hit List Sept. 9

Full downloads this week from What Made Milwaukee Famous, a band that shares