We're super excited to announce that on Friday, February 26, Vancouver campus radio station CiTR 101.9FM and Mint Records will team up once again to release the fourth installment of the Pop Alliance series!! Showcasing the city’s dynamic local music scene, 11 Vancouver bands, including Mourning Coup, Stefana Fratila, Poor Form, and more have been enlisted to fill the album’s waxy grooves. This compilation arrives just in time to raise funds for local campus/community radio station CiTR, as part of their annual Fundrive, which runs from February 25 to March 4.
For this occasion, Duncan McHugh of Duncan’s Donuts enlisted a team of CiTR DJs—Andy Resto (The Burrow), Eleanor Wearing (Femconcept), Erik Coates (A Face for Radio), Nellie Stark (The Cat’s Pajams), and Nicholas Wang-Tretiak (Muzak for the Observant)—to collect the newest highlights of Vancouver’s independent music community. He even called this his dream team of CiTR DJs!
Only 500 of these vinyl LPs will be pressed. Copies will be available by donating to CiTR’s annual Fundrive, as an LP pre-order from our website, or in record stores. The album includes exclusive tracks from Genderdog, Jerk Jails, Cult Babies, Ace Martens, and minimalviolence and don’t skip on the physical copy because it includes songs from The Shilohs and Ora Cogan that are not available with the digital download. The album was mastered by our good pal Jay Arner and adorned with inimitable album art by Robert Ondzik.
The Pop Alliance LP release party will double as CiTR’s Fundrive Finale on Friday, March 4 at the Hindenburg (23 W Cordova St) in Vancouver with performances by bands that contributed to the compilation.
But who are all these bands on CiTR Pop Alliance, Vol. 4?
Ora Cogan – “Move”
“Big feelings.... All sorts of them. All at the same time.” – Ora Cogan
The Shilohs – “Do the Modern”
Just a rock song about being out of it at a party. Recorded in a shed behind the Lido with Malcom Jack. Matt Krysko on the organ solo, Mike Komaszczuk on the guitar solo. This one could have—should have??—gone on for twenty minutes.
Genderdog – “Aquarium Apartment”
R.I.P. Genderdog...
Jerk Jails – “Extra Flesh”
THEE new band that everybody needs to pay attention to, Jerk Jails are a heavier reincarnation of the Neo Boys. “Extra Flesh” is a Pop Alliance exclusive, and grinds below yer flesh straight to the bone.
Poor Form – “July”
Call it pop-punk or power-pop as you will, bottom line is this is excellently harmonized rage. Poor Form captures the kind of rage and disgust that embraces life in its nastiness. If you aren’t hearing it in July, it could take you back to those idle scorchers. Nothing to do but yell and think.
Cult Babies – “Sister XIII”
Groovy psych from some of Vancouver’s best. Let the haze pummel and/or engulf you, and give in to whatever visions you wish. Written about Tough Age bassist Lauren Smith.
Mourning Coup – “Burn One for the Saints”
Mourning Coup’s music exists in an ethereal realm. Where pop music is distorted in a funhouse mirror and made to matter. You’re dancing by yourself, but all the skeletons of your past are invited.
Stefana Fratila – “Heartland”
“I intended "Heartland" to be listened to on a road-trip or a train ride, it's a song to listen to while in motion, brimming with an intoxicating nostalgia of missing home, or the "Heartland", which for me has always been split between two places, Canada and Romania.” – Stefana Fratila
Late Spring – “Drink You”
Late Spring is an art rock band from Vancouver, Canada. They frankenstein together psych/surf, grunge, and noise influences. “Drink You” is off their debut self-titled Late Spring EP (self-released April 2015).
Ace Martens – “Hiding”
Silky smooth and sticky sweet, “Hiding” is the first song laid to tape since the man became the group: Ace Martens. Recorded in a dimly lit room by Ace himself, the track features Shyla Seller’s tender keyboard and Sarah Cordingley’s chime-laden drums. This song is an extra special exclusive that can only be found on this compilation. It was taken as an early outtake from recording sessions for the forthcoming Palm Springs EP.
minimalviolence – “Body as Landscape”
minimalviolence is one of the top-notch representatives of Vancouver’s thriving underground dance/house scene. Turn the lights off, make sure the room is ice cold, and wallow as you warm up with this gothic pulse.