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: Army Girls, "Twice"

Dynamic guitar-drummer combo Carmen Elle and Andy Smith - simply known as Army Girls - have been lighting up live stages with songs from their EP Close to the Bone. The band released a belting new track "Twice", which you can download for free here via Exclaim.

Track #2: The Elwins and Luke Lalonde, "Countdown (Beyonce Cover)"

Breakout band The Elwins and Luke Lalonde (Born Ruffians) offer their sunshiny, sugary pop version to Beyonce's "Countdown" - part of a special Record Store Day release, which is available for free here. And it's all good fun when you hear Elwins lead-man Matthew Sweeney sing the lyrics, "Me and my boo, in my boo coupe, ridin'."

Track #3: Feist, "Black Tongue (Mastodon Cover)"

"You own the darkness / And taken my sight," wails Feist in her cover of Mastodon's "Black Tongue" - a track that fits the melancholy and cold tone of Metals. Here, Feist conjures up the energy and hypnotic heart of the Mastodon song.

Track #4: Wild Highways, "Rollin'"

We don't know much about Wild Highways, but so far we like what we hear. "Rollin'" is difficult to place, with its glowing organ tones and ecstatic vocal layering, but it's the kind of song that sticks. Download the song here.

Track #5: Doug Paisley, "Bats"

Doug Paisley released his five-track EP Golden Embers (No Quarter) last week, following his well-received 2010 record Constant Companion. You can buy the album here or download "Bats" - the transfixing, luminous, and our favourite track this week - for free here.

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