ALL EARS

15 MORE COMMANDING COVER SONGS

2012-02-24T13:43:00.001-05:00

Since my first post on duplicated ditties proved to be so popular, here are 15 additional interpreted archetypes. Most of the replicants on this list are reletively new; from caustic electro-clasher Peaches covering Scots Franz Ferdinand to Karen O and Trent Reznor playing around with heavy metals from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake. Take cover and check out part 1 here.

Turn It On

Peaches
Originally recorded by Franz Ferdinand

Heartbeat

Detroit Cobras
Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly

Sheezer
Weezer

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

Garbage
U2

Territorial Pissings

Surfer Blood
Nirvana

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Dum Dum Girls
The Smiths

Pacer

The Muffs
The Amps

If You Leave

Nada Surf
Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark

Immigrant Song

Trent Reznor & Karen O
Led Zeppelin

Calm Down

Sahara Hotnights
Birdy

Skinny Love

Birdy
Bon Iver

Handle With Care

Jenny Lewis w/ the Watson Twins, Ben Gibbard, M. Ward & Connor Oberst
The Travelling Wilburys

Bloodbuzz Ohio

Oh Land
The National

Velvet

Lykke Li
The Big Pink

Hallelujah

kd lang
Leonard Cohen

5 ANTICIPATED ALBUMS

2012-02-02T17:09:00.007-05:00

Future This

The Big Pink
released Jan 16

English electro-rock duo The Big Pink recently released their sophomore effort Future This, following up the indie success of their 2009 debut A Brief History of Love. While I question the selection of the title track (Future This isn't the most engaging song on this album and sounds like it could easily be a b-side from their last disc) the album as a whole is innovative and intriguing. Filled with lofty lyrics, meddlesome guitar noise and subdued synths, Milo Cordell and Robbie Furze deliver an LP that shows the duo has outgrown the drone kings label and risen to queen bee status in the hive of experimental rock.

Stay Gold

Hit The Ground (Superman)

Paralytic Stalks

of Montreal
Feb 7

Aside from being the second biggest band from Athens, Georgia, of Montreal are known for their neo-psychedelic, theatrical music. of Montreal have always been a schizophrenic band and the music on Paralytic Stalks explores reconfigured elements of classical music while the lyrics are flush with self loathing and religious overtones.
"On some level, it's thinking about spiritual crisis, crying out for guidance and not hearing a voice in return, or hearing a nefarious voice," of Montreal founder Kevin Barnes told Spin last month about the marvelously uneven track We Will Commit Wolf Murder (listen below.)

We Will Commit Wolf Murder

Go Fly A Kite

Ben Kweller
Feb 12

It's been nearly a decade since Kweller's biggest hit, Wasted and Ready, and since then Kweller has branched out to country music, married, had a child and created a popular web music series One Minute Pop Song. An accomplished guitarist from an early age, Kweller has said Go Fly A Kite's release date was delayed not only because of label issues but also because he wanted the album to be "just right." He's also stated the new album is eclectic, energetic and touches on darker topics than he has explored in the past. You can listen to Go Fly A Kite in its entirety courtesy of Rolling Stone here.

Mean To Me

Reign of Terror

Sleigh Bells
Feb 21

Back with their second full length LP after the blusterous and booming collection that was 2010's Treats, Sleigh Bells' Reign of Terror is like a piece of tarnished silver. It's shiny and stunning but it doesn't need any polish- they are a noise band after all. The band's press release promoting Reign of Terror states the album is "the sonic equivalent of a beautiful shotgun to the head," and that's not far from the truth. The first single Born To Lose and the second release Comeback Kid (below) demonstrate that Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss will continue to deliver dark electric rock music that stings like shrapnel and challenges the present day idea of popular music.

Comeback Kid

Port of Morrow

The Shins
Mar 20

The first new release from New Mexico's The Shins in five years, Port of Morrow promises to be just what I had hoped for; another solid collection of classic guitar rock. Their last album, Wincing The Night Away, proved to be the largest success The Shins had ever had (and it was the biggest hit for Sub Pop as well) so the five year break was to be expected as expectations are ridiculously high. Now that they've left that label and replaced many of their members, Port of Morrow may have a different taste but judging from the first single (Simple Song, listen below) the ingredients are the same. A dash of indie pop and a pinch of punk makes Port of Morrow a potent rock recipe.

Simple Song

SANTIGOLD'S BIG MOUTH

2012-01-18T13:09:00.003-05:00

Santigold (formerly Santogold) have released the first single off of their anticipated sophomore album Master Of My Make Believe due out this spring. The Philadelphia duo of Santi White and John Hill became known for melding grime, rock and electronic sounds with tracks like Lights Out and Say Aha on their self-titled 2008 debut. This new offering, Big Mouth, is a high energy cut with tribal techno influences. Watch the peculiar partially animated video below. You can download Big Mouth for free by entering your email or cell number on Santigold's official site.

WOODPIGEON'S FOR PAOLO

2012-01-16T15:46:00.003-05:00

Woodpigeon's new EP is more of what we've come to expect from Mark Hamilton and company; masterfully composed rock music that is as pristine and soft as freshly harvested cotton.

Following up 2010's Die Stadt Muzikanten and my personal favourite 2008's Treasury Library Canada, this six track collection would be a great introduction to the Calgary ensemble for those who have yet to take flight with Woodpigeon.

The track Are You There God? It's Me Mark is an indelible song. An ambivalent arrangement, it's lush with softly psychotic strings and heavenly harmonizing set against harsh guitar feedback. One To Many is also memorable with it's echoing guitar riff. Hamilton's delicate voice is frequently the star on For Paolo and it's easy to see why Woodpigeon are quickly ascending the ladder of Canadian indie cred. For Paolo has left me wanting more and I'm looking forward to hearing Woodpigeon's next full length release.

For Paolo

Below is my interview with Hamilton from 2010. This article originally appeared on soundproofmagazine.com.

In addition a condensed version was published in 24 Hours Calgary.

German speakers be damned—Mark Hamilton has purposely misspelled the title of Woodpigeon's new album, because he finds his spelling more visually pleasing.

Die Stadt Muzikanten, their third album—after 2006's Songbook and 2008's self-released Treasury Library Canada—dropped earlier this year and lead singer and guitarist Hamilton says he has always had a fondness for the written word.

"I get hung up on words a lot," Hamilton explains. "I love the way that words look. Someone once asked me why I would call a band Woodpigeon. To me it's beautiful to write down."

The songs found on Treasury Library Canada are also nothing less than beautiful. Hamilton says he chose to self-release the album because he'd grown tired of dealing with record labels.

"We were without a label, and I'd had it with labels," he explains. "I wanted to try doing something entirely on my own and we got signed up pretty fast for our first record so we never had the experience of self-releasing something. I think that's really important."

Reluctant to call Woodpigeon a band, Hamilton says he views it as more of a collective with over 50 members contributing since inception. Current band members include Michael Gratton, Annalea Sordi, Daren Powell, Peter Moersch, Foon Yap and AJ Benoit.

Another band member, Kenna Burima, annually organizes the Midway festival, adjacent to Calgary's High Performance Rodeo. A cross-format event, the festival features live music as well as visual art. Last year Woodpigeon attempted to perform Björk songs exclusively.

"We decided we would do Björk's Vespertine, then realized how frickin' hard that album is," Hamilton laughs. "So we just made a selection of Björk songs where she plays more than one chord. That was probably the most challenging thing we've ever done."

Getting noticed by high-profile bands, however, wasn't as much of a challenge. Woodpigeon has gone on tour supporting Grizzly Bear, Calexico and Broken Social Scene.

"The phone would ring and it was Grizzly Bear or Broken Social Scene. The first couple of times I kind of thought it was a joke, then a few weeks later we were playing a big theatre with them. It's really cool when people you like take notice. Like Calexico for example, they are the favourite band of three members of Woodpigeon."

As for the future, Hamilton admits that many Woodpigeon members have begun taking flight in their own right and he couldn't be more pleased for them.

"We are kind of in the phase where everybody in the band is taking on different projects. We are all growing up and everybody is spreading their wings a little bit. Woodpigeon is what we all collectively come back to and we also go out to pasture a bit more than we used to and that's really exciting and cool. I'm happy to be in the audience to see my friends that I play music with do their own thing."

MY FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF '11

2012-01-13T11:07:00.005-05:00

2011 was a good year for music; keyword being good. There were a lot of good albums last year but I struggled to choose great albums to include on this list. These eight collections are albums I know I will be listening to for years to come. Additional good albums with questionable staying power have been included as honourable mentions.

Cults

Cults

New Yorkers Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion have elaborated on the under the radar popularity of their debut EP with this self-titled full length release. Cults is pretty pop music punctuated with the right amount of punk imperfection on tracks like Abducted (below), creating an album that manages to be modern while throwing back to the sweet sounds of the '60s. Other tracks like Go Outside, You Know What I Mean and Walk At Night are strictly pop and just might usher the use of keyboards and xylophones back into indie fashion.

Abducted

What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

The Vaccines

I didn't know what to expect from The Vaccines and it was very surprising to learn that this is the English band's debut. It may be their first album but this Justin Young-fronted quartet already sound like well rounded veterans. The Vaccines have drawn comparisons to The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Ramones but I'd say they are more accurately described as a more industrious incarnation of Interpol. The Vaccines themselves say they are inspired by "'50s rock 'n' roll, '60s garage, girl groups, '70s punk, '80s American hardcore, C86 [a compilation released by UK music mag NME] and good pop music." Just like most good pop music, the majority of their debut effort is incredibly catchy. From the short and striking If You Wanna to the melodic Blow It Up, The Vaccines haven't exactly reinvented rock but they've interpreted it with such clarity that it will inevitably catch on.

Post Break Up Sex

The Hot Sauce Committee Part 2

Beastie Boys

It's bewildering to me that The Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 isn't on more critics' best of 2011 lists. Less serious than To The 5 Boroughs and more entertaining than Hello Nasty, this album is some of the most fun the trio has had in decades. Whether they're challenging Santigold (Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win), telling off their wives (OK), encouraging fellow artists (Say It) or rapping along side Nas (Too Many Rappers) The Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 is a sample heavy, smile inducing LP.

Make Some Noise

Wild Flag

Wild Flag

I did not enjoy Wild Flag at first listen. Maybe it's because as two Wild Flag members are Sleater-Kinney vets I was expecting something else or because Carrie Brownstein's voice is a very acquired taste. Subsequent listens later, I can't deny that Wild Flag's hooks are rock perfection and Brownstein and Mary Timony's guitar work is some of the best fingering my ears have had all year. Making Wild Flag easily the best guitar record of 2011.
Wild Flag isn't dissimilar from the Sleater-Kinney sound but the absence of Corin Tucker is immediately obvious. What's missing is the softer pop edge Tucker provided. In its place Brownstein, Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss, former Helium member Timony and The Minders' Rebbecca Cole deliver neoteric, psychedelic, keyboard infused rock. Standout tracks include Future Crimes, Boom, Glass Tambourine, and Something Came Over Me, which has Timony taking to the mic. Look for a not so subtle dig at Arcade Fire in the video for Romance (below.)

Romance

David Comes To Life

Fucked Up

I never thought I'd adore a hardcore punk record described as a "a rock opera love story between a boy named David and a girl named Veronica." Then I listened to David Comes to Life by Toronto's Fucked Up and found myself engrossed in their nihilistic narrative. If you can appreciate Damian Abraham's scream-o vocals you too will learn to love Fucked Up's symphonic and sometimes sick story. As a bit of serendipity the track Queen of Hearts (below) features guest vocals by another entry on my best of 2011 list, Cults' Madeline Follin.

Queen of Hearts (listen to the album version here.)

The Other Shoe

Sound Kapital

Handsome Furs

Sound Kapital is another record I thought didn't get the attention it deserved last year. Montreal's Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry continue to be inspired by Eastern Europe on their third album but have traded largely guitar based sounds for '80s keyboard kitsch. This amalgamation of the rocky and the retro has become the duo's signature sound. Tracks like Repatriated, What About Us, Damage and Bury Me Standing demonstrate that Handsome Furs are one of the most underrated and inventive Canadian acts creating music today.

No Feelings

El Camino

The Black Keys

Much like Arcade Fire last year, The Black Keys have been rightfully dubbed the "it" band of 2011. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have cited iconic '70s rockers like T. Rex and The Cramps as influences for the music of El Camino. These references are spot on as El Camino is full of glam heavy, glitzy riffs, making for an album that is much catchier and livelier than their last record, the amazing Grammy-winning, Brothers. I challenge any listener not to have hooks from songs like Lonely Boy or Run Right Back imprinted on their brain after an earful of this album.

Dead & Gone

Let England Shake

PJ Harvey

Since I blogged extensively about Ms. Harvey late last year, I'll direct you my post titled 20 Years of PJ Harvey. As I embedded my four favourite tracks off Let England Shake in that post, here's my fifth fav song from PJ's arresting, Mercury Prize-winning album.

In Dark Places

Honourable mentions:

Mirror Traffic, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks

Suck It & See, Arctic Monkeys

Endless Now, Male Bonding

Gloss Drop, Battles

Nine Types of Light, TV On The Radio

More Monsters & Sprites, Skrillex

Undun, The Roots

Kaputt, Destroyer

Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Creep On Creepin' On, Timber Timbre

OSCAR HOSTS

2012-01-10T08:59:00.012-05:00

Unless you've been cavorting with yetis in Mongolia, you have probably heard the underwhelming news. Billy Crystal will host the Oscars for the ninth time on Feb 26.

The big ~~yawn~~ reveal came in the form of a Funny or Die trailer (watch below) co-starring Robin Williams, Megan Fox and Josh Duhamel. The sweeping and overblown mini-movie is indeed engaging and some pundits see the production value as an attempt to reel in younger viewers. However this observation raises a problem. Could there be anyone less hip than Crystal? (more after the trailer.)

Just look at how hip he is, he mentioned texting! Many regard Crystal as a comic genius but I'd wager the majority of those people are of baby boomer age. Crystal's appointment (as mentioned this will be his ninth after hosting from '89 to '92, then again in '96, '97, '99 and '03) is undoubtedly due to last year's generally panned hosting performances by Anne Hathaway and James Franco. Although Franco looked like he blazed with Aaron Sorkin just before the show, I thought Hathaway did an adequate job (with the exception of quipping "This is the young, hip Oscars" after 94 year-old Kirk Douglas' slurred speech.)

If the Academy was looking to appeal to the youth demographic, I think they missed the mark by tapping Crystal. There are several other veterans who, aside from being funnier, have performed exceptionally as the master of ceremonies in the past. I would have preferred another year of Whoopi or giving Ellen a second turn. Let's take a look at former Oscar hosts who have passed away or were passed over this year.

Whoopi Goldberg ('93, '95, '98, '01)

Watch Whoopi's memorable opening monologue at the 71st Academy Awards here.

Bob Hope (11 solo in '40, '41, '43, '60-'62, '65-'68, '78 and 7 with co-hosts in '45, '46, '53, '55, '58, '59, '75)

Watch Jack Lemmon and Arthur Freed surprise Hope with an Oscar gold medal at the 1966 awards here.

Johnny Carson ('78-'81, '83)

Watch the arrivals and Carson's opening monologue at the 1980 Awards here.

Steve Martin ('00, '02, '09 with Alec Baldwin)

Watch Martin and Baldwin's opening monologue at the 2009 Awards here.

Ellen DeGeneres ('06)

Watch part of DeGeneres' opening monologue here.

Jon Stewart ('05, '07)

Stewart watches Lawrence of Arabia on his iPhone

NOT REALLY CHRISTMAS MOVIES

2011-12-22T14:09:00.010-05:00

Tired of listening to that lisping Peanuts kid proselytize or watching a sweeter than sugar little girl crow about angels getting their wings? Then fill your cynical stocking with these five films; Christmas movies that aren't really Christmas movies for the unreformed Grinch in all of us.

Go (1999)

Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr are closeted boyfriends, Sarah Polley is an amateur ecstasy dealer and a pre-Suri Katie Holmes is just some chick sitting in an apartment; all set against the backdrop of the holiday season. Directed by Doug Liman and written by John August, Go is comprised of three interconnected story lines and is definitely an underrated gem of the '90s. Watching Nathan Bexton trip out or Wolf and Mohr discuss the head they received should make anyone feel all warm and happy inside. Look for bridesmaid Melissa McCarthy as a ditsy roommate. Polley said she only took the role of Ronna because she adored the cutting dialogue in the opening scene (watch below.)

Go part 1

P2 (2007)

If horror is what you're seeking this holiday, look no further than this fright fest from the trio that brought us the The Hills Have Eyes remake. Set in a parking garage on Xmas Eve, P2 stars Criminal Minds' Rachel Nichols as a business woman being pursued by an obsessive psychopath (Wes Bently, who builds on the creepy vibe he first embodied in American Beauty.) P2 was met with generally negative reviews, however it filled Roger Ebert with enough yuletide cheer to recommend it, writing: "Although the plot may seem like a formulaic slasher film, P2 is in fact a very well made, atmospheric thriller with gritty yet realistic characters." As an extra present under the tree, P2 features the most sinister use of Elvis' Blue Christmas ever (watch a live version below.)

Elvis Presley
Blue Christmas

Gremlins (1984)

It would be easy to confuse the Gremlins with greedy kids on Christmas morning. Both start out cute then morph into monsters, yet while kids want to shred wrapping paper off gifts, the Gremlins want to shred you into Christmas confetti. Gremlins is festively filled with luscious greens and reds; in the form of scales and blood. Through the mogwais and gore the darkest scene comes from Phoebe Cates' father who, acting as Santa, slips down the chimney and breaks his neck; revealing to his daughter that Mr. Claus is a fabrication. Watch the cheesy, oh-so-obviously '80s trailer below.

Gremlins trailer

Less Than Zero (1987)

Adapted from the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, Less Than Zero is another '80s entry that is all about cheating, cocaine and Christmas cookies. Andrew McCarthy is Clay Easton, a privileged guy who returns to Beverly Hills for the holidays, only to learn that his girlfriend has moved on and his best friend is fading fast. Art imitates life as Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as an addict turned rent boy who's intent on having a very "white" Christmas and James Spader plays, what else, an asshole. Look for Brad Pitt in a small role for which he was paid $38.

Less Than Zero trailer

Die Hard (1988)

I hadn't seen the testosterone and tinsel fest that is Die Hard until a few months ago when my PVR was on the fritz and I was forced to rely on home video for entertainment. Balding bad ass Bruce Willis stars as police officer John McClane who is burdened with taking down a group of criminals when they take a corporate Christmas party hostage. Die Hard is easily the most revered entry on this Xmas movie list. Nominated for four Oscars, Die Hard is ranked at #106 on IMDb's top 250 movies poll. The Cleveland Show recently parodied Die Hard to hilarious effect (watch the trailer below.) Merry Christmas and yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.

The Cleveland Show, "Die Semi-Hard" trailer

2012 GRAMMY NOMINATED MUSIC VIDEOS

2011-12-06T21:34:00.011-05:00

The Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video was first presented to Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf in 1984. Since then the award has gone to videos of varying quality; from Paula Abdul dancing with an animated cat to last year's winner, Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Other notable recipients include Michael and Janet Jackson's Scream, Korn's Freak On A Leash, the David Fincher directed video for Love Is Strong by The Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash's take on Nine Inch Nails (see my post on cover songs.) This year's nominated music videos range from the surreal (Memory Tapes) to the silly (Weird Al) to the surprising (Radiohead.) Watch each vid below and judge for yourself who should take home the golden gramophone.

Yes I Know

Memory Tapes
Directed by Eric Epstein

All Is Not Lost

OK Go
Directed by Itamar Kubovy, Trish Sie & Damian Kulash Jr.

Lotus Flower

Radiohead
Directed by Garth Jennings

First of the Year (Equinox)

Skrillex
Directed by Tony Truand

Perform This Way

Weird Al Yankovic
Directed by Weird Al Yankovic

Rolling In the Deep

Adele
Directed by Sam Brown

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will be held February 12 2012 in Los Angeles and will air on CBS. Check out all the nominees here.

AB FAB 2011 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK

2011-12-05T06:31:00.002-05:00

If you're like me and discovered Absolutely Fabulous as a Canadian teenager, then you forced your friends to sip terrible vodka martinis while taking in the over the top antics of Patsy and Eddie on The Comedy Network.

Ok, that was probably just me but I know I'm not the only fab fan out there. As an early stocking stuffer a short clip of the upcoming Christmas special has been released (watch below.) The clip shows Eddie (series writer Jennifer Saunders) downing hand fulls of pills doled out by her spacey assistant Bubble (Jane Horrocks) and trading barbs with her long suffering mother (June Whitfield.)

Absolutely Fabulous began as a sketch on Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French's show French & Saunders. The idea was expanded upon in 1992 with a season of six episodes. The last new episode aired in 2004 so there's an awful lot of catching up to do with Eddie, Patsy (Joanna Lumley) and Saffy (Julia Sawalha.)

The first special airs Christmas Day on BBC, followed by another fabulous installment on January 1st. In addition a third special will air sometime around the 2012 London Olympics. Sources are hinting that a 20th anniversary season is also in the works.

I've included the 2003 Christmas special Cold Turkey after the new clip. Enjoy sweetie darling.

2011 Christmas Special clip

Cold Turkey (2003 Christmas Special) part 1

Cold Turkey part 2

Cold Turkey part 3

Cold Turkey part 4

15 COMMANDING COVER SONGS

2011-11-26T19:48:00.007-05:00

I was inspired to write this post after sitting through one song on the new reality competition show Cover Me Canada. Skillfully utilizing an instrument is truthfully a talent, but If we're being honest American Idol and similar programs are simply glorified karaoke.

I'm not saying cover songs can't be musical marvels in their own right. Yet I don't think you'll hear many awe inspiring parallel performances from someone who stood in line for five days in an attempt to impress Steven Tyler.

In some cases covers can eclipse the original version, as Jimi Hendrix's take on Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower did. Hendrix, who closes out this post with a different cover, interpreted Dylan's song to such amazing effect that it reached the Top 10 in 1968 and ranked at #48 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, making it perhaps the most successful replicated rendition.

Here are fifteen of my favourite cover songs, which you probably will never hear celebrity judges critique different versions of; well maybe Lovesong or Use Somebody.

As a side note, I really wanted to start this post with Alkaline Trio's cover of The Muppets' Movin' Right Along as Henson's puppets are currently relevant once more with the new movie and all. Sadly the YouTube video of this fuzzy, feel good song was recently removed.

About a Girl

Cibo Matto
Originally recorded by Nirvana

Crazy in Love

Snow Patrol
Beyoncé

Lovesong

Adele
The Cure

Use Somebody

Matisyahu
Kings of Leon

Tighten Up

The Watson Twins
The Black Keys

Wide River

Sahara Hotnights
Steve Miller

Everybody Wants To Rule the World

Patti Smith
Tears For Fears

Head On

Pixies
The Jesus & Mary Chain

Beat My Guest

Epoxies
Adam & The Ants

Candy Says
Blind Melon
Velvet Underground

Knock Loud
Neko Case
Sook Yin Lee

Kick Out The Jams

Rage Against the Machine
MC5

Crimson & Clover

Joan Jett
Tommy James & The Shondells

Hurt

Johnny Cash
Nine Inch Nails

Hey Joe

Jimi Hendrix
The Leaves

VOTING FOR THE CANADIAN BLOG AWARDS

2011-11-23T07:01:00.002-05:00

All Ears has been nominated in the pop culture and music categories for the 2011 Canadian Blog Awards.

Click here to vote and be sure to check out all in the blogs in each category. Thanks to all who nominated and voted already.

Handed out since 2004, the CBAs are an annual event where Canadian bloggers and blog readers vote on blogs overall or within a category.

The first round of voting ends December 24th.

JAN ŠVANKMAJER'S ALICE

2011-11-22T20:07:00.004-05:00

With the news that both Grimm and Once Upon A Time have been picked up for full 22 episode seasons, it seems that fairy tales are now riding back into popularity on the heels of the vampire and supernatural trend. Personally, I thought Once was a poisoned apple and couldn't sit through the first episode. I have yet to take in Grimm, although I'm looking forward to giving it a chance.

This resurgence of fairy tale popularity got me thinking about the most impressive adaptation of Alice In Wonderland I've seen, Czech director Jan Švankmajer's 1988 surreal live action and stop animation film, Něco z Alenky.

From the 1903 silent film to Tim Burton's disappointing take to Syfy's futuristic Alice mini-series, Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has been reworked for the screen over a dozen times. This classic has been re-envisioned many more times if you include fare like The Matrix, the Silent Hill video game series or CBC's underrated This Is Wonderland into the mix.

Švankmajer has said that he interpreted Carroll's work as if it were a dream; not a fairy tale as many other adapters have.

"While a fairy tale has got an educational aspect – it works with the moral of the lifted forefinger, good overcomes evil; dreams, as an expression of our unconscious, uncompromisingly pursue the realisation of our most secret wishes without considering rational and moral inhibitions. [Dreams are] ...driven by the principle of pleasure. My Alice is a realised dream."

The finished product may be closer to a nightmare than a dream. The creatures Alice encounters on her strange journey are not cuddly and are rather combative, making for a truly gripping and visually vital film. If only Burton's version were this authentically dark.

Below is the first part of Něco z Alenky. For more of Švankmajer's hypnagogic work see Food or Dimensions of Dialogue.

Part 1

MINI MUSIC PREVIEW

2011-11-12T06:53:00.011-05:00

I had originally started a comprehensive new music preview but many of the albums I planned on profiling didn't exactly electrify my ears. In its place, here are five recent or upcoming albums I can confidently say offer solidly stimulating sounds.

Endless Now

Male Bonding
English band Male Bonding have been labeled as a punk rock band, although I'd say they are closer to pop punk. Endless Now is the follow up to their well received debut, last year's Nothing Hurts, and finds John Arthur Webb, Kevin Hendrick and Robin Silas serving up carefully crafted '90s-ish rock. Unsurprisingly the album was produced by '90s mix master John Agnello, who has worked with The Kills and Sonic Youth. Male Bonding have consistently drawn comparisons to Dinosaur Jr., who Agnelo has also produced. I can definitely understand this observation, especially on tracks like What's That Scene? and Dig You Out. Male Bonding's sound may call back to a different ear but it's their energetic execution that makes Endless Now a must listen in the present day.

Bones

Channelling Your Fears

Heartbeats & Brainwaves

Electric Six
The recently released Heartbeats and Brainwaves is Detroit sextet Electric Six's eighth studio album in eight years. Their frantic output may lead listeners to expect a decline in quality; yet when your musical style crosses so many genres it's easy to mix it up. I'd wager most of you have heard the band's most popular song Danger! High Voltage in a commercial or otherwise. Most of the tracks found on Heartbeats and Brainwaves aren't too far off from Danger! or their other mega hit Gay Bar. Yet there are some divergences, most notably the '80s-infused We Use the Same Products. Whether you're in the mood for disco-punk or shiny synths, Electric Six are here for you. LED codpiece not included.

Gridlock!

Divine Providence

Deer Tick

On Deer Tick's fourth album, John McCauley & company continue to deliver their signature alt-rock, country-tinged tunes. There's nothing as sweet as Friday XIII or These Old Shoes. Instead Divine Providence contains party anthems (Let's All Go to the Bar), folk ballads (Mr. Cigarette) and familiar angry rants (The Bump.) Deer Tick's music sounds as if it were recorded in a dive bar, surrounded by spilled beer and clouds of cigarette smoke. According to McCauley that's not far from the truth.
“I can’t even guesstimate how many beers we drank,” McCauley told 77 Square of the Divine Providence recording sessions. “We were definitely ourselves.”

Miss K

Tarot Classics EP

Surfer Blood

My inclusion of Tarot Classics is a bit of a cheat as it's not a full length release. However the handful of tracks on this EP are substantial enough to warrant a listen. Only their second release, after last year's Astro Coast, Tarot Classics demonstrates Surfer Blood's continued confidence at pairing competent pop rock with punk riffs and frenzied feedback. The four tracks are a billowy pop piece (Drinking Problem), a rocky kiss off (Miranda), instrumental done right (Voyager Reprise) and a toe tapping, beach ready single (I'm Not Ready, listen below.) Looking ahead to Surfer Blood's next release, here's hoping this Florida five piece will continue to pair sunny themes with the chilly disposition they've crafted for themselves.

I'm Not Ready

Exits & All the Rest

Girl In a Coma

Much like Male Bonding, the first single (Smart, watch the video below) off of Girl In a Coma's Exits and All the Rest is reminiscent of the '90s. However instead of Dinosaur Jr., Girl In a Coma are more aptly compared to Magnapop or The Breeders. This indie Mexican-American trio, made up of sisters Nina and Phanie Diaz along with Jenn Alva, signed with Joan Jett's Blackheart Records in 2006. If Smart is any indication, Exits and All the Rest will be softer than their previous efforts. I adored their '07 debut Both Before I'm Gone, which was more in line with the Joan Jett, hard rock aesthetic. They may have mellowed out a bit but what Girl In a Coma are presenting is still robust enough to rouse a comatose music fan out of a mainstream induced slumber.

Smart

BEST & WORST OF THE SIMPSONS' TREEHOUSE OF HORROR

2011-11-09T21:23:00.007-05:00

Many regard The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes as the highlight of each season. With 22 spooky entries to date, most critics feel the more recent efforts have declined in quality; much like the show itself.

For this year's edition they took a beautiful film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and made it about farting. Then they took a stab at Dexter which failed to hemorrhage hilarity. As a newly found fan of Dexter, there were several plot points the Simpsons' writers could have spattered all over the screen. The end result, while mildly amusing, came off as defeated as the Ice Truck killer.
The Avatar-esque anchor story was more successful. Blending the Na'vi template with ToH staples Kang and Kodos was a masterful touch.

It's amalgamations like this year's spin on Avatar where ToH shines (or shins.) ToH entries which pay homage to classic horror, Halloween or sci-fi tales injected with Simpsons style are usually the best. It's when they try to do something completely different or diverge from the horror genre that lands those chapters in the worst pile.
I took a look at IGN's picks for the top 10 best ToH entries after I had compiled my own list. Not surprisingly the most recent pick on their list aired in 1998, from ToH IX.

BEST

I almost included Homer3 on my best list, simply for it's 'ahead of its time' animation. Homer3, from 1995's ToH VI, was awarded the the grand prize at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Although it won deservedly, there are ToH entries which caused me much more heart-fright.

The Shinning
ToH V ('94)

Dail Z for Zombies
ToH III ('92)

Attack of the 50-foot Eyesores
ToH VI ('95)

The HΩmega Man
ToH VIII ('97)

Homega Man from Scott Livesay on Vimeo.

It's the Grand Pumpkin Millhouse
ToH XIX ('08)

WORST

As mentioned the ToH entries I regard as the worst are when they diverge from classic tales (Night of the Dolphin, You Gotta Know When to Golem) or the established genre (Mr. & Mrs. Simpson, There's No Business Like Moe Business.) There are countless horror-themed tales The Simpsons still haven't exhumed. Instead of a Friday the 13th-tinged entry where a bulky Bart and a mad Marge take on camp counsellors or a torture porn ride in the vein of Saw, we've recently been offered musical fare like There's No Business Like Moe Business. There's always next year, when hopefully we'll be offered more treats than tricks.

Night of the Dolphin
ToH XI ('00)

Mr. & Mrs. Simpson
ToH XVIII ('07)

You Gotta Know When to Golem
ToH XVII ('06)

How to Get Ahead in Dead-vertising
ToH XIX ('08)

There's No Business Like Moe Business
ToH XX ('09)

VINYL

2011-10-23T20:06:00.020-04:00

Some consumers in the UK are switching tracks as sales of vinyl albums for 2011 have surpassed last year's figures. Recent offerings by PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys and Bon Iver have spurred English record buyers to purchase close to 250,000 units so far in 2011. It's a far cry from 1975, when vinyl sales totaled over 91 million.

Here is the Official UK Vinyl Album Top 10 for 2011 according to The Official Charts Company.

1. ‘The King Of Limbs’ - Radiohead
2. ‘21’ - Adele
3. ‘Different Gear Still Speeding’ - Beady Eye
4. ‘Suck It And See’ - Arctic Monkeys
5. ‘Let England Shake’ - PJ Harvey
6. ‘Bon Iver’ - Bon Iver
7. ‘Submarine (Ost)’ - Alex Turner
8. ‘Director's Cut’ - Kate Bush
9. ‘Build A Rocket Boys’ - Elbow
10. ‘Nevermind’ – Nirvana

In the US, music sales increased 8.5% for the first half of 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010. This is the first uptick in US music sales since 2004. The mini-resurgence included an 11% increase in digital music sales and a 44% jump in vinyl units moved when compared to 2010. Surprisingly MP3s account for only 1 out of every 3 albums sold. CDs remain the most popular form of music purchase.

Below is my article on vinyl and Birdman Sound's John Westhaver which originally appeared on soundproofmagazine.com. In addition a condensed version was published in 24 Hours Ottawa.

John Westhaver of Ottawa's Birdman Sound has been carving his path through the vinyl for 20 years. Contrary to popular belief, the business of selling tunes on wax has a few more revolutions to go. With the popularity of MP3s, torrents and the iPod increasing, you may think the death of the underground record store is imminent.

Think again.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, nearly one million LPs were bought in the United States in 2007. That's an increase from 858,000 in 2006. In 2008, 89% more records were sold than in 2007, with Radiohead's In Rainbows taking the top spot. Regardless of what musical medium they are seeking, audiophiles continue to flock to Birdman Sound and the increase in sales hasn't made Westhaver change his business style one bit.

"This store is an old school store," says Westhaver. "I cater to people that really did music of all kinds, mostly obscure. If you go through the bins, there are tons of well-known artists but in a more underground way." Which means John Coltrane and Miles Davis are in while crooners like Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr. are out.

Westhaver has a particular methodology when choosing what to stock in his humble yet inviting store.

"It's an educated and semi-scientific approach," says Westhaver. "The science would be based on having done this since the 1970s, and not trying to be somebody that has ever purported to be the be-all and end-all for everybody who walks through that door. It's virtual financial suicide, not to mention insulting to most intelligent people to try and carry everything. It's impossible; there's too much music. With a store these days it's not trial and error—that's a ruination path. You have to start some way, with what you want to do, see what happens, and hopefully develop a clientele and then you have to nurture that clientele."

Yet no amount of good intentions can circumvent the fact that a record store operator will always be at the mercy of suppliers.

"If you have good connections and you have access to tons of stuff that you don't necessarily bring in, of course, once you develop relationships with your clients and you get to know them and they request a copy of something specific, you just do it. You don't go ‘Yeah, I'll do it' and not do it. It's not as simple as saying ‘Yeah, I'll get it' and have it here next week. It sometimes doesn't work that way. I've seen stuff go on back order for a year before it comes in. It has always been like that. It's a big world and there is a lot of music. After I do my bit and put the order in I have to rely on other people who are also relying on other people. The chain can be long. That's just the way it works. It depends on what the customer wants."

Westhaver has definitely amassed a loyal following. Male, female, young, old, the customers who choose Birdman do so for the selection and quality and Westhaver has achieved this following with absolutely zero advertising.

"It's pretty much by word of mouth," Westhaver explains.

He goes on to say that while the production of records has never ceased, he's aware that records will never regain their number one spot as a musical medium. "It would be preposterous to think that all of a sudden the entire music buying population is going to say that CDs suck and MP3s sound like shit, we're all buying records again and all of a sudden everyone is dusting off their record presses."

Westhaver has observed that while many baby boomers still buy records, a lot of younger people are dropping the needle.

"A lot of young people are not buying CDs. Some of those young people are buying records. Many of those kids live in houses with parents who are perhaps my age, and they grew up with their parents listening to records. And if that parent has a big record collection and that child has a good relationship with that parent, there may be some influence there."

No amount of influence can correct the portability problems the record player faces and, surprisingly, Westhaver isn't about to knock the iPod.

"The whole iPod thing—I can see why it exists and I don't really have a problem with it existing. The reason why downloading and the iPod have become so popular is because it is a convenience issue. I think all of these storage forms can co-exist together quite comfortably. There's always something, right? And there will be other things down the road that people will come up with to store your music or to get your music. It's just going to happen. I think it's still good that people are offered choices, because with many things in life there are not many choices."

Major labels have taken notice of the increase in record sales and are offering consumers these choices. Many labels are including download codes or CDs with the purchase of a record.

"I've had a lot of customers say that they don't really buy a lot of records but they would buy a certain album especially if it came with a download code."

Just as labels are offering more options to consumers, Westhaver has a varied career that goes beyond his Bank Street store. Westhaver has worked as a talent booker, promoter, as a musician in bands such as Resin Scraper and "the band whose name is a symbol," and has hosted a show on CKCU-FM Radio titled Friday Morning Cartunes for close to two decades.

"John is a world-class programmer who presents a well-researched show," says Matthew Crosier, CKCU's station manager. "He's been with us for years and he pays homage to the past as well as touching on the present."

A graduate of Algonquin College's broadcasting program, Westhaver has taken the Friday morning time slot on CKCU and transformed it into what many now regard as an institution.

"What I choose to present on that program is what my musical diet is the week leading up to it," says Westhaver. "I don't pull any punches with that. I may start the show with some of the heaviest psychedelic doom rock. I've started my show with Black Sabbath at 9:30 in the morning. People don't have a problem with that. The beauty of radio is if you don't like it you can turn it off. I have fun doing it and I know a lot of people enjoy listening to it. I do it for myself because I really like doing it and there is no self-important bullshit that is connected to it. I'm in a position to be able to elevate people's interest and knowledge in music; it's kind of like instructing or teaching. I think it's providing a valuable resource."

With so many choices surrounding music and with mediums on which to listen to music changing, skipping like a scratched record, Westhaver has always and will continue to stick by his records.

"I personally have always believed that records sound superior to CDs or digital and you do not need an expensive system to appreciate that difference. It's amazing to me how many young people not only believe that as well but also have that conviction."

Westhaver and the sales figures speak for themselves.

MUSIC DIVIDES US

2011-10-06T19:24:00.001-04:00

Someone posted this in the lobby of my building; then a reply.

20 YEARS OF PJ HARVEY

2011-10-05T22:06:00.004-04:00

With a second Mercury Prize win for Let England Shake, PJ Harvey has once again struck a successful chord with critics and listeners. Let England Shake finds Harvey returning to the melodic magic last heard on her other Mercury Prize winning creation, Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea.
Her two albums between Stories and England, Uh Huh Her and White Chalk, had auspicious moments but neither garnered as much recognition.
Straddling many genres, utilizing varied instruments and performing in irregular vocal styles, Harvey has, for the most part, remained resourceful and inventive over the course of nine albums.

Raised on a sheep farm in Dorset, England, Harvey took up saxophone as a teen and was a member of three separate bands before she reached her twenties.
In 1988 Harvey joined the established Bristol band Automatic Dlamini. Founded by future Harvey collaborator John Parrish, Automatic Dlamini also featured Rob Ellis and Ian Oliver. After leaving that band, Harvey would team up with Ellis and Oliver; calling their group PJ Harvey.
"Nothing felt right or either suggested the wrong type of sound," Harvey said of the decision to perform under her name.
Oliver eventually decided to rejoin Automatic Dalmini and was replaced by Steve Vaughan. The trio played their first show in 1991, which ended in disaster.
"We started playing and I suppose there was about fifty people there. During the first song we cleared the hall. There was only about two people left. A woman came up to us, came up to my drummer, it was only a three piece, while we were playing and shouted at him 'Don't you realize nobody likes you! We'll pay you, you can stop playing, we'll still pay you!'"
Although their first outing was lacklustre, the trio pushed forward and released the single Dress via indie label Too Pure. Dress was voted single of the week by Melody Maker and soon after Sheela-Na-Gig was released to similar popularity. With sexually charged lyrics like "Look at these my child bearing hips/ Look at these my ruby red booby lips/ Put money in your idle hole," Sheela-Na-Gig would set the tone for PJ Harvey's debut album Dry.

DRY (1992)

Dry's sound is rooted in stripped down, post-punk riffs. From Happy and Bleeding to Plants and Rags, Harvey's debut is on par with the typical early '90s aesthetic. The album's closer Water (below) is a stand out, implementing a loud-quiet-loud outline. Kurt Cobain included Dry on his list of the 50 greatest albums of all time and it is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2004, Harvey told Filter magazine that while recording Dry she thought it may have been her first and last album.
"Dry is the first chance I ever had to make a record and I thought it would be my last. So, I put everything I had into it. It was a very extreme record. It was a great joy for me to be able to make it. I never thought I'd have that opportunity, so I felt like I had to get everything on it as well as I possibly could, because it was probably my only chance. It felt very extreme for that reason."

Water

RID OF ME (1993)

The trio's next album would find them ditching the (mostly) coherent melodies found on Dry for electric guitar distortion and an even more in-you-face sound. The title track would once again use the loud-quiet-loud outline coupled with Harvey's weirdo baby talk vocals with startling punk efficiency.
Written while recuperating from exhaustion brought on from touring for Dry, Rid of Me was labeled a feminist album by critics. After hearing the Pixies album Surfer Rosa, Harvey personally sought out producer Steve Albini to produce Rid of Me.
"I was really pleased with Rid of Me. For that period of my life, it was perfect," Harvey said.
Critics thought the album was perfect as well, but not just in the context of the '90s. In addition to being nominated for the Mercury Prize, they lost to Suede, Rolling Stone placed Rid of Me at #405 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list and Spin ranked the album at #9 on their list of the 100 Greatest Albums of 1985-2005.

50 Ft. Queenie

TO BRING YOU MY LOVE (1995)

Less daring yet more complex than her previous efforts, To Bring You My Love is considered PJ Harvey's breakthrough album. Thanks to the massive, international success of the single Down By the Water, To Bring You My Love became PJ Harvey's best selling album.
During the Rid of Me tour, Harvey says she and her band mates began to grow apart and eventually called it quits; making To Bring You My Love the first true PJ Harvey solo album. Written in near isolation, the album's lyrics rely heavily on biblical imagery.
Critics across the board saw Harvey as their musical saviour of 1995. To Bring You My Love was named album of the year by People, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, USA Today and Hot Press. To Bring You My Love also earned Harvey her second Mercury Prize nomination. That year she lost to Portishead's Dummy.

Meet Ze Monsta

IS THIS DESIRE? (1998)

Trading personal confessions for fictitious themes, Is This Desire? has been labelled Harvey's blues record by many critics. There are few electric guitar riffs on this record. Instead you'll hear keyboards and acoustic bridges in the place of caustic punk sounds. The track A Perfect Day Elise became a popular single, rivalling the success of Down By the Water.
"I do think Is This Desire? is the best record I ever made, maybe ever will make, and I feel that that was probably the highlight of my career," Harvey told The Telegraph in 2004. "I gave 100 per cent of myself to that record. Maybe that was detrimental to my health at the same time."

Angelene

STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA (2000)

My favourite PJ Harvey album, Stories is her love letter to New York City. The album opener Big Exit, is volatile and speaks of despair and suicide. Yet Stories also features downbeat, willowy tracks like Horses in My Dreams and One Line, and upbeat, hopeful entries like You Said Something, demonstrating Harvey's diversity. Some detractors said the lead single Good Fortune (below) was too much like mainstream pop for Harvey. I think the song, with its effortless hook and syllable repeating, is one of her best works.
"I want absolute beauty," Harvey told Q in 2001. "I want this album to sing and fly and be full of reverb and lush layers of melody. I want it to be my beautiful, sumptuous, lovely piece of work."
Most critics declared the album a beautiful piece of work. Harvey finally won the Mercury Prize for Stories, beating out Gorillaz and Radiohead and becoming the first female solo artist to win the award.
I had always thought the ominous song This Mess We're In, a duet with Radiohead's Thom Yorke, sounded as if it were written about the attacks of 9/11. Yet the album was released before 2001, so obviously it is not a commentary on the tragedy. Oddly, the Mercury Prize winner was announced on 9/11. Harvey was in Washington DC and witnessed the attack on the Pentagon from her hotel room.
Accepting the prize via phone, Harvey said "It has been a very surreal day. All I can say is thank you very much, I am absolutely stunned."

Good Fortune

UH HUH HER (2004)

Although less popular than Stories, Uh Huh Her was generally well received by critics. The gloss of Stories is gone but Uh Huh Her is not a total throwback to the low-fi days of Rid of Me. The album opener The Life and Death of Mr. Badmouth grabs the listener with a catchy stripped down, rock hook. Much of the album is sparse but this scarcity is usually successful. The Desperate Kingdom of Love, Pocket Knife and Shame are three such examples. However some songs, like Cat on the Wall and one track that is simply over one minute of seagulls, sound meagre and appear to lack effort. Harvey played virtually all of the instruments heard on Uh Huh Her and produced the album solo.
"I was looking for distressed, debased sounds," Harvey told Tracks magazine. "So all of the guitars are either tuned so low that it's hard to detect what notes they're playing or they're baritone guitars or they're played through the shittiest amps I could find."

The Letter

WHITE CHALK (2007)

Although I wrote a review of this album in 2007, I strained to recall any of its songs while reminiscing for this post. I described it at the time as "so soft it's fucking talcum powder." White Chalk is PJ's piano album. Harvey learned the piano specifically for this album and while the music is softer, the themes remain as hard and eerie as ever.

When Under Ether

LET ENGLAND SHAKE (2011)

Let England Shake could be summed up as a anti-war concept album, yet the genre of this record isn't as easy to pinpoint. With autoharp, xylophones and the organ all making appearances, England sounds like PJ Harvey but broader and more layered than her other albums.
"I was really enjoying this different, enormous, wide breadth of sound that the autoharp gives. It's quite a delicate sound, but it's also like having an entire orchestra at your fingertips," Harvey told Bridport News earlier this year. "I began by writing quite a lot on the autoharp, and then slowly as time went by, my writing started moving into experimenting with different guitars, and using different sound applications, ones that I had never really experimented with."
Harvey once again pushes her voice to new heights, not unlike on White Chalk, but her soprano sounds better and more fitting on this album than it did on her previous effort.
After seeing Seamus Murphy's A Darkness Visible, she contacted the filmmaker "to speak to him more about his experiences being there in Afghanistan" and their collaboration gave birth to short films as music videos for the songs of Let England Shake.
At times the album is mordib; at other times it's symphonic. Let England Shake's complexity makes it one of Harvey's most well thought out collections.

Let England Shake

The Last Living Rose

The Words That Maketh Murder

The Glorious Land
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LISTEN TO FEIST'S NEW ALBUM METALS

2011-09-30T06:49:00.001-04:00

Leslie Feist is back with her fourth studio album. You can sign up to listen to Metals below, courtesy of listentofeist.com. Entering your email is required.

Hailing from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Feist began her career as a member of Canadian super group Broken Social Scene. Her breakthrough as a solo artist came in the form of 2004's Let It Die. Then in 2007 Feist released The Reminder which netted the songstress several Juno Awards and four Grammy nominations. After The Reminder's massive success Feist admitted in an interview with Pitchfork that it was difficult to get back into the creative mindset.

"I said I'd stop for a year, which was inconceivable to me and everyone around me. It seemed like so long. But then, after that year, I looked up and I still hadn't gotten my land legs back at all. I needed another year. By then, everyone had calmed and receded back into the wallpaper. I was in a crazy, private, awesome bubble again, and that's when I started to write."

Feist fans will be delighted she broke through those creative roadblocks. Metals is jazzier than its predecessor yet retains Feist's signature silky pop sounds. The first single How Come You Never Go There (below) may not catch on like 1234 but the track is infectious and leaves the listener willing to go anywhere with Metals.

How Come You Never Go There

Sign up to listen to Metals from listentofeist.com

THE END OF WEEDS?

2011-09-29T07:51:00.009-04:00

Warning! This post and the video below contain Weeds season 7 spoilers.

The blogosphere is buzzing. Not because of product supplied by the Botwin family- but because it may be the end of cable TVs favourite bud bartering bunch.

The final shot of Weeds' seventh season showed Nancy Botwin caught in the cross hairs of a rifle wielded by an unknown assailant. There are many theories floating around about who the mystery gunman is. Most fans are saying it's Peter Scottson's son out for revenge after Nancy indirectly caused his father's death all the way back in season 2.

Showtime hasn't picked up Weeds for an eighth season yet, so season 7's shot heard 'round the tube' may be a pitch perfect series finale. Series creator Jenji Kohan has always said Weeds would probably end with Nancy's death but if there is an eighth season, there are many avenues to explore. Most notably the newly blended family relationship and seeing how sisters Nancy (Mary Louise Parker) and Jill (Jennifer Jason Leigh) adjust to the unconventional arrangement. Parker and Leigh's interactions were the brightest bits from Monday's episode and I'd relish Leigh being added as a main cast member.

If this is the end, Kohan's conclusion was apt. Nancy screwed countless cunning characters over the years and arguably got what was coming to her. Personally I'm hoping this weed is a perennial and will sprout anew next year.

UPDATE: Weeds has been renewed for an eighth season.

Jenji Kohan discusses the season 7 finale and the future of Weeds

EMMY PREDICTIONS 2011

2011-09-18T06:21:00.006-04:00

When Jane Lynch hosts the Emmy Awards tonight, most critics are betting she will walk away with another golden statuette for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. But will there be any surprises?
There were a few at the Creative Arts ceremony last week. The newly reborn Futurama beat out The Simpsons, South Park and Sponge Bob in the Animated Series category. The episode Futurama won for, where Fry and Co. build a time machine that can only go forward, didn't really warp my speed. There were more deserving Planet Express adventures to choose from this season.
In addition, first time nominee The Deadliest Catch triumphed over the expected winner, Kathy Griffin's D-List diary, in the Outstanding Reality Program category. My Life on the D-List had won twice before and many critics thought Griffin would be awarded a third golden girl, to join "Emily" and "Emmy" as she calls them, as her show was in its final season. Yet dark horse Catch won over D-List and other strong contenders like Hoarders and Mythbusters.
In the Guest Actress in a Comedy category, I was pulling for crazy Cloris Leachman to take home some gold for Raising Hope, although Leachman's Maw Maw seems more like a supporting role. Leachman holds the record for most Emmys won by a female performer with 8, but apparently Emmy voters are gleeks. The Emmy went to Gweneth Paltrow who guested on Glee as Holly Holiday.
Getting back to tonight's festivities, here's the rundown of who the "experts" are predicting will win and who I believe should win.
Stay tuned.

Comedy Series

Will win: Modern Family
Should win: Big Bang Theory

Winner: Modern Family

Odds: Modern Family 1/10, Parks & Recreation 16/1, Big Bang Theory 50/1, Glee 50/1, The Office 100/1, 30 Rock 100/1

Big Bang Theory bloopers

Drama Series

Will win: Mad Men
Should win: Dexter

Winner: Mad Men

Odds: Mad Men 2/5, Boardwalk Empire 4/1, The Good Wife 33/1, Game of Thrones 50/1, Friday Night Lights 50/1, Dexter 100/1

Dexter season 6 trailer

Comedy Actor

Will win: Steve Carell, The Office
Should win: Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory

Winner: Jim Parsons

Odds: Steve Carell 1/10, Jim Parsons 25/1, Louis C.K., Louie 100/1, Matt LeBlanc, Episodes 100/1, Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock 100/1, Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory 100/1

Drama Actor

Will win: Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Should win: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

Winner: Kyle Chandler

Odds: Jon Hamm 3/10, Steve Buscemi 11/2, Hugh Laurie, House 33/1, Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights 50/1, Timothy Olyphant, Justified 100/1, Michael C. Hall, Dexter 100/1

Comedy Actress

Will win: Laura Linney, The Big C
Should win: Laura Linney

Winner: Melissa McCarth, Mike & Molly

Odds: Laura Linney 8/11, Amy Poehler, Parks & Rec 12/5, Melissa McCarthy 20/1, Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope 20/1, Tina Fey, 30 Rock 50/1, Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie 100/1

Drama Actress

Will win: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Should win: Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU

Winner: Julianna Margulies

Odds: Julianna Margulies 2/5, Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men 5/1, Kathy Bates, Harry's Law 20/1, Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights 50/1, Mariska Hargitay 100/1

Comedy Supporting Actor

Will win: Ty Burell, Modern Family
Should win: Ty Burell

Winner: Ty Burell

Odds: Ty Burell 2/3, Chris Colfer, Glee 11/2, Ed O'Neil, Modern Family 11/2, Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family 20/1, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family 25/1, Jon Cryer Two & 1/2 Men 50/1

Drama Supp. Actor

Will win: John Slattery, Mad Men
Should win: Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

Winner: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Odds: Jon Slattery 9/5, Alan Cumming 10/3, Walton Goggins, Justified 11/2, Peter Dinklage 11/2, Josh Charles, The Good Wife 8/1, Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age 50/1

Comedy Supp. Actress

Will win: Jane Lynch, Glee
Should win: Kristen Wiig, SNL

Winner: Julie Bowen

Odds: Jane Lynch 6/5, Betty White, Hot in Cleveland 7/2, Julie Bowen, Modern Family 6/1, Sofia Vegara, Modern Family 15/2, Kristen Wiig 20/1, Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock 100/1

Drama Supp. Actress

Will win: Margo Martindale, Justified
Should win: Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

Winner: Margo Martindale

Odds: Margo Martindale 4/7, Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife 8/1, Kelly MacDonald, Boardwalk Empire 9/1, Christine Baranski 16/1, Christina Hendricks, Mad Men 20/1, Michelle Forbes, The Killing 20/1

Reality Competition Series

Will win: Amazing Race
Should win: Top Chef

Winner: Amazing Race

Odds: Amazing Race 8/5, Top Chef 12/5, Project Runway 13/2, American Idol 8/1, Dancing with the Stars 14/1, So You Think You Can Dance 50/1

Variety Series

Will win: The Daily Show
Should win: SNL or Real Time with Bill Maher

Winner: The Daily Show

Odds: The Daily Show 2/11, SNL 20/1, Conan 25/1, Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon 33/1, Real Time 100/1

ROAD TRIP SONGS

2011-09-02T16:26:00.009-04:00

As summer winds down and the last long weekend speeds by, many will embark on road trips to chase down the fleeting sunshine. Here are fifteen of my favourite road trip/car songs; a soundtrack that is sure to get your pistons firing. I could have included Mercedes Benz by Janis Joplin, Truckin' by Grateful Dead or War's Low Rider but since I included other songs by these oldies-but-goodies in my last couple of posts, I'll omit them.
Happy trails.

Kiss & Ride

Bratmobile

Road Trippin'

Red Hot Chili Peppers

455 SD

Hellacopters

Car Song

Elastica

Car Jamming

The Clash

Driving Lesson

Garbage

Driving Song

Spinnerette

I'm in Love with My Car

Queen

Highway Star

Deep Purple

Brand New Chevy

The Muffs

Bitchin' Camaro

Dead Milkmen

Black Sunshine

White Zombie feat. Iggy Pop

My Hooptie

Sir-Mix-A-Lot

Drive My Car
The Beatles

Beep Beep

Playmates

AMY WINEHOUSE AND 10 OTHER 27 CLUB MEMBERS

2011-08-23T21:34:00.022-04:00

Amy Winehouse's death at age 27, while dolorous, was not a surprise to everyone. Winehouse had publicly struggled with substance abuse for years and appeared extremely intoxicated at recent performances.

Her 2006 album Back to Black netted five Grammy Awards including Best Pop Vocal Album. The tragically named track Rehab won Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In addition Winehouse picked up the award for Best New Artist and Back to Black's producer Mark Ronson received the Producer of the Year honor. Reports say Winehouse was working on a follow up album, which will no doubt become a chart topper upon release.

The singer's father claims his daughter was the happiest she had been in years in the weeks leading up to her death. Some experts say happiness before a planned suicide is common.
Toxicology reports indicate there were no illegal drugs in Winehouse's system at the time of her death, but alcohol was present. It is unknown if alcohol played a factor in her death.

“I think Amy Winehouse may have secretly wanted to be part of the 27 Club,” Pax Prentiss, co-founder of the Malibu rehabilitation center Passages, said in an interview with The Wrap. “Amy was on a dark path and she may have glamorized the idea of being part of that group.”

All but three of the artists I have chosen for this list (there are many more 27 club members) died from circumstances relating to drugs and alcohol.

“I do know from experience that artists have a tendency to be sensitive,” Prentiss said. “they’re talented yes, but the outside world effects them differently and they’re prone to turn to drugs in order to cope with the pressures put upon them."

Rehab

Amy Winehouse

Kurt Cobain

After many years of drug abuse, illness and depression Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain took his own life in April 1994. It was reported Cobain had high levels of heroin in his system, as well as traces of Valium. His long, poorly punctuated suicide note was addressed to his imaginary boyhood friend "Boddah" and revealed Cobain had lost his passion for making music.

"...when we're back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins, it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can't fool you, any one of you. It simply isn't fair to you or me," Cobain wrote.

Breed

Nirvana

Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix was easily one of the most talented guitar players to ever grasp a pick. His death in 1970 from asphyxiation after ingesting sleeping pills and wine has been labeled a conspiracy by some. Animals roadie James White published a book in 2009 claiming Hendrix's manager Mike Jeffery admitted to murdering the musician because the performer wanted to change management. There were also conflicting reports by Hendrix's girlfriend, Monika Dannemann, as to what actually occurred on the night of September 18 1970. Dannemann committed suicide in 1996 after being found guilty of contempt of court for repeating libel against another of Hendrix's girlfriends.

Crosstown Traffic

Jimi Hendrix

Jim Morrison

As lead singer of the Doors, Morrison was known for improvising potent prose and his biting personality. After years of success with the Doors, Morrison moved to Paris in 1971 and spent his last days wandering the city's impressive streets. His body was found in the bathtub of his Paris apartment on July 3 1971. Morrison had snorted his girlfriend Pamela Courson's heroin, thinking it was cocaine. Courson would overdose on heroin three years later. She was also 27 at the time of her death.

Morrison's grave site in Paris' Père Lachaise Cemetery is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

Touch Me

The Doors

Janis Joplin

Joplin's powerful, divisive voice hid the pain of a woman who always felt like an outcast. Her childhood in the christian conformist town of Port Arthur, Texas was rough. Joplin didn't act as most thought a lady of that time should. Burdened with an on again, off again relationship with heroin, Joplin would eventually find success with Big Brother and the Holding Company. On the night of October 3 1970, feeling rejected by friends who had stood her up the previous night, Joplin overdosed on heroin at Los Angeles' Landmark Motor Hotel.

Piece of My Heart

Big Brother and the Holding Company

Kristen Pfaff

Pfaff is best known for her work as Hole's bassist on Live Through This. Born in Buffalo New York, she studied piano and cello before teaching herself how to play bass. After graduating from high school, Pfaff moved to Minneapolis and was a founding member of Janitor Joe. While on tour with Janitor Joe, Pfaff was scouted by Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson for Hole as a replacement for Jill Emery. Pfaff was reluctant to join Love's band and returned to Minneapolis. It was her father who convinced her to join, citing that Hole was already signed to a major label and had a rabid British following.

"That's when we took off," her former boyfriend Erlandson said of Pfaff joining Hole. "That's when we became a real band."

While recording Live Through This in Seattle in 1993, Pfaff began dabbling in heroin. Something Erlandson had warned her about.

"She moved to Seattle and felt disconnected from everything, and she made friends, drug connections, which I told her not to do," Erlandson told Spin. "The only way you can survive in this town is if you don't make those connections."
After a stint in rehab, she decided to leave Hole and rejoin Janitor Joe permanently.

The day Pfaff was scheduled to return to Minneapolis a friend, some sources say it was Erlandson himself, found her lifeless body. Next to Pfaff was a bag containing syringes and heroin-related paraphernalia.

The bassist has since been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota's KUOM awards a $1000 memorial scholarship in her honour.

Boys in Blue

Janitor Joe

Boyfriend

Janitor Joe

Richey Edwards

Although he began as a Manic Street Preachers roadie, Edwards soon moved up the ranks to become the band's rhythm guitarist and main spokesperson. What he lacked in musical ability he made up for with his brilliant lyrics. By the band's third album, the Holy Bible, Edwards' struggles with drugs and alcohol had become well known, which only added to the band's counterculture notoriety. Shortly after that album's release, Edwards checked himself into a psychiatric hospital.
On February 1 1995, Edwards and James Dean Bradfield were due in the US for a promotional tour; however Edwards had disappeared. He was officially presumed dead in 2008. Edwards was 27 at the time of his disappearance. Many claim to have spotted Edwards over the years and point to a quote directly from Richey.

"In terms of the 'S' word, that does not enter my mind and it never has, in terms of an attempt. Because I am stronger than that. I might be a weak person, but I can take pain," Edwards said in 1994.

Yes

Manic Street Preachers

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan

A founding member of the Grateful Dead, McKernan was the typical rebellious teenager. Named after the similarly dirty Peanuts character, this biker boy from California would grow up to play various instruments for the Dead, including harmonica and the organ. McKernan would have a romantic relationship with another 27 Club member, Janis Joplin. While those around him did hard drugs, McKernan stuck to Thunderbird Wine and Southern Comfort, which was also Joplin's favourite beverage. His love of alcohol would eventually do him in as he began showing signs of cirrhosis in 1970. Then on March 8 1973, he was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. His grave marker reads that he is now and forever will be one of the grateful dead.

Box of Rain

Grateful Dead

Leslie Harvey

While perhaps one of the least known musicians on this list, Les Harvey was no stranger to big time tragedy. Hailing form Scotland, Harvey was asked to join the Animals in the 1960s but chose to stay with his brother Alex Harvey's Soul Band. In 1965, while a member of the Blues Council, Harvey would be involved in a fatal tour bus crash which killed two Blues Council members.

Harvey rebounded from the misfortune and founded Stone the Crows with his brother and Maggie Bell in 1969. At a 1972 performance with Stone the Crows, Harvey was electrocuted by a microphone that wasn't grounded correctly.

Good Time Girl

Stone the Crows

Jeremy Michael Ward

In addition to being Mars Volta's sound technician and vocal operator, Ward also worked with dub outfit De Facto. As a behind the scenes genius, he was critically lauded for creating the unique soundscapes heard on Mars Volta's debut De-Loused in the Crematorium. He was also an accomplished guitarist and artist and his work influenced many of Mars Volta's later albums.

Ward was found dead of a heroin overdose in 2003 and his death inspired the remaining members of Mars Volta to quit using opiates.

Eriatarka

Mars Volta

Mia Zapata

While all of the deaths included on this list are tragic, Zapata stands out as the only entry who was murdered.

Born in Kentucky, Zapata picked up guitar and piano at an early age and was heavily influenced by blues and jazz. In the mid '80s, Zapata moved to Ohio to attend college and it was there that she formed the Gits. The band moved to Seattle just as the '90s broke and released the well received Frenching the Bully in 1992. The band's stage presence, specifically Zapata's off-the-wall antics, led to the Gits becoming one of the hottest grunge acts in town.
Just before their second album, Enter the Conquering Chicken, dropped, Zapata was raped and murdered while walking home through the Capitol Hill area of Seattle. Her body was discovered in the early morning hours of July 7 1993. Sources say Zapata was last seen listening to her walkman and perhaps didn't hear her attacker approaching.
Zapata's murder inspired the founding of Home Alive, a group that, in addition to organizing concerts, taught women self defense.
Joan Jett and Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hannah would co-write the song Go Home in response to the crime committed against their punk compatriot. The video (below) features Jett as a woman triumphing over her would-be attacker.
DNA evidence would eventually link Florida fisherman Jesus Mezquia to Zapata's murder. After his first conviction was overturned, Mezquia was sentenced to 36 years in prison in 2009.

Second Skin

The Gits

Go Home

Joan Jett

15 SUMMER SONGS

2011-07-20T19:30:00.007-04:00

It's been close to a month since I've posted. What was the reason for my break from blogging? Well, since there are a multitude of factors, I'll just say it was summer. There are thousands of songs about the sweetest season. Here are fifteen of my favourites.

Summertime

Janis Joplin

Listen to the full song.

Summer Special

Land of Talk

My Drive Thru

NERD, Santigold & Julian Casablancas

Listen to the full song.

Electric Music & the Summer People

Beck

Listen to the alternate version.

Boys of Summer

The Ataris

Listen to Don Henely's original version.

Celebrated Summer

Hüsker Dü

Summer Babe

Pavement

Idiot Summer

Gin Blossoms

Summer in Siam

The Pogues

It's Summertime

Flaming Lips

Summer

War

Sunny Afternoon
The Kinks

Summerday Sands

Jethro Tull

Wipeout

Fat Boys & the Beach Boys

Summer's Almost Gone

The Doors

NEW FACE TO FACE ALBUM + FREE MP3

2011-06-22T17:45:00.006-04:00

Face to Face have reunited following their 2004 break up to the delight of rock fans everywhere.
Their latest album Laugh Now, Laugh Later was released in May and finds Face to Face pumping out pop-punk riffs as if they never split up. Formed twenty years ago in Victorville, California, Face to Face has undergone many line up changes through out the band's history. Laugh Now, Laugh Later reunites Terver Keith with Chad Yaro, who parted with the band before 2002's How to Ruin Everything. Keith and Yaro are joined by Scott Shiflett on bass and percussionist Danny Thompson.
Download the track It's Not All About You today (June 22-23 only) free from Amazon.com.

What You Came For

Should Anything Go Wrong

INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDE SPEED OF AMERICAN MEN

2011-06-21T16:24:00.016-04:00

Tulta Behm photo

I first heard the synth rock band that is American Men on an indie compilation earlier this year. Their track Good Po-lice immediately caught my attention. Throbbing yet upbeat, American Men's music manages to sound retro and progressive all at once. Below is my interview with Claude Speed (no, not that guy) who generously took the time to speak with me about where their cryptic name came from and what's next for the Scottish four piece. Visit American Men's tumblr or LuckyMe's homepage for more American Men music and info.

Bradley: What was the inspiration behind the name American Men?

Claude Speed: There's no one answer to this, so here are some possibilities:

(1) American Men supposedly got their name by randomly selecting two pairs of numbers and looking up the corresponding page/word in a copy of Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow.

(2) American Men supposedly got their name by finding a phrase which would be statistically the least likely to produce a relevant result on Google.

(3) American Men supposedly got their name after weekend in Barcelona, when the members woke up unable to remember anything that had happened the night before. The only evidence of their activities was a smashed Ouija board and a grainy VHS depicting underwater pyramids and a pitched down voice chanting “American Men” over and over again.

B: How would you describe your music to our readers?

CS: Chasing the future, a hundred years too late. A sad computer imagining what Chavez sound like just from reading the wikipedia entry; failing. Reconstructing the contents of your hard drive from memory.

B: How would you describe the electronica scene in Scotland? And in Europe?

CS: There's been a lot of good electronic music in Scotland for as long as I can remember. I was fairly obsessed with Boards of Canada in the '90s and Benbecula records were doing pretty good records in the last 5 years or so. The obvious reference points in Scotland for us are LuckyMe and Numbers. They are both doing pretty awesome things.

I'm not that familiar with the electronica scene as a whole in Europe, but a lot of the music I've been into in the last few years has come from England, there's too much to mention, the Netherlands, like Beat Dimensions, Rush Hour, Kindred Spirits and Nod Navigators and Spain, such as Mweslee, BFlecha and Arkestra collective. There's also a great radio show from Athens, Greece that my girlfriend and I listen to every weekend called Black Athena. And Machinedrum just moved to Berlin!

B: Would you say it differs from the North American scene?

CS: I'm probably more attuned to the similarities between US/Canadian artists (particularly LA, New York and Montreal) and the Scottish ones than I am the differences. I think that when myspace was a big thing the concept of a geographical "scene" lost importance. People would link up online and location became way less relevant. I think the camaraderie was built up in a virtual space rather than a real one. A lot of the artists I listen to I hear about are from friends who linked up with those people online.

B: What is the American Men writing process?

CS: It used to be that I'd write what were essentially guitar songs, and then transpose them to synths. The idea was that those synths would sound somewhere between a distorted guitar and a Boards of Canada type sound.

Now the process is that one of us comes up with an idea for a song, sketches it out on the computer and then sends it to everyone else to comment on and work on. We all have fairly busy schedules and don't all live in the same city so that's generally the start/middle of the process for now. We do try to meet up to finish songs in person either in the studio or in my flat. We have two drummers now, hi ya Robbie, which should make the process more interesting too.

B: What is coming up next for American Men?

CS: We're in the midst of writing an album to come out on LuckyMe next year. We have pretty much no idea how it's going to sound; although we've written the bones of twelve or thirteen songs that's mostly restricted to the melodies, chords and basic rhythms. So a lot of the fleshing out is still to be done. Particularly picking the right sounds. Once we're happy with 20 minutes or so of new music we'll play some low key shows I think.

B: Is there anything I neglected to mention that you want our readers to know?

CS: 1. The new Dutch Uncles and Gang Gang Dance records are tremendous.
2. I'm doing a solo album as Claude Speed which I'm enjoying a lot and I'm hoping will be awesome.
3. Don't Ever Antagonise the Horn.

Cool World

TRUE BLOOD SEASON 4 SNEAK PEEK

2011-06-16T06:33:00.017-04:00

The first eight minutes of True Blood's new season have been leaked (watch below) or released as promotion, whichever you choose to believe. The teaser shows that Sookie Stackhouse's fairy relatives are not as benevolent as they first appeared; in true ridiculous TB fashion. True Blood's life force may be vampires but there are many other supernatural beings lurking in the bayous of Louisiana. HBO's blood thirsty series has presented a serial killer, a maenad and werewolves as main antagonists so far. The sneak peek hints that fairies (or are these elves in the clip masquerading as fairies?) will bring the pain this time around, yet it has been reported season four will prominently feature witches in addition to delving deeper into the fairy realm. The inclusion of Wicca wretches this year stays true to Charlaine Harris' fourth book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series (which has been re-branded the True Blood series, naturally), Dead to the World. Aside from Sookie's perilous journey to another plane, there are still many questions lingering from last season's finale. Where did Tara go and will she come back to Bon Temps? How will Jason handle Crystal's deserted derelict family? Who emerges victorious in the Bill versus Sophie Anne confrontation? Viewers will learn the answers when the new season premieres June 26.

BON IVER'S NEW ALBUM + MORE GEOCENTRIC SONGS

2011-06-03T15:40:00.016-04:00

This post began as a continuation of my post on geocentric songs. As I listened to and looked over Bon Iver's new eponymous album I noticed that many of Justin Vernon's latest songs reference cities and locations. So this post is really "10 more great geocentric songs; plus three from Bon Iver."
Hailing from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Vernon has quickly risen out of indie obscurity to become the trendy titan to watch in a few short years. His frostily effective 2007 self-released debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, demonstrated his sweetness with tracks like Skinny Love and Flume. For Emma would secure a wider release on Jagjaguwar in 2008. The Blood Bank EP followed in 2009. The EP's title track is slow paced and haunting and remains one of his best. Blood Bank also found Vernon experimenting with auto-tune, which was met with varying critical reactions. With the exception of Flume, I tend to prefer Vernon's baritone vocals over his soprano style singing- and could do without the auto-tune altogether. Whether high, low or auto-tuned, Bon Iver's music is frequently catchy and manages to captivate. His new self-titled album is no exception.

Calgary

Perth (Intro)

Wisconsin

10 MORE GREAT GEOCENTRIC SONGS

Sea of Japan
Earl Greyhound

New York City
Cub

California Run
Neil Nathan

Zurich is Stained
Pavement

Of Montreal
The Stills

Baltimore Blues No. 1
Deer Tick(Also see Huston, TX)

Hong Kong Garden
Siouxsie & the Banshees

(Also see Israel)

Paris Blue
Lykke Li

Talking Lynndie England
Oh No Ono

Rendondo Beach
Patti Smith

MADRID

2011-05-26T13:40:00.005-04:00

This interview with Duncan Christie originally appeared on Soundproofmagazine.com.

Christie (left) and Perry. Photo courtesy of Madrid.

Duncan Christie has a message for fans of his electro-pop band Madrid. Although it has been eight years since Madrid's debut, Warm Waters, they did release an EP in 2007 titled First Message. First Message was a precursor to their recently released full length Original Message.

Christie says the time between albums is due to the fact that Madrid, which also features Adam Perry and Eric Lightfoot, chose to make the music found on their new record in a completely different way than the sounds they had previously created.

"We are definitely traveling uncharted waters in a sense that there's no formula for our music," Christie said. "So the recording process takes a lot more time. We're inventing genres and styles as we go. We're not following any kind of traditional way to make music. I think that Original Message has a wider range of influences. Warm Waters, I think was a great album because it was very singular; whereas with Original Message, we kind of opened our song writing process to all kinds of other influences."

The change in Madrid's sound influenced the band to switch labels after Warm Waters. The group started out on Aporia Records but now calls YYZ home.

"Being on Aporia for our first record was perfect," Christie explains. "We were pretty new to the game and they had a roster that was ethereal kinds of music and we fit in to that. Yet we knew that when we started working on new sounds that we had to be in the hands of someone more entrenched in the electronic scene."

In addition to making music Christie is also a prolific player in the Canadian film industry. Christie attended Humber's film program and says he is fortunate he went to Humber during the time period that he did.

"In the film course I was able to make movies on 16mm film; which was great freedom. A lot of people going to film school now don't use the same sort of old technology and learn the basics that way. I feel fortunate that I was in one of the last years that were able to truly call it a film school," Christie said.

Christie worked extensively on the cult show Kenny vs. Spenny and directed the cult film Confessions of A Porn Addict.

"I was working with some really close friends on that project" Christie said of Confessions of a Porn Addict. "Part of our shoot was in Toronto; here we had time and structure. The second half we shot in Los Angeles and the atmosphere was crazy while we were there. It was ultra-guerrilla film making. We had no real structure; we had no real support in place. It was five guys running around the San Fernando Valley chasing after these weird porn people and making a comedy at the same time so it was a ton of fun."

With all of his success in the music and film industries, Christie likens the rhythm that comes with playing music to the rhythm ones needs to edit film.

"I think there are a lot of the same sensibilities. Especially with editing, it's rhythm. It's very musical the way I approach it. I think the two definitely go hand in hand. I've been fortunate that I've never had to choose between the two careers. They just both co-exist side by side. I approach it creatively from the same place."

Out To Sea

Easy

MOM/CHILD RELATIONSHIP SONGS

2011-05-07T13:49:00.005-04:00

The impetus of Mother's Day comes from Ancient Greek and Roman times. The Roman festival of Cybele eventually progressed into the Christian festival of Mothering Sunday that honoured the Virgin Mary and the "mother church."
Honouring mothers would be modernized in the 1870s as an observance for mothers who lost children in the American Civil War. Then on May 9 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's Day a national holiday and the day of maternal merit in May spread around the globe.
I happen to love my Mom and have a great relationship with her. However, talk to enough people and you'll know that isn't the case with everyone. Moms are human and can make mistakes. Mother/child relationships are as varied as a bouquet of carnations purchased last minute on a highway off ramp.
Below you'll find songs that suit whatever the status of your relationship with your mom may be.

For love/hate mother/child relationships

My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Momma
Mothers of Invention

For those who are distant

Mother Mother
Tracy Bonham

For kids who still live with their moms

Tie Your Mother Down
Queen

For nosy, meddling moms

Your Mother Should Know
The Beatles

For explosive relationships

Mother
Pink Floyd

For those with fun moms; the kind who will go to the club with you

Take Your Momma Out
Scissor Sisters

For those who never had a mom

I Need A Mother
Eels

For mamma's boys

Mother's Little Helper
Rolling Stones

For those who miss their moms

Momma I'm Coming Home
Ozzy Osbourne

For those who are or will be moms

I Think I'm A Mother
PJ Harvey

POLY STYRENE (1957 – 2011)

2011-04-30T20:35:00.024-04:00

Lead singer of the influential and incendiary '70s band X-Ray Spex Poly Styrene succumbed to cancer on April 25.
Born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said in Bromley, Kent, England, Styrene was raised by her single Caucasian mother. Her father, a Somali aristocrat, was not present in Styrene's life.
Styrene ran away from home at 15 and lived a nomadic hippie lifestyle. She eventually hooked up with a boyfriend/manager who would take her around to record company offices, attempting to secure studio time. This approach eventually wore thin.

"I got a bit bored with being a solo artist as I was working with all these session musicians who were a lot older than me and who I had little in common with," Styrene told Penny Black Music in 2005. "I wanted to have a band, and that is really why I formed X-Ray Spex. I was writing and recording, writing and recording, writing and recording, and then I got a bit fed up with it because nothing was really happening, so I thought I’ll put a band together. I put X-Ray Spex together after I saw the Sex Pistols for the first time."

Poly Styrene was not Elliott-Said's stage name of choice. Her manager suggested the moniker and at first she refused it, using it instead for her small fashion label. Eventually she embraced the plastic pseudonym.

Before the release of X-Ray Spex's Germ Free Adolescents, their only full length release, the band spent nearly a year as the house band at the Man in the Moon pub, a bar on King's Road. Styrene was generous to other up and coming acts, giving bands like Adam and the Ants and the Tourists stage time.

One of their most famous tracks, Oh Bondage, Up Yours!, was inspired by the suffragette movement. Bondage was X-Ray Spex's first released recording in 1977. In 1978 Germ Free Adolescents was released receiving moderate success and critical praise. In 2001 Spin ranked the album at #5 on their list of the 50 Most Essential Punk Records.

"I wrote Identity after I saw this girl Tracey slash her wrists at the Roxy. She was a sales assistant in Vivienne Westwood’s shop, Seditionaries. I didn’t write that song about myself at all. I think the idea that I did came from Jon Savage and England's Dreaming," Styrene said.

Identity

I Am A Cliché

I Am A Poseur

During one of the many tours in support of Adolescents, Styrene claims she saw a UFO and the experience had a traumatic effect on her. At 21 she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where doctors told her she would never work again. This was effectively the end of X-Ray Spex. Upon her release from hospital Styrene released a solo album, Translucence, in 1980. Her solo work was jazzy and dissimilar from X-Ray Spex's sound. Styrene cited the tranquilizers she was prescribed for the change in her music. Many fans cried foul but most critics embraced the morph.

"I got a bit slated for it," Styrene recalled. "It was like 'Look what happened to her. She was this gung-ho punk revolutionary. Where... [has it] all gone?'"

Shades

When Styrene fronted X-Ray Spex there were few lead singers of colour, especially in the punk scene. Her change of tempo on Translucence was seen as an unconventional move; given the success she found with harder music. As if these oddities of her identity weren't enough, her next move would be the most surprising yet. Styrene joined the Hare Krishna movement.

"I have kept the philosophy, but I haven’t stuck with the organisation," Styrene said in 2005. "Philosophy is one thing, but organisations and corruption are other things. I am not saying that the Krishna movement is completely corrupt, but there was some strange stuff happening, and I decided to disassociate myself from it."

Styrene went on to release Flower Aeroplane in 2005 and Generation Indigo earlier this year. The track Black Christmas (below) was co-written with her daughter, Celeste, who is also featured on the song.

Black Christmas

In February 2011 Styrene revealed in an interview with The Sunday Times that she had recently been treated for breast cancer but it had spread to her spine and lungs.

"I had a guru who left the mortal world in December," Styrene said in a March interview with The Quietus. "He gave me a meditation on the spirit, it was a female spirit, very beautiful but it made me think about how this body is just a material body, like an outer shell. It will deteriorate and die, but we can leave something behind in our music or art."

Virtual Boyfriend

THORN

2011-04-21T12:01:00.012-04:00

This article on Marion Arthur and Nicolette Lagace of ThOrN originally appeared on Soundproofmagazine.com.

Photo courtesy of ThOrN.

There are plenty of roses growing in the Ottawa-valley region and with those roses come many thorns. Together Cellist Marion Arthur and pianist Nicolette Lagace comprise ThOrN. The classical grunge music they create, while sharp enough to draw blood, is simply too hip for the conservative community where they reside. Yet that hasn’t stopped these talented girls from branching out and finding audiences in Ottawa and beyond.

Both Arthur and Lagace are classically trained in the performance of their respective instrument and come from musical families.

Arthur studied at the University of Toronto where some days she would practice for six hours on top of playing in ensembles, orchestras and attending classes. While thankful for the solid classical background she has from attending U of T, Arthur found that, like many who reside in the Ottawa-valley, the school faculty had conservative attitudes towards music.

“I performed some of my own songs in my third year recital, but my jury of two seasoned, classical musicians was not impressed,” Arthur laughs.

Arthur now utilizes her experiences as a student to teach with Kindermusik; a music and movement program for children aged 0-7 and their parents.

“Children are exposed to songs, percussion instruments and dances in class. This helps support their brain development by challenging them in many ways and is just plain fun for parents and children alike,” Arthur said.

Lagace was snared by all things symphonic at an early age. While attending a Christian school as a child she took a liking to tickling the ivories. She began piano classes at age 9 and eventually enrolled in Royal Conservatory classical piano lessons.

“That was my parent’s way of instilling and fertilizing those talents,” Lagace said.

The two met when Lagace was looking for a cellist to appear on her last solo album, Love in a Box. Lagace was impressed by Arthur’s cello lines and they decided to create a new project, giving rise to ThOrN.

“ThOrN is a project that started as recognition that Nic and I have a similar emotional vibe,” Arthur said. “Both Nic and I write quite dark music and the piano and cello create an ethos that is compelling. Even though I'm revisiting songs that I played as MEA [Arthur’s solo moniker], Nicolette brings an organic darkness to the project that wasn't there on my album Cocoon to Butterfly. I feel like the emotional landscapes are greater than I've created in the past.”

Lagace agrees saying that the music she created with her former band was mostly prog rock-based and ThOrN is more low-key. The label of classical grunge came about because the duo feels their music is a combination of classical, rock, pop and progressive rock.

While innovative and interesting, ThOrN’s music isn’t what most communities in the Ottawa-valley are up for.

“It’s definitely a challenge here” Lagace said. “In Pembroke and the small surrounding areas there are not a lot of venues that are open-minded to what we offer. Even for my previous band it was always a challenge to try and find a show. People here just weren’t sure because it wasn’t cover tunes or country music. It was something totally off the wall for this area.”

Silent (live)

SONGS FOR 4/20

2011-04-20T16:20:00.014-04:00

I first heard that the term "420" was coined because in California the police code for marijuana-related offences is numerically 420. This information appears to be false; that's what you get for taking the word of a high school stoner. Other unsubstantiated explanations include "April 20th is the day Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and/or Jimi Hendrix died," "April 20th is the best day to plant your crop," or "The Grateful Dead always stayed in room 420 while on tour."
The real origin comes from a group of San Rafael High School classmates in California who would meet up at 4:20 p.m. every day to blaze.
Growing out of that tale, the numbers 420 have now come to signify that 4:20 p.m. is the socially accepted time of day to partake in weed smoking; sparking up before that time would mean you are just an aimless stoner.
As almost every Canadian knows, April 20th is the day anyone can assemble on Parliament Hill to smoke without fear of persecution or arrest. There are also large demonstrations in the Canadian cities of London, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
In addition there are many pop culture and industry references to 420. The clocks in Pulp Fiction are all stuck on 4:20. New York's 420 Tours arranges travel to Jamaica and the Netherlands and Atlanta's Sweetwater Brewing Co. sells a 420 beer and opens its doors to the public at 4:20 p.m.
Sadly April 20th is also associated with some dark historic facts. Today also happens to be Hilter's birthday and the anniversary of the Columbine shootings.
Below you'll find some of the best songs that pay homage to an activity many will engage in today. I was going to include Because I Got High but I forgot for some reason.

Bury Me In Smoke by Burnt Ones

Burnt Ones - Bury Me In Smoke from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Weed Card by Garfunkel & Oates

For more on G&O see my interview with Kate "Oates" Micucci.

Get It Together by Beastie Boys feat. Q-Tip

Smoke Two Joints by Sublime

Hits From Da Bong by Cypress Hill

Mary Jane by Rick James

Champagne & Reefer by Muddy Waters

Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath

Hash Pipe by Weezer

One Toke Over The Line by Brewer & Shipley

Blizted by Raveonettes

Strobe by Deadmau5

Pass The Dutchie by Musical Youth

TYLEAN

2011-04-13T00:43:00.009-04:00

This interview with TyLean originally appeared on Soundproofmagazine.com. Her latest album The Unforgivable, The Unforgettable is available now via her official site. Death Disco presents TyLean at Ottawa's Avant-Garde Bar April 15. She will then bring her operatic sounds to Peterborough April 16 and Toronto April 24.

Apologies for the spacing errors in the text.

Photo courtesy of TyLean.

Pianist TyLean's music comes with the disclaimer that it is ‘not for casual listeners.' Her latest offering, The Unforgivable, The Unforgettable, combines elements of the caustic and the celestial; a melding of genres that has amassed TyLean a following on both sides of the Atlantic.

Originally hailing from small town Pennsylvania, TyLean now resides in London. A self-taught pianist since the age of 14, she began experimenting with the cello at 24.

"I am not a cellist and have never called my self such. People assume because I'm classically trained" - a phrase she detests - "that I must be by default classically trained on the cello. I don't play cellos. I rape them. It's a phenomenal instrument for exploiting and creating horrific soundscapes."

The landscape of TyLean's childhood was a lonely one. Living in such an insular place with siblings too old to bother with her, she retreated into the fantasy world of film.

"Film was my first passion, because watching movies kept me company," she says. "That was what I wanted to do, but since there were no films being made in my part of Pennsylvania and I couldn't convince my family to move, I got into children's theatre as a matter of compromise. From there I got into musicals and eventually came to be very passionate about orchestral music and opera."

The influence of operatic music can be heard on her debut, the When All Else Fails EP. Although many called When All Else Fails ‘hauntingly beautiful,' TyLean describes the reaction to her debut as confused.

"It was my first release. I had no fans, no supporters and no one who understood who I was and what I was about. I don't even think I understood who I was and what I was about yet. The lyrics were either too dark for them to accept or too intelligent for them to understand. In addition, I was from small town Northeast Pennsylvania. I knew people who had tattoos of the local ‘80s cover band who they would support tooth and nail in a fight. Just the fact that I was recording and releasing original music was well beyond their ability to comprehend."

It was small-mindedness like this that inspired TyLean to seek refuge in another country. For as long as she can remember, she has wanted to flee the US.

"I don't like America," she says. "I was hell-bent on becoming an ex-patriot since I was 7 years old and was able to understand what countries were and just how far away the other side of the Atlantic was."

Her move across the pond has given TyLean an insight into the habits of the international music fan. She says American, English and Canadian music lovers all absorb music differently.

"In the UK, people are more passive about their music than in the States, where people define themselves by the music they listen to. In the States, people tend to be more dedicated to a genre than their own ability to think whether they like a piece of music or not. The UK is also slightly like this, though not nearly to such a degree. Canada, however, is completely the opposite. Music fans are open minded and accepting of anything they happen to like, despite what genre it falls into."

Once of a member of prolific darkwave band Attrition, TyLean and founding member Martin Bowes had a falling out over his veganism.

"We parted ways over an incredibly silly difference of diet. Martin Bowes is a vegan. I think we should eat endangered animals before there are no more left to taste; humans too. I'm at odds with the accepted belief that humans are special and important. We are shit-throwing monkeys who if we hadn't evolved to say derogatory things about one another, we would still be flinging poop. One day the usual banter turned into an actual disagreement and that was that for Attrition. We were both probably being too headstrong for our own good."

However TyLean says she loved the experience of performing with the band, which has been active for three decades, and looks forward to connecting with Bowes again in the future.

After the upcoming Death Disco dates TyLean is heading back to England to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. Look for a new EP, tentatively titled Formaldehyde, to appear this summer.

Corner of My Eye

Love Always Dies (live)

SONGS TO STIFLE SEASONAL SORROW

2011-03-15T20:58:00.012-04:00

As what once was frozen begins to melt and winter slides into spring, many are affected by damp spirits and soaked shoes. Music therapy is a surefire cure for seasonal sorrow. So if you're saddened by the elusiveness of sunny springtime weather; snuggle up with these sanguine songs.

You'll Find A Way by Santigold

Santi White and John Hill originally recorded under the pseudonym Santogold but swapped an "O" for the "I" after the threat of a lawsuit from the makers of the 1985 movie Santo Gold's Blood Circus. Their eponymous debut album is awash with feel good anthems. Also see Lights Out, Unstoppable and Say Aha.

Lasso by Phoenix

This French outfit first assembled as cover band playing in bars and cafes. After adopting their current moniker, the band, led by Thomas Mars who is married to Sofia Coppola, got a gig as Air's backing band. Their album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix beat out the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Depeche Mode to claim the 2010 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. I would say the album is more electronic than alternative; yet the optimistic offerings Phoenix delivers remain winners regardless of genre. Also see Girlfriend and 1901.

No Nostalgia by AgesandAges

This seven member band from Portland, Oregon released their debut album, Alright, You Restless, last month. Their jam band sound and sing-a-long style makes for songs that are as secure and warm as a group bear hug. While they maintain they are not a cult, they are hoping their rapidly increasing fan base will organize as one. I imagine they would be devotees of hand claps and harmonies.

Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

The collaborative and experimental group known as Animal Collective has been kicking around for a decade. Yet it was their most recent album, The Merriweather Post Pavilion, that proved to be the roar heard around the world. The band's four members, Avey Tare (David Porter), Deakin (Josh Dibb), Geologist (Brian Weitz) and Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), are fluid with their contributions. All have side and/or solo projects but Animal Collective remains the most successful of all of their musical outfits.

Don't Give Up by Noisettes

Don't Give Up is a feel good track which can also act as motivational music. Noisettes fuse funk, punk, rock and soul into a truly original sound. Their 2007 debut What's the Time Mr. Wolf? made in on to my best of '07 list. Their follow up Wild Young Hearts while more soulful than rock is still strong enough to merit a listen.

Golden Phone by Micachu & the Shapes

Highly unorthodox Mica Levi has captivated audiences in her native UK by utilizing extraordinary instruments such as a vacuum cleaner and broken bottles. Superstar fans of hers include Bjork and Animal Collective. While Mica says she's "not totally behind" her debut album Jewellery, English music fans lapped up the album like kindergartners slurping spilled cola. When Jewellery wasn't nominated for the Mercury Prize an outpouring of criticism slammed the nomination process. Regardless of the controversy, no one can deny that Golden Phone is a song that will warm up the dampest of spirits.

Multiply & Divide by the Soviettes

The band's name came from a "tip" a customer gave singer/guitarist Annie Holoien as she waited tables in St. Paul, Minnesota. In lieu of payment he offered the name The Soviettes for her band. That was a decade ago and after three well received LPs, the band went on semi-permanent hiatus in 2006.
Their music is usually short and speedy and at the height of their popularity the foursome managed to perform in all fifty states in a span of three months. Their myspace page hints that they may reassemble for shows; as they did in 2010.
After the Soviettes' hiatus Holoien and Danny Henry formed Awesome Snakes. Holoien recently joined The God Dam Doo Wop Band and Maren "Sturgeon" Macosko plays in The Gateway District. Suzy Sharp is now the bass player for That's Incredible.

This Twist by Roxy Epoxy & the Rebound

Roxy Epoxy's Bandaids on Bullet Holes is made up of unusual, upbeat, new wave-inspired tracks guaranteed to put the listener in a good mood. For more about former Epoxies member Roxy Epoxy see my post on anti-social songs. Also check out Roxy's Ego Hour, her radio show on KPSU, Portland's college radio station.

Hardcore Girls by The Count & Sinden featuring Rye Rye

Perhaps best known as MIA's protege, the remarkably refreshing Rye Rye's career got a jump start when she left rap on DJ Blaqstarr's voicemail. Dubstep and grime producers The Count and Sinden tapped her for this single and also co-produced her forthcoming debut Go! Pop! Bang! along with Diplo, Blaqstarr and MIA.

I Feel Alive by 33Hz

The members of NYC's 33Hz love disco (and cheesy video effects, see below.) Their electro-heavy sound may have played better decades ago, yet this strobe-lit song still has the power to perk up sagging spirits.

Ba Ba BaBa Ba Ba Well Anyway by Oh No Ono

This Danish band's style is deviant and daring. Malthe Fischer's vocals definitely diverge from what would be considered the norm for North American music listening audiences. His frightening falsetto might turn some people off, but if you prefer uncommonly hyper arrangements, Oh No Ono's 2006 album Yes may be what you've been seeking. Their most recent album, Egg, was released last year.

My Rainbow Valley by Dolly Mixture

Formed in 1978 in Cambridge, Dolly Mixture was first conceived as a joke. Three teenage schoolmates, Debsy Wykes, Hester Smith and Rachel Bor, loved the dreamy sounds of the '60s and as a response to the popularity of post-punk decided to tell people they were in whimsical pop band. When they began receiving requests for live performances, the girls picked up instruments and began practicing in earnest. They found some success backing Captain Sensible yet they released just one full length album, 1983's Demonstration Tapes. My Rainbow Valley is typical of Dolly Mixture's gleeful sound. If you can overcome the cooing backing vocals the track will subtly slap you with a sweet smile.

YOUNG GALAXY

2011-03-09T20:42:00.002-05:00

This article originally appeared on Soundproofmagazine.com. Visit Young Galaxy's official site for tour dates.

Photo courtesy of Young Galaxy.

With their latest album Shapeshifting, Montréal based trio Young Galaxy have made a conscious decision to move in another direction.

Shapeshifting combines upbeat drum arrangements and electronic-based melodies- which may seem like a strange choice as their last album, 2009's indie rock-based Invisible Republic, was long listed for the Polaris Music Prize. However this time around Stephen Ramsay says the band, which also features Catherine McCandless and Stephen Kamp, resolved to challenge their own musicality; which is why the sublime sounds on Shapeshifting are noticeably divergent from the music found on Invisible Republic.

"We saw ourselves making similar choices every time we would make music. For this record we wanted to move away from the easy choices," Ramsay recalls. "So the evolution in some ways was a sort of very calculated choice. To move away from the way we made music in the past. So everything changed from the process of how we approached the writing to how we recorded it. The whole process of how we make music has been inverted in a way. So what you see is almost a negative impression of what we used to do and how we used to make music."

Ramsay and McCandless founded Young Galaxy in 2005 while residing in their native Vancouver. Their debut EP Swing Your Heartache was released in 2006 and Ramsay says Young Galaxy's inception was marred by hesitation and fickleness. Ramsay and McCandless began as friends, eventually becoming an item, and Ramsay encouraged McCandless to rock the mic.

"When the project began it was really just me working out my own initial interest in writing songs," Ramsay said. "Catherine was quite a shy singer and I always tried to get her involved. I knew she could sing but she wouldn't sing in front of people. We didn't really have any ambition. We just wanted to make music and write together. It was a good exercise for us as friends and as a couple. What you hear a lot in our early attempts at songs is me singing, but now Catherine sings mostly. At that time she was very shy and not as involved in the whole process. It was a gradual thawing out of our creativity until we were equals and that is where we are now."

When Ramsay was invited to play with Montréal super group Stars, the duo made the move to La Belle Province. In addition to the opportunity with Stars, Ramsay chose Montréal for the opportunities the city offers.

"We were trying to think of somewhere exciting to move to within Canada. Montréal is kind of the anti-thesis to Vancouver," Ramsay laughs. "The community and the city are ones we love and I think we will stay here for a long time."

Ramsay credits Stars with kick starting Young Galaxy's career and in 2007 they released their self-titled full length debut on Arts & Crafts. Yet after their self-titled release, they were told they were a losing endeavor economically and went independent with Invisible Republic, which would eventually find distribution through Fontana North. When Invisible Republic was long listed for the Polaris Music Prize, no one was more surprised than Ramsay.

"It didn't matter in a way," Ramsay said of their Polaris nomination. "We didn't need validation but in a way it was validating. It wasn't a question of whether the record was any good. It was more just the fact that not many people had heard it. So when that came along it came a long time after the record came out and we had no expectations."

Fan's expectations for Shapeshifting are high as Dan Lissvik, of the band Studio, produced the album over nine months in Sweden.

"We knew he would be able to hone it into something that was ready for listeners," Ramsay said.

Witness a supernova on the stage, featuring a pregnant McCandless, when Young Galaxy comes to a city near you in March. Their tour includes stops in Ottawa, Toronto and American dates.

Peripheral Visionaries

Cover Your Tracks

GARFUNKEL & OATES

2011-02-19T15:00:00.006-05:00

This article originally appeared on Soundproofmagazine.com. Garfunkel and Oates' album All Over Your Face is available now on iTunes.


Micucci (left) and Lindhome. Photo courtesy of the artist.

If you are confused by the moniker Garfunkel and Oates, you wouldn't be the first. Comedy duo Riki "Garfunkel" Lindhome and Kate "Oates" Micucci took their stage name from two of music's most prominent second bananas. Once Tom Arnold booked them; thinking they were actually Art Garfunkel and John Oates. Now that their self-released album, All Over Your Face, has debuted at #1 on iTunes Comedy and HBO has tapped the team for a pilot, it is unlikely that mistake will be made again.

Micucci and Lindhome met at the Los Angeles chapter of the Upright Citizen's Brigade in 2007 and quickly began working together on the musical film Imaginary Larry. When the excerpts of that collaboration amassed legions of fans on youtube, the two decided to pursue further musical ambitions.

"That was really exciting for us," Micucci wrote from L.A about All Over Your Face's iTunes ranking. "We made this album all on our own without a record label."

They did create a fictitious label, "No One Buys Records," to release the album on and it's this type of irreverent humour that landed Garfunkel and Oates on Jay Leno's Tonight Show on four separate occasions. Their lyrics frequently tackle social taboos like unconfident sex ("Handjob, Blandjob, I Don't Understandjob") drugs ("Weed Card") and pregnant envy ("Pregnant Women Are Smug.")

"It usually starts with the subject of the song," Micucci, who is originally from Pennsylvania, wrote about the Garfunkel and Oates writing process. "We just start spitting out ideas. Some songs come out really quickly but most take a lot of time and thought. 'Handjob Blandjob, I Don't Unerstandjob' took months to finish. We began writing that song on an airplane. We were discussing in great detail our confusion about hand jobs and the poor lady sitting next to us seemed really uncomfortable."

The pair recently wrapped shooting a video for Weed Card, a song that was written in sex columnist Dan Savage's basement. However Garfunkel and Oates' celebrity ties don't end there. Micucci and Lindhome were invited by the Oates of their namesake to perform as his opening act.

"John Oates is just so cool. And one of the nicest guys, too," Micucci wrote. "We both grew up listening to Hall and Oates and they still are one of our favorite bands, so we were flipping out when John reached out to us to see if we wanted to play music with him. We opened for him when he played in Southern California and then last September he invited us to play at his Songwriter Festival in Aspen."

The only stipulation for the girls using his name is that John Oates requires free beer at all of their shows. While Art Garfunkel has yet to contact the duo, Micucci adds that they wouldn't turn down an opportunity to work with him.

The opportunity to ink the deal for their pilot at HBO came from a partnership with Richard Keen. Keen has previously worked on the web sensationTom Cruise is a Cock Block and Comedy Central's Important Things With Dimitri Martin. If Garfunkel and Oates' series is picked up, a portion of the series will be web-based.

Both women have established ties with HBO. Micucci has a reoccurring role on Bored to Death as Zach Galifianakis' elfin love interest and Lindhome will appear in the upcoming Laura Dern-starring comedy Enlightened. Micucci has also appeared on the sitcoms Raising Hope, Scrubs and Weeds and you may remember Lindhome as the murderous maven Sadie in the recent remake of Last House on the Left, or from guest spots on sitcoms such as Single Dads and $H*! My Dad Says.

In addition to upcoming shows in LA, Garfunkel and Oates will be appearing at the Melbourne Comedy Festival this spring and hope to release another full length album by the end of the year.

Weed Card

Worst Songs Ever Medley

BREAK UP SONGS

2011-02-14T12:08:00.005-05:00

Whether you are alone by choice this V-day or you're alone because it turns out your valentine gave you VD; here are thirteen break up songs to help nurse your broken heart.

Cupid
Spinerette

"Cupid don't you know that, that it's over?"

You & I
Cut Off Your Hands

"You were not there for me. I just moved on. I've been moving on for so long."

Do Me a Favour
Arctic Monkeys

"Do me a favour and stop flattering yourself. How to tear apart the ties that bind? Perhaps fuck off, might be too kind."

Capri Pants
Bikini Kill

"I like you but baby it's all wrong."

Knives Out
Radiohead

"Look into my eyes. I'm not coming back."

Breakaway
Detroit Cobras

"I'll make that vow to myself. You and I are through. Nothing can change my mind. I'm sorry just won't do."

Like a Drug
Queens of the Stone Age

"What can I say? I guess it wasn't meant to be. Now you're gone."

Divorce Song
Liz Phair

"And the licence said you had to stick around 'til I was dead. But if you're tired of looking at my face, I guess I already am."

Gone Daddy Gone
Violent Femmes

"The love is gone."

Not In Love
Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith

"And we were lovers. Now we can't be friends. Fascination ends."

Night Watch
Tegan & Sara

"I've got grounds for divorce. It's in my blood this divorce. I seperate everybody. I need distance from your body."

Freebird
Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Bye bye, it's been a sweet love. Though this feeling I can't change."

Don't Dream It's Over
Crowded House

"They come, they come. To build a wall between us."

5 DRAMATIC OSCAR NOMINATIONS

2011-02-07T20:06:00.015-05:00

There were a few surprises when the Academy Award nominations were announced late last month. Aussie Jacki Weaver usurped a fictional Jackie's nomination in the Best Supporting Actress race and Canada-Italy co-production Barney's Version quizzically snagged a nod for Best Make Up. While the majority of the noms were as predicted, the nominations in this post were mostly unforeseen in true dramatic fashion.

Denis Villeneuve's Incendies, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film

Quebecois director Villeneuve's work has been submitted as Canada's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar twice before. In 1998 for August 32nd on Earth and for his brilliant, multiple award-winning tale of an edifying fish and wrongful death, 2000's Maelström. The story of twins who venture to the Middle East after their mother's death, Incendies marks Villeneuve's first Academy Award nomination after his two unsuccessful attempts. According to critic's picks complied by goldderby.com, the film is in a tight race to bring home the gold. Out of the twenty-two critics polled, Incendies and In A Better World from Denmark are tied with eight votes each. The six remaining critics chose Spain's Buitiful as the likely winner. Canada has won in this category once; for Denys Arcand's Les Invasions Barbares.

Incendies trailer (French with English subtitles)

Mike Leigh, nominated for Best Original Screenplay for Another Year

The screenplay categories are where you will occasionally find first-rate, independent films that deserved additional nominations (see The Squid and The Whale, Ghost World, Election) but were muscled out of other categories. Leigh, the British sentimentalist scribe who brought us tales of off the map obstetricians (Vera Drake) and untamed optimism (Happy-Go-Lucky,) has landed his seventh nomination for penning Another Year. It's unlikely he will finally win a statue this year (he's 0-6 so far), as he's up against favourite The King's Speech and other strong contenders The Kids Are All Right and Inception. Oscar voters first took notice of Leigh in 1997 when they showered Secrets and Lies with five nominations. Since then, Leigh has continually brought realistic English characters to life with writing that is consistently touching and transparent. Another Year doesn't stray far from Leigh's formula, chronicling a year in a happily aging couple's life as they deal with their downcast friends.

Another Year trailer

Michelle Williams, nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Blue Valentine

Although nominated for a Golden Globe and an Independent Spirit Award for her role in Blue Valentine, Michelle Williams is the dark horse of the Best Actress category. Hilary Swank took her spot in the Screen Actors Guild nominations, which many see as a reliable precursor to the Oscars. Although nominated once before for her supporting role in Brokeback Mountain, Williams was passed over by the Academy for her understated performance in 2008's Wendy and Lucy. Perhaps members had a tinge of voter's remorse this time around. After all, as Katherine Hepburn once said "the right actors win Oscars; for the wrong roles." William's role as Cindy, one half of a crestfallen couple, has been close to ten years in the making. Williams likens dealing with the heart-wrenching material over the course of a decade to running an emotional marathon.
"I’ve been working on Blue Valentine since I was 21. So it makes sense in my mind that promoting it should have the same kind of effort and endurance behind it that being committed to it and finally making it had,” she told thestar.com.
Williams went on to say that playing the role of Cindy may not have changed her outlook; however she now understands how to make a relationship work.
“My romanticism and my optimism have not been diminished, but I do think you have to be vigilant and willing to compromise. It’s something you have to stay ahead of."

Blue Valentine trailer

Darren Aronofosky, nominated for Best Achievement in Directing for Black Swan

Each of Aronofsky's movies to date has dealt with misery and mania. Whether it be the quest for answers (Pi,) the need to boost one's ego (The Wrestler,) insatiable cravings (Requiem For a Dream) or chasing the illusion of perfection (Black Swan,) you could say that Aronofsky is obsessed with obsession. Straddling the boarder that separates drama and horror, Black Swan has become the director's highest grossing release. This tale of a ballerina who goes bonkers is poised to break the $100 million mark this month. The film landed five nods, however Natalie Portman's bid for Best Actress is the only nom likely to result in a golden statuette. Independent film fans have been fixated on Aronofsky's work for years and countless critics agree that his first nomination is long overdue.

Interview with Darren Aronofsky

Nina (Portman) dances the Black Swan

Exit Through the Gift Shop, nominated for Best Documentary

The heated debate over whether this doc is an elaborate hoax or a truthful tale of an artist's rise to fame is feverishly burning now that the film has been nominated. Exit Through the Gift Shop documents street art aficionado Thierry Guetta's journey from videographer to street artist to mainstream art star. Guetta goes from admiring and filming underground artists to emulating their craft under the pseudonym Mr. Brainwash. Guetta eventually turns a huge profit, which is where this doc's title comes into play. The film is not only a chronicle of the obstacles street artists face; it is also a comment on the commercialization of art. The film's director, Bansky, is the anonymous mastermind behind the most creative and cheerless Simpsons intro (below) ever to be inked. Bansky was one of Guetta's heroes/subjects/inspirations in the documentary within the documentary. It's obvious that Banksy's primary motivation for presenting Exit Through the Gift Shop is to expose Guetta for the fraud that he is; that is if the film is fact and not fiction as many people have speculated.
"Obviously the story is bizarre, that’s why I made a film about it, but I’m still shocked by the level of skepticism. I guess I have to accept that people think I’m full of shit. But I’m not clever enough to have invented Mr. Brainwash," Bansky wrote to slashfilm.com.

Exit Through the Gift Shop trailer

Bansky's Simpsons intro

FAVOURITE 10 ALBUMS OF '10

2011-01-19T13:00:00.022-05:00

It wasn't hard to choose my favourite ten albums of 2010. For most, the past year in music may be remembered as the year some endured sweating through Beiber fever or the year of the feel good "Fuck You" anthem. However I'll remember the audio antics of 2010 another way. Here's the list of my favourite ten albums of the year; in no particular order.

Mark Ronson & the Business Intl. - Record Collection

Record Collection manages to sound unique and familiar all at once. Most likely because Ronson first entered the music industry as a turntablist who was known for mixing and producing (he won a Grammy as Producer of the Year for his work with Amy Winehouse; then had it out with her via twitter.) Ronson, the son of Foreigner guitarist Mick Ronson, is heavily influenced by hip-hop and the affect that genre had on him is evident on Record Collection. The album features pop anthems (Bang Bang Bang,) songs about love gone sour (You Gave Me Nothing, Somebody to Love Me) and instrumental snippets (Selector, Circuit Breaker, The Colour of Crumar.) Record Collection also boats an impressive guest list featuring MNDR, Q-Tip, Simon LeBon, Ghostface Killah and Rose Elinor Dougall of the Pipettes.

The Bike Song featuring Kyle Falconer & Spank Rock

TOKiMONSTA - Midnight Menu

Much like her techno contemporary Flying Lotus, L.A.'s Jennifer Lee melds electronic and orchestral sources to create something completely fresh. Midnight Menu has moments of chill out coolness (Sweet Day,) fuzzy journeys (Questing,) disco throwbacks (Death By Disco) and old school drum and bass (Cheese Smoothie.) Electronic music fans everywhere are clamouring to hear what TOKiMONSTA will serve up next.

Sweet Day

Sa Mo Jung

The National - High Violet

The National's album High Violet certainly soared high on the charts; reaching #2 in Canada and #3 in the US. It's not hard to see,or hear, why this NYC-based band's fifth studio album has been so successful. Matt Berninger's beat down baritone vocals spin subdued stories matched by late '90s-inspired guitar driven music. Which is fitting as The National was born out of the post punk scene. Tracks like Blood Buzz Ohio and Afraid of Everyone manage to make High Violet depressive yet somehow delightful.

Lemonworld

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett are three times lucky with Gorillaz's third outing. With a diverse guest list including Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, Little Dragon, Lou Reed and Mos Def, this album will make you forget that its title is inspired by a huge environmental catastrophe. Plastic Beach includes moments of orchestral grandeur (Orchestral Intro, Pirate's Progress,) greatly done grime (White Flag,) and slippery, clubby grooves (Empire Ants.) Plastic Beach once again shows that these animated, anthropomorphised apes are able to appeal to all by constantly changing their creative chatter.

Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach featuring Snoop Dog

Empire Ants featuring Little Dragon (live)

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

Surfer Blood's sound is more snowy than sunny. However the band hails from West Palm Beach, Florida and their debut album, Astro Coast, has given countless critics the chills. Lead singer John Paul Pitts may have a kind of a d-bag voice but that hasn't stopped the music buying masses from falling in love with this album; especially the tracks Swim and Catholic Pagans.

Anchorage

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Back with another concept album, Montreal natives Arcade Fire have gone from an obscure indie rock band to world wide acclaim in seven short years. Deliciously distopian, The Suburbs has been nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy Award; further proof Win Butler and company are setting the world ablaze with their counterculture consciousness.

Modern Man

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II/2010)

Occasionally caustic (Doe Deer, I Am Made of Chalk) and sometimes clear and cloudless (Suffocation, Vietnam,) Toronto duo Crystal Castles have built a fortress of in your face techno pop. The album was recorded at odd locations such as an abandoned church in Iceland and a cabin in Northern Ontario. Music maker Ethan Kath recorded the album's instrumentation and then handed off CD-Rs of the music to vocalist Alice Glass who would then pen lyrics. An innovative method for making music has made for an unprecedented record. Crystal Castles was long listed for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize and Pitchfork bestowed the album with the label "Best New Music."

Not In Love

Year of Silence

Land of Talk - Cloak & Cipher

In an interview I conducted with Land of Talk lead singer Liz Powell for SoundProof, Powell said she hoped her next album would find her getting back to the sound that made her want to play music in the first place. If the sound she was after was well thought out pop rock, then Powell has achieved her goal. On the Montreal band's second full length album, Powell effortlessly shifts from hard rock (Swift Coin) to billowy pop (Quarry Hymns) making for a fully realized and mature album.

Blangee Blee

Wavves - King of the Beach

Nathan Williams of Wavves may be a bit unconventional, much like his noise pop music. In 2009, after allegedly taking a combination of ecstasy and Valium, he was forced to cancel his set at the Barcelona Primevera Sound Festival. This incident caused caused the only other member of Wavves to quit. Yet on King of the Beach he doesn't shy away from talking about addiction (Post Acid) or self loathing (Green Eyes.) The title track is a kiss off song, demonstrating that Williams may be a screw up but he also possesses confidence and resilience. King of the Beach may not be for everyone but this album is far more coherent than anything else Wavves has put out (see Weed Demon or So Bored.) Wavves doesn't think outside of the box; Wavves uses the box as an amphitheater.

Green Eyes

King of the Beach

Jenny & Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now

Girlfriend/boyfriend Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice have crafted an alternative country score that is both saccharine and bittersweet. Lewis may have an acid tongue however the lyrics she croons are as soft as rabbit fur. Sharp melodies like Scissor Runner perfectly showcase the duo's talents and their cutting narratives make for some of the best musical storytelling that's been put out in years.

Big Wave

Just Like Zeus

FAVOURITE SINGLES OF '10

2010-12-31T18:24:00.005-05:00

2010 was a great year for music. In this post we'll look at and listen to some of my favourite singles of the year. My top picks for sick singles span many genres including chiptune (Anamanguchi,) dance (MNDR, Computer Magic,) garage rock (Japandroids) and punk (Screaming Females.) I've omitted songs from albums I'll cover in my next post on my favourite albums of '10.

I Don't Mind It by Screaming Females

This New Brunswick, New Jersey trio actually features just one 'screaming female.' That would be singer/guitarist Marisa Pasternoster. Flanked by drummer Jarrett Doughtery and Mike Rickenbacker on bass, Pasternoster delivers a re-imagining of the feel good punk anthem on this track from their album Castle Talk.

Airbrushed by Anamanaguchi

Anamanaguchi make "fast, loud music with a hacked NES from 1985." With Airbrushed these Nerdist theme composers have crafted a speedy and spirited single. You can listen to their new album, Dawn Metropolis, on their official site.

All I Want by LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy has become known for amalgamating techno and rock. On All I Want off of This Is Happening, Murphy has fused a repetitious guitar hook with infectious beats and the result is a wholly genuine track.

Lights by Interpol

On Interpol's self-titled album they continue making the morose music they have come to be known for. Sparse melodies and restrained vocals make Lights a stand out on their fourth album. See the odd video below that was on my shortlist for SoundProof's top video of the year.

Delirium by Motion City Soundtrack

Minnesotan pop punk pushers Motion City Soundtrack never fail to deliver fun and fast material. Delirium off of this year's My Dinosaur Life, their fourth studio album, speaks of psychological anguish and pharmaceutical pollution and makes for an affecting track.

Do The Astral Plane by Flying Lotus

Much like on Flying Lotus' previous albums Los Angeles and 1983, laptop DJ Steven Ellison is adept at melding techno and traditional instrumentation. Do The Astral Plane is one part disco booty shaker and one part sublime symphony.

Younger Us by Japandroids

One of the few true singles on this list, Younger Us from Vancouver duo Brian King and David Prowse speaks of quarter-life crisis and is easily the best rock song of the year.

Wasted Daylight by Stars

Amy Milan and her Montreal cohorts present a subdued and sweet track off of their latest album The Five Ghosts.

End Times by Eels

Mark Oliver Evertt is depressed. A listen to the album End Times will validate that fact. Yet many artists are motivated by darker times and the title track off Eels' latest album demonstrates that Oliver has made peace with the morose. Hopefully this won't be the end of Eels.

When I'm with You by Best Coast

Beach rock has made a comeback; at least as far as Bethany Cosentino is concerned. And it's not a minute too soon. Best Coast's lo-fi, surf sound has been praised by critics and the video for When I'm With You will make you smile bigger than a surfer who just caught the perfect wave.

I Go Away by MNDR

MNDR prove on I Go Away that if you have the talent, DIY recordings can sound as slick as a studio track.

The Cave by Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons may be the band that will usher folk-rock back into the cool category. Optimistic and opulent The Cave is the best track off of these London boys' debut album Sigh No More.

Restoration by The Acorn

Ottawa's own The Acorn follow up the Ear Worms EP with No Ghost. Restoration is a fast paced folkie who's video is a feat of creativity in itself.

Electronic Fences by Computer Magic

I am certain Electronic Fences will be a leading cause of earworms for years to come.

Talking Walking Cloud by Dustin Wong

I came across Wong's, a former member of Ponytail, Talking Walking Cloud on an indie compilation earlier this year. The track I would have presented to you is so indie it's not up on YouTube. Instead here is Wong performing and looping Infinite Love live. The song really picks up around the 1:40 mark.

X-MAS MUSIC FOR MILLENNIALS

2010-12-23T16:17:00.003-05:00

Holiday music can be more maddening than merry. If listening to The Little Drummer Boy for the umpteenth time has pounded the holiday spirit right out of you; here are some alternative X-mas songs for Millennials.

Garfunkle and Oates - Present Face

Raveonettes - Baby Please Come Home / Come On Santa

The Kinks - Father Christmas

The Muffs - Nothing For Me

Ramones - Merry Christmas

Peter and the Test Tube Babies - I'm Getting Pissed for Christmas

The Dickies - Silent Night

Blink 182 - I Won't Be Home for Christmas

Phantom Planet - Winter Wonderland

The Vandals / No Doubt - Oi to the World

Mighty Mighty Bosstones - This Time of Year

INTERVIEW WITH LAND OF TALK'S ELIZABETH POWELL

2010-12-06T11:07:00.004-05:00

To coincide with the recent release of Land of Talk's latest album, Cloak and Cipher, here is the full interview I conducted with Elizabeth Powell at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest 2009. A condensed version I wrote for SoundProof Magazine appeared in 24 Hours Ottawa.

Land of Talk's set at Ottawa Bluesfest '09 was a victim of circumstance. Originally set to take to the Blacksheep stage at 4:45 pm, their set was switched to 6:15 pm. Then the band's start time was abruptly changed to 4:15, which resulted in me missing their set. Dejected and disappointed I retreated to the media room. Luckily for me, and for you dear readers, with help from festival staff I landed an interview with Land of Talk front woman Elizabeth Powell. Personable and cheery, Powell’s bright disposition was the perfect contrast to the gloomy, rainy day.

Bradley: I am so sorry I missed your set, how did it go?
Elizabeth Powell: There were a few technical snags, other than that I thought it was a pretty beautiful set. From our perspective looking out over the little hill and the sun was pretty low in the sky and the clouds were hanging; it looked like there was a sense of impending doom because you could see all the dark clouds approaching. The rain didn't hit until after our show but yeah it was beautiful.

B: You have been touring a lot lately. How has the road been treating you?
EP: We released the album [Some Are Lakes] in October and we toured with Broken Social Scene. I was also singing with Broken Social Scene and playing guitar with them on that tour. That was until December and then I blew out my vocal cords. We had to cancel all the January, February and March shows. They thought I had to get surgery which I avoided. I completely healed on my own, it just took a lot longer. Now I have to wear those in ear monitors, which is better, I can hear myself better.

B: You played in various bands in Guelph before creating Land of Talk. Did those experiences shape the musical identity you possess today?
EP: Sometimes I get frustrated that I don't as sound as much like basement rock or indie pop-rock. It was a real Guelph sound. There was Jim Guthrie and the Constantines; well some of them are from Guelph. There was a total scene there it was very authentic. It was very punk rock. Sometimes I get frustrated that I haven't kept all of that. On the next album you are going to see us trying to get closer to what made me want to play music in the first place.

B: You have said the music you played before was much quieter than Land of Talk's sound. Is that accurate?
EP: It was much quieter then and that's why I started playing with other people. I thought there was probably a better way to achieve the sound I wanted, which was kind of a Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Tortoise, Nirvana kind of sound.

B: Have you toured extensively in the States?
EP: We got started in the States. We were asked to replace Hot Spring. They couldn't make it to a 'Musique Sans Frontieres' show which is a 'music without boarders' kind of thing in New York. So they recommended us and we went. We got a lot of buzz. People started blogging about us and we landed a tour with Fiery Furnaces. That was our first tour we didn't even have a label we were still burning CD-Rs and making our own little packages. We just kind of went from there and then in Canada we started playing shows here and there. But we haven’t really done a lot of extensive touring in Canada it's kind of hard as a lot of stuff is really far away. It’s like '800 hours until Winnipeg.'

B: The song Magnetic Hill from Applause Cheer Boo Hiss is one of my favourite songs. What is it about?
EP: (Laughs) It’s not about Magnetic Hill. Our drummer, Bucky [Mark Wheaton] is from Moncton, he will just call out the names of the songs. Like Speak to Me Bones. A lot of our song names are just Bucky throwing out some wacky idea. It’s really just more quirkiness and being nonsensical.

B: What is coming up in the future for Land of Talk?
EP: We are rehearsing to record on this week and then we are doing an EP. We are going to do a cover of one of my favourite musicians Mary Margaret O’Hara. She was born in the ‘50s; she is from my mom’s generation. My mom went to art school with her. She had an album released in ‘88 called Miss America; it's amazing I think it's very hard to get. It took me 3 months to get it. I ordered it. We are doing one of her songs because I grew up with that album on vinyl. The EP [2009's Fun and Laughter] will also have 4 new songs, we are recording at Breakglass studio in Montréal.

B: Thank you so much for your time.
EP: No, thank you. You really warmed me up; I hope I didn’t ramble on too long.

Cloak and Cipher was recorded from October 2009 to January 2010 also at Breakglass studio. Produced by Jace Lasek, in addition to Powell the album features Andrew Barr on drums, Eoin Olaoghaire on bass and members of Arcade Fire and Stars.

Quarry Hymns from Cloak & Cipher (2010)

Land of Talk - Swift Coin from Cloak & Cipher (2010)

Land of Talk - May You Never from Fun & Laughter EP (2009)

SEVEN SONGS FOR THE ANTI-SOCIAL

2010-12-03T09:16:00.020-05:00

As winter begins its slow icy slink many of us are less likely to venture out to socialize. While you may not be succumbing to sociopathic traits, if the chill is keeping you in then curl up with these seven cordial songs. Anti-social anthems for those are alone; by option or otherwise.

Afraid of Everyone by The National from High Violet (2010)

The National may have broken through with this year's High Violet, however this is the quartet's fifth effort. Originating in Ohio, the band is made up of two sets of brothers, Scott and Bryan Devendorf and Aaron and Bryce Dessner, along with deep-voiced singer Matt Berninger. I enjoy this album, but it makes me afraid that this track was featured on the show with some of the worst acting ever recorded.

I Don't Want To Be Friends With You by The Shop Assistants from The Shop Assistants (Will Anything Happen) (1986)

Although they produced great tracks like this one and Ace of Spades, Scottish '80s band the Shop Assistants failed to make a lasting impression on music listening audiences. Perhaps this is because their original, terrible, name was Buba and the Shop Assistants. Their self-titled album spent one week at #100 on the UK album charts, giving the band the distinction of being one of the least successful acts to ever hit the national charts.

Get Me Out of Here by The Muffs from Narduar Compilation/Hamburger (1991/1999)

Kim Shattuck and company have been kicking around the pop punk scene for close to twenty years. More punk than pop, Get Me Out of Here is lo-fi, abrasive and was the band's first released recording. The song initially appeared on a compilation put together by curious Canadian journalist Narduar, 1991's Narduar the Human Serviette Presents Clam Chowder & Ice Vs Big Macs and Bombers, and then on the rarities album Hamburger.
"Not bad for a four track recording. I only regret the awful Guitar Center reverb on the vocal," Shattuck wrote in Hamburger's liner notes.
The Muffs recently completed a tour of Europe and are close to releasing a follow up to 2005's Really Really Happy.

Gotta Gettaway by Stiff Little Fingers from Nobody's Heroes (1980)

Frequently referred to as "The Irish Clash," Stiff Little Fingers began as Highway Star until these Belfast boys discovered punk and changed their name in honour of the Vibrators. Gravel-voiced singer Jake Burns is the only "finger" (I assume he would be the middle one) to remain through out the band's history. Many critics have been dismayed by the band's release of numerous live and compilation albums in recent years, however Burns announced in 2007 that an album of new material is in the works. Listen to the album version of Gotta Gettaway here.

Stop Looking At Me by Epoxies from Epoxies (2002)

Roxy Epoxy of the Portland "robot garage rock" band Epoxies may have an aversion to prying peepers, yet it's hard not to look when the music sounds so sweet. Formed in 2000, their self-titled debut touches on subjects such as consumerism, war and futurism and includes new wave-inspired tracks like Bathroom Stall, Molded Plastic, We're So Small and Stop Looking At Me. After the release of the My New World EP in 2007 Epoxies disbanded. Roxy went on to release Band Aids On Bullet Holes in 2009 and the band reunited for a concert in May 2010. After that Portland show, keyboardist FM Static said the audience began to "go nuts now because [a reunion] ain’t gonna fucking happen again!"

I Think I'll Run by Basement In My Loft from See The Rhyme In The Dirt And Grime (2010)

Based out of Singapore, Basement In My Loft have penned a perfectly anti-social, if not somewhat cowardly, song. You can listen to the album version of I Think I'll Run and the rest of See The Rhyme In The Dirt And Grime on their official site.

Far Away by Tricky from Knowle West Boy (2008)

Trip hop icon Tricky knows a lot about being alone. His father abandoned him when he was an infant. Then at age 4 his mother committed suicide. On 2008's Knowle West Boy, Tricky (aka Adrian Thaws) reports and rhymes on many subjects including his terribly tumultuous times. However with all the strife in Tricky's life he manages to emerge with a positive outlook. He acknowledges pain but ultimately looks ahead to the promise life has to offer. His latest offering, Mixed Race, was released earlier this year.