2009: The Albums

Well, I'm happy to say that 2009 was a significantly better year for me that 2008 was. Although I managed to say away from really bad news for the most part, I did have to step up my work schedule quite a bit for mildly unfortunate reasons, which meant that the opportunities to take part in this here blogging hobby of mine had to suffer, just a little bit. Whenever I did find a moment to post something, there was usually a belated show review that I had to get to, which meant that I didn't get a chance to review as many albums as I have in previous years. This didn't mean that I avoided listening to music every chance I could though, and there have been some pretty impressive things released over the course of the year.

Looking over some of the other lists that have already emerged made me realize that there is a lot of stuff that I just haven't gotten around to listening to yet, but surprisingly, this is the first year that I remember being mostly OK with that. I am quite happy with the albums that made my list, and the fact that I still haven't gotten around to listening to heavy hitters like Fever Ray, Little Boots and even the mighty Neko Case's current releases and it isn't keeping me awake at night the way that these things used to, is making me surprisingly proud of my newfound maturity. I'm growing up kids; I'm growing up. And here's the list:

1. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (Review)

So if you've been following the blog at all, then you've already seen me gush about this album before, and you've already seen its unusually high position on my 'best of the decade' list and you already knew that this was going to be number one. So, let's move on... (Myspace)

Video: The Rake Song on youtube

2. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

I realize that this is a recent album, but man does it take me back. Every party that I went to between 1989 and 1992 was jammed with this style of melancholy shoegaze-y pop music, and TPOBPAH and I must've been attending the same parties because they've got the sound nailed, and I gotta say that I love them for it. (Myspace)

Download: Everything With You mp3

3. The Paint Movement - Our Eurythmy (Review)

My vote for local release of the year goes to this unassuming group of intense brass rockers who've nailed a sound that I've been waiting approximately 30 years for. That's right, I've been longing for their sound since I was about 6 years old. If you don't believe me, ask my parents! I've looked around and although you could compare them to Broken Social Scene and the like, their lush sounding, jazz tinged indie vibe stands alone and I honestly don't hear anyone else that sounds like them right now. Anywhere. (Myspace)

Download: Knock Knock mp3

4. The xx - XX

By george, I think that The xx have finally got it. Several bands have been trying over the past few years to master the art of creating an unforced Ian Curtis inspired drone and while a few have come close (see Interpol, Editors, etc) others have simply come across as contrived. But The xx have done it! The album is flawless from start to finish, and the fact that it sounds so effortless fills me with the hope that these guys may just have a natural knack for all things droneful and shoegazelike, and if that's the case, the rest of their output will continue to be equally as mindblowing. Here's hoping! (Myspace)

Download: Basic Space mp3

5. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

I know people that love Bat For Lashes and I know people that hate them. Although I can't really speak for the under 30 crowd, the thirtysomethings among us who find themselves missing the glory years of Kate Bush, have probably latched onto this album with both hands because it captures that sound perfectly. I absolutely loved Kate, so it was a no brainer that this album would speak to me in the way that it has. Absolutely mesmerizing. (Myspace)

Video: Daniel on youtube

6. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (Review)

Although the album is pretty much just more of the same delicately tortured music that we've come to expect from the Obscura crew, when it sounds this good, why mess with it? The album as a whole may not be their strongest release to date, but even a lesser album by these tweesters is going to be better than most albums by anyone else. (Myspace)

Download: My Maudlin Career mp3

7. Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth

I used to believe that when it comes to the music that I like, the human voice is probably the least important instrument. Bruce Peninsula have proved me wrong. The vocals and choirs on this album are celebratory to say the least, as this album is probably the most uplifting release of the year. Some have claimed that it doesn't quite reach the heights that their live show does, but if that's the case, then I still have yet to see them perform at their best because to my ears, there's never been an album that harnesses the live sound better than this one. (Myspace)

Download: Steamroller mp3

8. Elbow with the BBC Orchestra - The Seldom Seen Kid Live At Abbey Road

I've always been a big fan of live orchestral reworkings of already established albums. Some would refer to such efforts as a blasphemous form of sacrilege, but I've always thought there was something to be said about making a great album sound larger than life. To be honest, when the original version of this album won the Mercury Prize in 2008, I admittedly didn't fully understand the hype. Not only do I think that this version is better, I think it's absolutely spellbinding. (Myspace)

Video: Grounds For Divorce on youtube

9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Although this was released all the way back in January, I actually didn't get around to properly listening to it until about three months ago. Having done so, I have to admit that it is fully worthy of all of the praise that it's been receiving throughout the year, and the fact that this album seems to be topping more year end's than any other, does not surprise me. Yes, it's a little bit more streamlined and accessible than previous albums, but it's still just weird enough that it sounds like Animal Collective. Only time will tell, but there's a part of me that thinks that this may be their Pet Sounds. (Myspace)

Video: My Girls on youtube

10. Fox Jaws - At Odds (or Exercises in Separation While United In The Fall) (Review)

And those kids from Barrie have done it again! This album is everything that a sophomore release is supposed to be, and more. It's a definite step up in production (no doubt due to the masterful work of the Nevado crew), it's just experimental enough to stand on its own as a separate entity to their debut, yet it's not so different that everything that made the debut so great is suddenly lost. This album solidifies the fact that Fox Jaws are still one of my favorite bands. (Myspace)

Download: Ahab's Ghost mp3

Honorable Mention #1:
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul

I really really contemplated including this album on the list because quite frankly, it's one of the best albums of the year by far. However, the fact that it was never technically released disqualifies it from the final list. The legal kerfuffle that prevented this David Lynch soundtrack from ever seeing the light of day has been well documented elsewhere so there's no need for me to get into that, but let's just say that it's a confirmation that Suzanne Vega has still got it, Iggy Pop and Black Francis are legendary for a reason and Julian Casablancas has the ability to not be crappy when he's being led in the proper direction by the right people. Add in appearances by Gruff Rhys, Wayne Coyne, Jason Lytle and more and you've got an album that's ... well, need I say more? I don't want to be the one that recommends that you hit them innernets and search this one out but....

Other Honorable Mentions:
Sunparlour Players - Wave North
Dog Day - Concentration
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
The Racoon Wedding - Gather Gather Bones Rattle Rattle Truth
Son Volt - American Central Dust
The Schomberg Fair - Gospel
The Hoa Hoa's - Pop/Drone/Pedals
The Balconies - The Balconies
El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop

2009's best songs, shows and individual performances will be up next week, along with a review of the wicked awesome Spiral Beach show that I went to last week. Thanks for reading!

2009: The Local(ish) Rock Star Elite

Just over a year ago, I posted a cheesy US Magazine-styled list of the ten biggest rock stars in the city, and (relatively) surrounding area. It wasn't meant to be taken too seriously, since such a list would mean that I was excluding hundreds of other worthy contenders, since our city and (relatively) surrounding area is teeming with them. It was also kind of a spur of the moment thing that was initially intended to be sort of a one-off thing. But I've come to realize that people (especially rock stars) love to see themselves on lists. So I figured that I would do it again. Firstly though, a few explanations:

Although there are a few on last year's list that could have easily made the list again this year (Carleigh and Rajiv come to mind immediately), I figured that for the sake of variety I would do up these lists sort of 'Hall of Fame' style, which means that once you're in, you're in. Secondly, there is no scientifical explanation for anyone's inclusion other than you're the first ones that came to mind. I figured that with all of the local shows I attend, if you came to my head that quickly then you must've had an impact. And thirdly, just to keep things in perspective, these are all just the opinions of one man, that man being me. The Jennifer Polk's, Melody Lamb's and Lauren Schreiber's in the city see way more local talent than I do, and would likely be more qualified to make such a list but whatever. I'm having fun. So, without further ado, here's my list of the top ten local(ish) rock stars of the past year.

1. Branko Scekic

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario (well, initially Serbia but...)
Bands: Dinosaur Bones; Serb Superb
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
Although my personal enthusiasm for Dinosaur Bones is a tad more reserved than many, I know a rock star when I see one, and brotha! Branko oozes rock star. He's like the bizarre alien spawn of Frank Zappa and Flavor Flav. Whether he's blasting bass with the Bones, spitting improvised rhymes as the animated Serb Superb, or simply bounding around the audience at someone else's show, he definitely makes his presence known and I have a feeling that every band secretly wishes he was in there's as well.

2. Cameron Jingles

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: The Disraelis
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
Some people are cool without even trying, and if you've ever caught a live show by The Disraelis, than you already know that Jingles (or Ingles depending on which source you read) isn't even interested in trying. He's our city's Lou Reed, and his rebel without a cause demeanor should be off-putting, but for whatever reason, it isn't. More like compelling.

3. Elise LeGrow

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: Whale Tooth; Elise LeGrow
What Makes Her A Rock Star:
She's a firecracker of energy when she performs, and the fact that she can keep that flawless voice of hers in tact while bounding around that stage with an almost unnatural animation, is what makes her the rare case of being a jazz singer that still rocks.

4. Jason Loftman

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: The Paint Movement
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
The Paint Movement is the type of band that works so well together as a team, that standing out in such a group is no small feat. But the moment in every show when Loftman wails a solo on that sax is consistently the evening's highlight as he solidifies the fact that this band is doing something that I'm hearing no other band do right now, local or otherwise.

5. Jacquie Neville

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario (now relocated to Toronto)
Bands: The Balconies; Jetplanes of Abraham (formerly)
What Makes Her A Rock Star:
Jacquie has a unique ability to completely own the stage with phenomenal poise and confidence while making sure that this self assured-ness never delves into arrogance and loss of control. I've seen performers on TV with twice the experience she has lose control of their vocals while getting drunk on their own inflated ego. Despite the amount of devotion that is thrown her way during a performance, Neville manages to avoid all of that while still having the audience eating out of her rock 'n roll hands.

6. Lee Brochu

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: The Hoa Hoa's
What Makes Him a Rock Star:
The rock star that plays the part 24/7 usually ends up burning out and/or fading away at the height of his/her success. The rock star with longevity however, lives more of a superhero lifestyle by being a mild mannered citizen by day, and a melt your face off rocker by night. This is what will likely allow supply teacher Mr. Brochu to fall into the latter category as the respected day job is undoubtedly what frees him up to whip a crowd into that psychedelic haze that he does at every show.

7. Paul Banwatt

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: Rural Alberta Advantage; Woodhands, We're Scared
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
It has been consistently noted that the drummer is the backbone of the band. In other words, a bad band can have a great drummer and actually sound pretty good. In the case of the bands that Banwatt plays in, a great drummer can make an already great band sound absolutely earth shattering. Banwatt is currently my favourite drummer in the city (next to last year's #1 rock star on my list) and his ability to take a simple pop song and turn it into something epic (i.e. Don't Haunt This Place) is a rock 'n roll move that cannot be overstated.

8. Matt Bahen

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: The Schomberg Fair
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
This speed gospel renegade preaches with an electrified ukulele in hand and manages to convert every crowd member to his lyrical cowpunk methodology. The man is the most down-to-earth type of gentleman you'll ever meet offstage, but onstage, the dude is downright exhausting and with new opening slots for Ron Sexsmith and The Sadies on the horizon, I'm pretty sure that you'll be seeing his name on a few more lists by this time next year.

9. Yann Godbout

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
Bands: Half Baked; The Sound of Sea Animals
What Makes Him a Rock Star:
It may be a risky move to include a guy whom I've only ever seen once, but the impression he made was very strong and according to some other reviews that I've seen, that one show was not a case of him simply having a particularly good night. The man pulls out every cheesy rock 'n roll cliché the book contains, from swirling windmills to down-on-your-knees Hendrix-isms to run-through-the-audience-like-a-madman jocularity. When it comes to rock 'n roll, originality may be an asset, but sometimes a tried and true cliché is just as much fun.

10. Brad Weber

Hometown: Waterloo, Ontario
Bands: Pick A Piper; Caribou.
What Makes Him a Rock Star:
Being a rock star is undoubtedly a lot of work, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who works harder on stage than Brad Weber. As soon as he hits the stage, he exudes a hypnotic mystique that cannot be forced nor faked and the second he joins his bandmates in that tribal percussive assault that PaP have been garnering great recognition for, you cannot help but forget about the cares of the day and succumb to his mysterious charm.

Last Year's Ten:
1. Robbie Butcher (Tin Bangs; Nights)
2. Jamie Greer (Golden Hands Before God)
3. Carleigh Aikins (Fox Jaws)
4. Dorian Wolf (Spiral Beach)
5. Patrick Krief (Black Diamond Bay; The Dears)
6. Wayne Petti (Cuff The Duke; Wayne Petti)
7. Rajiv Thavanathan (Oh No Forest Fires; Five Blank Pages)
8. Johnny Maldorer (Les Breastfeeders)
9. Sarah Smith (The Joys)
10. Lonely Vagabond (Maestro of Myspace)

My Top 10 Hottest Canadian Bands 2009

Well, it's that time of the year that every Canadian music blogger loves the most: I (Heart) Music's carefully calculated compiling of The Hottest Bands in Canada. Matthew is the head maestro of that high quality music blog from Ottawa and what he does is he asks several of the country's finest music aficionados (and me) for their personal picks of the 10 hottest bands in Canada. He then takes our respective lists and, using a team of highly respected scientists and mathematicians, puts together the final selections. I was flattered to once again be asked to contribute my thoughts.

The two points of criteria remained the same: the bands had to be Canadian and they had to have a particularly "hot" year. As far as how these rules were to be defined was left up to our own discretion. I decided that the first point meant that they had to be in Canada, but I took a slightly different approach to that second point this year. Last year, I basically went with hot = popular, which meant that I included a couple of acts that were not necessarily my cup of meat, but included because they were everybody else's. This year I decided, screw that. I'm an opinionated music blogger and therefore I made the list a little bit more bob-centric. But fair.

This meant that I didn't include the bands I don't like, even if everyone else does (see Gentlemen Reg, Chad VanGaalen) and I also excluded the ones that I sorta like but find incredibly overrated (see Metric, Joel Plaskett, Still Life Still.) There are also the choices that were originally on my list but I opted to leave off in the end since I had a good feeling that they would ultimately make the list just fine without my help (see Great Lake Swimmers, Coeur de Pirate.) This allowed me to give that extra nudge to the not-so-sure-they'll-make-it-without-my-vote bands on my list. (By and large, that didn't work.) Finally, by definition, a band's hotness factor is, of course, not all about me, which means that the band needed to have a measure of significant buzz this year that made them stand out, which means that I also had to leave out a couple of my own personal favourites too, as much as it hurt my feelings to do so (see Fox Jaws, Amos The Transparent.) The only exception to this rule was my number 10 pick, whom I knew would likely not make the list, but I thought that I had a pretty strong argument for their inclusion so there you go.

Which brings us to my personal ten selections. Only a select few made the final cut, but this was a pretty difficult year for limiting the choices to only ten, since the level of quality this year was immense. And here they are:

1. Rural Alberta Advantage- Having reaped praise from just about every noteworthy music source over the last year, both here and south of the border, culminating in the support of the mighty Saddle Creek label, the RAA are now mere steps away from being a household name. Very impressive (although I'm still struggling to believe that Stephen Harper honestly listens to their music.) [Myspace]

2. The Balconies - Their debut album encapsulates a brave form of ambition that most bands save up for their third of fourth album. This means that, in theory, their third or fourth album is going to be the greatest thing ever. [Myspace]

3. Bruce Peninsula - Successfully duplicating a live performance that is amongst the most uplifting anywhere onto a studio recording is no small task, but Bruce Peninsula have done so with ease. [Myspace]

4. Wilderness of Manitoba - Folk bands are a dime a dozen these days, but this band's hotness factor lies in their ability to make a semi-tired genre sound fresh and beautiful again. [Myspace]

5. Ohbijou - Beacons is a reminder that even though life in the city can get pretty ugly at times, there is always an inner beauty to be discovered and exposed. [Myspace]

6. Zeus – They’ve made classic rock cool again. And, most impressively, by covering Genesis’ That’s All, they’ve made Phil Collins (semi) cool again. For these reasons, along with the fact that they're ridiculously good, they definitely get my pick for hottest new Arts and Crafts signing. [Myspace]

7. Whale Tooth – I’ve said it before, but in an indie world that tends to take itself too seriously at times, it’s refreshing to have a band like Whale Tooth around to remind us to have some fun. [Myspace]

8. Green Go – Finally, a dance band with a sound that is both organic and honest. [Myspace]

9. The Paint Movement – Not only have they released what, in my opinion, is the most captivating local release of the year, but they’ve done so with a brass rock comeback that, unbeknownst to most of us, was desperately needed. [Myspace]

10. The Hoa Hoa’s – They may not be hot in the sense that everybody has heard of them, but within the massively overlooked Canadian psych-rock scene, they are the saviors of aural experimentation, simultaneously urging us to gaze at our shoes while floating into a sonic high. Reaping praise from psych legend, the late Sky Saxon, is no small feat either. [Myspace]

[RAA photo above by Patrick Leduc]

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Should I be worried that some tortured souls make me happy? It's just a fact that there are some artists out there who have built their career on depressing music yet oftentimes, those very songs for some reason put me in my happy place. The Smiths, for example, are funny to me, but not depressing. The Cure makes me dance. To some people this is just weird. Thankfully, there are other artists that do manage to somber me up, like Ryan Adams for instance. I suppose the fact that I do not derive joy from every maudlin career should be enough to keep me from seeing a therapist just yet.

Still, I gotta say, that even though Camera Obscura's Traceyanne Campbell has described the new CD as "dark and brutal", I have to admit that I actually find myself feeling inspired by the album's larger than life sound. It's very common for people to refer to the band as 'twee' and to make innumerable comparisons to Belle and Sebastian, but I think at this point the band has moved quite a bit beyond that, chartering the same course they set on 2006's Let's Get Out Of This Country, but solidifying their sound with even greater production and very solid track organization. The flow of the album is seamless, and the sound is once again a Spector-inspired toast of saccharine perfection. This is noticeable right from the first song French Navy, a song with delicious orchestration and the sweetest dang vocals around. That description continues to grow ever more appropriate with each successive track. The Sweetest Thing is a definite standout with its emotive vocals, harmonies that are heavy on the 60's girl group throwback vibe and more heart tugging orchestration. In mellower numbers like James and You Told A Lie, the sincerity in her voice are sure to soften even the hardest of hearts. I also appreciate the fact that, although the band certainly has their sound, I don't get the feeling that their simply treading the same ground. Careless Love for example, has some pretty kooky tempo changes that keep things interesting while still remaining subtle enough not to detract from the overall feel. And finally, although the album does fall into the category of devastating break up album, it still ends on an upbeat high note with Honey In The Sun which contains a horn section that leaves me with a satisfying smile when the whole thing is done.

Camera Obscura are playing Lee's Palace on June 27th, 2009.

Myspace: Camera Obscura
Video: Franch Navy on youtube
Download: My Maudlin Career mp3


Other Stuff:
Stereogum is streaming a new Beastie Boys track that was released as a surprise bonus 7" with their recent Check Your Head reissue. The song has probably my favourite song title of the year so far: Lee Majors Come Again. [Myspace: Beastie Boys]

Arietta (who's new album Migration I reviewed yesterday) are interviewed on this week's Zygiella podcast. They're at The Horseshoe tomorrow night (May 7th) [Myspace: Arietta]

Nevado Records has announced the East vs West Tour featuring two of my faves The Paint Movement and Fox Jaws. It's an interesting idea: After playing a gig together in Sudbury on May 30th, the Jaws will head for the east coast, while the Movement will embark on the west coast. They'll be blogging their adventures at Exclaim.ca, and then uniting back in Toronto for a NXNE showcase. [Myspace: Fox Jaws, The Paint Movement]

Regina Spektor's new album Far is set to be released on June 22nd and it features the production work of none other than ELO's Jeff Lynne (among others.) Details on the album are over at Clash Mgazine. [Myspace: Regina Spektor]

Both Pete Nema and For The Records have reviews of last week's Dears show at The Mod Club. Their video for Disclaimer is relatively new and relatively cool also. [Myspace: The Dears]

CONTEST! - Win a copy of The Paint Movement's Latest Release!

The Paint Movement are celebrating their upcoming release of Our Eurythmy on Friday April 10th at The Rivoli. In my review of the disc, which is scheduled to be released by Nevado Records on April 14th, I described it as 'the penultimate brass rock comeback that we've all unknowingly been waiting for'. Although I'm not positively sure that I used the word "penultimate" in the proper way, I think that I adequately got the point across that this is one highly recommended album.

The show is bound to be a doozy since they have three amazing bands opening for them: Fox Jaws, Make Your Exit and Provincial Parks. The cost is only $8 so you really have no excuse for not being there.

Myspace: The Paint Movement
Download: Knock Knock mp3


CONTEST: To celebrate the release of Our Eurythmy, I've got one copy of the CD to giveaway, courtesy of Nevado Records. If you're interested, send an email to quadb2001 [at] gmail [dot] com with "Give Me Our Eurythmy" in the subject line and you full name and mailing address in the body.

Contest is now closed. Congrats to Justin M. and thanks to all who entered.

[BTW: If you look on the sidebar, you'll notice that I now have three contests running simultaneously. If you enter all three, then you're bound to win one of them. I'm just sayin']

Audio Blood Tea Party featuring Serb Superb, Great Lenin's Ghost, The Paint Movement, Our History of Cowboys and Holler, Wild Rose!

Wow, it's taking me a long time to blog about all of the going's on surrounding CMF but here I am, finally reporting on my final event of last week, the Audio Blood Tea Party. Though technically not a part of CMF festivities, I couldn't think of any better way to wind down at the end of the week than by sipping on a styrofoam cup of free Organic Mango while in the intimate setting of Kensington's The Boat.

The MC of the evening was a gentleman who I saw milling around the city quite a bit during the festival: Mr. Serb Superb. For those of you that don't know, Serb Superb is the altar ego of Branko Scekic, the bass player for Dinosaur Bones (who I finally saw for the first time on Friday.) Strutting around the stage like hip hop's answer to Frank Zappa, Superb came equipped with no pre-planned material. He asked the audience to simply shout out random suggestions which he then proceeded to work into a freestyle rap that had to be seen to be believed. Or should I say heard. It was a highly entertaining way to segue between acts, and the crowd seemed to enjoy it immensely.

Photos: Serb Superb @ The Boat on flickr
Myspace: Serb Superb

The first band of the night was Great Lenin's Ghost. If the cast of Big Bang Theory were to create dance music, I assume that it would sound something like these guys. The band specializes in some very catchy electronic pop that floats somewhere inbetween Hot Chip and Daft Punk, although as far as bizarre left turns and surprises go, these guys definitely stand on their own. Even though the band was equipped with only a drum, a theremin and a few other implements of technical paraphernalia that are way over my rock 'n roll head, they still managed to be incredibly energetic onstage. I don't know if a Sunday night tea party was exactly the right atmosphere for them, but they certainly made the best of the situation, and encouraged a few people to get down, as it were.

Photos: Great Lenin's Ghost @ The Boat on flickr
Myspace: Great Lenin's Ghost

Next up was The Paint Movement, a band that I have recently fallen head over heels for. While their set may not have been quite as uplifting as the last time that I saw them, a big part of that could have been due to the poor sound quality, as well as the particularly docile crowd. I had a lot of trouble hearing the sax, and the vocals also seemed to be mixed quite low. Even under these circumstances, the band's charismatic and vivid arrangements still shone through, and I will stand by my original thought that The Paint Movement are currently one of the most exciting bands in the city today. As they continue to hone their craft, there is no doubt that they are a band that will continue to impress me as the exploratory nature of their sound continues to venture into different areas.

Photos: The Paint Movement @ The Boat on flickr
Myspace: The Paint Movement

Our History Of Cowboys is another band that falls into the whole massive member collective thing, as they presented a set of (mostly) instrumental post rock that got a solid number of their peers dancing maniacally on the floor. Their set opened with an artsy number containing a thunderous apocalyptic intone that was accompanied by a spoken word section that the guest vocalist was reading off of his iPhone. Although I couldn't make out what he was saying, it sounded cool enough, and it really helped to set the tone for the rest of their set. Their brand of experimental art rock was quite challenging to say the least, and I'll have to admit that I'm not 100% sold on their sound just yet. But anyone who is familiar with the eclectic nature of my musical palate knows that I appreciate a sonic challenge, and I'm certainly up to checking them out again another time.

Photos: Our History of Cowboys @ The Boat on flickr
Myspace: Our History Of Cowboys

Which brings us to the greatest surprise of the week. Out of the 23 bands that I saw over the past week, New Jersey's Holler, Wild Rose! were easily the most impressive. I love that feeling when you're watching a band and suddenly you realize that you are actually in the midst of greatness. That moment for me came when they performed Captive Train. The harmonies were absolutely cherubic on that song, and the steady build of those ringing guitars continued to climb to euphoric heights before Jon Mosloskie's high pitched Buckley-inspired throat tore a strip out of the atmosphere and made me completely forget where I was. The reaction of those around me when the song was over pretty much summed up the consensus that we weren't just watching an amazing performance, but this was something downright legendary. Their soaring melodies and epic falsetto's suck you in and hold you captive, and a mere mortal is powerless against their ambient charms. Whew! OK, I'll admit that overexpressive gushing does not a viable music critic make, but dang it, I'm a fan too and it's a shame that there weren't more people out to witness this show. Hopefully these Jersey boys will be back again soon.

Photos: Holler, Wild Rose! @ The Boat on flickr
Myspace: Holler, Wild Rose!

The Paint Movement, Still Life Still & The D'Urbervilles @ Silver Dollar

I'm at the point where I've really had just about all that I can stand of winter, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to really wanting to stay home on that freezing Friday night last week. But I had invested so much time and energy into promoting this show at The Silver Dollar that I knew I had to go. Add to that the extra motivation of the fact that a friend of mine, whom I hadn't seen for a couple of months, had just returned from Mexico itching to go to a show, and you've got yourself a couple of guys sitting at that bluesy bar on the corner of College and Spadina, preparing to have our minds blown by some seriously crazy local talent.

Although the bands to follow certainly have the greater fan base for now, as far as I'm concerned The Paint Movement was the highlight of the night. The energy emanating from that stage was solid as they proved that their stellar first CD was no mere product of studio wizardry. I especially enjoyed the jazzy interplay between saxophonist Jason Loftman and drummer Glenn Candy. Although those moments of sonic exploration had a touch of the jam band feel to them, the fact that they avoided getting overly meandering and extemporaneous made them accessible for everyone. (Personally I love when bands get a little overwrought, but I recognize that not everyone does.) I feel that their show is only going to get even more impressive as time goes on, as their style leaves lots of room for continual development and improvisation.

Photos: My pics of The Paint Movement @ Silver Dollar are on flickr.
Myspace: The Paint Movement

There's currently a lot of exciting rumours surrounding the gang in Still Life Still, and the fact that Kevin Drew was working the door at this show just adds a little bit of credibility to those rumours. Their feature debut is reportedly being released on Arts and Crafts in the near future, and at the behest of Mr. Drew there may have been a few important music type people in that crowded room on Friday night. If that's the case, then it's a good thing that the band had all of their friends and family in attendance because their performance was as celebratory as it's ever been. It'll be interesting to see if their sound will translate as well once they leave the comfort of Toronto. Part of their whole vibe is the fact that their friends know exactly when to jump onstage and wreak merry havoc all over the place. Are the songs strong enough to evoke the same reaction when they travel the country, or perhaps even Stateside? Only time will tell.

Photos: My shots of Still Life Still @ Silver Dollar are on flickr.
Myspace: Still Life Still

I had mentioned before that following Still Life Still is not an enviable task, and The D'Urbervilles certainly had their work cut out for them. The crowd had dissipated slightly and it was getting rather late. Still the band was clearly up to the challenge and I felt that they really held their own that night. Lead vocalist John O'Regan displays an assured awkwardness onstage that is very obvious once he puts down the guitar and starts dancing. I loved watching it personally. There are many bands that remind me of David Byrne in their vocal delivery and lyrical influence, but this time it was his stage demeanor that reminded me of the Talking Heads frontman. All O'Regan needed was a giant oversized suit. They blasted through their set rather quickly, which was appropriate considering the immediacy of most of their material. While The Paint Movement may have the greatest sense of musical adventure, and Still Life Still corner the market on frenetic energy, the winner in the best overall songs category is by far The D'Urbervilles.

Photos: My shots of The D'Urbervilles @ Silver Dollar are on flickr.
Myspace: The D'Urbervilles

CONTEST: Still Life Still, The D'Urbervilles and The Paint Movement @ The Silver Dollar

STILL LIFE STILL

Everybody needs a support group, and from what I've seen, no Toronto band has a greater one than Still Life Still. In a recent interview on the Zygiella podcast with local sensations Dinosaur Bones, the members of that band could not stop singing their praises. The notorious Lonely Vagabond has described them as a "sonic-stew of epic rock with rhythmic theatrics rivaling that of a frat celebration." And James L. Burling of Boxes and Bags has declared Still Life Still to be the best band in Toronto, no question. To add to such incredibly high praise, the band is planning on releasing their debut album this summer on none other than the highly influential Arts and Crafts label. The support group is about to expand huge!

I've had the privilege of seeing this band twice now, and while their sound is still that of a band in its early stages, their rambunctious live show is amongst the most incendiary I've ever seen. It's not uncommon for their rabid fans to attack the stage, cranking the on-stage party up to a blistering zenith, one that automatically presents a difficult challenge for whatever band is in the unfortunate position of performing after them. The demos I've heard recently also show a lot of promise as they borrow from the high gain, feedback and distortion of the 90's to the melodically chaotic collective sound of the present.

Myspace: Still Life Still
Download: Pastel (demo) mp3


THE D'URBERVILLES - WE ARE THE HUNTERS

While we're on the topic of bands with a great support group, The D'Urbervilles have been gaining friends and fans everywhere they go, as their album We Are The Hunters continues to inherit enormous amounts of praise with every mention. This really is a testament to the album's immediate appeal, as well as it's ability to get even better with repeat listens. It contains all of the ingredients to satisfy any post-punk 80's-loving appetite. The album opens with Knock Out The Fat, a fantastic new wave instrumental piece, that nicely sets the tone for the rest of the album. The title track opens with a percussive clak meeting Kyle Donnely's slightly P-Funky bass line before Tim Bruton's frenetic power chords blast forth, and John O'Regan's vocals chime in with a 60's British Invasion meets Ian McCullough sort of sound. The organ opening of Dragnet throws you off a bit as the song opens with an aire of mystery before the dancey chorus takes over with an art rock keyboard that sounds very large and in charge. This Is The Life is another classic new wave pastiche, with a brooding vocal that sounds as if it should stand in stark contrast to the chorus's shout-alongs, but surprisingly, it doesn't. The album ends with the highly infectious and anthemic Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade which is an adventurous number filled with tempo changes aplenty. While the songs themselves hold nothing back, the album as a whole shows admirable restraint, clocking in at just over half an hour, the perfect length for an album of such high class intensity.

Myspace: The D'Urbervilles
Download: Hot Tips mp3


CONTEST: The D'Urbervilles and Still Life Still are going to be joined by a band that I'm incredibly excited about called The Paint Movement (whom I reviewed here) on February 27th at The Silver Dollar. These are three of the most energetic bands in the city and they all have the potential to blow up all huge-like within the next year or so. So it would definitely be worthwhile to be at this show, especially since it's only $6 to get in. Or for one special person ... free!!!

I've got two tickets to giveaway for the show, courtesy of Audio Blood Media. If you're interested in winning this one, email me at quadb2001 [at] gmail [dot] com with "I Want Some Still Movement" in the subject line and your full name in the body.

Contest is now closed. Congrats to Kelly B for winning the tix. Thanks to all who entered.

The Paint Movement - Our Eurythmy

It's becoming more and more obvious that Nevado Records and I are entirely on the same wavelength when it comes to music. Besides being headed by former members of my crush of 2007, the now defunct Reily, their label now boasts an impressive roster that includes Bass Lions, Elephant, Yukon Blonde and Fox Jaws. These are all bands that I feel quite strongly about. In fact, they are some of the best bands I know. So when they contacted me about their latest signing, a band from Mississauga called The Paint Movement, I really had no reason to doubt their judgment. Upon hearing the advance release of their upcoming full length entitled Our Eurythmy, all I could think was 'wow!'

On the first few songs, they wear their influences pretty heartily on their sleeves. When those influences are Broken Social Scene and the like, this is a good thing. The songs plow ahead with the same sense of triumph, displaying a full sound that is completely intoxicating. It's on track three however, when things start getting really interesting. Right from the get-go, the horns are featured quite prominently on this release, but it's on this song called Knock Knock where you start to recognize that their influences come from another very unique territory. The amalgamation of jazz and rock music was very common in the late 60's and early to mid 70's, as showcased by bands like Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears and, most notably, Steely Dan. However, by the time the new wave 80's came around, jazz must have been considered to be too pretentious and scattered to mix with the country, rockabilly and punk influences of the college rock scene at the time. But as we all know, what comes around, goes around, and it looks like The Paint Movement are working hard to make their brand of lush sounding jazz-tinged indie rock a viable force on the music scene. Some of the highlights are the aforementioned Knock Knock, whose infectious saxophone sneaks up on you so as not to be too much of a shock to the system for those who are not used to hearing it in a modern rock song. The bongos also add to the full sound, as the song continues to build to lilting heights. Eternity Seems To Live Here is a masterful post-rock instrumental piece, that strikes a unique balance between grungy feedback and orchestral swirls. Howl At The Moon allows Kevin Kralick's voice to take center stage, which displays a subtlety that allows the song's lyrical intensity to shine through, while benefiting from the female vocal accompaniment. If Kevin Drew singing lead for the early stages of the Chicago Transit Authority is an idea that you've never contemplated before, then I've Got The Ghost is sure to be an interesting musical journey for you as it starts out sounding like your basic indie pop song before it goes off on an ethereal progressive tangent. And Groovy Bones is the penultimate brass rock comeback that we've all unknowingly been waiting for. This song is huge, with its big band horn section duking it out with a hyperactive percussive assault before exploding into a fusion of jazz, funk and progressive rock.

The Paint Movement contains elements of several bands from the past and present, but from what I've heard, there is not a current band, indie or otherwise, that has a sound like theirs. To say that they're presenting us with something new may be a bit unrealistic, but it's admirable to encounter a band that is exposing a long forgotten sound that was motivational in the past, and can continue to be so today.

The Paint Movement are playing The Silver Dollar on Feb 27th, and The Boat on March 15th.

Myspace: The Paint Movement
Download: Knock Knock mp3


Other stuff:
I recently contributed some of my photos to a very comprehensive article about Brooklyn's Chairlift up on hubpages.com. They're opening for Peter Bjorn and John at The Phoenix on April 25th. [Myspace: Chairlift]

Ingrid Michaelson has a new video for her song Breakable up on vimeo. [Myspace: Ingrid Michaelson]

I may have missed my chance to see Blitzen Trapper's sold out show at The Horseshoe on Saturday night (Feb 21st) but buzz girl Alela Diane, who will be opening the show for them, will be playing a free in-store at Soundscapes at 6:30pm. [Myspaces: Alela Diane, Blitzen Trapper]

Also doing the in-store thing is Ben Kweller, who will be playing Sonic Boom at 3pm on Sunday, February 22nd before hitting The Mod Club later that evening. [Myspace: Ben Kweller]

Brendan Canning is celebrating the release of his new video for Love Is New at Lounge 88 (12 Clinton St) on February 19th. Apparently the video is inspired by John Travolta's opening credit sequence from Saturday Night Fever, which sounds hilarious. The video is not yet online, but here's a link to the Travolta original. [Myspace: Brendan Canning]