There is a Light That Never Goes Out

New Tunes

2012-02-11T16:20:00.006-05:00

Winter has finally decided to pay us a long overdue visit here in Canada, and the sub-zero temperature is good grounds to check out some new tunes while watching the snow fall outside. Here are some hot tunes for these cold days:

A Place to Bury Strangers - Onwards to the Wall

So Far Away is the first single off APTBS's new EP, Onwards to the Wall. The guitars are loud and overwhelming, the reverb off-putting, the percussion relentless and menacing, the intensity cranked to maximum - the summation of which results in incredible music to my ears and is just part of why this band rocks. The only negative item of note is the the EP only contains five songs and I wish there were many, many more.
(Tip: Earplugs are necessary when you see them live. No, seriously. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

A Place to Bury Strangers - So Far Away

Band of Skulls - Sweet Sour

This album has a bit of bite and some swagger thrown in for good taste. The alternating mix of male and female vocal duties throughout, and the impressive drums throughout, makes for a see-saw of a listening experience. Some hard-hitting tunes fill Sweet Sour, but the softer songs standout just as much.

Band of Skulls - Bruises

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

Yeah, I'll go there. The new album, Born to Die, has some real jems. Blue Jeans is the true hit and the song that made me take notice of her; I'm not sure why the uber-mellow Video Games is getting all the attention, as lovely as it is. She's got a layered voice that peaks high and low at different points, and in most songs, it works. Though I think her higher range is where she sounds most powerful, she treads lightly on those waters and chooses to stay in the key of vulnerability most of the time. Actually, I don't think she's found much of a comfort zone at all yet, which is completely acceptable, and she'll do that in time. But she's getting a lot of feedback on that right now from the rest of the world, so I'll just say that I like her album, and am interested to see how/if she will grow as a performer.

Lana Del Ray - Blue Jeans

Silversun Pickups - Seasick EP

This is one of those bands that doesn't disappoint. This EP contains three solid new songs from Silversun Pickups that will make you remember why you swooned over them in the first place. The song Seasick is a lengthy, dreamy builder. Broken Bottles reminds you that they can rock (and have a kick-ass bassist), and Ribbons & Detours slows it down with a calming, hazy, and somewhat haunting song. (videos below just contain audio)

Silversun Pickups - Seasick

Silversun Pickups - Broken Bottles

Silversun Pickups - Ribbons & Detours

MY 50 FAVES OF 2011

2011-12-18T19:39:00.003-05:00

In the midst of a chaotic and beautiful world seeping with war, revolution, love, and hope - music is a solace. With so many offerings to choose from, there is always a song just waiting to enhance your mood, tell you a story, conjure up a memory, make you dance, or sing you to sleep.

The year 2011 has seen some incredible new releases from bands I’ve loved for years. It’s also seen the emergence of some new bands who will hopefully thrill us for years to come.

These are my favourite albums of the year. That doesn't mean I liked one song from the album (those didn't make the list) it means I enjoyed these entire albums. They aren’t necessarily the ones with the most sales, the ones with the most indy-cred, the ones who won the awards - but they are the ones I listened to on repeat and that I may still be listening to five years from now. These are the albums I personally recommend to you.

These are, in no particular order, (even though they are numbered): My 50 Faves of 2011:

1. AUSTRA – Feel It Break

2. BLOOD ORANGE – Coastal Grooves

3. UME – Phantoms

4. LITTLE BARRIE – King of the Waves

5. WOODEN SHJIPS – West

6. WILD BEASTS - Smother

7. WATERS – Out in the Light

8. SHE KEEPS BEES – Dig On

9. PETE AND THE PIRATES – One Thousand Pictures

10. THE BLACK KEYS – El Camino

11. THE RAVEONETTES – Raven In The Grave

12. ARCTIC MONKEYS – Suck It And See

13. TIMBER TIMBRE - Creep On Creepin' On

14. ZAZA – Sacred Geometry

15. ELLIOTT BROOD – Days Into Years

16. WYE OAK – Civilian

17. WIDOWSPEAK – Widowspeak

18.WHITE LIES – Ritual

19. FOO FIGHTERS - Wasting Light

20. WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS – In The Pit Of The Stomach

21. SAY HI – Um, Uh Oh

22. TOM WAITS – Bad As Me

23. TEENS – Teens

24. SLOAN – The Double Cross

25. REM – Collapse Into New

26. PETER, BJORN AND JOHN – Gimme Some

27. NURSES – Dracula

28. NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS – Act III – Love Will Ruin (Part 1)

29. THE KILLS – Blood Pressure

30. KASABIAN – Velociraptor

31. JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD – Tell Me

32. THE HORRORS – Skying

33. THE WAR ON DRUGS – Slave Ambient

34. THE HANDSOME FURS – Sound Kapital

35. GIRLS NAMES – Dead To Me

36. FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – Ceremonials

37. ESBEN AND THE WITCH – Violet Cries

38. DAVID LYNCH – Crazy Clown Time

39. THE BOXER REBELLION – The Cold Still

40. BELL X1 – Bloodless Coup

41. PETER WOLF CRIER – Garden of Arms

42. TODAY THE MOON, TOMORROW THE SUN - Wildfire

43. OTHER LIVES – Tamer Animals

44. GOLD BEACH - Habibti

45. RADIOHEAD - King of Limbs

46. FRIENDLY FIRES - Pala

47. BLACK LIPS - Arabia Mountain

48. CAKE - Showroom of Compassion

49. CITY AND COLOUR - Little Hell

50. THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE - Departing

It's a Psychedelic Sunday, Indeed

2011-08-21T11:05:00.000-04:00

WOODEN SHJIPS - "WEST"

I started my day listening to "West", the latest rockin' album from Wooden Shjips, and I have a strong feeling that I am going to be listening to this album for a long time to come. It's got a real classic rock feel with a modern crunch to it. Guitars circle and swirl and stretch sounds out to their far reaches, all the while being punctured and punctuated by drone-filled bass, drums, space-synth and organ. I hear JAMC, BRMC, the Doors, APTBS, and the Black Angels, to give you a sense of what this album achieves musically.

ON THE STEREO

2011-07-29T13:39:00.001-04:00

AUSTRA - Feel it Break

Toronto-based Katie Stelmanis' operatic, vibrato-ridden and haunting voice shatters through the dark undertones of this album's uniquely distinct and hypnotic electro-pop vibe.

LITTLE BARRIE - King of the Waves

If you like your rock 'n' roll with a side of surf, this is the album you've been waiting a while for. King of the Waves indeed, Little Barrie (headed by the incredible Barrie Cadogan) barrels though an explosive set of upbeat, pounding, and soaring songs with style and swagger.

THE BOXER REBELLION - The Cold Still

Indie/alt-rock band The Boxer Rebellion may get the international attention they deserve this year with their latest album, The Cold Still. The songs sway from epic ballads to anthemic rockers and beg for repeat listens. This is what a modern Keane/The National/David Gray supergroup may sound like, on a very good day.

GIRLS NAMES - Dead To Me

Don't let the initial sea-swept, washed-out sound of Girls Names' music fool you - these songs pack powerful punches of surf-rock greatness.

THE LIBRARY IS ON FIRE - Magic Windows, Magic Nights

NY rock trio The Library is on Fire lives up to their name with a hard-hitting album full of blazing songs. Sure to spark some flames, these tunes blast out one after another in an array of energetically raw, guitar-driven rock that reminds us of the best of the 90's.

PETE AND THE PIRATES - One Thousand Pictures

Indie-pop/rock band Pete and the Pirates keep things moving on One Thousand Pictures with driving, catchy and hook-laden songs worthy of head-bopping (the side-to-side type, not the head-banging type). Vocalist Thomas Sanders has a voice that charms and soothes while sharing slivers of Brit-life whimsy in harmonized fashion.

TORONTO POLITICS - BEYOND THE GRAVY

2011-07-29T10:53:00.000-04:00

I am on vacation this week. I honestly didn't think I would be spending almost 24 hours of my vacation time engrossed in politics, but, between the current issues facing Toronto and the US economy, it's hard to ignore the fact that important decisions made by few right now have extremely widespread implications for many. It's a time to keep our eyes and ears wide open.

I actually watched a majority of the Toronto Executive Council meeting (I streamed it online). It clocked in at 23 hours and 25 minutes, and council heard from 168 deputants. There were a total of 340 signed-up speakers, many of whom were sadly, yet fairly, no longer present when their names were called out at various times of the night and day.

I missed a couple of hours yesterday afternoon (as I took a trip to the very busy Northern District Library) and apparently missed a rousing moment with Kevin Clarke. I slept a few hours in the middle of the night after I passed out on the couch (I had no Red Bulls, which is what the council members were seemingly fueling themselves with by the caseload), and I woke up around 6 a.m. to a lady screaming about gravy trains. No, I wasn't dreaming (or having a nightmare!)

The messages that were delivered included the overwhelming number of times council was told that the City had a revenue problem, not a spending problem. People pointed out that most services in question could be benefited by expansions, not reductions. It was continuously suggested that the KPMG reports and the "options" they deliver do not reflect information or recommendations by the public, and are simply not based on enough facts on which to base decisions. The speeches were informative, heartfelt, creative, amusing, and honest.

Although a few of the councillors' speeches at the end poorly and disappointingly summarized the deputants' speeches (namely, Mammoliti, who was embarrassingly backed up by Ford), most of the council members expressed the respect and appreciation the rest of us watching felt. I, for one, had a strong feeling of democratic pride after hearing so many personal pleas, stories, and recommendations from the intelligent, educated, and dedicated Toronto residents.

It was stated that a proper review of the City's services hasn't been done in the 14 years since amalgamation. I'd say it's obvious this was a much-needed and overdue platform as we witnessed many years of emotion, inspiration and frustration coming through in the words of the people. The councillors who mistook that passion for disrespect or "bad behaviour" don't understand how long these people have been waiting for their "3 minutes" to have their voices heard.

I want to congratulate (most of) the councillors for their optimism and continued dedication to keeping this flawed process as open as possible and for encouraging continued participation from the public. I think that momentum has now been mobilized and that this is just an example of what we can expect to see more of in September when the real decisions will be made on the 2012 budget.

A lot of hands were extended over the past 24 hours, and a lot of individuals (personally and on behalf of Toronto associations and organizations) expressed their interest in participating in providing further information about the services in question, through meetings, provision of reports, or as part of KPMG's process. I sincerely hope that those offers are followed up on as they will provide added insight and perspective necessary to make decisions on the options on the table. The few minutes each of them had were only peeks into windows that should be fully opened.

Looking Up

2011-03-08T23:48:00.030-05:00

i'm a self-admitted space junkie. i find learning about the universe fascinating! new discoveries are made daily and we're always in the moment of being more technologically advanced that the last.

i encourage you to check out this site called ZOONIVERSE if you are looking for a new addiction and at the same are interested in participating in a very cool, interactive experience with the universe. there are a variety of real images to scour through (stars, our moon, the milky way galaxy, the sun) and challenges (look for planets! identify galaxies! predict solar flares!) to keep you interested and in absolute awe of what you are actually doing and looking at. it's pretty amazing. www.zooniverse.org

tonight the international space station, along with the discovery shuttle, were scheduled to fly over toronto - as they were last night. i figured out the direction of the flight path, the time it was supposed to fly over, stood outside, and looked up. and i didn't see it - as i didn't the night before. unfortunately there won't be a 'next time' to try and catch this sight, as this is the last flight for the discovery shuttle. tomorrow it will come back to earth, and end an historic and epic journey, that in the BIG picture of things has really just begun!

want to watch some space shows? you can find some amazing space documentaries and informational series at this site, along with a wide variety of documentaries of all types that you can stream instantly. http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/

Love is the Drug

2011-02-13T13:22:00.041-05:00

V-Day is upon us. that either evokes warm fuzzy feelings or thoughts of ripping heads off heart-holding teddy bears. there really isn't much of an in-between.

for every one of the many love songs written, there is an equally great and powerful anti-love song written. in between there are the songs of hope, desire, regret, and despair.

heart ache and heart break can be just as strong emotions as those are when your heart feels great. music has long been a way for artists to release their innermost emotions and channel them into the listening world. the good, the bad, and the downright cruel.

rather than running through the gushy, sappy songs you're going to hear in the restaurant or on the radio tomorrow - alternatively - here are some songs you definitely DON'T want sung to you by your beloved on V-Day:

GUNS AND ROSES - YOU COULD BE MINE
"with your bitch slap rappin' and your cocaine tongue you get nothing done."

PETER PAUL AND MARY - DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALRIGHT (Bob Dylan cover)

"you just kinda wasted my precious time."

PETER BJORN AND JOHN - LET'S CALL IT OFF
"we just have had enough of us."

LED ZEPPELIN - BABE, I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU
"i ain't jokin' woman. i got to ramble."

OASIS - MARRIED WITH CHILDREN
"i hate the books you read and all your friends. your music's shite it keeps me up all night."

MORRISSEY - I DON'T MIND IF YOU FORGET ME
"rejection is one thing. but rejection from a fool is cruel."

VIOLENT FEMMES - KISS OFF
"i hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record. oh yeah?"

CATHERINE WHEEL - EAT MY DUST YOU INSENSITIVE FUCK
"eat my dust you insensitive fuck."

THE BLACK ANGELS - BETTER OFF ALONE
"i feel so low."

FLEETWOOD MAC - NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN
"been down one time. been down two times. i'm never going back again."

My Letter To President Obama

2011-02-03T21:28:00.005-05:00

I know I usually write about music. There are other important things happening in the world right now though that are preoccupying my time and thoughts at the moment.

A day after sending the following letter to President Obama, I continue to anxiously watch the unrest in Egypt. I will share my thoughts on the current situation with you, as I have with one man in this world who may be able to influence the future of the Egyptian people at this current time. I openly support the anti-Mubarak protesters and their fight for freedom and democracy. I think it is inspiring, courageous, necessary, and commendable. Power to the people.

I respectfully contact you Mr. President Obama with urgency as a human being in this world on February 2, 2011. It's 10:48PM. I am sure at this exact moment you are watching the same jarring images and hearing the same urgent stories of violence as I am unfolding on the streets of Egypt.

I am in Canada, and have been watching closely for almost a straight week now. I started viewing the freedom protests with hope and optimism. Over the past day my feelings have turned to fear and sympathy for the unarmed people who are currently defending themselves with sticks and stones as they are fired upon with guns RIGHT NOW.

I just listened to a woman named Mona testifying from inside Liberation Square who urged and pleaded for help from the world. I feel helpless and small as I watch these acts against humanity through my internet connection. BUT I HEAR HER CRIES FOR HELP AND WANT TO HELP HER.

As the President of the U.S.A. you have a unique, powerful, and weighty influence and position, of which there are times to exercise that force in a proactive way, and times to be cautious, observant, and reactive. I have seen and heard the responses and positions so far and the hesitation to act in actions and not words needs to end. The time for for action has come.

Your advisement to President Mubarak to choose non-violent reaction to the rightful protests has been ignored. The casualties and injuries continue to rise. There seems to be a general acceptance that the pro-Mubarak protesters are largely from the police force, therefore are being directed by the Mubarak government.

I can only attempt to understand the peripheral situation(s) and sensitivities that influence this situation, and the difficult position your choice of words and actions must present. Those peripheral issues must be separated from the current situation. The human rights issues must take precedent.

As a man, please ask yourself what the price of another man's pride should cost.

As the President, I most respectfully ask that you speak for the people who have been raising their voices for over a week on the streets of Egypt. Either through the U.N., who can act as a temp. Gov. through transition, or as a singular voice representing myself and the world, please IMMEDIATELY put measures into action to ensure the resignation of President Mubarak. As the people of Egypt have clearly voiced, this is their choice. Their wish. Their one, sole, united demand. Isn't that the first step of democracy?

ON THE STEREO

2011-01-22T12:54:00.005-05:00

THE NAKED AND FAMOUS - Passive Me, Aggressive You
the new zealand band's debut is a shining one. full of catchy, hook-driven songs.

THE SOFT MOON - The Soft Moon
i wait and hope for albums like this to come out...

CAKE - Showroom of Compassion

listening to their music makes me want to wear a short skirt and a long jacket. this album is quite worthy of icing on top!

GANG OF FOUR - Content

i've been excited to hear this album ever since i heard that the hugely influential, post-punk, political band was going to issue their first new release in 15 years. laced with aged attitude and the trademark angular sound, this album has plenty to keep this fan content!

WYE OAK - Civilian

i've been listening this indie rock duo's previous albums in anticipation of their new one, civilian, in 2011. here's the fantastic first single off the album (audio only, sorry).

CRYSTAL CASTLES - Not In Love (featuring Robert Smith)

the version of this song is fantastic (it's a platinum blonde cover). this video uses scenes from the movie "eternal sunshine of the spotless mind" and it's all just a great fit. enjoy!

It's About Time

2011-01-20T23:47:00.003-05:00

i'm going to start this by saying that i'm certainly not the most punctual person in the world. anyone who knows me could attest to that. but i'm not selling you a ticket to a couple hours of MY day, and forgetting to leave out what those exact hours just happen to be.

as a frequenter of live concerts, it's frustrating to try to organize your evening/night around an event that starts at a secret time. i 'get' the logistics of live shows, and that day-of circumstances can contribute to a band's start time, but at what point does the patron come into consideration? in an industry struggling to recoup the loss of the sale of their music through traditional, pressed, physical-format material, i would hope that more attention would be paid to making the live experience a better one.

a pretty simple way to make it easier for fans to make it to a (let's say) tuesday night gig in their town would be to let them know what the set times are. in advance if possible. at the very least, have an accessible website that they can go to on the day of the concert for the up-to-date set times. and communicate that through a link on the website from which they bought the tickets, or have an email automatically sent out providing the information to all purchasers. it sounds like a pretty simple thing, you'd think this would be happening, but it just doesn't happen. do you go to a movie without knowing the time it starts? probably not.

and don't give me, "that's rock'n'roll, man." there's nothing rock'n'roll about missing a favourite new band you really wanted to see due to the fact that you didn't know what time they went on...

i've found recently that with club shows there is a trend to start shows extremely early so that they can clear the bar after the concert, and then still manage to host a club night to an entirely different set of patrons for the latter part of the night. great for the bar owner. this is not always great for the concert-goer or the concert-going experience. gone are the days when you can make a night out of going to a concert. when it finishes at 9:00, and you're left in the still-light night, wondering whether to call it a day or not.

it's about respecting the time the fans who are taking time to come to the gig and support live music. when the statistics show that people go to on average of 1 show a year, hopefully they are having a great time and looking forward to that next show. or better yet, will be inspired to up that statistic and take in more live acts.

there are many small things that can be done to enhance the concert-going experience. one of those things is to let the fans, who have paid money in advance to see the band, know what time their concert approximately starts and ends. something along the lines of settimes.ca but on a wider scale. maybe building in tools like twitter and facebook groups. this needs to be done by the promoter, ticket seller, and band. i don't think it's too much to ask at all. and i can't believe i have to actually ask. but it's about time that i do.

Dear Bands I Want to Hear New Music From...

2011-01-17T00:21:00.006-05:00

Hello bands in my collection i haven't heard from recently. It's been a while. Happy 2011! Just wanted you to know that I'm still thinking about you and wishing you would put something new out. I really look forward to hearing back from you. A personal letter is not necessary. An album will suffice...

ZAZA - hi ZAZA. you hooked me. i love you, now where's the album? i've been waiting patiently. your Cameo EP was incredible, but now i want more. please put out an album. pretty pretty (like your songs) please?

The Subways - i love a great live band. and the subways are fantastic live. rarely do you see this much energy emitted from a stage! hopefully we'll hear a new album this year, as well as get a tour stop in toronto.

The Kooks - i expect great things for this band for many years to come. that is, until the lead singer inevitably goes solo... (sorry, it's just a matter of time.) but at least one more kooks album first would be great!

The Cinematics - this band should be bigger than they are and the singer is insanely talented. i'd like to hear more from them and see how they've developed.

Convoj - conquering my fear of online shopping through sheer love of this band's music, their EP was the first cd i ever ordered over the internet. can't wait to hear new songs from this band. a full length album would be amazing.

The Redwalls - i wonder what we will hear next from this amazing band!?

The Music - wikipedia tells me that they are no longer together, sadly, but this fan hopes the psych-rave-trip-rock group will re-band for another album.

The Strokes - like, come on already!

OK, that's it for now. Just had to get those long overdue album desires off my chest. Can't hurt to hope right?

To the above-mentioned bands, just wanted to say...I miss you. Hope you are doing great and that I hear from you soon.

MY 50 FAVES OF 2010

2010-12-08T20:09:00.164-05:00

"She's got a ticket to ride." - The Beatles (obviously). That's how I feel sometimes when I realize how much music there is at my keyboard-connected fingertips. It's like I've got an all-access pass to traverse the past, present, and future musical landscape of the world. And it's all there and open for me to discover! Are you looking?

We are in a fortunate period in which we have unparalleled access to music through a wide variety of online sources. If you aren't already - start opening those doors up! Stream away. Listen before you buy. Watch those old 80's videos. Check out the brand new videos. Read blogs. Embrace social media. Use technology as your personal musical tour guide. Go on a mission to find artists that sing to your heart and soul. There's so much music out there that you love, you just haven't heard it yet. I hope you're excited! The best part - the ticket is free.

On to the list.

To my ears, 2010 has been an eclectic, experimental and exciting year for new music. One of my favourite things about making a list like this is revisiting albums which have had a piercing impact on me over the past year, and taking the time to get to know them even better. You may recognize some of the artists in this list; you may not. I hope to point out and recommend albums I've enjoyed this year by some amazing new bands that may not have crossed your radar. They topped my charts and dominated my speakers. They fueled my many walks and subway rides. Maybe some of them will make their way onto your ipods, cd players, and playlists.

Here is my list of 50 Faves of 2010, in no particular order (even though they are numbered):

1 - WARPAINT - The Fool

2 - THE BLACK KEYS - Brothers

3 - SPOON - Transference

4 - THE NATIONAL - High Violet

5 - NAKED HEARTS - Mass Hysteria

6 - THESE NEW PURITANS - Hidden

7 - AUTOLUX - Transit Transit

8 - FRANK (JUST FRANK) - The Brutal Wave

9 - HAARD - Savour the Flavour

10 - O CHILDREN - O Children

11 - BROKEN BELLS - Broken Bells

12 - WE HAVE BAND - WHB

13 - HARLEM - Hippies

14 - WOLF PARADE - Expo 86

15 - SCANNERS - Submarine

16 - KLAXONS - Surfing the Void

17 - SHOOTER JENNINGS AND HIEROPHANT - Black Ribbons

18 - INTERPOL - Interpol

19 - JIMMY GNECCO - The Heart

20 - THE RADIO DEPT. - Clinging to a Scheme

21 - VEIL VEIL VANISH - Change in the Neon Light

22 - WILD NOTHING - Gemini

23 - Mando Diao - Acoustically

24 - THE GHOST - War Kids

25 - MURDER BY DEATH - Good Morning, Magpie

26 - HYPERNOVA - Through the Chaos

27 - LAND OF TALK - Cloak and Cipher

28 - ONE FOR THE TEAM - Ghosts

29 - KASHMIR - Trespassers

30 - ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT - Coconut

31 - HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS - How to Destroy Angels

32 - TAME IMPALA - Innerspeaker

33 - THE SOFT MOON - The Soft Moon

34 - BROKEN RECORDS - Let Me Come Home

35 - FOALS - Total Life Forever

36 - BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE - Forgiveness Rock Record

37 - THE NAKED AND FAMOUS - Passive Me, Aggressive You

38 - THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE - Who Killed Sgt. Pepper

39 - TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - Tourist History

40 - AVI BUFFALO - Avi Buffalo

41 - ERRORS - Come Down With Me

42 - THE BLACK ANGELS - Phosphene Dream

43 - YEASAYER - Odd Blood

44 - THE WALKMEN - Lisbon

45 - BEACH HOUSE - Teen Dream

46 - TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS - Mojo

47 - SURFER BLOOD - Astro Coast

48 - BEST COAST - Crazy for You

49 - MIDLAKE - The Courage of Others

50 - FRIGHTENED RABBIT - The Winter of Mixed Drinks

Some Great Albums From 2010

2010-09-01T20:01:00.038-04:00

Here are some of the bands I have been listening to this year. I'll skip over the obvious ones whose new releases you should already have, know, and love: (e.g. The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Broken Bells, Land of Talk, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Midlake, Spoon, OKGO, Tom Petty, Wintersleep, Yeasayer). Here are some bands you may not have heard of - yet - and should listen to pronto:

The Naked Hearts - Mass Hysteria

A girl and a guy whose guitar-driven tunes are drenched with

dreamy harmonies that float atop killer riffs. Amazing.

Naked Hearts - Mass Hysteria (audio only)

Naked Hearts - Call Me (video)

Naked Hearts on myspace

Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse

I'm addicted to the sounds of this gaggle of girls who will make you gaga for their luscious and gorgeous songs.

Warpaint - Elephants (video)

Warpaint - Beetles (video)

Warpaint - Stars (video)

Warpaint on myspace

O Children - O Children

Best goth-rock album in years. Take that or leave it. But either way, take a listen first.

O Children - Ruins

O Children - Dead Disco Dancer

O Children on myspace

Wild Nothing - Gemini

Jangley guitar tunes make up a fantastic album by a band reminiscent to me of The Go-Betweens, for those of you who know the band. That's a compliment, for those of you who don't.

Wild Nothing - Summer Holiday (video)

Wild Nothing on myspace

We Have Band - WHB

Dance-punk-industrial-pop that will shimmy into your brain

and move down to your shakin' hips.

We Have Band - Oh (video)

We Have Band - Divisive (video)

We Have Band - You Came Out (video)

We Have Band on myspace

Veil Veil Vanish - Change in the Neon Light

Bleeding, soaring vocals rival killer guitar and bass riffs for an

energetic and enjoyable battle between glammy shoegaze and goth.

Veil Veil Vanish - Anthem for a Doomed Youth (video)

Veil Veil Vanish - Change in the Neon Light (video)

Veil Veil Vanish on myspace

Scanners - Submarine

Outstanding 2nd album, brimming with energy and creativity.

This pop-rock-indie gem should make it fast and furiously onto

your ipod for rapid repeat digestion.

Scanners - Salvation (video)

Scanners - Lowlife (video)

Scanners on m yspace

My 50 Faves of 2009

2009-12-30T11:55:00.010-05:00

There are a lot of "Best" lists out there this time of year. I don't personally profess to know what is the best or worst of anything - but I can certainly tell you what my favourites of the year were. I tried to do just ten, but my honourable mentions list kept growing and growing....so here is my Fave 50 (in no particular order - even though they are numbered):

Fever Ray - Fever Ray
A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head
Stellastarr* - Civilized
The Rifles - The Great Escape
White Rabbits - It's Frightening
White Lies - To Lose My Life
Telekinesis! - Telekinesis!
The Temper Trap - Conditions
ZAZA - Cameo
The xx - xx
WhoMadeWho - The Plot
The Raveonettes - In and Out of Control
The Longcut - Open Hearts
Handsome Furs - Face Control
Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Metric - Fantasies
Magnetta Lane - Gambling With God
The Drums - The Drums EP
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
The Doves - Kingdom of Rust
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
You Say Party! We Say Die! - xxxx
Black Bikini Alpha - Grand Madness
The Queen Killing Kings - Tidal Eyes
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Other Girls - Perfect Cities
We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
Deastro - Moondagger
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
Other Lives - Self Titled
Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs
Mando Diao - Give Me Fire
Lonely, Dear - Dear John
The Builders and the Butchers - Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well
The Wooden Sky - If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone
Morrissey - Years of Refusal
Jessica Lea Mayfield - With Blasphemy So Heartfelt
Kasabian - The West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe
Neon Horse - Haunted Horse: Songs Of Love, Defiance, & Delusion
Peter Bjorn & John - Living Things
Ben Harper & Relentless 7 - White Lies For Dark Times
Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid
Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
Editors - In This Light and On This Night

(I polled myself and saw 19 of the above 50 bands in concert over the past year...)

Happy New Year!!

On Repeat

2009-09-11T00:36:00.020-04:00

ZaZa - Cameo (2009)

How many songs does it take for me to fall in love with a band? Apparently six great ones, according to my newfound adoration for ZaZa, and their EP called Cameo. Soaring, sweeping, shockingly-good shoegazing brilliance. Don't pass this one by. Seriously. Looking forward to hearing anything else this band puts out.
ZAZA on Myspace

The xx - xx (2009)

After a humourous conversation with a friend about the several possible ways to pronounce this band's name (you had to be there), I still don't know how to properly say it. Regardless, I've been enjoying several tracks off xx lately and this young (male/female-back/forth-type-vocals) band is sensibly styled in it's minimalistically-grand debut. Laid-back beats, steady mood bass, and guitars in all the right places make for a dreamy set of flowing songs that have quietly kept me going back for repeat listens. This album has 'remix me' written all over it.
The xx - Crystalized (Video)
The xx on Myspace

WhoMadeWho - The Plot (2009)

WhoMadeWho is a Danish 3-piece band that has put out a tremendous new wave/electro-awesome album that gives me the 80's shivers! A mixed tape of riff-rock songs that aren't afraid of being driven by beats. Try it. You'll like it!

WhoMadeWho - Keep Me In My Plane (Video)

WhoMadeWho - The Plot (Video)

WhoMadeWho on Myspace

Deastro - Moondagger (2009)

No stranger to the synthesizer, Randolph Chabot is the talented 22-year old man behind the Deastro moniker. He's crafted an exciting electro-pop album that's jam-packed full of layers and layers of beats. He's added enough of an indie edge that it's enticing on a number of levels. Not to mention his lyrical musings of sci-fi fantasies surrounded by enviro-pop messages. No space was left unfilled, resulting in an over-the-top assortment of contagious songs that are still as fun now as they would have been in the 80's.
Deastro - Vermillion Plaza (Video - Live)

Deastro on Myspace

The Queen Killing Kings - Tidal Eyes (2009)

The Queen Killing Kings are attempting to bring piano-rock back. Pushing the pop boundaries, sounding like a modern-day Supertramp at times, they have created an energetic album that is brimming with hooks, lines and...well, there actually aren't many sinkers to be found here. Or guitars for that matter. Singer/songwriter/pianist Coley O'Toole belts out his love-soaked songs with heartbroken abandon throughout this intriguingly interesting album.

The Queen Killing Kings - Like Lions (Video - Live)

The Queen Killing Kings - Ivory (Video)

The Queen Killing Kings on Myspace

And now for some music.

2009-08-22T13:30:00.021-04:00

A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head (2009)

When I first heard the self-titled 2007 "A Place to Bury Strangers" album I thought my stereo speakers would explode. In a good way. Their first album was the art of noise-making at it's eardrum-shattering best. Often referred to as "the loudest band in NYC", the live show proved the 3-piece shoegazers were well-deserved of that thunderous title. The show I saw was at Toronto's Lee Palace. Stunning sound was emitted to the mostly ear-plugged audience who watched in awe and simultaneously heard and felt the walls of sound reverberating and building over and over and refusing to give up.

I've just gotten my hands on the second album, called "Exploding Head", and it has far from disappointed me. I've been listening to it a lot and it's a more accessible album as a whole than the last. Warning - amidst all my praise, this is Very loud and it's certainly not going to be for everyone. But it's already one of my favourites of 2009.
A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You Again (Video)
A Place to Bury Strangers - In Your Heart (Video)
A Place to Bury Strangers - Keep Slipping Away (Video)
A Place to Bury Strangers on Myspace

Fever Ray - Fever Ray (2009)

This dramatic album captured me completely from first listen. Swedish singer Karin Dreijer Andersson (of The Knife) has such a unique and ethereal voice she catches you off guard and sweeps you far, far away with her electro-goth, hauntingly enchanting lullabies. Oh yeah and she looks like Ozzy. So far my favourite album of 2009 by far.
Fever Ray - Seven (Video)
Fever Ray - Keep the Street Empty for Me (Video)

Fever Ray on Myspace

Neon Horse - Neon Horse (2009)

This album seethes with attitude and riffs that could easily be found on a Queens of the Stoneage album. They mix this sound with 80's electrowave rock and it's amusingly catchy and fun as shit. The members of this band kept an air of mystery surrounding their identities. Turns out it's no one I've heard of anyway. I just love this album.
Neon Horse - Cuckoo (Video)

Neon Horse on Myspace

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers (2009)

I'm surprised how much some of these songs have been floating around my head. This is a memorable album with a falsetto-voiced singer whose "ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh's" will pop hummingly into your mind until you put the real thing on for another 3-minute reality escape. I'm talking specifically about the song "We Still Got the Taste Dancing On Our Tongues". This album is a dramatically unique theatrical collection of songs that won't be for everyone's taste but I recommend you give it a patient sampling and see for yourself.
Wild Beasts - All The King's Men (Video)

Wild Beasts on Myspace

Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre (2009)

This is a quiet, well-thought-out, beautiful dark-light offering by Toronto-based Taylor Kirk. His deep and soothing voice is the star of this album, around which, each accompanying note is sparingly and perfectly crafted. I was lucky enough to see a live performance of this album in a candle-lit church, moments of which I won't soon forget. It's now a part of my Sunday morning soundtrack.
Timber Timbre - Demon Host (Video)
Timber Timbre - We'll Find Out (Video)

Timber Timbre on Myspace

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes (2009)

This hippie-revivalist band has really gotten a hold of me. I think I have listened to the song "Home" so many times that, if the situation arose, I feel confident I could easily take over the girl part in my new favourite duet EVER. There is a video out of this song, which is good, but it's slowed-down and strays from the original song on the album. Which is the version you need to hear. Think a classic "June & Johnny" duet. But even cuter. I'm going to go listen to this song again now.

There are a wide array of sounds on this album ranging from psychedelic to country. There's a very interesting video for the song "Desert Song" which is worth a watch.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes on Myspace

The Builders and the Butchers -

Salvation is a Deep Dark Well

A masterpiece of indie-folk-blues-rockabilly-twang told through song-stories straight out of the wild wild west. Dramatic undertones carry this album's gritty sound. Worthy of repeat listens. Sit back and let the foot-stomping percussion and mandolin melodies seep into your mind.
The Builders and the Butchers - Golden and Green (Video)

The Builders and the Butchers on Myspace

Say Hi - Oohs and Aahs

The Seattle-based band has shortened their name but strengthened their sound on this latest release. There are some great gems on this album. Worth a full devouring. Some have stayed on my i-pod since first listen. Say Hi makes perfect pop-rock creations.

Say Hi on Myspace

Hello

2009-03-10T15:26:00.002-04:00

It wouldn’t surprise me much to find out that a majority of people start their first blog post with a statement such as, “This is my first blog post.” So I’m not going to try to re-invent the wheel here. After asking myself what every other new blogger surely asks themselves, “Do I say something witty? Informative? Mind-blowing? Controversial? Or do I just go with the most common first-post ever?”…I think I’m choosing the latter.

I can’t promise you a certain topic that I’ll cover (besides music). I can’t commit to the frequency of which I’ll post and I can’t assure you that you’ll like what I have to say. But I do hope that you’ll check back often….even though I don’t know yet what you will find here.

As mentioned before, “This is my first blog post”….