Sam Roberts Band

Sam Roberts Band has sold lots of records, won big awards, and garnered praise as one of the most exciting live acts working these days—in Canada. That might read like a slight, but being from Canada is an asset these days. (Tons of bands from there are good, and have you ever heard about their government grants?) Though its members hail from the same Montreal scene that throws out tons of art-rock bands, Sam Roberts Band plays much more classic-sounding pop-rock that stays straight but packs its own kind of punch on this year’s Collider.

Updated 11/22/2011