My ongoing blog series, SoundScenes, considers five decades’ worth of historic Canadian music scenes, and the bands that made them possible. But what do you do when you’re buying for rabid music lovers, pop culture history buffs, and most of all, proud and knowledgeable Canadian friends and family? Well, whether they’re up on their indie or their heart is still in the ’60s, I’ve got a few local, and less-predictable gift ideas for them. Unless otherwise indicated, all gift pricing is in (sometimes adjusted) Canadian dollars; no pricing includes S&H fees.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 18-CATEGORY OVERVIEW OF DailyXY’s 2011 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SoundScene, Halifax: Sloan’s “12 Days of Christmas”  digital download
By simply sparing a buck, you can liven up someone’s holiday party playlist (seriously, man, Band Aid was 25 years ago). The gods of Halifax grunge tackle the holiday classic “12 Days of Christmas,” with a few surprises sprinkled in between the peared-up partridge and the leapin’ lords. $0.99

SoundScene, Toronto: Face Off DVD/Blu-Ray
Long passed but not forgotten, and finally available on DVD and Blu-ray, 1971’s Face Off is a must-see for fans of Canadian film and hockey alike. A hockey player falls for a hippie singer in Toronto’s once-great Yorkville neighbourhood, where in the ’60s, free love and folk music flourished. Bonus cred: Cameos from Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr. Extra bonus cred: Cameo from Neil Young’s dad. $30 – $40.

SoundScene, Montreal: The Suburbs deluxe edition CD
After being rather unanimously crowned 2010’s Album of the Year, The Surburbs springboarded the (not exactly) little Montreal indie band that could onto the world’s stage. And if one huge Grammy win wasn’t enough, the band has been again nominated in 2011 for Scenes from The Suburbs – the Spike Jonze-directed film now available in the album’s deluxe edition. $18.98.

SoundScene, Vancouver: Talk-Action=0 book
Legendary Vancouver punk (coming in January, in the next installment of SoundScenes): Longtime D.O.A. frontman Joey Keithley’s second book is an illustrated history of the band’s storied 30-plus year career, told through a seemingly endless collection of gig posters, photos and hand-scrawled lyrics. It’s part art, part history, and all punk, all the way. $25

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Image courtesy of Sloan Music.