There's no trying to deny it my fellow Canadians, other nations label us with a series of ridiculous stereotypes that we can't get away from. There's the hockey, the doughnuts, and the absurd notion that we use the word “eh” to end every sentence. Weather they be truths or not, these are all things that we are apparently notorious for. However, this is one thing that this great country of Canada is becoming notorious for that wouldn't make a bad stereotype; that is, Canada's incredibly strong and blossoming independent music scene. Since the turn of the millennium, there has been an increased amount of critical attention and praise directed toward indie artists emerging from Canada. This is not to say that Canada hasn't had strong indie cred in the past. The 1990's brought us plenty of great Canadian indie acts such as Thrush Hermit, Eric's Trip, and most notably, Sloan. However, Canada's scene wasn't as strong or as influential as what was happening in the U.S. or the U.K. Lo-fi innovators like Pavement and Sebedoh were the kings of indie culture in the US throughout the 1990's, and Britpop bands like Blur, The Manic Street Preachers, and Suede were the UK's dominant indie acts. Since 2000, Canada seems to have taken the lead in terms of producing some of the finest indie bands of the decade so far, resulting in some of the finest records of the decade. Here is a little info on some of those great acts. Check em' out, eh!!!

1 THE ARCADE FIRE from Montreal, Quebec
Check out “Funeral” (Merge, 2004)

2 BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE from Toronto, Ontario
Check out “You Forgot It In People” (Arts & Crafts, 2002)

3 THE CONSTANTINES from Guelph, Ontario
Check out “Shine A Light” (Sub Pop, 2003)

4 DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 from Scarborough, Ontario
Check out “You're A Woman, I'm A Machine” (Vice, 2004)

5 THE FEMBOTS from Toronto, Ontario
Check out “Mucho Cuidado” (Paper Bag, 2005)

6 HOT HOT HEAT from Victoria, BC
Check out “Make Up The Breakdown” (Sub Pop, 2002)

7 LESLIE FEIST from Calgary, Alberta
Check out “Let It Die” (Arts & Crafts, 2004)

8 METRIC from Toronto, Ontario
Check out “Old World Underground, Where Are You Now” (Everloving, 2003)

9 THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS from Vancouver, Canada
Check out “Mass Romantic” (Matador, 2000)

10 WOLF PARADE from Montreal, Quebec
Check out “Apologies To The Queen Mary” (Sub Pop, 2005)

11 CUFF THE DUKE from Oshawa, Ontario
Check out "Cuff The Duke" (Hardwood Records, 2005)

12 THE RIDE THEORY from Hamilton, Ontario
check out "The Ride Theory" (Independent, 2002)
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