Hello

I never write here anymore. However, seeing all the bands that are getting recognition as of late makes me proud of what I once had here.

Way to go:

Youth Lagoon
Japandroids
Indoor Voices
Eric and Magill
Trampled by Turtles
Scott H. Biram
Joe Pug
etc.

You all deserve it.

From Los Angeles with love,

-M

Long Distance Salvation - A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nabraska

I tend to stay away from tribute albums but, when I saw the line-up that was covering one of the best albums ever, I could not help but write about it. The legendary Nebraska is one album I would not want anybody to mess with but upon listening, I must say... I approve! The line-up is perfectly chosen and the songs prove to creative yet courteous to their original counterparts. 


Stand-outs on first pass through are obvious: Joe Pug and Trampled by Turtles exude their brilliance however, relatively unknown artists (to me at least) such as David Wax and Jonah Tolchin nail it. My absolute favourite so far is The Wooden Sky's version of the eponymous Nebraska. Awesome!   

Just ordered the limited vinyl and I look forward to its arrival. Well worth it. Check out the album in it's entirety here.

Neil Halstead - Palidrome Hunches

I have been kind of obsessing over this new track from one of my favourites, Neil Halstead. Off the album, Palindrome Hunches, released earlier this week (Sept. 11)Digging Shelters is just a gem of a song. Sweet and melodic and oh so Halstead... ie! Take a listen:

 

Live & Breathing - Hoots & Hellmouth - Threadbare

Indoor Voices - So Smart

Well, one of the best singles of the year has been added to my 2012 catalogue. Indoor Voices released the So Smart e.p. last week and, as per usual, it has been in constant rotation on every music-producing device I own. With So Smart, Relph nails emotion, gracefulness, and his ever-tightening grasp on a pop-leaning melody. I honestly believe it is one of his most accessible tracks to date and I couldn't recommend it enough. Awesome!

Christopher Smith - Earning Keep

I was just informed of Christopher Smith about an hour ago via facebook. Upon first listen of this album, I can't tell you how much I love it. Incredible songwriting, a perfect balance of melancholy and tenderness, and an almost perfect voice. Earning Keep is dark, chilling, and brilliant. I couldn't recommend it enough.

Coming Around

Well with moving, movement, and a nice change of surroundings comes opportunity. Opportunity to listen to new music. Opportunity to reflect. Opportunity to tune everything out.

I have gravitated to a lot of various types of music lately; some of it soft, some of it hard, some plain, some simply boring, and some just exactly the same - it's all there. This really sounds like a jumbled mess about nothing but hopefully it makes sense to the few of you who care. Included here are a couple of tunes that I have been listening to lately and, frankly, that is all this blog is for. So, here you go.

As you can most likely tell, I have taken a hiatus from writing here for the last little while. With time comes inspiration and, well, I am almost inspired again!

Sleep - Dragonaut

Simply Because...

Nevers, Nuggets, and Laments

Alright! That's it! Enough already! Here we go! 

I have officially become sickened, saddened, and even angered about my complete ignorance of this blog and how, if at all, it may have affected the small amount of you that actually pay attention to what I have to say. I have been listening to a ton of great music as of late and I really have been meaning to share a lot of it on here. Life and schedule always do seem to get in the way but, with regards to said statement, I hate making up excuses. 

I have had a blast over the last couple of months working in the music industry and it has been a fantastic source of new music both from the past and up-and-coming acts. I do want to write more but I just need the time. I will find more time but until then, let us restart here with a couple of amazing things that I really feel all of you should check out. One is quite old and the other is fairly recent.

Indoor Voices - Nevers

Yes, I have written about Jonathan Relph's tunes before but I have yet to mention the release of his full length Nevers.  Now, I was a huge fan of Junetile back in the day and I absolutely love hearing how Jonathan's song-writing has blossomed and become expressively more sophisticated and emotional. Nevers was recorded in a music room in a high-rise and you can almost hear the attempts to not disturb the neighbours in the vocal recordings (Hence "Indoor Voices") but the music comes across as super-charged, extremely full and in your face. I truly do love this album and I couldn't recommend it enough. 

In fact, if you take a look at my last.fm account, you can see just how much I have been listening to this gem over the last couple of months. I have to admit it is way up there on the list of best albums of 2012. And trust me, I know it's early but this will make the year end list… if I write one this year!

The Nuggets Series

A friend introduced me to the wonders of The Nuggets Series several months ago. The collection is absolutely amazing and I can't stress enough just how important everything on these albums is. It has been on standard rotation on every musical device I have and I highly recommend it. Lots of fun and lots of good old rock-n-roll!

R.E.M. Retrospect

Well, it’s official, a piece of my soul has died today. R.E.M. officially announced that they have disbanded and it made me think a lot about my youth. Now, I have not been a massive fan of their later work, with the exception of Accelerate, but I have definitely enjoyed reflecting on those early memories and albums. I don’t want to write a diatribe on here about how and/or why they were so important to me but, rather, I would like to include a list of songs that allows a nostalgic revisit to that old fanatic fan.

I really will miss that Reichenbacher twang, those imaginable bass-lines, dreamy beats, and, of course, the Stipe-induced mumbles.

Is it a burnout or a fade away?

My personal Greatest Hits will come in two sections. Chronic Town through Document in the first installment and Green through Collapse Into Now in the next. These songs deserve a good re-listen!

1. 1,000,000 - Chronic Town
2. We Walk - Murmur
3. Laughing - Murmur
4. Harbourcoat - Reckoning
5. 7 Chinese Brothers - Reckoning
6. Second Guessing - Reckoning
7. Maps and Legends - Fables of Reconstruction
8. Driver 8 - Fables of Reconstruction
9. Old Man Kensey - Fables of Reconstruction
10. Green Grows the Rushes - Fables of Reconstruction
11. Cuyahoga - Life's Rich Pageant  
12. Swan Swan H - Life's Rich Pageant       
13. Crazy - Dead Letter Office (Pylon Cover)
14. Welcome To The Occupation - Document       
15. You know what, let's just say anything off Document. The album is incredible and a absolute force in just under a 40 minute running time. 

... There will be more to come tomorrow.

Youth Lagoon

I don't know where Youth Lagoon came from. I don't know where they dwell or how long they have been around for. Basically, I do not have any information about them at all. I was merely told to take a listen to them and I have been obsessing over the songs July and Cannons for the last 24 hours. Beautiful... oh so Beautiful.

Youth Lagoon is a talent that I have been waiting for for a very long time. Absolutely fantastic! I am off to do some research!

Youth Lagoon - Goodbye Again (John Denver Cover)

The Head and the Heart - s/t

I know it has been ages since I last wrote on here and for that, I must once again apologize. However, my lack of writing does not mean that I have not been listening to a whole lot of amazing music. One such band I discovered, and yes I know they have been around for a while, is The Head and the Heart.

I have been obsessing over this gem of an album for a few weeks now. The songs are amazing and so full of emotion and intrigue. From what I hear, they stole the show at SXSW this year and I am sure it was well deserved. They are coming to town, The Venue, and I can't wait to see them live. Do yourself a favour and pick-up the album.

Playground.is

PGI#1: Watasun, The Miles Davis Jam. from playground.is on Vimeo.

I wrote a while back about Playground and the video has finally been edited and put out there for mass consumption.

Enjoy... it was fun.

First Nations - Black Beach

I have been obsessed with First Nations ever since I first heard the Black Beach album several months ago. I don't know why I have not written about them on here but I guess it's better late than never, right? The songs are just full of life and create that "oh-so-gooey" feeling inside with each and every re-listen. Definitely another highly recommended album from 2011.

Indoor Voices - 38 Stories

I was sent an amazing song the other day by a couple of friends in Toronto. I can't get enough of it and I really think everyone should have a listen.

The story behind Indoor Voices is a unique one. Six friends wanting to give Jonathan, the songwriter, a bachelor party to remember booked surprise studio time to record a song of his choice. Each member of the impromptu band took the song for a few weeks before and developed their own parts. Three hours of jamming and six takes later, you can hear the result.

Recorded to a click track, all studio parts were later added to Jonathan's own home recordings of the song, hence "mash-up," and I just can't get enough of the amazing track.

Have a listen:

Indoor Voices - 38 Stories

Timber Timbre - Creep on Creeping On

Yes, I understand I write about these guys far too much but half way through the new album, Creep on Creeping On, I realized I had at least one more post to write. I will keep it short and sweet. In fact, if many of you have read my past posts about Timber Timbre, you know that I absolutely love them so I am sure you can guess what I think about the new album.

Get your hands on it. It's amazing, wonderful, and is already a masterpiece in my mind. It's just that simple.

Maggie Bjorklund - Coming Home

I am really loving the new Maggie Bjorklund album, Coming Home. There is a state of meloncholie established throughout the album that is amazing and makes me want to go for a long walk on a desert road somewhere. Have a listen.

Maggie Bjorklund - Intertwined (featuring Mark Lanegan)

www.playground.is

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to be part of a spectacle that I am sure is going to change live music in Vancouver. The project is called Playground and it's purpose is to fuse audience with performer and destroy and breakdown any barrier that comes with the standard stage show. The concept is unique and exciting and I really think it is going to take off.

WATASUN were the first band to be to kick off the inaugural Playground and definitely played with the idea of crowd incorporation. One song was played but lead singer, Ronii Wata, relished in the crowd participation as every element of the song somehow involved a guest of the show. The song was written on the spot and explored just what a crowd, along with a willing band leader, could accomplish in a partnership.

If you are in a band reading this and are interested in performing at Playground, let me know and I will put in touch with the right people. I am very excited about the future that is www.playground.is

Reflecting

You know what, if you missed this you missed out.

Jhameel - The Human Condition

I have recently discovered Jhameel and I can't get enough of his new album, The Human Condition. It is just so full of exciting experimentation, fulfilling pop, and incredible vocals. He has an incredible knack for writing great songs and it is definitely worth a listen. You can download, and donate to, the album on his website and I highly recommend you do.

Photo Credit: Marta Dymek

Alexander Fairchild - Not Gonna Argue

Alexander Fairchild - Not Gonna Argue from Brooks Reynolds on Vimeo.
I love this song!

Update: Here is the .mp3 file for the song from the always wonderful Chris at Bearsuit Publishing / Indie Music Filter, you can download it here:

Alexander Fairchild - Not Gonna Argue

Port St. Willow - Stay Even

I listen to new releases on my phone on random. This song came on and it immediately warmed my soul and I absolutely love it. I have realized that it came from the always impressive I Guess I'm Floating blog. Go there and have a listen but also check out the very cool video below.


Shaking Through: Port St Willow from Weathervane Music on Vimeo.

Nic Bommarito - T27

I have been listening to a lot of Nic Bommarito lately and I have to push the song T27 on here. It's an epic, 18 minute, juggernaut that brings the listener on an incredible journey of fascinating noise and melodic soundscapes. Absolutely great for a walk in the city and mending broken dreams.

You can also download all of his material at his site, here. 

Enjoy.

Save The World, Ride a Bike

I love this video that just won the One Minute to Save the World Contest. Rhymes are a bit shyte but the message is promising.

Jefferson Hamer -This Ragged World We Spanned - 7" Vinyl

I saw, and wrote about, Jefferson Hamer last August and I have been hoping he would grace us with some recorded material for quite some time. My prayers have been answered. Jefferson has just released two tracks on a 7" entitled This Ragged World We Spanned and both songs are touching and lovely. I saw him play both in a solo performance opening for Anais Mitchel and I cannot recommend his live performance enough. He is engaging, an amazing guitar player, and, really, just a kind-loving soul that I feel I need to promote as much as I can.

How can you not love the beautiful, letter-pressed, cover art as well?