Please Enjoy...
5. Jónsi - Go
39. Eels - End Times
79. Caribou - Swim
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21 hours ago
Friday, December 17, 2010
85 Great Albums - 2010
Please Enjoy...
Friday, November 26, 2010
Blake Mills
Besides from having one of the best websites ever, Blake Mills has that "it" factor more than a lot of music I have heard lately. I am absolutely positive that I am a late-comer to the wonder that is Breaking Mirrors but I am ecstatic that I found it. I stumbled across him on the always amazing Daytrotter and, as always, have been stuck listening to his melodies, music, and mumbles all day. Take a little listening stroll through his album, which is available to stream here, and/or explore the Daytrotter Session. I know you will like it.
Records, Vinyl, Records
As you can see, Christmas came a month early this year as my loving In-Laws gave us their amazing record collection. Yes, this collection was begun when my father-in-law was a young tike and ran until, what looks to be, the eighties. So, if you are a friend and I don't show up for drinks, I don't call back, or just seem to have gone missing in action, I think you should be well aware as to my whereabouts. I am sitting at the record player listening to rebel-rock-n-roll from the fifties and catching up with Fleetwood Mac's
masterpiece Rumours.Not to mention humming along to the recently discovered Canadian icon, Wilf Carter
.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Power of Vinyl
Do yourself and favour and have a listen to these two albums should you get the chance:
Alan Mills and Jean Carignan - Songs, Fiddle Tunes and Folktale from Canada
The Fuzzy Mountain String Band - S/T
The Fuzzy Mountain String Band – Shortening Bread
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Kris Ellestad - No Man is Land
The Calgarian's songs are full of emotion and swagger and I am floored by the incredible depth of the album. I know I will be listening to it for years to come. It provides such a breadth of moods and, quite simply, I just love it.
Take a listen below:
Monday, October 25, 2010
Milks & Rectangles - Dirty Gold
Milks & Rectangles are one of my favourite Canadian bands and they recently released Dirty Gold, their follow-up to the amazing Troubleshooters. As you can see, both albums are available on bandcamp and well worth the listen. Dirty Gold is well on it's way to the "best of" list to come in December.Have a listen below:
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Ascetic Junkies
other than they are great. I don't really know what is in the water a few hours south of us in Portland but, whatever it is, I certainly enjoy the music it helps create. There have been so many great bands coming out of that town lately and add The Ascetic Junkies to the vastly growing list.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Conversation
Please read Steve Weave's blog and visit his website often. I think there are a lot of amazing things to come from his musical talent and experimentation and I just hope that I have the privilege to be somewhat involved in any way, shape, or form.
Oh, and he put on one of the most innovative and amazing solo acoustic shows I have seen in a long time.
Thanks for the conversation Steve. I has my head 'a spinning.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Church Of The Very Bright Lights - Gang Crimes
Honestly, with first listen of Gang Crimes by Calgary's Church Of The Very Bright Lights, I didn't like it at all. I just felt it was way to slow and I blindly saw myself never getting over the pulse of the album. However, a coffee, a morning commute, and a walk through the streets of Vancouver gave me a second opinion. I think it is brilliant!This is a shoegaze album best heard in the intimacy of your headphones. A shoegaze album where the band members James Cullen, Chris Reimer, and Matt Flegel have decided to play without their pedals. Decided to record in simplicity and capture great tracks that can stand on their own.
Immediate standout tracks include Bone/Muscle and Lionsteeth. Both songs seemed to bring me back to experimenting with an eight track and messing around with, uninfluenced, sound. Simplicity reigns supreme her and she does so very well.
Immediate standout tracks include Bone/Muscle and Lionsteeth. Both songs seemed to bring me back to experimenting with an eight track and messing around with, uninfluenced, sound. Simplicity reigns supreme her and she does so very well.
Church Of The Very Bright Lights - Bone/Muscle
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Neil Young - Le Noise
Neil Young and Daniel Lanois! Honestly, if you do not know those two names I don't think you can tie your own shoes. There is absolutely no introduction needed and for the first time in a while, I have found something amazing to write about. This album is genius, exciting and oh-so relevant. Easily both artists' best work in years.
I am sure we all expected it. You put these two men in a room together and there is bound to be an album with one or two great tracks. However, listening today, I can tell you every track on the album is amazing and it is definitely in my top ten albums released this year. And yes, I have only heard a handfull of times. It is just that good.
I am sure we all expected it. You put these two men in a room together and there is bound to be an album with one or two great tracks. However, listening today, I can tell you every track on the album is amazing and it is definitely in my top ten albums released this year. And yes, I have only heard a handfull of times. It is just that good.
Ol' Neil and Lanois must have been listening to a lot of newcomers to the crunchy folk scene. It sounds as though they have skimmed elements of every "folk" (used very lightly) album released in the last several years, swirled it around their genius minds and spat it out as the ultimate "how to" guide for writing in this genre. With melody comes atmosphere. With vocals comes echo. With lyrics comes incredible imagery. I love what these two have created because it feels so fresh and it is sure to be another exclamation point to a couple of already illustrious careers.
Lyrically, it is a glimpse into the soul of the oft shy Mr. Young. Historical memoirs that create bleak scenes of a poverty stricken Canadian folkster, a man that loves his family and North America, and, of course, the brutal theft of that same territory so many years ago from it's original inhabitants. I think the lyrics are the thing that makes Le Noise
so wonderful for me, I love hearing the man tell me stories.
so wonderful for me, I love hearing the man tell me stories. Go buy this album because it is the best thing to come out, in my mind, in the last several months.
FUBAR II
I never get too excited about sequels. There are very few sequels worth standing up and shouting about. However, I cannot tell you how excited I am for Fubar II. The first one made me laugh and I know the second is going to make me laugh harder. Seriously, watch the trailer. How could it not?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
JBM // AA Bondy
With M so focused on his hunt for the perfect job, I see he's neglected to rave about the JBM/AA Bondy show we attended last week at the Media Club in Vancouver. So I will.
It's a rare occurrence when the opening act has you wondering how the headliner could ever possibly compete. On September 11th, opening act Jesse Merchant (JBM) played to a truly awestruck crowd. I won’t try to regale you with the hauntingly beautiful details of each song, or the fervor that engulfed the room. I will simply tell you, that if you have a chance to see JBM, I you will not be disappointed.
I will also tell you, that not surprisingly, AA Bondy failed to disappoint as well. Capitalizing on an already engaged crowd, he continued to dazzle us with his captivating presence, incredible talent and foot-stompin’, harmonica-blowin' songs.
Fun fact: JBM’s ex-girlfriend, Hollywood starlet Amanda Seyfried, was at the show selling swag. Bizarro.
[photo credit]
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
All Those Ships - Perils
As always with home recordings, there are some areas that could use a little production help but those are easily ignored by the quality of songwriting and the vast array of instruments Brandon chooses to include in his recordings. I have to highly recommend you check out the album Perils and you can do so here.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
I don't have to say these things because my hope is that most of the people that read this blog would already know that Grinderman is a force.
*The album Grinderman 2
is amazing by the way!Grinderman - Super Heathen Child (with Robert Fripp) by MuteRecords
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Dears - Residency Posters Competition
My loving wife recently sent in some posters for the upcoming Residency Concert Series that The Dears are putting on in the coming months. Now, I would be so thankful if you could kindly go HERE to vote for Sarah Reid's posters as they are clearly the best of the bunch. Also, the great thing about these posters is that they will be sold at the shows with proceeds going directly to Montreal City Mission and War Child.
Thank you so much and I will have a reward for you if she wins. (Still trying to figure out what the award will be!)
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Drunken Barn Dance - Grey Buried
are a few of my favourite bands and I am absolutely convinced if you could amalgamate them all, you would end up with Drunken Barn Dance.I have been listening to the band's latest release Grey Buried
for the last couple of days and, I have to admit, I am very impressed. The songs express anthem-like charm and the songwriting flows impeccably. Full of uplifting rock-n-roll and defined melodies, I have put this up as one of the better releases to come out lately. Have a listen on their myspace page, I am sure you will like it.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Dan Lyth - Some Of My Friends' Songs
I woke up to a great email the other morning from Dan Lyth regarding a project he has undertaken in which he covers friends' songs (hence the title). However, the experimentation is wonderful and an absolute joy to listen to. You can have a listen here
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Burgundy Grapes - Lagero
Now, for some of you this might be a touch old but, for me, it was discovered yesterday. It is really bringing me back to a recent trip around Europe and my nostalgia is really consuming me today. However, I really think everyone should pick up their copy of Burgundy Grape's
album Lagero. It can be downloaded for free here. The music is incredible and their story is even better.Would love to hear what you all think.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Brothers Young
Portland, Oregon's Brothers Young have this song. It's called Good Deeds and you should really go and listen to it on their myspace page. If you are a fan of those songs that throw you into a trance and make you want to know "oh so much more" about the band performing the music, I highly reccommned checking it out. It has had me staring out the window all morning in deep contemplation.Great song!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A Lull - Weapons For War
Is it just me, or are most videos getting better and better? Check out this from A Lull - Weapons For War
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Cedar Senior
Information regarding the very interesting Cedar Senior is limited and very hard to find. From the looks of things, the band is from a tiny fishing town (Port Alberni) on Vancouver Island and they make interesting taped/looped music. This small amount of information I have was directly stolen from both Pinglewood and I Guess I am Floating. However, those crazy loops and electro-experimentation is fantastic and well worth a listen. Plus, the e.p. is available at the bandcamp page for free.
Timber Timbre LIVE in Concert on the Sessions Podcast
As many of you may know, one of my absolute favourite artists to arrive on the scene in the last couple of years is, without a doubt, Timber Timbre
. His CBC Radio3 Session is a must listen.Check it out:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Timber Timbre LIVE in Concert on the Sessions Podcast:
listen
TRACKLIST | DOWNLOAD | SUBSCRIBE
It seems ironic that an artist named after a music tone would elude musical descriptors. Haunting, dramatic, swampy and ragged are not really music words per say, but they do get close to Timber Timbre, the musical project of Taylor Kirk.
Last year Timbre Timber release a collection of songs called 'Out of this Spark', which created a buzz in critic circles, making the Polaris Music Prize long list, and garnering Taylor an Echo songwriting nomination.
Back in November of 2009, we recorded this Session live off the floor of the legendary Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Quebec.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Casey Shea Does Florida
I have been meaning to write about Casey Shea ever since I was introduced to his music while away in Europe. He is a very friendly chap that continues to kick my ass at Words with Friends and he is also a great songwriter. He brings a flair for old-time songwriting while, seemingly, exorcising the ghost of George Harrison. I have been really enjoying his album Love is Here to Stay and it is high on my list for a recommended listen. However, I am writing about Casey today because of a recent cover he did. Florida by Modest Mouse has always been a staple mix-tape track for me and I was thrilled when Casey put his take of the song up on the Family Records blog. I have been listening to his version incessantly and felt it was absolutely necessary to share it with you here.
Have a listen:
Florida - Casey Shea
Friday, August 13, 2010
Anais Mitchell at the Railway Club
If you have not had the opportunity to witness the joy that is Kutapira, I highly recommend you see them. I don't know if you can find tour dates or show times (their site seems quite vague) but, I must say, I was floored by their performance on Granville Street yesterday. I had the privilege of seeing Anais Mitchell
with her amazing band last night at the Railway Club. Once again, I was in shock at the turnout and I really wish more people would come and see these incredibly talented musicians. Anais headlined with her band mates each taking solo efforts prior to her performance. As Hadestown is high on the list for Album of the Year for me, it was great to see her pull off the material live. I have not been that impressed with a guitar player in a long time. Jefferson Hamer has got to be one the best guitar players I have seen in years. Much like Kutapira
, he floored me with his solo performance and his impeccable twang. His rendition of Gram Parsons' Sin City was jaw dropping. On top of all that, he is a really nice guy.
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