Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
Sloan
We are very pleased to announce the two winners of the 2010 Independent Music Hall of Fame:
1. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (Toronto)
2. Sloan (originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia)
The jury completed their votes last week and these two icons emerged as our first ever winners. In the coming weeks you will see in depth features on both these bands right here on the Independent Hall of Music website/shrine.
To give you a taste of the jury debate on these winners, here are few excerpts from the original nomination proposals made by members of the jury:
1. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - nominated by Frank Yang:
"For a few years they were maybe the most-heard independent Canadian act anywhere, even it was just one song, and basically soundtracked the best cultural export we've had, as a country, in ages." - Frank Yang
" When this band started in 1984, they fired their singer after only a couple of practices. They then felt that they could do anything. Always outsiders in the Toronto--and by extension, Canadian--scene, Shadowy Men were true independent pioneers who never had a manager, always released on independent labels and indie distributors, didn't even have a booking agent until their final years. They invested time (not money) into innovative packaging for their singles. They made clever videos on budgets from $50 to a whopping $500. They made valuable connections to the American underground, especially K Records in Olympia and Steve Albini in Chicago, but always took the time to play in every corner of Canada. They defined a time in Canadian independent music that flourished with the help of Og Records (Shadowy Men were on all five It Came From Canada comps), Brave New Waves, campus radio and MuchMusic (all were huge supporters). Even though their music was very welcoming and accessible, they found kindred spirits in bands like proto-riot-grrrls Fifth Column and other "art" bands, rather than the rock'n'roll bar circuit. All their records still stand the test of time, with or without the Kids in the Hall association, and their influence can still be heard in bands like the Sadies and anyone else who embarks on cinematic instrumentals (including, say, Broken Social Scene)." - Michael Barclay
2. Sloan- nominated by Chuck Molgat
"The most successful and influential band to emerge from the squalid ghettos of Halifax since April Wine, Sloan has remained true to its creative integrity and independent roots over the course of two decades of recording and performing. Along the way, the band's beloved indie label,murderecords , has played a key role in fostering the careers of numerous noteworthy and critically heralded Canadian artists. Despite being signed to major record labels in Canada and the U.S., and routinely humiliated by the organ-grinding staff ofMuchMusic , the members of Sloan have - quite remarkably - managed to avoid selling out... except maybe to Future Shop. And like Neil Young (who, come to think of it, is probably a natch future ZIMHOF nominee) Sloan enjoys the distinction of being widely recognized and respected by both mainstream and alternative-minded music fans." - Chuck Molgat
Stay tuned for more on these bands in the coming weeks.
