Northern Harmony, Edmonton, Alberta's a cappella festival, the only a cappella 'battle of the bands' in Canada, celebrated its 8th year in 2005 with a 'best of' CD, 'Do No Harm.' Specifically, these 22 cuts represent all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, Audience Favourite, Best Soloist, Best Original Song and even Best Bass, between 1998-2004, by 16 groups, some of which don't exist anymore. Calgary's Heebee-Jeebees, who brought their manic humor south to our Harmony Sweeps Final, have 3 winners here: 'Use the Force,' 'Gitarzan' and 'Channel 12.' Quintessential's crazed country-western 'The Auctioneer' and 'Quintessential Harmony' are excellent, as is 'Let the Rest of the World Go By' by barbershoppers About Face. Contemporary group Real F/X do a hot cover of the Young Rascals' 'Good Lovin',' and No Assembly Required has a nice pair, 'Criminal on the Cross' and Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes.' Standing Room Only's very funny 'Mr. Taxman' (to the tune of 'Mr. Sandman'), OnCue's 'Name Song,' Voce's 'Let It Go,' InSync's 'The River (Sailing)' medley, CNote's folky 'Old Brown's Daughter,' The Fabulous Doo-Wop Boys' cover of Weird Al's 'One More Minute,' and CHICKAdivas' crazed 'Logdriver's Waltz' join our list of favorites. A cappella is burning brightly in the north country, and the pilot light can be found in Edmonton, Alberta! |
