I wanna listen to this

Babies, they only wanna dance...

2010-02-19T16:01:00.004-04:00

I recently posted about a cover song by Owen Pallett. Thanks to a comment from blog reader Honeyschool, turns out the song is by Steve Kado, recorded under the name of The Blankket.

Image courtesy of The Blankett's Myspace

Luckily enough, I was also able to find a very good live recording of Pallett's cover.

It's been on repeat ever since.

MP3: Owen Pallett, Live in NYC, "Independence Is No Solution"

Independence is no solution

2010-02-15T20:42:00.003-04:00

Last thursday, Owen Pallett performed in Halifax, at - his now usual haunt - St. Matthew's Cathedral in Halifax.

He performed this song (not recorded on site) and I have had it stuck in my head ever since. I know that it's a cover, but have been having a hard time finding any more info. Any and all will be appreciated.

Disco Recommendations.

2010-02-08T20:23:00.003-04:00

My friend Andre asked me for some disco suggestions.

"I thought disco was dead," he said.

It just went underground and got dirty. When it decided to come back up, it came back with a polished vengeance.

Take for example, all the wonderful tracks and remixes coming out of Scandinavia, such as Lindstrom, Prins Thomas and Todd Terje

Or sometimes you just want things to be a little rougher.

As I have mentioned before, it's all about THE EDIT.

An edit is what it sounds like. Take a record, edit out the shitty bits, pump up the best bits. Like this edit of a Talking Heads song, put out by Disco Deviance..

Personally, I'm rather fond of this track, which is considered an edit, but could easily be termed a mash-up (which is a term which leads me to negative knee-jerk reactions).

Take one part Candi Staton and one part Electra, and you get this beautiful piece of dark days of disco goodness.

Wolf Parade in Halifax.

2010-01-27T16:51:00.003-04:00

It was recently annouced that Wolf Parade will be playing in Halifax, on April 3rd, at the Paragon.

Tickets go on sale this friday through Ticketpro.

All day long, I have had "I'll believe in anything" stuck in my head.

This is a good way to spend the day.

Gentle Kate.

2010-01-19T22:19:00.001-04:00

Kate McGarrigle died today.

The first time I heard Kate, and her sister Anna, sing, I didn’t even know who the McGarrigles were. I have memories of sitting in front of a large floor model television – VHF & UHF – and watching “The Log Driver’s Waltz”. It was the very early 80’s and a small NFB vignette, with an earworm for a hook, would mark many people of my generation:

“Do you remember that old cartoon? You know, the one that would play at the end of television shows, usually on the CBC?”

But I didn’t know who sang it. Few of us did. We could remember a melody, perhaps describe a few frames or scenes in the cartoon. But it stuck to us, a mnemonic cultural palimpsest, held onto by thirty and fortysomethings across Canada.

In 1999, I was taking care of a friend’s apartment while he was away. I had quite recently broken up with someone – my first real relatonship - and so I spent a lot of time alone in that apartment nursing my wounds. It was the summer and the apartment had a beautiful solarium that overlooked the neighbour’s small garden. I’d sit at the wooden table in the solarium reading, writing and listening to the few CD’s my friend had left behind.

One of them was The McGarrigle Hour. I had heard of The McGarrigles. I was – as I am now – a fan of Rufus Wainwright and I knew that Kate was his mother and that she and her sister were artists in their own right. But that was it. I couldn’t tell you what songs they had written, or what their sound was like, or how or if they were significant.

The CD had been left in the player, so it was the first thing I heard in that apartment.

I pressed play.

Here were these two voices, one slightly husky, the other light and airy.

I was a fan of a few folk artists and singer-songwriters. But most of them were self-indulgent, self-reflective folks. Here were two people, singing (and writing) simple melodies that spoke outside of themselves.

I listened to that album over and over during the ten days I spent in that apartment. On the last day, I went out and bought a copy of the album.

That album went everywhere with me. It went with me on car trips. It went with me when I went to visit my parents. It made frequent rotations on the CD player when I hosted my own radio show on a campus station.

I introduced my sister to the album. It wasn’t the type of album she would normally listen to, but I told her she should listen to it. It stuck with her as well.

I bought more of Kate and Anna’s albums. My sister and I talked about Montreal when we listened to “Complainte Pour Ste. Catherine”. I would find myself humming “Perrine etait servante”, without even knowing it. When my sister got married, we all danced to “La porte en arriere”.

When Kate and Anna came to Halifax a couple years ago, my sister and I got free tickets through a friend of mine. The concert hall was only half-full. I felt bad for the McGarrigles, but even worse for the people who didn’t know what they were missing.

One of my favorite moments of the show was when Kate, Anna and all of the musicians stood up and sang, “Dig My Grave”.

Go and dig my grave
Both long and narrow
Make my coffin
Neat and strong

My sister and I smiled, as this was one of our favourites. The voices carried out, over the half empty seats, defying death, even as it called for it.

And my little soul’s
Gonna shine like a star
And my little soul’s
Gonna shine like a star
bound for cavalry.

It was only last year, as I was talking to a friend of mine , that I found the connection between my very cherished childhood memory and Kate & Anna. I found a pixelated video of the NFB vignette on YouTube and watched it. Over and over again. I showed it to anyone and everyone who remembered it, and introduced it to others who didn’t.

Last month, I discovered the NFB website, and found, to my great joy, that the Log Driver’s Waltz could be find on the website. I watched it all over again. Every time I did, I could remember myself reaching up to turn the volume knob on the old floor model television set.

And then today, my sister sent me an email. Telling me that Kate had passed away. The text of the email was nothing more than a link to her obit, a CBC news story, and an exclamation mark next to the link, marking its importance.

I suddently felt deeply saddened. And this puzzled me. Kate McGarrigle was no more. Why did I care? At one point in the day, I came across a picture of a very young Kate, smiling, and I felt a chill. I felt a chill for a woman I had never met. A woman I only knew as a childhood memory. A song.

*

When I got home, I dug through my CDs to find my copy of The McGarrigle Hour. The first song I played was “What’ll I do”, the Irving Berlin cover.

What’ll I do
When you are far away
And I am blue
What’ll I do.

The first time I heard this song was in that apartment where I house-sat. I remember reading in the liner notes that when Kate and Anna’s mother died in 1994, that they had sung this song at her funeral. They recorded the song for the album in one take. Kate, her ex-husband and father to Rufus, Martha. The notes described how the family “who had never sat down to a Christmas turkey together, let alone sing a song”, came together to sing this song. And it is wondrous.

Part of me imagines them singing this song, all over again.

I only wish they didn’t have to.

Goodbye, Kate McGarrigle.

2010-01-19T11:47:00.000-04:00

A voice is gone.

I've got a tape I want to play.

2009-12-10T22:01:00.002-04:00

This is just another reason why I love edits.

Take the best bits, stretch them out until you're begging for more.

It keeps coming until the beat stops.

2009-12-03T21:49:00.002-04:00

LCD Soundsystem's "45:33" is a concept album, an exercise in marketing, a trial for a (then) upcoming album and an exploration into disco, in all of its guises.

From cosmic to leftfield to four-on-the-floor beats to soft and mildly ambient synths.

The 2nd (or 3rd portion, depending on what cuts/edition you have) is probably my favorite. Although I am known to drop the next part when I spin records at parties, this is the one I pull out more often when I am looking for rainy days songs, or for a little bit of disco zen.

The song would later be re-cut and re-edited to be used in the song "Someone Great", my favorite track on "Sound Of Silver". To be honest, it was my least favorite the first time I heard it. I thought of it as a bit of a throw away.

Then one night at a friend's summer party, we sat outside, with the song blaring through the windows. It was in the middle of nowhere, and that lonesome lull of a synth-laden bassline hooked me. Right in the heart.

And then I listened. Really listened. And I understood.

The instrumental version does not have the same lyrical push to it, but I feel that by listening to it, I feel like the two songs are almost palimpsests of one another. You get the feeling it conveys, even without the melancoly lyrics. And you still feel the open space even when you concentrate on the words being spoken-sung to you.

New Modeselektor track

2009-11-26T20:55:00.003-04:00

Oh, Modeselektor, how I love thee.

You know, I don't care if Silikon is four years old. I still dig it.

The Cold Song

2009-11-26T20:11:00.001-04:00

This song just popped into my head #3

Don't ask me why.

But it did.

And I am glad.

Klaus Nomi was an alien god among men. R.I.P.

I had forgotten...

2009-10-29T23:06:00.003-03:00

This song just popped into my head #2

...how much I love Iron & Wine.

I mean, it goes beyond the beard love, but the first time I heard him, I thought to myself, "These are the songs that I would want to hear sung to me, in the middle of the night, very quietly, while laying in bed."

Review: Final Fantasy Performance

2009-10-24T12:12:00.001-03:00

A review of last night's show, posted on The Coast, Halifax's alternative weekly.

Every song from a heart this mangled will be draped in strings, strings, strings

2009-10-23T16:30:00.001-03:00

Image by Paul Hammond

I was lucky enough to meet Owen Pallett, a.k.a. Final Fantasy last time he performed here in Halifax. I think one of the most surreal moments I have experienced in the past few years was sitting in a dingy bar talking to him about Japanese literature while alcoholic gamblers played VLTs behind us.

I contacted Pallett a few months ago when I found out that he would be performing in Halifax during this year’s Halifax Pop Explosion. I wanted to interview him about the show, his career and his upcoming album, “Heartland”.

*

Your father was a church organist, correct? Did you grow up surrounded by ecclesiastical music, or was there any room for a bit of pop music in there?

FF: My favourite records, by age, were as follows. 3: Pachebel's Canon. 4: Vivaldi Four Seasons. 5: Bach Double Violin Concerto. 6: Holst The Planets. 7: Bartok Music For Strings, Percussion and Celeste. 8: Prokofiev Romeo And Juliet. 9: Stravinsky Rite Of Spring. 10: Digital Underground Sex Packets. 11: Jean Michel Jarre Oxygene. 12: Shostakovich 10th Symphony. 13: Black Sabbath Paranoid. 14: Sibelius 1st Symphony. 15: Bjork Post. 16: Tori Amos Boys For Pele. 17: Pink Floyd Animals. 18: US Maple Long Hair In Three Stages.

There. You can trace my entire history.

Have you ever wanted to do any arrangements of any "classical" pieces and record/perform them? I remember seeing you live for the first time a few years ago and thinking, 'I wonder what he would do with Part's "Fratres"…"

FF: No. I don't really think it's necessary. "Classical" pieces are concert pieces, meant for live performance. There's no point in trying to recreate a Mahler symphony on record. Also, in the 70s, I felt that it was pretty clear that most 'electro-acoustic' composers didn't give a shit about what was going on in pop music. Now, it's totally different. New music composers are writing albums, they're getting into how they sound. Honestly, I think 2008 was the best year for music, ever.

I heard about the performance you contributed to at Pop Montreal where you and members of Bell Orchestre created a new soundtrack to "Cruisin' 57". How did that come about?

FF: Well, Stef Schneider used his swishy-sense to contact me. I was busy banging some dude and all of a sudden, a message came in on my gaytennae. It said, "zzzzzrallyinmontrealzzzzzbringgaypr0ntothehipstermasseszzzzzzzpleaseconfirminvolvement". I thought to myself, "Gay porn? Hipsters? I'm there." Then I got in my penismobile and spurted off to Montreal. We rehearsed in between dinner parties and bathhouse visits.

In truth, Stef e-mailed me and I said, "OK."

The last time I emailed you, you were walking on something for the Pet Shop Boys. How was it working with Neil Tennant, a man who is arguably one of the greatest queer pop songcrafters of all time?

Awesome! He has a really strong Newcastle accent, though; it was difficult to understand him over the phone. Which is ironic! Because he has the finest elocution of all pop singers. But the new songs are great, they're a band that never fell off.

What was it like to work with the Pet Shop Boys?

Amazing!

Did the twelve-year-old gay kid in you get a little freaked out?

A little bit. Neil was sweet, complimented me on some Youtubes he'd seen and He Poos Clouds album. I have a hard time coming back and saying, "Well, Being Boring changed my life." I should've said so.

You've collaborated with everyone from Zach Condon to Grizzly Bear to Fucked Up. What is it about collaborations that bring about so much in you?

When you're a solo musician, there's no way of getting accurate feedback on your work. Except applause (measured in seconds). I love working with other musicians, just so that you can occasionally get a "that sucks!"

But your collaborations are rather disparate. Do Pet Shop Boys have anything in common with Fucked Up?

No, both collaborations were very different, obviously. Every collaboration is different. Pet Shop Boys, I didn't even meet the guys until later. Fucked Up, I didn't hear anything or score anything before recording, I just worked it out with them in the studio. Arcade Fire, they have clear ideas of what they're looking for, so I typically work with the entire band---especially Win, Regine, Sarah and Marika---in realizing their goals. I have a borderline perverse fascination with being entirely "at your service". It's wonderful.

Who have you yet to collaborate with that you would love to?

There are too many people to name. Thomas, my guitarist, we're only just starting to get to know each other musically, I'm really excited about working with him on writing some new songs.

Name a few, just for shits and giggles. (I personally have always wanted to do something with Yoko Ono).

Diamanda Galas, obviously. Dagmar Krause, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Dolly Parton.

Has anyone asked that you have said "No" to?

A few. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark asked me to do some work for them, orchestrating their early hits, but I those songs are too dear to me, it felt like I was asked to tattoo my children. After working on "Souvenir" for a couple of weeks, I turned them down. I once said no to Of Montreal, although I regret it. I did an arrangement for a song on Spoon's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" album, I thought it was one of the best arrangements I'd ever written, but they turned it down.

How did you react to their "no"?

I cried for about six seconds and then I stepped up my game.

You also are well known for performing covers of everything from Mariah to John Cale. Where does this love of covers come from?

I work on lots of covers at home, most of which you'll never hear.

Damn. You've done one album of covers, would you ever do another? Maybe of various artists, a la Cat Power?

I'd definitely love to do another album, covering another single artist. Or even more Alex Lukashevsky songs.

Are you sick of playing any?

Most of them, except Simon Bookish.

Have any of the artists whom you've covered contacted you to let you know what they think of your covers?

OMD did, Andy McClusky was really sweet about it.

What have you yet to cover that you think you should?

Hmm, I don't know. I used to really enjoy playing covers. In 2005, it really felt like not as many people were doing covers of contemporary songs, except for laffs. Now, though, it's out of control. You've got Glee doing po-faced versions of everything. Rappers covering indie, classical musicians covering IDM. It's mostly great, but I think the final straw for me was seeing that shiteous Dan Black cover of Biggie Smalls, that really, really damaged me and I don't think I'll ever try and cover anything ever again.

You've worked with so many people; do you ever feel like you're not giving yourself enough time for yourself and your work?

Always! But when I'm alone, I get lonely really quickly. I can work for a couple of days on my own before I start e-mailing Elton John, like, "Sir? Sir? Need an arrangement? What about now? How about now?"

How do you feel about performing with a symphony?

Excited like you wouldn't believe. There's a large part of me that wants to go out and get a camel raincoat, brimmed hat and thick brown spectacles. Walk around Halifax like an L.A. composer. But I'm restraining myself.

You were classically trained. Do you think your music fits in a symphonic format?

Not really. I studied classical but my heart and my ears are for pop albums. It's a funny thing, right? My boyfriend did cinema studies and now all he wants to watch is Lindsay Lohan. I'm dating a Cinema Studies graduate and I've never seen a single Truffaut.

That said, I've wanted to make an orchestral album for some time and I'm excited that I might be able to share some songs in that format. Nostrovia!

If you were to perform a traditional "classical" piece, what would it be?

Galina Ustvolskaya doesn't sound anything like Final Fantasy but I've always thought our music comes from the same place.

You're constantly touring. How do you find time to write/compose?

I have a laptop.

You once told me you have moments where you wonder if what you're doing is worthwhile. How do you fight that?

There are a tonne of things I could say about this, but most are best saved for therapy. Essentially, I feel that the music scene that I grew up with, and the values and currencies that shaped me, that scene is long past. I'm not talking about file sharing--although it is a hideously manic thing for a musician to consider that their music is both worthless and yet eagerly shared. I'm talking about the surprising things that free music has midwifed. The value of music writing, for example; many people would rather read about music than listen to it. Which is really interesting! But it's also kind of weird, as a musician.

*

Final Fantasy performs with Symphony Nova Scotia, Friday October 23rd, at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax.

Into the realm of Final Fantasy

2009-10-20T20:54:00.003-03:00

This Friday, in conjunction with the Halifax Pop Explosion, Owen Pallett, a.k.a., Final Fantasy, is performing with Symphony Nova Scotia at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

Image courtesy of Final Fantasy Eternal

I have recently interviewed Pallett for this blog (which should be posted by Friday) as well as hopefully a radio interview for CKDU's (and J-school) The Radio Room.

I'll keep you posted!

Why didn't I listen to this earlier: Rufus & Chaka Khan

2009-10-08T21:31:00.003-03:00

Disco is not a dirty word #15
Why didn't I listen to this earlier #1

Occasionally you will buy or find something and you might think, "I should really check this out." I'm not talking about a recent album, I'm talking about an album or an artists that is so intrinsic to popular culture (or a particular sub-culture) that you kind of ignore them because you think either:

a.) they're not worth knowing
b.) you'll hear it eventually.

And that's how I ended up buying this album by Rufus & Chaka Khan:

It's been sitting among a pile of other records that I had yet to listen to. "I'll get to it eventually".

And now, I can't take it off my turntable.

Why I didn't listen to this before, I don't know.

Enjoy

The Phenomenal Handclap Band:

2009-10-06T08:09:00.002-03:00

Disco is not a dirty word #14

For fans of Munk, !!!, Liquid Liquid and live disco bands. A 12" was released a few weeks ago, featuring remixed by Horse Meat Disco

Enjoy.

Oh, Pink Eyes

2009-10-03T10:01:00.003-03:00

...How I love you.

Image via CBC Radio 3's Flickr

Pop

2009-08-23T22:41:00.002-03:00

This song just popped into my head #1

Beth Orton, "The Sweetest Decline", from Central Reservation.

Don't mind the cheesy images. Just close your eyes.

Edit:

So as I am looking up other songs by Beth Orton, including, "I wish I never saw the sunshine", and little do I know, but it's actually a song by the Ronnettes!!!

Listen and be wowed.

Go the three minute mark.

2009-07-24T13:44:00.001-03:00

Ecouter et repeter #2
Disco is not a dirty word #13

NOW!!!!

The last episode of Moody Morning Music

2009-07-21T14:10:00.002-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #28

Today, July 21st, 2009, is the day I finish my radio show on CKDU. I have been doing Moody Morning Music for over five years now and have pretty much loved every second of it. But because of scheduling conflicts, I can no longer continue.

I'd like to thank the guests who have come on the show (Jose Gonzalez, Joel Gibb of the Hidden Cameras, Paul Hammond, Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees to name a few) as well as team CKDU and all of those who exposed me to new music. Thank you.

You can find past playlists here and you can download the last episode here. The playlist is encoded into the mp3.

Thank you.

Final Fantasy returns to Halifax

2009-07-08T23:44:00.004-03:00

The Halifax Pop Explosion has started cock-teasing us with some of the acts which will be playing this year at the annual music fest which blows into town every October.

According to some info I found on a local messageboard, this year's crew looks as good as ever, especially since one Owen Pallett, aka Final Fantasy will be playing.

Image by Paul Hammond

According to a press release,

The Halifax Pop Explosion announces Final Fantasy, Japandroids, Japanther, The Acorn, Ohbijou & Julie Doiron with Herman Dune for 2009 line-up

...early bird passes on sale Friday, July 10 / showcase submissions deadline is July 20

(Halifax, NS) - The Halifax Pop Explosion announces Final Fantasy, Japandroids, Japanther, The Acorn, Ohbijou and Julie Doiron with Herman Dune as the initial acts confirmed for its 2009 line-up. Early bird passes for the festival go on sale Friday, July 10.

Presented by Rogers, The Halifax Pop Explosion is a five day music festival and conference that takes place from October 20 to 24 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Founded in 1993, the festival is one the country's premiere showcases of emerging music, art and culture from Halifax, Canada, and around the world.

Initial acts confirmed for the festival include: Kanye West endorsed, Fleet Foxes tour mates, The Acorn; Polaris Prize winning Arcade Fire & Beirut collaborator, Final Fantasy; critically adored noise-pop act, Japandroids; New York based punk rockers, Japanther; genre spanning legend, Julie Doiron, who will perform with renowned French folk act, Herman Dune; and Last Gang recording artists, Ohbijou.

I had heard rumblings that he would be playing with Symphony Nova Scotia.

Let's just say I hope there is more than one show. If there is, I will be going to both.

Italo.

2009-06-21T23:18:00.003-03:00

Disco is not a dirty word #12

I found this today.

It's a short article by Serge Santiago about his love of Italo and twenty of the most fundamental Italo records ever made.

MP3 and crate digging, here I come.

More disco

2009-06-19T14:26:00.004-03:00

Disco is not a dirty word #11

I can't help it. I'm obsessed.

I will be posting more about the wonderful world of disco.

In the meantime, enjoy this track which has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks.

A heavy cross to bear

2009-05-12T22:21:00.002-03:00

Watch this #6
New releases #9

Major label. A career that has humble roots in blues-tinged rawk. A recent flirt with disco and electronics.

Holy shit, I love the Gossip.

Let's get busy with Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees

2009-03-27T14:16:00.002-03:00

Let's get busy #2

Photo by Robin Hart Hiltz

Halifax has never been better for dancing since this little foursome decided to drop in to town. Recently featured in Billboard magazine, Halifax's Ruby Jean & The Thoughtul Bees have done a lot in such a small time since their inception a little under two years ago. What began as a bit of a side project for these musicians (Rebekah Higgs, an acoustically based singer songwriter, who recently opened for Jose Gonzales), Jason Vautour (Alright Already, Jon Epworth & The Improvements as well as man-about-town with a guitar), Colin Crowell (Jon McKiel, DJing about town) and Sean MacGillivray (ex-Burdock, currently playing with Jenn Grant and with Jason on Alright Already) has collectively led them to touring non-stop and recording and releasing an album out on Youth Club Records.

I sat down with these four and we talked about their new album, the vagaries of touring (swingers conventions, staying in shitty motels) and what it's like to be four musicians who are known about town for putting on a wicked show.

Tune in

Let's get busy

2009-03-11T23:05:00.003-03:00

Let's get busy #1

I've been doing Moody Morning Music for over four years now. In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to interview various people such as Jose Gonzales, Chr!s Sm!th and Paul Rodeo to talk about their relationship with music. I enjoyed doing these interviews, but I wanted to go a little more local. I also wanted to give these people the opportunity to do what I do, which is play some of their favorite records on the air.

So to start things off easy, I went with some of the crew here at I wanna listen to this and gathered up Loukas and Jonathan to talk about their careers in halifax as DJs, promoters, band mates, record store employees, graphic artists and more. Then we got down to the nitty gritty and played some records.

Coming up on the show (and on this site!) are interviews with The Stolen Minks, The Maynards, Dubious (aka Jon Dacey) and many more. Stay tuned and plugged in!

My guests (and myself, hidden behind them) as they do their stuff at a party we held called "Slumtown Turntable Dance Party", held at The Bus Stop, here in Halifax.

Listen up!

The best of the messed.

2009-01-20T13:05:00.000-04:00

Dig this#2

It's that time of year. Blogs, magazines, websites and your idiot friends are all making their lists and checking it twice, making sure they didn't miss anything.

It's the best of 2008, according to some of us, here at I wanna listen to this.

Enjoy.

Shannon Webb-Campbell makes some of us envious by constantly getting published and interviewing cool people.

1. FLEET FOXES Fleet Foxes

2. RAE SPOON Superioryouareinferior

3. TANYA DAVIS Gorgeous Morning

4. HEY ROSETTA! Into Your Lungs

5. SARAH SLEAN The Baroness

6. JILL BARBER Chances

7. HAYDEN In Field and Town

8. STOLEN MINKS High Kicks

9. BRIAN BORCHERDT Coyotes

10. STEREOLAB Chemical Chords

Loukas Crowther is a musician, dj and design fiend. He also has a tendency of getting hit on by gay men.

Top 30 singles (I normally just do 25, but it was a special year) solely in alphabetical order.

1. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
2. CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)
3. Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
4. Dave Gahan - Deeper and Deeper
5. Does It Offend You You, Yeah - Day of the Dead
6. Duchess Says - In Serial
7. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo (Mansion Edit)
8. Estelle - American Boy (Tenzin Remix)
9. God Is An Astronaut - Post Morem
10. Greenskeepers - Vagabond
11. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
12. Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Peaches Remix)
13. Ladytron - Versus
14. Late of the Pier - Space and the Woods
15. Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix)
16. M83 - Couleurs
17. Oasis - The Turning
18. The Presets - Yippyo-Ay
19. The Rapture - No Sex for Ben
20. Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
21. Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains - I Hate My Friends
22. Sons & Daughters - This Gift
23. The Tings Tings - Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix)
24. Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor (Lifelike Remix)
25. Trevor Andrew - Bang Bang
26. The Whip - Sister Siam
27. Woodhands - Dancer
28. Woolfy - Oh Missy
29. Yelle - Je Veux te Voir
30. Young Widows - Took A Turn

Ok ok, some of those were technically singles released in 2008 when the albums were in 2007, forgive me; I cheated.

Top 5 albums.......

The Presets - Apocalypso
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Sons & Daughters - This Gift
Young Widows - Old Wounds
Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel

Simon Thibault spent the entire summer digging through record bins and old dusty antique stores for disco records. In the meantime, he tries to find time to write and cook, all the while a steady 4/4 beat plays in the background.

Some of my fave songs of the year, in no order.

1.) Happy House, Juan MacLean
At the beginning of the year, through some strange circumstance, I found Juan MacLean on facebook. I sent him an email telling him how much I loved Give me every little thing". He actually wrote me back and told me to keep my eyes and ears peeled for a new release and that it would blow my mind. I didn't keep them peeled as well as I should have, because I only discovered this gem at the end of the year, when in fact, it had been released in March. Day-um. You mean I could've been rocking to this all summer long?
12 unadulterated minutues of disco glory.

2.)Hold on, Holy Ghost
Discovered through a remix done by Mock & Toof, this is just another example of how DFA records had an amazing year this year (see: Juan Maclean, Hercules & Love affair)

3.)Just like heaven, The Watson Twins
I love cover tunes. Who knew that a country-tinged Cure song could do me in?

4.) She & him, “You really got a hold on me”
Who knew that Zooey Deschanel could do me in?

5.) Portishead, "Machine Gun”
Why not announce your arrival through a torrent of harsh and syncopated bullet beats.

6.)Antibodies, Poni Hoax
Budapest may have heralded their arrival, but this songs annouces that they are staying.

7.)MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E., “Bounce”
All I do is party.

8.)Gnarls Barkley, "Who’s gonna save my soul"
Besides being a stunning track, the video is not only carries the song into the stratosphere, but into the realm of our dreams...

9.) Chad Van Gaalen, Willow Tree
I had kinda given up on Chad Van Gaalen. There was no hook for me. Then I heard this song and everything else fell into place.

10.)Adem, "Boy/Girl Song/How To Cure A Weakling Child".
It would of course, take someone else to point out to us that Aphex Twin can be delicate.

and last but not least:

11.)Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind".
If I had to choose one song that made it for me this year, it would be this. Released well in advance of the album, this track, featuring the haunting vocals of Antony Hegarty (of whom one would never think "disco diva") this track by Andy Butler, the mind behind Hercules & Love Affair stood out for so many reasons, not only for it's sheer wonder and scope, but for introducing countless listeners to the wonders of disco once again. No, he didn't do this alone, but he DID (arguably) forge the world of disco forward, not only for the elitists and cognoscenti, but for the masses as well.

Fave Remixes of the year, in no order

1.) "Paper Planes (DFA Remix)", M.I.A.
Yes, the album came out in 2007, but the single came into its own in 2008, thanks to a movie about two stoners. Huh.
But the track shines, IMO, under the helm of James Murphy, remixed with a sweet bassline that gives you a ride from the first beat till the end.

2.) "Hearts On Fire, (Holy Ghost remix)", Cut Copy
Although the single was actually released in 2007, the single picked up a lot of heat once the album dropped in 2008. I have my friend Hank to thank for telling me about this mix. Apparently he heard it while at Burning Man while the man was on fire. Transcendant, to say the least.

3.) "Hold On (Mock'n'Toof Remix)", Holy Ghost (tie) with "Hold On (Blackjoy Mazego Groove)"
This is such a great record that a remix not only lifts the record outside of itself, but leaves us wanting more. You want to know all the variants. From the Mock'n'toof 303-esque bassline and it's dubby vocals to the Blackjoy Mazego Groove which is ever so slightly cosmic. Just another example of why DFA is still one of the best labels out there today.

4.) "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)", MGMT.
Even just saying this record exists is like reading music blog porn for a lot of people. But forget the hype, let the speakers bang out the beat and remember why you fell in love with both Justice and MGMT all at once. Ignore the holier-than-thou hipsters who tell you you're passe. You're the one dancing, while they stand there with their arms crossed, stroking their shit. Fuck that.

5.) "Kids (Soulwax Remix), MGMT
Soulwax either hits the nail on the head or ends up hitting their thumb and we're left with listening to their expletives. Yes, this remix sounds vaguely like their work with The Gossip, but then again, wasn't that a great record anyway? All mistakes are forgiven when you can just stop and yell out, "Control yourself, take only what you need from it" at the top of your lungs.

6.) "Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Soulwax Remix)", The Chemical Brothers
In 1999, The Chemical Brothers swatted away the 2nd album curse with the release of "Hey Boy Hey Girl" featuring a dizzyingly trippy video of skeletons dancing at an all night party (we had stopped calling them raves for a few years now, thank you). It was a record you occasionally heard dropped in the middle of a set, usually when the place was ready to explode and the place was packed with people who remember hearing it the first time it came out in the clubs (which put most of us squarely in our 30's). Soulwax, for some reason, decided to play with this record this year, reminding us that the brothers never forgot how to work it out.

7.) Feed the Animals", Girl Talk
I didn't know where to put this. I'm not listing it as an album of the year, because essentially, this entire album is one giant cut-up/remix/thing. And what a thing it is. Released online early in the spring (and on cd later in the fall), Gregg Gillis not only hits his stride, he kicks it into highgear, never leaving you wanting. He has an uncanny sense of knowing when to cut, when to bring in the new beat, when to go off and when to bring you down.

Fave albums of the year, at random.

1.) TV On The Radio, "Dear Science"
The guitar, drums and bass hit you in the first three seconds. Then comes that voice. That amazing voice that brings you along for the ride. No, this album does not have a "Wolf Like Me", but it doesn't have to. This is TV On The Radio unafraid and unfettered, doing what they believe in. Their faith in their motives and practices expresses itself in their lyrics, sounds, melodies and production. This is the work of a cohesive unit who knows what it is looking to do.

2.) Sigur Ros, "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust"
Apparently the appartition of an english language track on this album was something a lot of people thought was newsworthy. But Sigur Ros isn't made to be newsworthy. It is a very private thing people listen to in quiet huddles, either alone or in tandem. Every time I hear certain Sigur Ros tracks for the first time (or see the videos), I cry. Why? Because if I could look inside myself and listen to my heartbeat, it would most probably sound a lot like this.

3.) Portishead, "Third"
A local punker I know emailed me and asked me if I could send him a copy of this album. I'm not going to admit to doing such a thing, for it is tenuously illegal, but let me say this. Everyone wanted to know what this would sound like. We have been revisiting "Dummy" for over ten years now and even though we probably won't be sick of it (if ever), it would be nice to know what this collection of dirty and dangerous minds wish to unleash upon us. It is dark, it is dangerous, and it is possibly some of the most beautiful sounds to come out of this Bristol group.

4.) Hercules and Love Affair, "S/T"
Proof that disco is not a dirty word. Andy Butler proves that there is more to him than being blind and leaves us starry eyed and not only wanting to groove, but leaves us appreciating a much maligned genre.

5.)Old Man Luedecke, "Proof Of Love"
Chris Luedecke often performs alone, armed with his ukelele and his wonderful songs, braving the stage all by his lonesome. It takes a special kind of performer to do this. It takes an even bigger man to know when to go out and ask for help. On "Proof of Love", Luedecke brings in a whole band which at first, is a little odd for fans who are used to his shows (and early albums) where it's usually just one man and his banjo filling the sound of the room. But here, Luedecke decides to bring his friends along, and we can't be mad at him for allowing us to be privy to his own personal musical party.

6.) Hot Chip, "Made In The Dark"
I am ready for the floor, thanks to this early 2008 release. Hot Chip started off the year right for many of us, still in love with our old remixes of "Over & Over" with a great video for "Ready for the Floor". "One Pure Thought" and "Shake A Fist" had us dancing while the title track showed us that Hot Chip is not just for groovin', but for lovin'.

The list finishes with EPs, a format which is often forgotten among most of us. We're used to being given an entire album. But here, we're given snippets, musical aperitifs as we await the larger meal which is to come.

7.) Antony & The Johnsons, "Another World"
The title track is worth the price of admission alone. Antony released this EP at the end of the year, with the promise of an album in early 2009. If this EP is any indication of what Hegarty is going to deliver, it is going to be a year full of people in awe of him and his amazing voice, once again. Kudos.

8.) Final Fantasy, "Spectrum, 14th century" & "Plays to Please".
Two for the price of one. Or rather, two amazing releases in their own right. In "Plays to Please", Owen Pallett pays tribute to fellow torontonian Alex Lukashevsky with an EP of covers. Pallett is known for producing his fair share of covers, both in concert and on a few releases, but it is never out of boredom or laziness, but rather in wishing to pay tribute to someone or something which has pleased and given him pause. On "Spectrum", Pallett sings dark and beautiful fables, especially "Blue Imelda" and "The Butcher". If this is any indication of what is to come in 2009, I can only dream.

Labels of the year:

DFA

To many, DFA has already had its golden age when it helped introduce dance punk to the masses with The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers" and LCD Soundsystem's first singles. But in 2007, James Murphy, co-founder and LCD's headman released "Sound of Silver" and launched a sublabel under the moniker "Death From Abroad", highlighting some of the best disco to have been distributed stateside in quite a while. This was almost like some extended intro to what would happen in 2007, when releases by Juan Maclean, Holy Ghost, Yacht, Hercules and Love Affair and Hot Chip made us stand up and pay attention to the little label that could.

Strut

Between 1999 and 2003, Strut records was revered among dance music enthusiats for unearthing many forgotten leftfield disco records with their "Disco not disco" series as well as bringing to light many forgotten records that were only known by obsessives and the dance cognoscenti (often one in the same). In 2008, Strut resurfaced, having come back with the help of K7 and kickstarted the year with the third installment in the Disco Not Disco series featuring tracks by Maximum Joy, James White & The Blacks and Shriekback.

They soon followed this up by releasing a compilation of Compass Point recordings (a studio for which we have to thank for helping create the sounds of early 80's caribbean tinged disco, ala Tom Tom Club and Grace Jones "La vie en rose" era recordings.). They also released a collection of forgotten afro funk records, italo disco classics and best of all, "Going Places: The August Darnell years", highlighting the influence that one man had on so many records that bumped their way into the nights of so many soundsystems across the us and europe.

Jeffrey Liberatore is an elitist and a snob, but spends most of his time with undesirables.

1. Lulu Rouge – "Bless You” LP (Music For Dreams)

Kenneth Bager’s Music For Dreams Label put out this amazing piece of dark dub by two Danish kids in mid may. It quickly became the soundtrack to Sunday nights fuelled by red wine. Sounding similar to the records William Bevan has been putting out of south London lately, but with an amazing array of vocalists. The record as a whole comes off like a darker version of early basic channel dub techno, this was/is my favourite record for stalking rain soaked streets at midnight.

2. Zombie Zombie – ‘A Land For Renegades’ LP (Versatile Recordings)

If George Romero was a disco DJ this is what his nightclub would soundlike. So you combine Claudio Simonetti’s soundtracks for Argento films, John Carpenter-esque synthscapes, motorik/krautrock beats a la Neu!, throw on some Daniel Ash type vocals and you get the best horror disco record of the year, plus a bitchin’ cover of Iggy Pop/David Bowie’s “Nightclubbing”, considering the past couple of years have seen alot of records attempting to achieve this dark prog dancefloor vibe, although not totally innovative, these two frenchies make you wanna dance while being boiled alive (or something). Bonus points for agitated punk screaming on “Jay Rules” and “I scream you scream”.

3. Don Rimini – ‘Absolutley Rad’ EP (Mental Groove)

Huge rave track, worth the price of admission for Manu Le Malin’s remix of “Let Me Back Up”. Every stadium rave DJ worth their weight in gold was playing this bass heavy electro monster. Rumour has it that aside from the D.I.M/Proxy/Les Petites Pilous school of electro rave this was getting big ups on scarier dancefloors by the likes of Savas Pascalidis & the Horrorist. “4/4 dirtyoverdrive techno-rock slammer” or something.

4. Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk – ‘Love Can't Turn Around’ 12’’ (Back Yard recordings)

So you’re probably thinking this record is over twenty years old, why chart it in 2008? But this ‘Love Can't Turn Around (Boys Noize Started Like This Mix)’ was the nostalgia remix of the year. Alex Ridha adds a filter to the original bassline, filters some Isaac Hayes samples, adds his own keyboard work and time stretches Darryl Pandy’s vocals. And by the time the 3:30 mark hits and Darryl is screaming ‘Work Your Body’ at the top of his lungs, you’re in warehouse heaven.

5. VA – ‘Munich Disco Tech Volume 1’ EP (Great Stuff Recordings)

Munich gets really filthy with this EP that came out this summer, there was one track that all the crunchy rave DJ’s got behind off this EP, Tonka turns in a shuddering tech house stop-start fest called "Freeze". It was charted by TIga, Thomas Von Party, Brodinski blah blah blah. My god though it has this stomping martial beat, squealing synths that just build and build and this subermeged vocal urging you to ‘celebrate’. This was played in far too many living rooms at four am this summer.

6. Fan Death – ‘Veronica’s Veil’ 12” (Phantasy Sound)

This 12” deserved to be the pop record of the year, but everybody was too busy listening to Lady Gaga. Brilliant Icy Detached female vocals, grooving little bassline, disco strings that could’ve been written by Kelley Polar, synth’s galore and lyrics about a veil that a woman wiped Jesus’ brow with? Huh? Anyho the b-side had Erol Alkan shaking off his trashy electro rock cliché to put out a extended disco version with less of the vocal and more of the strings, that quickly became an office fave (even for the people who listen to Lady Gaga).

7. Koko Von Napoo – ‘Polly’ 7” (Trouble Records)

Koko Von Napoo are a pop band. They make elegant synth drones like Blondie fronted by Mary Hansen produced by Air singing in French. It makes me Happy each morning. The End.

8. LSB – ‘Loco Motion’ 12” (Eskimo)

Biggest Disco record of the year, period. Pete Hebert attacks the dancefloor with a nice house undercurrent, plenty of piano action, vocal samples, stuttered snares, a tonne of congas and a lovely horn section at the end.

9. Last Shadow Puppets – ‘The Age Of The Understatement’ LP (Domino)

Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) & Miles Kane (The Rascals) team up to represent their love of David Bowie’s mod output on Deram and Scott Walker's early solo records. Their two voices harmonise brilliantly, Owen Pallet writes some huge scenic string sections and the boys play Morricone-esque guitars, this album start to finish is a rush to the head.

10. Wild Beasts – ‘Limbo Panto’ LP (Domino)

The most original guitar based record i’ve heard this decade? I dunno, but it’s something special, Hayden Thorpe has the most unusual voice on a rock record, kinda like Antony Heggarty, Brian Molko & the kid from JJ72. Anyo, weird humorous british tales over melodic yet bizarre drums/guitar/bass combos. There’s odd Jazzy Waltzes, Galloping Baroque pop in 4/4 time and anthem to end all anthems “Devil’s Crayon”.

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Sorry this took so long, but dang, we've been busy writing this stuff for you!

Rest in peace, oh wonderful woman

2009-01-07T23:27:00.000-04:00

Watch this #5

On Christmas day, one of the 20th centuries most distinctive voices in pop music passed away. Eartha Mae Kitt, chanteuse extraordinaire and the woman Orson Welles once dubbed, “the most exciting woman in the world”, died of cancer at the age of 81.

I first discovered Eartha Kitt not by her music, but rather by her words. In an interview in a book entitled “Incredibly Strange Music”, Kitt talked about her amazing career, starting in Paris Cafes, signing to RCA record where she was the highest grossing artist on their roster (that is, until Elvis came along) and her infamous speech at the white house in 1968 where she decried the vietname war and reportedly made Lady Bird Johnson cry.

Kitt is known to most people under the age of 40 for her role as Catwoman on TV’s Batman, where she replaced Julie Newmar and made usage of her famous “purr”. Musically, she is (unfortunately) known for her hit, “Santa Baby”. I say unfortunate, because to many, Kitt had become nothing more than a christmas novelty. But she was more than that.

Eartha Kitt was one of the greatest chanteuses the United States has ever produced, understanding the great American songbook in a way few have presented it. Not with sentimentality (though at times the arrangements could be argued as such), but with wit, intelligence and a razor sharp sense of humour.

Au revoir Eartha. Tu serais manquee.

A warning, a death, a birth a remix.

2008-11-30T20:42:00.004-04:00

On November 12th, two of my posts were removed by Blogger due to copyright infringement. We here at I wanna listen to this take these violations seriously and have always been interested in disseminating music for the masses and neither at this time or in the past has I wanna listen to this received any money for its work.

Now back to the music.

I wanna listen to this#27

Yma Sumac, one of the greatest and strangest voices and personas of the 20th century, died on November 1st, 2008 at the age of 86.

I discovered Yma Sumac while reading the ReSeach books about Incredibly Strange Music. I later heard her voice on a compilation a friend of mine owned. Thus began a ten year obsession with the mystery of Yma Sumac. I bought everything and anything I could find. I bought her albums in 78 albums (which is where the term arguably began, with these "albums" of 78s), on 45 box sets, on 10" and 12" LPs. If it had Yma, I bought it.

She was amazing.

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Yo! It's in THREE-DEE!

Image by Yo Rodeo

Last Saturday, October 18th, Paul Hammond and Seth Smith, aka Yo Rodeo presented their new work in a show called Three Dee Realms at Argyle Fine Art, here in Halifax.

The entire show was comprised of a collection of screen printed anaglyphic (red and blue) 3-D prints created by the talented duo, known for their distinctive posters seen about town and all over Canada. I had the chance to talk with Paul Hammond last tuesday when he came to CKDU to talk about Yo Rodeo, their work, their creations and the headaches (proverbial and literal) that come from printing in three dee.

Yo Rodeo on Moody Morning Music(Zshare)

Note: For more on Paul Hammond's shenanigans, click here.

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Gordon MacDonald, Gulliver

I also had the opportunity to hang out and chat with award winning photographer Chr!s Smith. Sm!th and the folks at Argyle Fine Art organised RePixx, a cross-pollination of musicians and artists. Chr!s came down to CKDU to talk about his work and making dirty hairy musicians look good.

Chr!s Sm!th on Moody Morning Music

Exploiting Dreams With Dreamsploitatoin

2008-09-20T15:17:00.004-03:00

Dreamsploitation's "Continue to sleep, if only dreaming" is a traffic jam of auditory commotion. The driving horn arrangement begins hitting every red light within a two second span, slamming on the breaks and succinctly pounding upon the car horn. A robust pushing and pulling, presumably a keyboard, follows a triumphant trumpet gathering split second momentum. Slam, the driver is forced to hit the breaks. The car horn blinks sixteen times over; finally the iridescent red changes to green. The locomotive rolls into a blissful state of cruise control.

A lullaby enters, almost as if cajoling the driver into a subdued, contemplative state. The tinkering of piano keys resembles suburban homes and manicured lawns. Just beyond these city limits an expansive prairie sky comes into view. All seems grandiose in contrast to the mathematical maze of concrete trailing behind. A sense of melodic freedom sifts throughout the airy notes. A climbing bass line recalls the magnitude of towers and buildings–a diorama of urbanization shrinks in the rear view mirror.

Freedom is an open road, a sleeper soundly sleeping. The heroic notes of a brass instrument soar. The bass line threatens to overwhelm. Abruptly the daydream cracks, traffic once again interrupts. The driver has fallen asleep at the wheel, a relentless car horn throbs, clashes and blurs into the memory of what could be. The dream is revisited, sounds collide, a kaleidoscope bursts open. With the final note everything dissolves, reality returns, all is lost.

Blazevic, Chuck. The Soft Focus Sound of Today. From Here to There Records., 2008.

Put your hands on your waistline, move your body to the bassline.

2008-09-11T13:13:00.007-03:00

I've become obsessed.

Not that that's really news, I am constantly being fixated on one thing or another this is just my most recent one.

Late of the Pier are a 4-piece from Castle Donington (?! I had to look this up and I don't really know enough about UK geograpy to even really place it, although according to their last.fm page it's the "home of metal.") who fucking love Gary Numan, and I mean FUCKING LOVE GARY NUMAN. It works out, because I also fucking love Gary Numan.

Like for realsie, listen to this and tell me it's not true. Tubeway Army FTW.

Their Erol Alkan produced album came out on the 11th on Parlophone with an international release on Moshi Moshi in September. I give it the higest recommendation for fans of the aforementioned Gary Numan, Cut Copy, The Presets, The Whip, Devo.

Last.fm Page
Myspace Page

Check it (Devo meets Gary Numan meets 80s glam breakdowns)...

One House. Twenty Bands. One film.

2008-09-10T00:00:00.000-03:00

Watch this #4
I'm in the mood for this #26

Photos by Paul Hammond

In the spring of 2007, two friends were moving out of their home.

One of them, a local poster/print guru and sometime dance punk enthusiast, the other, a former local radio personality and History maker decided to throw one big last hurrah to their time while living at 6015 Willow Street in Halifax's north end.

Die Brucke

The "hurrah" became a "holy shit" when the idea blossomed into 20 bands in 3 days and a document of not only a house that has housed many musicians and artists (members of such bands as Die Brucke, The Memories Attack and Dog Day have all lived in the house) but also the Halifax music scene, or rather, the scene which often operates, creates and plays in Halifax's north end.

Our two friends, Paul Hammond and Jeff Parker enlisted not only the bands into this project (and by extension, a whole bunch of their friends) but also director Mark Mullane and (later on) editor Evan Elliott. This "holy shit" had now transcended into a full fledged "HOLY FUCK" as the film was now no longer a document of a weekend in someone's house, but rather, a document of a scene, a city and an artistic endeavour which was now bigger than the two people who had thought of it, almost jokingly.

In this episode of Moody Morning Music I interview Paul and Elliott about their work on this film, about 6015 Willow and how the little film that could is now the big film that is.

Listen. (Zshare)

Seth Smith of Dog Day, former resident of 6015 Willow Street and the other half of the Yo Rodeo Poster Company

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Moody Morning Music for September 2nd, 2008

Check out the small profile on Annie in this week's edition, as well as the tracks by Poni Hoax and the Can edit from Disco not Disco Volume 2

Check it out

Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war
Merryn Cadell, "Secret", Angel food for thought
Grizzly Bear, "He Hit Me", The Daytrotter Sessions
Buck 65, "Devil's Eyes (Piano Version)", Secret House against the world
The Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven", Fire Songs
Belle & Sebastian, "I'm waking up to us", 12"
Beautiful South, "We are each other", 0898
Stars, "Take me to the riot", In Our Bedroom after the war
G. Love & Special Sauce, "Cold Beverages"
Dog Day, "End Of The World", Night Group
Les George Leningrad, "Fifi F", Sur Les Traces de Black Eskimo
G Love & Special Sauce, "Cold Beverages"
King Khan & THe Shrines, "Took my lady to dinner", Supreme Genius Of...
Annie, "Chewing Gum", Anniemal
Annie, "The wedding (Live Mix)"
Annie, "I know your girlfriend hates me"
Annie, "I know your girlfriend hates me (Feel The Moog Remix)"
Sebastien Grainger, "When you go out"
Peaches, "Downtown", Impeach my bush
CAN, "Aspectacle (Holger Czukay Edit)"
Crystal Castles, "Crimewave (Dances With White Girls Remix)"
Poni Hoax, "Antibodies", Images of Sigrid
Tiga, "(Far from) Home (the speed of sexor reprise)", Sexor
MGMT, "Electric Feel (Justice is AWESOME Remix)"

Bacon Fat and Black Devils

2008-08-27T14:00:00.001-03:00

I wanna listen to this #25
Disco is not a dirty word #10
Give me some soul #3

A few years ago, I discovered a series of book published by ReSearch Publications called Incredibly Strange Music.

The book is a collection of interviews with musicians, collectors, weirdoes and hardcore vinyl enthusiasts. At various points in the book, the name Andre Williams is thrown about, often in regards to his raunchy record. I started seeking out his recordings, many of whom were incredibly hard to find (his stuff had yet to be re-relased at this time, at least in any official capacity) but I did find a quasi-bootleg CD of his early 60's recordings including such songs as "Bacon Fat" (a minor hit for Williams) and his most notorious record, "Jail Bait".

Williams' life is one of incredible ups and downs. The authour of the famous Five Du-Tones hit, "Shake a Tail Feather" who used to hang out and collaborate with Ike Turner later became a strung out beggar and junkie during the 80's but soon cleaned himself up and with the help of musicians and collectors wanting to hear him perform (and with a little help from The Sadies, Williams soon found himself recording and developping a new fan base. His old recordings have, over the last few years, been re-released by various companies. Click here to check some out and scroll down for a video of the man himself performing "Jail Bait".

Every once in a while you'll see something mentioned on a blog and pay no attention to it. Six months later it pops up again. Then someone plays you something. At this point you're kicking yourself for not checking it out earlier. Such is the case with Black Devil Disco Club.

Originally released in 1978 and revered by disco enthusiasts (not to mention hard to find) this album was brought to light in 2004 by Rephlex Records. While this may have caused the album to lose its record-collector-geek-sheen, it soon found itself blowing the minds of many a disco fiend not only for its pedigree, but for the sheer dark and beautiful imagination behind its grooves. The album, written and composed by Bernard Favre, was soon followed, almost 30 years later since its original release, by two more albums, "28 After" and "Eight Oh Eight" (not to mention a few 12"s).

MP3:Black Devil Disco Club, "Timing, Forget The Timing

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Moody Morning Music for August 19th 2008

Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war
Hidden Cameras, "We Oh We", Mississauga Goddamn
Buck 65 feat. Laura Peek & Mike Catano, "Kennedy Killed The Hat"
Adem, "To Cure A Weakling Child + Boy/Girl Song", Takes
Islands, "The Arm", Arm's Way
Wolf Parade, "Soldier's Grin", At Mount Zoomer
Beck, "Profanity Prayers", Modern Guilt
Dog Day, "Bullet", Oh Dead Life EP
The Stolen Minks, "Minks Riot"
The Stolen Minks, "Black Widow"
The Stolen Minks, "Rip It Up", Family Boycott
The Stolen Minks. "Peppermint Twist"
Superfantastics, "Tonight, Tonite", Pop-Up Book
Junior Byron, "Dance To The Music"
Kid Creole & The Coconuts, "Double On Back", Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1974-1982
T-Connection, "Groove To Get Down"
Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind", S/T
Cut Copy, "Hearts On Fire", In Ghost Colours
CSS, "Left Behind", Donkey
MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (Feat. N.O.R.E.)"
N.E.R.D., "Everyone Nose"
Holy Fuck, "Milkshake", LP

Moody Morning Music For August 16th, 2008

Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war
Caribou, "Melody Day (Four Tet Remix feat. Adem, Luke Lalonde & One Little Plane)"
Old Man Luedecke, "Just like a river", Proof Of Love
Ron Sexsmith, "This is how I know", Exit Strategy For The Soul
Belle & Sebastian, "A Summer Wasting", The Boy With The Arab Strap
Tanya Tagaq, "I want (feat. Buck 65)", Ak-Blood
Beck, "Youthless", Modern Guilt
Brednan Canning, "Churches under the stairs", Something for all of us
Bloc Party, "Two More Years"
CSS, "Left Behind", Donkey
Duchess Says, "Black Flag", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
controller.controller, "Watch", History
Andre Williams, "Bacon Fat"
Buck 65, "Dirtywork", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Danger Doom feat. Talib Kweli, "Old School Rules", The Mouse & The Mask
Hercules & Love Affair, "Raise Mer Up", S.T
Candi Staton, "When you wake up tommorrow",
Bran Van 3000, "Astounded feat. Curtis Mayfield", Discosis
Black Devil Disco Club,
"Free For The Girls", Eight Oh Eight
Yello, "Bostitch"
Holy Fuck, 'Royal Gregory", LP

Andre Williams performs "Jail Bait"

Girls On Stage And Boys On The Floor!

2008-08-15T19:45:00.000-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #24
Disco is not a dirty word #9
New releases #7

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it.

Image by Yo Rodeo!

One of my favorite Halifax bands, The Stolen Minks are launching a new CD on Friday, August 22nd at Gus' Pub, here in Halifax.

(It's a bit of a contentious trifecta between them, Dog Day and Windom Earle. It's only contentious for me, because I don't like to choose.),

Apparently, there will be a cupcake eating contest, which makes me incredibly giddy. Also playing are Halifax wunderkinds-cum-legends The Maynards (one of whom is actually my next door neighbour, howya doin' Heath?), Bloodsport as well as Memories Attack.

I'll be there with bells (and my Stolen Minks t-shirt) on. Check the thread on Halifax Locals for more info.

Strut Records has done it again.

Kid Creole & The Coconuts's latin-inflected disco magic has been collected on various compilations (see below) yet remains mostly forgotten save by die hard disco fanatics. I remember seeing his records in bins at record stores, but I never really gave them a spin. This compilation, entitled "Going Places: The August Darnell Years" makes me regret my poor selector choices. The Kid (Darnell himself) worked as a producer before starting his own band, working on tracks for Cristina among others.

One of these tracks, the compilation's opener, is by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band entitled "Sunshowers". Sound familiar ?

MP3: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, "Sunshowers"

And speaking of disco...

A big shout out to my friend Frank B for giving me a copy of the Mutant Disco compilations as well as the first two Disco (Not Disco) comps. I, my blog and my record collection are forever indebted to you. If you wish to be indebted to Frank and myself, simply click on the links to discover the aweseomness of these albums. Also, for your perusal, scroll down for a video of one of the tracks from the second Disco Not Disco compilation, Laid Back's anti-coke disco tirade, "White Horse". The track, as well as a few others, are played on this week's episode of Moody Morning Music. Also played on this week's episode is a classic bollywood track sung by Geeta Dutt, called "Meera Naam Chin Chin Choo" (My name is Chin Chin Choo)". It's one of those songs that you can NOT get stuck out of your head, so might as well indulge it and put it on repeat.

*

Moody Morning Music for Tuesday, August 12th, 2008.

Dig it

Stars, "The Beginning after the end", In Our Bedroom after the war
Antony & The Johnsons, "Frankenstein", The Lake EP
Great Lake Swimmers, "Song for the angels", Bodies & Minds
Sun Kill Moon, "Moorestown", April
Bloc Party, "Blue Light (Engineers Blue Light Remix)",
Ron Sexsmith, "Thoughts & Prayers", Exit Strategy For The Soul
Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts, "A Name", From The Photographs
Brendan Canning, "Something for all of us...", Something for all of us
Beck, "Youthless", Modern Guilt
The Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination
The Stolen Minks, "Stop Talking", Family Boycott
Windom Earle, "Kitten Vs Pegasus", Gold Wave
Geeta Dutt, "Meera Naam Chin Chin Choo"
Dr Buzzard's Original Svannah Band, "Sunshower", Kid Creole: Going Places
Laid Back, "White Horse", Disco Not Disco 2
Was (Not Was), "Wheel Me Out", Mutant Disco
Yello, "Bostitch", Disco Not Disco 2
Ghislain Poirier feat Face-T, "Blazin' (Modeselektor Remix)"

Laid Back, "White Horse"

Geeta Dutt (as performed by Helen ), "Meera Naam Chin Chin Choo"

Fuck the Google

2008-08-07T22:05:00.000-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #23
Give me some soul # 2
Cover me# 7

A few months ago, I discovered an interesting tunesmith by the name of Beaufort. What can I tell you about them? Nada. I know two songs, "I don't wanna die" and "Fuck the Google". I found a myspace (see link above), a few links to blogs talking about them, but very little real info. All I know is that I am now inspired to make all of links for this post google answers (this could get interesting...)and that I can encapsulate the brilliant simplicity of Beaufort and their lyrics in one simple quote: "Fuck the emo".

MP3- "Fuck The Google

Halifax keeps on getting good shows. First Leonard Cohen, then Jose Gonzales, Bloc Party in September and now, a (unfortunately forgotten until now) soul songstress Betty Lavette will be playing the Great Atlantic Blues & Beyond Festival on Saturday, September 20th. Her 2005 album, "I've got my own hell to raise" re-invevnted songs by female songwriters such as Dolly Parton, Lucinda Williams and Fiona Apple(???).

Speaking of strange covers, Adem has put out a new album featuring nothing but covers of some of his favourite songs, including "Boy Girl Song" by Aphex Twin and Bjork's "Unravel" (played on the latest episode of Moody Morning Music, see below). I'm such a sucker for covers.

Moody Morning Music for July 29th, 2008.

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Richard Buckner, "22", Bloomed
Beirut, "Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)", Gulag Orkestar
Neutral Milk Hotel, "King Of Carrot Flowers", In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts, "Stand Right There", From The Photographs
Mates Of State, "Re-Arranger", Re-Arrange Us
Superfantastics. "Tonight, Tonite", Pop-Up Book
Wolf Parade, "Soldier's Grin", At Mount Zoomer
Beck, "Gamma Rays", Modern Guilt
Vancougar, "Unmanned", Canadian Tuxedoes
Gonazales, "Working Together", Soft Power
Lyn Collins, "Think About It"
Sharon Jones & Dap Kings, "How Long Do I have To Wait", Naturally
Carrie Lucas, "Dance With You"
Kid Creole, "Double On Back", Going Places
King Khan & The Shrines, "Land Of The Freak", The Supreme Genius Of...
Buck 65, "Dang", Situation
Ghislain Poirier, "Blazin'", No Ground Under
Ratatat, "Mirando", LP3
CSS, "Jager Yoga", Donkey
Beaufort, "Fuck The Google"
Peaches, "Shake Yer Dix", FatherFucker
N.E.R.D., "Everyone Nose"
Annie, "Loco"

Moody Morning Music for August 5thm 2008

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Archivist, "Fanulous Muscles",
Final Fantasy, "Many Lives --> 49 MP", He Poos Clouds
Adem, "Unravel", Takes
Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven", Fire Songs
Wax Mannequin, "Animals Jump", Orchard & ire
Got to get got, "Blood tests", Canadian Arts Collective
Dog Day "Night Group", Night Group
Wolf Parade, "California Dreamer", At Mount Zoomer
Betty Lavette, "You're a man of words, I'm a woman of action"
Baby Huey, "Hard Times"
Buck 65, "Spooked", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Danger Doom, "Old School Rules", The Mouse & The Mask
Girl Talk, "Let Me See You", Feed The Animals
Liquid Liquid, "Cavern"
Ian Dury & The Blockheads, "Spasticus Autisticus"
Hercules & Love Affair, "This is my love", S/T
Kid Creole, "Double ON Back",
CSS, "Move", Donkey
Annie, "I know your girlfriend hates me"
The Ting Tings, "That's not my name"
Bloc Party, "Flux"

Disco Reaffirmations

2008-08-07T17:20:00.006-03:00

This Man Is
Saving My Life

So in a world where any kid with Torque, a laptop and the "right" MP3's (320KBPS if you're going to play those MP3's in public please?) can call themselves a DJ, i've kinda lost my faith in disco dancing.

Enter Jacques Renault, the man can throw down, he plays the "wrong" records in the right order, on occassion he trainwrecks, he can re-edit a record within an inch of it's life, and along with production partner Marcos Cabral as Runaway produced one of the best dance jams of 2008.

It's called "Brooklyn Club Jam", It's out on a Rekids/DFA (those DFA boys are getting into the cross Label pollination aren't they) and it will tear your ass apart.

http://www.myspace.com/rrrunaway
(I was going to post the MP3, but that feels kinda cheap, just go buy it)

Jacques Renault along with Mike Simonetti (who I shook my shit to several weeks ago in Toronto) and Tim Sweeney are keeping my disco elitist ways alive.

Respect!

Maybe I am just old...

2008-08-03T06:13:00.004-03:00

I think perhaps I have hit that point where "those damn kids need to stay off my lawn."

This is again a Facebook re-post rant in reaction to Adbusters recent hipster article. I am not even posting a link to it, that's how much I hate Adbusters. It's super vaguely music related, otherwise I would've left it on Facebook.

"Adbusters doing this article is about as relevant as them doing an article on those new-fangled "blogs."

I never thought my already low opinion of them could deteriorate any more. I don't even know what it is about this article except it's extreme irrelevance and pandering to demographics that wouldn't normally pick up their magazine except to bolster their own uniformed, and more than likely outdated (and seriously impressionable-very-much-in-need-of-sound-bites) opinion.

But you know I guess, really in the end, does Adbusters exist for any other reason?

Not that this is some weak defense of what some might construe as a "touchy subject," it's just more or less a "wtf? really? is this a powder piece by a local news affiliate needing to bump up it's ratings? oh wait no, it's an international magazine. huh. funny that."

but i also really hate adbusters, so i'm probably just being a dick."

Vindication is mine!

2008-07-30T00:49:00.005-03:00

As you may have noticed I may or may not have forgotten about posting here. After ranting on Facebook, Simon was kind enough to remind me. (The title works only if you do it in a Stewie Griffin voice, otherwise it's just sort of ok).

My dislike of Crystal Castles, mis-appropriation of art gets all mixed in with my love of the internet and calling people out.

So Crystal Castles gets busted appropriating another artist's music. In this day and age, is that really newsworthy? Yes and no. I am all for re-contextualizing works, and more often that not people's influences/sampling are worn fully on their sleeve (Girl Talk being a huge example, the whole b-more scene, Obey/Shepard Fairy, etc).

So what the dilly?

One "underground" artist is stealing from another underground, which is pretty shady in and of itself; one has some measure of commercial success over the other.

CC has stated in interviews they have no real interest in the Chiptune scene (despite their sonic landscape being so lo-fi, but that's neither here nor there) that their sampling source is hugely involved in.

This isn't the first time they've gotten busted for stealing another artist's IP

Again, why is this a huge deal?

Where large companies/artists/etc release their works it's copyrighted by the owner. They have huge legal teams to bust you the fuck down when you steal from them. Independent artists, not so much.

This is where Creative Commons comes in. It allows artists/IP holders who want to share their work freely on the internet for anyone to use and re-use, albeit with some licensing regulations and protection for their works. It allows an amazing flow of creativity back and forth which is awesome and fun but in the end it only works if everyone follows the rules and you'd think the rules are pretty easy to follow. It boils down to: I am going to say what you can and cannot do with my creative output and as a reasonable human being interested in furthering cultural endeavours you should respect it.

Example: I am releasing my MP3/screen play/movie online, you are totally allowed to download it and muck around with it all you want but you HAVE to do the following....

The following can be anything as simple as "please say where your original source material came from" to "attribute me, ask for my explicit permission, do not make an money off it, if you do anything you HAVE to put it online with the exact same Creative Commons provisions I had set forth for my source material."

It does not give you carte blanche to ignore the rules and do whatever the fuck you want with it.

Anyways, maybe it's sour grapes I am just being a curmudgeon.

Actually fuck that. Seriously WTF dudes?

More info;

Exclaim's Coverage

Create Digital Music's very indepth description of everything I just ranted about

8-Bit Collectives 32-page forum topic on the matter

After the war

2008-07-22T10:47:00.004-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #22

In honour of my previous post, I have decided to change my theme music to the Stars' opening track from In Our Bedroom After The War. You can hear said post being read at the beginning of the show as my intro.

Enjoy.

Stars, "The Beginning of the end", In Our Bedroom After The War
Stars, "In Our Bedroom After The War", In Our Bedroom After The War
Julie Doiron, "Ce Charmant Coeur", Desormais
Magnetic Fields, "Book Of Love", 69 Love Songs
Old Man Luedecke, "Quiet Creek", Hinterland
Lou Barlow, "Royalty"
Forest City Lovers, "Don't Go". Haunting Moon Sinking
Ron Sexsmith, "Throughts & Prayers", Exit Strategy For The Soul
Liz Phair, "Nashville", WhipSmart
Coco Rosie, "Noah's Ark", Noah's Ark
Sigur Ros, Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur", Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Portishead, "We Carry On", Third
Ann Peebles, "I can't stand the rain
Wolf Parade, "The Grey Estates", At Mount Zoomer
Dog Day, "Oh Dead Life", Night Group
Bloc Party, "Two More Years"
Modeselektor feat. Thom Yorke, "The White Flash", Happy Birthday
Death From Above 1979, "Romantic Rights (Girls are Short Remix)", Romantic Rights EP
Crystal Castles vs Health, "Crimewave", S/T
Cut Copy, "Out There On The Ice", Ghost Colours
Girl Talk, "Like This", Feed THe Animals
Ghislain Poirier, "Blazin' (modeslektor remix)"

In that instant it started to pour...

2008-07-21T19:24:00.002-03:00

Love is #2

Taken from Simon's Folly:

Even before he came out to sing, he came out on stage and looked at all of us. "Are you all alright?", we could see him mouthing. The roar told him yes.

And then they all came out. They threw red and white roses into the crowd.

It had been spitting rain for over an hour. We were all huddled towards the stage, wanting to see his antics, listen to her voice, watch their banter. The new romantic meeting the old guard, male and female, both transcendant. Together a synthesis of love, fantasy, lust, release and serenity

"The night starts here, forget your name, forget your fear".

There has always been this sound, or rather, a feeling to the sound of Stars. In my head, listening to them has always been like travelling, moving into somewhere. The melody laying a path onto a trip, somewhere. The pont st champlain, a bedroom, or in my case, listening to a love letter in my best friend's car while driving along the eastern shores, our hands outside the car, waving in time.

When they began to sing, "Your ex-lover is dead", the lyric, "In that instant it started to pour", it did. We looked up the the skies and watched the rain through the floodlights. We didn't care. It was, if anything, a kind of watershed emphasis to how their songs made us feel: letting go. The crowd sang along. We swayed and swooned with the melodica sounding its familiar tune. We imagined the scar on the porcelain skin.

We remembered why we love the Stars.

The Stars Are On Fire

2008-07-17T10:50:00.002-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #21
Cover Me #6
Disco Is Not A Dirty Word #7
Give me some Soul #1

The night starts here.

On Sunday, July 20th, the Stars are playing in Halifax, along with The Black Keys and local heroes Wintersleep and I See Rowboats.

The last time I saw Stars was when they opened for Broken Social Scene in 2004. It was one of those cases where the opening act blew the main attraction out of the water. Vocalists Torquil Campbell was emphatic at his worst and beyond stunning at his best. Amy Campbell serenaded us over the hard guitar for "Ageless Beauty" and someone passed me a Heart shaped potato which I passed to Torquil. He told the crowd that after the show he would make a bong out of it.

I'm not expecting another one of those, but I am expecting a great show.

Speaking of shows, this week's edition of Moody Morning Music contains a few fun covers, as well as a few more tunes from my rapidly expanding collection of soul 45s, hence a new category for this blog, aptly titled, Give Me Some Soul. But more on that later. Right now, I wanna talk about girls with pretty voices.

The Watson Twins have released a full length album to follow up their teaser of an EP, "Souther Manners". The album includes a remarkably sincere cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven". Scroll down to the track list to hear the original.

So I'm digging through that infamous stack of 45s I just mentioned and I find one by some dude named Wayne Cochran. I drop the needle and all of a sudden, this crazy voice and rhythm ripples through the grooves. Holy Shit! Who is this dude? I google him and am confronted with a white guy in a crazy blonde pompadour. Once again, Holy shit! I need some more tunes. Check him out by scrolling down and clicking on the link in the track listing.

As for this week's dose of disco, a (somewhat)unlikely candidate who goes by the name of Gonzales.

After having worked with Feist, Peaches and Jamie Lidell and having released a critically lauded album, Gonzales has put out a love song to all things AOR Friendly, influenced by everything from Yacht Rock to french disco strings. The latter can be found in wonderful abundance on this week's download called "Let's Ride".

Gonzales, "Let's Ride", The Soft Power

*

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven", Fire Songs
She & Him, "You've really got a hold on me", Volume 1
Ron Sexsmith, "Brandy Alexander", Exit Strategy of the soul
Betty Harris, "I'm evil tonight", 7"
The Joe Tex Band, "Chocolate Cherry", 7"
Wayne Cochran, "Some a your sweet lovin'" 7"
Duffy, "Mercy", Rockferry
Gnarls Barkley, "Who's gonna save my soul", The Odd Couple
Stars, "Elevator Love Letter", Heart
Stars, "Your ex-lover is dead", Set yourself on fire
Stars, "Ageless Beauty (Most Serene Republic Remix)", Do you trust your friends?
Stars, "The Night Starts Here", In Our Bedroom after the war
Stars, "Take me to the riot", In our Bedroom after the war
Bloc Party, "She's Hearing Voices", Silent Alarm
Architecture In Helsinki, "Like it or not (version 2)"
Gonzales, "Let's ride", Soft power
CSS, "Believe Archive", Donkey
Crystal Castles, "Knight", S/T
M.I.A. "Paper Planes (DFA Remix)", 12"
Girl Talk, "Give me a beat". Feed The Animals
N.E.R.D., "Everybody Nose"
Swayzak, "Smile & Receive", Some Other Country

Let's go to hell together: How Buck 65 killed it.

2008-07-10T10:36:00.000-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #20
Rotate this #2

Image courtesy of CBC

I remember the first time I saw the video for "Kennedy Killed The Hat". I was working in a dingy gay bar, it was mid-afternoon and I was watching MuchMusic.

Now, I had heard Buck's earlier stuff under the monkier Stinkin' Rich and a few pieces of his work with Sixtoo under the monkier of The Sebutones. I had loved his last album, "Talkin' Honky Blues", and I remember seeing him as a clerk at my local news stand. I even remember telling him I had found some bootlegg stuff of his online from an unreleased album. He thanked me for telling him and told me he would find out who leaked it.

To me, Rich Terfry was the face of Halifax Hip Hop.

And then he pulled out with Secret House Against The World. Gainsbourg references (both lyrically and musically), rough edged drum breaks, a cover of an old Halifax band and of course, my absolute favorite, Kennedy.

There he was, his shirt off, that rip roaring, DFA 1979 sounding guitar (whom one of its members, under another moniker would later remix), that delivery, and that chorus that just gets stuck in your head, the words points of reference to the strange world in Buck's head:

And we're surrounded by assassins
fantomas
mutantes
and serpents
werewolves and sex fiends
New York
New York City
Lafayette Street
Alright now
Bang Bang
London Paris
shoot the lights out
Come on now baby

That was in 2005. Three years, another record and all of a sudden, I hear another version of Kennedy, this time featuring CKDUers Mike Catano on drums and Laura Peek on vocals and other sundry musical items. Gone is the heavy drum beat, here is a melancoly dirge, accented by Peek's voice, supporting and lifting Buck out of the netherworld of his own deadpan.

Listen here, and enjoy

Clear is still the new black.

***

Moody Morning Music for June 1st, 2008. Now with over 70% CanCon! Enjoy.

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Sigur Ros, "All Alright", Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Arcade Fire, "In The Backseat", Funeral
Feist, "Limit to your love", The Reminder
Jose Gonzales, "Love will tear us apart", Veneer
Young & Sexy, "The city you live in is ugly", Stand for your mother
Portishead, "Machine Gun", Third
Islands, "J'aime vous voir quitter", Arm's Way
Wolf Parade, "The Grey Estates", At Mount Zoomer
Immaculate Machine, "Wo Xiang Tanbai (Dear Confessor)", 7"
Broken Social Scene, "Windsurfing Nation", S/T
Stars, "Take me to the riot", In Our Bedroom after the war
Duchess Says, "Rabies (Baby;s got the)", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
You Say Party! We Say Die!, "Downtown mayors goodnight, Alley Kids Rule", Lose All Time
Gwen Guthrie, "7th Heaven", Padlock EP
Crystal Castles, "Air War", S/T
Gonzales, "Slow Down (Feat. Teki Latex)", Soft Power
Cut Copy, "Out there on ice", In Ghost Colours
MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP
Thom Yorke, "The Clock (Surgeon Remix)", 12"

Moody Morning Music for July 8th, 2008. Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Buck 65 feat Laura Peek & Micheal Catano, "Kennedy Killed The Hat (acoustic mix)
Thom Yorke, "Harrowdown Hill (12" mix)
Black Keys, "All you ever wanted", Attack & Release
Wolf Parade, "Language City", At Mount Zoomer
Sigur Ros, "Goddledigood", Med Sud I Eryum Vid Spulum Endalaust
Bloc Party, "Tulips (Club Version)"
Stars, "What I'm trying to say", Set yourself on fire
Tokyo Police Club, "The Nature Of The Experiment"
The Gossip, "Jealous Girls (NYPC Remix)"
!!!, "Heart Of Hearts", Myth Takes
Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
Danger Doom feat. Cee-Lo, "Benzie Box", THe Mouse & The Mask
Zapp, "Dance Floor"
Santogold, "Les Artistes (Molecule Mix)"
Girl Talk, "Give me a beat", Feed The Animals
Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T
Cut Copy, "Heart's On Fire", In Ghost Colours

You Dig?

2008-07-03T13:52:00.005-03:00

Dig this #1

We here, at I wanna listen to this aren't just a bunch of blog and mp3 seeking hipsters. We often dig out old records, rediscover and reconsider stuff we dismissed earlier and dig deeper into genres we never thought we would care about (cosmic disco anyone?), much less write about. Here are some of our recent favorites, in no particular order.

Jeffrey Liberatore is disco elitist, music snob and wishes Gaspard Ulliel knew he existed.

Anything on Cosmo Vitelli's I'm A Cliche label
Those Ali Renault records on Dissident
The Holy Ghost remix of "I Like to Move in Here" by Moby
"The Feeling" by Toby Tobias on Rekids
The Last Shadow Puppets record on Domino (So Scott Walker)
Yacht Rock
The Video to "Electric Feel" by MGMT

Shannon Webb-Campbell is a blogger, journalist, Perpetual Student and Girl-about-country

Them There Eyes – Billie Holiday
Paris Is Burning – St. Vincent
Euphoria – Sarah Slean
Heartbeats – Jose Gonzales
Explode – Uh Huh Her
Red Right Ankle – The Decemberists

Simon Thibault is an occasional club DJ, a weekly radio DJ and omnipresent car stereo selector.

I bought over 300 Soul and R&B 45s a few months ago. Millie Jackson, Syl Johnson (who is playing at the Atlantic Jazz Fest here in Halifax this summer), Al Green, Freda Payne and Joe Tex, just to name a few. It's a completely different listening experience from just letting your iTunes go on random.
The Magnetic Field's "69 Love Songs". Why did I not realise how amazing this was years ago...
Hercules and Love Affair- Now featured in The New York Times, not only do they make me wanna dance, they also make me dig through my old records looking for gems I might have overlooked.
Swayzak- Their Fabric Mix, their last record and my favorite, "I keep it coming" from Loops from the Bergerie.
Zapp- Forget Chromeo. Stevie wonder may have made it cool, Zapp made it funky and sexy.

Ryan Allen is the youngest yet sweetest of the crew here, but is often seen singing/screaming his guts out at all ages shows.

Bexar Bexar - Haralambos (Awesome ambient stuff, check it out!)
Alcest - Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde (Very pretty shoegazey stuff. Lots of guitars, and etheral vocals)
Latterman - We Are Still Alive
Lawrence Arms - Oh Calcutta
Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
Jesus and Mary Chain - I Hate Rock and Roll (Why haven't I listened to this before?!)
Hot Water Music - Forever and Counting
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
Tomcat Combat - I'm Okay, You're Okay
Have Heart - Songs to Scream at The Sun (Good, smart hardcore band)

Nirmala Basnayakeis a former controller and taught Nelly Furtado how to get her groove back.Mmmhmm.

Belle Epoque "Miss Broadway"
The Seeds "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" (seriously -- it took a fucking Axe body spray ad to wake me up to this one? gah)
Tom Petty's Damn the Torpedoes
Coldcut "Say Kids What Time Is It" and "More Beats + Pieces"

Loukas Crowther is a founder and DJ @Metal Disco, a designer and photographer to the unsavory.

Bubaiskull's re-releasing their stuff online has had me in some serious nostalgic bliss. Especially the Drive By Suicide EP
The Does It Offend You, Yeah? album has been in heavy rotation for like 2 weeks now.
I finally heard the rest of Santogold's album after killing the youtube video of L.E.S. Artistes, and I actually like it so much more than I thought. I was expecting more of the M.I.A. comparisons to continue, but it went in a way different direction that I expected.
The MSTRKRFT remix of the j-pop star, Ayumi Hamasaki, makes me retardedly happy.
The Presets new album, Apocalypso

Jose Gonzales- The interview.

2008-06-24T21:38:00.001-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #19

No, I'm not kidding.

Monday afternoon, I was able to interview Jose Gonzales for my radio show on Halifax's campus-community station, CKDU.

I asked him about his creative process, both solo and with others (Embee, Zero 7), how he feels about the Sony Bravia ad and even asked him a few questions from the famous Proust Questionnaire.

In honour of his playing this thursday, I also played a large amount of his songs on the show.

Methinks this interview is the beginning of a big and beautiful thing on I wanna listen to this. I plan on posting the interview, outside of the show, very soon. Keep checking.

*UPDATE:You can listen to the inteview in its entirety, here. Please note that the file is in .wav format and is about 15 minutes long, so it might take a little while to download, depending on your connection.*

***

Listen..

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Aaron A Wallace, "Godspeed yr death emproror"
Bonnie Prince Billy, "For every field there's a mole"
The Watson Twins, "Fall", Fire Songs
Jose Gonzales, "Time To Send Someone Away", In Our Nature
*Jose Gonzales Interview*
Jose Gonzales, "Teardrop", In Our Nature
Jose Gonzales, "Love will tear us apart", Veneer
Wolf Parade, "Call It A Ritual", At Mount Zoomer
Fembots, "Count Down Our Days", The City
Destroyer, "Foam Hands", Trouble IN Dreams
The Superfanatstics, "Van Gogh", Choose Your destination
Stars, "Ageless Beauty", Set yourself on Fire
Dog Day, "Ironhide", Oh Dead Life
Bloc Party, "This Modern Love", Silent Alarm
Buck 65, "The abandoned cars of Inverness County", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1.
Sebastien Grainger, "When you go out"
Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T
Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind", S/T

I'm back!

2008-06-17T10:47:00.007-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #18

So, I've been away.

Thankfully, some wonderful people at CKDU filled in for my show for my time away. Upon my first week back, lots of new cd's at the station and amazing news, that on monday morning, I get to interview Jose Gonzales for my show!!!!

Listen

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Gonzales, "Apology", Soft Power
Bonnie Prince Billy, "You remind me of something", Lie down in the light
Embee feat. Jose Gonzales, "Time to send someone away", Tellings from Solitaria
!!!, "Take esctasy with me"
Magnetic Fields, "Three-way", Distortion
Portishead, "Plastic", Third
Black Keys, "All you ever wanted", Attack & Release
Destroyer, "Dark leaves form a thread", Trouble in dreams
Battles, "Race: In", Mirrored
Ann Peebles, "I can't stand the rain"
Betty Lavette, "You're a man of action"
Buck 65, "You know the science", Man Overboard
Ghislain Poirier, "Blazin' (Modeslektor Remix)"
Modeselektor, "The RapAnthem", Hello Mom
Crystal Castles, "Air War", S/T
Cut Copy, "Hearts On Fire", In Ghost Colours
Hercules & Love Affair, "You Belong", S/T
M.I.A., Boyz", Kala
Bloc Party, "Flux",
MSTRKRFT, "VuVuuVuu"

You turn me on, I'm a disco ball

2008-05-27T10:46:00.009-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #17
New releases #
Disco is not a dirty word# 6

From the same label that brought you Disco Not Disco comes Disco Italia, a compilation of some of the most essential and influential Italo Disco tracks that have ever graced dancefloors.

If anything, it's thanks to my friend Jeff that I discovered the wonders of Italo, as well as Canadian DJ/musician Dubious with whom I had one of my first ever DJ gigs. Between these two, I began to discover the world of such artists asKano, Kebekelektrik. Through my own research, record digging and conversations/mixes with other DJs, I have come to appreciate and admire the subtleties that come from the world of Italo (and how it's world escapes its eponymously named boundaries) and its (arguable) twin sister, Cosmic Disco.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: Disco is not a dirty word. It is glorious.

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Jose Gonzales, "Remain", Veneer
Bonnie Prince Billy, "Love Comes To Me", The Letting Go
Adem, "Warning Call", Love & Other Planets
She & Him, "You've really got a hold on me", Volume 1
Ghost Bees, "Vampires of West Coast", Tasseomancy
Archivist, "Fabulous Muscles"
Lou Reed feat. Antony, "Perfect Day", The Raven
Portishead, "Hunter", Third
Final Fantasy, "Many Lives --> 49 MP", He Poos Clouds
Old Man Luedecke, "Send My Troubles Away", Proof Of Love
Betty Lavette, "Sleep To Dream", I've got my own hell to raise
Bloc Party, "Like eating glass", Silent Alarm
LCD Soundsystem, "Someone Great", Sound Of Silver
Material, "Don't Lose Control (Dance Version)", Disco Not Disco 3: Post Punk, Electro & Leftfield Disco Classics, 1974-1986
Red Dragon Band, "Let Me Be Your Radio (Part 1)", Disco Italia: Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985
Buck 65 feat Old Man Luedeceke, "Indestructible Sam", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Thom Yorke, "Skip Divided (Modeselektor Remix)"
Moby, "Disco Lies", Last NIght
Crystal Castles, "Courtship Dating (J. La Bootleg Mix)"
Holy Fuck, "Frenchy's", LP

Sounds like a Brazilian kids show...

2008-05-23T00:13:00.003-03:00

Watch This #3
Cover me #5

Jesus Christ, I love Xiu Xiu

I do want, what I want, from Women as Lovers

It's not that he sings in this bizarre throaty way, or that he has a habit of screaming, or that it took me a while to understand/get used to/appreciate his music/art/performances/ideas. It's that he does what he does, because it's him.

And I admire that.

Profoundly.

Ceremony, live (Joy Division cover)

For the Archivist

The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead

2008-05-21T10:45:00.005-03:00

Oh Toronto. You took me in as a mistress, seduced me with your record stores, concerts and plenitude, but somehow I ended up on the street corner, snot-streaked and tired. The piles of music and books I returned with were no match for your harsh ways and cold mannerisms.

It’s fair to say I’m glad to be home, back in this little city by the sea. The days have been gentle and generous –Cohen and Dylan all in the span of a week? Sarah Slean with Royal Wood next week?

Be still my lion heart.

To soundtrack my feast of Mariko Tamaki, Peggy Munson and Chandra Mayor reading, I’ve enclosed a list of my latest loves. While I was visiting family in Peterborough I did my ritualistic rounds of the city, dinner at Hot Belly Momma’s and an afternoon at Bluestreak Records (owned and operated by Tim Haines, son of Canadian poet Paul Haines and brother of Metric’s Emily Haines). One of the pleasures of this streetside record store, in addition to the plethora of albums, is visiting with an old friend of mine Jarrett Prescott –the mastermind behind Fire Flower Revue, who fuses kaleidoscopic sound and art reminiscent of Portland's buoyant bubble-makers The Blow and Paris' glock-popper Uffie.

Fire Flower Revue hesitate to dub the project an environmental protest, as their technicolor soundscapes have an animal-based theme, but don't tag them to be the next Wolfmother, brother, sister, or parade. Their slightly schizophrenic dance beats have backbone, vibrancy and are coated in an unconventional imaginative euphoria.

After a two-hour chat about music, art and all things in-between, I left with Crystal Castles, an advance of Silje Nes “Ames Room,” Santogold's self-titled, Gossip “Live in Liverpool Live CD and Concert DVD” and Cat Power’s “Moon Pix” on vinyl. On a brief bus ride back to my suburban blue-collared hometown I listened You Left Saving The Planet’s unmastered version of “Tabitha Cain,” and it blew my mind. The combination of yearning and anxiety mirrored the mood of my trip. It was almost time to come home. Prior to departure, I did catch Pony Da Look's CD release at Sneaky Dee's, The Clicks' frontman Lucas Silveria's solo set at the Gladstone, The Constantines at The Phoenix and am looking forward to befriending Emma McKenna - she recently picked up and moved to Halifax from Toronto.

Upon arriving at my doorstep with stuffed suitcases in tow, I opened my overflowing letterbox to find Christina Martin’s sophomore release “Two Hearts,” produced by Dale Murray (Cuff the Duke, The Guthries) and co-engineered with Charles Austin, Hey Rosetta’s “Into Your Lungs (and around your heart and through your blood), Gonzalez “Soft Power.”

If I could go back in time and tell my sixteen year old self that some day I would be getting advanced copies of albums in the mail, I just might have saved a fair penny along the way –though I doubt it. Perhaps I would have stopped trying to purchase them on eBay with my parents credit cards a month before the release date.

Sincerely, L.C.

2008-05-20T11:12:00.001-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #16

On saturday night, I experienced, the man.

I discovered Leonard Cohen when I was a teenager. I heard his voice and was blown away. I found his arrangements strange, almost archaic. Here was a man who sang in his distinctive deep voice, surrounded by cheap sounding synths, cooing women. It was all so idiosyncratic. I didn't always get it, but I knew I had found something special.

As I got older, I discovered his earlier work, I learned to understand the subtleties of his prose, of his delivery. I was fascinated how a jew was obsessed with distinctively christian icons and had become a buddhist monk. The man was obviously on a journey and wanted to understand it. He told us about, so that when he spoke, he would understand it himself.

When news hit that Cohen was coming to town, I knew I had to get tickets. Two shows were announced with gold seating at $125.00 (which I would have paid in a heartbeat) and regular seating at $87.00. When the tickets went on sale, the first two shows sold out in less than an hour. They soon added a third, then a fourth and even a fifth show, the latter being the one I attended.

I was in the tenth row. He came out, bowed to the audience. He was thinner than I expected, in a well tailored double breasted suit. He smiled to the audience, an air of beneficence on his face. He opened with Dance Me To The End Of Love. His voice was still there. Deep, sandy, frighteningly soft.

He sang most of his well known songs from the 80's and 90's ("Anthem", "Democracy", "Everbody Knows") and the 60's ("Suzanne", "Bird on a Wire", the latter which was wonderfully arranged). He also sang a few new songs, and recited a poem or two.

In the 2nd part of the show, he came out on stage, pressed a button on an old Yamaha keyboard and began to sing this. When he played the small flourishes on the keys between the verses, the audience applauded and cheered. He smiled, embarassed, moved and humbled. It spoke of the reverence the audience had for him, for his voice, his songs, his craft.

He was gracious. He was tremendous. He did three encores.

And I am glad I was able to see him.

Note: I only have a small caveat. When he sang "Anthem", he changed the lyric of "Give me crack and anal sex" to "Give me crack and dangerous sex". I was a bit shocked. I wanted to hear the man sing about anal sex.

In honour of Cohen's coming to Hali, I played a bunch of his songs on the May 13th episode of Moody Morning Music. I hope you enjoy it

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Jose Gonzales, "Killing for love", In Our Nature
Old Man Luedecke, "Just like a river", Proof Of Love
Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne", Song of
Rufus Wainwright, "Chelsea Hotel No.2", I'm your man
Leonard Cohen, "If it be your will", Various Positions
Antony, "If it be your will", I'm your man
John Cale, "Hallelujah"
Leonard Cohen, "Tower of Song", I'm your man
Grizzly Bear, "Knife", Yellow House
Wolf Parade, "The Grey estates", At Mount Zoomer
The Long Blondes, "Erin O'Connor", Couples
Heloise & Savoir Faire, "Illusions", Trash, Rats &Microphones
Radiohead, "15 Steps", In Rainbows
Gnarls Barkley, "Who's gonna save my soul", The Odd Couple
Modeselektor, "The Dark Side of the sun (feat. Puppetmastaz)", Happy Birthday
Crystal Castles, "Untrust Us", S/T
Hot Chip, "One Pure Thought", Made IN The Dark
Hercules & Love Affair, ""Raise Me Up", S/T
Holy Fuck, "Super Intuit", LP
MSTRKRFT, 'VuuVuu", Bounce EP
BoysNoize, "Lava Lava", Oi Oi Oi Remixed

Moody Morning Music for May 20th, 2008.

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Jose Gonzales, "Time to send someone away", In Our Nature
Sun Kill Moon, "Moorestown, April
Old Man Luedecke, "Wake up Hill", Proof Of Love
Islands, "The Arm", Arm's Way
Wolf Parade, "The grey estates", At Mount Zoomer
Superfantastics, "Lullaby Punches", Choose Your Destination
Portishead, "Machine Gun", Third
Thom Yorke, "Harrowdown Hill", The Eraser
Jamie Lidell, "Where'd You Go", Jim
Gnarls Barkley, "Going On", THe Odd Couple
Hercules & Love Affair, "Time Will", S/T
Matmos, "Rainbow Flag", Supreme Balloon
Zapp, "Dance Floor"
Kano, "Now Baby Now (Kotey Edit)", Disco Italia: Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985
Crystal Castles vs Health, "Crimewave", S/T
Thunderheist, "Bubblegum (Hatchmatik Birdflu In June Remix)"
Windom Earle, "Kitten Vs Pegasus", GoldWave
Duchess Says, "Rabies (Baby's got the)", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs

My favorite Leonard Cohen song, performed by one of my favorite artists, Antony Hegarty

Muxtape vs Mixtape

2008-05-07T19:35:00.000-03:00

Remember this #4

I'm 31. I grew up listening to music at (arguably) the end of the age of vinyl and the smackdab in the middle of the heyday of cassette tapes. Ah tapes. You remember, those wonderful, spindly little pieces of plastic filled with magnetic ribbon that you would chuck all over the place in your car, leave out of the cases 'cause god knows, those suckers wouldn't get ruined like your precious LPs or your new fangled CDs.

Only, those new fangled CD's are looking like they're going to last forever like we thought they would. And that vinyl you've got stored away? Good thing you didn't throw it away, 'cause at least you can still find record players. Also, those new albums you keep hearing bloggers talk about are becoming easier to find on vinyl than they are on CD. Heck, some of you are still pressing 7" singles. Good on ya.

But good luck finding a cassette deck, let alone a ghetto blaster to play your tapes on.

Or even better, one to play your mixtapes on.

Oh, how I miss thee, thy beautiful work of art.

Yes, we can now make CD mixes and with a lot less effort and time. But you've gotta wonder, wasn't that time worth it? As Rob, the protagonist/anti-hero in Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, there is something to be said for sitting down, making a list of songs, arranging them in order, creating a feel, a vibe throughout the mix. But the most important (and now forgotten) part of the mixtape is actually listening to it as you're making it.

Now, with mp3s, you still make the list, you still arrange them, BUT you don't listen to it while it's being created. Nay, you can't do that. The magic of the creation has been replaced by instant programs made for people who don't want to "waste time". The programs we use to create such mixes are made to be fast and efficient. Insert CD here, press button here, out pops CD here.

I'm not saying I'm against CD mixes, nor am I waxing nostalgic over loops of cassette-deck-eaten-tape. I hated it when the tape inside got loose, making the music warbly and warped. I happily enjoy being able to make a mix for a random car ride in less than 10 minutes - including selection, arrangement and execution. But I miss sitting there, pondering the subject (either musical or personal, in the case of the mix tape for someone you like or wish to impress) throughout the entire 60, 90 or 120 minute process. TDK, Memorex, we salute you, you love gods of yesteryear.

About a month ago, someone told me about Muxtape.

Muxtape is a site where people can upload their favorite songs (in mp3 format) to create their own mixtape. The site allows you up to 12 songs, and no song should be over 10 megabytes. You then click on each track and the site uploads it through a script which allows the song to play, as well as continue playing the other songs, just like your old mixtapes.

Muxtape doesn't replace the old cassette or the CD mix, but there is something wonderful about sharing your favorite songs. Which is what mixes are all about. But instead of only one copy of that cassette, or losing a CD, you can just click a link and let as many people as possible listen to your mixes. YOUR mixes. YOUR choices. Your gift.

A mix I made for someone when he is away.

My first mix,made for my friend Hank

I now believe in second offerings

2008-05-06T11:21:00.006-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #15
New Releases #5

It is coming

At Mount Zoomer, Wolf Parade's eagerly awaited second full length will be released on June 17th here in North America. Of course, if you're smart (or immoral, depending on how you look at it), the album has been leaked to the internet on various torrent sites and a few singles have been popping up on various blogs.

The bands has been touring with the new songs, teasing audiences (and youtube fiends)for a while now. Now, with the new album finally being released (or leaked), fans no longer have to deal with inferior sounding mp3s and videos.

In honour of such a thing, I did a small profile on the band, playing tracks from all three of their SubPop releases, as well as a track from Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner's respective side projects, Sunset Rubdown and Handsome Furs.

Long live Wolf Parade.

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Jose Gonzales, "Lovestain", Veneer
Old Man Luedecke, "Little Bird", Proof Of Love
Forest City Lovers, "Waiting by the fence", Haunting Moon Sinking
Final Fantasy, "This Modern Love (Bloc Party Cover)"
Immaculate Machine, "Dear Confessor (Wo Xiang Tanbai)", 7"
Jamie Lidell, "Another Day", Jim
Gonzales, "Working Together", Soft power
Wolf Parade, "Shine a light", Apologies to the Queen Mary
Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the Queen Mary
Wolf Parade, "Disco Sheets", EP
Sunset Rubdown, "Winged Wicked Things", Random Spirit Lover
Handsome Furs, "Cannot get started", Plague Park
Wolf Parade, "Call It A Ritual", At Mount Zoomer
Wolf Parade, "Soldier's Grin", At Mount Zoomer
Thom Yorke, "Jetstream", 12"
Taana Gardner, "Heartbeat", 12"
LCD Soundsystem, "Freak out", 12"
Delta 5, "Mind Your Own Business", Disco Not Disco 3
Hot Chip, "Hold On", Made In The Dark

And all of that time you thought I was sad, I was trying to remember your name...

2008-04-29T10:59:00.003-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #14

Sometimes you just have to let the music speak for itself.

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Jose Gonzales, "Cycling Trivialities", In our Nature
Keren Ann, "Not going anywhere", Not going anywhere
Beth Orton, "Sisters of Mercy", I'm your man
King of Convenience, "Free Fallin'"
Low, "In Silence", Daytrotter sessions
Meryn Cadell, "Barbie", Angel food for thought
Stars, "Your ex-lover is dead (Final Fantasy Remix)", Do you trust your friends
Final Fantasy, "This is the dream of Win & Regine", Has A Good Home
Xiu Xiu, "I do want what I want", Women as Lovers
Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the queen mary
Gnarls Barkley, "Going On", Odd Couple
Heloise & Savoir Faire, "Downtown", Trash, Rats & Microphones
The Long Blondes, "I Like Boys", Couples
Handsome Furs, "Dead & Rural", Plague Park
Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T
Hot Chip, "Shake a fist", Made IN The Dark
Hercules & Love Affair, "You Belong", S/T
MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (Feat. N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP
Poni Hoax, "Budapest (Joakim Italo Dub)"

Cyclying Trivialities

2008-04-22T23:00:00.002-03:00

Watch This #2

I just found out the most amazing news.

Jose Gonzales is playing in Halifax, June 26th at St. Matthew's United Church (the same space where Final Fantasy performed when he was here). The show is being promoted by Jeemy.Net and tickets go one sale Friday May 16th, through Ticketpro both online and through their various retailers here in Halifax.

I am delirious.

As I said on a certain messageboard, I am going to cry more than a mascara'd emo teenage girl with clairol-dyed hair.

In honour of this, I am posting a video from La Blogotheque of Gonzales performing in the back of a pickup truck in the middle of nowhere in the U.S.

TakeAwayShow_JoseGonzalez-1-DivX
by lablogotheque

She was into S&M and Bible Studies

2008-04-22T10:57:00.004-03:00

I'm in the Mood for this #13

Once again, two for the price of one, and to top it all off, lots of links. Enjoy.

Moody Morning Music for April 15th, 2008

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
She & Him, "You really got a hold on me", Volume 1
Great Lake Swimmers, "Moving Pictures, Silent Films", S/T
Radiohead, "Videotape", In Rainbows
Old Man Luedecke, "Proof Of Love", Proof Of Love
Forest City Lovers, "Country Road", Haunting Moon Sinking
Belle & Seabatian, "If you're feeling sinister", If you're feeling sinster
Beautiful South, "We are each other", 0898
The Magnetic Fields, "Three-Way", Distortion
Nouvelle Vague, "Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't), Bande a part
Fantastic Plastic Machine, "You must learn all night long"
!!!,"Heart of Hearts", Myth Takes
Battles, "Race: In", Mirrored
Meryn Cadell, "Spelling Bee", Angel food for thought
Gnarls Barkley, "Neighbours", The Odd Couple
M.I.A., "Paper Planes ( DFA Remix)" 12"
Buck 65, "Sleight of hand", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Hot Chip, "One Pure Thought", Made in the dark
Crystal Castles, "Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs Health)", S/T
Duchess Says, "Black Flag", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
Dee-Lite, "What Is Love", World Clique
MSTRKRFT, "Vuuvuu", Bounce EP

Moody Morning Music for April 22nd, 2008

Broken Social Scene, "Capture The Flag", You forgot it in people
Old Man Luedecke, "Sad as a forest", Proof of love
Forest City Lovers, "Monsters", Haunting Mon Sinking
Final Fantasy, "This lamb sells condos", Has a good home
Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination
Yeah yeah yeahs, "Fancy", Show your bones
Wolf Parade, "Call It A Ritual"
Buck 65, "Dang", Situation
Santogold, "My Superman"
Portishead, "Machine Gun (Live on Jools Holland)", Third
M83, "Couleurs"
Gnarls Barkley,"Charity Case", Odd Couple
Hercules & Love Affair, "Theme"
Goldfrapp, "A&E (Hercules and love affair remix)"
Hot Chip, "Hold On", Made In the Dark
Crystal Castles, "Courtship Dating, S/T
Jahcoozi, "BLN"
Thunderhiest, "Jerk it"
MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.)"
Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
Holy Fuck, "The Pulse", LP

Portishead, "Machine Gun", Performed on Jools Holland

Duchess Says: I am your MSTR

2008-04-08T10:35:00.006-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #12
New releases #4
Disco is not a dirty word #5

Although they're not really disco per se, two bands who are highly influenced by leftfield disco are Canada's own MSTRKRFT and Duchess Says. Jesse Keelor and Al P's respective solo projects owe a lot to dirty disco and dancey post punk as much as the fair duchess. In honour of this connection, I played a few choice tracks in honour of both of these acts putting out new releases for the spring.

The first time I saw Duchess Says was at a show at the Marquee in Halifax duing the Halifax Pop Explosion in 2006. I didn't know anything about them, all I remember was seeing this girl with brown hair up on stage, a keytar in her hands and a huge ass sound coming out of the speakers. Screaming, bleeps, bangs and a tangle of hair crowd surfing into the adoring public.

Then last week I was very excited to find and hear their new album when it came into the offices of CKDU. The album, "Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs" comes out April 17th in record stores across Canada. In the meantime, check the links at the end of this post for an MP3 of the opening track, "Tenen Non Neu"

Ever since The Looks dropped in 2006, MSTRKRFT
have been riding a crest of hot press, sweet remixes (of their own work and for others) and capacity crowds. Laurels aside, there is something to be said for a duo who are just as comfortable producing rock records as they are working on remixes for UK Girl bands. In the middle of all that, there is a steady beat, a dirty bass and a sweaty sound. DJs are bored of playing the same records, crowds want something new and with their new single, out on Dim Mak. The single landed on April 1st, with a new album slated for release this fall.

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Feist, "Intuition", The Reminder
Richard Buckner, "Desire", Bloomed
Old Man Luedecke, "Little Bird", Proof of Love
Forest City Lovers, "Don't go"
Xiu Xiu, "I do want when I want", Women as Lovers
Nouvelle Vague, "Just can't get enough", Nouvelle Vague
Fred Hughes, "Baby Boy"
Etta James, "Seven Day Fool"
The Flirtations, "Nothing but a heartache"
Mark Ronson feat Amy Winehouse, "Valerie", Version
Gnarls Barkley, "Who's gonna save my soul", THe Odd Couple
Merryn Cadell, "Job Aplication", Angel Food For thought
Buck 65, "Indestructble Sam", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Radiohead, "15 Steps", In Rainbows
Hot Chip, "Shake A Fist", Made In The Dark
James White & The Blacks, "Contort Yourself", Disco Not Disco Vol 3
Maximum Joy, "Stretch (Disco Rap Mix)"
Duchess Says, "Rabies (Baby's got the)', Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
Holy Fuck, "Frenchy's", LP
Crystal Castles, "Vanished", S/T
Modeselektor, "Silikon (feat Sascha Pererra)", Hello Mom
MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP

***

Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs

MSTRKRFT, "Bounce (feat N.O.R.E.)", Bounce EP

Duchess Says, live at the Marquee, shot by StolenDave. That's me yelling at Annie, telling her she's making me moist.

Ecouter et Repeter: Archivist

2008-04-07T11:19:00.003-03:00

Ecouter et Repeter #1

It’s always difficult to be open and fair when it comes to writing about your friends. In the world of “serious” journalism, having an intimate connection to your subject is often poo-poohed (as is that word) and usually if something or someone is newsworthy, the story is passed on to someone who is unbiased towards the subject.

In the online world of blogs this kind of journalism is looked upon as more of a venal sin than a mortal one. I’ll take my contrition and tell you up front that I know the subject of this post. I met him years ago, before he was hobnobbing with some of Montreal’s best musicians and recording songs in a home studio. When I met Archivist, he was a basketball-playing-beat-poet reading university student. And I was smitten.

And so I am smitten once again.

It started with a cover he sent me of Xiu Xiu’s “Fabulous Muscles”.

It continued with a correspondence and eventually, an interview.

It doesn’t end with our discussion. It continues with a MySpace, a couple MP3s*, and hopefully, plays on your iPod.

How did the name Archivist come about?

I wanted a name that captured my sort of conscious pilfering of music of all sorts through the ages. Everything: John Jacob Niles to Morissey; Leadbelly to Kate Bush; Cohen to Panda Bear. I am forever cracked-up by this undying discourse of the original, and music seems to be so driven by this cult of the new, but really it's just this tiny self-reflexive and insulated world. I wanted to begin with the idea that music is highly conventional; as one man said, 'business as fucking usual.' It's a tissue of quotation, it appeals to a formulated sensibility in us, you know? And so, my stuff has a number of samples in it, 'field recordings,' accidental sounds; sort of autobiographical archives. Into this lust for moremoremore; the pervasiveness of irony; and this 'difference' that is really just shambling sameness, I wanted to kind of insinuate memory: remembering undifference. The archive is a funny machine. While it is essentially a mnemonic device it also actively writes history. Too, if not for the prosthetic memory of such archives as, say, the internet, perhaps memory as it has been understood prior to this late moment of postmodernity-- something experiential and internal-- would not be so threatened as it seems now to be. I want to be a watcher. I want to absorb ideas and present them sonically. But keeping in mind always that it's just my own little solipsistic stage.

Do you find it difficult to be from Montreal in times like these, when everyone from there has instantly (and perhaps without merit) become blog/critic worthy? Do you find the city to be conducive to being creative, perhaps moreso than the other cities you have lived in?

There is this late-Victorian novel by a fellow named George Gissing called New Grub Street. It's about the writing climate of the era. It details a London rife with writers, everybody clambering to succeed, crawling over friends and lovers for a place in the begloomed sun. Some of them are hacks, some of them are selling out. All of these ideas are still circulating. Musicians today who gnaw the bitter bone will tell you about the decline of the music scene, its superficiality. These criticisms are not new. There is a document from five-hundred B.C. that talks about how the world will end soon, the barbarians are at the gate, the next generation is monstrous and over-indulged, that people do not believe in anything and that the emperor is corrupted. These ideas aren't new. That being said. I like the climate. I like the creativity. There are so many talented people here, and in Toronto. I wish everyone could get at least one disc out, get heard. There was once a time when labels gave people three records to break before cutting them loose. (Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run was his third strike, for instance.) Things change. Everyone can record, everyone can launch their own album. Critics too work this way. Anyone can launch a blog, say what's on their mind. How many are looking to get pinned by a pitchfork right through their navels? Many, i wager. Is Montreal especially conducive to creativity? I don't know. I was having this conversation with a fellow whose band helped to break the scene here in Montreal, in 2004 or so, while i was living in New York. He said he'd be at concerts at Sala and suddenly the place was crawling with A & R guys. All in a matter of a month or so. I didn't know that Montreal. But then, on any given night you can walk into a bar on Bernard, or be walking down Parc of a sunday morning and see Jace from the Besnard's or Graham from Miracle Fortress or Murray from the Dears, and they're all making music you live to, and in that respect it's very surreal. New York will always have its Art Stars and their LES and Williamsburg folkies and avant garde performance artists, they will always have their geniuses. But Montreal has it's own little pocket of myth whose high water mark is a global measure (at least to certain nations of the leisure class, who have world enough and time to fret after Pop) and one which, I think, can no longer be considered sophomoric.

Do you work alone?

Yes. For the most part. I pen, perform and produce all Archivist music. I have had friends who play violin for me, or mouth organ here or there. Andrew Smith has done a couple of killer drum tracks for me, and of course I have an in-house bassist in Lisa Smith (of Pony Up fame –ed.), whose shown up on a track or so, and will likely be on more in the future. I like the work of development. I don't know what textures and arrangements will appear finally. I mean, this is perhaps an aspect of the name Archivist too. I can't help but privilege the recorded moment: the sharpening of space and time into a crystalized sonic event. But i like the creative work, and I am selfish for it, i want all of it, you know?

With the recording industry in the way it is, do you think it would be easier or harder to carve a career in music?

I'm not sure about this. I've spoken with people who have found it very difficult to make money with their bands, even if they've had relative success getting their name out. I'm quite certain some of it is who you know. But eventually, hopefully, it comes down to someone liking what you make. Will your music get out? Will it be well received? Who can say? Not if you choose the 'indie' route, which becomes ever less so politically charged as it once was, or not the same valence of political charge anyway. I do think there is more space on the margins. The peasants of the music industry will have their days in the sun. That being said, the initiates and the courtesans will be fewer. That's fine anyway. I think. It's always difficult, art as a career still makes my skin crawl, despite my understanding the pair are deeply imbricated.

Who would you like to work with?

I'm not sure. I'm not especially talented, and then there is always this question of what you could offer the other.

Having done already one cover, would you feel averse to recording other people's songs, or do they have to be your own, or at least, have a known connection to them?

I have one song I do called "Universe Questions," which is by a friend of mine from high-school. I just really like it and I get a bang out of performing it, so I will probably record it. But too I like working with other people's words. It's a reminder of sorts. You try and broach that liminal space between what some body else is trying to say and how it washes over your own person, experientially or whatever. Always this appropriation. I like that. So no, I do not feel averse to working with other people's stuff. It reminds one of the relationality of things; how everything is so metaphor sodden.

**

The Archivist lives, writes and loves in Montreal.

*MP3's for your listening pleasure

"Fabulous Muscles", by Archivist (Xiu Xiu Cover)
"For The Poetess", by Archvist

Rotate This: Uh Huh Her & The Clicks

2008-04-01T20:07:00.009-03:00

Cat's out of the bag, I've tripped and fallen into the well of nostalgia. Halifax is great, but growing up on the periphery of Toronto has spoiled me. The more I fall in love with new bands, the deeper into a depression of what's-now-gone I sink.

Majority of the following acts I am about to list rarely, if ever, play here. But instead of waxing poetic on my adolescences spent sleeping on Yonge Street to catch a glimpse of Melissa Auf Der Maur signing autographs, nervously approaching Allison Wolfe post-Bratmobile's set, hanging out with The Donnas, tearing up the night after I got dumped at a Sleater Kinney show, watching my best friend Ashlee dance on-stage two nights in a row with Courtney Love singing "Mailbu" to her, I'll imagine a city where I can catch The Clicks open for The Cult. A booming metropolis where I can eat my little L Word-loving heart out at an Uh Her Her concert. Heck, even see the Peej (PJ Harvey) herself perform.

In Toronto's alt-weekly NOW, reviewer Sarah Liss aptly described The Clicks music as "what might happen if Chrissie Hynde and the Murmurs' Leisha Hailey fell in love, got Bowie to help out with insemination and gave birth to an indie rock love child."

I suppose I can't really complain; upcoming concerts on the horizon do include: Bob Dylan, The Sadies, The Constantines, Leonard Cohen and Sarah Slean. This afternoon I had a lovely chat with those darling fellas from The Coast on the night of their CD release "Expatriate" from a gig in Vancouver. Ian even sweetly asked about the fate of Oh, Beautiful! Majestic! Eagle!

For the record, we remain on hiatus (also known as no longer). In the upcoming weeks I am scheduled to chat with Leisha Hailey and Camillia of Uh Huh Her. Not to mention a highly anticipated record shopping spree in Toronto later this month. Rotate This and Sonic Boom look out, here she comes armed with a recently paid off Visa card in her pockets. I suppose I'm just being a bit brattish. The trouble is I'm a girl who wants everything. I want to bake, decorate and eat the entire cake - icing, cookie crumbs, ice cream and all.

Run children, run for your life!!

2008-04-01T10:53:00.001-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #11
New releases #3

Weeks happen, time moves faster than you want it to and blogging goes by the wayside. Thankfully, I keep a record of certain things. Like last week's episode, as well as this week's. Two for the price of one. Scroll down for more. In the meantime, let's talk about what is one of the best (and most ambitious) singles I've heard in a long time.

My current fixation is the new single by Gnarls Barkley, called "Run". It sounds more like The Go! Team than a Gnarls Barkley, but then again, there is that unmistakable voice. When the duo broke out with "Crazy", everyone and their dog went apeshit over it. Pitchfork loved it, hip-hop fanatics loved it, music video stations loved it, bloggers went ape shit for it and even your mom liked it (hell I hear it on the CBCat least once a week on Sounds Like Canada during their Bleep segment.). The band released a few more singles and although they were good, none of them hit the high peak established by "Crazy".

The album, "The Odd Couple", is available now on iTunes and came out last week in retail stores. Due to a leak of the album, as well as all the buzz on the internet due to this single, the duo decided to release the album a few weeks earlier than it's original April 8th delivery date.

For once, I'm not upset about someone else's premature ejaculation.

March 25th, 2008.

Gianfranco Reverberi, "Nel Cimitiero del Ruscon"
Broken Social Scene, "I'm still your fag", You forgot it in people
Old Man Luedecke, "Hinterland", Hinterland
Beirut, "Cherbourg", The Flying Cup Club
Antony & The Johnsons, "I fell in love with a dead boy"
New Pornographers, "Challengers", Challengers
Doug Mason, "Local Culture", Invisible Star
Stolen Minks, "Boys on the floor", EP
Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination
Wolf Parade, "Shine a light", Apologies to the Queen Mary
Peter, Bjorn & John, "Object of my affection", Writers's Block
Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy", St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley, "Run"
Skratch Bastid. Pip Skid & John Smith, "I ain't lazy", Taking care of business
Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees, "Ameliaa Erahart"
Santogold feat Spank Rock, "Shove it (Switch Remix)"
Hot Chip, "Bendable, Poseable", Made In The Dark
Poni Hoax, "Antibodies (To The Bone Edit)"
Crystal Castles, "Untrust Us", S/T
Syntonics, "Rock2Nite"
Thunderheist, "Suenos Dulces"
Modeselektor, "Kill Bill Vol 4", Hello Mom
BoysNoize, "& Down (Boysnoize vs Siriusmo Remix)", Oi Oi Oi Remixed

The April Fool's edition

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Lou Barlow, "Royalty"
Great Lake Swimmers, "Where in the world are you?", Ongiara
Old Man Luedecke, "At The Airport", Hinterland
Old Man Luedecke, "Just Like a river", Proof Of Love
Rufus Wainwright, "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", I'm your man
Forest City Lovers, "Watching the streetlights grow", Haunting Moon Sinking
Grizzly Bear, "Knife", Yellow House
Portishead, "Plastic", Third
Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the Queen Mary
Battles, "Atlas", Mirrored
Merryn Cadell, "Flight attendant", Angel food for thought
Tricky, "Tricky Kid", Grassroots
Buck 65, "Dirtywork", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Sebastien Grainger, "When i go out"
Bjork, "Alarm Call", Homogenic
Radiohead, "15 steps", In Rainbows
LCD Soundsystem, "Thrills", LCD Sounsdystem
Duchess Says, "Tenen Non Neu", Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
Hercules & Love affair, "Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)"
Spektrum, "Kinda New (Dirty South Remix)"

Gnarls Barkley, "Run", from "The Odd Couple"

Tigers II Men: JD & Johanna

2008-03-22T15:49:00.006-03:00

Iconic feminist electro-punk band Le Tigre might have rocked roller skate jams for the "all the ladies and the fags, yeah." But it's JD Samson and Johanna Fatemen's whose latest project is strong enough for a man. The DJ duo Men, comprised of two women, are armed with super fly outfits -signature ball caps, stripes and polka dots - the DJ/remix/production established their masculine musicality in March 2007 with their all-female play lists, including 90s super single "I Saw the Sign."

Bust Magainze's annual "Men We Love," April/May '08 special hit newsstands last week. An exceptional interview by Alison Felman can be found with the duo. Or for a more retrospective insight into Le Tigre, check out Belletristic Impression's Q&A.

You've got fabulous muscles when you're disco dancin'

2008-03-19T22:40:00.002-03:00

I'm in the mood for this#10
Cover Me #4
Disco is not a dirty word#4
Remember this? #3

It's amazing what can happen when you reconnect with people.

I sent an old friend a quick email, asking what he was doing. Apparently he's doing covers of Xiu Xiu and recording under the name of Archivist. For this latest installment of Cover Me, here he is with his cover of Fabulous Muscles.

I felt like re-visiting a little disco for this week's edition of "Moody Morning Music" as well as a bit of early 90's dance. First the disco:

I discovered Kebekelektrik by accident. I was at a record convention in Montreal digging through a box of old 45's when I saw this 45:

It looked interesting. The name sounded vaguely disco so for I picked it up for a buck. When I got home, I was stunned, not by the title track, "Mirage", but by the minute and a half of the B-side, titled "Star Dance". A couple of months later, I came across a copy of their first album, a US issue on SalSoul. I took it home, put the needle on the record and was blown away by its deep cosmic disco beauty. The last track, War Dance included the piece known as "Star Dance". The track is nothing more than pure disco deliciousness.

Another record I picked up by sheer curiosity was The Crown Heights Affair's first release, Dreaming A Dream

The opening and title track is featured twice on the album, once as a vocal the second in an instrumental disco version, featuring a hook-laden "doot doot doot doot" and a sweet little synth that takes you the early glory days of disco.

As for the early 90's dance pieces, I was flipping through some old records and felt the need to play some of them on my show.

Soul II Soul's first album, "Keep on Movin'" was one of the first albums that I bought that made me go, "Wow, this is what dance music could and should be." Admittedly, I was only 12 at the time the album came out, but the album's sound played a huge influence upon me and what I later came to enjoy and seek out in terms of dance music, especially the music which came from the UK and the scene in which the members, especially Jazzy B. and Nellee Hooper were involved, namely, The Wild Bunch.

A few years later, after the sound system based grooves of Soul II Soul had left the clubs, the new inhabitants, hungover from the post summer of love rave daze, were going more and more underground, digging into different genres (and record crates) for new sounds. The Future Sound of London found that sound in an old Dead Can Dance record.

Papua New Guinea was considered by many to be a milestone in the development and growth of underground dance music, as well as the rising popularity and acceptance of this new genre of dance music. The song almost feels like an anomaly when listening to some of FSOL's later works, namely, "We Have The Explosive", a track which went on to have a life of it's own a few years later.

Enjoy the show as well as the video links in the tracklisting.

Gonzales, "Overnight"
Laura Nyro, "Brown Earth", Christmas and the beads of sweat
Archivist, "Fabulous Muscles (Xiu Xiu Cover)"
Jane Siberry, "Slow Tango", City
Jennifer Warnes, "Fanous Blue Raincoat", Famous Blue Raincoat
Sunset Rubdown, "Winged/Wicked Things", Random Spirit Lover
Born Ruffians, "Red, Yellow, Blue", Red, Yellow, Blue
Forest City Lovers, "At The Border"
Superfantastica, "Turn on me", Choose your destination
Immaclate Machine, "Jarhand", Fables
Dog Day, "Oh Dead Life", Oh Dead Life EP
Sugarcubes, "Hit", 12"
Portishead, "Smell", Third
Buck 65, "The abandoned cars of INverness County", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Soul II Soul, "Jazzie's Groove', Keep On Movin'
Future Sound Of London, "Papua New Guinea"
Massive Attack, "Unfinished Sympathy", Blue Lines
Goldfrapp, "Cologne Cerrone Houdini", Seventh Tree
Crown Heights Affair, "Dreaming A Dream (Disco)", Dreaming A Dream
Kebekelektrik, "War Dance", Kebekelektrik
Feist, "My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)"

Soul II Soul"Back To Life", from Keep On Movin'

Punk lives.

2008-03-17T17:00:00.006-03:00

Yes that's right, punk is dead
It's just another cheap product for the consumers head
Bubblegum rock on plastic transistors
Schoolboy sedition backed by big time promoters
CBS promote the Clash
Ain't for revolution, it's just for cash
Punk became a fashion just like hippy used to be
Ain't got a thing to do with your or me

Movements are systems and systems kill
Movements are expressions of the public will
Punk became a movement cos we all felt lost
Leaders sold out and now we all pay the cost
Punk narcissism was a social napalm
Steve Jones started doing real harm
Preaching revolution, anarchy and change
Sucked from the system that had given him his name

Jeffrey Lewis first heard Crass while attending university in 1993. Like a handful are able to, he was able to get past the shotty production quality, repetitive instrumentation (even for punk) and appreciate the band's radicalism, wit and uncompromising sound. Crass were one of those bands who's lyrics were intended to be read rather than heard.... until Jeffrey Lewis came along and recorded his album 12 Crass Songs. The album holds twelve acoustic rendititions with minimal backing musicians and vocalists. Although I've listened to Crass for about six or seven years now, going through recent phases of pure hatred towards them, mere appreciation for their lyrics only, and at first loving everything about them, I never truly appreciated this song until now. It's aggressive, sardonic punk rock idealism blended with Lewis' own hopefulness and sunny guitarwork. Lewis plays the bearer of bad news in place of Crass here. His version is much less alientating, which may finally make people appreciate what Crass had to say. Not everyone wants to be shouted at. They'd rather be told bad news from a gentle voice.

Jeffrey Lewis - Punk is Dead

Fantasies are synth from screens

2008-03-11T10:55:00.009-03:00

I'm in the mood for this #9
Cover me#3
New releases #2

First things first. On April 28th, 2008, Portishead's third album will be released.

It has been over ten years since they had put out a studio album. Beth Gibbons had started a small side project in the interim, and there were murmurs of a reunion after the release of their cover of Serge Gainbourg's, Requiem for Anna for the tribute album.

It's about time. And I believe that the wait was well worth it.

Arguably one of Canada's greatest poets, lyricists and perhaps one of the greatest canadian cultural icons, Leonard Cohen was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has decided to go on a world tour while he's at it. I discovered Cohen's work while watching a well meaning early 90's teen flick and was stunned. In university, I discovered his early poems and began to understand not only how brilliant this man's work was, but rather, how transcendant a good poem could be.

As for this week's covers, this episode of Moody Morning Music includes Antony doing Leonard Cohen, Calexico doing Arcade Fire and Final Fantasy doing (improving?) Bloc Party. Click on the links for videos or mp3s.

Enjoy

Portishead, "Cowboys (Instrumental)", 12"
Old Man Luedecke, "Notes form the banjor underground", Hinterland
Great Lake Swimmers, "I could be nothing", Bodies & Minds
Meryn Cadell, "Secret", Angel Food for thought
Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne", Songs of
Antony, "If it be your will", I'm your man
Calexico, "Ocean of Noise (Arcade Fire Cover)"
Final Fantasy, "This Modern Love (Bloc Party Cover)"
Forest City Lovers, "Country Road", Haunting Moon Sinking
Bell Orchesrte, "Throw it on a fire", Recording a tape the colour of the light
Goldfrapp, "A&E", Seventh Tree
Portishead, "Sour Sour Times", Glory Times
Portishead, "Glory Box (Mudflap Mix)", Glory Times
Portishead, "Undenied", S/T
Portishead, "Only You", S/T
Portishead, "Hunter", Third
Portishead, "Nylon Smile", Third
Dog Day, "Ironhide", Oh Dead Life
Glass Candy, "Iko"
Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind"
Hot Chip, "Ready for the floor", Made in the dark

Portishead, "Only You", directed by Chris Cunningham

Watch this

2008-03-08T15:51:00.006-04:00

The Felice Brothers

I discovered this group yesterday. Think Bob Dylan and the Band's "Basement Tapes" era if Dylan had formal vocal training and actualy lead the life of the trainhopping carnie that he spoke of in his early days. There's something to be said for music that adheres to old traditions that does not come off as contrived, but authentic and with so much urgency.

Buy and Listen

So take a look at me now.

2008-03-04T10:39:00.007-04:00

I'm in the mood for this #8
Cover me #2

I have a strange love-hate relationship with Phil Collins. I think he's a loser, but a loser who has moments of grandeur. I mean, c'mon, as annoying as Sussudio is, you have to admit it's a catchy little pop ditty. And I don't even want to think about how many weddings have played his songs. So I begrudgingly respect some of his works. Very begrudgingly.

But I forgive him when I hear other people play his songs. Namely, The Postal Service's cover of "Against All Odds". I mean, c'mon, even the New York Post thinks it's one of the best covers of all time. But then again, they did vote for Animal Ant Farm's cover of "Smooth Criminal".

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Cat Power, "Wild is the wind", The Covers Record
Keren Ann, "Not going anywhere", Not going anywhere
Richard Buckner, "Mud", Bloomed
Beirut, "A sunday smile", The Flying Cup Club
Nina Simone, "Love me or leave me"
Gentleman Reg, "It's not safe", Darby & Joan
Meryn Cadell, "The Sweater", Angel food for thought
Meryn Cadell, "Barbie", Angel food for thought
Arctic Monkeys,"You know I'm no good"
Postal Service, "Against all odds"
The Superfantastics, "Van Gogh", Choose your destination
Buzzcocks, "Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't)?", 30
M83, "Teen Angst", Before the dawn heals us
Buck 65, "Spooked", Cretin Hip Hop Vol. 1
Burial, "Archangel", Untrue
Thom Yorke, "Skip Divided (Modeselektor remix)"
Thunderheist, "Horny"
Jahcoozi, "BLN"
Cadence Weapon, "In search of the youth crew", Afterparty Babies
Tricky, "Brand new you're retro", Maxinquaye
New Young Pony Club, "The Bomb (Phones Edit)"
MSTRKRFT, "Work on you (Para One Remix)", 12"

For more covers, just click on the links to lead you to the originals.

Richard Buckner's "22"

You Were A Tourist In My Town

2008-02-29T00:16:00.005-04:00

In honour of last night's trance-inducing Black Mountain performance at the Marquee, a little morning after music for those who didn't cab home alone (a knowing wink to you). Pink Mountaintops "Tourist In Your Town."

Prior to the acclaimed fame of Picnicface, Mr. Mark Little put this gem dubbed "Tourist In Your Town," on a mix CD for me. I think I made him a mix cassette in return that he couldn't listen due to a lack of a tape player. Go figure, either way Mark is a Vancouverite we're so lucky to call a Halifax adoptee.

Pink Mountaintops paint the metaphorical landscape of my rock n' roll dreams a light shade of lipstick. Love, love, love, love them.

I'll believe in anything

2008-02-26T10:45:00.006-04:00

I'm in the mood for this #7

After having an amazing weekend, I remembered some of the songs/artists I used to play and make mix CD's for someone. This show is for him. Note the new Hot Chip track, a new Superfantastics song from their new EP as well as new Cadence Weapon.

Note: the songs in italics are for him as well.

Enjoy. Listen.

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Great Lake Swimmers, "Song for the angels", Bodies & Minds
Antony & The Johnsons, "Bird Gerhl", I am a bird now
Feist, "How my heart behaves", The Reminder
Radiohead, "Unravel (feat. Bjork)"
Portishead, "Requiem for Anna", Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
Hot Chip, "Made in the dark", Made in the dark
controller.controller, "The Raw No", X-amounts
Stars, "Your ex-lover is dead", Set yourself on fire
Black Mountain, "Wild Wind", In The Future
New Pornographers, "Challengers", Challengers
Wolf Parade, "I'll believe in anything", Apologies to the Queen Mary*
Superfantastics, "Turn on me", Choose your destination
Dntel, "The dream of Evan & Chan"
The Postal Service, "Such great heights", Give Up
Holy Fuck, "Choppers", LP
Buck 65, "Indestructible Sam", Cretin Hip Hop Vol 1
Cadence Weapon, "Unsuccesful Club Nights", Afterparty Babies
The Juan MacLean, "Give Me Every little thing"
The Cure, "Close To Me (12" Mix), 12"
Liquid Liquid, "Bellhead"
LCD Soundsystem, "Us V Them (Amigam Remix)"

*Wolf Parade, I'll Believe In Anything (Live)

Knocking on heaven's door

2008-02-21T23:44:00.003-04:00

I'm in the mood for this#6
Cover me#1

Buy the soundtrack

I have to admit, I am not one of the throngs of people who love and idolise Dylan. Is he important? Without a doubt. Is he a gifted songwriter? Beyond any doubt. Is he still producing important works? Arguably.

"Knockin' on heaven's door" is one of those songs that is often pulled out by ridiculous frat boys with guitars trying to look and be all sensitive, and skinny guys who want to get laid alike. Which means that I had kind of forgotten that it was actually a Dylan classic. It had kind of gotten dirty with all those bad covers. Then I heard Antony's cover. Slowly, all those layers of sachharine and collegial lechery faded, and I realised what this was: a great song.

Enjoy

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Albin de la Simone, "Elle aime (feat. Feist)"
Jimmy Scott, "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child", The Source
Antony & The Johnsons, "Knockin' on heaven's door", I'm not there
Portishead, "Glory Box", Dummy
Tricky, "Hell is round the corner", Maxinquaye
Massive Attack, "Protection", Protection
Beck, "Ramshackle", Odelay
Grizzly Bear, "He Hit Me", Friends EP
Hawksley Workman, "Wonderful & Sad", Lover/Fighter
Interpol, "NYC Cares", Turn on the bright lights
Black Mountain, "Queens will play", In The Future
Tom Fun Orchestra, "When you were mine", You will land with a thud
Got to get got, "No one riots in the winter", Canadian arts collective blues/huge zig zag
Superfantastics, "Lullaby Punches", Choose your destination
The Arcade Fire, "Antichrist Television Blues", Neon Bible
The Long Blondes, "Lust in the movies", Someone to drive you home
Cadence Weapon, "In search of the youth crew", Afterparty babies
Gnarls Barkley, "Run"
Santogold feat. Spank Rock, "Shove it (Switch Remix)"
Simian Mobile Disco, "Hot Dog", Attack Decay Sustain Release

Antony and the Johnsons, "Knockin' on heaven's door"

Lights & Music

2008-02-20T14:45:00.006-04:00

J'adore Modular Recordings (that's french for, holy fucking shit I love Modular). Home to The Presets, New Young Pony Club, MSTRKRFT, Wolfmother and Cut Copy (among others).

In Ghost Colours is their follow up to 2004's synth-pop infused Bright Like Neon Love. Produced by 1/2 of DFA Records, Tim Goldsworthy, the album promises to be a "a trans-galactic voyage featuring epic synth breakdowns and more than a sprinkling of Goldsworthy magic." Shifting slightly away from their original happy go lucky pop sound to something perhaps a little more refined. More guitars, more dynamics, more luscious synth goodness.

Latest single, Lights & Music here:

Also: So Haunted (first single), Hearts of Fire (originally a Bright Like Neon Love b-side, it's been re-recorded for the new album which makes me a pee a little bit because I love it so much).

MySpace | Official Website

Remember this#2: NYC Cares

2008-02-17T23:48:00.003-04:00

Inspired by certain events, and by the song itself, I thought I would post not only a great song but a great video, directed by Doug Aitken

Buy the album
Interpol

Tanya Davis Builds Up A Fortress

2008-02-16T09:57:00.004-04:00

My poetical pal Tanya Davis is nearly finished her new album. She's in the midst of wheeling and dealing record deals (i.e. anyone wanna offer her one?). The single from the forthcoming album is dubbed Fortress, an accordian pop tune like you've never heard it done before.

Davis considers it her, "my you-can't-hurt-me pop song."

When she's not working on new tunes, poeming or hanging out at neighbourhood java joints, she runs a little side catering project. While Hawksley Workman was in town producing Hey Rosetta's sophmore release, TD kept the boys' bellies full. I recently caught up with Hawksley, somewhere between the ugly and the beautifuls, and Davis' fine home cookin' came into play.

Webb-Campbell: There’s actually a cookbook that came out called I Like Food, Food Tastes Good, which features recipes from musicians, everyone from Death Cab For Cutie to Hayden. I was thinking someone should put together a Canadian version. When you were here, my neighbour and good friend Tanya Davis, was in charge of catering for you and Hey Rosetta.

Workman: Tanya is wonderful.

Webb-Campbell: Isn’t she? She’s just about finished her record.

Workman: She was working on it while I was there, I was working with Hey Rosetta when I was in Halifax and she was in every day, bringing us wonderful cooking creations. And Hey Rosetta, by the way, is also a phenomenal record

Consider Miss Davis' the jill of all trades these days.

I'm in the mood for this #5

2008-02-12T22:05:00.001-04:00

I'm still stuck on those Disco Not Disco comps. I played a few of them today on my show, as well as a 12" of Jane's Addiction that I got of "Been Caught Stealin' "with a pretty fun little mix. I also dug out some old late 80's/early 90's hip hop for my friend Frizz, in honour of him. And of course, more Poni Hoax.

Listen to this

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Daniel Lanois, "Still water", Acadie
Kate Maki, "Wanted Ads", On High
Cat Power, "Silver Stallion", Jukebox
Sigur Ros, "Staralfur", Hvarf/Heim
Pipettes, "Sex", We Are The Pipettes
Black Mountain, "Stormy High", In The Future
Dog Day, "Ironhide", Oh Dead Life EP
Stars, "The Night starts here", In our bedroom after the war
Handsome Furs, "Dead & Rural", Plague Park
Dream Warriors, "My definition of a boombastic jazz style", And now the legacy begins
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, "Joy & Pain", 7"
Ghislain Poirier, "One Hand Can't Clap", No Ground Under
Buck 65 feat. Sage Francis, "Benz", Situation
LCD Soundsystem, "Hippie Priest Bum Out", Confuse The Marketplace 12"
Maximum Joy, "Stretch (Disco Rap)" Disco (Not Disco)
Jane's Addiction, "Been Caught Stealin' (12" Remix)", 12"
Material, "Ciguri", Disco Not Disco 2
Poni Hoax, "Budapest", 12"
Poni Hoax, "Antibodies (To The Bone Edit)"
Thunderheist, "Suenos Duces"

Top plays

2008-02-12T21:18:00.001-04:00

I just got an advance copy of The Ravonettes newest album "Lust Lust Lust".
This is out in Canada via vice records on Feb 19th/08. It's hot, dark, and quite and improvement from their last major label hurrah. First track Aly walk with me reeks of days of jesus and mary chain, and had me from the start. Potential for top ten of 2008? Check, making out to this record? Check, having everyone read this pick it up check?!! I will also take this chance to let the people of Halifax know that Friday Feb 22nd 10pm at Tribeca there will be a listening party for this record. Free stuff .

http://vice.typepad.com/vice_records/2008/02/only-more-more.html

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GQoPAXIvLyA

Johnny

Disco is not a dirty word #3: Poni Hoax, Nuovo-Italo

2008-02-11T20:52:00.000-04:00

I don't even remember where I first heard them.

I found an MP3 on a blog, somewhere. It listened to it, dug it, asked Jeff about it, but he had never heard of them.

I kind of forgot about it for a couple of months until I started going through songs to put on the new iPod Nano I got for Xmas. I made a list of all the MP3s I had only listened to once or twice and put all of them on the Nano. While taking the bus, I heard thisbass line kick in. It hit me hard. This was amazing. How could I have not realised how good this was? It also didn't hurt that for the past month or so I had gone on a re-discovery of disco and learned all about the wonders of Italo. Believe me, I'm still learning. (Shut up Jeff).

I haven't been able to find out much. They're French. The girl is a guest vocalist, apparently. "Budapest" was produced by Joakim Bouaziz who has worked with Tiga, Annie and Air. They put out a new single in 2007 called "Antibodies". They're wonderful. And they have fanned the flames of my love of disco.

Enjoy.

Video for "Antibodies"by Poni Hoax

Broken Deer's Displaced Field Recordings

2008-02-10T20:23:00.000-04:00

It came on fast and hard, as the birth of Broken Deer's debut "Displaced Field Recordings" was the result of an unconscious surge of creation. According to lead fawn Lindsay Dobbin, the wounded wunderkind behind these patchworks of achingly raw, yet beautiful landscapes, "feeling creative is just a mind hum that needs to be expressed."

Late in the Spring of 2006, Dobbin was recruited to live in the oldest apartment dwelling at the mouth of downtown Halifax. With the ancient fortress to the right of her and the bridge to Dartmouth at her left, she sewed together the most influential album of this year while I slept in the bedroom next door. Obviously my biases should be presented considering this visionary is my band mate, best friend, former roommate and sister.

But with all of those incidental/coincidentals aside, "Displaced Field Recordings" navigates the curious listener through the eerie, deep, dark, dank woods with a flashlight which cuts in and out at random. Listen; the whispers ring! One moment I am in the thick of the bush, the loneliness sinks in, my brain is a sieve. All mess, no order. Fear nips, bites and barks at the hairs on my neck. Anxiety thickens. My heart beats to the abstract rhythms.

Suddenly, a flash of blinding shooting stars fall across the sky. An overwhelming sadness envelopes my eardrums. The orphan choir echoes in the distance, their hollowed voices rejoice in-between the intervals of layered tape. The orchestration of haunting emblems of the past surface, such as lost lovers, soldiers, both the strong and weak of heart meet. A reunion of mourning. A funeral of sorts.

This is not an album, but a pregnancy, an artifact of fantastical misery, joy and collective individuality. "Displaced Field Recordings" soundtracks the revival of my soul, as the wretched translucent organ once belched and begged for mercy, but no longer. I rest among the living, the pure of spirit, I raise my glass in honour of those who wander the earth today and those who still live beneath it. A knowing wink to you.

I'm in the mood for this #4, Remember this? #1

2008-02-06T22:53:00.000-04:00

So I get to the station and realise that I had forgotten the cable I use to hook up my lapotop to the console. I had to scrimmage around and find some cds's, and ended up finding this:

Remember them?

I had to play it. It was too precious, too fun, even if it was just for shits and giggles.

MP3

Gonzales, "One Evening", Solo Piano
Julie Doiron, "Last Night", Goodnight Nobody
Feist, "Intuition", The Reminder
Francoise Hardy, "Mon amie la rose", Les plus grand succes
Great Lake Swimmers, "Moving pictures, silent films"
Cat Power, "Metal Heart", Jukebox
Mountin Goats, "So desperate", Heretic Pride
Stars, "After the war", In our bedroom after the war
Hot Chip, "Made in the dark"
Magnetic Fields, "Three-way", Distortion
Vampire Weekend, "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", S/T
Goldfrapp, "A&E"
Sixtoo, "Track 5", Jackals & Vipers in envy of man
Ann Peebles, "I can't stand the rain"
Ann Peebles, "99 Lbs"
Buck 65, "Way Back When", Situation
Gwen Guthrie, feat. Sly & Robbie, "Hopscotch" 12"
Goblin, "Tenebre"
James White & The Blacks, "Contort Yourself (August Darnell Remix)", Disco not disco
Stereo MC's, "Connected", Connected
Gnarls Barkley, "Run"
Hercules & Love Affair, "Theme"
Holy Fuck, "Milkshake", LP

Beth Ditto Turns Coal Into Diamonds

2008-02-06T01:50:00.000-04:00

So, it’s like nearly 2AM, my lover’s asleep on the couch, she passed out cold hours ago. Flu season chips and chews away at us all, which is why I think there is a need for a call to arms, a bedroom dancing renaissance of sorts. What to listen to? Well that’s simple, The Gossip.

When my girl Beth isn’t delivering the most dynamic live show, posing nude for a NME cover shoot, being dubbed the “sexiest woman of the year” by lesbian glossy Diva Magazine (a British publication most noted for their sultry, skinny-girl mugs shots of the ever-expanding cast of the L Word), or writing a weekly advice column for The Guardian, she’s working on a new record and writing a book. Published by Simon & Schuster, Ditto’s autobiography “Coal Into Diamonds,” should hit bookshelves in October 2008 to coincide with a new Gossip album.

Until then, bust out the slouch socks and sweat bands and get your fat girl groove on with “8^th Wonder Version" and “Heavy Kross,” thanks to the myspace jukebox.

The Black Ghosts

2008-02-04T14:32:00.002-04:00

London's The Black Ghosts new 4 song EP, Anyway You Choose to Give It just made it's North American debut. A blend of their signature noir electro-rock with heavy leanings towards Hot Chips ethereal pop sound is a definite departure from both members roots (one half is ex-Simian member Simon Lord, who's collaboration in Simian with Justice produced the hit "We Are Your Friends." The other was a founding member of The Wiseguys whose works has been feature in commercials as well as a few Hollywood hits.)

Ever since their first single, Face, was released in the latter half of '06 I've been pretty excited for some more official releases, so needless to say this arriving in my mailbox was a happy day filled with repeat plays, especially of:

myspace | official website
purchase

Disco is not a dirty word #2: Disco Not Disco: Addendum

2008-02-03T20:24:00.000-04:00

Just a quick follow up to Simon's disco post last week.
originally off of the '85 LP "Home Boy - Sister Out" by
Don Cherry; Strut chose this track for the first installment
of Disco-not-Disco back in 2000. Enjoy.

From the first Disco: Not Disco, I walk, Don Cherry

Here, But Not Found: You Left Saving the Planet

2008-02-02T17:56:00.000-04:00

You Left Saving The Planet is not a testament of redemption, in fact the existential focus and grandiose arrangements found on the debut EP " Here, But Not Found," are more of an orchestra of sentiment than a slogan for personal salvation.

Recorded in an 18th century old farmhouse on the outskirts of Enniskillen, ON, the slim collection of highly-intellectual, open-ended, emotionally-entangled tracks are reminiscent of metaphysical superstitions.

"Here, But Not Found" is an illusionary stroll through the subconscious of humanity, as the longing for a sense of an indeterminable sense of home, flailing insecurities and lingering phantoms create the atmospheric landscape of the album. Dark nights beneath starry skies, the sounds of creaking floorboards, drained bottles of Niagara Region wines, and hopeless hopefulness are layered throughout. Inspired by the remoteness of the location, Stuart Everitt converted his single bedroom apartment into a studio.

The makeshift recording suite exposed a window view of a barn; the slanted, weathered structure of a since retired agriculturalist prized possession nestled within rolling stretches of land. The endless cascade of fields and crops led the composer's mind and eyes off into the ambiguity of a not-so distant future. With uncertainty in tow, Everitt found himself embracing his inner child.

The fractured elegance of the recording is a bare bone framework for an epic full-length debut. Bound by the paradoxical constrictions of being both a practicing cynic and an optimist, Everitt toys with the perspective of being a displaced person. Themes of establishing a sense of self, the renewal of true love, internal inquisitions and the evolution of seasons are vague interpretations of an intricate, artfully crafted, collection of sound.

"Here, But Not Found," is an insight into the lost blueprints for Noah's Ark, the viewfinder of an antique camera and the remains of an abandoned family photo album.

According to Everitt, a new album is emerging, he hopes to have it released March 2008.

Love is: Jane Vain & the Dark Matter

2008-02-02T13:42:00.001-04:00

First of all, I'd like to thank Simon for inviting me to contribute to this blog. It certainly has the potential to be pretty rad.

For my introduction post I'd like to highlight a band I came to know after a summer stint in Calgary, one of the few treasures found within the corporate conglomerate. Pop-noir quartet Jane Vain And The Dark Matter create masterfully moody melodies. Their recently released Love Is Where The Smoke Is, embodies the spooky seduction of Emily Haines solo endeavors, the mystique of Maria Taylor and features splashes of Coco Rosie's black humour throughout.

Chanteuse Jamie Fooks resembles a wiry, petite pixie with Coke bottle glasses. The captivating 24-year-old chanteuse is painstakingly honest, and her anxiety-ridden on-stage persona is merely amplified in person. Over a pot of tea in a pub, she spills over lost tales of adolescence, alcoholism and the struggle of self.

"I didn't even know how to play these songs when I recorded them. I just wanted to learn the process of everything. I played in bands prior to this, but they were mostly drunken punk rock bands. This just started as something I made in my bedroom, layering piano track over piano track."

As Fooks crafted the skeleton of the album in her basement apartment, she rang up old friend Dillon Whitfield of local act Racoon to add his instrumental expertise on guitar. The twosome are the spine of the band, as they've auditioned and lost three members over the course of the past few months. Currently, Britt Proulx is listed as the bassist and Jzero Schuurman sits in on drums.

"Basically, the band name stems from a darker period of my life," explains Fooks. "I don't really know how to say anything without being too blunt.

"I guess it mostly comes from a reckless adolescence, a time when everything was circulating around being vain and concerned with how everything appeared to everyone else."

"C'mon Baby Say Bang Bang," "Ships Bound To Sink" and "Last Chance For Romance" are tortured testimonies cloaked in endless existentialism and dense instrumentation.

Watch this #1: Beirut inhabits the Blogotheque

2008-01-31T22:06:00.000-04:00

There is no denying the fact that I love Beirut. I have extolled his musical virtues both here (see my best of 2007 list) and on my radio show ever since I discovered Gulag Orkestar.

So I was doubly excited when I found a bunch of videos on youtube, one for each track from The Flying Club Cup. These videos, I soon discovered, were all shot for La Blogotheque, which is probably one of the best blogs I have ever found. Less preachy (and better written) than Pitchfork (hey, c'mon, we all love to bitch about it), the site includes interviews, free live concerts for downloading, as well as copious amounts of videos from artists as diverse as Caribou, Islands, Keren Ann and more.

La Blogotheque is mostly written in french, but there are a few english speaking/writing contributors to the site. This, however, should not dissuade you from visiting it. It could be in hungarian and you could still navigate this site as easily as any tourist who is lost in a world who'se language they don't speak. Because here, we all know how to listen.

Beirut,In The Masoleum

I'm in the mood for this #3, Disco is not a dirty word #1

2008-01-29T10:50:00.000-04:00

I recently got a copy of this:

Released by Strut Records and part of a series, Disco, Not Disco has over the course of three compilations unearthed rare records and brought to light gems which had not been heard since their minimal heyday in the dirtiest of genres, disco. I say dirty, because disco is still a dirty word here in North America, imbued with images of ABBA, Bee Gees and Saturday Night Fever. But if that truly were disco, then disco deserved to burn.

But it didn't have to be that way.

And it wasn't.

Take a listen

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Old Man Luedecke, "I am a rich man", Hinterland
Lou Barlow, "Legendary", Emoh
Antony & The Johnsons, "Knockin' on heaven's door", I'm not there sndtck.
Cat Power, "Wild is the wind", The Covers Record
Cat Power, "Blue", Jukebox
Great Lake Swimmers, "Put there by the land", Ongiara
Grizzly Bear, "Shift (Alternate version)", Friend EP
Low, "In Silence", Daytrotter Sessions*
The New Pornographers, "Mutiny, I Promise you", Challengers
Stars, "The Night starts here", In our bedroom after the war
PJ Harvey, "Down by the water", To bring you my love
Dog Day, Great Pains", Night Group
Mark Ronson, "Valerie (Feat. Amy Winehouse)"
Sixtoo, "Track 11", Jacks and Vipers in envy of man
Buck 65, "The Beatific", Situation
Shriekback, "My spine is the bassline (12" edit)", Disco, Not Disco: Post Punk, Electro & Leftfield Disco Classics
LCD Soundsystem, "Freak out/Starry Eyes", Confuse the Marketplace 12"
Radio 4, "Dance to the underground"
Modeselektor, "The White Flash (feat. Thom Yorke)", Happy Birthday
Holy Fuck, "Frenchy's", LP
Windom Earle, "Kitten Vs Pegasus", Goldwave

Click on the link for an MP3 of the song. By request for Andy Miller

I'm in the mood for this #2

2008-01-22T10:57:00.001-04:00

This week's episode of Moody Morning Music features a little IDM. As I am going through all my old cd's and 45's of stuff I haven't listened to in a while, I keep finding new things, Expect to continue hearing them on the show.

MP3

Gonzales, "Gogol", Solo Piano
Old Man Luedecke, "Quiet Creek", Hinterland
Jose Gonzales, "In Our Nature", In Our Nature
Grizzly Bear, "He Hit Me", Friends EP
Xiu Xiu, "I do want what I want",
Handsome Furs, "In The Radio's Hot Sun", Plague Park
New Pornographers, "Adventures in Solitude", Challengers
Radiohead, "Unravel (Pocket Mix)"
Otis Redding, "Shake", 7"
Syl Johnson, "Take Me To The River", 7"
Al Green, "Call Me (Come Back Home)", 7"
Jamie Lidell, "Multiply", Multiply
The Pipettes, "Sex", We are the Pipettes
Dog Day, "Night Group", Night Group
Holy Fuck, "Milkshake", LP
Aphex Twin, "Milkman", Richard D. James Album
Squarepusher, "Do you know Squarepusher?", Do You Know Squarepusher?
Kebekelektrik, "Star Dance", 7"
Poni Hoax, "Budapest"*
Hercules & Love Affair, "Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)", 12"
Simian Mobile Disco, "Hot Dog", Attack, Sustain, Delay, Release

a video by David Firth, authour/creator of Salad Fingers. This video is NOT for the faint of heart. Music by Aphex Twin

*Click on the link for an MP3 of the track.

I'm in the mood for this #1

2008-01-16T00:10:00.000-04:00

So this is the inaguraral post of I wanna listen to this. I've been thinking about this site for a while. I wanted to concentrate on specific things in specific places, leaving the music in one place (here) and the personal stuff there.

I am also interested in what you have to say. If you're interested in contributing, please let me know.

Talk to you soon.

-Simon

Moody Morning Music will soon be available as a podcast!!!!

This week's episode of Moody Morning Music.

Gonzales, "Overnight", Solo Piano
Final Fantasy, "Adventure.exe", Has a good home
Feist, "The Water", The Reminder
Stars, "Barricade", In Our Bedroom after the war
Great Lake Swimmers, "Innocent when you dream", Hands in Dirty Ground/Live Recordings EP
Rufus Wainwright, "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", I'm your man
Arcade Fire, "Cold Wind", 7"
Iron & Wine, "Lovesong of the buzzard", The Sheperd's Dog
New Pornographers, "Go Places", Challengers
Otis Redding, "Pain in my heart", 7"
Sam & Dave, "I thank you", 7"
The Temptations, "Get Ready", 7"
Jens Lekman, "Into Eternity", Night falls over Kortedala
Handsome Furs, "Dead & Rural", Plague Park
Wolf Parade, "Disco sheets", EP
Dee-lite, "Good Beat", World Clique
Dee-lite, "E.S.P. (Ouijee Extended Mix)", 12"
Dee-lite, "What is love?", World Clique
Sixtoo, "Track 1", Jackals and Vipers in envy of man
Ghislain Poirier, "One hand can't clap", No Ground Under
Buck 65, "Cop Shades", Situation
Holy Fuck, "Royal Gregory", LP
Hercules & Love affair, "Blind (feat. Antony)", 12"
LCD Soundsystem, "Us V. Them (Go Home Productions Remix)"

*

Dee-lite, "Power of Love".

The Best of 2007

2008-01-15T23:08:00.000-04:00

Pulled from Simon's Folly.

I did this last year, and loved it so much, and got such good response for it, that I'm doing it again. This is not the be-all of lists, I know I missed some stuff, but this is what grabbed my attention the most this year. I will be posting this in increments, to space it out. I'm also a wee bit democratic about all this, so I'm doing it alphabetically.

The Arcade Fire, “Neon Bible”

In a world of hype, second album curses,overwhelming and soul crushing expectations, the Arcade Fire holed itself up in an old converted church with their friends and created a loud, raucous and ambitious record. “Neon Bible” not only went straight to the top, but the band went on to create every hipster’s and indie kid’s wet dream tour by joining up with LCD Soundsystem. The tour which ended up selling out the Hollywood Bowl and the Royal Albert Hall. Not bad for the little band that could, and did.

Architecture in Helsinki, “Heart it Races”.

When everyone got tired of “indie dance” records, the cutest of the cute, Australia’s own “Architecture in Helsinki” came out with “Heart it Races”. Released at the onset of summer, the song’s sun-filled beats were beyond infectious, smoothing over their offset vocals with Trinidadian steel drums and sweet synths. The song was released as a 5 song CD single, including remixes and covers. How can you not smile to this one?

Armand Van Helden, "NYC Beat (Prince Language Remix)"

Battles, “Mirrored”.

In seven minutes, Battles taught me that math rock was not a bad word, that I probably underestimated Helmet (one of the member’s former bands) and that electronic music still has a lot to learn from rock. The single “Atlas” (reduced to four minutes in it’s radio friendly version) hooks you in as soon as you hear the drum beat coming at you, deliberately. Listening to Battles is like being dragged into a either a speeding car chase (dDiamond) or witnessing an alien army arriving (Atlas). And I’ll be fucked if those incomprehensible lyrics aren’t one of the best hooks I’ve heard in years.

Beirut, “The Flying Cup Club”.

Imagine barely being twenty and having all the world’s geeks and music snobs worshipping every note you wrote. Imagine going on tour with people you just started playing with, and having to transpose over an album’s worth of material for them, when really, you only ever played all the instruments yourself. Imagine still being inspired and hooking up with an award winning composer, musician and arranger and spending a few months in a small church owned by Canada’s indie gods and recording an hommage to all of the great chansonniers of France. This is what Zach Condon did with “The Flying Cup Club”. After recruiting Owen Pallett (a.k.a. Final Fantasy) to help him write and produce most of his latest tracks, Condon released a short (under 45 minutes) album’s worth of strings, mandolins, accordions that would charm the bitterness away from Jacques Brel.

Bjork, “Volta”

Rumous of Bjork working with Timabaland made bloggers and b-boys alike drool with anticipation. But when the album arrived, the intital hype had waned when it was discovered that Bjork had only collaborated with the beatmaster on a few select tracks. Timbaland notwithstanding, Volta is still a worthy album of its own right. And like most Bjork records, it takes a few listen to get into, with a few instant hooks getting right under your skin (Declare Independence, Earth Intruders).

Bloc Party, “A weekend in the city”

It is still to be decided whether or not Bloc Party’s 2nd record is a success. If you were looking for another “Silent Alarm”, you would not find it here. Where the first full length was rough, this was smooth. Where you would hear a four piece, here you would hear synths and slick production. Fans were puzzled. Do we ditch the band we love because they’ve changed? No. Kele’s voice is still there, the lyrics still hit us in the same way, and even though the sound is full rather than sparse, it’s still a band we love. We just don’t go ape shit over them as much as we used to. Which is maybe why the band is re-relasing the album, with a new single (Flux) and a DVD of their live performances. Knowing me, I’ll probably buy it, as well as pick up a copy of it in vinyl. Because dammit, I love this band.

Bloc Party, "On", from Weekend in the city

Bonde Do Role

If last year was about Cansei De Ser Sexy, this year was about Bonde Do Role. Pundits like to say that the whole “baille funk” sound is another dead fad, but kids were still digging the ridiculous and sample-based sounds coming out of Brazil and Bonde. Where CSS was well rehearsed (as much as they could be), Bonde sounded like a streetside soundsystem, made on the fly and with stolen goods. I know I shouldn’t like this anymore, but I still do. Bring me the funk.

Bonnie Prince Billy, “The Letting Go”.

This is not Palace music. This is Will Oldham being soft and serene, writing love songs that even your mom would like (“Love comes to me”). This is the album to give to friends when you want to introduce them to the wonders of Will. Musically and lyrically solid, Oldham proves once again that even if you’re putting out records constantly, doesn’t mean you’re putting out crap.

Bonnie Prince Billy, "Love comes to me" from The Letting Go

Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew’s “Spirit If…”

The last two years have been all about BSS. This year was about it’s individual members. Feist put out “The Reminder”, Emily Haines’ Metric finally released their first record and Stars released a knock out. Even little Kevin Drew had been working on his own stuff, but with his BSS friends. “Is it a BSS record, or isn’t it?” , they asked themselves. They were all there. But this was about Kevin. But Kevin doesn’t want to take all the credit. So let’s just call it “Broken Social Scene Presents:”. Expect another one next year from Brendan Canning.

Kevin Drew, "Safety Bricks", from "Spirit if

Buck 65, “Situation”.

When Buck released “The secret house against the world”, people wondered if Buck had completely abandoned hip hop. But rumours circulated that his next record would bring the ole’ Buck back. He went and hung out in Montreal with Skratch Bastid (also formerly from Hal-town) and the two of them fooled around, played some amazing gigs, got the rights to some killer records (for dirt cheap or so I have been told on the DL) and recorded some tight shit. “Situation” was launched and any doubts about Rich stinkin’ were gone.

Chromeo, “Fancy Footwork”

When I first heard Chromeo's “Needy Girl”, I thought it was an 80’s record I had just never heard. Nope. This was new. This was now. This was Chromeo. Sparse, direct and slightly cheesy. But then in the interim between their first album and "Fancy Footwork", the first Jewish-Arab musical duo worked on their musical and production chops and put out probably one of the best dance records of the year with such sweet singles as “Tenderoni” and “Fancy Footwork”. Who knew that anyone other than Stevie Wonder could make a talking box the utmost of the cool?

The Clientele, “Dreams of Leaving”

To be honest, The Clientele’s latest album sounds like a continuation of their last. Lush, beautiful and mildly haunting. But I have enough of that on their last album, “Strange Geometry”. But then there is “Dreams of Leaving”, the closing track to “God save the Clientele”. And you forget you ever heard anything else they’ve ever done (save for perhaps “Make You Mine”) and fall in love with them all over again.

The Clientele, "Dreams Of Leaving

Daft Punk, “Alive 2007”.

Daft Punk est mort. Vive Daft Punk!!!! I never thought I would care about a live album from a bunch of guys wearing masks and playing MP3s at their shows. But everyone I know who went and saw them (as well as every review/blog/magazine) say that Daft Punk have brought the show to the masses and the masses are reeling. One listen to this and you will know why.

Dog Day, “Night Group”

I saw Dog Day for the first time on Valentine’s Day. It was in a small club, with less than 150 people in there. Yes, this all smacks of music snob clichés, but it’s true. I was about to leave (I had pink eye, it was nasty outside and I was tired) and then I heard three notes and was hooked. A little jingling guitar, sweet synths and a kick ass drum sound. Holy shit. Holy shit. It’s been said that Dog Day mix the Smiths with Sonic Youth and make it their own. As pretentious and ridiculous and blog happy as that sounds, it’s kinda true. Kudos to the dogs for putting out what is arguably Canada’s record of the year.

Feist, “The Reminder”

On her last record, Feist covered the Bee Gees, Ron Sexsmith, wrote some great tunes of her own and went mildly jazzy. On this, her latest, she dabbles with Nina Simone’s “See Line Woman”, joins forces with Jamie Lidell, Gonzales and Mocky (the latter two are regular contributors) and releases a more cohesive record than “Let it Die”. With “One two three four” and “My Moon My Man” she released two singles at once, each one hits in their own right alongside such beauties as “The water” which will break and soothe your heart all at once. Oh yeah, and the video for "One Two Three Four" was used in an iPod Nano commercial. Big woop.

*And by the way, this video was all done in one continuous shot. No edits.

I'm still not sick of it.

Go! Team, “Proof of youth”.

It started as a small project, gained notoriety, ensared legal copyright issues and created a worldwide buzz. The Go! team are perhaps no longer concerned with clearing samples, and now having gone on tour and understanding what it means to be a band. The band also used the money they got from selling their songs (shut up, they didn't “sell out”) to finance this record. Ninja worked with Simian Mobile Disco and the Go!Team reeled from the residuals of having worked with Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine All in all a good year, a good album, and a good thing.

The Go!Team, "Grip Like A Vice", Proof of youth

Jose Gonzalez, “In Our Nature”

In 2004, an argentinian-bred swede recorded an album featuring two covers. One of Joy Division’s “Love will tear us apart” and the other by fellow Swedes The Knife. That song, “Heartbeats” was later used in an ad for Sony and the song spread faster than a viral campaign (and with much better blog-cred). The album was re-released in 2006 to keep up with demand (and perhaps to help keep the hype alive?) and at the end of 2007, Gonzales released his 2nd album. This time, there is still a cover song (Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”, a staple from his live shows), but it is in such song as “How Low” and “Cycling Trivialities” that you understand where he is coming from. And Gonzales is from a beautiful place indeed.

Jose Gonzalez, "Cycling Trivialities", In Our Nature

Handsome Furs, “Plague Park”.

While Canada and the rest of the world awaits with baited breath for the next Wolf Parade record, we were however not without the glorious voices of Dan Broeckner's Handsome Furs and Spencer Krug's Sunset Rubdown. The Furs’ “Plague Park” did not dissapoint Wolf Parade fans, and if anything, left us wanting more from what are arguably Canada’s most talented (if not interesting) musical friends.

Handsome Furs, "What we had", Plague Park

PJ Harvey, “White Chalk”.

Comparisons to Harvey's “Is this desire” are easy to come about when listening to this album, but this time she’s abandoned the electronics to create texture and mood. Working with sparse instrumentation and breathy vocals, the effect is disheartening, not because of the album itself, but by virtue of its sheer raw power, produced by such simple sounds. The album may require a few listens before you really wrap your head around it, but you realise that you’re listening to a very secret and beautiful confession.

PJ Harvey, "Dear Darkness", White Chalk

Immaculate Machine, “Jarhand”

Ding! I’m still not sure or what Jarhand is, but goddamn if this isn’t an insanely catchy tune. Equal parts twee, rawkin’ drums and great harmonies, the Immaculate Machine’s debut single from “Fables” is infectious, poppy, peppy and features one of the best choral chorus’ of the year (which includes one certain member of Franz Ferdinand). Oh, and in this video, if you look, you can see me dancing in the corner. =)

Iron & Wine, “The Sheperd’s Dog”.

The danger in being a folk singer with a guitar is that sooner or later, your fans either get tired of hearing the same chords and delicate fingering, or they hope that you never change and leave you without the room to grow as an artist and a person. Sam Beam could’ve easily fallen prey to this. But thanks to his friends in Calexico who prodded him to explore things outside just himself and his guitar - and two EPs since his last full length, In our endless numbered days- Beam vanquished said curse, and cultivated a natural musical progression which culminates in “The Sheperd’s Dog”. Fans who are looking for the dude with the big beard and the guitar and the soft, introspective arrangements should prepare themselves to hear something lovely, serene, yet aloft in instrumentation and wonder.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, 100 Days, 100 =Nights

This summer, I got a package from a friend of mine. In it were a bunch of mix cd’s, one of them entitled “Back in today”. Track 7 was a song by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings called "How Long Do I Have to Wait?". That song was soon stuck on repeat, and was my favorite way to wake up in the morning. Thank you Hank.

And "Thank You" to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings for putting out a new record this year. Now, more then ever is the right time as members of the media, music fans and soul enthusiasts alike have come to discover what is probably some of the best soul and funk to be produced since its heyday, naysayers be damned.

Justice, “✝”

The album opens with dark and foreboding fanfare. Less than a minute in, those fat and filtered beats kick in and you realise that you are in for a hell of a ride. Justice made their name in the club world with it’s speaker busting track, “Waters of Nazareth” (2004’s “We are your friends” notwithstanding), and gave fans a sneak peek of what the album would behold with the release of “Phantom” this spring, but when the album was released this summer, it seemed like the whole world seemed to take note, not just the club kids and bloggers. Justice were everywhere, being remixed and name-dropped by hip-hop DJs, American Apparel-clad hipsters and their song appeared in cell phone commercials. They were chastised for going on tour like a real band, playing clubs as well as music halls, rather than “acting like DJs”. But if you, or any of your friends had the chance to see these guys on tour, you understand that it wasn’t just sales alone that made these guys go for bigger venues (the show in Montreal I experienced was sold out twice over in the same night). As soon as the bass hits you, you realise that these guys may not be spinning records, and that wall of speakers may be a dummy, but goddamn, you, and the crowd are acting like you’re at a rock show. Fists in the air, crowd surfing and screams of appreciation appear when your favorite riff or song begins to fold into the mix, same as an guitar-slingin' band. Et Justice pour tous

Justice, "Phantom Pt. !! (Soulwax Nite Version)"

Klaxons, “Myths of the near future”

Yes, the singles were relased last year. But damnit if we North Americans only got our grubby little hands on the album this year. Not only did the Klaxons re-record “Atlantis to Interzone” and “Golden Skans” (which at this point, had already been remixed by more people than you can shake your glow sticks at), they helped (somewhat mockingly and tongue-in-cheek) dub a new genre of music, “nu rave”, headlining the first ever Nu Rave music festival, organized by NME. The Klaxons (and anyone worth their salt) have gone off to take the piss out of the term, but the music lives on. These frenetic tunes remind you that sometimes you want to dance, and you don’t care where the sound comes from, whether it be cheesy rave sirens or punk fueled guitars. Long live The Klaxons.

Klaxons, "Atlantis to Interzone", Myths of the near future

LCD Soundsysrem, “Sounds of Silver”

In 2004, North Americans outside of New York (they had been with him for a few years) were introduced to a slightly pudgy music geek who sang a song that made a claim that anyone under 30 wish they could say: “Daft Punk is playing at my house”. But this wasn’t a disco house record, it wasn’t a rock record, but damnit, it was good. James Murphy, the mastermind behind LCD (and half of DFA Records) went on tour, left his studio behind, and learned what it meant to play in a band. This meant trusting others, leaving someone else to make your beats live, and leaving the gadgetry (somewhat) behind and letting someone else bang on the cowbell. When “All my friends” was released, people were perhaps left wanting for keyboards, but were not left wanting for solid songs, tight riffs and a beautiful nihilistic record.

LCD Soundsystem, "Someone Great", Sound Of Silver

Jens Lekman, “Night falls over Kortedala”.

For a while, Lekman thought we would stop recording music. So he worked (briefly) in a bolwing alley, moved to Kortedala, and holed himself up until he realised he waned to make music again. Jens teased his fans with the aptly titled“Friday night at the bowling alley” at the beginning of the year, finally releasing the entire album in late September. A little more lush than most of the work on his EPs, and incorporating many more samples (disco anyone?) than you would find on "Maple Leaves", Lekman’s night is a lovely place to inhabit.

M.I.A., “Kala”.

This is not an album full of “Bucky Done Gun”s. This an album made by a woman who is pissed off that she isn’t allowed into the United States. This is an album made by an individual who is amazed and depressed at the status of those living off the sinew of the land rather than the fat. This is an album made by a woman who knows who to trust when it comes to beats, wether that be, Switch, Timbaland, Diplo but most of all, herself. This is an album that has cacophonous dance tunes like “Bird Flu”, fuck-you anthems such as “Paper Planes” and Jonathan Richman quoting tunes such as “Bamboo Banga”. Dance your motherfuckin’ ass off and while making a political statement.

Jackie Mitoo, “Wishbone”

In the late 60’s and early 70’s, a wave of Jamaicans moved to Toronto, bringing with it not only it’s religious, culinary and cultural traditions, but some of it’s best musicians as well. Studio One’s Jackie Mitoo was one of them, and he went on to record “Wishbone” in 1973. Albeit the album is less reggae and more soul (with a touch of funk), Mitoo’s album was one of those hard-to-find gems that garnered such prices as high as 100$ from collectors. Finally re-released this year on Light In The Attic, a whole new (and broader, as the first album was not well distributed outside of Toronto) generation are discoverings Canada’s influence on Jamaican music and vice-versa.

Jackie Mitoo, "Soul Bird", Wishbone

Modeselektor, “Happy Birthday”

Over the past year and a half, I have extolled the virtues of Modeselektor. Their tracks incorporate dubstep, hip-hop, electro, drum ‘n’ bass and dancehall. Now, anybody who listens to any of those genres would probably shiver at the thought of any one record playing with those genres together. You would probably expect a hackneyed, aren’t-I-so-clever record. Not so. Modeselektor put out hot hip tracks, (The dark side of the sun), haunting tech records (The white flash) all the while being respectful to both genres. Having worked with French hip hop trio TTC, Thom Yorke, the Puppetmastaz, this german duo have put out one of the best electronic records of the year.

Modeselektor feat. Thom Yorke, "The White Flash", Happy Birthday

The New Pornographers, “Challengers”

What is with Canadians and super groups? We have Broken Social Scene, By Divine Right and The New Pornographers who have members in other bands all over the place (Feist, Metric, Immaculate Machine Stars, just to name a few), let alone their solo projects. I guess we’re just a creative bunch. Having said that, this particular creative bunch hit the nail on the head with a great pop rock record with sing along choruses, great melodies, hooks and an amazing pedigree. Godspeed you great artists.

New Young Pony Club

A year and a half ago a friend of mine gave me a mix cd with a fun little track lifted from a 7”. It was called “jerk me”. About a year later, the NYPC were making kids dressed head to toe American Apparel ware dancing in the clubs, their chunky fluorescent shades reflecting the lights off the lenses. Ignore the hype. Just dance.

New Young Pony Club, "The Bomb (Phones Edit)"

Panda Bear, “Person Pitch".

If Brian Wilson had done more drugs in the 60’s and had put a record in a vault to be forgotten about, this would be it. Although Animal Collective put out a pretty good record this year ("Strawberry Jam"), this side project is a much better listen. It’s a sunday morning y record that would even make your mom go, “wow, I kinda like this” while your hipster friends who make fun of everything will have on their iPods. Everybody wins.

Panda Bear, "Bros (edit)", Person Pitch

The Pipettes

Arguably, The Pipettes broke in 2006. But their album was only releaed here in 2007, so thankfully, I get to include them here. If you grew up on nothing but punk and girl groups and had a penchant for polkadot dresses, you might make it in this band. But you better know how to do the jerk, sing shangi-la like melodies and know how to sound sweet without being ridiculously ironic.

The Polyphonic Spree, “The Fragile Army”

There is nothing delicate about this record. It beings and ends with bombast, blasting you away within minutes with a sonic overload of heavy guitars, huge choruses, and music that makes you almost want to join a cult so that you could sing such wonderful songs. Gone are the robes, instead the Spree is donned in green fatigues, looking like an indie-rock-cum-maoist clan. Sounds alright to me.

The Polyphonic Spree, "Running Away", The Fragile Army

Radiohead, “In Rainbows”

Technically, this album was released in 2008, on January 1st. But we’ll ignore that, since we got our copy last year when we downloaded it from their website. Helming a potentially new way to distribute music, Radiohead has not only helped grab the helm of the digital music age, but has embraced it. As for the album itself, Yorke has been quoted as saying that “Videotape” is his favorite track on the album, but that if they had started the album with it, it probably would have been a failure. I doubt it.

Radiohead, "Videotape", In Rainbows

Sigur Ros, “Hvarf/Heim”

If you want to crete a Sigur Ros fan, all you have to do is show them one of their videos. It’s not because you get sucked in by the images (though they are haunting, and I have been known to cry upon their viewing), but it’s because the music itself is cinematic, and the screen is inside the musicians. The music represents them better than they could ever do that themselves. Sigur Ros have put out a new DVD and in honour of it, have rteleased this album to help promote it, as well as give old fans a peek at some of their "live only" tracks and new acoustic versions (harmonium lovers unite!) of their songs.

I’m gonna go wipe the tears now, thank you.

Sigur Ros, "Vaka", Hvarf/Heim

Siman Mobile Disco,“Attack, Sustain, Delay, Release”

2006 was the year of the Simian Mobile Disco 12”. “Hustler” floored dancers with its infectious beats and sexy voice telling you to steal every record you ever wanted. That video of girls playing "telephone make out" didn’t hurt either. But with the release of the full length album, including edits and tweaked versions of said club bangers, Simian Mobile Disco put out one of the danciest records of the year. " Let’s get the rhythm of the hands, let’s get the rhythm of the feet. Put’em all toegtehr and what do you get?": Hot shit.

Simian Mobile Disco, "Hot Dog", Attack, Sustain, Delay, Release

Spoon, “Ga Ga Ga Ga”

I'm still not sure if this record helped put Spoon on the map even more out there than they were before. The album itself isn’t a huge departure from their last, and although there isn’t a “I put my camera on” on this record, there are still some stand alone songs that would make your older brother proud of you for listening to it, and your little sister dance. It’s a record for those who want to know Spoon better, and for that, kudos to them.

Stars, “In our bedroom after the war”.

Nuff said

Sunset Rubdown, “Random Spirit Lover”

There is something about Spencer Krug's voice that shakes me. Although I'm not always a fan of the instrumentation, this album makes the list by sheer virtue of what it is: emotionally intangible. This is the album you listen to when you’re unsure of what you’re feeling. Unsure of what you want to say, or how you want to say it. Becase Krug knows how to put it all into medley and a dissonant voice that will sweep you off your feet and into your own emotional stratosphere. Although the heights might leave you light headed, it’s a trip worth taking.

Sunset Rubdown, "Winged Wicked Things", Random Spirit Lover

Superfantastics, “Tonight, Tonite”

Video of the year. Hands down.

TTC, “Bande de mecs sympas”

There are a lot of reasons why people dopn't like (let alone respect) french hip hop. There are very few MCs who can produce a smooth lyric, one that sounds supple and works well with the language. But France isn't geared really to producing hip hop music. There are exceptions to this rule (MC Solaar in the 90s) and occasionally, TTC steps up the plate. With their last album, "3615", TTC worked with Modeselektor (see previous entry) and those tracks made my head spin. This track, "Band de Mecs Sympas",, is one of the bumpin-est dance tracks of the year. Apparently, there is still hope for French hip-hop.

TTC, "Bande de mecs sympas", 3615

The return (?) of Armand Van Helden.

In the late 90’s a New York City DJ churned out a record with just one simple lyric sampled, tweaked and twitterpated over and over. “The Funk Phenomena” helped bring about the onslaught of NYC’s amazing funkified disco sound back to the dancefloors. Both revered and loathed by the end of the decade for his introduction of speed garage to the world’s discothesques (“Spin Spin Sugar” anyone?), he eventually fell out of favour when electro took over the dancefloors of the world, relegated to being nothing more than “one of those DJ’s you listened to when you wore Bug Girl pants and SNUG hats”. But I still have my hat, and Van Helden put out probably the best records of his career this year with “NYC Beat” and “Playmate”. Don’t call it a comeback, he’s been here for years.

Kanye West, “Graduation”.

Congratulations Kanye, you have gone beyond street cred, beyond being the guy who dissed George W on national television (which basically means you’re like every other guy with a brain on TV), beyond the producer credits, beyond the teddy bear which is your icon. You have graduated beyond your tantrums and your beefs with other MCs and Producers. You have produced a hip hop record that the populist and the pundit will love. You have rapped over beats that hipster kids in their grungy clubs have loved for years. You have sampled over records that most DJ’s would skip over while digging. You have graduated.

Wilco, “Sky Blue Sky”

“Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away.”. In what sounds like an opening mantra to the entire album, Tweedy and friends put out a consistently beautiful sound. Musically tight, beautiful and sweet, without a sign of saccharine, either in its music of lyrics. Although the album may not be a Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, it’s still one of Wilco's best, and probably underrated albums, if only for its opening track.

Wilco, "Either way", Sky Blue Sky

Patrick Wolf, “The Magic Position”

Forget the fact that he’s barely 25, has said that he’s quitting music, eaten his words and been adored by skinny gay boys and adoring teenage girls alike. Patrick Wolf is a walking embodiment of talent. His album, “The Magic Position” is a trip, an album beyond the years of its creator, intimate without being sentimental, and includes a duet with, of all people, Marianne Faithful. Why wasn’t I this industrious when I was in my early twenties? ‘

Yeah yeah yeah’s, “Is Is”

In between their two albums, the YYYs fooled around and recorded a few tracks that didn’t quite fit on Show Your Bones, but were too late for "Fever To Tell". Too bad. This EP is probably some of the best tracks the YYYs put out, and because it’s an EP, will probably be ignored by most.