Jason Falkner - I'm OK, You're OK

So I'm finally able to listen to Jason Falkner's long overdue release "I'm OK, You're OK." Why? Because it's only available as a Japanese import here in Canada. Why? Because North American polyester three piece suited musical type people wouldn't know quality product if it pre-empted American Idol and removed Simon Cowell's toupee. (OK, he probably doesn't have a rug but I'm ranting here.) The Under The Radar website lumps everybody in the world into two categories: those who LOVE Jason Falkner and those who DON'T KNOW who he is. Sadly, the latter category is still in the majority. And if people don't start promoting him a little bit more, it's unfortunately going to stay that way.

"I'm OK, You're OK" is his first real release in 8 years and it's another example of purely perfect power pop that only a gifted man like Jason can produce. "This Time" is the album opener, and what an opener it is! A gem in the vein of great power pop songs like Matthew Sweet's "Sick Of Myself," or Sloan's "The Good In Everyone." I mean, it doesn't sound anything like those songs but it certainly matches them as far as the catchy-ness factor goes. The line about being "ignored by this industry," is certainly expressive of the way his fans are feeling these days. "NYC" stars out slightly funky until the power chords kick in and it becomes a nostalgic romp about a girl and the city she loves. The other major highlight is "Komplicated Man," which sounds a little bit like his old band Jellyfish but without the obvious influence-imitation that Jellyfish would sometimes overdo. There are few throwbacks to new wave and classic rock, and although the album runs just a little bit too long, it is still another example of how a pop record is supposed to sound. Viva Falkner!!!

Interview: Excellent interview with the man in Under The Radar.
Download: This Time mp3 (for a limited time only kiddies...)
Myspace: Jason Falkner

NXNE 2007: Day 1

For day one of this year's NXNE festivities, I thought I would just ease into things with the mellow acoustic sounds of Christa Couture from Vancouver. I've admired her music for a couple of years now and I was really quite excited to hear that she was coming to the T-dot! However, as I've learned in the past, The Art Bar, although it's very cool with its quaint little atmosphere, it also happens to be part of the Gladstone Hotel, which must be the Karaoke capital of Toronto. Poor Christa found herself competing with Karaoke Abba for most of the night. It may as well have been Karaoke Megadeth considering the overpowering sound coming from next door. Regardless, Christa handled herself with charm and wit, making light of this distraction whenever she could. Her performance was heartwarming and charming, and her vocals were as cool as could be. I really enjoyed this show.

Hear her music on myspace.
Purchase her album "Fell Out Of Oz" at CDBaby.
You can view my pics from the show over on flickr.

Next I booted on over to The Reverb for Spookey Ruben & The Coconuts. Spookey Ruben's brand of glossy power pop has earned him a pretty devoted following that I never really understood myself. It was always just a little too, I don't know, perfect for me. Does that make any sense? No. Well, his performance really put me in my place because I thought it was the perfect blend of catchy hooks and zany showmanship that I simply couldn't help enjoying myself. He looks kind of like if Danny Devito were a rock star or something and I think that this fact only adds to his appeal. His signature song, "Shauna" really is fantastic. I used to think it was cheesy, but I realize now that it's more like Costello-lite. And when he pulled out the 'telephone hooked up to a speaker' routine, I simply had no choice but to surrender to the little guy and just laugh.

Visit Spookey Rubin on myspace.
Purchase his album "Bed & Breakfast" at hi-hat recordings.
You can view my pics of the show on flickr.

After that was the greatest guy ever, Jason Falkner. If you remember my review from last year, you'll already know my thoughts on him. He's simply the most underrated singer/ songwriter / performer there ever was, and he's even more underrated here in Canada. Evidence of that fact can be seen by the modest turnout at last night's show. The man has worked with artists as big and diverse as Air, Beck and Sir Paul McCartney, and it was great to see him once again just show up, plug in and play. This show was essentially the same as last year with only a couple of song changes. Still in tact were his confidence and wicked sense of humour, which just made the show a real treat for me again. He played a few songs from his latest release entitled "I'm OK, You're OK" which, for now, is only released in Japan. However, it must be available somewhere because the crowd seemed just as familiar with those songs as they were with classics like "She's Not The Enemy" and "Miss Understanding." He also threw in a few covers of The Kinks and Tom Waits just to keep things interesting.

Visit the Jason Falkner myspace page. You can hear the amazing songs from that album there as well.
See my pics from the show on flickr. I thought these ones turned out really quite well.

Off to NXNE again this year! Woo-hoo!!

This years’ NXNE festival is rapidly approaching (June 7-10) and I couldn’t be more enthused. I sort of laid off the concert going this month in preparation. Of course, The Mystery Jets canceling their shows this week (due to a Visa situation) certainly made it easier to do so. But I’ve perused the acts and I think I have a personal schedule all made up and prepared. The cool thing is that you can actually make up a printable schedule right there on the NXNE site. So right now, here it is.

Thursday night, I want to start off at The Art Bar and check out Christa Couture, a folk singer from Vancouver. I’ve admired her music for a few years now and her song “I Will” is still one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. I meant to see The Ghost Is Dancing last year but didn’t, so maybe this year I will. And then it’s a beautiful repeat of last year when I check out the always fantastic Jason Falkner. Maybe I can meet him again and he won’t remember how much of a dork I was last year. The Old Soul is playing at the Horseshoe and they’re described as “an orchestral explosion of horns, drums, saxophones, vibraphones and accordions.” Sounds pretty cool to me. Follow that up with Adam Franklin at the Reverb and then, depending on how tired I am, it’s Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland at Lee’s Palace. However, the chances of me staying awake that late are basically slim to none.

Friday night is devoted to being one of the first 100 wristbands at The Phoenix to see Dinosaur Jr. It’s an early show (doors at 6) but there are two opening acts as well, Awesome Color and Uncut. Never heard of them. But I have to be there early if I’m going to get in. I do have a back-up plan if that one falls through but I'm fairly sure I won't need it. After that, I know many who will be zipping over to the Voxtrot show. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing openers Au Revoir Simone again, I reckon the crowd is going to be massive and since the Dino Jr crowd will likely already give me a headache, I think I’ll pass on that one and check out The Sadies instead at Lee’s Palace. That will be followed by Birds of Wales at The Drake.

My Saturday night schedule consists of Ohbijou at The Horseshoe. Everyone is telling me that I HAVE to see them so I will. Then I am really excited about seeing Hello Operator! I love those guys and I’ve never had the opportunity to see them live so it’s going to be great. It’s not going to be easy, but I’ll try to get from The Rivoli to Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse quick enough to see Soundtrack Of Our Lives. I think that one will be pretty busy though and I may be pressing my luck. But I’ll try anyways and after that I’ll go to The Horseshoe again and see In-Flight Safety, whose live show was very impressive the last time I saw them.

Although I’ve received endless amounts of mockery from several friends, I like Fountains of Wayne. I realize “Stacy’s Mom” made them incredibly uncool, but I’m sorry, I’m a sucker for a well written pop song. I also don’t understand how it’s alright to like Matthew Sweet, but not FoW. To me they both write and record the same brand of catchy, hooky and hummable pop music. Whatever, I’m looking forward to seeing them and on Sunday night, the first 50 wristbands at Lee’s Palace are going to be allowed in to see them. So, I’ll be there early. Because I love them. And I don’t care if you don’t.

Downloads & Streams:

Christa Couture - I Will (stream)
The Ghost Is Dancing - People (mp3)
Jason Falkner - Lose Myself (mp3)
The Old Soul - Stream all of their songs here.
Adam Franklin - Cannery Row (mp3)
Dinosaur Jr. - Almost Ready (mp3)
The Sadies - Loved On Look (mp3)
Birds Of Wales - Stream several of their songs here.
Ohbijou - Misty Eyes (mp3)
In-Flight Safety - Stream their entire album here.
Fountains of Wayne - Watch the new video for "Someone To Love" featuring Dimitri Martin at youtube.

Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch

It’s good to have Sondre Lerche back. Personally I couldn’t get into his last “Duper Sessions” album. It ventured a little too close to Bublé territory for me. But the new CD, “Phantom Punch” in a word, rocks. Good ole fashioned pop rock in the vein of Jason Falkner or Elvis Costello, which, if you’ve been following my blog at all, I’m a sucker for every time. Now, of course, Sondre will never be auditioning for the new lead singer of Van Halen or anything, but that’s what makes this CD a good listen. He rocks in a reasonable Sondre-way. “Say It All” for example, has a McCartney-esque chorus that has all the hooks in all the right places. The first half of the title track sounds like something off of Costello’s “Blood And Chocolate”, and then explodes into a disco-lite vibe that sounds very 70’s. The opening track, “Airport Taxi Reception”, is as syrupy-sweet as a rock song can be, but it’s so dang catchy. Ultimately, at the risk of repeating myself, the Jason Falkner reference is by far the most accurate comparison. If you like Falkner, you’ll like this album. It’s the album he never recorded. Which means that the album may lack originality, but who cares? It’s fun, it’s addictive and it …um…rocks!

Sondre Lerche is at The Mod Club on Monday April 2nd. Tix are $16.50.

Download:
Airport Taxi Reception mp3
John Let Me Go mp3

You can also hear the songs “Phantom Punch” and “Say It All” on his media page.
Sondre Lerche on myspace
Purchase “Phantom Punch” at amazon.ca