In my submission to I Heart Music’s “33 Hottest Bands In Canada” poll, I annotated Ohbijou’s #7 ranking with, “More of a slow smoulder of a year rather than fire-y hot as Swift Feet For Troubling Times spread its magic outwards from Toronto but word is getting out.” And while I have no empirical evidence to support this, I suspect that everyone whose list they were on had seen them perform live before and all those who didn’t include them simply haven’t had the pleasure yet.

Because while Swift Feet is an utterly charming record – all sleepy-eyed, anorak-clad, forest-wandering lullabies – it’s as a live unit that Ohbijou really seal the deal. They maintain all the warmth and wonder of the record but give it a sprightly step that turns the record’s Autumnal vibe into something more Spring-like. And it’s this that makes them the perfect pick to soundtrack these graying, shortening days that have us reaching for the heavier sweaters.

But you can leave those sweaters at home on November 9 when the band plays Lee’s Palace accompanied by Basia Bulat and Bruce Peninsula, all followed by a Bocce dance party. Their last show for a while as they work on their new record, it’ll be a celebration of the year in Ohbijou and they want you to be there. Courtesy of the band, I’ve got some really sweet prize packs to give away:

– One grand prize consisting of a pair of passes to the show, two different show posters, two copies of Swift Feet (one a limited edition, numbered original version and one a remastered, bonus-tracked but less-fancy-packaged version) and an Ohbijou t-shirt.
– Two second prizes consisting of a pair of passes to the show and a copy of the limited edition CD
– One third prize consisting of a pair of passes to the show.

To enter, shoot me an email to contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to Ohbijou” in the subject line and your full name in the body before midnight, November 7.

MP3: Ohbijou – “St Francis”
MP3: Ohbijou – “Misty Eyes”
MP3: Ohbijou – “Steep”
Video: Ohbijou – “The Woods” (YouTube)
MySpace: Ohbijou

Speaking of the I Heart Music poll, both Macleans’ Taste Police, From Blown Speakers and Radio Free Canuckistan have some commentary both on their own picks and the final list.

And #7 on the list, The Acorn, will be playing an in-store at Soundscapes on November 24 at 4PM in advance of their proper show at the Horseshoe that evening.

Muzzle Of Bees talks to #32, Land Of Talk, and gets a sort-of update on the status of the new record. In short – sessions with original drummer Bucky Wheaton were shelved, songs re-recorded with new drummer Eric Thibodeau, hopefully out by early/mid-2008.

BeatRoute talks to Torquil Campbell of Stars (#26). They’re at the Phoenix from November 26 to 29.

And hey, check it out – Amazon has got the next Scott Pilgrim book, Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, available for pre-order and due out November 14! There’s a 14-page preview here. File under: yessssss.