Two Weeks
this video gives me a smile that starts all the way down at my toes.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
a long long-weekend
this weekend was a long long-weekend for me. i probably should do some work this evening but i'm running on a three day hangover, so instead i'm spending/spent today FINALLY unpacking the rest of my shit, watching movies and now, blogging about some sweet, sweet tunes.
i've been meaning to purchase this album since late 2008 but never got around to it. story of my life. it was one of those things where you'd hear someone talk about the album and you'd make a mental note to head over to the itunes store next time you're at your computer, but you'd routinely forget. at least i would, anyway. finally i did. thank god. because, it's one of the best canadian rock records to be released in a very, very long time.
this "indie" explosion has led to a number of mediocre, low-fi, shoegaze-esque albums hitting store shelves and i think we've forgotten just how rad it is to listen to a record that makes you heel-tap at your desk, bounce around your bedroom while you put away your laundry, and provoke the desire to clap your hands and dance like molly ringwald from that scene in the breakfast club down the alley behind your house while you're walking to the subway. well, jackson square by arkells makes me want to do just that.
it's definitely a pop infused sound, but it's fully, completely rock and roll. it's similar to slow runner, not in the sound, but in the band's talent and ability to make a super-cool pop-influenced rock album with wicked melodies, solid hooks, memorable lyrics and all around well-crafted tunes. the funny thing is that even if i think i don't particularly like a song at first, it's always capable of taking me along for the ride - like a movie that you think you might not like when you're 15 minutes into it, but soon you find that it has this weird ability to draw you in because it takes these tiny twists and turns you don't expect and all of the sudden you wind up in a place you never thought you'd be and it's fucking awesome.
jackson square also one of the best album covers i've seen in a long time, too.
the band is also pretty cute to boot. i'm not going to lie. i've got a bit of a band crush. let's get on with the show though.
dudes are from "the hammer", or hamilton, as it's generally referred to. they self-released an EP in 2007, must've made friends with dallas green along the way, re-released their EP on dine alone records, then dropped jackson square with the same label in october of 2008. i know this band draws a number of comparisons to the constantines (who are a great canadian rock band, don't get me wrong) but i just don't think the constantines have released anything as "accessible" as the arkells' record and though i hear the influence of a track like "working full time" on "oh, the boss is coming", "oh, the boss is coming" has a far greater appeal.
also check out:
deadlines (link courtesy of one of my favourite canadian blogs, i (heart) music) - this track is probably my favourite
ballad of hugo chavez
john lennon
i can unequivocally say that arkells are one of the best canadian rock bands to hit store shelves in a long, long time and i'm super-duper excited to catch a live show and see what other tracks they've got hidden up their sleeves.
i've been meaning to purchase this album since late 2008 but never got around to it. story of my life. it was one of those things where you'd hear someone talk about the album and you'd make a mental note to head over to the itunes store next time you're at your computer, but you'd routinely forget. at least i would, anyway. finally i did. thank god. because, it's one of the best canadian rock records to be released in a very, very long time.
this "indie" explosion has led to a number of mediocre, low-fi, shoegaze-esque albums hitting store shelves and i think we've forgotten just how rad it is to listen to a record that makes you heel-tap at your desk, bounce around your bedroom while you put away your laundry, and provoke the desire to clap your hands and dance like molly ringwald from that scene in the breakfast club down the alley behind your house while you're walking to the subway. well, jackson square by arkells makes me want to do just that.
it's definitely a pop infused sound, but it's fully, completely rock and roll. it's similar to slow runner, not in the sound, but in the band's talent and ability to make a super-cool pop-influenced rock album with wicked melodies, solid hooks, memorable lyrics and all around well-crafted tunes. the funny thing is that even if i think i don't particularly like a song at first, it's always capable of taking me along for the ride - like a movie that you think you might not like when you're 15 minutes into it, but soon you find that it has this weird ability to draw you in because it takes these tiny twists and turns you don't expect and all of the sudden you wind up in a place you never thought you'd be and it's fucking awesome.
jackson square also one of the best album covers i've seen in a long time, too.
the band is also pretty cute to boot. i'm not going to lie. i've got a bit of a band crush. let's get on with the show though.
dudes are from "the hammer", or hamilton, as it's generally referred to. they self-released an EP in 2007, must've made friends with dallas green along the way, re-released their EP on dine alone records, then dropped jackson square with the same label in october of 2008. i know this band draws a number of comparisons to the constantines (who are a great canadian rock band, don't get me wrong) but i just don't think the constantines have released anything as "accessible" as the arkells' record and though i hear the influence of a track like "working full time" on "oh, the boss is coming", "oh, the boss is coming" has a far greater appeal.
also check out:
deadlines (link courtesy of one of my favourite canadian blogs, i (heart) music) - this track is probably my favourite
ballad of hugo chavez
john lennon
i can unequivocally say that arkells are one of the best canadian rock bands to hit store shelves in a long, long time and i'm super-duper excited to catch a live show and see what other tracks they've got hidden up their sleeves.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
i normally wouldn't do this
because she's signed to a sister label, but i just adore this song. top of my summer '09 sweet jamz list.
maybe it would help if i told you who she was (i posted this video 3 days ago). she's misstress barbara. a montreal dj turned sweeeet summer jamz of '09 maker. this song reminds me of everything that was good about the 90s, circa trainspotting.
maybe it would help if i told you who she was (i posted this video 3 days ago). she's misstress barbara. a montreal dj turned sweeeet summer jamz of '09 maker. this song reminds me of everything that was good about the 90s, circa trainspotting.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
one of my favourite jessica lea mayfield songs
sung by one of my favourite acts: the avett brothers
LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It's one of my life-soundtrack songs right now.
ps - guaranteed, if i ever saw these dudes live, i would melt into a pile of mushy, gushy, love-junk. i adore them.
LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It's one of my life-soundtrack songs right now.
ps - guaranteed, if i ever saw these dudes live, i would melt into a pile of mushy, gushy, love-junk. i adore them.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
tom petty rocks my socks
i've been feeling a bit blah lately. i think it's the weather. winters are long in toronto, that's all i'm going to say. anyway, i was on the the subway on my way to work, having woken up to a cold, wet rain this morning, when tom petty's "learning to fly" came through my speakers and totally brightened my morning.
i love tom petty. i always seem to overlook his catalogue when i dream up my one of many attempts at an "all time favourites" list. i guess what i'm trying to say is that tom petty is one of my favourites. if i ever forget to mention him, or his work, in future attempts at an "all time favourites" list, just refer me back to this post.
and speaking of tom petty, i happened to see a fellow at the dakota tavern in toronto last thursday who reminded me of tom petty. not in the "i'm trying to steal tom petty's groove" kind-of-way, but he struck me in a tom petty kind-of-way through his presence, his phrasing and his style. this "he" to which i'm referring is dustin bentall (check his officially web page here). he's a fantastic live show. cool; that's the crucial word i used to describe his show to a coworker. he's got a stage presence much larger than the cozy, dark stage in the corner of the dakota allows for, i think. he's just fucking cool.
if you can get your hands on them, look for "handful of the blues," "see it coming," "such a shame" and "cold and lonely." you know what? just buy the album. you'll like it. especially if you dig the alt-country scene.
i love tom petty. i always seem to overlook his catalogue when i dream up my one of many attempts at an "all time favourites" list. i guess what i'm trying to say is that tom petty is one of my favourites. if i ever forget to mention him, or his work, in future attempts at an "all time favourites" list, just refer me back to this post.
and speaking of tom petty, i happened to see a fellow at the dakota tavern in toronto last thursday who reminded me of tom petty. not in the "i'm trying to steal tom petty's groove" kind-of-way, but he struck me in a tom petty kind-of-way through his presence, his phrasing and his style. this "he" to which i'm referring is dustin bentall (check his officially web page here). he's a fantastic live show. cool; that's the crucial word i used to describe his show to a coworker. he's got a stage presence much larger than the cozy, dark stage in the corner of the dakota allows for, i think. he's just fucking cool.
if you can get your hands on them, look for "handful of the blues," "see it coming," "such a shame" and "cold and lonely." you know what? just buy the album. you'll like it. especially if you dig the alt-country scene.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
i'm moving tomorrow
just down the street, but it seems easier than it is. i'm lacking boxes. seriously lacking boxes. i'm also slightly behind on my to-do list for today. i've packed up my dvds and vhs tapes, that's about it. anyway, my iTunes is on random right now and a tune from the empire records soundtrack came on. i don't know whether it's nostalgia, but there's something about that soundtrack that just makes me happy. that's all i had to say.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
PS
can you tell i just figured out what the second "embed" url means on youtube? hah. yeah. i might be slightly stupid.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
