Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos (Deluxe Edition)

There are few things that elicit as much excitement in the world of music snobbery than the emergence of another cult hero. This is exactly what happened in the late 80's when bands like R.E.M., The Replacements and Teenage Fanclub started singing the praises of an ironically named band called Big Star, who emerged onto the scene in the early 70's to great critical praise, but unfortunate mainstream obscurity. Since the aforementioned name dropping by those highly notable college rock staples, the band's stock has continued to rise, being covered by the likes of Wilco and Elliott Smith, as well as having their music featured in TV (That 70's Show) and film (Adventureland). Interestingly, the Alex Chilton / Chris Bell tag team has been referred to by some as a sort Lennon / McCartney duo, with Chilton being the advanced songwriter and Bell being relegated to the roll of less substantial rocking sidekick. This is a sentiment that I also foolishly accepted until I first listened to I Am The Cosmos, a compilation that was released in 1992 of some of the songs that Chris Bell had been working on prior to his untimely death from a car accident in 1978. That outstanding collection of songs awakened in me the realization that Bell was every bit as substantial a songwriter as Chilton and he undoubtedly had more input into the band's output than is often credited to him (especially on Radio City, their 2nd album that was released after he had left the band).

While Rhino has continued to fuel the continual interest in Big Star with last year's release of a 98-song career retroactive boxset entitled Keep An Eye To The Sky, they also play their part in keeping Bell on the radar by releasing a new double disc deluxe edition of I Am The Cosmos which comes complete with a slightly re-sequenced version of the album on disc one, and a collection of (mostly) unreleased material on disc two. The songs themselves hold up remarkably well, especially some of the mellower heartbreaking numbers. Songs like You and Your Sister and Look Up, for example, exhibit a vulnerability that is immaculately produced, yet presented in a way that sounds genuine and unforced. The acoustic version of the former number on disc two sounds surprisingly clean, which adds an almost haunting quality to the song for some reason, although I find it difficult to articulate exactly why that is. Perhaps it's just the imagery of him performing the song in a small room surrounded my friends and family while completely unaware of the impact that his music would eventually have on so many people. I'm not usually one for spending a lot of time with bonus tracks and such, but I actually find myself enjoying the rarities on disc two just as much as the actual album. Some more great discoveries have been unearthed on this disc, such as Stay With Me, a country duet with his friend Keith Sykes that has an impeccable melody and some pretty impressive guitar work. In My Darkest Hour is sung by Nancy Bryan, and provides an articulate insight into the depression that Bell has been known to deal with during the last few years of his life. The reflective instrumental piece that ends the album (Clacton Rag) is beautiful as it manages to tie the album together in a way that makes it feel like one full cohesive piece which is remarkable considering that, as mentioned earlier, this really is simply a culling together of scattered parts and pieces.

While it is a tragedy that Chris Bell and his Big Star comrades were unable to get the recognition that they deserved until much too late, the impact of albums such as this one are undoubtedly going to continue to grow even more substantial as the music on this double disc set continues to speak to future generations. There is no doubt that this is one emotionally charged listening experience, and perhaps it's not the type of thing that you're going to put on when you're in need of some cheering up, but it's very rewarding to see that there was still much to discover in the legacy of this musical legend.

Preview: All of the tracks on I Am The Cosmos at Rhino Records.
Myspace: Chris Bell
Myspace: Big Star

Other stuff:

Sloan has just released a new compilation of B-sides and rarities entitled B-Sides Win which can now be purchased at their website. [Myspace: Sloan]

Danny Michel has just released his first solo live album called Live in Winnipeg which can also be purchased at his website. [Myspace: Danny Michel]

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips is interviewed at Crawdaddy.  [Myspace: The Flaming Lips]

The White Stripes are releasing a limited edtion CD/DVD boxset chronicling their 2007 tour of the Canadian countryside on March 16th. It will be entitled The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights and a video clip from the set of Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground is being featured on Spinner.ca [Myspace: The White Stripes]

Kat Burns of Forest City Lovers debuted a new song called Oh Come Away/Sea To Land on the Grocery List Countdown show on Verge FM. The show will air February 15th, but there's a video of the song posted on Forest City Lovers blog. [Myspace: Forest City Lovers]

Bobby B's Top 50 Albums Of The Decade (#40-36)

For ramblings on how I came to compile this list go here. And for commentary on previous selections: [#50-46] [#45-41]

40. Goodbye Doris - Fox Jaws (2007)

Barrie's Fox Jaws are easily one of my favorite live bands, and I make a point of trying to catch their show every time that I can. For whatever reason, their debut album has really struck a chord with me personally, and whenever I put it on, I simply marvel at the beauty of it all. Carleigh Aikins voice is somewhat of a revelation, taking songs that would be good but perhaps a bit average and making them absolutely earth shattering. Some have made the comment that her blusey whiskey stained rasp when coupled with the basic pop rock sounds of the album are a little too odd of a match, but I think that therein lies the beauty. How could one not be exhumed in euphoria when Carleigh belts out the "write it down!" part of the song Couple Of Pops, or the adrenalin flamenco flavored shock of the last 30 seconds of Hide And Seek? The band can get experimental (Hitchcock Camera Trick), epic (New Body) and endearingly atmospheric (My Hands My Plans). It's hard to imagine anything more chill inducing than that last song, and it'll be great to continue to follow their career even further in the decade ahead. [Myspace: Fox Jaws]

39. Icky Thump - The White Stripes (2007)

There have certainly been various opinions on the subject, but for my money, I would have to say that Jack White was the true savior of rock 'n roll in this particular decade. I've already noticed that both 2001's White Blood Cells and 2003's Elephant have made other decade-end lists, but personally I didn't feel that any of those albums offered the non-stop adrenalin rush that this 2007 release gave us. I'm of the opinion that they will never be able to capture the excitement of their debut back in 1999, but this one comes pretty darn close. The opening track is like a punch in the face, with its simple yet effective bassline, its phenomenal riff and Jack's commanding voice. Their cover of Patti Page's Conquest (written by Corky Robbins) is about as fun as it gets, with its matador image inducing trumpet and Jack's tongue in cheek yelp. And never before has the band sounded more authentic than on the songs Rag And Bone and 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues. You just can't fake a sound like that! [Myspace: The White Stripes]

38. For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver (2008)

Surprisingly, it took me a little bit longer than most to appreciate the beauty of this album. While most blogs and critics declared it the album of the year in '08, I had trouble preventing my mind from wandering when it came on, and therefore it didn't even make my personal list for that year. But it was on a semi-lengthy spring road trip that I decided to give the album another chance and this is when I became hooked. The album is a solemn listen with a tragic and lonely feel, but the sweet hush of Justin Vernon's voice coupled with the gentle strings of his acoustic guitar is just so compellingly honest that its hard not to feel like you're encroaching on his personal space just a little bit. The decade saw a lot of artists attempt to capture a similar sound, and while many of them managed to woo a few of the critics and fans out there, I've always been a bit skeptical of most of them, even finding the bulk of them to be a bit boring. I'm glad that I gave Bon Iver another chance on that chilly spring day as it allowed me to realize that this album should remain completely separate from the others as this is a genuine collection of moments of sheer beauty. [Myspace: Bon Iver]

37. You Are Free - Cat Power (2003)

I realize that my tastes can be a bit different than most, but I'm truly surprised that Chan Marshall's release from 2003 doesn't seem to get as much love as 2006's The Greatest, which was a significant step down, in my opinion. This album, along with much of her earlier works, contains a vulnerability that is far more endearing and honest hearted than anything she's released since then, and I have to say that this fragility allows the album to have much more of a personal tone to it. As later albums have proven, with a little bit of help, Chan's voice can sound dang near perfect at times, but on this album she allows the imperfections to remain in tact. For me, the beauty is to be found within those imperfect moments. The opening piano track I Don't Blame You and its possible Kurt Cobain references (and reverences) is absolutely haunting as Chan sounds as if she was walking dangerously close to the same line that he walked that eventually cost him his life. The entire album plays like an open wound, whether it's disguised in an upbeat melody (like Free or He War) or she's using someone else's poetry (like Keep On Runnin', a renamed cover of John Lee Hooker's Crawlin' Black Spider.) The album's therapeutic nature was no doubt a step towards her overcoming many personal demons, allowing her to perform these days with a newfound grace that will likely allow her to carry on much longer than she would have otherwise. [Myspace: Cat Power]

36. Welcome Interstate Managers - Fountains Of Wayne (2003)

It may not be a popular opinion, but I like pop music. Sue me. When Fountains of Wayne released their debut in 1996, it became very obvious to these ears that this band was putting out some of the catchiest pop music I've heard since Jellyfish, and I could not stop listening to that amazing album. Although this, their 3rd album, is not quite as good as that one, it comes pretty darn close, even if it does contain that international hit that every single person I've ever met hates with a passion. Personally, I think people have been a little bit tough on that particular tune, as goofy as it is, but overall this album contains enough other material to entertain even the Stacy's Mom haters. Bright Future In Sales and Little Red Light are solid rockers with amazing riffs. All Kinds Of Time is a beautiful ballad that really showcases the fact that Adam Schlesinger is a melody magician. And Hackensack and Valley Winter Song are a couple of alt-country pop delights that rank up there with some of The Jayhawks catchier offerings. Welcome Interstate Managers is just one example that illustrates the reasons why Schlesinger is the go-to guy when the crafting of a pop single is needed for soundtrack work or otherwise. [Myspace: Fountains of Wayne]

Tomorrow: Bobby B's 50 Albums Of The Decade (#35-31)

Dog Day - Concentration (Review, CD & Ticket Giveaway)

A quick Dog Day scan on the net reveals that the critics already get it when it comes to this band. I'm just wondering what everybody else's problem is? They may be the furthest cry from being a household name as you can get for many, but their last album Night Group was one of my most played albums of 2008, and the only reason it didn't make my year end list is due to the fact that it actually came out in April 2007 and I just found out about it too late. While that album was a fun and upbeat display of Nova Scotia meets New York swagger, it presented only a smidgen of what Dog Day are apparently capable of. Concentration is more mature and focused, with a sound that bands in the past have only accomplished after 3 or 4 albums worth of paying their dues. If Dog Day is this good already, than their future is going to be frightening.

The first song, Happiness, immediately emanates John Agnello's production. Having worked with both Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. in the past, he has managed to harness the production qualities heard on albums by both of those bands. It's that sweet meeting of high production with lo-fi gutteral sounds that allows the album to simmer in sinisterism. Stray is another example of this. Seth Smith's droning vocals accompany a Joy Division-ish bass and drum line, while the female backing vocals remain in a near monotone creating a very hypnotic vibe. Nancy Urich does a good job of harnessing her inner Julie Doiron meets Kim Gordon vocal style. This is noticeably captivating whether she's singing lead, as in the slightly masochistic Neighbour and the epic Rome, or she's singing accompaniment as on the shoegazey Saturday Night. What's most amazing about this release is the fact that although it is all quite deep, dark and brooding, it is also all very very catchy. Judgement Day is a case in point: the song is ultimately about death yet I defy you to avoid dancing and singing along to the vocal doot-doot-doo's.

I don't think that it's a huge stretch to say that Dog Day is one of the most underrated bands in Canada right now. Part of this might be the fact that both shoegaze and psych-rock are a couple of the more underrated genre's in Canadian rock right now. Dog Day is a high quality amalgamation of both and I think that Concentration is a must-have to any fan of either.

Dog Day is playing Lee's Palace on Thursday May 28th. The photo above is on myspace.

Myspace: Dog Day
Video: Happiness on youtube
Download: Rome mp3


***CONTEST UPDATED MAY 15TH***

I've got two Dog Day prizes to giveaway. There are as follows:

1) Two tickets to the show at Lee's Palace on May 28th along with a copy of the new CD. This one is only open to those who are geographically able to attend the show.
2) A copy of the new CD. This one is available to anyone anywhere with a mailing address.

Contest is now closed; thanks to everyone that entered. Congrats to Justin M. and Alex H.

Other stuff:
Bobby B. Fun Fact: Did you know that Peter Gabriel is actually my favourite artist of all time? And while we're on the subject: Magnet Magazine lists their opinion on Pete's most overrated and underrated songs. I would agree with most of it, although Family Snapshot is actually his most underrated and Shock the Monkey is his most overrated IMHO. [Myspace: Peter Gabriel]

Neko Case is back in T.O. again and she'll be playing the acoustically pleasing Massey Hall on July 14th. Tix are between $29.50 and $40.50. Details are at Chart. [Myspace: Neko Case]

Jack White confirms that The White Stripes are still very much together and they do, in fact, have a new album on the way. He also talks about Meg's anxiety and the reasons for their recent hiatus over at Music Radar.com [Myspace: The White Stripes]

This weekend is the Festival In The Square at Don Mills Town Square. On the Saturday night (My 16th) Serena Ryder performs with special guests Carly Rae Jepsen and Danny Michel. It's free and it starts at 7pm. [Myspace: Serena Ryder; Danny Michel; Carly Rae Jepsen]

Because I'm an idiot, I forgot to RSVP to this year's NXNE press conference yesterday, but thankfully it doesn't look like there were any real surprises. The big names at this year's fest are Black Lips, Matt & Kim, Woodpigeon and No Age. The biggest deal for me though is the return of 60's garage rock giants The Sonics, whose "hits" include Psycho and Strychnine. They will be playing Yonge and Dundas Square on Saturday June 20th at the end of the night. Now that's pretty cool. As usual, the best of our locals are playing too and you can see the full lineup over here. [Myspaces: Black Lips, Matt & Kim, Woodpigeon, No Age, The Sonics]

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Just as I was about to officially break-up with Jack White, he comes back to icky thump me into submission (I know, I know, I'm sorry.) Fact is, The White Stripes first four albums were among the greatest rock 'n blues records of the past decade. I felt that on their last record however, while there were still a couple of good songs, they were starting to mail it in a little bit. As for Jack's side project The Raconteurs, well, let's just say that I didn't rush out to buy that one either. I had resigned myself to the fact that we had a good run, but it's time for us to go our separate ways. Well apparently Jack would have none of it because "Icky Thump" rocks! Big time! The title track and first single is probably the most energetic and inventive the duo has ever sounded, with their staple driving beat being as thumpingly addictive as ever, whilst throwing in a welcome touch of psychedelia. The Zeppelin and Dylan influence is all over this one, but never in a way that sounds like they're ripping them off, just simply paying homage to them. My two favourite songs are "Conquest" and "Rag and Bone." The former sees the duo in full bullfighter mode, with castanets and horns aplenty. The latter has Jack White playing the atypical blues man, spoken word riffing with Meg in a way that makes him sound like he's been struggling in the deep south for the past century. How he writes his lyrics and performs them in a way that makes him sound like a weathered 79 year old man is beyond me, but I'm buying it. This may be my favourite record since their debut, and although I can't say I really missed them all that much, I sure am glad they're back!

The White Stripes are playing The Molson Amphitheatre on July 5th. I think there's still some tickets available but this one definitely has sell-out potential.

Download:
Conquest mp3
Icky Thump mp3

The White Stripes on myspace
Purchase "Icky Thump" on Amazon.ca