Country Pinball Machine

Burls Creek to Host Virgin Festival ’09

2009-05-06T02:25:00.002-04:00

Photo Credit: Alex Ramon

The Virgin Festival MySpace page 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 Burls Creek, located midway between Barrie and Orillia will host the show. The announcement has since been taken down.

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.

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.

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^st), The Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse, M.I.A., TV on the Radio, and Jack White's new band The Dead Weather.

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.

Who else then?

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.

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^th.

Wilco has a new album out this summer but they are in Ireland on the 27^th and have no Toronto date as of yet for their current gigs, but it's highly unlikely.

Depeche Mode is out, Tool is a possibility, the Killers are free and play the UK version of Vfest the weekend before.

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.

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.

For all your lies/ you're still very lovable

2008-11-20T02:27:00.004-05:00

Bon Iver is not an artist for the ultra liberal, PETA crowd. His oft-told story of the conditions surrounding the recording of his debut album For Emma, Forever Ago (short story: secluded up in the woods, nobody around to interrupt but his own thoughts and the occasional deer hunt for food).

Bon Iver, Justin Vernon's stage moniker, self-released his debut back in late 2007. It was only when Jagjaguwar 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 Walmart the day after Hallowe'en that means year-end/best-of lists can't be far behind. Expect to see For Emma, Forever Ago on many in a comfortable position.

But you probably know all this already. Justin recently did a session with Myspace Transmissions that I thought fit to point out. Well worth viewing and hearing. For Emma, though, is especially rapturous. Performed with piano as opposed to the album's acoustic guitar and if possible more stark and lonely even though Bon Iver is more effectively a trio than a solo venture these days. There is that moment when he sings out "Go find another lover" in that hushed bellow where you really see the Tunde Adebimpe comparisons justified. Both are just filled with these soulful voices that cast shadows over you.

Pitchfork reports that come January 20th in the new year the Bon Iver crew will release a four-song EP, entitled Blood Bank. Fantastic news indeed. Follow the link for full details. He has a string of dates in December along the eastern USA. Just don't wait too long to jump on tickets as I did last time he was in Toronto.

For those who enjoy the video above and the mp3 below I'd suggest checking out Bon Iver's contribution over at La Blogotheque/Take Away Shows.

Bon Iver - For Emma (Myspace Transmissions) mp3

Wilco loves you baby

2008-11-11T02:06:00.004-05:00

A 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.

After the commercial break the whole band came on to perform a new song they'd been working on. Entitled Wilco the Song, it is immediately more enjoyable than anything off their last full length Sky Blue Sky.

Its lyrics expose 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 found myself wishing they'd played this instead.

Wilco is heading out as support for Neil Young at the end of November. They'll stop in for two dates at the ACC here in Toronto December 4th and 5th. Excited is an understatement for me, who will be attending the second date.

Canadian viewers can view the October 3oth interview and performance here. American readers at Comedy Central's website.

Can Wilco cure those mid-election, post-election, mid-November, post-October, nearly December case of the blues? Yes they can.

Wilco - Wilco the Song mp3

Website: Wilco

Vampire Weekend Remixed

2008-10-22T01:13:00.003-04:00

There are two remixes of Vampire Weekend's Cape Cod Kwassa 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.

The first by The Teenagers 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.

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.

For the record i enjoy the Esau Mwamwaya remix better and am excited for the release of their The Very Best mixtape on November 1st.

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - The Teenagers mp3
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit mp3
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend mp3

Monday mornings wanna make me holler

2008-09-22T01:59:00.000-04:00

Michael Pagliaro - Some Sing Some Dance mp3

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.

Some Sing
Some Dance
Some like a romance
I love lovin'

Put that in your ears and smoke it.

Loudon Wainwright III and his Motel Blues

2008-09-04T00:36:00.006-04:00

Growing up my dad used to barrel down roads and whenever that familiar smell of a freshly mown skunk rose into the nostrils he would start belting out a few lines from Loudon's 1972 novelty hit Dead Skunk. His routine never failed to get a kick out of me and it is one my fondest (if slightly vague) memories

"You Got Yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road

Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven"

I was attending this years Mariposa Folk Festival and was aware that Loudon 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 Loudon Wainwright III registering at the artist tent. I've never had a true fanboy moment before and would not have ever guessed that an artist that I only sporadically know and listen to would inspire such a moment. Sure enough though I found myself (loudly) nudging my friends and exclaiming "look, it's Loudon 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.

Mr. Wainwright recently released Recovery, a collection of updated songs from his early records. My favourite song of his, which appears on the new album, is Motel Blues. It originally appeared on his second album, Album II. 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.

Loudon Wainwright III - Motel Blues off Album II (1971) mp3
Loudon Wainwright III - Motel Blues off A Live One (1979) mp3
Loudon Wainwright III - Motel Blues off Recovery (2008) mp3

In the run-up toThe Stand Ins

2008-08-27T01:33:00.004-04:00

In terms of fall releases, it is Okkervil River's The Stand Ins that has me the most anticipatory. Like Black Boy appendix was a follow-up in theme and sound to Black Sheep Boy, the Stand Ins is a follow-up to The Stage Names. Released in August of last year, The Stage Names is superb beyond belief. It coats my ears weekly; a fair achievement in these "drop it after it's hot" times.

To be released in a few short weeks, September 9th, Okkervil River have begun to release a series of videos in the run-up. Track by track, they are releasing a series of video performances on their youtube channel. The songs feature other artists performing the album's songs. Lead-off track, Lost Coastlines, gets the treatment from the New Pornographer's A.C. Newman (who just announced he is releasing his second solo album, Get Guilty, early next year). Every couple days they are releasing a new interpretation on their channel. Bon Iver and David Vandervelde have also lent their stylings to a song off the album.

Myself, I'm saving it all for the 9th, save for the first "single". It's included here for your daily consumption.

01 The Stand Ins, One
02 Lost Coastlines
03 Singer Songwriter
04 Starry Stairs
05 Blue Tulip
06 The Stand Ins, Two
07 Pop Lie
08 On Tour With Zykos
09 Calling and Not Calling My Ex
10 The Stand Ins, Three
11 Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979

Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines mp3

Monday mornings make me wanna Holler

2008-08-25T02:26:00.005-04:00

Ray Lamontagne - You Are The Best Thing mp3
This is the leadoff track for Ray's new album, Gossip in the Grain, out October 14th. Ethan Johns produced and tackled drums again. Leona Naess 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.

Kings of Leon - Crawl mp3
Off Only By The Night, out the 23rd of September. The Kings of Leon lads had this available for download for a while on their website. It's such a rocker and really ramps up my anticipation for the album. Their show at the Kool Haus 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.

Florence and the Machine - Kiss with a Fist mp3
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 myspace that this is not a song about domestic violence. The B-side "Bitch Had it Coming", however, leaves little room for plausible deniability.

Grow up good into the light/ Grow down deep into the dirt

2008-08-21T01:06:00.004-04:00

2008-08-01T00:38:00.001-04:00

From The Fembots camp comes news of their fourth album. Calling Out will be released September 16th on (weewerk) records. It features eleven tracks:

01 Good Days
02 Can I Be Your Mirror?
03 My Hands Are A City
04 Get In The Van
05 God Keep Our Hands Clean
06 JL Recalls His Amazon Adventure From A Comfortable
Chair In The Window Of No.5 The Kingsway
07 Hand Print In Wet Cement
08 Lost At Sea
09 The Ballad Of Lucybelle Carter
10 The End Of The Day
11 Ship Breaking

The album was originally intended to be recording using the junkstrument creations of Iner Souster. Eight months into recording the unpredictability of these creations simply made it too hard to sustain for a whole album. The sessions were not entirely scrapped and will provide rhythm and backing tracks throughout the record.

The two-piece, Dave MacKinnon and Brian Poirier, also enlisted Nathan Lawr on drums for the record. Paul Aucoin provided string and horns.

They've got a few Toronto dates late August before things heat up after the release of the album. Check those out at their myspace.

Fembots - Gilded Age mp3 (from 2005's The City)

She & Him, Opera House, Toronto, July 23, 2008

2008-07-28T01:46:00.001-04:00

She & Him are M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel.

Mr. Ward you should already be familiar with. Whether it is his fine work on albums such as Post-War, Transfigurations of Vincent, and Transistor Radio or through various guest work with artists such as My Morning Jacket, Jenny Lewis, or Bright Eyes.

Zooey you may have seen in various roles on the silver screen. Whether it was in Elf, Bridge to Terabithia, or as the cool older sister you always wanted in Almost Famous. 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.

A few years back while filming The Go-Getter, Zooey 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 When I Get to the Border.

They got to talking about Zooey's home recording demo's she kept to herself and with some prodding her and Matt started working together on these. Via email from Zooey's home in Los Angeles to Matt's adopted city of Portland. Back and forth. Forth and back. In the interim She and Him, and their debut recording, Volume 1 was birthed.

Wednesday night at the Opera House brought the outfit to the fair streets of Toronto. Despite their moniker, leave no question, this is clearly Zooey's spotlight. Like on the album, Ward seems content to add flourishes and backing to Deschanel's vocals

The crowd was clearly putty in the hands of Ms. Deschanel, 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 speaks to Dechanel, 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 pluckish, "Hey, whaddya expect, we only got one album," to resign the masses.

Deschanel 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.

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 Deschanel 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.

Following one of the more resounding and heartfelt requests I've seen in a while, the duo returned for a pleasing version of Bring it on Home to Me, before concluding the evening with a run through of Ward's Magic Trick.

M. Ward - Magic Trick mp3 (from Post-War)
She & Him - I Was Made For You mp3

As previously mentioned they are out on tour. Check out their myspace for dates near you.

The Acorn

2008-07-21T01:07:00.003-04:00

Photo Credit: Remi Theriault

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 discontent with the blogosphere/hype machine. Was I missing out? Most definitely. I came across the video for Flood Pt. 1 the other day while watching television. Enthralled by the visuals I had to ask "who that?"
Well, it is The Acorn.

The video was produced and directed by Chris Mills. A respected music and visual artist, he also directed the video for Modest Mouse's Float On.

Flood Pt. 1
Lift your head from wild and wicked sleep
where seven-headed serpents hiss soliloquies
and while picking snails from the river of the valley
you don't see the storm clouds piling up so quietly

The rushing river rattlesnakes your legs
and baby boy has got you drinking from the dead
you lick your lips and paddle for the levee
the sinking banks are sifting through your teeth

As you float up, see the river skins the valley
and strips the sleeping sediment of memory

You lift your head from wild and wicked sleep
the withered river sputters at your feet
and all around the sound is slow and muddy
the sunlight scatters pennies through the leaves

As you wake up see the river skins the valley
you'd love to wash this summer from your memory

I was struck by how evocative and visual the lyrics are. Alliterative too. I recommend picking up the first full-length proper, Glory Hope Mountain, on which this song appears.

There is a great article that talks about the band and the creation of Glory Hope Mountain from October of last year. Go here for a good and interesting read.

The Acorn - The Flood Pt. 1 mp3

Monday Mornings make me wanna holla

2008-07-14T00:38:00.003-04:00

Some Monday morning grooves for you. Or Monday eve, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc., whenever you come across it.

The Hombres - Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) mp3
The Hombres were a bit of one-hitter with this tune from '67. Modelled after Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues, which according to the band was a lark masquerading as profound.

The Fugs - Kill For Peace mp3
Oldie but a goodie. It feels like the spiritual brother of Country Joe's Fixin' to Die.

James Brown - Your Cheating Heart (Hank Williams) mp3
From Dirty Laundry: The Soul of Black Country, 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.

Cath

2008-07-10T00:57:00.003-04:00

I wouldn't consider myself a Death Cab For Cutie 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 Cath by Death Cab. From Narrow Stairs, their latest disc, the song has invaded me.

Cath 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 face a life alone (possibly). The plaintive "Caths," 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.

Death Cab For Cutie - Cath mp3

The Death Cab play the Pemberton Music Festival in British Columbia on July 27th.

They recently released a video for Cath. It sticks fairly literally to the lyrics but still worth checking out

Polaris Shortlist announced

2008-07-09T02:15:00.001-04:00

For those unfamiliar, the Polaris Music Prize, in its third award season since its inception, awards "accolades" and a $20,000 payday to the single best Canadian album (at least 8 songs and plus 30 minutes) of the last year. Any album released in-between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008 is eligible.

this year's shortlist, with the winner to be announced September 29th, is:

Black Mountain - In The Future
Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling
Caribou - Andorra
Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
Holy Fuck - LP
Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue
Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War
Shad - The Old Prince
Two Hours Traffic - Little Jabs
The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour

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.

Now there were 40 albums long-listed a while back so there is bound to be some debate over who didn't make the cut. For my money, The Constantines' Kensington Heights and Welcome to the Night Sky by Wintersleep deserve to be there. Alas, I am no judge or jury.

The Weakerthans cordially invite the rest of the nominees to settle the matter of a winner the old fashioned way. If by old fashioned you mean a croquet tournament, which i do.

New Kings of Leon for September

2008-06-25T02:10:00.006-04:00

Photo Credit: KOL website

Out of the Kings of Leon camp comes news of an impending album. Titled, Only By The Night, their fourth disc is set to come out September 23rd.

Their last one, Because of the Times, showed a welcome maturity. Written off by many, it's an album that I've only grown fonder of with repeated listens.

Youth and Young Manhood was a gut shot, a cannon off the balcony that tipped our ears to these so-called "Southern Strokes." Aha Shake Heartbreak 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 Because Of The Times was fantastic. Flawed enough in those interesting ways that beg you to delve deeper.

After two aborted/misses of amusing details with seeing them live I finally caught them last summer here in Toronto. About time.

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.

Kings of Leon - True Love Way mp3 from Because Of The Times

Kathleen Edwards' Asking For Flowers

2008-05-22T01:07:00.002-04:00

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.

There's a lot to love on the album and I recommend any and all to pick it up and spend a few quiet evenings getting to know it.

Probably my favourite track off the album is Alicia Ross:

Alicia Ross may be a name familiar to anyone who lives in and around the Greater Toronto area. She disappeared 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. Alicia Ross 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. I am a girl with a forgettable face, 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 Now I'm a girl who's face they'll never forget, 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 unfortunately so, will be what most remember of her.

It's a fantastic song. Even better, all royalties from this song are being donated to Project C.A.N.O.E., a charity for "at-risk" youths that now works closely with the Ross family and represents Alicia's great love of the outdoors. So no free download for that. Hit it up at Itunes, or better yet go to ye olde record shoppe and grab the whole album. Also visit AliciaRoss.ca to learn more about Alicia and the various charitable endeavours in her honour.

Asking For Flowers can be found in all the usual hot spots. Get it.

The Deadly Snakes provide an aural document of their last show (s)

2008-04-28T00:01:00.005-04:00

Photo Credit: Carrie Musgrave

Those familiar with me know I have a special love in my heart for two recent-times Canadian bands. The first, The Constantines 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.).

The Snakes were a deadly rock and roll band. Four albums over their ten year existence. The last two, Ode to Joy and Porcella, are of desert island pick quality. Call 'em what you will. I myself like Garage Soul. 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 heartbox like the Snakes do.

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 scene in general and the Canadian indie scene specifically. These were days of Arcade Fires, Wolf Parades, and Broken Social Scenes. Good days all around, never mind you, but days that passed without the Snakes getting the true recognition they deserved. Forgotten in the back alley no doubt.

The last show was tipped to throw down at the Horseshoe Tavern on the 25th of August. Word circulated that the last real throwdown 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.

Two years later comes news via Myspace that "The Snakes' last show live album should be out sometime in 2008 on In The Red. It's a 37 song monster and it sounds great."

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 every damn thing they had ever put to tape. Either way, it will serve as a great addendum to the Snakes' ongoing legacy. Keep your ears open for that.

There is a plethora of Snakes related video on Youtube. Both the Horseshoe and Silver Dollar gigs have a presence there. Those with time and interest should head there.

I'll leave you with a great track from Porcella. "If a man can't love when he is young, there'll be no love for him as he grows old."

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.

The Deadly Snakes - Oh Lord, My Heart mp3 (sendspace link)

Entire Cities

2008-03-06T02:08:00.008-05:00

"My personal contribution to the ol' 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?"

So sayeth Simon Borer, guitarist/vocalist for Toronto's Entire Cities. 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.

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 Sunshine, to hear it go to their profile at CBC Radio3, backed by a banjo and some vibey guitar, these words economically oozed out like a fourth Followil brother, "I'm fucked up. On sunshine. Heartbreak. For a lifetime".

Or Dancing With My Brother, destined to bring back acid recall of cowboy hoe-downs gone awry, and one of the best chorus' I've heard lately, " I'm my brother's snakeskin motherfucker".

Coffee 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. Now's my chance to find out who I am without a man". I like those moments; when the music gets personal with you.

Keep your eye out for Entire Cities, They hit real pure.

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.

Entire Cities - Dancing With My Brother mp3
Entire Cities - Coffee mp3

Constantines tracklisting and release date

2008-02-13T01:08:00.005-05:00

Official tracklisting, album art, and title for the new Constantines album. As you can see the new album is titled Kensington Heights. It's slated to hit Canada on April 15th, and in the U.S. April 29th.

The tracklisting:

1 - Hard Feelings
2 - Million Star Hotel
3 - Trans Canada
4 - Shower Of Stones
5 - Our Age
6 - Time Can Be Overcome
7 - Brother Run Them Down
8 - Credit River
9 - I Will Not Sing A Hateful Song
10 - New King
11 - Life Or Death
12 - Do What You Can Do

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.

The Constantines - Saint You mp3

The Russian Futurists suck....But not this song

2008-02-08T00:44:00.001-05:00

"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.
The man uttering those words was my buddy Winston Churchill. And that kid knows a thing or two.

The Russian Futurists 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.

Somehow or another it was recommended I listen to the RF track Paul Simon. I dig Paul Simon. Even better, I dig songs that reference Paul Simon.. There's The Clash's Fuck Art Garfunkel (I'm siding with Simon) and of course Eminem's early mixtape classic, Paul Simon Stole my Shorty. Good shit.

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.

I picked up RF's '06 release Me, Myself & Rye 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.

Take a listen to Paul Simon. It rocks.

The Russian Futurists -Paul Simon mp3

Friday Night Lights

2008-02-07T02:59:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

"Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose."

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.

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 The Avett Brothers. 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.

Disclaimer: Skip the next paragraph and just download the song and give it a listen. Ear it on your own terms without my effusive praise.

Heard it?

Then lets talk about If It's the Beaches. 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,
"And by the way I love you, man."
First time I heard Paul Simon sing Graceland. The first time I heard The Constantines sing I'm Onto You. The first time I sung along to The Deadly Snakes I Want to Die. 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.

Fuckin 'eh.

The Avett Brothers - If It's the Beaches mp3 (sendspace file)

New Constantines

2008-01-17T00:16:00.000-05:00

This Tuesday past marked the release of the first single from the Constantines camp. The still untitled follow-up to Tournament of Hearts will come out mid-April on their new label (Toronto-based heavy) Arts & Crafts.

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.

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.

You can order the 7" via the A+C online store. It was available at Insound too, but mysteriously seems to have disappeared in the past few days. Natch.

Both tracks are also available and streaming over on the band's Myspace. Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it out.

The Constantines - Hard Feelings mp3
The Constantines - Easy Money mp3

New Magnetic Fields

2008-01-11T00:27:00.000-05:00

I gotta get too pissed to miss you/Or I'll never get to sleep
I got to drink not to pine for you/ And God knows that ain't cheap

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 69 Love Songs 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 Distortion, it's out next Tuesday on Nonesuch.

The excitement stems from the fantastic tune Too Drunk To Dream. 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.

The album's title should be telling of what is in store for those planning on picking up a copy. Distortion, lots of it.

The Magnetic Fields - Too Drunk To Dream mp3 (sendspace link)

She & Him

2008-01-10T03:53:00.000-05:00

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, When I Get to the Border.

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 Post-War is still one of my favourite records.

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.

Today I'll leave you with the previously mentioned When I Get To The Border. Also, presumably to be featured off the new album, Change Is Hard. And because I'm irresistibly falling in love with this, I'll include a shortened version of Magic Trick off the aforementioned M. Ward album, Post War.

Once again, all files are sendspace links, so just click the link to get 'er.

M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel - When I Get To The Border mp3
M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel - Change Is Hard mp3
M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel - Magic Trick mp3

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

2008-01-08T23:33:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for a good Dylan cover. Ditto that for a good Van Morrison one. Sucker for a good love story and a good underdog one too.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova starred as "Guy" and "Girl" in this year's little indie film that could, Once. Shot for around $160,000, the film, about two musicians falling in love, has gone on to earn its money back many times over. It has been showing up on almost every year end best of list I have come across. Not bad at all.

The movies two stars were both relative new comers to acting. Irglova was a true rookie, never having acted in her 19 years. For Hansard, this was only his second role ever, although it had been some time since he first appeared as Outspan Foster in 1991's The Committments. Glen's regular dayjob, as it has been since 1990, is the main man in Irish band, The Frames. Marketa, barely out of high school, met Glen through friends, leading the duo to record '06's The Swell Season. The album contains songs previously seen on some Frames records and that would later appear on the Once soundtrack.

I've really been falling in love with Glen and Marketa's covers as of late. A collector's edition of the Once OST, released in December features their take on Van Morrison's Into The Mystic. They also contributed their version of Dylan's You Ain't Going Nowhere on the I'm Not There soundtrack/compilation from earlier in the year. Both are fantastically compelling.

Both files are sendspace files. Follow the link.

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Into The Mystic mp3
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - You Ain't Going Nowhere mp3

Vampire Weekend

2007-11-19T03:01:00.000-05:00

What is with the overwhelmingly humble way we rep bands to our friends and lovers. Shyly, almost apologetic, "You know they're alright. Nothing mind blowing, but they'll put you in a good mood." So afraid of throwing a referral on the line, afraid to be thought a fool, if the recepient comes back at us with a "thanks, but no thanks." Your cred is hurt, man. Just think , anytime from here on out, every recommendation will be viewed with a grain of salt.

Well who the fuck are you and who the fuck am I?

Why the need to quantify such a simple endeavour. Here you are dear friend, I thought you might like these guys. Simple right? Lets not make it rocket science. Love the one you're with. Embrace that motherfucker and tell the world.

I was leafing through Spin the other week and they had one of those Band to Watch profiles with Vampire Weekend. The skinny on VW is that they are a bunch of preps who met while attending Columbia University. The article is apologizing right from word one. They look like the guys you were supposed to want to beat up in high school. Essentially, they don't fit the mold of the indie rock and roll world(which is shitfuls of stupid anyways). Heaven forbid. But wait, dear reader, they write music (shock), and it's good (double shock). But how do I reconcile their image with the affinity I have for their songs? I mean, I like them, but I feel so guilty.

Luckily, I have long ago unsaddled my soul from such a dilemna. I'm telling you all that I got my hands on the first Vampire Weekend EP and I like it. It probably came at the right time. I'm just coming off an intense relationship with my first exposure to Paul Simon's Graceland. That album probably has to have the greatest influence on bringing in African music to America. Aside from Africans that is. But just in the popular realm, that album is the impetus, right?
Vampire weekend have that element. They claim to be specialists in Upper West Side Soweto, which serves to confirm. I am intensely enjoying the EP. Their full length comes out late January in the new year. I am anxious to hear it.

They'll be at the El Mocambo on December 13th for those near Toronto. Guess what? I'm excited to be there too.

I'll leave you with my favourite track, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. Their feature full length comes out in late January.

Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (sendspace file. Click link)

2007-10-16T02:18:00.000-04:00

A reader asked that I re-up the Robert Sean Leonard version of Softly and Tenderly (Jesus is calling). The track comes from the Chelsea Walls soundtrack, scored by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.

It started out a play and was later adapted for the screen by Nicole Burdette. As the title may suggest, the film surrounds around new York's famed Chelsea Hotel. Directed by Ethan Hawke and starring among others Uma Thurman, Kris Kristofferson, as well as the afore-mentiond RSL, his old chum going back to those "Oh Captain, My Captain" days.

Leonard, currently available on primetime every week playing foil to Hugh Laurie on tv's House, contributes two tracks to the soundtrack. Softly and Tenderly and a cover of Wilco's The Lonely 1 (from Being There).

I'm going to include both here today. There are some cool touches on The Lonely 1, which otherwise is a pretty non-descript and faithful, if not stripped down, cover. Note the fat water drops in the background as if played under the cover of a leaky roof and . Softly and Tenderly is a beautiful take on a spiritual standard. Rather stunning actually.

Robert Sean Leonard - Softly and Tenderly (Jesus Is Calling) mp3 (sendspace link)
Robert Sean Leonard - The Lonely 1 mp3 (sendspace link)

New signings to Arts & Crafts

2007-09-12T01:03:00.000-04:00

Hey kids, back in black.

Toronto-based label. etc. Arts & Crafts announced yesterday that they have added Montreal band The Stills to their roster. The band is about to head into the studio to begin work on their third album.

Once upon a time I was a fan of The Stills. Not so much anymore. To celebrate the signing the band will be playing a two night stint at Lee's palace November 23rd and 24th.

But the bigger news (though still no official word) is that The Constantines will also be putting out their new album on A+C. Bry Webb announce the news during their set Sunday at The Virgin Festival on Toronto Island. Even though I missed their set due to my personal refusal to ever be on time (also KC's undying quest to spend 2/3's of her life getting pretty in the powder room) I can't tell you how excited I am about this news.

A+C is having a great year behind Feist, the new Kevin Drew, and Stars. I am very excited about the push the label could give the band. A lot of questions should be answered in the (near?) future. Most importantly, When is this album coming out? And will the Cons still remain with Sub Pop in the States?

Details forthcoming as they break. I'm very tingly with anticipation.

So in celebration of this here is a cover the Constantines did back in '04 of Nina Simone's Sea Line Woman. It acted as a b-side to the Young Lions Ep, put out by Sub Pop soon after they signed.

The Constantines - Sea Line Woman mp3 (Sendspace file)

A-side/B-side week continues

2007-05-16T02:52:00.000-04:00

If I wasn't afraid of Frank's corpse ordering a hit on me I might have started this post with a comment on Nancy Sinatra's continuing sex appeal. Jessica Simpson doesn't even compare to Nance in her prime. Not even close.

While These Boots Were Made For Walking is undoubtedly her biggest hit, ask any of the indie kids and they'll rave to you about Some Velvet Morning. Both Boots and Some Velvet Morning were written by Lee Hazelwood, the ex disc jock turned songwriter, who would deliver Nancy the breakthrough she always desired. On Morning they teamed up, trading verses over an ethereal sound that was a departure from their traditional, though something Hazlewood would expand on in his solo albums.

The single would reach as high as #26 on the Billboard 100 charts in February 1968.

The b-side to the single was Oh Lonesome Me. Another duet for the pair, it's a charming country ditty sung from the perspective of two lovers, freshly broken up from each other, sitting in on a Friday night bemoaning their heartache and wishing they could be out tearing it up and finding someone new like they presume their ex to be doing. Like I said, it's a charmer.

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Oh Lonesome Me mp3 (sendspace file)
Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Some Velvet Morning mp3

The National

2007-05-15T03:20:00.000-04:00

Continuing A-side/B-side week....

The National appeared on many people's radars after 2005's Alligator. Their new puppy, The Boxer comes out next Tuesday on Beggars Banquet. I'm a relatively new fan of the band, only really getting into them the past two months.

First single Mistaken for Strangers pleases my ears. I'm becoming a big fan of Matt Berninger's lyrics. Quite rich and introspective.

B-side Blank Slate is a re-working of Alligator b-side Keep It Upstairs, which figures prominently in the chorus.

If you pre-order the album from Insound you should receive the 7-inch single. (while supplies last I imagine)

They are also streaming the whole album on their myspace. Go there for a preview. The band stops by the Opera House June 5th.

The National - Mistaken For Strangers mp3
The National - Blank Slate mp3

Out today is Wilco's Sky Blue Sky. It's been getting fair reviews across the board, as well as one of the less than enthusiastic variety.

Wilco streamed the album a few times a couple months back before streaming the whole thing on demand for the last few weeks. On the eve of its release they offered this missive, imploring the fans to recognize the generosity of the act and buy the album despite it's status as easily attainable for free by now. I chose not to listen to the album prior to the release and would have bought the album regardless (no judgement on those who did, that's just how I roll these days) . This is the most intelligent response to early album leaking I've seen yet. We'll see if the strategy works. I'm sure there will still be many who will choose to enjoy their free copies, myself, If I could I would but I think I'd miss that little kick in my step as I walk to the record store on Tuesday. Not a lot of things in this world can beat it.

Hey you're back

2007-05-14T02:39:00.000-04:00

It has been roughly three weeks since I posted last. I traded roommate Luke for roommate Hawker family. That's right, this dear soldier traded in Collegetown, USA (Canada really) for the balmy locale of Barrie, Ontario AKA "The Gateway to the North."

The move home is meant as a temporary summer residence and I must say that despite the cramped quarters and hectic move it feels good to be home. I'm finally settled in (or close to) and finally felt the urge to post again after a relaxing weekend spent conspiring with old friends. Yesterday of course was Mother's Day , lest we forget. It also happened to be my sister Bethany's birthday. It was a special one for both in my eyes as it was the first time in memory that both days have fallen on the same. Seventeen years ago yesterday my sister Bethany was born on Mother's day. A special one then and now.

To get back into the blogger swing of things I'm thinking of doing an A-side/B-side week. I've been on a huge vinyl kick as of late and started picking up 45's and 7 inches. Speed City Records in London had a massive assortment of these and I spent a few afternoons in my last days in the city leafing through. My jaw dropped at some of the stuff I picked up. Some great Stones and Beatles finds that were a steal at 3/$1.00. It makes me miss London that much more when considering Barrie's criminal lack of decent record stores.

Moving on.... Today's featured artist is Arcade Fire. We all remember the hoopla leading up to Neon Bible's release. While it lacks the immediate jaw dropping appeal of Funeral, the album is no slouch either.

My favourite track as of late is Keep The Cars Running. I found myself at wit's end this week. With both my summer jobs falling through, facing a dwindling bank account and the stress of unpacking getting to me (among others) I found myself running to my car and hitting the gas and play at the same time. How literal of me.

The Keep the Car Running single was released last week stateside. Broken Window is the B-side. The Fire are in Toronto this Tuesday and Wednesday for a pair of highly anticipated and oh so Sold Out shows at Massey Hall. While I won't be in attendance unfortunately I have my memories of their epic concerts past to keep me warm at night. Enjoy!

Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running mp3
Arcade Fire - Broken Window mp3

Joel Plaskett does the Ashtray Rock

2007-04-25T00:16:00.000-04:00

Currently tearing up my music player of choice is Joel Plaskett's new disc Ashtray Rock. Released last week via Maple music, the new long-player finds Joel back again with The Emergency (Dave Marsh and Chris Pennell) after a short hiatus on 2005's La De Da.
And it is good to have the band back. While Joel is sill the principle songwriter if you look at Joel's post-Thrush Hermit work you'll find that his more boisterous and rocking side is linked intricately with the appearance of the Emergency band.

Such is the case of Ashtray Rock. The album, a rock musical of sorts, is a 13-song story about a young group of friends. Nameless and earnest in their teen-aged glory. Pretty Girl finds herself at the top of the love triangle between two members of the band. Though she doesn't seek it, their affections drive a rift between each other and eventually breaks up the band. She moves away and the boys are left miserable and alone.

Not many artists nearing in their late twenties could pull this one off convincingly. Joel's an obvious exception. From the early days when Joel, skinny and barely pubescent, started Thrush Hermit to now, Joel's boyish charm has always gone a long way to understating his actual age. In person he can give off a slight Eddie Haskel vibe which is appropriate considering his, at times, sugary brand of songwriting is the kind of anthemic stuff the kids really go for. This big kid too.

On first listen I was struck by how different the album initially sounded from previous Joel efforts. This probably has something to do with Gordie Johnson (ex-Big Sugar) enjoying producer credit. He also plays lap steel on the record, as well as adding some strings and synth. Not all change is good, but in this case it really works.

Drunk Teenagers is one of those glorious anthems that instantly grabs you. It's about, surprise, surprise, drunk teenagers, as fitting in with the story. Enjoy the shout-outs to Halifax and some of its less notable landmarks. It's bit tongue in cheek as well, if not a bit mischievous.

I heard Joel do Fashionable People back around Christmas time. I wasn't too impressed with the track. It was irritating then but now less than irritable on record. Much to my surprise I really enjoy it.

Joel is doing a cross Canada tour starting in May. Head to his website for all the dates and for a few more tracks from the album stream.

The Joel Plaskett Emergency - Drunk Teenagers mp3
The Joel Plaskett Emergency - Fashionable People mp3

Purchase the album

Jack White

2007-04-20T01:06:00.000-04:00

The new White Stripes record is getting me all kinds of excited. The frequent posts would hint to that. Yesterday news leaked out that The Stripes will be playing a slot at the Ottawa Bluesfest in July. It has been a while since I visited my nation's capital, long overdue indeed, and surely this stands as a viable reason to both rock and tour the Parliament (good times I lie not).

As I've exhausted all five Stripes long-players this past month I've recently taken to other Jack White projects for these ears. The Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldiers("but the porridge is just too cold, even if it has two songwriters"), The Hentchmen, The Go, and Goober and the Peas ("this porridge is alright but kinda bland"), and finally Loretta Lynn and T-Bone collabs ("this porridge is hot as shit and just the way I like it")

Much was made of Jackie White's part in re-invigorating Lady Lynn's career with Van Lear Rose. As producer, Jackie played Rick Rubin to the Coal Miner Daughter's Johnny Cash. Album standout had to be this duet between Loretta and Jack. As the story goes "If that ain't love than tell me what is"

A couple years prior Jack got his actor on with a small part in Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain Oscar bait. Jackie played a minstrel type and also added five tracks to the T Bone Burnett soundtrack. Sound of the Appalachians, streams and spring thaws.

The Doctor over at the 115th Dream did a nice job of compiling some White Stripes b-sides and odds and ends a while back. So if you're chomping at the bit for the new record and need something old yet new to satisfy the urge this would be the place to head. The boys over at Born By The River also compiled some of the same ilk. Ditto.

Loretta Lynn & Jack White - Portland, Oregon mp3

Jack White - Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over mp3
Jack White- Wayfaring Stranger mp3
Jack White - Sittin' On Top Of The World mp3
Jack White - Never Far Away mp3

Purchase Van Lear Rose and the Cold Mountain soundtrack

Orchestra For The Moon

2007-04-18T04:32:00.000-04:00

I talked about Jenn Grant back in December and told you all I'd keep you updated about her first full length. Today, I follow through on that promise. Orchestra For The Moon is out May 15th in Canada and June 15th below the 49th for the 50 United. The release is the first out on Paris 1919 Records, a new label from Jason MacIsaac of the Heavy Blinkers. They'll also be re-issuing the first Blinks album Hooray For Everything, and presumably the band's new double LP Health.

I like the label already, if simply because it shares the name of one of my favourite books. A necessary read for everyone along the lines of the old chalkboard adage. The tracklisting for Orchestra For The Moon is:

1- Morning Break
2- Dreamer
3- Dancin' in the Wind
4- Unique New York
5- Make It Home Tonight
6- In A Brown House
7- Don't Worry Baby
8- Britt n' Kip
9- At The Finish Line
10-Sound of Success
11-Rainy Day
12-White Horses
13-Blue Skies

Jenn has the new track, Make It Home Tonight, streaming on her myspace. It certainly won't dampen your enthusiasm for the new album (mine either, I'm really enjoying it). Certainly pop by for a listen or two.

For those on the East coast, Jenn is doing a few record release shows at the end of April and early May. On a selfish note I hope she comes through Ontario promptly.

Jenn Grant - Dreamer (mp3)

friday musings and a picture in the rain of a smile on the cusp

2007-04-13T01:53:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post about my favourite television show, Friday Night Lights, which wrapped up its season Wednesday Night. However, I had too many muddled thoughts to get out without a clear head to do so. We'll save that post for a later date.

Instead lets talk about my week. My friend Miranda is getting married at the end of the month. Early on she asked me to be the emcee and I was more than delighted and honoured to do so. Soon after she followed that up with a request for me to DJ the reception also. I was even more delighted and agreed, despite the fact I've never done so and am completely unfamiliar with the equipment I'll be running things off of. Since then I've been mentally cataloguing song after song and as the wedding nears trying to organize my music, come up with some playlists, and generally fretting that no one is going to like my music selections. It is a wedding after all and it gives me no great pleasure acknowledging that YMCA is probably a necessary evil and will delight the party infinitely more than any Deadly Snakes song I would want playing at my wedding. It's been a battle of toning down some of my tastes, knowing my audience, and finding appropriate music that I won't cringe at when playing. Luckily I've been on a big soul and R&B kick this past year so I've been going old school in preparation. Otis Redding can inspire even the toughest of dance holdouts to pick up a rhythm.

My musical week was concentrated on two artists: One a long-time favourite, the other a person whose work I was initially cold to but have warmed to considerably in the past year. Both were reflected in this week's posts. As mentioned Tuesday, the White Stripes have a new album in the can and will be sharing it in the near future (June 19th to be precise). This news inspired an epic Tuesday where I sat down and listened to their five albums end to end as i heartily made a dent in the beer fridge. By the last note of I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet) I was googling photo's of Jack White during his pervy mustache phase.
Wednesday was dedicated to all things Paul Westerberg as I ran through Let It Be atleast twice (and as I write as it stands) then chased this with a couple more Replacements album and the 1oooth or so playing of Waiting For Somebody in the past 72 hours.

And that leads us to a few tracks. Both happen to be album enders and I've always appreciated a good closer.

The Stripes' I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet) off Get Behind Me Satan and Answering Machine off The Replacement's Let It Be both deal with loneliness at their core and how distance plays a part in estranging people and fueling this loneliness. They are both beautiful in their own right (I'm Lonely's aching piano, Westerberg's ravaged vocals on Answering Machine), not as dour as my description would have you believe, and find both artists at songwriting peaks.

The White Stripes - I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet) mp3
The Replacements - Answering Machine mp3

"A-ha-ha Come and take my hand"

2007-04-11T02:08:00.000-04:00

I watched Cameron Crowe's Singles last night and forgot how much I loved the Paul Westerberg material on the soundtrack. Westerberg contributed the tracks Dyslexic Heart and Waiting For Somebody, the latter used prominently throughout the movie, including the opening sequence.

The two tracks are Paul's first official post-Replacements compositions. Un-officially The 'Mats last album, 1990's All Shook Down is pretty much all Westerberg and sessions players and seen as such by many.

Also released as a b-side to the World Class Fad single, Waiting For Somebody is a doozy by my books. So much to love here. It's a tale of longing for love and companionship with a tinge of sadness, as well as a positive confirmation that Paul (and us too!) are going to be okay. Who doesn't get all affected by those almost hymnal "A-ha-ha's."

The last two lines of the second verse really get me: "I know damn well i'm tired of all this crying/On my feet as far as I can tell." The sentiment of it and how it fits into the entire scope of the song just bowls me over.

Paul Westerberg - Dyslexic Heart mp3
Paul Westerberg - Waiting For Somebody mp3

Man Without Ties - A Great Westerberg fansite (photo credit above Bob Hyland)

White Stripes do the Icky Thump

2007-04-10T02:04:00.000-04:00

The White Stripes have finally set a date for the release of their sixth studio album. Mark those calendars for June 19th. As reported by many, the new album is entitled Icky Thump and is promised to be a 48 minute long player heavier than ever. Heavy.

Tracklisting be:
1-Icky Thump
2-You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told)
3-300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
4-Conquest
5-Bone Broke
6-Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn
7-St. Andrew (The Battle Is In The Air)
8-Little Cream Soda
9-Rag and Bone
10-I'm Slowly Turning Into You
11-A Martyr For My Love For You
12-Catch Hell Blues
13-Effect And Cause

Here is the Album's cover: Yikes and Egads. Discuss.

In other semi-breaking news Jack and Meg White are not brother and sister as purported, but simply a once married, now amicably divorced, largely succesful rock and roll band. Spread the word.

The Stripes have a series of festival shows in early June in Europe, with their live return to US soil occurring at Bonnaroo on June 17th. Athough dates have not been announced, the Stripes promise to visit "all 10 provinces and 3 territories of Canada, as well as the remaining 16 states of the United States the band have yet to play." Nunavut thanks you Meg and Jack.

2007-04-05T02:34:00.000-04:00

Love that David Ruffin. Rocking the high top long before Kid (or was it Play) ushered in the House Party.

The Temptations 1968 record The Temptations Wish It Would Rain marked the end of the "Classic Five" Temptations era. In the ensuing year after its release, lead singer David Ruffin's increasingly star behaviour would cause the rest of the band to give him his walking papers. As the album's title suggests, there's a melancholy tinge to this album. No doubt this was inspired by Roger Penzabene, a Motown label writer who penned the first two singles from the album.

Roger Penzabene worked closely with Norman Whitfield who had taken over Temps production duties from Smokey Robinson. Penzabene tackled the lyrics with Whitfield composing. Around the time of this album Penzabene found out his wife was cheating on him. It threw him into a fit of depression that would ultimately cause him to take his own life New Year's eve 1967, just a week after the first single's release.

The last song he penned was second single and album lead off I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You). Pleading and begging, the first four lines get you real tight.

"Girl I can't believe my ears/Are you really telling me goodbye/See you're taking away/My reason for living."

In many ways it is a continuation of previous Whitfield composed Temptations hit Ain't Too Proud To Beg.

The real masterpiece of Penzabene's was first single and album namesake/centerpiece I Wish It Would Rain. In the song a reserved piano intro leads into Ruffin's pained soulful voice as he/Penzabene hurt for the girl now gone, calling out for mother nature to provide rain "Cause raindrops will hide my teardrops." We could focus on the melancholy here, but the sadness is so real I can't help but smile, the song so beautiful I get tears of joy.

Find this one at your record shop.

The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain mp3
The Temptations - I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) mp3

Born Ruffians w/ We're Marching On, Rock Plaza Central, Oh! The Pretty Things

2007-04-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

I Went down to Call The Office this Thursday past for one of the better potential shows in recent memory. By that I mean the bill included some bands catching their fair share of buzz around the music universe, although I wasn't intimately familiar with most of their material. Thus, the show had the potential to be quite excellent, at least based on other people's endorsements.

With the late addition of Rock Plaza Central to the show, tipping the bill to four bands, made for a long night of rocking and rolling. I got there early to catch Oh! The Pretty Things to see if the tail end of the set I caught last time they were in town was a fluke or a snapshot of the band. O!TPT lived up to my own expectations and rocked a surprisingly energized crowd, despite several technical difficulties. The band seemed to enjoy their time on stage as much as myself and promised to return promptly. More about them in the coming days.

Quick sidenote: Say what you will about all ages shows and audiences but for the past several shows down at CTO there has been a group of barely legal types who get right up their at the front and dance their little asses off. At first is was almost irritating as they seemed to be more concerned with their quirky moves and one-upping each other than the bands. After coming across them multiple times now, I have grown appreciative to their complete enthusiasm. They rock the front lines the way those front lines should be rocked. I enjoy their joy.

Next up was Rock Plaza Central. Since the release of last year's Are We Not Horses, the band have been steadily gaining momentum. Chalk it up to a few things: Lyricist and frontman Chris Eaton's caterwaul garners comparisons to Jeff Mangum and Will Oldham. In a world starved for new Neutral Milk Hotel don't underestimate the power of siding with the next best thing. Pitchfork's 8.4 scoring for the album certainly opened a few eyes, as does the album's incredibly unique concept.

Rock Plaza's set was intense and grandeur. They have the same slightly weird and out of place look as Arcade Fire, although if Arcade looks like your high school music geeks, Rock Plaza looks like the ones who volunteered their lunch hours at the library. Just goes to show that you don't have to spend any time on image if your music is beyond cool anyways. The band played a loose set that grew more and more intense as they progressed. Aided by mandolin, violin, and the accordion among others (Eaton: "I want to thank you guys. That is probably the first time in rock and roll history that a crowd has asked for more accordion"), the band brought to life a variety of tracks from their latest, with a track or two from their previous records adding posterity. Their performance had a Broken Social Scene quality to it. Huge sounds and songs that seem destined to implode at points but never quite did. The best set of the night.
Update: Pitchfork added some photos and words from Rock Plaza Central's gig a few nights later in Chicago. Check them out here.

Next up was We're Marching On. Unfortunately for the band their sound is a slice of that NME approved, Arctic Monkeys type, spastic ADD rock. I say unfortunately because I talked to the guys for the latter half of the Born Ruffians set and they are incredibly sweet . There was nothing breathtaking (or redeeming) about their music. But the world can always use nice people, so that's something positive.

Last up on this long night were the Born Ruffians. With opening slots for Hot Chip, Peter, Bjorn and John, as well as a gig at last year's Toronto leg of the V Festival, the Ruffians should have been the big draw. And while there was still a sizable crowd, their 1AM start time on a Thursday wasn't exactly helping the cause. The Ruffians share elements with We're Marching On (management too). Off kilter vocals, too many yelps crossed with pogo pop for those no longer taking their Ritalin. Considering I went in with almost no expectations I was surprised at how underwhelmed I was. You can't be a fan of everything I realize, but as The Dandy Warhols once said "It doesn't take a genius to figure out/ I'm not as bright as I think I am"

Rock Plaza central and Oh! The Pretty Things mp3's below. Rock Plaza's music can be purchased here. O!TPT just put out their first EP. Get in contact with the band to get yourself a copy.

Oh! The Pretty Things - Seventeen mp3
Oh! The Pretty Things - Jet Plane mp3
Rock Plaza Central - I am an Excellent Steel Horse mp3
Rock Plaza Central - 8/14/03 mp3

Andrew Bird

2007-03-28T01:00:00.000-04:00

Of all the good releases last week, the one I'm having the most fun with is Andrew Bird's Armchair Apocrypha. LCD and Modest Mouse have been neglected as Armchair gets repeated plays on the ipod, at the house, and in the car.

In the weeks leading up to the album's release I knew absolutely nothing about Mr. Bird. The blogs were pumping out some press and I stumbled upon Heretics, which initially bowled me over. I know a few details about the artist but consciously decided not to seek out more. I know he's no newcomer on the scene, despite being a newcomer on mine.

Does anyone else get fatigued by the glut of new artists and music every day. Too many of them are initially compelling but ultimately lacking depth or simply mediocre or worse from the get go. There is a desire to keep abreast of the music world, but some days it all seems unrewarding and I cradle old records like shepherds So I guess when Andrew Bird came along it was one of those days where I was weary of the new artist. But Heretics kept popping into my consciousness, and I decided long before its release that I would be picking it up.

Whenever I get excited about a new album I tend to engulf whatever information I can about it. I love first listens as much as I love reading what various critics have to say. Lately this seems like a whole lot of white noise that somehow deviates from my own interaction with the record. With this one I did none of the normal routines, fuck I don't even know what the guy looks like. I'm just reveling in the relative anonymity of it all. I'm not concerned with how the rest of the world likes it, just myself. I like the confusing elements, the underwhelming ones, the ones that make you smile. I like the way it sounds.

I like this record. Maybe you will too.

Andrew Bird - Heretics mp3
Andrew Bird - Fiery Crash mp3
Andrew Bird and Nora O'Connor - Oh Sister (Bob Dylan cover) mp3

Armchair Apocrypha on Amazon

Rosewood Thieves, The Clash, Panda Bear, My Morning Jacket

2007-03-23T00:40:00.000-04:00

A few loose strands for the wandering Friday mind of yours (evidently mine as well).

I don't think I've mentioned Doctor Mooney's 115th Dream as of yet.A shame that I'm rectifying today. The Doctor runs a great blog (enthusiastic endorsement of the highest) with epic posts. Just in the past few weeks he's put up a great White Stripes B-sides collection, some great live Dylan from the golden era, and yesterday a very comprehensive Clash B-sides post. He's in the blogroll so make sure you stop by and say hello. Our pick of the litter would be 1, 2, Crush on You, the b-side to Give 'em Enough Rope's Tommy Gun. You can grab that one here, hop to the doctor for the rest of the 90 million or so.
The Clash - 1, 2, Crush On You mp3

Driving the point home we have The Rosewood Thieves. The kind doctor tipped us off to the band. He's got a great assortment of tracks over there for you. I like Diamond Ring, so will you.
Rosewood Thieves - Diamond Ring mp3

It was an especially fruitful release week. We had the eagerly anticipated Modest Mouse (crudely mentioned last Friday), Lcd Soundsytem's Sounds of Silver, Andrew Bird's Armchair Apocrypha, as well as Person Pitch from Panda Bear. The 'Fork gave it a 9.4 and Best New Music Recommendation. The city seems to be sold out right now. So I'm going to have to wait a bit longer. To feed the appetite I've been listening to Comfy in Nautica with reckless abandon.
Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica mp3

Lastly, here's My Morning Jacket doing Oh What A Night at their recent Prom themed gigs at Athen's 40 Watt Club. Have a Great Friday.
My Morning Jacket - Oh What A Night mp3

Got them higher calling blues

2007-03-22T00:19:00.000-04:00

After a few weeks off I'm back with another installment of Got Them Higher Calling Blues.

In the spirit of this week's release of Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, I have Jesus Christ was an Only Child off 1997's Lonesome Crowded West, considered by many to be the penultimate MM record. Jesus Christ differs from previous songs posted in the sense it is neither a gospel or celebratory song. Those especially touchy might go so far to describe it as blasphemous, what with lyrics referencing Jesus along the lines of "should have killed that little fucker before he even had him," and Isaac Brock's atheistic views. The song fits into the album's greater themes, touching on the decay of institutions, whether deserved or mourned. Brock makes a point of marking the difference between Christ,a benevolent and loving God and His Father, the seemingly angry, often vengeful God of the Old Testament. The point being that we may all be better off with a little less leash.
Modest Mouse - Jesus Christ was an Only Child mp3

The Brian Jonestown Massacre offer Jesus off Their Satanic Majesties Second Request. Its a sprawling psychedelic burn laced in timely fashion with the refrain of "have mercy please Jesus." The song depicts a man who has lost all money and friends and turns to Jesus for comfort only to find that He is not necessarily willing to offer it.
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Jesus mp3

The Concretes

2007-03-21T01:25:00.000-04:00

I was down at the record store the other day and picked up a super cheap used copy of the Concretes self-titled debut. The Octet from Sweden has always been on my horizon since You Can't Hurry Love came into my life a few years back and became the go to guy in all mix tapes made the following two years.

I've spent my free time this weekend quietly distilling the album. It has its hits and misses, but overall, a great mood album if you ever catch it around. Part of the appeal of The Concretes lies with ex-lead singer Victoria Bergsman. You probably hear Victoria this summer singing on Peter, Bjorn and John's Young Folks. She is recording her solo debut under the moniker of taken By trees. If you go to the Taken By Trees website, here, you can here some demo versions (good quality ) of what I imagine will be her impending debut. Go for the music, stay for the umlauts. Lost and Found seems to be the strongest track and definitely worth a listen

The Concretes carry on as a septutlet, with Lisa Milberg steeping up to the mike. Their new album, Hello Trouble should see a release sometime in 2007 on the band's Licking Fingers imprint. For now, assuage yourself with first single, Kids, released last week, which is currently streaming at their myspace, as well as their temporary web home at Licking Fingers.

The Concretes' You Can't Hurry Love shares the same name as the old Supremes hit. The connection continues a few tracks later with Diana Ross, which pays homage to Ross' Love Hangover. The last track is fairly disco-ish but included today for all you folks out there who ever had a desire to wear a leisure suit.

The Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love mp3
The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love mp3
The Concretes - Diana Ross mp3
Diana Ross - Love Hangover mp3

Buy The Concretes on amazon

Fembots

2007-03-20T01:29:00.000-04:00

The Fembots, or Lesbian Robots as some of my friends with less "daring" tastes have taken to calling the band when i speak about them, have been relatively quiet since the release of 2005's The City.

The Fembots core duo of Dave MacKinnon and Brian Poirier have been spending time with junkstrument creator Iner Souster and slowly piecing together a collaborative album. You can check out the progress in picture format on the junkstrument blog. Dave and Brian are also in the process of mixing 12 tracks from their collaboration with Krista Muir aka Lederhosen Lucil (who guested on The City's title track). A few of those efforts are on Krista's myspace, including Drugging The Drain, which I'll put up for your downloading pleasure today. The Fembots joined Krista on a series of dates along the ways to Austin for SXSW this past weekend. The last of her shows is tonight in San Antonio at the Limelight. If that's in your area be sure to check her out.

The Fembots have a few dates in late April for Ontario and New Brunswick fans:
04/19/E-Bar, Guelph, ON
04/20/Music Gallery, Toronto, ON
04/21/The Spill, Peterborough, ON
04/25/Strutt's Gallery, Sackville, NB
04/26/Elwood's, St. John, NB
04/27/Capitol Bar, Frederiction, NB

Krista Muir - Drugging The Drain mp3
Fembots - Mom's Ether Blues mp3 (off 2003's Small Town Murder Scene)
Fembots- So Long mp3 (off The City)

Modest Mouse

2007-03-16T00:08:00.000-04:00

So I was viewing this travesty of a cover yesterday and i felt compelled to throw on Good News For People Who Love Bad News to wash that bad taste out. And listening to it, to and from work last night, I got real excited. I'm not sure why. It is a reasonably hyped album, but the hype isn't what is striking at me. Its not the addition of Johnny Marr to the lineup. Its not the Dashboard single, which, although good, could on any other day be just another mp3 off the blogroll.

Maybe it is the 10 plus years of eagerly anticipated ambitious and striking albums. Maybe it is because Float On, for all its overplayed radio joy, is, at the heart, pop perfection. Well, not perfection, but atleast a song you'll fondly light up at when hearing thirty years from now.

I dunno, in lieu of a real blog post today, I just wanted to tell you how excited I am about We Were Dead before The Ship Even Sank. Maybe I shouldn't. If Lonesome Crowded West was MM's Born To Run, and Good News.. their Born in the U.S.A., then wouldn't that make We Were Dead... Tunnel of Love? And Tunnel of Love kinda sucks, doesn't it?

Anyways, the new Modest album is out Tuesday.

Dashboard mp3
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright mp3 (off Lonesome Crowded West)
Dramamine mp3 (off This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Talk About)
Here It Comes mp3 (off Everywhere and his nasty Parlour Tricks)

Modest Mouse goes to the internet

Jon Landau

2007-03-14T00:45:00.000-04:00

If you're a fan of rock and roll music, Bruce Springsteen, or music criticism, then no doubt you have come across the famed words of Jon Landau. A music critic who became a manager, first to the MC5 and later Springsteen, then onwards to producer for many of Bruce's important records. It is his work as a critic that I've been enamoured with as of late. Anyone with any inclination to write critically about rock music should pick up a copy of It's Too Late To Stop Now - A Rock and Roll Journal. Published in 1972 it collects Jon's early work at Crawdaddy magazine, and later Rolling Stone. His most famous piece, in which he describes Bruce Springsteen as the future of Rock and Roll is not included in the collection. Published as a concert review for The Real Paper, A Boston alternative weekly, in May of '74, the piece, now rock and roll legend, is an exercise in capturing that feeling. Anyone who ever had their lives changed in a rock and roll concert knows this; that feeling when you get home and you feel somehow enriched, if even a little, thanks to what you heard and saw onstage. It is a beautiful feeling that is rare if you are blessed.

The article is short, six paragraphs in total. My reason for including it today is that I would like to give a little context to his famous words, more so than the legend and hyperbole they've taken on.

Tonight there is someone I can write of the way I used to write, without reservations of any kind. Last Thursday, at the Harvard Square Theatre, I saw my rock & roll past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw rock & roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen. And on a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time.
When his two-hour set ended I could only think, can anyone really be this good, can anyone say this much to me, can rock & roll still speak with this kind of power and glory? And then I felt the sores on my thighs where I had been pounding my hands in time for the entire concert and knew that the answer was Yes.
Springsteen does it all. He is a rock & roll punk, a Latin street poet, a ballet dancer, an actor, a joker, bar band leader, hot rhythm guitar player, extraordinary singer, and a truly great rock & roll composer. He leads a band like he has been doing it forever. I racked my brains but I simply can't think of a white artist who does so many things superbly. There is no one I would rather watch on a stage today.
Bruce Springsteen is a wonder to look at. Skinny, dressed like a reject from Sha Na Na, he parades in front of his all-star rhythm band like a cross between Chuck Berry, early Bob Dylan and Marlon Brando. Every gesture, every syllable, adds something to his ultimate goal - to liberate our spirit while he liberates his by baring his soul through his music. Many try, few succeed, none more than he today.
It's five o'clock now - I write columns like this as fast as I can for fear I'll chicken out - and I'm listening to 'Kitty's Back'. I do feel old but the record and my memory of the concert has made me feel a little younger. I still feel the spirit and it still moves me.
I bought a new home this week and upstairs in the bedroom is a sleeping beauty who understands only too well what I try to do with my records and typewriter.About rock & roll, the Lovin' Spoonful once sang, 'I'll tell you about the magic that will free your soul/but it's like trying to tell a stranger about rock & roll.' last Thursday I remembered that the magic still exists and that as long as I write about rock, my mission is to tell a stranger about it - just as long as I remember that I'm the stranger I'm writing for.

Bruce Springsteen - Kitty's Back mp3 from The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Bruce Springsteen - Devils and Dust mp3 from Devils and Dust

Update: In my rush to share this with you I missed out on an important fact. Though I thought the above six paragraphs were the entire article, my post blogging peripheral research indicates that it is actually the part of a biiger article. Entitled, Growing Young With Rock and Roll, the full piece as it (presumably) appeared in the pages of The Real Paper on May 22, 1974 can be read in its entirety here.

The Constantines and the Fits & Starts

2007-03-13T01:35:00.000-04:00

Back in 1999, a six song EP circulated in limited fashion, as word began to circulate of a band of "desperate men in search of desperate fortune." By 2001, the eponymous debut is released on Three Gut records, the initial pressings containing a single wooden match within. Curiously the proximity of match to compressed music does not cause albums all over the great GTA to catch fire. Incendiary live shows as the young upstarts upstage many a headliner, galvanizes a resurging Toronto music scene. Fast forward to the future and you have a four piece gone five,
three significant recordings in hand, and a fourth on the way.

And it all began with six songs. Six distinct promises of the things to come. "We're just getting started folks, just watch and see."

The Constantines trek across Canada with Jon Rae & The River, bringing Shotgun & Jaybird on the eastern dates and Ladyhawk for the western ones. Following that: a string of opening slots for The Tragically Hip south of the border.

March 16th - Club One, St. John's, NL
March 17th - The GCSU Backlot, Corner Brook, NL
March 20th - Steelworker's Hall, Sydney, NS
March 21st - Hunter's Alehouse, Charlottetown, PEI
March 22nd -George's Roadhouse, Sackville, NB
March 23rd - The Marquee Club, Halifax, NS
March 24th - The Manhattan, Moncton, NB
March 25th – The Capital Bar, Fredericton, NB
March 27th - Chez Dagobert, Quebec City, QC
March 28th – Barrymore’s, Ottawa, ON
March 29th – Club Lambi, Montreal QC
March 30th – Lee’s Palace, Toronto ON Shotgun & Jaybird depart
March 31st - Lee’s Palace, Toronto ON And Ladyhawk climbs aboard
April 3rd – Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB
April 4th – The Exchange, Regina, SK
April 5th – Louis Pub, Saskatoon, SK
April 6th – The Starlite Room, Edmonton, AB
April 7th - The Hi Fi Club, Calgary, AB
April 8th - The Hi Fi Club, Calgary, AB
April 9th - Canmore Hotel, Canmore, AB
April 12th – The Plaza Club, Vancouver, BC
April 13th - Sugar Nightclub, Victoria, BC

100% Maple Leaf approved rock for red and blue state alike
04/20/07: Boston: Avalon The Constantines
04/21/07: Hampton Beach: Hampton Beach Casino The Constantines
04/22/07: Lancaster: Chameleon Club The Constantines
04/24/07: New York: Irving Plaza The Constantines
04/25/07: New York: Irving Plaza The Constantines
04/27/07: Atlantic City: House of Blues The Constantines
04/28/07: Philadephia: Theatre of Living Arts The Constantines
04/29/07: Washington: 9:30 Club The Constantines

The original Fits & Starts
1-Baby Teeth (later reworked into No Ecstasy, appears on The Constantines)
2-National Hum (appears on Shine A Light)
3-The Young and The Desparate (demo only)mp3
4-Saint You (appears on The Constantines)mp3 and Saint You (album version)mp3
5-Steal This Sound (appears on The Constantines)
6-Hyacinth Blues (appears on The Constantines)mp3 and Hyacinth Blues (album version)mp3

The Constantines, Shine A Light & Tournament of Hearts on Amazon
www.constantines.ca

Liz Phair Friday

2007-03-09T02:25:00.000-05:00

It's Friday, you're all like, hey it's almost the weekend. Then your mom enters the basement and she's all like "hey you lazy fucker, get up and earn enough money to get your own place. You're 35 and ugly and most girls would laugh at your lack of ambition." Something like that, right. And you're reminded why you count on music to distract you from your pitiful existence. You dream about being 20 again and meeting a girl like Liz Phair. So you put on Exile in Guyville and get a quick respite before your day begins.

The above events are fictional and although they are bound to describe someone, somewhere, if they do this coincidence is purely, well, coincidental. More so sad, but I'll settle for coincidental. For the record I am not nearing middle age and love my mother more than imaginable. She bought me a birthday cake shaped like a heart. Cute, right.

Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville came out in 1993 amid a lot of press surrounding her provocative use of sexuality. Like an underground Madonna, Phair described her sexual desire with a frankness that would be considered the norm in today's pop maelstrom. She left Matador in the late 90's for Capitol, moved to L.A., and alienated a large part of her fan base when her self-titled record of 2003 turned towards a more typical pop sound with Liz going so far as enlisting the help of the Matrix songwriting team on a number of the tracks.. All's fair in fandom we say.

Whenever I listen to Exile, I get a big wistful for a girl like Liz. She's kinda sad on Fuck and Run describing a relapse with an ex, knowing she fucked up, and wanting romance ("letters and sodas"), incredibly vulnerable in Divorce Song, and incredibly sexy and take charge in Flower.

Exile in Guyville was said by Phair to be a track for track response to The Stone's Exile on Main Street. I've never met anyone who can really believe this, but I enjoy the audacity of the statement.

Liz Phair - Fuck and Run
Liz Phair - Flower
Liz Phair - Divorce Song

As a little bonus, I'm including a recent cover by Cassettes Won't Listen of Fuck and Run
Cassettes Won't Listen - Fuck and Run

Exile in Guyville on amazon

Exile on Main Street on the same (you know if you wanna compare after you're done syncing up Wizard of Oz and The Wall)

Pop Levi, Surplus Sons

2007-03-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

I headed down to Call The Office last night for an early show featuring ex-Ladytron alum Pop Levi and his backing band simply called Woman. For an early show I still didn't get out of there until eleven, but alas, let us digress for a moment.

The opening band, Surplus Sons, rocked off my proverbial sock(s). A five piece hailing from Toronto, dual guitar, drums, bass, and some newly added keys/organ greatly fleshing out the sound. These kids were high energy and won over a crowd that had never been privy to them before. If asked to describe their sound I'd say something like "in the spirit of their ancestors they steal with vigor from the golden era, Stones, Spencer Davis, and even more recently Oasis, Kings of Leon, and the Hives." I've always hated that cynical way of demeaning a band because their influences seem to be worn on sleeve, rather than kept in pocket. I'd have to keep it simple with they sound like rock and roll. And that is fine and fair to me. You don't see a lot of non -British bands in this indie era openly credit Oasis as an influence, however, these boys do. I'll leave you a favourite track of mine from their EP. You can download the whole thing gratis over at their website Here.

Surplus Sons - Step Stones The track is Definitely Maybe era Oasis with a bit of those backup singers Dylan called upon so economically on a few of his gospel b-sides

Pop Levi has been getting some press as of late for his debut release, The Return to Form Black Magick Party (produced by Devandra Banhart), and its effortless glaze through of glam rock. Onstage, the man and the band are enviably tight, the songs rock, and for a moment you're transfixed. Too quickly, the facade crumbles. The songs aren't simply good enough to allow you to get past the immense amounts of preening and posturing occurring. While I'm sure this is part act, the fact remains that it is a tough act to swallow. Music is built on larger than life ego and image, still, unswallowable if the music can't prop it up. The Guardian profiles Pop Levi more concisely than I could ever care to.

Pop Levi - A Style Called (Crying Chic)

Surplus Sons headline a CMW showcase tonight at the Horseshoe. If you're in Toronto, check 'em out around 1:30. Pop Levi plays Friday at Lee's Palace at the otherwise stellar Outside Music CMW showcase.

Birthday post

2007-03-02T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hey Everybody. just a short post for y'all today. As indicated above, today is very much my birthday. As I write this I am wearing a party hat. Rung in the opening hours of the birthday in the presence of Apostle of Hustle. Chris from Neile's Life was there too and has a full report and mp3's. I was quite impressed by the show, which saw a good turnout beside the shitty weather (which is continuing as we speak).

Merge gave me a birthday present when my copy of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible arrived a few days earlier (it is out Wednesday). I'm about to head out to work so it will have to wait. Quite excited about the disc and songs as I've resisted every urge to listen to all the tracks and live versions already out there.

Enjoy your Friday, birthday or not. A few tracks...

The Beatles - Birthday (obvious choice, but how many birthday songs are there that rock like this)

Steve Earle - Feel Alright
From Steve's album I Feel Alright (1996). I'm pretty sure the song is about his triumph over addiction(getting clean, new dawn, etc, etc,) but the sentiment remains.

The RIAA took my baby away

2007-03-01T03:11:00.000-05:00

Funny thing happened Tuesday, my file hosting service, mydatabus.com, was instructed to shut down my account by the RIAA due to copywrite infringement. Ie. illegally offered mp3's,

I'm honoured that this small little blog has managed to catch the attention of the big man, but as such, it causes a slight problem in offering music to you folks out there. You'll notice that most links to songs are now dead. Hopefully I'll get things re-upped as fast as possible. I'm searching for a new service. Mydatabus was a pretty decent free service that offered a 20gb daily bandwidthh that was more than adequate for our humble needs and audience. Their new free version offers only 1gb of daily bandwidth which is far from what I need, even their paid option offers considerably less bandwidth than they once did.

If anyone knows of a decent file hosting service (decent amount of bandwidth, no more than $20/30 month if not free) than feel free to point me in the right direction. Any other bloggers out there who have run into this problem recently/know anyone going through the same?

Stranger than Fiction

2007-02-28T02:58:00.000-05:00

I sat down last night to watch this Zach Helms film, a starring "dramedy" vehicle for Will Ferrell, and was utterly engaged. The quirky concept alone would be reason enough to praise the film if Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Ferrell didn't deliver such solid performances. Gyllenhaal in particular who didn't have much more of a caricature to deal with. Throughout the film I kept on noting the Spoon songs throughout, eventually remembering that Britt Daniel had a hand in composing the film score. Although the lion's share was composed by Air's Brian Retizell (he has also composed for Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides, among others), Britt wrote a new song for the film and contributed some instrumental versions of previously well loved Spoon songs.

There is a beautiful scene when Ferrell's character (Harold Krick) and Gyllenhaal's character (Ana Pascal) sit around post-dinner in her apartment. He makes note of the guitar in her apartment and she invites him to play, Krick declining after sheepishly mentioning he only knows one song. She heads to the kitchen and is washing the dishes when krick decides to pick up the guitar and starts quietly strumming a Wreckless Eric song, eyes closed and totally involved. Her reaction is all kinds of poetic and deeply moving. Do yourself a favour and rent the movie.

Popmatters talks to Britt a while back about how things came together for the film. Soundtrack.net and Chartattack have a few things to add.

I got a message that my file hosting account has been suspended and is under investigation. I found something that will do for today but am entirely unsure if the bandwidth is adequate. Any problems let me know. Once again, if anyone knows of a great file hosting service, clue me in.

Things have been quiet in the Spoon camp as of late. A new album in the works? Would be about time, now wouldn't it. Placate yourself with the afore-mentioned new Britt contribution for the film. Enjoy some more choice tracks from the film.

Spoon - The Book I Write
Maximo Park - Going Missing
The Jam - That's Entertainment
Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World

Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack on amazon

Frog Eyes

2007-02-26T02:32:00.000-05:00

As some may have noticed I took last week off. Instead of excuses, excuses, excuses I'll just get back to the swing of things here. Some or all will probably be familiar with Frog Eyes. They of the incestuous relationship with other CanRock luminaries the Wolf Parade and Dan Bejar aka Destroyer. Their new LP Tears of the Valedictorian comes out May 1st on Absolute Kosher. The track listing:

1 Idle Songs
2 Caravan Breakers, They Prey on the Weak and the Old
3 "Stockades"
4 Reform the Countryside
5 The Policy Merchant, the Silver Bay
6 Evil Energy, the Ill Twin of...
7 ...Eagle Energy
8 Bushels
9 My Boats They Go

They'll be doing a tour in support, kicking things off in their hometown of Victoria, BC, while playing SXSW in mid March also.

3/16 - Austin, TX - SXSW Merge/Absolute Kosher day party
3/17 - Austin, TX SXSW Absolute Kosher showcase
4/14 - Victoria, BC - Logan's Pub
5/01 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile's
5/04 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
5/05 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
5/10 - Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
5/11 - Austin, TX - Emo's
5/12 - Houston, TX - Proletariat
5/14 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
5/15 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
5/16 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
5/17 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
5/18 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
5/20 - Boston, MA - Middle East
5/22 - Montreal, PQ - La Sala Rossa
5/24 - Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dees
5/25 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
5/27 - Chicago, IL - Schubas

The band did a Daytrotter session last summer which you can hear and download here, including a early version of Bushels. Bushels is the perfect disjointed song for me right now.

Frog Eyes - Bushels (mp3)

New Feist, Old Royal City

2007-02-16T01:27:00.000-05:00

Remember Feist, she of the achingly beautiful voice, part of the Broken Social Scene sirens (the other two being Amy Millan and Emily Haines). Of course you do. The first track off her upcoming album, The Reminder, started hitting the blogosphere yesterday. My Moon, My Man is a breezy little thing. I'm not particularly crazed about it, but it's nice to hear something new from my would be girlfriend regardless. The Reminder is out in North America May 1st. I absolutely love the cover.

Feist - My Moon, My Man (mp3)

A few weeks I got into a big Royal City phase. Those who are unaware of the now-defunct band, one-time flagship of the also defunct Three Gut record label (and also the namesake, courtesy of Jim Guthrie) should go out and get themselves acquainted. Truly beautiful stuff. I was trolling the CBC radio 3 archives,(click on "101 music stories," then "table of contents" to view all the music sessions) and found this session by the band. I fell in love with the unreleased track, Burning Torch. The piano, the lyrics, it's all there. I did a little searching and found that the song was featured on last year's Asthmatic Kitty comp Mews Two. Matt at i (heart) music has the rest of the session to download, so head on over there. My Mean Magpie has a live show from back in 2001 with some more unreleased tracks. More goodies for your Friday.

Royal City - Burning Torch (mp3)

I Got Them Higher Calling Blues

2007-02-15T02:36:00.000-05:00

Every time I type the above title, Bob Dylan's Freight Train Blues pops into my head. "Way down on the bottom of my ramblin' shoe -hoo-hoo-hoo-ooooos." Thought I'd share that with all of you. Both tracks I have for you today, carrying in our gospel-ish Thursday theme, get cozy with the Lord. Both get inspiration for the age old practice of looking for something better when those good 'ol times turn a bit weary. Some of the songs from weeks past have been rather dour, at least in sound. Today's offering seem to match their joy with their energy. A couple rabble rousers for you.

The Sadies are somewhat of a Toronto institution. Blending the roots of the countryside with a slight recall of a truer indie era. A tight four piece that did some time with Neko Case as a her backing band; they always seem to be behind her when she wanders into town. Their recorded output has rarely done justice to the force they are onstage. Acknowledging this the Sadies settled down for a few nights at Lee's palace back in 2005, and with Steve Albini behind the controls, finally put to tape their legendary live show. In Concert, Volume 1 features the Sadies and their friends out in full force. Higher Power, off their Pure Diamond Gold (1999) release is a simple and majestic turbo twang spiritual. Never did an "amen" sound so vital.

The Sadies' In Concert, Volume 1 on Amazon
The Sadies - Higher Power (mp3)

The Silver Hearts are another Canadian band (Ontario) that has been around for awhile, and much like the Sadies, has a solid reputation, based on a consistently good output. Beer soaked country soul, instantly rewarding and utterly faithful. On their latest disc, Dear Stranger (2006), the Hearts, called on the Deadly Snakes' Andre Ethier, to add his voice and talent to their latest collection. New Pilgrim is one of my favourite tracks. Just a raucous spiritual from that opening harmonica gut punch.

The Silver Hearts' Dear Stranger on Amazon
The Silver Hearts - New Pilgrim (mp3)

That's the slice for today. I've got a love drunk roommate (probably more drunk than anything) insisting I rethink my Pearl Jam stance. Can't say I'm entirely against it. Download the tunes and let them fill your soul

In the news

2007-02-14T00:25:00.000-05:00

Some White Stripes news as of late. After being released from V2 records earlier in the year, Jack and Meg signed a one album deal with Warner Bros. They will still be represented by XL in the UK, while Warner will take care of things here in North America. This news is seen by most as a good indication that a new Stripes record is either in the can or in the works.

This last bit is augmented by the announcement that the White Stripes will play at this year's Bonnaroo Festival. Taking place June 14-17 in Tennessee, the initial roster of artists was announce today. Since I wrote this last night, I only know the names leaked earlier Tuesday. By the time you read this, the official listings should be up over at the website. Head on over there to get your fix.

White Stripes - I Can't Wait
White Stripes - Walking With A Ghost

Acknowledging Valentines Day; You're either in the camp that celebrates (ie. in a happy relationship) or doesn't, and bitterly so (ie. alone. Utterly and painfully alone). I can't remember the last time I was in a relationship on Valentines Day. Regardless, It's a great day to call up your friend and tell them you love them.

I love Linda Ronstadt's take on the Everly Brothers song When Will I Be Loved. Lyrically, it's a lonely, bitter tune. The girl can't find a man to treat her right. Sonically, this baby is all hope and joy. Just a hard hitting popper if there ever was. It seems to marry our opposing Valentines Day camps. A little common ground sounds good.

Linda Ronstadt - When Will I Be Loved

Grammy Blog

2007-02-12T08:03:00.000-05:00

Hey folks. Welcome to Monday. I blogged the Grammys last night. Enjoy

Sting and the Police reunite. Yawn.The Police - Driven to Tears (mp3)

Directly followed by Jamie Foxx. Jamie wants you to make some noise and get a party going. Jamie Foxx 's jokes fall flatter than Sting & Co. . Jamie says the jokes would have "killed on BET." Did he mean that literally? Good thing the Police are here to prevent this whole thing devolving into the Source Awards.

Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder pick up an award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals with For Once in my Life. Stevie dedicates it to a deceased relative. Good time to get off the stage, but Tony wants to get in there and thank......Target.

Guess what faithful viewers, you can vote ala American idol for one promising singer to share the stage later with Justin Timberlake. And for the next three hours you will be able to see said pretty promising's every time we go to commercial break.

Dixie chicks perform Not Ready to Make Nice. Backwards thinking folk in middle America make a note to turn off tv in silent disgust/approval for President just as soon as they catch up with the modern world. Last week they finally got that running water, so, another 40 for the miracle of television, and another 20 after that for maturity to accept dissenting opinions

Beyonce performs soulless soul song. Is it me or does B look a bit fleshy as of late. Looks like she's taking the old "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach in response to being overlooked by just about everyone (including the Oscars) for Jennifer Hudson in Dream Girls. No one tell Beyonce that the Academy simply reached its maximum number of Black nominations before they got to her. We like her super curves.

Mary J. Blige picks up her second award of the night. The first saw her give a wedding list of thanks. This time she keeps it short, with some insight for all us kids, "Life is peaks and valleys...I don't wanna burn bridges." Didn't make the cut: "The more you know, the more
you grow," and "Don't come home drinkin' (with lovin' on your mind)"

If I could pick three artists, alive or dead, to perform a collaborative performance live at the Grammys, it would have to be John Legend, John Mayer, And Corinne Bailey Rae.

And the winner for Song of the Year goes to........Not Ready To Make Nice. The true winners, however, are fans worldwide who will surely benefit from the empty promise of presenters Seal and Burt Bacharach to write a song together.

J.t.'s prospective duet partners were caught off guard this time and almost forget to all huddle together and pretend to like each other as the camera panned them. Looks like the one on the left is a loss away from her committing her first Grammy night stabbing. Get on those phones and text America. Don't let the Grammys become the Source awards. Good thing the Police are here. (And you thought the joke was terrible the first time around)

And the Dixie girls win another. Good show girls. This time they want to thank the "true" fans. Aww Snap! detractors. Of course by "true" they mean all those fans who bought concert tickets in Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis and Knoxville for the last tour only to see the Chicks cancel those shows when the side effect of Natalie Maines "outspoken" ways caught up them. The Chicks don't do theatres.

Standing O for the Chris Brown, Smokey Robinson, and Lionel Richie tribute performance to R & B. Why won't Smokey age? Is he a robot? Robot Smokey has more soul than 136 aspiring singers. And all six seasons of American Idol. Also more Botox than Olivia Newton John.
Smokey Robinson - Tracks of my Tears (mp3)

Christina Aguilera pays tribute to Jimmy Brown with a burning performance of It's a Man's World. Speechless.

My favourite part of the evening, the obits. In no particular order, thank you for offering your souls and voices: James Brown, Ahmet Ertegun, Arthur Lee, Billy Preston, Denny Doherty, Anita O'Day, Alice Coltrane, Floyd Dixon, Syd Barrett, Gene Pitney, Desmond Dekker, and Ruth Brown. A touching tribute to Brown with a dancer struuting around as James does the same on the screen. And then they drape a cape over the microphone stand. Classy.
Billy Preston - Nothing from Nothing (mp3)
James Brown - Night Train (mp3)

Ludacris is performing the "make Oprah proud" Runaway Love. Jamie Foxx is taking notes.
Ludacris - Runaway Love (mp3)

I fell asleep so I've been watching the telecast on tape. Swear to God I couldn't plan this, the tape just ended half a verse into James Blunt's Beautiful. God loves me and protects me from insipid pop music.

I really wanted to see what instantly forgettable singer got to sing with J.T. Hows about they just can the whole idea and let Scarlett Johansson do it.
Scarlett Johansson - Summertime (mp3)

That's all folks. In and out before I'm subjected to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Concert Listings

2007-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here's so local concert listings I though I'd put up. Not a bad month stretch considering size and locale of our fine little city. Super excited for the Julie/Baby double bill, by the by.

Julie Doiron and Baby Eagle (Steve Lambke of the Constantines) play Alex P. Keaton's Feb 21

Do Make Say Think at Call The Office Feb. 22, tix $10

White Cowbell Oklahoma at the Salt Lounge Feb. 25. Support// Johnny North

Apostle of Hustle at Call The Office March 1, tix $7 advance Support//Young Galaxy

The Weather Underground at the Salt Lounge March 5 Support//TBD

Shout Out Out Out at Call The Office March 6, tix $6. Support//120 Days

Born Ruffians at Call The Office March 29, tix $6. Support// We Are Marching On

And for those patient enough to scroll down I've left some mp3's of the above bands. I'm not deluded enough to think that alot of you folks stop by for my awkward sentences and attempts at wit. Enjoy the weekend.

Julie Doiron - Don't wanna be liked by you (off just released Woke Myself Up)
Baby Eagle - Redpath Sugar Factory (off 2006's self-titled dull-length debut)
Do Make Say Think - The Universe (off You, You're A History in Rust, out next week)
Apostle of Hustle - My Swordhand's Anger (off National Anthem Of Nowhere, just released and super good)
Young Galaxy - Swing Your Heartache
Shout Out Out Out - Chicken Soup for the Fuck You (of 2006's Not Saying/Just Saying)
Born Ruffians - This sentence will ruin/save your life

I Got Them Higher Calling Blues

2007-02-08T01:53:00.001-05:00

As the Louvin Brothers, Charles and Ira Louvin left an unmistakable mark on country music. While Ira died in 1965, Charles is still kicking around today. Nearing his 80th birthday, he decided to get together with some friends and record some songs, new and old, for his self-titled album out February 20th. George Jones, Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, among others, all lend a hand to Charlie.

In this same spot a few weeks back I chatted about The Louvin's Christian Life. Atomic Power is equally straightforward. While it was probably more resonant 40 years ago, the fear of nuclear fallout is still real enough to find an audience. You may not have ran to your fallout shelter when Iran conducted underground Nuke tests last year, still, visions of apocalyptic dystopia's may have danced in your head, if even for a split second. Are you ready for the great atomic power? sings Charlie. Well Charlie I'm not entirely sure, is there something I can do to get ready? There is one way to escape/And be prepared to meet the Lord/When the mushroom of destruction falls/There is a shielding sword.

Tweedy provides backing vocals (as he did to Jay Farrar when Uncle Tupelo use to do this song) The song's matter of fact, fire and brimstone mentality is sure to get under the skin of anyone who wouldn't be caught dead in a red state. But if you can't use the overhanging fear of world war 3 to convince a few folks into accepting Jesus Christ as their personal saviour, then really, whats the point in living at all.

Website for Charlie Louvin

Charlie Louvin featuring Jeff Tweedy - Atomic Power (mp3)
Uncle Tupelo - Atomic Power (mp3)

Avril Lavigne drops Girlfriend

2007-02-08T01:16:00.000-05:00

Though the title and picture may be misleading, CPM hasn't turned into a gossip blog. Though I could if I wasn't so afraid of Perez Hilton. Instead, we heard the new Avril Lavigne single, Girlfriend, and wanted to share.

I suppose i should have cooler tastes. Some of you faithful readers might become unfaithful now that I've so erroneously veered into the pop mainstream. But take note, here comes the crossover single of the season. The indie kids are gonna be embracing this one at the same time as this becomes the anthem for every girl aged 10-30. And why? Because it's really fucking good. This here is girl power on Redbull. It is also irresistible, even if you can't relate to girl power, or wanting to be someone's girlfriend, which I can't. But I try.

Knock it if you want. Soon enough you'll be singing it. Ignore the contradictions inherent. Why is a freshly married twenty something singing a song with the emotional maturity of a fifteen year old? Who cares.

Hey Hey You You
I don't like your girlfriend
Hey Hey You You
I think you need a new one
Hey Hey You You
I could be your Girlfriend

Avril's new album The Best Damn Thing comes out April 17th. Preach it sister.

Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend (mp3)

new Kings of Leon

2007-02-02T11:25:00.000-05:00

The new Kings of Leon record Because of the Times hits North America April 3rd. Someone called them the Kentucky Fried Strokes once and although I think the comparison is lazy I still love the name. Maybe its our big love for the Colonel, also, who doesn't love a southern belle.

Track listing is as follows:

1-Knocked Up
2-Charmer
3-On Call
4-Mcfearless
5-Black Thumbnail
6-My Party
7-True Love Way
8-Ragoo
9-Fans
10-The Runner
11-Trunk
12-Camero
13-Arizona

The band is streaming 'On Call' on their myspace. Go on over and check it out. Styeiles has some tracks from the KFC Kings' Day Old Belgian Blues EP. I'll leave you kind folks with Molly's Hangover. It appeared as a b-side to the Wasted Time single and as the name suggests it's a drowsy re-working of Molly's Chambers. Everyone have a great weekend, catch ya Monday.

Kings of Leon - Molly's Hangover

Got them higher calling blues

2007-02-01T00:37:00.000-05:00

This week's track is the traditional spiritual Jesus on the Mainline. I've always felt that Ry Cooder really owns the definitive version of the song, though there are many an artist who've thrown their hat in the ring. It's been down a million different ways, whether it be harrowing blues or uplifting shake 'em down gospel. However it is performed, the lyrics never really change.

The title itself implies an uncomplicated access to spiritual guidance. If it were to be written today I imagine it might refer to an Internet connection, but somehow Jesus on the World Wide Web lacks the same punch. Each verse is a two-line repeating refrain, informing that in sickness, despair, or joy, all you have to do is make the call and tell Him what you want.

As I mentioned above, for me, Ry Cooder has got the definitive version of this. The voice, the guitar; it's all there.

Ry Cooder - Jesus on the Mainline

Don't tell that to Willie Neal Johnson though. The man really lets it swell here. The kind of performance you'd expect in a great Baptist church and dare I say might knock off Ry in due time on that personal fav point.

Willie Neal Johnson - Jesus on the Mainline

The Bill Gaither Vocal band offer a more reserved version here. Gotta love that man with the baritone.

Bill Gaither Vocal Band - Jesus on the Mainline

Mr. Airplane Man is a dirty blues female duo from Cambridge. They had some momentum back around the "The" bands heyday. Too often got hacked as "the female White Stripes." They've fallen off the map since then, personal and commercial, though I've been sitting down with their awesome second LP Moanin' as of late. Worth your time to check what Margaret and Tara are up to these days.

Mr. Airplane Man - Jesus on the Mainline

The last version I'll leave you with is by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Very uptempo and swing. Enjoy.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Jesus on the Mainline

Apparently Ben Harper did this song back in on Pleasure and Pain back in 1992. Limited run, vinyl only, 1500 copies. If any of you faithful readers know how I can get my hands on a copy, either this, I'm assuming, hard to find gem, or a vinyl to mp3 rip, I'd love to hear it.

2007-01-29T13:09:00.000-05:00

A Monday roundup of songs that have been prominent in my life as of late. I'm coming down with a cold/flu I believe which is something like the third one in less than six months. Apparently my immune system is crashing. maybe i should have got a flu shot.

Roommate Luke recently came home with the complete first season of Saturday Night Live. I watched a little bit of the first episode this weekend, featuring Paul Simon. A few remarks: The episode is 80% Paul Simon performances, 20% comedy skits. How great is that. That could never happen on television these days. Some great performances. His performance of American Tune really caught my ears. Go here to see a live performance from around the same time, though not from SNL.

Paul Simon - American Tune from There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973)

On Thursday I took a trip over to Guelph for the night to visit some new friends. We went out that night and I heard this instantly danceable Cure song that broke my heart. Never really listened to the Cure (I know, I know) but I went out Saturday and picked up The Head on the Door , from where you can find the aforementioned song.

The Cure - Close to Me

Lucinda Williams finally hit her stride on 1996's Car wheels on a Gravel Road. Drunken Angel really sits well with me lately. I feel like I should pontificate more elaborately but my energy level is nil right now. Accept my apologies and love it for your own reasons.

Lucinda Williams - Drunken Angel

2007-01-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Higher Calling Blues

This week's installment of 'i got them higher calling blues' features the sounds of Ira and Charlie Louvin and The Byrds.

The Louvin Brothers wrote and recorded the song on their 1960 album Satan is Real, while the Byrds covered itfor their seminal '68 album Sweetheart of the Rodeo. The song concerns the choosing of a Christian way over the the temptations of another. Straightforward and confident in its decision the song reflects that "my buddies shun me since I turned to Jesus/they say I'm missing a whole world of fun." However, the repeated declaration of "I like the Christian life" affirms the young man's decision.

Some folks might find it hard to get behind such a blunt religious song, especially if your beliefs don't follow the same rhetoric. For me, its appeal is due in part to its matter of fact confidence.

Louvin Brothers - Christian Life (mp3)
The Byrds - Christian Life (mp3)

Satan Is Real on Amazon
Sweetheart of the Rodeo on Amazon

2007-01-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today's offering comes courtesy of David Vandervelde. DV is Chicago based rocker, aged 22, who just released his debut offering, The Moonstation House Band, yesterday. Recorded under the mentor ship of Jay Bennett of ex-Wilco fame, Vandervelde is drawing a lot of comparisons to 70's glam heroes such as Marc Bolan , Eno, Bowie, etc., etc. Channelling his heroes, Vandervelde crafts a compelling album that is engaging enough to pique your interest and give you something to have faith in regarding the future of that little shuffle they call rock and roll.

What initially piqued my ears to David was the great cover he did of the Stones' Cocksucker Blues for a session over on Daytrotter. I dig the story behind Cocksucker Blues. The Stones offered it to Decca Records in 1970 as the the last single to complete their contract. Decca didn't release it, due possibly to the foul language contained within, or possibly because, oh I don't know, a slow blues about a schoolboy in the big city fucking and sucking for survival (or worse, for desire) ain't exactly the most commercial stuff. The chorus of "Where can I get my dick sucked/Where can I get my ass fucked" is either gleefully hilarious or eerily sums up late night lust.

If I dare say, David gives a performance on the song that either equals or surpasses Mick & Co.
You can go on over and stream the new album in its entirety if dipping your big toe in the big 'ol swimming pool before you take a dive is your thing. Should be able to to find him in your local record store unless your clerk was too excited about that Shins album to remember to do his job.

Curl up to your record player with that groovy chick of yours and in-between the rockers, get all intense about "that bastard Nixon and the damn war in Vietnam." You can also get the album straight from his label, Secretly Canadian. Unlike them folks, I'm actually Canadian, so I got no secrets to conceal. David's doing a few shows in the Chicago and NYC areas in the coming weeks before heading over to the UK before coming back mid-March for SXSW. if that's where you reside, wouldn't be a bad idea to go say hello. All the pertinent info is available via his website or myspace.

David Vandervelde - Nothin' No
David Vandervelde - Cocksucker Blues
Rolling Stones - Cocksucker Blues

2007-01-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Fox Jaws (formerly Doris Day) hail from Barrie, Ontario, which also happens to be my hometown. Barrie may not exactly be known as a thriving bastion of rock and roll, yet there i was a few years back standing in an upscale dinner joint turned rock and roll heavy getting my heart handed to me by this sextet. The deal was sealed a few hours later when they proceeded to invite the whole bar back to their digs for a dance party that worked its way into the wee hours as these things tend to do.

So this is the part where you ask why you should be listening to Fox Jaws instead of whatever "X" indie rock and roll band. Which is followed by us saying "The music speaks for itself, maaaan." (Snarl sold separately). 'Course, if you're already here, let us indulge you.

We could call it anthemic indie-pop. We could talk about their knockout live performances (complete with the most spell-binding cover of Under Pressure you'll ever hear aside from the Thin White Duke himself). We could talk about how we haven't heard sexier female vox since Alannah Myles soundtracked our childhood road trips with Black Velvet. We could talk about how, in the tradition of small town bands before them, they stumble upon truth in only the way big-hearted kids with visions of that big city glow can. There's a warmth in their music that finds you in the blizzard and kills the chill, stops the chatter. Of course, we could also just say, the music speaks for itself.

In those ensuing years, the Fox Jaws gang have been building up a steady reputation for this and so much more. They are currently readying their full-length debut. Time and date to be announced, so I'll keep you folks updated. They've got a couple dates starting in mid-March. It looks their website is currently undergoing some revamping, so instead head on over to myspace to learn more and hear some tracks.

We included their composition Karmonica in our year end reviews. I'll re-post it for you kids too lazy to track back. Also included is Warm Winter Coats. Both tracks are highly recommended. Head on over to that myspace to hear a couple more tracks.

Fox Jaws - Karmonica
Fox Jaws - Warm Winter Coats

On a personal note I wanted to say congrats to my sister Lesley who finished with a bronze at the Canadian figure skating championships in Halifax over the weekend. Not being an athlete myself, I have but a small understanding of the dedication and training it takes to compete at the highest level of her sport. The small amount I do know leads me to believe that my sister is in better shape and kick the ass of anyone who ignorantly doesn't know the difference between a triple loop and a triple axle. She finished third last year and narrowly missed an Olympic berth, which was pretty hard for her as anyone who has ever been that close to their dream can imagine. Nonetheless, she bounced back, and had two great performances this week. There's a great article in the Toronto Star you can read here if you like. They call her a "scrapper in sequins," which we really like. And that's all for this extremely doting brother. But hey, she's a pretty big deal.

2007-01-18T01:01:00.000-05:00

If you folks remember just before the break we started a new Thursday serial just before the holidays. Now that the break and end of the year posts are out of the way we can get back to that for you. The segment will be called I got them higher calling blues . As I said earlier it's a pretty open format that aims to cover some of our favourite songs in the gospel/religious tradition. By no means is this going to be a sunday service folks. We're talking rock and roll music concerned with some of those big questions.

RecentlyI've been listening to Bob Dylan's so-called gospel albums. Most people have either heard or heard of Slow Train Coming. That's the album that finally netted Bobby his first Grammy. The two albums that directly followed and completed his "religious phase" were 1980's Saved and '81's Shot of Love. Criticized by many during this time for buying into organized religion, the criticisms are probably rooted in the old guard of Dylan fans uncomfortable with Bob praising the same God he once seemingly forsaked. Religious themes were clearly not a new thing for him. His lyrics prior to this have often called on religious theme and symbolism and have often alluded to a spirituality of the Judeo/Christian type.

The album begins with the Red Hayes/Jack Rhodes composition A Satisfied Mind. All sparse piano keys and slow drawl as Dylan hums, "it's so hard to find/one rich man in ten with a satisfied mind." The title track is a funky number that echoes the chorus of "I've been saved/by the blood of the lamb/..And I just wanna thank you lord/I Just wanna thank you Lord." The last number for today is Pressing On. Situated midway through the album, the track is a burning ember of resilience. He offers no apologies for the wrongs he committed in the past, "Because He sinned I got no choice, it run in my vein." Really the centrepiece of the album and what Kurt Loder called "the melodic descendant of the Band's 'The Weight.'"

A Satisfied Mind
Saved
Pressing On

On an unrelated note, for those London area readers. The Weather Underground are releasing their new (and first) album tonight at The Salt Lounge. No doubt you'll be able to pick up Ontario the Chemical while you're there. A great group of guys I'm really proud of and excited to see the finished product. You can stream some tracks on their myspace here. We'll have a writeup next week about the band and new cd so stay tuned.

2007-01-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Year End Review part 4

Artist: The Grates
Song: 19-20-20
Album: Gravity Won't Get You High (2006)

Australian band The Grates exhibit a punk energy and like most punk records these days fail to stand up to repeated listens, assuming you can stand repeated listening. They may not re-invent the wheel here, but their contagious energy makes for decent pogo pop songs.

Artist: Jason Molina
Song: Everything Should Try Again
Album: Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go (2006)

I'm not overly familiar with a lot of Molina's work. Be it his old Songs: Ohia moniker, Magnolia Electric Co., or simply as Jason Molina. Everything is a particularly biting critique of another's depression. "Ever been tired/Ever been a little sick/Ever tried working through it."

Artist: Daniel Johnston
Song: Ain't No Woman Gonna Make A George Jones Outta Me

If, like me, your knowledge of Daniel Johnston is limited, I suggest checking out the great documentary from last year The Devil and Daniel Johnston. Now available on DVD, it separates a lot fact from fiction without completely dispelling the myth. Intensely low-fi music as seen through the children's soul of this manic depressive. Check out his back catalogue, now easier to find than ever before (I saw some in a Sunrise records the other day for fuck sakes) and get on the D train.

Artist: The Killers
Song: When You Were Young
Album: Sam's Town (2006)

Maybe you're like me and you have a love/hate relationship with the Killers. Image heavy and arrogant at times, Brandon Flowers didn't win any fans when he claimed prior to Sam's Town's release that it would be the best album of the past 20 years. That would fulfil the hate part. The love? Catchy songs like this one that are perfect examples on how to write a hit. I can't say the album failed to live up to my expectations. I never really put much stock in it. The Killers are bound to be around for awhile. My over/under for good songs per album is 2 and I think this is pretty bang on. Now taking bets on how long before Bruce Springsteen asks the band for his shtick back.

Artist: Beck
Song: Nausea
Album: The Information (2006)

Beck makes us white boys dance. It may look like bastardized versions of Michael Jackson; still, we dance.

Artist: Regina Spektor
Song: Fidelity
Album: Begin To Hope (2006)

'Cause it breaks you ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-heart.

Artist: Jenn Grant
Song: Dreamer

We talked about Jenn Grant in December. She's got an album coming out in a few months. Check the December archives for a full writeup.

Artist: Sleater Kinney
Song: Modern Girl
Album: The Woods (2005)

Never been a huge Sleater Kinney fan to be honest. they do mean a whole lot to a lot of people. they decided to call it quits this year. Aging riot grrrls wept. My old zine did too.

Artist: Neko Case
Song: Teenage Feeling
Album: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006)

Expect a new New Pornographers album later in the year. When it does come out feel free to complain about how there is never enough Neko. Just a beautiful song about never settling for love.

Artist: Hilary & Haylie Duff
Song: Our Lips Are Sealed

We make no bones about this song about the Duff sisters. A cover of The Go-Go's original, the song is pretty much a note for note take on the original. Still, we love it. I had a habit of blaring this all summer sometime during my morning routine. My summer roommates would just walk by with shaking heads. The guilty pleasure is a bankrupt concept.

Artist: Holly Golightly w/ The Greenhornes
Song: There Is An End

This song comes from the soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch directed/Bill Murray starring film, Broken Flowers. Like many, I first came across Holly through her work with The White Stripes. The Greenhornes have a relationship with Jack and Meg that goes back a number of years, as tour mates, friends, and members of a mutual appreciation society. Currently, 2/3's of The Greenhornes are making up the rhythm section of The Raconteurs.

Artist: Sunset Rubdown
Song: They Took A Vote And Said No
Album: Shut Up I Am Dreaming (2006)

Although I initially hated this album I came back to revisit it after some time apart. Came to be one of my favourite releases of '06.

Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: Thunder on the Mountain & Can You Please Crawl Out Through Your Window
Album: Modern Times (2006)

Easily one of the most celebrated albums of the year. Bobby D is enjoying a resurgence in critical acclaim over the past few years. Chalk that up to the self-penned Chronicles bio, Scorsese's No Direction Home documentary, and Dylan still making vital recordings. Thunder on the Mountain finds Dylan in a playful mood, having a good chuckle as he lets us know Alicia Keys has been on his mind, as well as expounding on the state of the world in general. A great rollicking number that catches you in the chest and takes over your hips.

So that's it. That's the end of the look back on '06. Probably a bit over-reaching and unnecessary at this late stage but I felt I should get it off the books before I could start fresh in 2007. Looking forward to the year. Thanks for reading everybody.

2007-01-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

Year End Review Part 3

Artist: Christina Aguilera
Song: Ain't No Other Man
Album: Back to Basics (2006)

I'll admit right now to being completely head over heels in love with the new Christina Aguilera. She's said goodbye to the teen pop and slutty images. As the title of the album suggests, the former genie in a bottle is returning to her roots. Gospel, R & B, and pop, with a huge smacking of soul. The album was a bit bloated at two discs, but still, a triumphant return for Christina. Ain't No Other Man packs a massive wallop, sultry and all curves.

Artist: Joel Plaskett
Song: Nowhere With You

The song was included on the bonus EP that accompanied his Make a Little Noise live dvd. It was also heard all over your tv sets as a commercial for K-Mart. If you're one of those types you might cry sellout. Of course, that means you'd be ignoring as great a pop song as Joel's ever done. And that would make you a douche.

Artist: The Hold Steady
Song: Stuck Between Stations
Album: Boys and Girls in America (2006)

The third release from The Hold Steady was easily the most hyped on the blogosphere this year. While I'd argue it failed to surpass their previous work, it was still an inspired effort. Lyricist Craig Finn is a rock and roll Kerouac. And like the authour was for his generation, Finn is a vital voice to understanding ours.

Artist: Weezer
Song: Perfect Situation
Album: Make Believe (2005)

I haven't bought a Weezer album since Pinkerton. I though the first two singles from this album, Beverly Hills and We Are All On Drugs, to be two more sad indications of how far from the path the band has strayed. Then they go ahead and release this gem. As the video for the song informs us, Before there was Weezer, there was Weeze. This is the emo song every emo band wishes they wrote. Perhaps all that time spent in women's jeans cuts off their creativity. In '06 Rivers Cuomo finally graduated from Harvard, got married, and put Weezer on "hiatus," which might be like doing the right thing and taking Old Yeller out of his misery.

Artist: Cadence Weapon
Song: Black Hand
Album: Breaking Kayfabe (2006)

Known to his mother as Rollie Pemberton, Cadence Weapon released his debut album this year to great fanfare. He was nominated for the inaugural Polaris Music award and although he didn't take home the award this could hardly be considered a setback. Critics and fans love him for his intelligent brand of hip hop that skirts the usual shit. On a good night, he's like a revelation.

Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Song: Pay Me My Money Down
Album: We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)

A lot of the rock royalty were getting political this year. Bruce stopped by with his collection of Pete Seeger songs. The whole album feel like a raucous back alley jam. The songs are essentially timeless, although Bruce does do a bit of updating, "Well I wish that I was Mr. Gates/ they'd haul my money home in crates." A Great effort from the Boss.

Artist: Cat Power
Song: Could We
Album: The Greatest (2006)

For Cat Power fans this shall be known as the year Chan Marshall got sober. By most accounts her live shows are no longer the train wrecks of yore, which is definitely a good thing. Cat Power tends to be good for rainy days. Rainy days nursing a broken heart, even better. Recorded in Memphis with a band of veteran players, Chan crafted a country drenched effort that may not be her Opus, but certainly bodes well for the future.

Artist: Corinne Bailey Rae
Song: Put Your Records On
Album: Corinne Bailey Rae (2006)

Corinne Bailey Rae had a great year on the heels of her first album. Nominated for Best song, record, and new artist of the year at the upcoming Grammy awards, Rae will probably have a fruitful career as a popular artist. My tendencies tend to lead me away from middle of the road popsters, or what I assume to be middle of he road popsters. Judging a book by its cover and all that. I was going throwing the racks at an HMV one day and I hear this track. Asked about it and went home and downloaded it. This is the only song I've heard by her. Anyone out there with a strong endorsement? I probably shouldn't be so judgemental, I did , after all, praise Ms. Aguilera a few tracks back. This tune sits with me real well. Such a beautiful pop song.

Artist: Nelly Furtado
Song: Crazy

Here Ms. Furtado covers that Gnarls Barkley so that everyone didn't hear everywhere this summer. I've also heard a Ray Lamontagne give it a shot. All versions are great in their own right. I really enjoy seeing artists cover their peers. Hey, I'm a sucker for Neil Young covers too, it just seems that artists today are afraid to touch the work of their contemporaries. It seems to be much less prevalent today, then say, 40 years ago. Nelly had a pretty big year with the success of her own Maneater album. I've never been a huge fan of Nels, always liked her singles though. Hated her whole, Promiscuous Boy, persona. Lazy fuckin' club anthems. Utter and complete shit. And don't even give me the 'ol "has a good beat" excuse.

Artist: Elliott Brood
Song: The Bridge & Only At Home

Elliott Brood plays "death country" whatever that is. Country-tinged i suppose, but sounds a bit darker. Either that or him and his band are either zombies or terminally ill. The first track comes from the LP Ambassador, originally released in 2005, but re-released in '06. The second one is from the EP Tin Type from 2004. Both are great and highly recommended. Boo-tiful stuff. Get it, "boo" tiful. Oh boy, I'm good. Cut. It. Out

Artist: Loose Fur
Song: Hey Chicken
Album: Born Again in the U.S.A. (2006)

Comprised of Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, and Jim O' Rourke. Really just a side project for everyone to get their ya-ya's out on. A bit too heavy on all the instrumentation added. Still, a decent effort for a side project. The lead track, included here, is a playful rocker. Rock and Roll. That's all baby.

Artist: The Black Keys
Song: Your Touch
Album: Magic Potion (2006)

The BK's play the modern day blues. I find it hard to sit through a full album, even Magic Potion, which was a great effort. Still, If I'm trolling through the blogs and I see talk of the band, I will always take the time to read and listen to what they've been doing. They rarely disappoint.

Artist: The Pipettes
Song: ABC
Album: We Are The Pipettes (2006)

If I were to compile a list of my favourite artists I'm sure the Ronettes would show up in the top ten. Though I have indie tastes I'm clearly a fan of pop music. A weird term that has certainly taken on a negative connotation since rock and pop supposedly went their separate ways. When I say pop you probably conjure up American Idol visions, which is okay, even if it is false. The Beatles, Beach Boys, Oasis, Wilco, White Stripes, they all play pop music. It can also be called rock and roll. Hell, it could be described a million ways, but at its base, its all pop music. I know folks who won't listen to music if it doesn't fit into the parameters they have decided they enjoy. It has gotten to the point where I lie to them in describing the genre the artist supposedly belongs in, just so they will give it a listen. The term "guilty pleasure" was spawned from this kind of thinking. I mean, why be able to simply say you enjoy an artist or type of music without ruining your ego or credibility. I love the Ronettes, in fact I've got a soft spot for a lot of those sixties girl groups. The Pipettes are a throwback to that era. They reference Andy Partridge among others, all with a wink, which hooks some of the indie kids. I'm hooked 'cause they're fun. No pretensions. Just rock and roll music with a shake.

Artist: Belle & Sebastian
Song: The Blues are Still Blue
Album: The Life Pursuit (2006)

Not a huge B & S fan. I'll pull out an album every couple months and then put it back halfway through. Their latest is full of great singles. Sometimes that's all you really want anyways.

Artist: Shotgun & Jaybird
Song: Marquee Glass
Album: There Are Days and Then There Are Days (2006)

Shot and Jay also released a full-length later in the year. Bound to get Pavement comparisons
every now and again. The two piece, comprised of Shotgun Jimmie and Dick Morello, with JulieDoiron on guesting vocals, here, craft lo-fi music that sounds like even you could have made in your bedroom. Here's the thing, you can't. As our mother repeatedly told us growing up (and which we'll pass on to you), "you're worthless. I don't even know why I had you."

Artist: The Bicycles
Song: Gotta Get Out
Album: The Good, The Bad, and The Cuddly (2006)

Terrible album name, though apt. The Bicycles are cuddly. And cute too. They wear matching "B" shirts on stage. They write carefree songs that make you go "weeeeee." I'd go have a popsicle now if I didn't have that weird phobia of popsicle sticks. Too saccharine? You decide.

2007-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

Year End Review Part 2

Artist: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Song: Honey Child What Can I Do
Album: Ballad of the Broken Seas (2006)

An unlikely album pairing, ex-Belle and Sebastien vocalist Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees fame. Beauty and the Beast, etc. It works though, especially on this track.

Artist: Lucinda Williams
Song: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
Album: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)

Lucinda's somewhat of a perfectionist. Finally released six years after her last effort, Lucinda switched producers and cities three times before settling on the right recordings and songs. It payed off though, earning her a Grammy award and cementing her position as country music royalty. A girl I had a crush on used to sign my yearbook every year with the song title set up as a mathematical equation. I received the album as a gift this year. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

Artist: Ryan Adams
Song: Look Who's Got A Website & English Girls Approximately

Adams had a pretty good 2005, he released three studio albums to generally favourable response. No one would have held it against him if he took off 2006. Instead, he released a thousand albums (more like 11) on his website. The songs, released under various personas/ alternate personalities? walk a fine line between terribly awful and terribly genius. To my knowledge the songs are still streaming, head on over there to hear for yourself.

Artist: Sam Roberts
Song: The Gate
Album: Chemical City (2006)

Hugely popular in Canada but still relatively unknown in the States, The Sam Roberts Band, as they are known south of the 49th, released their second album this year. Largely unfulfilling though it was, the lead single was as much of a shit kicker as I heard all year.

Artist: Yo La Tengo
Song: Sugarcube

Yo La Tengo released the coolest named album of the year (possibly the longest also), I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. I loved the new album and started warming up to some of their back catalogue. Still, my favourite track by them, all time, still has to be this one.

Artist: Syd Barrett
Song: Bob Dylan Blues

When Syd passed away this year the obits overwhelmingly mourned what could have been. It's not like Pink Floyd really suffered from his departure, hell, some of their best songs post-Syd were inspired by Syd's troubles. I guess it's just a shame he couldn't be along for the ride. I'd recommend checking out his solo material, especially if you're not a big fan of the Pink Floyd sound, which I am not. That's where this tribute to Bob Dylan comes from.

Artist: White Denim
Song: shakeshakeshake

Both the band and song sum up the kind of bands and songs you're gonna encounter in the blogosphere. Generally like fast food, that is, immediately appetizing but over time immensely unfulfilling. Still...yummy.

Artist: Dolly Parton
Song: Travellin' Thru

I'm not sure how Dolly feels about this song losing to It's Hard out Here for a Pimp for best song at the 2006 Academy Awards. I'm sure that Dolly would have a sense of humour about it. She'd even probably do that cute little giggle if asked to comment on it. Dolly wrote it for Transamerica, starring Felicity Huffman.

Artist: Be Your Own Pet
Song: Bunk Trunk Skunk
Album: Self-Titled (2006)

The full-length debut from teenage buzz band BYOP. Hard, fast, edgy, angsty, and other adjectives. Punk music by teens for everyone. Instantly charming with lyrics like, "I'm wicked rad and I'm here/To steal away your virginity."

Artist: M. Ward
Album: Post War (2006)
Songs: Magic Trick & Chinese Translation

Two great songs off an incredible album. Old time sounds, but incredibly contemporary. Ward's past records have often been steeped in a heartbreaking melancholy. On this effort though, a refreshing optimism shines through. If I were to pick a favourite for the year this would be it.

2007-01-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Year End Review Part 1

Artist: Wilco
Song: I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Album: Being There (1996)

And

Song: Kicking Television
Album: Kicking Television (2005)
Although the band didn't release a studio proper in '06, they were very much on the scene. A succesful canadian tour, a solo Tweedy DVD, and the promise of a new album in '07. The year also marked my transformation from Wilco interested to super Wilco fan. For my money, Jeff Tweedy is the most important contemporary songwriter of our times. There are very few on the same level as he.

Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: 30th Anniversary Celebration
Song: My Back Pages
This is a great live song from "Bobfest." I watched the concert film earlier in the year and really got stuck on this song. Featuring Tom Petty, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Roger McGuinn, and Bobby, the song takes its cue from the faster tempoed Byrds version. Each artist takes a verse, with Bob seemingly content to strum along in the background. When Dylan rambles up to the mike, the crowd loses their shit. A real thing of beauty.

Artist: The Replacements
Song: Androgynous
Album: Let It Be (1984)
I would never have considered myself a 'Mats fan. I picked up Tim a few years back real cheap from a Best Buy. Wholly impressed, I relegated the band to the back of my mind. Sometimes fate intervenes to give you a second chance, in this case, in the form of a bargain bin find I couldn't resist. I put Let It Be on and had one of those experiences you can only have the one time. That first listen to an album and almost instantly you just feel it's perfect. It's not flawless, but perfect in its own right. My favourite song would have to be this one. It slows the album down for a moment and to my knowledge the best song about cross dressing love. Also, the only song I know about cross dressing love.

Artist: Rogue Wave
Song: Eyes
This song, featured on the Just Friends soundtrack, is in the spirit of Dylan's You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. A man misses a failed relationship. He accepts this fact as a positive, but still misses these things about his lady. "I'm washing my hands of attachements/I will land on the ground/But one thing I'm missing is in your eyes". Definitely bittersweet. Rogue Wave had a tough year with drummer Pat Sturgeon requiring a costly kidney transplant. The band rallied with a benefit concert in September to raise funds. If you go to their site you can make a donation. You can also make sure you give serious thought to signing your donor card.

Artist: Munk feat. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem
Song: Kick Out The Chairs
A remix by Munk of the original by Danish band WhomadeWho. This track is old school funk meets the dance electro we got accustomed to on Murphy's 2005 eponymous debut. While 2007 will bring the follow up, Sounds of Silver, the past year we were placated by this and Murphy's 45:33, a workout music collaboration with Nike. If working out to James Murphy (or working out in general) isn't your thing, then '07 shall be right up your alley. Kick out them chairs muthafucka.

Artist: Paul Simon
Song: Paranoia Blues
Album: Paul Simon
Sitting in a practically empty club in April and watching my favourite Deadly Snake, Andre Ethier, quietly paint the walls with quiet folk pop and earnest love (is there any other kind?) Andre plays a cover of this Paul Simon tune, which through his eyes is a lot more paranoid.
Crazy, eh? Four months later the Deadly Snakes break up and lovers of soulful rock and roll shed a quiet tear. But not before the Snakes send themselves off with one last legendary performance. Get yourself acquainted.

Artist: Desmond Dekker
Song: Israelites
Reasons you should love Desmond Dekker : He was the self-apointed King of Ska. Israelites was the first reggae song to go #1 in the Uk charts in 1968. He had an album named Black & Dekker. The original Rude Boy was the most prominent Jamaican artist prior to Bob Marley; laying the groundwork for future artists. Sadly, he passed away on May 25th at the age 0f 64.

Artist: The Decemberists
Song: 16 Military Wives
Album: Picaresque (2005)
A lot of Decemberists fans waited with bated breath for the band's major label debut in 2006. Thankfully, The Crane Wife , lived up to expectations and then some. It showed up in and around the top on many a year-end list. They also had an epic battle for rock supremacy with Stephen Colbert. This was the song that drew me off the fence and into the Decemberists camp. Check out the video for the song. Scathing and hilarious.

Artist: Fox Jaws
Song: Karmonica
Album: untitled '07 release
Fox Jaws are a Barrie-based band I'm expecting big things from in the future. A proper writeup soon. For now, just listen. Is that a harmonica you hear? No sir, sonny boy, that's a karmonica. Groovy

Artist: Devandra Banhart
Song: Fistful of Love
Off the covers record that accompanied the 2005 Music/Summer issue of Believer magazine. Devandra takes on the Antony and the Johnsons original. My roomate played this for me a while back and I didn't think much of it. To be fair, I only listened to a snippet and i wasn't really in the mood to listen anyways. Fast forward a year or two and I'm enjoying the quiet peace of 3am. I toss this on and bang, the planets align or something. Proper amounts of pain and anguish, longing and yelps. Completely destroys the original.

Artist: Apostle of Hustle
Song: My Sword Hand's Anger
The first track from the upcoming National Anthem of Nowhere. I felt that 2004's Folkloric Feel was a pretty uneven affair. If they restrain the tendency to noodle off and choke back those songs we could have something worthwile here. I really love this track right now, which makes me super excited for the release. They've got a month long weekly residency at the Rivoli starting January 24th. Might be time to take a trip.

Artist: Viva Voce
Song: From the Devil Himself
Album: Get Yr Blood Sucked Out (2006)
I profiled Pat & Anita Robinson earlier in the year. Incredibly tight, especially considering it's a two-piece. Double driving attack but not afraid to show their melodic side. One of my favourite records of the year. In a thin year for new discoveries for me, Viva Voce really stood out.

Artist: The Be Good Tanyas
Song: For The Turnstiles
Album: Hello Love (2006)
The Tanyas turn out another excellent roots record. Bound to be overlooked (and it was) as arguments of too many covers, not enough originals, reign. If every country music star listened to this record we'd have a unprecedented string of artists blowing their brains out. This is real country music and few have the talent the Tanyas do. Here they cover a Neil Young song off '74's On The Beach. They don't match Neil Young's mournful mood, which might be a good thing anyway. Leave it to the master. Faithful, yet fresh.

2007-01-08T12:05:00.000-05:00

2007 is a week old and the air of optimism is still strong. And while we use the start of the new year to look ahead, this is also the time for reflection. How can you look to correct your faults without identifying where you erred in the first place? How can you look to new and bigger success without building on your previous triumphs, however small you imagine them to be?

So while I look forward to a new year of blogging, I think it would be a serious error not to acknowledge the past one. I spent a good deal of December reading numerous best of the year type lists. While the individual position's may have altered from list to list, for the most part there seemed to be some consensus choices. I don't really wish to add my own picks in this way. Overkill and all that. Reading another list of some one's favourite artists/albums/songs of the year is unnecessary at this point. I wanted to do something a bit different and fresh, so I decided upon this. Over the next week I will be sharing some of my favourite music of the year. While it will be a review of sorts of 2006, by no means are the artists and songs limited to the past year. Instead I'll be sharing music that simply entered into my life sometime within the last year.

One of my greatest pleasures in life is discovering a new song by an artist. It could be a track buried somewhere in a popular artist's catalogue that I had never cared to explore. It could be a great tune from a new artist with a bright future or the intelligent work of a legend remaining ever so relevant. It could be a song you may have heard before and never paid attention to, maybe you wrote it off completely, then suddenly that one time, the song hits you like a gunshot and a wave of realization rolls over you.

The best songs of the year don't have to be limited to the ones that came out that year. The best songs of the year are the ones that made their way to you in that time. Lists, however critical they claim to be, are truly subjective. Lest we forget that as I take you through my own. At this point I plan to share in the neighbourhood of 50 + songs with you. A bit long-winded I'm sure, but honestly, you should have seen my original plan for this. I'll post the first batch Monday evening, and go from there every day this week. Stay tuned.

2006-12-22T02:38:00.000-05:00

Hey folks, I'm going on break until after the new year. Hope your holidays are great. Thanks for reading and see you in 2007.

Our final song of the year comes via my favourite animated chipmunks. Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Don't be Late - The Chipmunks Feat. Dave

I Got Them Higher Calling Blues

2006-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Thursday marks a new installment in the blog that will become a regular weekly occurrence. Tune in every Thursday for "Give me Religion...Thursdays." I was going to wait until the new year to start this one but decided to get the jump on things.

The format will be pretty open. Every Thursday we'll post and talk about song(s) that concern themselves with God, religion, Jesus, redemption, etc. This will be open to interpretation obviously, but will definitely include everything from gospel and beyond; serious and not so.
These topics have been explored within their art by many a great (and not so great) songwriter. These songs carry a great weight, not just for the artist himself, but for the listener, who works out their own thoughts alongside the artist. They can be uplifting like many a gospel track, or intensely introspective, as often the search for meaning is.

So check back every Thursday as we walk through the valley. By no means are we an expert in this vein. Have a favourite song that falls somewhere in the category? By all means let me know and we'll try and get a hold of it.

The inaugural song is the old hymn Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling. Written by Will Thompson, a songwriter and businessman from Chicago in 1880. The song is surely a comforting message to those facing death with the refrain of "ye who are weary come home." It acts to dispel the fear that your sins on earth will bar you entrance into heaven. It portrays Jesus as a benevolent and ultimately forgiving God.

I've included a few versions for you. The first is from Johnny Cash. Recorded during the famed Million Dollar Quartet sessions, Elvis Aaron Presly chimes in to give this a loose, boozy vibe.
Softly and Tenderly - Johnny Cash w/Elvis Presley

The next two are pretty straightforward modern gospel takes on the song. One version by Amy Grant and the next by Randy Travis. Like many attempts to modernize some of these hymns, the end result is a bland and homogenized version that fails to break any new ground. That is arguably the case here. My dad really likes both artists so I thought I'd include them for his sake.
Amy Grant - Softly and Tenderly
Randy Travis - Softly and Tenderly

The last version is by Robert Sean Leonard. It is included on the Jeff Tweedy composed soundtrack to the 2001 Ethan Hawke directed film, Chelsea Walls. He also contributes a cover of Wilco's "The Lonely 1." The album is a great moody little thing. Mainly Tweedy instrumentals, it is easily worth it for this haunting and sparse performance by Leonard. It's good to know if that whole acting thing doesn't work out for him he's got a fallback.

Robert Sean Leonard - Softly and Tenderly (new mp3 sendspace link)

Jenn Grant

2006-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Based on the recommendation of Frank over at chromewaves and looking for something to do I headed down to the Alex P. Keaton on Friday night to check out Jenn Grant. Jenn's been a busy girl, what with wrapping things up at art school and readying her full-length album Orchestra For The Moon for an early '07 release.

The Alex P. can be a hard venue to tackle. If not for the beer selection it would easily pass for a nice quaint cafe. Short on space, the bands are set up right near the main thruway. With the bar in the back corner and the place packed it's not unusual to be playing to a lot of turned backs. More than a few artists have been rattled by this. Thankfully, Ms. Grant perservered and treated a humble but appreciative audience to selections from her upcoming debut.

Bound to garner comparisons to fellow Canadian songwriter's Feist and Sarah Harmer, (probably lazy and more to do with the easy on the eyes appeal shared by all three, although kinda apt) Jenn is just as at home banging out rollicking pop tunes that recall your favourite Beach Boys record as she is letting you into her world with a slice of earnest quiet.

She's wrapped up her dates in Ontario and has headed back east. With the new album slated to come out sometime in the early spring I imagine she might be popping back to the province sooner rather than later. You can keep on top of that over at Endearing Records or at her myspace. She's streaming a couple selections from the upcoming album there so it's worth a visit, or better yet go here and purchase those same songs as a cd single for under three bucks.

If that gets you salivating and the prospect of having to wait till the spring before Jenn can bless those earbuds of yours then why not head over to maple music and pick up her 2005 Ep. You can hear a few cuts from that effort over at radio3 on the CBC. For under $15 you can own the collected commercial output of solo Jenn Grant. Thats much less than you are planning to spend on your irritating step-brother. While nameless step-brother will probably end up hocking your gift to buy drugs and fuel his continuing downward spiral, Jenn will probably use that money to continue making music for your listening pleasure.

I'll leave you with Dreamer. If I'm to be taken as a litmus test you will soon be sing songing this one all day in your head. You may also spontaneously burst into awkward and embarassing flighty dance moves. These are all good things.

Jenn Grant - Dreamer (Mp3)

2006-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

So Friday was a relatively big day in the music universe. The newest Arcade Fire track was brought into our lives. Zane Lowe premiered it on his radio show on the BBC. Shortly thereafter it was on the tips of tongues and in the ears of many. The song is called Intervention and is presumably the first single off their new album Neon Bible, which is slated for a March release. The song is a reworked version of a tune they played sparingly live during their Funeral days. The new song sounds much bigger, thanks in part to the haunting church organs which float throughout the track. Also, lyrically the song has changed extensively. While it contains various lines from the original, as well as the chorus, it has been fleshed out and obviously reworked a fair bit.

The earlier version I'm referring to is from a performance the Arcade Fire did for Nic Harcourt's excellent Morning Become Eclectic show on KCRW in Los Angeles back in January of 2005. I've meant to post about Morning Becomes Eclectic before but never got around to it. Nic's show runs daily during the week from 9-12 noon. Bands traveling through the LA area stop in and do an in-studio session for Nic. They play a few songs and chat with Nic; devoting the last 30-40 minutes of his show to them. Many a great artist, established and otherwise have played for Nic. If you go to the site I've hyperlinked above you can check out all of the artists that have been by. Get into the archives and waste away your day. Audio and video for 95% of the shows. You can check out the whole Arcade Fire session referred to here. Intervention comes in around the 25 minute mark. A couple of our favourite sessions: The White Stripes circa Get Behind Me Satan, Beck during the Guero era, and Leslie Feist playing some songs off of Let It Die.

Arcade Fire - Intervention (from Morning Becomes Eclectic) Mp3

Arcade Fire - Intervention (off Neon Bible, radio rip good quality) Mp3

What are your thoughts. Does it live up to the hype? Do you even care? Disappointed, excited, wetting your pants? What other 2007 releases have been marked on your calendar. Here at Country Pinball we're pretty predictable: Modest Mouse with Johnny Marr no less, The Shins (whether or not it changes our life), new LCD Soundsystem... 'cause we're losing our edge and all that.

2006-12-13T00:04:00.000-05:00

I came across the music of Thao Nguyen this summer and as so often happens, fell in love. And as so often happens thereafter, the sheen wore off and our love was relegated to a folder somewhere in the depths of my PC. Lately I've been coming back to say hello often. I apologized for not calling, you know how hard it is to maintain the intensity of the beginning of the relationship. Now she and I enjoy a reasonable co-existence. I don't take her for granted and she fills my ears with cute pop songs, irresitible harmonies, and the feeling i've been taking one of those thinking walks in the park in the fall.

She released the full-length, Like The Linen, earlier this year. 10 songs about fucking up, finding love, and hoping love doesn't fuck you up. Originally from Virginia, Thao's been spending some time in Seattle with her backing band, The Get Down Stay Down. Hanging out, taking in WNBA games, and recording her followup for the kill rock stars label. She contributed the song "Feet Asleep" to the KRS compilation disc The Sound the Hare Heard which you can purchase here.

Fingers crossed, 2007, will bring us some more Thao. In the meantime, check out her myspace for some new(ish) tracks. She also did a session with Daytrotter which is worth stopping by to hear. As always, support if you dig. Stop on over to insound or Cd Baby to purchase Like The Linen.

Moped Mp3 from Like The Linen
Feet Asleep Mp3

2006-12-11T00:15:00.000-05:00

Monday Brings The News

The RIAA wants to lower artist royalties.

The Arcade Fire announce some shows in the new year. New record comes out Spring 2007. What's it gonna be: backlash or more adulation. Stay tuned flippant public.

Ultra rare Velvet Underground demo originally bought for $.75 sells on Ebay for $155,000. But not really, stupid anonymous screen names.

In other news the flu is totally kicking my ass. That explains the lazy post. No music either.

2006-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Constantines Broadcasting Corporation.

I intended to post some Constantines b-sides/covers, etc. on Monday, however, I went home to visit my folks sans computer. I'm hoping to make this a quick one as I managed to pick up the flu while away.

First things first, the Cons show was great as usual. They previewed a few new tracks and if anything is to be gleamed from them expect the new record to be a return to their hardcore vibe while maintaining the poppier side that their last album contained. It sounds hard and it sounds good. Neile's life was there too and has a few photo's for you if that is your thing (scroll down just a little bit to see them).

Everyone loves a good cover. The Constantines are no exception. The covers they've tackled on record and live tend to stay pretty true to the original. Definitely not as adventurous as other bands who try to re-imagine the original, but then you won't find yourself thinking "what a fucking shitty cover" either.

The first song finds the Cons covering Elevator To Hell's (Elevator, Elevator Through) Why I Didn't Like August '93. Elevator to Hell was the solo project of Eric's Trip 's Rick White, post Eric breakup. Julie Doiron was in Eric's Trip with Rick. Now Julie plays in Shotgun & Jaybird. Shotgun & Jaybird opened for the Constantines last week. When The Cons encored with this song Julie joined them onstage. I though that was a nice touchl. Go here for a short little bio on Elevator to Hell (and in comic form no less).

Constantines - Why I Didn't Like August '93

Elevator to Hell - Why I Didn't Like August '93 (original)

The next is Raw Youth by Royal City. Royal City were on Three Gut Records, as were The Constantines. Although Royal City are no longer, RC's Jim Guthrie still does shows with the Cons every now and again. Jim contributed his own version of The Constantines' Nighttime/Anytime (it's alright) to Believer Magazine's covers record in their summer 2005 issue. This is also where the Cons Elevator to Hell cover was featured. Jim really takes the song to a new place.

Constantines - Raw Youth

Royal City - Raw Youth (original)

and

Jim Guthrie - Nighttime/Anytime (it's alright)

Constantines - Nighttime/Anytime (it's alright) (original)

One of my favourite songs in general is Thank You For Sending Me An Angel by the Talking Heads. The Cons covered it as the flipside to their Nighttime/Anytime single. Once again they don't stray too far from the original, but damn if it ain't beautiful nonetheless.

Constantines - Thank You For Sending Me An Angel

Talking Heads - Thank You For Sending Me An Angel (original)

As mentioned in the previous post, the band went and did a split with The Unintended where each band covered four songs by their favourite artist. The Cons chose Neil Young. Here's their take on Fuckin' Up off of Neil's excellent Ragged Glory (1990).

Constantines - Fuckin' Up

Neil Young - Fuckin' Up (original)

The last track is a live cover of The Ramones' Teenage Lobotomy courtesy of "the Ramonestantines." The quality is not the greatest so I apologize ahead of time. Still passable though and worth a listen.

Constantines - Teenage Lobotomy

The Ramones - Teenage Lobotomy (original)

That's it for today. 12 tracks or so; I suppose I over compensated for taking the majority of the week off. It hasn't stopped snowing since yesterday. It is just about up to my hips in some parts. I'm gonna go take a walk in that great big winter wonderland. See you Monday.

2006-12-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone has two favourite bands/artists. The first is their all-time favourite. It can be contemporary, such as arguably the world's biggest Coldplay, or else it tends to be some universally recognized band of extreme awesomeness, say, The Beatles or Bob Dylan. The second tends to be a (relatively) local band. They play one of your favourite haunts regularly enough that you get your dose often. You might pass them in the street on your way to work atleast once a week. They put out excellent records and kill live. Your connection with them is pretty deep due to their immediacy to you. You see them grow and develop and hopefully see them achieve the level of success that you feel their talent accords.

If I were asked band # 1 I'm sure I'd emphatically state Dylan. Band #2, equally emphatic, would be The Constantines. The Cons include Bry Webb(vocals), Steve Lambke(guitar), Dallas Wehrle(bass), Wil Kidman(keyboard), and Doug Macgregor(drums). They found each other in the hardcore scene of London/Kitchener-Waterloo/Guelph. Part of the Three Gut Records clan, they inevitably settled in Toronto. Under their belt are three albums of intensely high calibre, '01's self-titled, '03's Shine A Light, and '05's Tournament of Hearts. From the beginning to now, they've graduated from their Fugazi reminiscent beginnings to a more emblematic Neil Young.

They are still plagued with the "Springsteen meets Fugazi" comparisons. Their latest album drew the Neil comparisons which I think is apt(kinda). Both have lyrics that are incredibly poetic. Both are at home reaching deep within themslelves to come up with a song that hits at the heart. Both can also knock out vicious rockers that break in the front door of your mouth and leave you gasping. It is no surprise that the Cons started a Neil Young cover band a few years back called Horsey Craze. They even released a split record with the indie rock "supergroup" The Unintended (Travis and Dallas Good of the Sadies, Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo, and Rick White of Eric's Trip and later, Elevator) . The Constantines/Horsey craze contributed four Neil Young covers with the Unintended doing four Gordon Lightfoot songs. Music critics (and bloggers) are lazy. The Neil Young (and Fugazi and Bruce Springsteen before this) references are easy ones. While they may share the same bolt of cloth, the Cons are very much their own band. At war with the heart, they are brilliantly sincere. "Dont talk to me about simple things," Webb sings, "there are no such things."

The Constantines play tonight at Call the Office. The rest of their dates are as follows:

December 1 - Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON w/ Shotgun and Jaybird & Lullabye Arkestra
December 2 - Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON Canada Care benefit w/ Jason Collett
December 2 - Underground, Hamilton, ON w/ Shotgun and Jaybird & Lullabye Arkestra
December 8 - Townehouse Tavern, Sudbury, ON w/ The Creeping Nobodies
December 9 - Ford Plant, Brantford, ON w/ The Creeping Nobodies
January 29 - Memorial Centre, Peterborough, ON support for the Tragically Hip
January 31 - General Motors, Oshawa, On support for the Tragically Hip
Febuary 2 - Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, ON support for the Tragically Hip

I love you all with a big heart...

From self-titled
Saint You
Young Offenders

From Shine A Light
Tank Commander (hung up in a warehouse town)
Sub-domestic

From Tournament of Hearts
Draw Us Lines
Good Nurse

2006-11-29T00:30:00.000-05:00

As December rapidly approaches I've been mulling over the idea of doing a list. You know the kind. One of those best albums of '06 or best songs of the year. Why should I mull you wonder? The thing is everybody and their mother does a list. I'm not entirely sure that I could bring anything new to the table, thus, I will probably abstain. If lists are your thing though, just pick up any magazine's December or January issue or check any blogsite around the same time and you're sure to be placated.

Off the top of my head If I were to offer my favourite albums of the year I'm sure Regina Spektor's Begin To Hope would be there. Released this past summer, most notable is the maturation from 2004's Soviet Kitsch. While her previous efforts fell in line with the quirky stylings of anti-folk, Begin To Hope contains a more polished Spektor. As the title hints, we also see a more optimistic side of her songwriting.

I first came across Ms. Spektor when The Strokes took her along for their Room on Fire tour in 2003. Although complications prevented her from performing that night, she was soon on the tips of many a music fans tongue. She also traded vocals with head stroke Julian Casablancas on the b-side of the "Reptilia" single, "Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men."

Since then it's been an upward trajectory. Trained classically at piano, you find yourself falling in love with the awkward chamber pop of her earlier albums, or the heir to the piano poet crown of her latest. Sincerity is what keeps you around and listening.

Regina Spektor & Julian Casablancas - Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men

Regina Spektor - Poor Little Rich Boy (From Soviet Kitsch)
Regina Spektor - Us (Ibid)

Regina Spektor - Fidelity (from Begin To Hope)
Regina Spektor - Apres Moi (Ibid)

Update: Over at The Late Greats Regina is getting some love. Lots of links to some great live Spektor sessions so check it out. I am also in love with this video. It really accents the song and brings it on home. See it here, fall in love.