tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312680392024-03-13T12:14:34.674-04:00Country Pinball MachineWith The Radio OnPinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-77779086200760796392009-05-06T02:25:00.002-04:002009-05-06T02:28:23.085-04:00Burls Creek to Host Virgin Festival ’09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsT2fOpWp2navsakBG5p8nIk311WQtYFq-QTiJobCwjdU7mW0t5-Sobw_NCv_gxsBE2Wys6F6QgZDs5prMFo6U1rwmTXoYg0ibsjS_wbnVszZJLqggTp96H1cg9lHNaOXsLXP/s1600-h/virgin-stage-02-575.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsT2fOpWp2navsakBG5p8nIk311WQtYFq-QTiJobCwjdU7mW0t5-Sobw_NCv_gxsBE2Wys6F6QgZDs5prMFo6U1rwmTXoYg0ibsjS_wbnVszZJLqggTp96H1cg9lHNaOXsLXP/s400/virgin-stage-02-575.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332593996452073042" /></a><br /><span xmlns=''><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-size:8pt'>Photo Credit: Alex Ramon<br /></span></p><p>The Virgin Festival <a href='http://www.myspace.com/virginfestivaltoronto'>MySpace page</a> apparently let the cat out of the bag and let slip that the 2009 edition of the festival, entering its fourth year in Canada, will be taking place once again this summer. Tentatively scheduled for August 29 and 30, the big news was the information that it won't be done in Toronto as it has for its first three inceptions. Looks like <a href='http://www.burlscreek.com/'>Burls Creek</a>, located midway between Barrie and Orillia will host the show. The announcement has since been taken down.<br /></p><p>Burls is a newish venue. It's normally home to the Barrie Speedway and various outdoor trade shows and flea markets. To my knowledge it put its first big show on last summer when it hosted a mini one day show that featured Mason Jennings, Neil Halstead, Rogue Wave and Jack Johnson. Attended by 25,000, give or take, this was the tester event that will probably give rise to more like minded shows in the future. This works for me as the venue is about an eight minute drive from my house.<br /></p><p>Though the Lineup is "coming soon," let's all have a go at speculating who might show up. Throughout its four years it's always featured a large cast of Canadian bands filled out with American and British acts. Some years feel a little bit more "God save the Queen" than "Death to taxes," but that probably has more to do with who was touring and had albums to promote than Richard Branson's influence.<br /></p><p>If the rumoured date is true, then VFest is up tough against a few other festivals. Outside Lands is going on in San Francisco that weekend. Included in their lineup are Pearl Jam (who'll be in Toronto at the Amphitheatre the week before on the 21<sup>st</sup>), The Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse, M.I.A., TV on the Radio, and Jack White's new band The Dead Weather.<br /></p><p>In the U.K., the Reading festival is also taking place from the Friday through to the Sunday. Playing that weekend are Kings of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Glasvegas, Radiohead, Bloc Party, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Vampire Weekend. Two of the bigger brand name Canadian acts, Alexisonfire and Billy Talent are there as well, essentially taking them out of the equation. <br /></p><p>Who else then?<br /></p><p>I've heard rumours about Coldplay but they'll be in Germany that weekend. The Tragically Hip are free that weekend and promoting their latest record. However, the quintessential Canadian act plays a six night stand at Massey hall this month and its unsure if they would draw so early after that, although like Sam Roberts, also free that weekend, they'll probably always draw a few but they're not necessarily the big headliner I'm thinking of.<br /></p><p>Stone Temple Pilots and Ben Harper are making the festival circuit this year, but Ben and Co. are in town this month and STP plays Casino Rama July 10<sup>th</sup>. <br /></p><p>Wilco has a new album out this summer but they are in Ireland on the 27<sup>th</sup> and have no Toronto date as of yet for their current gigs, but it's highly unlikely.<br /></p><p>Depeche Mode is out, Tool is a possibility, the Killers are free and play the UK version of Vfest the weekend before.<br /></p><p>In fact if you look at the '09 lineup of VFest across the pond would it be completely unreasonable to think that some of these bands may play the following weekend? That could include Lily Allen, the Specials, and Elbow. Snow Patrol is playing but has a gig in Toronto early September so you likely won't see them cutting their draw by playing the festival. Oasis is playing too and that would make a nice story after the band's 2008 VFest set was cut short by the attack on Noel that resulted in them cancelling several tour dates in Canada, however, they play the Rock en Seine festival the same weekend as the rumoured Canadian dates.<br /></p><p>All this subtraction paints the picture of slim pickings for VFest Canada's organizers. If the dates change, everything changes of course. The lineup, as mentioned, will be announced soon. Who will be there will be the interesting question.<br /></p><p><br /> </p><p> <br /> </p></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-16514633449724866642008-11-20T02:27:00.004-05:002008-11-20T04:15:46.229-05:00For all your lies/ you're still very lovable<object width="425" height="360"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=42482135,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor="><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=42482135,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor=" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="360"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bon</span> Iver is not an artist for the ultra liberal, PETA crowd. His oft-told <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">story</span> of the conditions surrounding the recording of his debut album <span style="font-weight: bold;">For Emma, Forever Ago</span> (short story: secluded up in the woods, nobody around to interrupt but his own thoughts and the occasional deer hunt for food).<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bon</span> Iver, Justin Vernon's stage moniker, self-released his debut back in late 2007. It was only when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Jagjaguwar</span> picked up the scent and re-released it in February of this year that it found widespread play. Since then it has become of the most universally lauded album of the year, well within the indie bubble at least. Given its mid-November and I heard my first Christmas song over the loudspeakers of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Walmart</span> the day after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hallowe'en</span> that means year-end/best-of lists can't be far behind. Expect to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">For Emma, Forever Ago</span> on many in a comfortable position.<br /><br />But you probably know all this already. Justin recently did a <a href="http://www.myspace.com/transmissions_boniver">session with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Myspace</span></a> Transmissions that I thought fit to point out. Well worth viewing and hearing. <span style="font-style: italic;">For Emma</span>, though, is especially rapturous. Performed with piano as opposed to the album's acoustic guitar and if possible more stark and lonely even though <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Bon</span> Iver is more effectively a trio than a solo venture these days. There is that moment when he sings out "<span style="font-style: italic;">Go find another lover</span>" in that hushed bellow where you really see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tunde</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Adebimpe</span> comparisons justified. Both are just filled with these soulful voices that cast shadows over you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/147439-bon-iver-announces-new-ep-adds-dates">Pitchfork reports</a> that come January 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span> in the new year the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Bon</span> Iver crew will release a four-song <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">EP</span>, entitled <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blood Bank</span>. Fantastic news indeed. Follow the link for full details. He has a string of dates in December along the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">eastern</span> USA. Just don't wait too long to jump on tickets as I did last time he was in Toronto.<br /><br />For those who enjoy the video above and the mp3 below I'd suggest<a href="http://www.blogotheque.net/Bon-Iver,4255"> checking out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Bon</span> Iver's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">contribution</span> </a>over at La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Blogotheque</span>/Take Away Shows.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/83bhwq"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Bon</span> Iver - For Emma (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Myspace</span> Transmissions)</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-78984581686307981862008-11-11T02:06:00.004-05:002008-11-11T02:58:54.234-05:00Wilco loves you babyA few weeks back Jeff Tweedy appeared on The Colbert Report and sat down with Stephen for a slightly awkward chat. They talked about name changes, the free market, and Obama fever.<br /><br />After the commercial break the whole band came on to perform a new song they'd been working on. Entitled <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wilco</span> the Song</span>, it is immediately more enjoyable than anything off their last full length <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sky Blue Sky</span>.<br /><br />Its lyrics <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">expose</span> a fit of election weariness now thankfully decided in the positive. Great guitar line from Nels Cline and some excellent melodies that stick in your sinuses. I wandered around Toronto Friday night after the Kings of Leon show and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">found</span> myself wishing they'd played this instead.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wilco</span> is heading out as support for Neil Young at the end of November. They'll stop in for two dates at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ACC</span> here in Toronto December 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> and 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span>. Excited is an understatement for me, who will be attending the second date.<br /><br />Canadian viewers can view the October 3<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">oth</span> interview and performance<a href="http://watch.ctv.ca/the-colbert-report/episodes/the-colbert-report---october-30-2008/#clip108049"> here</a>. American readers at Comedy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Central's</span> <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/189725/october-30-2008/wilco-interview">website</a>.<br /><br />Can <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Wilco</span> cure those mid-election, post-election, mid-November, post-October, nearly December case of the blues? Yes they can.<br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/yyybwz"><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Wilco</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Wilco</span> the Song</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Website:</span> <a href="http://www.wilcoworld.net/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Wilco</span></a>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-74731663894964693452008-10-22T01:13:00.003-04:002008-10-22T02:08:44.051-04:00Vampire Weekend Remixed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV4nDYra_wJ0SP6k6plSuHhtMZ4wC7htbQ7ZZZ4TxgUrXU6g35NV7cj5HfqRhxu8nmMKqP2ShmHUbdDXivs_qm_1q3USqkiyv_tyYzxfEuPZWw4-ywfZ9YmrgK_0e4RRo3QK8/s1600-h/vampire_weekend-cape_cod-teenagers-remix.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV4nDYra_wJ0SP6k6plSuHhtMZ4wC7htbQ7ZZZ4TxgUrXU6g35NV7cj5HfqRhxu8nmMKqP2ShmHUbdDXivs_qm_1q3USqkiyv_tyYzxfEuPZWw4-ywfZ9YmrgK_0e4RRo3QK8/s400/vampire_weekend-cape_cod-teenagers-remix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259853456121297090" border="0" /></a><br />There are two remixes of <a href="http://www.vampireweekend.com/">Vampire Weekend</a>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Cape Cod </span>Kwassa<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Kwassa that have been floating around lately. Remixes typically are not my thing and I'm ill equipped to give a real critique or anything of the sort.<br /><br />The first by <a href="http://www.theteenagers.net/news">The Teenagers </a>gets synthed up and turned into dance hall number. It keeps the spirit of the song and improves it, making it more epic and life altering.<br /><br />The second, by London collaboration Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit, only keeps the skeleton of the song, wholly taking it into new realms. For all the talk of Afro Pop that surrounds the Vampire Weekend boys, imagine this as them filtered back through Johannesburg.<br /><br />For the record i enjoy the Esau Mwamwaya remix better and am excited for the release of their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/radioclit">The Very Best</a> mixtape on November 1st.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/f499bk"><br />Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - The Teenagers</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/2l9gem">Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/5nrl2d">Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-82771873170709191102008-09-22T01:59:00.000-04:002008-09-23T01:07:12.813-04:00Monday mornings wanna make me holler<a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/1147m7">Michael Pagliaro - Some Sing Some Dance</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3 </span><br /><br />The first Canadian songwriter to have a certified Gold record in both official languages. Apparently this song was quite the hit back in the early 70's. Probably only nationally. Doesn't change the fact that she's good though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">Some Sing<br />Some Dance<br />Some like a romance<br />I love lovin'<br /></div><br />Put that in your ears and smoke it.Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-79912092988693992012008-09-04T00:36:00.006-04:002008-09-04T02:30:32.639-04:00Loudon Wainwright III and his Motel Blues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddBZs1l84vbCl3SgKM3_QLo6cf4NKrG30YGXVCu2pyKLS9eSMvMhOtJLKJSsj5CAdNTNkT6Bn7qnI3zE-TfntE4wXIfRdJ0Zl_JQmp8nly0H6qF9XNa4cyBFyx9P-R9fSQVQC/s1600-h/41T3euD0gML._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddBZs1l84vbCl3SgKM3_QLo6cf4NKrG30YGXVCu2pyKLS9eSMvMhOtJLKJSsj5CAdNTNkT6Bn7qnI3zE-TfntE4wXIfRdJ0Zl_JQmp8nly0H6qF9XNa4cyBFyx9P-R9fSQVQC/s400/41T3euD0gML._SS500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242043569176116146" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Growing</span> up my dad used to barrel down roads and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">whenever</span> that familiar smell of a freshly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mown</span> skunk rose into the nostrils he would start belting out a few lines from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Loudon's</span> 1972 novelty hit <span style="font-style: italic;">Dead Skunk</span>. His routine never failed to get a kick out of me and it is one my fondest (if slightly vague) memories<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><br />"You Got Yer<br />Dead skunk in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">middle</span> of the road<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dead skunk in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">middle</span> of the road</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Stinkin</span>' to high Heaven</span>"<br /><br /></div>I was attending this years <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Mariposa</span> Folk Festival and was aware that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Loudon</span> was playing. To my delight he was on the bill for the Saturday I attended. Mid-Afternoon I found myself over at the registration tent helping a friend sort out some ticket issues when I turn around to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Loudon</span> Wainwright III registering at the artist tent. I've never had a true <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">fanboy</span> moment before and would not have ever guessed that an artist that I only sporadically know and listen to would inspire such a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">moment</span>. Sure enough though I found myself (loudly) nudging my friends and exclaiming "look, it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Loudon</span> Wainwright." He clearly heard and turned around. Face to face with him I offered a sheepish and respectful "Hello Mr. Wainwright." Moments later I was calling my amused father to tell him the blow-by-blow.<br /><br />Mr. Wainwright recently released <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Recovery-Newly-Record-Loudon-Wainwright/dp/B001B0IPJG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1220507464&sr=8-1">Recovery</a>, a collection of updated songs from his early records. My favourite song of his, which appears on the new album, is <span style="font-style: italic;">Motel Blues</span>. It originally appeared on his second album, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Album II</span>. A poignantly lonesome tale about a songwriter on the road convincing a young admirer to sleep with him. His voice has aged in time, less squeaky and vulnerable than it once was, helping to add an intelligenceand detachment to the new rendering.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/w2i1bp"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Loudon</span> Wainwright III - Motel Blues</a> off <span style="font-weight: bold;">Album II</span> (1971) <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/gogghv"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Loudon</span> Wainwright III - Motel Blues</a> off <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Live One</span> (1979) <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/or5oi7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Loudon</span> Wainwright III - Motel Blues </a>off <span style="font-weight: bold;">Recovery</span> (2008) <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-49220499476886278352008-08-27T01:33:00.004-04:002008-08-28T02:37:38.226-04:00In the run-up toThe Stand Ins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMNcMiHHLAHPsV0R5u1Jj1JPtvn3tXFtGt3CO1bdx2YAJ7cEAYtUbSloO8FdiTto01wUGorCvHziE_Rs37b6e7WmOOJ3sI88Xnhfd4VaRg5CUlE3ekLzGRc_pHGfEkaE_0eKK/s1600-h/51pae1gA7yL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMNcMiHHLAHPsV0R5u1Jj1JPtvn3tXFtGt3CO1bdx2YAJ7cEAYtUbSloO8FdiTto01wUGorCvHziE_Rs37b6e7WmOOJ3sI88Xnhfd4VaRg5CUlE3ekLzGRc_pHGfEkaE_0eKK/s400/51pae1gA7yL._SS500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239438847204671154" border="0" /></a>In terms of fall releases, it is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Okkervil</span> River's <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Stand Ins</span> that has me the most anticipatory. Like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Black Boy appendix </span>was a follow-up in theme and sound to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Black Sheep Boy</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Stand Ins</span> is a follow-up to <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Stage Names</span>. Released in August of last year,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Stage Names</span> is superb beyond belief. It coats my ears weekly; a fair <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">achievement</span> in these "drop it after it's hot" times.<br /><br />To be released in a few short weeks, September 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Okkervil</span> River have begun to release a series of videos in the run-up. Track by track, they are releasing a series of video <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">performances</span> on their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/OkkervilRiver"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">youtube</span> channel</a>. The songs feature other artists performing the album's songs. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Lead-off</span> track, <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost Coastlines</span>, gets the treatment from the New Pornographer's A.C. Newman (who just announced he is <a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/144741-carl-newman-to-get-guilty-on-new-solo-lp">releasing his second solo album</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Get Guilty</span>, early next year). Every couple days they are releasing a new <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">interpretation</span> on their channel. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bon</span> Iver and David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Vandervelde</span> have also <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lent</span> their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">stylings</span> to a song off the album. <br /><br />Myself, I'm saving it all for the 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span>, save for the first "single". It's included here for your daily consumption.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">01 The Stand Ins, One</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">02 Lost Coastlines</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">03 Singer Songwriter</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">04 Starry Stairs</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">05 Blue Tulip</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">06 The Stand Ins, Two</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">07 Pop Lie</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">08 On Tour With <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Zykos</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">09 Calling and Not Calling My Ex</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">10 The Stand Ins, Three</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">11 Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979 </span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/c9qchn"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Okkervil</span> River - Lost Coastlines</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-9592015807622295542008-08-25T02:26:00.005-04:002008-08-25T03:24:57.246-04:00Monday mornings make me wanna Holler<a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/amq070">Ray <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lamontagne</span> - You Are The Best Thing</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br />This is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">leadoff</span> track for <a href="http://www.raylamontagne.com/home.php">Ray</a>'s new album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Gossip in the Grain</span>, out October 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>. Ethan Johns produced and tackled drums again. Leona <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Naess</span> also guests on two tracks. Apparently the album is more of a full band affair this time around. If this track is any indication, its going to be quite good.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/h7cok1">Kings of Leon - Crawl</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br />Off <span style="font-style: italic;">Only By The Night</span>, out the 23rd of September. The Kings of Leon lads had this available for download for a while on their <a href="http://www.kingsofleon.com/">website</a>. It's such a rocker and really ramps up my anticipation for the album. Their show at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kool</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Haus</span> in Toronto is all sold out. This really messed with me last week whilst trying to obtain tickets. I'm usually the guy who grabs the tickets, so when a friend casually mentioned he had grabbed an extra ticket as he said he would I was pleased as a pig.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/lbxi2m"><br />Florence and the Machine - Kiss with a Fist</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br />We live in a different time so it is doubtful the song will create the kind of stir The Crystals "He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)" did back in 1962. But for those who want to set the tone for the week could do worse than this rocker of a gem. More than enough pep to get you through its barely two minute running time. For the record, Florence felt compelled enough to state on her <a href="http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachinemusic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">myspace</span></a> that this is not a song about domestic violence. The B-side "Bitch Had it Coming", however, leaves little room for plausible <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">deniability</span>.Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-79109923997094183842008-08-21T01:06:00.004-04:002008-08-21T01:21:26.234-04:00Grow up good into the light/ Grow down deep into the dirt<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eaFKFyX_Vuo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eaFKFyX_Vuo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-69776686017406362052008-08-01T00:38:00.001-04:002008-12-10T11:18:37.573-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA49-6JckxtIH8pcDK31QTDlNLy1VHMbJl72CH0g_Zl3q8u8a7x_F_foLfdZVU773Tat21an2U-cbOprnfxqpnvV082ffNoyYUukpYNuBfGNsm8hm0-WLHLtT-ZZzs8CK_UOh/s1600-h/l_3d0b9f96c368ee6d03ba319b22c3881f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA49-6JckxtIH8pcDK31QTDlNLy1VHMbJl72CH0g_Zl3q8u8a7x_F_foLfdZVU773Tat21an2U-cbOprnfxqpnvV082ffNoyYUukpYNuBfGNsm8hm0-WLHLtT-ZZzs8CK_UOh/s400/l_3d0b9f96c368ee6d03ba319b22c3881f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228878398696578290" border="0" /></a>From The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fembots</span> camp comes news of their fourth album. Calling Out will be released September 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> on <a href="http://www.weewerk.com/">(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">weewerk</span>) records</a>. It features eleven tracks:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">01 Good Days<br />02 Can I Be Your Mirror?<br />03 My Hands Are A City<br />04 Get In The Van<br />05 God Keep Our Hands Clean<br />06 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">JL</span> Recalls His Amazon Adventure From A Comfortable <br /><img src="http://www.weewerk.com/clear.gif" height="1" width="22" />Chair In The Window Of No.5 The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kingsway</span><br />07 Hand Print In Wet Cement<br />08 Lost At Sea<br />09 The Ballad Of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lucybelle</span> Carter<br />10 The End Of The Day<br />11 Ship Breaking <br /><br />The album was originally intended to be recording using the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">junkstrument</span> creations of <a href="http://inersouster.blogspot.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Iner</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Souster</span></a>. Eight months into recording the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">unpredictability</span> of these creations simply made it too hard to sustain for a whole album. The sessions were not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">entirely</span> scrapped and will provide rhythm and backing tracks throughout the record.<br /><br />The two-piece, Dave <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">MacKinnon</span> and Brian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Poirier</span>, also enlisted Nathan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Lawr</span> on drums for the record. Paul <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Aucoin</span> provided string and horns.<br /><br />They've got a few Toronto dates late August before things heat up after the release of the album. Check those out at their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/fembots"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">myspace</span></a>.<br /></div><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/rmrpre"><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Fembots</span> - Gilded Age </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span> (from 2005's The City)Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-18252025827341189182008-07-28T01:46:00.001-04:002008-12-10T11:18:38.024-05:00She & Him, Opera House, Toronto, July 23, 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZliCh27ZX8FdCheWA_-SXZazmG65TaWA1CpQJOVuvkrOkny5yNYCsyV8BjaihPlG8Ka4s1t2e9-yaBlYRkw9mUBiqoigh3HdP1ZggbZL5-zXU68oX8hlx3pV4e34hHLU8xs4/s1600-h/48462.sheandhim525.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZliCh27ZX8FdCheWA_-SXZazmG65TaWA1CpQJOVuvkrOkny5yNYCsyV8BjaihPlG8Ka4s1t2e9-yaBlYRkw9mUBiqoigh3HdP1ZggbZL5-zXU68oX8hlx3pV4e34hHLU8xs4/s400/48462.sheandhim525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226845536503912354" border="0" /></a><br />She & Him are M. Ward and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Zooey</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Deschanel</span>.<br /><br />Mr. Ward you should already be familiar with. Whether it is his fine work on albums such as <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Post-War-M-Ward/dp/B000GGSMDA/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1217223381&sr=8-1">Post-War</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Transfiguration-Vincent-M-Ward/dp/B00008BL5M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1217223437&sr=1-6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Transfigurations</span> of Vincent</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Transistor-Radio-M-Ward/dp/B0007KIFIM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1217223470&sr=1-5">Transistor Radio</a> or through various guest work with artists such as My Morning Jacket, Jenny Lewis, or Bright Eyes.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Zooey</span> you may have seen in various roles on the silver screen. Whether it was in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Elf</span>, Bridge to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Terabithia</span>, or as the cool older sister you always wanted in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Almost Famous</span>. She seems to have taken the old actor's adage of "One for the studios, and one for yourself" to heart. It certainly has made for an interesting career trajectory.<br /><br />A few years back while filming <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479289/">The Go-Getter</a>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Zooey</span> was introduced to M. Ward who was composing the film's score and soundtrack. They collaborated on a version of Linda and Richard Thompson's <span style="font-style: italic;">When I Get to the Border</span>.<br /><br />They got to talking about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Zooey's</span> home recording demo's she kept to herself and with some prodding her and Matt started working together on these. Via email from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Zooey's</span> home in Los Angeles to Matt's adopted city of Portland. Back and forth. Forth and back. In the interim <span style="font-weight: bold;">She and Him</span>, and their debut recording, <a href="http://www.mergerecords.com/store/store_detail.php?catalog_id=530&link=storeHomeAlbumCover">Volume 1 </a>was birthed.<br /><br />Wednesday night at the Opera House brought the outfit to the fair streets of Toronto. Despite their moniker, leave no question, this is clearly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Zooey's</span> spotlight. Like on the album, Ward seems content to add flourishes and backing to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Deschanel's</span> vocals<br /><br />The crowd was clearly putty in the hands of Ms. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Deschanel</span>, who to her credit never once offered anything aside to the fact that she was a wide-eyed ingenue. Aside from a few one-off shows, this was actually the first night of the She & Him extended tour. But even a few missed cues and confusion were not enough to put off the doe-eyed crowd. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">speaks</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dechanel</span>, whose "aw shucks" demeanor wins over even the most cynical. When faced with the chorus of groans that greeted her "last song of the night" proclamation, it only took a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">pluckish</span>, "Hey, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">whaddya</span> expect, we only got one album," to resign the masses.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Deschanel</span> floated between vocals, tambourine, and piano through the set. Ward, playing to stage right quietly evoked until a short solo several songs in that brought yells of appreciation from the faithful.<br /><br />The night featured a full backing band who rocked out a few numbers. As well received as they were, the highlight of the night was when the band departed mid-set leaving Ward and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Deschanel</span> alone on the stage. Through several songs they reminded the crowd of their moniker before inviting the band back on to close out the show.<br /><br />Following one of the more resounding and heartfelt requests I've seen in a while, the duo returned for a pleasing version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Bring it on Home to Me</span>, before concluding the evening with a run through of Ward's <span style="font-style: italic;">Magic Trick</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/bogcnd">M. Ward - Magic Trick</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3 </span>(from <span style="font-style: italic;">Post-War</span>)<br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/dms9nj">She & Him - I Was Made For You</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3<br /><br /></span><span>As previously mentioned they are out on tour. Check out their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sheandhim">myspace</a> for dates near you.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-31751224011565570332008-07-21T01:07:00.003-04:002008-12-10T11:18:38.542-05:00The Acorn<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWiCViTP9urU3c5BVoXja16A3sviHMZ7274JX8A-j8DqoZTrSuYo9Y_ea26N_gRX8WCVVqKWPqU66FFzFV-806y4WLE72y-4RmJpZI5_dlYu207CUlI5UsdCAiLcRUeojs0bT/s1600-h/acorn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWiCViTP9urU3c5BVoXja16A3sviHMZ7274JX8A-j8DqoZTrSuYo9Y_ea26N_gRX8WCVVqKWPqU66FFzFV-806y4WLE72y-4RmJpZI5_dlYu207CUlI5UsdCAiLcRUeojs0bT/s400/acorn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224219379300209954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo Credit: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Remi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Theriault</span><br /></span></div><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m2XREBNiDZE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />While I remember reading and hearing much about The Acorn in the past year or two, I never quite felt the urge to investigate. Chalk it up to a period of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">discontent</span> with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">blogosphere</span>/hype machine. Was I missing out? Most definitely. I came across the video for <span style="font-style: italic;">Flood Pt. 1</span> the other day while watching television. Enthralled by the visuals I had to ask "who that?"<br />Well, it is The Acorn.<br /><br />The video was produced and directed by Chris Mills. A respected music and visual artist, he also directed the video for Modest Mouse's <span style="font-style: italic;">Float On</span>.<br /><br /></span></object><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flood Pt. 1</span><br /></span></object> Lift your head from wild and wicked sleep<br />where seven-headed serpents hiss soliloquies<br />and while picking snails from the river of the valley<br />you don't see the storm clouds piling up so quietly<br /><br />The rushing river rattlesnakes your legs<br />and baby boy has got you drinking from the dead<br />you lick your lips and paddle for the levee<br />the sinking banks are sifting through your teeth<br /><br />As you float up, see the river skins the valley<br />and strips the sleeping sediment of memory<br /><br />You lift your head from wild and wicked sleep<br />the withered river sputters at your feet<br />and all around the sound is slow and muddy<br />the sunlight scatters pennies through the leaves<br /><br />As you wake up see the river skins the valley<br />you'd love to wash this summer from your memory<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"></object></div><span style="font-size:100%;">I was struck by how evocative and visual the lyrics are. Alliterative too. I recommend picking up the first full-length proper, <a href="http://paperbagrecords.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=32">Glory Hope Mountain</a>, on which this song appears.<br /><br />There is a great article that talks about the band and the creation of Glory Hope Mountain from October of last year. Go <a href="http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=778&fid1=27572">here </a>for a good and interesting read.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/2b720z">The Acorn - The Flood Pt. 1</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /></span><object height="344" width="425"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m2XREBNiDZE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-20035877627778414432008-07-14T00:38:00.003-04:002008-08-25T02:38:40.414-04:00Monday Mornings make me wanna hollaSome Monday morning grooves for you. Or Monday eve, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc., whenever you come across it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/kttjie">The Hombres - Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br />The Hombres were a bit of one-hitter with this tune from '67. Modelled after Dylan's <span style="font-style: italic;">Subterranean </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Homesick</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Blues</span>, which according to the band was a lark masquerading as profound.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/nis723">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fugs</span> - Kill For Peace</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3<br /></span>Oldie but a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">goodie</span>. It feels like the spiritual brother of Country Joe's <span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Fixin</span><span style="font-style: italic;">' to Die</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/r6azt0">James Brown - Your Cheating Heart (Hank Williams)</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br />From <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Dirty-Laundry-Soul-Black-Country/dp/B0006B0Q16/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216012863&sr=8-10">Dirty Laundry: The Soul of Black Country</a>, which has soul artists covering and doing originals of country tunes. I'm not sure when the song was recorded, but it sounds like peak James Brown. All swagger and tight as fucking hell.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-16032257717808116822008-07-10T00:57:00.003-04:002008-07-10T16:28:57.383-04:00CathI wouldn't consider myself a <a href="http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/home/">Death Cab For Cutie</a> fan by any stretch of the imagination. Neither before or after their Seth Cohen moment did I ever find them pleasing to my tastes. Yet, I found myself struck by a melody the other day. Upon further investigation I found the source to be <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cath</span></span> by Death Cab. From <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Narrow-Stairs-Death-Cab-Cutie/dp/B0017I1RH4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215667303&sr=8-1">Narrow Stairs</a>, their latest disc, the song has invaded me.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cath</span> describes a woman standing at the altar in resignation. Despite his loving her she is marrying him out of a fear that she may never be loved again, thus, she must commit or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">face</span> a life alone (possibly). The plaintive "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Caths</span>," nearly yelped, the sonics that set the mood and enhance the picture, and the detailed lyrics that add texture to this portrait all combine to create a bold song.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/il1dgo">Death Cab For Cutie - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cath</span></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><br />The Death Cab play the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Pemberton</span> Music Festival in British Columbia on July 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span>.<br /><br />They recently released a video for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cath</span>. It sticks fairly literally to the lyrics but still worth checking out<br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uY1ahFCYT5k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uY1ahFCYT5k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-49968105381341984812008-07-09T02:15:00.001-04:002008-12-10T11:18:38.742-05:00Polaris Shortlist announced<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FcklTH4N23QBbn80MecrW5Yv8ZRayKPJ4kLX5T4tRjnaeZNVNtO8U-OmLAzUPxvypYie0gbWrpE9EFP7v7DR7yKecx31R7vv0JXzMQCAcDXU0iGTW3bEvbu4pkG6iqgAD3yY/s1600-h/61jHZixvccL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FcklTH4N23QBbn80MecrW5Yv8ZRayKPJ4kLX5T4tRjnaeZNVNtO8U-OmLAzUPxvypYie0gbWrpE9EFP7v7DR7yKecx31R7vv0JXzMQCAcDXU0iGTW3bEvbu4pkG6iqgAD3yY/s400/61jHZixvccL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221097594872233762" border="0" /></a><br />For those unfamiliar, the Polaris Music Prize, in its third <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">award</span> season since its inception, awards "accolades" and a $20,000 payday to the single best Canadian album (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">at least</span> 8 songs and plus 30 minutes) of the last year. Any album released in-between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008 is eligible.<br /><br />this year's shortlist, with the winner to be announced September 29<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span>, is:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blackmountainarmy.com/">Black Mountain</a> - <span style="font-style: italic;">In The Future</span><br /><a href="http://www.basiabulat.com/">Basia <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bulat</span></a> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, My Darling</span><br /><a href="http://caribou.fm/">Caribou</a> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Andorra</span><br /><a href="http://www.kathleenedwards.com/">Kathleen Edwards</a> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Asking For Flowers</span><br /><a href="http://www.holyfuckmusic.com/music.html">Holy Fuck </a>- <span style="font-style: italic;">LP</span><br /><a href="http://www.plantsandanimals.ca/">Plants and Animals </a>-<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Parc</span> Avenue</span><br /><a href="http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars/">Stars </a>- <span style="font-style: italic;">In Our Bedroom After The War</span><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/shad">Shad </a>- <span style="font-style: italic;">The Old Prince</span><br /><a href="http://www.twohourstraffic.com/">Two Hours Traffic</a> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Jabs</span><br /><a href="http://www.theweakerthans.org/">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Weakerthans</span></a> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Reunion Tour<br /></span><br />I've listened to all of the nominees minus Caribou and Shad's offerings and my early pick is Plants and Animals. A fantastic album, although considering last year's winner was from Montreal and Final Fantasy/Owen Pallet won the first year and his well known Montreal connections, P & A could suffer from a slight Montreal backlash. Of course, this thing is debated on "artistic merit" alone so that couldn't happen.<br /><br />Now there were 40 albums <a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/2008/06/polaris-long-list-announced.html">long-listed</a> a while back so there is bound to be some debate over who didn't make the cut. For my money, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Constantines</span>' <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kensington</span> Heights</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Welcome to the Night Sky</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Wintersleep</span> deserve to be there. Alas, I am no judge or jury.<br /><br />The Weakerthans <a href="http://www.theweakerthans.org/news/">cordially invite the rest of the nominees to settle the matter of a winner the old fashioned way</a>. If by old fashioned you mean a croquet tournament, which i do.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-78834398320604990442008-06-25T02:10:00.006-04:002008-12-10T11:18:38.879-05:00New Kings of Leon for September<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpHVUsvh0nMKTzp1MEsLVeDoAQw36-Od8CTVmWsVbDGuyKt068qZv91HBuOsBKmsxTYtJk247w4v4LeQ13I7L3TB5rpvuKwklgnAuGPRCJrNMxP78FNnZcmOBO8ezGC0ShqkU/s1600-h/BBC_Studios_London2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpHVUsvh0nMKTzp1MEsLVeDoAQw36-Od8CTVmWsVbDGuyKt068qZv91HBuOsBKmsxTYtJk247w4v4LeQ13I7L3TB5rpvuKwklgnAuGPRCJrNMxP78FNnZcmOBO8ezGC0ShqkU/s400/BBC_Studios_London2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215700933116430610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo Credit: KOL website<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Out of the <a href="http://www.kingsofleon.com/">Kings of Leon </a>camp comes news of an impending album. Titled, <span style="font-style: italic;">Only By The Night</span>, their fourth disc is set to come out September 23rd.<br /><br />Their last one, <span style="font-style: italic;">Because of the Times</span>, showed a welcome maturity. Written off by many, it's an album that I've only grown fonder of with repeated listens.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Youth-Young-Manhood-Kings-Leon/dp/B00009YFP8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214376391&sr=8-3"><span style="font-style: italic;">Youth and Young Manhood</span></a> was a gut shot, a cannon off the balcony that tipped our ears to these so-called "Southern Strokes." <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Aha-Shake-Heartbreak-Kings-Leon/dp/B00078XKD4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214376391&sr=8-2"><span style="font-style: italic;">Aha Shake Heartbreak</span></a> repeated the format of the first, but with more cynical stories of the touring life. A bit of a dissapointment when all was said and done. But <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Because-Times-Kings-Leon/dp/B000MRA3NU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214376391&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Because Of The Times</span> </a>was fantastic. Flawed enough in those interesting ways that beg you to delve deeper.<br /><br />After two aborted/misses of amusing details with seeing them live I finally caught them last summer here in Toronto. About time.<br /><br />They're doing the festival tour through till August, including a headlining slot at Glastonbury this week. I have to say, I'm surprised they nailed the headline gig. I didn't realize they had that big the audience. Either way, Good on 'em.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/rzqi7c">Kings of Leon - True Love Way</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3 </span>from<span style="font-style: italic;"> Because Of The Times</span><br /><br /></span></div></div>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-90221690529877592392008-05-22T01:07:00.002-04:002008-12-10T11:18:39.029-05:00Kathleen Edwards' Asking For Flowers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28I-7IOKGNimqaL9EONnRZfFUFz3bgLyW75euFem2p-9aswd0y13I9EX7rQISBkqk6higXrU8_IH5S0gCFrwJLQTdR9cccid0BvwGNVSzgmvA4IOXslOyMFjQpcIYua6TZTSK/s1600-h/41YNW9c75BL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28I-7IOKGNimqaL9EONnRZfFUFz3bgLyW75euFem2p-9aswd0y13I9EX7rQISBkqk6higXrU8_IH5S0gCFrwJLQTdR9cccid0BvwGNVSzgmvA4IOXslOyMFjQpcIYua6TZTSK/s400/41YNW9c75BL._SS500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181171648228005986" border="0" /></a>Kathleen Edwards' latest came out about two months ago. I've been playing it fairly constantly since then. Crystal vocals and a songwriter's eye that continues to develop and mature make this , her third album, her strongest to date.<br /><br />There's a lot to love on the album and I recommend any and all to pick it up and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spend</span> a few quiet evenings getting to know it.<br /><br />Probably my favourite track off the album is <span style="font-style: italic;">Alicia Ross</span>:<br /><br />Alicia Ross may be a name familiar to anyone who lives in and around the Greater Toronto area. She <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">disappeared</span> in August 2005. Her body would be found later and eventually her neighbour would confess to her murder. In 2007, her neighbour was given a life sentence. <span style="font-style: italic;">Alicia Ross</span> is a song written from the perspective of Alicia. It hits pretty powerful, though I wonder if it would as much if I wasn't already familiar with Alicia's story. <span style="font-style: italic;">I am a girl with a forgettable face</span>, it opens. And I think how much I enjoy the song begins with these opening sentiments. Too often we romanticize the dead. But bookended with the closing words <span style="font-style: italic;">Now I'm a girl who's face they'll never forget,</span> it drives home this idea of a very ordinary person, who in death remained an ordinary person, but had an out of the ordinary experience, which, for the most part, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">unfortunately</span> so, will be what most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">remember</span> of her.<br /><br />It's a fantastic song. Even better, all royalties from this song are being donated to <a href="http://www.canoe.org/aboutUs.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Project C.A.N.O.E.</span></a>, a charity for "at-risk" youths that now works closely with the Ross family and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">represents</span> Alicia's great love of the outdoors. So no free download for that. Hit it up at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Itunes</span>, or better yet go to ye <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">olde</span> record <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">shoppe</span> and grab the whole album. Also visit <a href="http://www.aliciaross.ca/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">AliciaRoss</span>.ca</a> to learn more about Alicia and the various charitable endeavours in her honour.<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.canoe.org/aboutUs.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Asking-Flowers-Kathleen-Edwards/dp/B0013Y0ABQ">Asking For Flowers </a>can be found in all the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">usual</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">hot spots</span>. Get it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-14271508833846227132008-04-28T00:01:00.005-04:002008-12-10T11:18:39.172-05:00The Deadly Snakes provide an aural document of their last show (s)<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0VcYFeWVzBKBiP1a90KWma3JNRU5ew7tkqjoXwHZ-8JlRjRmmE2QTrmx8PKKo2GMe9tGbpk0DRbuwhJWDBxQvLZtBcvjHDhP111RE7DKQcoGfYcW_hzkFy5TPTke63TdxGdM/s1600-h/227688626_597c1a29ed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0VcYFeWVzBKBiP1a90KWma3JNRU5ew7tkqjoXwHZ-8JlRjRmmE2QTrmx8PKKo2GMe9tGbpk0DRbuwhJWDBxQvLZtBcvjHDhP111RE7DKQcoGfYcW_hzkFy5TPTke63TdxGdM/s400/227688626_597c1a29ed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194141606553899138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo Credit: Carrie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Musgrave</span></span></span><br /></div><br />Those familiar with me know I have a special love in my heart for two recent-times Canadian bands. The first, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Constantines</span> just released their newest album a few weeks ago and I'll have some thoughts on that tomorrow on the eve of its U.S. release date. The second, The Deadly Snakes, played their last notes August 26, 2006, nearly two years ago (where has the time gone, etc., etc.).<br /><br />The Snakes were a deadly rock and roll band. Four albums over their ten year existence. The last two, <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Ode-Joy-Deadly-Snakes/dp/B00008J2HO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209360044&sr=8-1">Ode to Joy</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Porcella-Deadly-Snakes/dp/B000B884MW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209360044&sr=8-2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Porcella</span>,</a> are of desert island pick quality. Call 'em what you will. I myself like <span style="font-style: italic;">Garage Soul</span>. There was always a real Jesus on the mainline, pipeline to the heart evident in their music and live shows. Of all the great acts I've been fortunate to see and hear, there are very few that keep punching me in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">heartbox</span> like the Snakes do.<br /><br />Ten years after their inception the band decided to call it quits, never achieving much more than regional adoration. Their demise coincided with the rise in recognition of the indie <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">scene</span> in general and the Canadian indie scene specifically. These were days of Arcade Fires, Wolf Parades, and Broken Social Scenes. Good days all around, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">never mind</span> you, but days that passed without the Snakes getting the true recognition they deserved. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Forgotten</span> in the back alley no doubt.<br /><br />The last show was tipped to throw down at the Horseshoe Tavern on the 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span> of August. Word circulated that the last real <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">throwdown</span> would take place the next night at the Silver Dollar. Indeed it did. That Friday and Saturday were pretty darn close to being the best weekend I've ever had.<br /><br />Two years later comes news via <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Myspace</span> that "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Snakes' last show live album should be out sometime in 2008 on <a href="http://www.intheredrecords.com/">In The Red</a>. It's a 37 song monster and it sounds great.</span>"<br /><br />I wasn't even aware that the last shows were being taped. I'm assuming it is only of the Horseshoe gig, where the band played two sets and covered nearly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">every</span> damn thing they had ever put to tape. Either way, it will serve as a great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">addendum</span> to the Snakes' ongoing legacy. Keep your ears open for that.<br /><br />There is a plethora of Snakes related video on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Youtube</span>. Both the Horseshoe and Silver Dollar gigs have a presence there. Those with time and interest should head there.<br /><br />I'll leave you with a great track from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Porcella</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">"If a man can't love when he is young, </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">there'll</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> be no love for him as he grows old."</span><br /><br />If this is your first exposure to the Snakes and you wish for more take the yellow tinged road, or better yet get in touch with this kind soul and ask to come over for a rock and roll night. Nothing makes me happier then to share.<br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/um4p6n"><br />The Deadly Snakes - Oh Lord, My Heart</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">sendspace</span> link)Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-24080391891402665252008-03-06T02:08:00.008-05:002008-12-10T11:18:39.722-05:00Entire Cities<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBjdMl0WfynSbDbvtcllLAbm4sIjLyufNg34S25YT5rQChduVGVnwntoQE5aRTprgYB2sQhvIKoVG166zcmrAg0dTUEd5DMVVpn008Jcjfb9V_hhS3v-QCGj8ODe0vA1WSWaZ/s1600-h/Entire+Cities+-+with+little+hannah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBjdMl0WfynSbDbvtcllLAbm4sIjLyufNg34S25YT5rQChduVGVnwntoQE5aRTprgYB2sQhvIKoVG166zcmrAg0dTUEd5DMVVpn008Jcjfb9V_hhS3v-QCGj8ODe0vA1WSWaZ/s400/Entire+Cities+-+with+little+hannah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174544018249531058" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="epktxt"><span style="font-style: italic;">"My personal contribution to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ol</span>' pigeonhole is 'psychedelic cow punk'; I'm not really worried about it though, because I've tried to define the music myself and failed miserably. If I don't know what it is, then how the fuck is anyone else gonna know?"</span><br /></span><br />So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sayeth</span> Simon Borer, guitarist/vocalist for Toronto's <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/entirecities">Entire Cities</a>. </span>I'd like his band just for the simple fact he acknowledges the futility of defining a band's sound. I'm just bowled over with these guys. A 7-strong core outfit with a revolving cast of additional players. Live show, by all accounts, is a ruckus. If that matters to ya. Don't know because I haven't seen them yet.<br /><br />I'm not a lyrics guy naturally. I have to work at it. My ADD tends to kick in and I normally have songs hit me for how they sound. How they feel. How they hit me in the gut. Entire Cities meet all these instant criteria, but I'm enamoured by their lyrics too. they just have these lyrics that get you in that good part of your heart. Take <span style="font-style: italic;">Sunshine</span>, to hear it go to their profile at <a href="http://radio3.cbc.ca/">CBC Radio3</a>, backed by a banjo and some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">vibey</span> guitar, these words economically oozed out like a fourth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Followil</span> brother, "I'm fucked up. On sunshine. Heartbreak. For a lifetime".<br /><br />Or <span style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With My Brother</span>, destined to bring back acid recall of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cowboy</span> hoe-downs gone awry, and one of the best chorus' I've heard lately, " I'm my brother's snakeskin motherfucker".<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Coffee</span> reminds me so much of a friend of mine when it opens with " She said, 'I ain't been without a man since I was a little girl of thirteen. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Now's</span> my chance to find out who I am without a man". I like those moments; when the music gets personal with you.<br /><br />Keep your eye out for Entire Cities, They hit real pure.<br /><br />Simon wrote in to say that they are holding their cd release April 11th at the King & Niagara Legion Hall. Be on the ball with that. No April 1st gig as previously mentioned.<br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/5wxg4o"><br />Entire Cities - Dancing With My Brother</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/t56mik">Entire Cities - Coffee </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-12930670113880547202008-02-13T01:08:00.005-05:002008-12-10T11:18:39.948-05:00Constantines tracklisting and release date<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVN0Gwqb5HCXplZWApqm1YN1xIpbU4tXK-UECdciXxD5xQ5o1xEMvD2lHSCe7DH-fzonW-2L7FaCAIr7bk5yckn24VQ1dJB1H7ZDccYkIbFMVMlcLYNSHvXHVc0PBMAhdwuUe/s1600-h/ac032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVN0Gwqb5HCXplZWApqm1YN1xIpbU4tXK-UECdciXxD5xQ5o1xEMvD2lHSCe7DH-fzonW-2L7FaCAIr7bk5yckn24VQ1dJB1H7ZDccYkIbFMVMlcLYNSHvXHVc0PBMAhdwuUe/s400/ac032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166342925625590354" border="0" /></a>Official tracklisting, album art, and title for the new Constantines album. As you can see the new album is titled<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Kensington Heights</span>. It's slated to hit Canada on April 15th, and in the U.S. April 29th.<br /><br />The tracklisting:<br /><br />1 - Hard Feelings<br />2 - Million Star Hotel<br />3 - Trans Canada<br />4 - Shower Of Stones<br />5 - Our Age<br />6 - Time Can Be Overcome<br />7 - Brother Run Them Down<br />8 - Credit River<br />9 - I Will Not Sing A Hateful Song<br />10 - New King<br />11 - Life Or Death<br />12 - Do What You Can Do<br /><br />Now Valentines Day is tomorrow. With that in mind I'll leave you one of the best love songs I ever set eyes and ears upon. Give 'em a great big kiss.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/g4r9bm">The Constantines - Saint You</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-45099134229775182352008-02-08T00:44:00.001-05:002008-12-10T11:18:40.132-05:00The Russian Futurists suck....But not this song<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDxV8mwD5GapyVkmc-KDuKH3FxjWldWR3cKE6CuHL2M75Azrw1QhTEghxgl8QNcLat55rwVHe0yf9c9cQyq9fVtLE-ryrsjzyOXlqAu5axntA7ozSd96EmUJfqtI3SAgnno7F/s1600-h/russianfuturists.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDxV8mwD5GapyVkmc-KDuKH3FxjWldWR3cKE6CuHL2M75Azrw1QhTEghxgl8QNcLat55rwVHe0yf9c9cQyq9fVtLE-ryrsjzyOXlqAu5axntA7ozSd96EmUJfqtI3SAgnno7F/s400/russianfuturists.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164483174998390354" border="0" /></a>"The Russian Futurists suck!!!" These are the words that greeted me last week as I walked into the Phoenix just as The Russian Futurists were wrapping up their warmup gig for Wintersleep.<br />The man uttering those words was my buddy Winston Churchill. And that kid knows a thing or two. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.russianfuturists.com/">The Russian Futurists</a> are essentially the brain child of Matthew Adam Hart. He expanded it for live shows a few years back, but it still reallly remains his little lapdog.<br /><br />Somehow or another it was recommended I listen to the RF track <span style="font-style: italic;">Paul Simon</span>. I dig Paul Simon. Even better, I dig songs that reference Paul Simon.. There's The Clash's <span style="font-style: italic;">Fuck Art Garfunkel (I'm siding with Simon) </span>and of course Eminem's early mixtape classic, <span style="font-style: italic;">Paul Simon Stole my Shorty</span>. Good shit.<br /><br />So I dug into the track and loved it. The video is awesome too. It basically features Hart walking around listening to the track and people he's passing by just start breaking out into spontaneous dance. Not just a good shuffle, but Fred Astaire shit. Big sweeping legs, swooping gestures. Have you ever had that desire? Walking down the street and having a track pop onto your headphones and just wanting to dance and shout your ass off. I normally stop myself; sometimes I'll allow myself an emphatic clap of the hands, but that is typically as far as I'll get.<br /><br />I picked up RF's '06 release <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Me-Myself-Rye-Russian-Futurists/dp/B000RZHK7O/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202451344&sr=8-2">Me, Myself & Rye</a> as a result. It's a compilation of their first three albums. I was intensely disappointed by it. I knew they were opening the Wintersleep gig and had initially been excited by this. Listening to the album took the wind out of my sails and contributed to my laziness in making it to the show on time. Luckily I had my buddy Winston to confirm this. Wintersleep though was incredible. They keep on getting better.<br /><br />Take a listen to <span style="font-style: italic;">Paul Simon</span>. It rocks.<br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/9xw7tv"><br />The Russian Futurists -Paul Simon </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/af70bHwX4oY&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/af70bHwX4oY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-86427514711029571082008-02-07T02:59:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:18:40.252-05:00Friday Night Lights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSY83Mwxx_v6BB3wKahLEEY9vEvB47cC6z7f5HJiTjZD3EqF1OUOEassgG2Zl_XI_Y0ChaM7IMRhgXfvcdJWS53rUpaO30vJIu-Gh-Nh_Tysdc4ZGg9tNSeMeDJTcyhBBjTkh/s1600-h/Coach-Eric-Taylor-friday-night-lights-296002_500_333.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSY83Mwxx_v6BB3wKahLEEY9vEvB47cC6z7f5HJiTjZD3EqF1OUOEassgG2Zl_XI_Y0ChaM7IMRhgXfvcdJWS53rUpaO30vJIu-Gh-Nh_Tysdc4ZGg9tNSeMeDJTcyhBBjTkh/s400/Coach-Eric-Taylor-friday-night-lights-296002_500_333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163794906489206322" border="0" /></a><br />I've been watching Friday Night Lights all season long with mixed feelings. It has definitely stumbled in its sophomore season. The biggest one was right out of the gates with the murder plotline between Landry and Tyra. Almost right away critics called them on it with most supposing the direction was probably the result of the show trying to make a big jump out of the gates, looking for viewers and a stay of execution from NBC after barely making the cut and not getting cancelled last season.<br /><br />Like some of the characters of the show, they seemed a bit over-eager to please. Given the focus of the show, perhaps a football analogy about how the green team playing in their first big championship comes out in the first half all nerves and trying too hard would be apt. But as countless movies have dictated, the team calms those nerves and comes out of the dressing room in the second half collected. All they had to do was remind themselves of what got them there. " You gotta dance (with who you came to the dance with)" as The Hold Steady might say.<br /><br />Football may be the premise of the show, but it's never really been about that. It's about the characters. FNL isn't one of those typical shows that drags you into their lives by making you envious of how dramatic and blessed their existences are. Nope, it does it the old fashioned way, through character development. The beauty isn't just in the big moments; the victorious ones where a silent pumped fist is shared with the fictitious. It is in the defeats and the failings when you see them for who they are. And they're noble as hell. Not perfect mind you, but genuinely flawed characters who maintain dignity in the moments when life attempts to strip you of it.<br /><br />One of the storyline's coming into the ep was Smash's suspension for the rest of the regular season. Over the past two season's we've seen how football is really the only thing Smash cares about. It's his passion. When the suspension comes down he is genuinely crushed. He's apologetic but still manages to carry that Smash swagger that as much a failing as it is off the field, is a necessity for him on the field. But then we find out his football scholarship has been taken from him and the bottom truly drops out. The episode closes out with Smash coming into the locker room just before the start of the game. His teammates, deflated and angry with their star player for letting them down, have been especially hard on him and he stands before them humbled. He reminds them of who they are and how they got to be here. And as they rush out of the tunnel to take on their competitors we see Smash in the now empty locker room bent over in tears. It is heartbreaking and powerful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose."<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;">With the writer's strike going on most shows have already run out of new episodes to air. Friday Night Lights managed to get 15 in the can before the strike began. They still have one more to air after last Friday's 14th episode, which will air this Friday. With the writer's strike rumoured to be coming to an end I'm hopeful they can get back to work and give us another 7 episodes and finish out the season proper. If not, Friday's show will be the season finale.<br /><br />I'll leave you with a track from last week's episode. It plays over an important scene between Landry and Tyra. It's by a band named<a href="http://www.myspace.com/theavettbrothers"> The Avett Brothers</a>. I'm not familiar with their work at all at this point, although I intend to do some listening in the coming weeks and reporting back.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Skip the next paragraph and just download the song and give it a listen. Ear it on your own terms without my effusive praise.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Heard it? </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Then lets talk about</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" > If It's the Beaches</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. When a song hits you in the guts and soul you just gotta ride it. You're not sure how long it will last; whether it's true or not, but like I said, you ride it. It feels purer than all get out. It makes you deny any cynical "heard it all" bullshit that might try and fight up in your throat. It makes you want to call people just to tell them about this song,<br />"And by the way I love you, man."<br />First time I heard Paul Simon sing </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Graceland</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. The first time I heard The Constantines sing </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >I'm Onto You</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. The first time I sung along to The Deadly Snakes </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >I Want to Die</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. They all come from the guts and soul. This song is having that effect on me. Something is there. That quiet acoustic guitar, some strings, the answering machine talkover halfway through. Then there's the introduction of the piano in the last verse. It feels like a baptism.<br /></span><br />Fuckin 'eh.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/foc7vo">The Avett Brothers - If It's the Beaches</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span> (sendspace file)Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-60591057503839780492008-01-17T00:16:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:18:40.586-05:00New Constantines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMuLQ0E5MeAAnB_Vf-ZC3Y4hDqxw-hqV_Qq_V-eaGllLedvOWS6bPL9_-LJER4F_JynFPdQmkWN3zIR1QqUuTRVzlhjuwMS04FcT31-A_lKeAtJ_M2KWnORu8TWVkzIHD39Kb/s1600-h/734001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMuLQ0E5MeAAnB_Vf-ZC3Y4hDqxw-hqV_Qq_V-eaGllLedvOWS6bPL9_-LJER4F_JynFPdQmkWN3zIR1QqUuTRVzlhjuwMS04FcT31-A_lKeAtJ_M2KWnORu8TWVkzIHD39Kb/s400/734001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156310614905979186" border="0" /></a>This Tuesday past marked the release of the first single from the Constantines camp. The still untitled follow-up to <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Tournament-Hearts-Constantines/dp/B000B6VV2E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1200547456&sr=8-3"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tournament of Hearts</span></a> will come out mid-April on their new label (Toronto-based heavy) <a href="http://www.arts-crafts.ca/">Arts & Crafts</a>.<br /><br />Hard Feelings backed with Easy Money is, as well as being the first A+C Cons release, the first 7" the band has ever released.<br /><br />Hard Feelings, will appear on the new album, while b-side, Easy Money owes an amount of debt to Neil Young, which the Cons have never been afraid to do.<br /><br />You can order the 7" via the <a href="http://www.arts-crafts.ca/releases_spotlight.php?search=ACX014">A+C online store</a>. It was available at Insound too, but mysteriously seems to have disappeared in the past few days. Natch.<br /><br />Both tracks are also available and streaming over on the band's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/constantines">Myspace</a>. Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it out.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/1o43wc">The Constantines - Hard Feelings</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/j8fm2o">The Constantines - Easy Money</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-29776237184503906372008-01-11T00:27:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:18:40.800-05:00New Magnetic Fields<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJKSLoGKveTnSpgoruygGtsNVpJ9ws6lqp96CLNNg6heC3nQrIbXs7Xc8guUWylatmr_XU26c8sdhxhw0IZiDRIe4Z03uYvaafBY4HHGUQKL-rkik9bEDPCFRljiSUqrSYirA/s1600-h/magnetic_fields-distortion-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJKSLoGKveTnSpgoruygGtsNVpJ9ws6lqp96CLNNg6heC3nQrIbXs7Xc8guUWylatmr_XU26c8sdhxhw0IZiDRIe4Z03uYvaafBY4HHGUQKL-rkik9bEDPCFRljiSUqrSYirA/s400/magnetic_fields-distortion-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154095180580389154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">I gotta get too pissed to miss you/Or I'll never get to sleep<br />I got to drink not to pine for you/ And God knows that ain't cheap<br /></div><br />I won't profess to be incredibly familiar with the Stephen Merritt canon of Magnetic Fields work. I have listened to their high-water mark triple album <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Love-Songs-Box-Magnetic-Fields/dp/B00000JY1X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1200030839&sr=8-1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">69 Love Songs</span></a> several times, although I'm still unsure if I ever got the whole way through it. Suffice to say it was one of those albums I put on the shelf and haven't paid much notice to in a while. But that doesn't mean we can't get excited about the new Magnetic Fields album. Called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Distortion</span>, it's out next Tuesday on Nonesuch. <br /><br />The excitement stems from the fantastic tune <span style="font-style: italic;">Too Drunk To Dream</span>. The lyrics, a cross-section above for example, are a touch on the downcast side. The music though is rather poppy and upbeat, which lends to an interesting contrast that actually complements each element.<br /><br />The album's title should be telling of what is in store for those planning on picking up a copy. Distortion, lots of it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/cb23jy">The Magnetic Fields - Too Drunk To Dream</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3 </span>(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sendspace</span> link)Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31268039.post-82107068768013725092008-01-10T03:53:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:18:41.091-05:00She & Him<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdYRcekXjREeAYX7lCwK_0igrrRvoWn4rzkzL4n6jMCvzFrDYqrvYAtCv_liaDcyZSmPxkJeCpHd2supF5nfo7TLy5TWojGrF4-HVfAGf5kQ5ZdQkAAsoVlDKoJs-keAUE8jM/s1600-h/20080109sheAndHim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdYRcekXjREeAYX7lCwK_0igrrRvoWn4rzkzL4n6jMCvzFrDYqrvYAtCv_liaDcyZSmPxkJeCpHd2supF5nfo7TLy5TWojGrF4-HVfAGf5kQ5ZdQkAAsoVlDKoJs-keAUE8jM/s400/20080109sheAndHim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153583052974981394" border="0" /></a><br />A couple months back I heard a duet that M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel did for a still unreleased movie named The Go-Getter. Matt was soundtracking the film, and at the behest of director Martin Hynes teamed up with Zooey to take on the classic Richard & Linda Thompson tune, <span style="font-style: italic;">When I Get to the Border</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span>Zooey and Matt then began collaborating on a set of demos and songs she had been working on for a while. Repeat, this is not some haphazardly thrown together actress turned singer gig. Anyone who's seen Zooey on the silver screen can attest the girl is talented. For many years she used to perform in a jazz cabaret act, then there's that bit in Elf when Zooey gave us a glimpse at her voice. M. Ward isn't exactly a slouch either, 2006's <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Post-War-M-Ward/dp/B000GGSMDA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199942017&sr=8-8"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Post-War</span></a> is still one of my favourite records.<br /><br />Word comes out that a full album of this collaboration will be coming out in March. Going under the moniker of She & Him, the album will simply be called Volume 1.<br /><br />Today I'll leave you with the previously mentioned <span style="font-style: italic;">When I Get To The Border</span>. Also, presumably to be featured off the new album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Change Is Hard</span>. And because I'm irresistibly falling in love with this, I'll include a shortened version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Magic Trick</span> off the aforementioned M. Ward album, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Post War</span>.<br /><br />Once again, all files are sendspace links, so just click the link to get 'er.<br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/pswjgv"><br />M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel - When I Get To The Border</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/tlbyd8">M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel - Change Is Hard</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/c3c5q8">M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel - Magic Trick</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">mp3</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Pinballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11639069384432877056noreply@blogger.com1