There is a good chance you might not even realize some of these artists are Canadian. But they are, and Canada should be very, very proud.
Arcade Fire, Funeral (2004)
Win and Will Butler may have grown up in the United States, but their band is proudly Canadian, and their debut went a long way towards proving to the rest of the world that Montreal had become a major city for music.
Joni Mitchell, Blue (1971)
Joni Mitchell is one of the best singer-songwriters and folk guitarists of all time, and has recorded several classic albums, but her 1971 breakthrough Blue is her most raw and emotional work.
The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema (2005)
The New Pornographers are greatest power pop band, Canadian or otherwise, of the 2000s and this is their magnum opus. The album just overflows with hooks, from upbeat rockers like "Sing Me Spanish Techno" and "Jackie Dressed In Cobras" to the glorious ballads like "These Are the Fables" and "The Bleeding Heart Show."
Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1993)
Long before she became better known for launching the Lilith Fair and in being in those incredibly depressing ads about helping abused animals, Sarah McLachlan was one of the best singer-songwriters of the early '90s. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is a lot darker than her later work, and features some of her best songs, like "Hold On" and "Possession."
