10 Quintessentially Canadian Albums for Canada Day

7. Feist
Let It Die (2004)

Feist's breakout album, Let It Die caught the attention of everyone in 2004. Spawning damn-catchy singles like "Mushaboom" and "Inside and Out," this one catapulted Leslie Feist beyond the realms of Broken Social Scene -- and Canada for that matter -- and into hearts everywhere. She gets bonus Canuck points for showing off her French on the rendition of "L'amour ne dure pas toujours" and for covering Ron Sexsmith's "Secret Heart."

6. Shad
TSOL (2010)

Shad's been breathing life into Canadian hip-hop for some time now, but 2010's stand-out TSOL showed everyone that the Kenyan-born, London, ON-raised rapper wasn't a fluke. Dropping hyper-literate rhymes that incorporate pop culture and politics, but range to the extremely personal, Shad even brought on guests like Lisa Lobsinger and Brendan Canning. This album ended his reign as The Old Prince, but he's certainly still in the running for Canada's hip-hop king.

5. Thrush Hermit
Clayton Park (1999)

Joel Plaskett has consistently churned out some of the finest Canadian rock'n'roll throughout his career, but it's his final album with Thrush Hermit that makes our list. Named after a Halifax suburb, Clayton Park pays tribute to the West Coast on tracks "Western Dreamz" and "The Day We Hit the Coast," making the record a sea-to-sea affair. Ian McGettigan, Robert Benvie and Plaskett all showcase songwriting chops, and although it serves as Thrush Hermit's swan song, they definitely went out with a bang.

4. Broken Social Scene
You Forgot It in People (2002)

Broken Social Scene has done a lot for Canadian indie rock in the last decade. Not only did they make it cool to be from Toronto again, but the individuals within the collective have continued to provide us with excellent solo and side-projects, even beyond the group's recent hiatus. Sure, the band's most Canadian song title goes to "I Slept with Bonhomme at the CBC" from Feel Good Lost, but their sophomore effort You Forgot It in People remains the crowning jewel of the BSS discography and one of the finest Canuck albums of the 2000s. Delivering masterpieces like "Cause = Time," "Stars and Sons" and "Almost Crimes," You Forgot It in People still holds up ten years later and remains one of our nation's finest exports.