The Neighbourhood Mixtape: Let the Golden Age Begin

The Neighbourhood Mixtape is a collection of newly-released songs by Toronto musicians. The mixtape is meant to celebrate Toronto's music culture and provide a forum to listen to and discover new local music.

Every Sunday, I post a five-track mixtape (along with my own mini-reflections for each track) that you can download or stream as a soundtrack for the week.

Track #1: Zeus, "Are You Gonna Waste My Time?"

Zeus will release their sophomore album Busting Visions (via Arts & Crafts) on March 27. Download the waltzing, 70s throwback jam for free on the band's official website.

Track #2: Little City, "Arms Around a Picture"

In this song, Frances Miller repeats the lyric "If I fall / I fall", the word widening while the arrangements quake and the band's voices unify.

Track #3: Austra, "Believe Me"

Paper Bag Records is giving away a free mixtape of songs taken from their video series shot by none other than Mitch Fillion of Southern Souls. The album includes an intimate live session - recorded in University of Toronto's Hart House - of Austra's "Believe Me".

Track #4: Fort York, "Sin Badly"

Fort York is a band to watch. Their LP Feels Like Then opens with "Sin Badly", its wispy, hushed notes sheltering along hermetic guitar strums.

Track #5: The Holiday Crowd, "Tiresome"

In this week's Call & Response, THC lead vocalist Imran Haniff explains how the "beautiful" and "dangerous" Scarborough Bluffs inspired "Tiresome" - a track that reveals a lingering hook.

If you wish to be a part of The Neighbourhood Mixtape, you can contact Aldrin at aldrin [at] blogto [dotcom]