Two of my favorite Canadian bands have albums slated for release next year:

Guelph natives The Constantines have been preparing new material that should see the light of day in 2003. The band has been touring sporadically around Canada, playing various Ontario shows as well as the illustrious Halifax Pop Explosion. Their new material should be released via Three Gut Records and follows their fantastic EP they just released on Suicide Squeeze. Click below for a handful of upcoming dates

Also, Vancouver indie-pop gods The New Pornographers are planning a follow-up to their acclaimed "Mass Romantic." The band has is currently in a Vancouver recording studio doing the tracking for the yet to be titled album. It should be released in early 2003 on Mint Records. As with "Mass Romantic" the band will likely heavily road test the material across Canada. The Vancouver supergroup is made up of Zumpano's Carl Newman, Thee Evaporators' John Collins, Limblifter's Kurt Dahle, Destroyer's Dan Bejar, cartoonist/filmmaker Blaine Thurier, and country chanteuse Neko Case. "Mass Romantic" is one of my favorite records by the way… just because you all wanted to know.