City Route 85 is the name of John K. Samson’s solo 7″ release on Epitaph/Anti. If you don’t already know about the Weakerthans, or their punk beginnings in the much-loved band Propagandhi, you absolutely must check them out. Samson is an important figure from the Canadian independent music scene, and an eloquent wordsmith, crafting songs full of introspective, literary-minded prose that weave personal tales with political statements.

Here’s the skinny on City Route 85 from the Weakerthans’ official website:

“City Route 85 is the formal name for Portage Avenue, one of Winnipeg’s main thoroughfares. Samson begins his study of this storied street with the song “Heart of the Continent”, set at the corner of Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard, where a demolished building is resurrected by a narrator struggling to apprehend the losses and despair that haunt cities and citizens alike. “Grace General” travels west from there, a wintry drive on Portage to Grace General Hospital, seen through eyes preparing to face the death of a loved one. The closing song, “Cruise Night”, finds a young man desperate to join in the strange and sweet tradition of driving aimlessly up and down Portage Avenue, a social activity many Winnipeggers have participated in every Sunday night for as long as anyone can remember.”

Some of Samson’s best existing songs are about his hometown of Winnipeg, so we can’t wait to hear more.

Here’s Samson performing “One Great City” solo: