CBC Radio 3

Ohbijou - Beacons
Orchestral pop favourites Ohbijou join Last Gang for this long-awaited release, which began in their Bellwoods basement and was recorded in locales across the country. And keep an eye out for the band's video for "New Years," which will include monsters and exploding volcanoes. The digital release is out today; CD on June 16.



Caledonia - We Are America
Of the new song "The Plague", the Globe and Mail's Robert Everett-Green writes, "Halifax rockers Caledonia come along with a kicking good song that's got a little bit of reggae, a lot of slamming guitars, and a way of stacking up the vocals like pancakes on Sunday."



Pony Up - Stay Gold
Recorded in the spring of 2008 at the legendary Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal with producer Murray Lightburn of the Dears, Pony Up's latest release, Stay Gold, is described as "detailed, ornate and sprawling, if not wholly epic in its scope and ferocity."



Zeus - Sounds Like Zeus EP
After a month-long residency at the Dakota Tavern, recent dates with Ladyhawk, Hey Rosetta!, Attack in Black and Gentleman Reg, and being signed to Arts&Crafts, this irresistibly catchy Toronto pop and rock group releases its debut EP.



The Lovely Feathers - The Fantasy Of the Lot
After going on an "indefinite hiatus", the Lovely Feathers reemerge on a new label (Sparks/EMI) and with this new album, which they call "a detonation of synth-pop, twee, shanty rock and politeelectro."



The Dudes - Blood. Guts. Bruises. Cuts.
Moustachioed Alberta rockers the Dudes release Blood. Guts. Bruises. Cuts. - which was produced by Jeff Dawson (Daniel Powter, State of Shock), mixed by Mike Fraser (Franz Ferdinand, AC/DC) and blends everything from classic soul to early ‘90s distortion.



Jets Overhead - No Nations
Produced by Neil Osborne of 54-40 and mixed by Malcolm Burn (Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan), the highly melodic latest by Juno nominated Victoria band Jets Overhead - currently on tour with the Dears - was recorded in a rented hall, with a dozen friends and family members on hand to help out.



Little Girls - Tambourine
Known for their lo-fi, gritty surf rock, this group's sound is driven by "youth and nostalgia," and is heavily influenced by '80s post-punk and early '80s hip-hop, as well as groups as diverse as Can, Joy Division and Wire.

Ivy Mairi - Well You
At just 21 years old, this sweet-voiced Toronto (and sometimes Montreal) singer-songwriter has recorded with Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies, performed with the Skydiggers and played alongside Toronto cellist Anne Bourne. Says Timmins, "I have been introduced to a lot up and coming artists over the past twenty years, but none have excited or impressed me as much as Ivy Mairi."

Art of Time Ensemble & Sarah Slean - Black Flowers
Known for presenting music that ranges from avant-garde to classical, Toronto's Art of Time Ensemble joined singer, composer, writer and artist Sarah Slean for a very special concert in 2007 - and if you didn't make it there, you can hear it here.

Neil Young - Archives
Canadian-born rock ‘n' roll legend Neil Young (finally) releases this long-awaited and sprawling collection, which includes 10 discs of music, film footage, interview clips and reproduced memorabilia.

International releases after the jump!

Franz Ferdinand - Blood: Franz Ferdinand
Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane
Eels - Hombre Lobo
Black Eyed Peas - Behind the Front
David Byrne - Everything That Happens Will Happen On This Tour EP
Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Katy Perry  - Waking Up In Vegas
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor
Wilco - You Never Know (Single)
B.B. King - Live at Montreux (Eagle Rock)
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Demos (Rhino)
Duke Robillard - Stomp! The Blues Tonight (STP)
Frank Sinatra - Classic Sinatra (EMI)
Girl In A Coma - Trio B.C. (Blackheart)
Gorillaz - Bananaz: Taking down the virtual walls of Gorillaz (EMI)
Iggy Pop - Preliminaires (Virgin)
Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (EMI)
Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up (Atlantic)
Rancid - Let The Dominoes Fall (Epitaph)
Run DMC - Royal Crown (J Love)
Taking Back Sunday - New Again (Warner)
The Veronicas - Hook Me Up

Photo by Jay Shuster