The first time I heard Spotlight, the first single off Mutemath's new album, I was actually a bit pissed off. The viral videos of the boys recording process had gotten me gleeful with anticipation of an epic album to follow up their self-titled 2006 release. Then, they went and released a song which ended up being the anthem for a shitty teen-romance vampire movie and I got incredibly angry.
Somehow, video saved the radio star.
I don't know what it is about this troupe of 4 overly energetic N'Orleansers, but when you put them in front of a camera, amazing things happen. When I watched this video, suddenly all was forgiven and the song became good again.
And I started to get excited for the album... again.
-You'd commit suicide to martyr yourself
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Like a million tents were just pitched
I wish I had something witty to say, but fuck it:
TRICKY WOO IS GETTING BACK TOGETHER.
If you're not quite sure why this is significant, simply go place your hand in an open door and slam it as hard as you can.
Good, now that you understand things a little better and are on my wavelength, we can get down to things. The Sled Island Music Fest in Calgary just announced their lineup for 2009 and low and behold... I've got wood. When asked about their reformation by Chart, a whole whackload of insanity about nuts was spewed.
Back in my days of yore, when fledgling-wanna-be-rock-stars were offering me coke on New Years' eves, but pre-said-rock-cocks becoming paranoid about me hitting on their fiance, I had a chance to visit the Tricky Woo rehearsal studio. Even without the amps on, it felt like sex was being amplified through the air. The place had soul, meaning, and a coating of white powder on nearly any flat and smooth surface.
What really mattered though, was the music. Tricky Woo would become one of the bands not to define my childhood, but to define my inner rock star. I listen to One Great City! when I'm homesick. I listen to Grey Mountain Lullaby when I'm lonely. I listen to Heart Attack American when I'm angry. I listen to Lover Don't you Lie when I AM THE KING OF THE BLOODY UNIVERSE.
I'm glad we had this little chat.
-Bring back the old, to hell with the new
TRICKY WOO IS GETTING BACK TOGETHER.
If you're not quite sure why this is significant, simply go place your hand in an open door and slam it as hard as you can.
Good, now that you understand things a little better and are on my wavelength, we can get down to things. The Sled Island Music Fest in Calgary just announced their lineup for 2009 and low and behold... I've got wood. When asked about their reformation by Chart, a whole whackload of insanity about nuts was spewed.
Back in my days of yore, when fledgling-wanna-be-rock-stars were offering me coke on New Years' eves, but pre-said-rock-cocks becoming paranoid about me hitting on their fiance, I had a chance to visit the Tricky Woo rehearsal studio. Even without the amps on, it felt like sex was being amplified through the air. The place had soul, meaning, and a coating of white powder on nearly any flat and smooth surface.
What really mattered though, was the music. Tricky Woo would become one of the bands not to define my childhood, but to define my inner rock star. I listen to One Great City! when I'm homesick. I listen to Grey Mountain Lullaby when I'm lonely. I listen to Heart Attack American when I'm angry. I listen to Lover Don't you Lie when I AM THE KING OF THE BLOODY UNIVERSE.
I'm glad we had this little chat.
-Bring back the old, to hell with the new
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Just in case you've been hiding under a rock
I've been listening to a lot of Sufjan Stevens this past week and it dawned on me that not everyone knows who the guy is.
To sum up, he's had one of the biggest sways on the folk genre in the last 10 years... even if simply due to numbers. He released an inordinate 7 records in the span from 2000-2006, added in a few xmas EPs and even undertook a project to write an album about each of the US' 50 states (which so far, he's completed 2).
He's definitely a bit of a strange guy (though I think you have to be to write that much music). He's been recently heard floating around projects like a musical about the NJ turnpike, and a 'symphonic and cinematic' project called the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
I guess, I just thought you might want to take a listen.
-Roll me over and pick me up
To sum up, he's had one of the biggest sways on the folk genre in the last 10 years... even if simply due to numbers. He released an inordinate 7 records in the span from 2000-2006, added in a few xmas EPs and even undertook a project to write an album about each of the US' 50 states (which so far, he's completed 2).
He's definitely a bit of a strange guy (though I think you have to be to write that much music). He's been recently heard floating around projects like a musical about the NJ turnpike, and a 'symphonic and cinematic' project called the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
I guess, I just thought you might want to take a listen.
-Roll me over and pick me up
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Dynamic Duo Week: Pack it In
As is the case with most situations in life I am to eat my words yet again. Naturally, no sooner do I tear down on a specific idea, place or thing (in this case, Vancouver) then is a light suddenly shed upon my innocent world which proves me ignoramusly wrong. Next thing you know, people are going to start calling me on shit like making up words.
What happens when you take one of my favorite bands, The Black Keys, and give them a sex change? You get The Pack A.D. I hate to generalize and pigeon hole a band, but just listen to this shit. It's fantastic music, but there were a couple songs which even I thought was a bit of a rip on the Keys (and this coming from a guy who hasn't written an original song in years).
At the end of last summer, they released their second full length, Funeral Mixtape which has garnered a lot of attention for these two ladies and placed them in venues around North America. Now, we just have to flip a coin to see if they'll be the next big thing, or end up snorting lines of coke from the leftover dredges of the headlining bands in the corner floorboards of the backstage room.
Time will be the judge.
-Carry on your heavy spirit, it'll tire eventually
What happens when you take one of my favorite bands, The Black Keys, and give them a sex change? You get The Pack A.D. I hate to generalize and pigeon hole a band, but just listen to this shit. It's fantastic music, but there were a couple songs which even I thought was a bit of a rip on the Keys (and this coming from a guy who hasn't written an original song in years).
At the end of last summer, they released their second full length, Funeral Mixtape which has garnered a lot of attention for these two ladies and placed them in venues around North America. Now, we just have to flip a coin to see if they'll be the next big thing, or end up snorting lines of coke from the leftover dredges of the headlining bands in the corner floorboards of the backstage room.
Time will be the judge.
-Carry on your heavy spirit, it'll tire eventually
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Dynamic Duo Week: Big in Japan
I need to say something a little bit contentious: Vancouver, you're falling behind. The rest of Canada is churning out some awesome tunes, and while you've been a hotbed for the best of Canadian Hip Hop, I'm a bit disappointed at your performance in the rock sector. Sure, you have Black Mountain, but don't think that'll hold forever.
See, that's what I would have said BEFORE I learned about Japandroids. Fortunately, Vancouver and I have now kissed and made up. For this glorious reunion, we can thank Brian King and Dave Prowse; Two friends who decided to get together, start making music, and after a while, got sick of looking for a bassist.
However they, as so many duos can quickly realize, found that bass is optional, and a duo can still blast enough noise to render you sterile. With two EPs under their belt, JPNDRDS have just released their first full length Post-Nothing. They've been doing shows in and around Vancouver for almost 3 years, and have taken the odd weekend trip to locals around Canada. However, just this month they have been lucky enough to finally score some true time away from the grind and are doing a North American tour. Take a look at their page and you might be able to catch them somewhere near you.
And if you don't believe me, then I might just cry.
-Gotta trust in love when love is all you got
See, that's what I would have said BEFORE I learned about Japandroids. Fortunately, Vancouver and I have now kissed and made up. For this glorious reunion, we can thank Brian King and Dave Prowse; Two friends who decided to get together, start making music, and after a while, got sick of looking for a bassist.
However they, as so many duos can quickly realize, found that bass is optional, and a duo can still blast enough noise to render you sterile. With two EPs under their belt, JPNDRDS have just released their first full length Post-Nothing. They've been doing shows in and around Vancouver for almost 3 years, and have taken the odd weekend trip to locals around Canada. However, just this month they have been lucky enough to finally score some true time away from the grind and are doing a North American tour. Take a look at their page and you might be able to catch them somewhere near you.
And if you don't believe me, then I might just cry.
-Gotta trust in love when love is all you got
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