wow. i'm bad at this.

I'm back. Yes. You read that right. My posts have been few and far between lately, but I've finally got something to write about that gives me a musical half-hard on, at least. Or will - on Thursday at the Opera House.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a soft spot for anything 80s. I can probably recite 64% of The Wedding Singer, I'm strangely attracted to David Bowie and, on occasion, I've been known to admit to pre-pubescent crushes on Jim Henson puppets. But, worst/best of all, in Grade 9 I bought one of those canvas binders, in blue, just like "Sam" had in Sixteen Candles. I thought it was so cool. But I digress, I'm not writing a blog about Joy Division or The Psychedelic Furs. I'm writing about M83.

M83 have managed to make a modern tribute to a decade we all know and love. As far as I'm concerned, it merges the best parts of the decade that was with contemporary indie-pop, resulting in a record that's bold, lavish and fucking beautiful. The clear front-runners are "we own the sky" and "kim & jessie" (check the video here. it's one of the best I've seen in a long, long while). "kim & jessie" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. It makes me want to take drugs I'd never do and dance around my room in my underwear (that I do - often) with... Jake Ryan. I also love the eerie quality to "you, appearing" and "skin of the night". "graveyard girl" seems to be a favourite in the blogsphere, but I'm not the biggest fan. To be honest, I find the dialogue to be seriously lame. That aside, it would be an amazing pop song. Every time I listen to it I wish I could remove that stupid dialogue. Urgggh. It's a "WTF?!?!" moment, for sure.

M83 plays at The Opera House, Thursday, November 20th. See you there.

PS - Bon Iver's releasing a 4-song EP, Blood Bank, in January. No words can be used to describe this news - it's that fucking A-mazing. I love this man.

bronchitis is the pits

So I've been suffering from a nasty bout of bronchitis/a-cold-that-has-turned-into-bronchitis over the past two weeks, hence my decreased inclination to search out new tunes and post about said tunes.

Today my boss asked me to leave work early because my walrus cough was disturbing my co-workers (jokes, but she really did tell me to go home.) Annnnnnyway, I tried to take a nap but I couldn't sleep without enduring a wicked coughing fit, so I ventured onto one of my favourite music blogs, chromewaves. I like Frank; because once and a while he introduces me to a new band I fall in love with, though generally after the band has played a show in Toronto, which is often a kick in the pants if you ask me. This is the case with Frightened Rabbit. They're a band from Scotland who started as a one-man outfit around 2003 and grew to include two other members but didn't go public until a few years later - says their bio. They're fucking awesome, plain and simple. Who wouldn't love a band who says:

You won't find love in a hole/it takes more than fucking someone to keep yourself warm.

I'm drunk, I'm drunk/And you're probably on pills/If we've both got the same diseases it's irrelevant, Girl.

Now, someone may find these lyrics to be slightly off-putting, but I'm struck by their honesty and realness (realness probably isn't a real word and my writing lab teacher would probably die if she saw I published something with the word "realness" in it but what the hell). Despite the clever and albeit dark lyrics, the music is warm and uplifting. I was trying to think of the best way to describe the album and all I could come up with was that it's the kind of music you wish had arms and was able to pick you up and press you against it's warm chest and let you snuggle in its beard. Basically it makes me feel warm and fuzzy and happy all over. I love every single track off Midnight Organ Fight. Literally, EVERY. SINGLE. TRACK.

Standouts:

"Backwards Walk" - I love the line that says: You're the shit and I'm knee-deep in it.
"Keep yourself warm" - This is the one I quoted above.
"The Twist" - Again. Honest, honest lyrics.
"The Modern Leper" - Possibly my favourite

Seriously, I could list every single track. Each time another one comes on my iTunes while I write this I want to add it.

Check them out and buy their album. PLEASE. (if anyone besides Jason actually reads this).
I want them to come back to Toronto again. So do it for me, not the band.

With instant love like this on the first two listens I would say that Midnight Organ Fight rivals my pick of TVOTR's Dear Science as best album of the year.

I'm in serious fucking music love right now.

i've been busy and ill

and maybe a little lazy. new post coming as soon as i can muster the gumption to search the net for some new tunes.

"i'm bored, you're amorous"

(HA! the story of my life.)

So I've been lazy. I'm not sure why. I didn't have a particularly busy week, by normal standards. I think I just didn't find anything that I felt inspired to write about, until now... dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuuuun. Okay, that was sorta lame. But so am I.

Dear and the Headlights are a band from Phoenix, AZ. I don't really know too much about them, besides what I found on wiki. My Internet friend (who really lives down the street from me - i know. i don't get it either. i think he's afraid that my sweetness (and my boobs) might compromise his current relationship. both are pretty irresistible if you ask me) recommended the band to me when we were convinced that we'd never find anything that we could both categorize as "good shit".

Drunk Like Bible Times dropped Sept. 30th and I really hope it gains some steam. As far as I'm concerned it marries what's best about britpop and indie-rock quite charmingly. A few songs remind me a bit of The Kooks, but the first Kooks album, not the second.

"I'm not crying. You're not crying, Are you?" is the first single and one of the best tunes on the record. It's a toe-tapping rock song for sure. I'm sure I'll be bouncing to this one on the subway come Monday morning.

"Flowers for My Brain" is another favourite. I love the lyrical phrasing, particularly in the beginning. The swell, mid-way through the song, is pretty sweet too. I wish I could find it online somewhere. Dig it up if you can.

"I Know" is also a favourite. I'm a fan of the drums. It almost feels like two songs, really. And again, it's a toe-tapper.

Overall, the album is solid. I've been listening to it non-stop for the past few days. I hope they find their way North to Toronto. I have a feeling it'd be a solid live show.

i'm going to take you home (well, i'll try anyway)

So. I'm not sure why I didn't get into TV On The Radio back when Return to Cookie Mountain hit - it was a HUGE oversight on my behalf, clearly. However, last Friday I followed the sweet hum of buzz and good reviews to Dear Science and I'm sure glad I did. It's one of the best records I've heard this year. I'm sure. Fuck that. It is the best record I've heard this year. Yep. Pretty sure.

I love every track on this record. It's raw and sexy. It's so sexy that all I think about when I listen to it is making-out... and stuff... For me, a really good record should make you want to make-out with someone. This revelation gives me an idea. Perhaps I'll rate all the records/bands I talk about on a scale of how badly it makes me want to make-out with someone when I listen to it. TVOTR = I would make-out with that dude I sat beside on the subway on Friday - who smelt like cheese - because I want to make-out with someone that badly when I listen to this record. Yep. That's it.

With that said. My favourite track is "Lover's Day". I can imagine the video for it now. TVOTR playing in a field. Keywords: Night, Fireworks, Drumline, Choir, Hot people making-out. That's it. I mean, I can go into all the editing details but that would be boring. I'm sure.

Now, as I said, I love every track on this record but I won't go into detail with them all. "Crying" has a great groove though. If Prince and David Bowie (circa tunes he wrote for the labyrinth - yes. I mean that. specifically "Underground") were to get together and make sweet, sweet love, they would create the tune that met Cut Copy and subsequently birthed "Crying".

"DLZ" has a slightly darker tone than the others I've mentioned so far. Actually, I listened to it yesterday walking home from my friends place (at night) and it tripped the fuck out of me. I love it. The vocals kill. I'm a fan of the clear political assault. You can hear the strain and anger behind the lyrics in this song. Put simply, you yearn to hear it live after you listen, just once.

Get it. Love it. Resist the urge to make-out. I dare you.

PS

Bon Iver was just on Grey's.

PANCAKES, BITCHES!!

Yeah. So this title has nothing to do with the post, but my coworker mis-heard me this morning and thought I said... that. I wish I said that. I'd be the coolest m-fucker on the planet if I'd said that. Next time I cook breakfast for someone, or a group of people, it'll be pancakes and I'll be able to say "Pancakes, bitches!!" - for reals.

Anyway, last Saturday I went home to Guelph for the night. My friend Kat and I went out to the Jimmy Jazz to meet a friend. Nat had gone home, but we stumbled across this little gem - The Rest. It was clearly the next best thing.

The Rest are from Hamilton, ON. I really don't know a thing about them. I'm not sure they've hit the touring circuit hard enough to pick up some solid buzz. They have had some shout outs on Iheartmusic.com and PopMatters.com, which is well deserved as far as I'm concerned. I picked up their single Apples & Allergies and just can't stop listening. PS - They're even better live. Every song I heard I fell in love with. On stage, the vocals remind me of bright eyes. Now, I'm not bright eyes' biggest fan, but the Rest's vocals are reminiscent of the "frantic" sound that bright eyes tends to have. And I mean "frantic" in the best sense of the word.

The Rest is my pick for Canada's next big thing. Whoever signs this band will be just as lucky as whoever manages/d to sign Thunderheist.

because the emmy awards are fucking boring.

So I didn't plan on blogging today. I spent my weekend getting all sorts of intoxicated with friends, new and old. Sidenote: don't take old friends from small towns to new bars in the city. They will talk up crazy men wearing furry, pink fedora's and attempt to encourage unwanted foot violation in unimaginable ways from said man wearing a furry, pink fedora.

Aaaaaaaaaanyway, I'm bringing it back, don't worry. Since I spent the majority of my weekend getting all sorts of intoxicated, I planned on watching TV all night. But, low and behold, the fucking Emmy's are on. So. Fucking. Boring. And Josh Grobin? Really? What the fuck was that? Most awkward 6 minutes of my life. And I've had a couple awkward sets of awkward 6 minutes - one that even ended with me saying "You left me unsatisfied and disappointed", but THAT (Josh Grobin) was fucking awkward. I had to leave the room it was so fucking awkward.

(Bringing it back again) After the Emmy's and Josh Grobin ruined my plans, I decided I'd spend the rest of my night writing this blog.

I found this band surfing myspace one random day last fall/winter. I automatically fell in love with their release, SHIV! It was quirky, fun and completely addictive. Slow Runner are a band out of New Orleans (I think. Don't quote me. It's not on their myspace anymore). First off, this band knows how to write a serious rock/pop song. The lyrics are catchy and tell a story. The melodies are simple, but great nonetheless. I'm surprised "Lower Your Standards" wasn't a commercial it. Actually, I'm still shocked this band doesn't have massive radio-play. I don't believe there is a song on SHIV! I don't like, to be honest.

Their latest record, Mermaids has a darker sound. The tone is slightly more melancholic than the last record. I think that SHIV! showed the signs, for sure. The lyrics could be dark, but the sound was always light. Mermaids also had to grow on me. I wasn't sure how I felt about it on the first few listens but now I fucking love it. "The Stakes Were Raised", "Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together" and "Make You Love Me" are fan-fucking-tastic. And, as I've mentioned, these tracks really are musical storytelling at it's best. I also think they've done some really interesting production on this record. I don't know much about the production process, or anything about the production process really, but I do know when a record's over-produced. Mermaids just sounds... natural, really.

ps - it's a good break-up record. full of those things you wish you could say to someone but totally can't. (ex - when i've used up the best you / and i'm breaking myself against the next you /... all i want to do is make you love me)

trap me in a log cabin with this man and i'd be a happy, happy girl

So I got lazy yesterday and drunk the day before and I don't really have time for an adequate post today (full of my knee slapping humour and fitting anecdotes) so this one's about a favourite, plain and simple.

A friend of mine had "Bon Iver" posted as his google-chat name one day, so I went online to check it out. I instantly fell in love - as anyone does who has listened to this record. For Emma, Forever Ago was recorded in a back-woods log cabin in Wisconsin (seriously? seriously.) The story's reminiscent of Ray Lamontagne; another songwriter I wouldn't mind being trapped in a log cabin with.

Though the difference between the two is quite apparent. Bon Iver is rich. His sound is organic. And as Elton John would say, sad songs say so much. This record is the perfect record to listen to if you're just hanging out - or making-out even. Put simply, Bon Iver's 'pain will rock you'. Every track's a winner. My personal favourites are "skinny love", "for emma" and "re: stacks"

Watch "Skinny Love" - this video will make you cry. It did me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHyo33XLP24

Stream "For Emma, Forever Ago" here and cry your bloody eyes out.

"when the right girl comes across my face...

...that'll be it" - douchebag on eTalk (15/9/08) WHAT. A. SOUNDBITE.

So, I was hesitant to post such a mainstream track so early on. I didn't want to ruin my cred before I earned it. But, I've been a fan of these dudes for ages and despite the fact that I believe this new record will push Kings of Leon into the 'Rock SuperGod Stratisphere', that might not be such a bad thing. Also, the totally whack/rad soundbite I heard yesterday was the perfect title for this post.

Kings of Leon drop their new album one week today. From what I've heard, it's a far cry from 'Aka Shake Heartbreak' (my personal favourite) and I'm not sure that I like where it's headed, just yet. I think you can hear the transition on their last record, 'Because Of The Times', with tracks like "On Call", a sweeping rock tune with heart & soul. Caleb's voice is distinct and impressive, no doubt. The album, in my mind, solidified KoL as the best, new-ish/not-quite Rock-SuperGods-Yet band to produce solid, mainstream rock tunes.

(I bet you're wondering where the connection is between the title of this post and KoL)

Here it is: Kings of Leon's first video off "Only By The Night" - SEX ON FIRE (Heh)

There is no denying that "Sex On Fire" is a seriously good rock tune. I fucking love it to be honest. It does everything a good rock tune is supposed to make you do. It makes you dance. It makes you want to scream the chorus while you're taking a shower. It makes you want to exercise demons from Caleb's body in a sweaty, dark warehouse. It makes you want to catch free-range chickens by hand. It makes you want to take a shower with the drummer under a mysterious water source. It makes you want to rip pages out of The Old Testament. It makes you want to eat the free-range chicken you just caught by hand...

Okay, you get the point. The video's kind of weird. But hot, nonetheless - as every good rock vid should be.

So that's today's post. Please don't hate me. I promise I'll dig up some more obscure stuff next time.

it'll make you break shit. apparently.

As I sat down to write this blog I broke my lamp. Somehow, in the mess of extension cords surrounding my desk, my chair caught the lamp cord and pulled the lamp off my desk as I attempted to turn on my fan so that I'd get a little relief from this wicked hangover.

It must mean something. Something like ikea's shit. This is the second glass ikea lamp I've broken in as many... ikea lamps. At least this catastrophe didn't end with trip to Emerg like the last one did.

Annnnnnnyway, I've spent the day nursing my hangover with ben, jerry and bridget jones. Solid day if I do say so myself. Amidst my sloth-like behaviour today I did find the time to narrow down the topic for today's post: Ra Ra Riot.

Ra Ra Riot's a band out of Syracuse, New York who recently toured through TO to play a show at The Horseshoe. I missed the show. Mainly because I need more friends who want to see shows. (Shout out: Anyone who's in the same position as me drop me a line. I'm always looking for new concert buddies.)

So, I wouldn't say their newest record, The Rhumb Line, is anything groundbreaking, but it is a solid, solid record. It's full of great melodies and really, really good lyrics. I've never been one to pay too much attention to lyrics - unless they're bad (example: city and colour's first album = worst. lyrics. ever.) But, the lyrics for "Can You Tell" make it the perfect song to listen to when you're kicking your own ass for your adventures in drunk-texting the night before and need to feel like you're not the only idiot on the planet who must learn to leave their cell at home. (note: the song is not about drunk texting, but you get my drift).

If you're a fan of stars, Mates of State, or any pretty indie-pop bands, then you'll fall in love with The Rhumb Line, as I have. Take a listen to "Ghosts Under Rocks", "Oh, La" and "Run My Mouth" (my personal favourite) if you can find them. But in the meantime, click here to listen to "A Manner To Act".

they made me do it.

So my friends have successfully coerced me into starting a blog. I’m not sure why. I don’t fancy myself a particularly ‘entertaining’ writer. I suppose writing is a major part of my job description, but I don’t write shit you’d read for fun. I write shit other people read and then write shit you’d read for fun. I’m also not sure I really know what makes a solid tune...solid. But I do know that I love music and I constantly force my iPod on friends, family, coworkers and I’m sure I’d even force it on fellow TTC riders every AM if it were a sane thing to do.

With that in mind, let’s take a trip into my iTunes. I’ll show you a good time. I swear.

Lately there’s a lot of music I just can’t seem to get enough of. I’ll keep it to one artist today though.

Let’s start with an anecdote (a writer at my last internship told me that antidotes ‘make the story’ – I promise this one’s real and not just for effect):

Back when Amy Winehouse couldn’t be confused with a crack-head screaming obscenities on the corner of Carlton and Parliament, I downloaded her album. I was poor, so it wasn’t legal. Nonetheless, as I spun it on my iPod this random song came on that clearly wasn’t Winehouse’s. It was called bows & arrows. I loved the tune, but even with serious googling I couldn’t figure out whose song it was.

The other day I was perusing music blogs at work and I came across a post about The Walkmen’s new album You & Me. I listened to a tune or two and soon it all came together. A ‘full circle moment’ as Oprah would say. So, I guess you can say that Amy Winehouse introduced me to The Walkmen and I’m thoroughly happy she did.

The Walkmen’s newest disk, ‘You & Me’, is fucking brilliant. It’s the kind of record you spastically air drum to while you’re making your bed. It’s the kind of record you listen to while you’re on your commute home after a long day at work and you look at everyone’s tired faces and think - ‘I bet they wouldn’t hate their life so much if they were listening to this shit right now’. It’s the kind of record you fucking fall in love with – hands down.

Favourite tracks:

“The Blue Route” – If this song doesn’t make you consistently heel tap with drum you’re not alive.

“Four Provinces” – So much sound your ears will need a rest afterwards.

“In The New Year” – This song makes me wish I were a rockstar.

"I Lost You" - Goes places you don't expect.

So, that’s it for now folks. My first trip into the blogsphere. I hope it was good for you too.