In this edition: memorial information for Taylor Mitchell, cryptic messages from newly-formed local indie "supergroup" Novels, Jim Guthrie scores new documentary film, Constantines announce tour support, Metric release new tunes (but not to Canada), Basia Bulat preps her new LP and more Broken Social Scene literature.

Plus: new music videos from The Ghost is Dancing and Great Lake Swimmers, as well as free MP3 downloads from Basia Bulat, Little Girls, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Hooded Fang, the Wilderness of Manitoba, & many more.

Metric
On October 27th, Metric released a digital EP entitled Plug In Plug Out that features acoustic versions of songs from Fantasies. The five tracks are currently available exclusively through Amazon in the US, UK, France and Germany, and will be dropping through other digital vendors starting November 27th. Unfortunately for us, Metric are unable to release the new batch of songs to eager Canadian ears due to contract issues with their former label. Since we won't see an official release until sometime in 2010, the band has promised that "the best comes to those who wait," hinting at potential bonus tracks.

Basia Bulat
Secret City Records will release Basia Bulat's sophomore effort Heart of My Own on January 26th, 2010. Since the breakthrough success of her Polaris-nominated debut Oh, My Darling, Bulat has been garnering international support for her soothing melodies. You can trade your email address for an mp3 of the first single 'Gold Rush.'

Jim Guthrie
Details about Jim Guthrie's much-anticipated follow-up to 2003's Now, More than Ever remain scarce, but the singer/songwriter is keeping his plate full. Last year, he released a great folk-pop album with Nick Thorburn under the moniker Human Highway. Since then, Guthrie has been busy scoring Sarah Goodman's new documentary When We Were Boys. Though the soundtrack won't be released until February 2010, Guthrie is offering up 'If Chairs Were Bears' for free download (.ZIP).

The Ghost is Dancing - This Thunder

Taylor Mitchell
Tragedy struck 19-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Mitchell last week in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Highlands National Park. During a break on her tour of the East coast in support of her debut album For Your Consideration, the folk singer was attacked and killed by two coyotes while taking a hike along Skyline trail. Details of the public remembrance service, as well as information regarding donations to the Taylor Mitchell Memorial Fund are available at Taylor's website.

Novels
Novels is a new group featuring Graham Wright (Tokyo Police Club), Luke Lalonde (Born Ruffians), Will Currie, Dean Marino and Jay Sadlowski. They got together in early 2008 2009 with the intention of writing and recording an EP in one marathon session, but don't get too excited. They won't be officially releasing the songs anytime soon, but you might find a copy on a park bench, or get one handed to you on the street by a man in a mask, according to their website. If you can't be bothered scouring park benches across the city, you can settle for watching a collection of short videos about the recording session, directed by Wade Vroom.

Constantines
The Cons have turned their pair of anniversary shows at Lee's Palace into a celebratory tour of Southern Ontario, including stops in Peterborough, London, Waterloo, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston and Ottawa. Details about the support acts for the full tour are still TBA, but Oneida and Metz will open up at Lee's on the 12th, while Attack in Black and John K. Samson (of the Weakerthans) will open on the 11th.

Great Lake Swimmers - Palmistry

Broken Social Scene
Last week's IFOA event brought band members Kevin Drew & Brendan Canning, producer Dave Newfeld, critic Ben Rayner and Arts & Crafts founder Jeffrey Remedios together to discuss Stuart Berman's This Book is Broken. According to Spinner, Newfeld took the public forum as an opportunity to point out a few factual errors, while Drew attempted to ease the tension by cracking jokes at his own expense. Perhaps this tension is indicative of why BSS elected to work with super-producer John McEntire on their follow-up to 2005's self-titled album rather than stick with Newfeld.

In related news, Raising the Fawn and BSS member John Crossingham have written a book geared at kids aged 9-12. The book, entitled Learn to Speak Music: a Guide to Creating, Performing and Promoting Your Song, features contributions from Feist, Emily Haines, Dallas Green, Buck 65, Auf de Maur and a few more members of BSS.

Downloads
- vitaminsforyou recently covered The XX's 'Shelter' and put it up for free download.

- The Line of Best Fit's Oh! Canada Volume 6 is up for download in two parts and features the Wilderness of Manitoba, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Hooded Fang, Little Girls, Tegan & Sara, Woodpigeon and more.

- Sign up for a free Zunior account and get their sampler with no strings attached. Features Great Lake Swimmers, Little Girls, the Diableros and more.

On blogTO last week:
Joe interviewed Tyson McShane of Slow Down, Molasses and talked rockabilly with the Vanishers.
Gary spoke with Olenka.
Guest contributor Hamish Grant went to Lula Lounge for Zombie Prom.

Lead photo by lucassd, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.