Neon Glitter Bliss: "Wilted Flower" (video)

Drama For Your Mama is the recently released album from NYC indie electro pop group Neon Glitter Bliss.  We're pleased to be able to bring you the humourous first video from the record.


Check out the crazy dancing grandmas and cross-dressing nurses in "Wilted Flower" here:


Neon Glitter Bliss' Myspace

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: new album details, "Even Heroes Have To Die" (MP3)

In an announcements we here have been anticipating for some time, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists have announced the details of their new studio album, their first on Matador Records.  The Brutalist Bricks will be released on March 9th.

We not only have the art work for you, but the first track for download as well:

• "Even Heroes Have To Die"- MP3

Ted Leo's website
Ted Leo's Myspace

50 Best Canadian album of the decade (2000-2009)

In a lot of ways the decade 2000-2009 has really (yes, I know it's not over for another year but I've caved in) been a breakout era for Canadian music.  Some of the biggest, most influential albums have come from proudly Canadian artists.

Here's our list of the top 50 Canadian albums of the last nine years:

50. Soft Airplane- Chad VanGaalen
49. Missiles- The Dears
48. Down at the Khyber- Joel Plaskett
47. The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse- The Besnard Lakes
46. Sounding a Mosaic- Bedouin Soundclash
45. Goddess- Emm Gryner
44. The Beat Stuff- Hannah Georgas
43. New Seasons- The Sadies
42. In the Future- Black Mountain
41. Arm's Way- Islands
40. Back To Me- Kathleen Edwards
39. He Poos Clouds- Final Fantasy
38. Close to Paradise- Patrick Watson
37. Live It Out- Metric
36. Apologies to the Queen Mary- Wolf Parade
35. Reconstruction Site- The Weakerthans
34. Ongiara- Great Lake Swimmers
33. Are We Not Horses?- Rock Plaza Central
32. Broken Social Scene- Broken Social Scene
31. Situtation- Buck 65
30. Five Dollar Bill- Corb Lund
29. LP- Holy Fuck
28. Honey from the Tombs- Amy Millan
27. Evil Dead: The Musical- Original Cast Recording
26. Twin Cinema- New Pornographers
25. You Forget It In People- Broken Social Scene
24. Andorra- Caribou
23. Make Up the Breakdown- Hot Hot Heat
22. Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?- Metric
21. I Know You're Married, But I've Got Feelings Too- Martha Wainwright
20. So Jealous- Tegan & Sara
19. Library Voices EP- Library Voices
18. Beast- Beast
17. Neon Bible- Arcade Fire
16. Lost Channels- Great Lake Swimmers
15. Hair In My Eyes Like a Highland Steer- Corb Lund
14. You're a Woman, I'm a Machine- Death From Above 1979
13. Elephant Shell- Tokyo Police Club
12. Dead Man's Bones- Dead Man's Bones
11. The Con- Tegan & Sara
10. The Reminder- Feist
9. Set Yourself On Fire- Stars
8. No Cities Left- The Dears
7. At the Moment of Our Most Needing...- Rock Plaza Central
6. Going Steady- Rah Rah
5. Face Control- Handsome Furs
4. Funeral- Arcade Fire
3. Outside Love- Pink Mountaintops
2. Mass Romantic- New Pornographers
1. Let It Die- Feist

I know, I know.  You disagree with something.  I left off one of your favorites.  Something is too high on the list, something is too low.

Feel free to correct me.

Lindsay Mae offers up John Lennon Christmas cover (MP3)

It's coming.  Christmas that is.  And what better way to usher in the season than with a brand new (and free) download.

This one comes from up-and-coming singer/songwriter Lindsay Mae.  Enjoy her John Lennon cover here:

• "Happy Christmas"- MP3

Lindsey Mae's website
Lindsey Mae's Myspace

This week's entertainment picks: Matisyahu, Handsome Furs

Here's a look at the hot tickets in town this week:

Matisyahu, The Phoenix, Nov 30th
Everyone's favorite unlikely reggae artist is back to no doubt delight giddy audiences.

Matisyahu's Myspace

Handsome Furs, Lee's Palace, Dec 5th
The Montreal band had one of the best albums of 2009.  Celebrate it with them one last time.

Handsome Furs' Myspace 

...also this week:

• Bebel Gilberto- Nov 30
• Nitzer Ebb- Dec 1
• Themselves- Dec 1
• Friendly Fires- Dec 2
• Michael Bernard Fitzgerald- Dec 2
• Swollen Members- Dec 2
• A.A. Bondy- Dec 3
• Staggered Crossing- Dec 3
• Thunderheist- Dec 3
• Zero 7- Dec 3
• Hey Rosetta!- Dec 4
• King Khan & BBQ Show- Dec 4
• Hidden Cameras- Dec 5
• Leon Redbone- Dec 5
• Phoenix w. Holy Fuck- Dec 5
• The Warped 45s- Dec 5
• Weezer- Dec 5
• Leon Redbone- Dec 6
• Mew- Dec 6
• Municipal Waste- Dec 6

Kurt Vonnegut: "Look at the Birdie" (book review)

Sometime in my early 20s I became a huge fan of American satirist Kurt Vonnegut.  His dark sense of humour couple with his ability to make keen observations about human nature made for compelling reads, regardless of the genre he chose for any given project.  Breakfast of Champions still ranks among my favorite books of all-time.

From the story of the least famous Watergate conspirator of Jailbird to the struggling Armenian artist in Bluebeard his characters leap from the page into absurd reality, much to the joy of the reader.

However, as much as I enjoy his novels, it's his short stories that I enjoy devouring the most.

Recently we've seen the publication of Look at the Birdie, the second posthumous printing of a Vonnegut work.  The book is a collection of fourteen previously unpublished Vonnegut short stories.  They are culled from the author's early works, before his break though to become a literary giant.

Look at the Birdie is definitely the sound of a writer struggling to find his voice, and you do get glimmers of the author he will become.  "Ed Luby's Key Club" shows a developing knack for intrigue and conspiracy while a tale like "Hall of Mirrors" gives us a glimpse of the science fiction and supernatural elements that Vonnegut would eventually weave into much of his work.

This is definitely not the best of Vonnegut however.  There is a reason why much of this material never got published during his lifetime.  Some stories lack focus others, like "The Good Explainer" have solid build-up culminating in plot pay-offs that are less than satisfactory.

With that all said, Look at the Birdie is an interesting look into the work of an author as he grows.  It is a solid recommendation for any Kurt Vonnegut fan wishing to delving deeper into the man's head.

Kurt Vonnegut's website

Concerts announced this week

Here's a look at the concerts announced for Toronto this week:

• Chokeules, Rancho Relaxo, Dec 4 (CD Release Party)
• The Dudes, Dakota's, Dec 9
• The Dudes, Dakota's, Dec 10
• The Willowz, Lee's Palace, Dec 15
• Julie Doiron, Lee's Palace, Dec 19
• Elliott Brood, Lee's Palace, Dec 31

Beck's tribute to "Harry Partch"

So we all know Beck's a weirdo, so it makes sense that he would write and arrange a bizarro song in tribute to bizarro composer Harry Partch.

He can explain the concept and history better than I can:

"A thruway from the external to the internal, in tribute to California bred composer Harry Partch's concept of 'Corporeality'--- the integration of the body with all art forms. The song uses a 43 tone scale in reference to Partch's innovations with alternate tonalities. A peregrination across disparate territory to ascertain an unassumed frame of reference."

You can listen to Beck's tribute on his website.  To say it's a challenging listen would be a mild understatement.

Beck's website

Best of 2009: solo albums

With just over a month to go it's time to begin our look back on the year that was in music.

When I began going through the happenings of 2009 I was struck by an interesting phenomenon.  It seemed to me that there were a whole lot of solo albums that came out this year.

So I figure what better place to start than examining the good, the bad, and the rest of solo works of 2009.

The Good
There were actually quite a few albums that fall under this category.  Standout solo albums include:

• Interpol's Paul Banks had a great run as Julian Plenti (review)
• I'm going to include Karen O and her effort on the Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack here (review)
• The Black Keys' singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach may have had the best solo record (review)
• David Bazan dropped the Pedro The Lion moniker to give us an album under his own name (review)
• Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady did his part to entertain us (interview)

The Bad

• Failing to live up to the standard set by a trio of his Strokes bandmates, Julian Casablancas gave us an album that is, to put it bluntly, complete garbage (review)
• TV On the Radio's Kyp Malone disappointed with a bland Rain Machine (review)
• Gordon Gano proved he needs Brian Ritchie to be successful (review)
• The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez Lopez shows he's no better on his own (review)
• G N' R refugee Duff McKagan released an album that wasn't as bad as one would expect (review)

The Rest

• Against Me! singer Tom Gabel dropped a promising EP
• Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! came up with an album that sounds remarkably like Clap You Hands Say Yeah!
• Former Be Your Own Pet singer Jemina Pearl hit us with a so-so affair (review)
• Pavement's Spiral Stairs gave us an album that wasn't great, but stands head-and-shoulders above recent Stephen Malkmus output (review)
• Drive-By Truckers' singer Patterson Hood gave us what could easily have been a DBT record (review)
• Tommy T, bassist for Gogol Bordello, gave us a World Music-spired effort (review)

Keep coming back in December as we'll bring you lots of lists like best song, best albums, best concerts, genre-specific list, and of course, most disappointing albums of 2009.

Quick Hits: Chokeules

In an ongoing effort to wrap up the week nice and tight like, here are some quick thoughts on things I couldn't get to properly:

Chokeules
The emcee of Canadian underground hip hop team Toolshed is releasing his new album Hypergraphia.  He's got a pair of shows coming up: a CD Release Party in Toronto at Rancho Relaxo on December 4th and a show in London at Call The Office on December 19th.

Chokeules' Myspace

Boomsnake announce EP of re-recordings (MP3)

San Diego indie group Boomsnake are getting ready to release a new EP.  Re/Visions comes out January 12th and will be a collection of re-recording of tracks that appeared on the band's previous album.

We've got a sample for your downloading pleasure now:

• "Sticks Stones & Animal Bones"- MP3

Boomsnake's Myspace

Futureheads give away new single "Struck Dumb"

UK indie rockers The Futureheads are putting the finishing touches on their fourth studio album.  Until December 2nd the band is giving away the first track from that album, "Struck Dumb", for the low low cost of providing your email address.

Don't hesitate.  Go get yours here.

The Futureheads' website
The Futureheads' Myspace

Laura Veirs gives a tour of her Writer's "Barn" (video)

Laura Veirs new album July Flame comes out on January 12th.  


Currently, she's giving everyone a little glimpse into her songwriting process and creative space via a video tour of her writer's "barn".  Check out the inside look here:

Laura Veirs' website

Laura Veirs' Myspace

Mew release live album

When Danish neo-shoegazers Mew embark on their North American tour next week they will have some new product to promote.  The trio has just released the 11-song Live from the Hollywood Palladium.  The album is available digitally from iTunes and through the band's website.

Mew play the Mod Club in Toronto on December 6th.

Mew's website
Mew's Myspace

3 More To Explore: Adam Ashbauch, Welcome To Ashley, Oh My God

In this edition of the feature I've decided to go with an all-Chicago theme.  Take these Windy City bands into the weekend with you:

Adam Ashbach
For those who like: Sam Roberts, Jack Johnson

If you are into breezy pop rock, then this singer-songwriter will be right up your alley.

Adam Ashbauch's Myspace

Welcome To Ashley
For those who like: The Kinks, Echo and the Bunnymen

Formerly from Nashville, this quartet tackles catchy rock with a distinctly Anglo-appreciation.

Welcome To Ashley's Myspace


Oh My God
For those who like: Material Issue, OK Go

Hooks abound in the music from this band whose name sounds like it should have more of a death metal bent.

Oh My God's Myspace

Jenocide invents "Machines to Make Us Wet" on new album (MP3s)

Machines to Make Us Wet is the new album from Halifax's Jen Clarke, aka Jenocide.  The album is a sexually-charged indie-electro trip that should appeal to fans of Peaches or late-era Le Tigre.

Check out a couple of tunes for download:

• "Junglefk (I Want It)"- MP3
• "28 Mansions"- MP3

Machines to Make Us Wet comes out December 9th.

Jenocide's website
Jenocide's Myspace

The Silent League announce new album (MP3s)

The Silent League is a Brooklyn-based musical collective that includes one-time Mercury Rev keyboardist Justin Russo.  The group are set to release their third album, entitled ...but you've always been the caretaker, on January 26th.

Take a listen to the first track here:

• "Here's a Star"- MP3

Here's the track list for the album:

• Egg-Shaped
• When Stars Attack!!!
• Yours Truly, 2095
• Little i
• There Is A Caretaker In The Woods
• Sleeper
• Here's A Star
• Dayplanner
• The Ohio Winter Conventioners
• Rules of Disengagement
• I Go
• But You've Always Been The Pilot
• Resignation Studies
• Final Chapter Meeting
• How and Why our Dads Lost The War

There will also be a second disc which includes remixes, covers, and live tracks.

The Silent League's Myspace

SXSW 2010: first list of bands announced

SXSW 2010 takes place in Austin, TX with the Music Festival portion running March 17-21st.  The first batch of bands taking part in showcases have been announced and they feature a strong Canadian presence.

Highlights include:

• Apostle of Hustle (Toronto ON)
• Nicole Atkins and The Black Sea (Asbury Park NJ)
• B-Real of Cypress Hill (Los Angeles CA)
• The Chevelles (Melville WA)
• The Coathangers (Atlanta GA)
• The Crystal Method (Los Angeles CA)
• Dappled Cities (Sydney NSW)
• The dB’s (Chapel Hill NC)
• Deer Tick (Providence RI)
• Delhi 2 Dublin (Vancouver BC)
• Val Emmich (Jersey City NJ)
• Eternia (Toronto ON)
• Fanfarlo (London UK-ENGLAND)
• Frightened Rabbit (Selkirk UK-SCOTLAND)
• Ha Ha Tonka (Springfield MO)
• Robyn Hitchcock (London CA)
• Hot Panda (Edmonton AB)
• Japandroids (Vancouver BC)
• Jookabox (Indianapolis IN)
• Carolyn Mark (Victoria BC)
• Miniature Tigers (Phoenix AZ)
• The Pack A.D. (Vancouver BC)
• Parlovr (Montreal QC)
• Julie Peel (Montreal QC)
• Plants and Animals (Montreal QC)
• Princeton (Eagle Rock CA)
• Red Mass (Montreal QC)
• Riverboat Gamblers (Austin TX)
• Kate Schutt (Guelph ON)
• Timber Timbre (Toronto ON)
• Toolshed (London ON)
• Waco Brothers (Chicago IL)
• Warpaint (Los Angeles CA)
• We Are Scientists (New York NY)
• We Are Wolves (Montreal QC)

Find out what other artists are among the 230+ already announced here.

You can check out the entire schedule, including the film festival and conference here.

SXSW website

Arthur Nassan: "Princess Chardonnay" (MP3)

Indie pop singer/songwriter Arthur Nassan recently released a pair of albums, False Prophets and Life After Telescopes.  We're happy to be able to give you a sample of his work:

• "Princess Chardonnay"- MP3

Enjoy the free stuff!

Arthur Nassan's website

Dave Rawlings Machine: "A Friend of a Friend" (album review)

Most people no doubt know Dave Rawlings best as the musical partner of alt-country siren Gillian Welch.  He's worked closely with her, contributing to many of her classic works.  Rawlings also has a career of his own.  He's resumed his own work with the recent release of a new studio album A Friend of a Friend.

On the new album it is definitely the country aspect of the music that's in focus.  Rock elements have given way here to bluegrass-infused ditties, sung with a captivating nasal twang.

The album opens up with the high gloss country weeper "Ruby".  The track is so well polished and heart-wrenching that one can't help but be reminded of the best of Gram Parsons, or Ryan Adams before he decided to put his every musical thought down on tape.

The songs are at their best however when the undeniably country vocals are front and centre.  The melodic refrain on "I Hear Them All" are lovely in their simplicity.  "Sweet Tooth" provides us with painfully good vocal harmonies, while "Monkey and the Engineer" is fun and playful.

There is the occasional misstep however.  The medley of "Method Acting" with a cover of Neil Young's classic "Cortez the Killer" comes across as unfortunately pedestrian.  Neither song rendition has a spark on its own, which guarantees that the more than 10 minute track won't catch fire.  The album closer "Bells of Harlem" also lacks a kick.

That's easily forgiven when the banjo and fiddle are broken out for infectious hoedowns like "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)" and "It's Too Easy".

If modern country untainted by the pop or rock world is your thing, then you would be well advised to pick up A Friend of a Friend.

Best tracks: "Sweet Tooth", "I Hear Them All"

Track listing for A Friend of a Friend:

• Ruby
• To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)
• I Hear Them All
• Method Acting/Cortez the Killer
• Sweet Tooth
• How's About You
• It's Too Easy
• Monkey and the Engineer
• Bells of Harlem

7.5/10

Dave Rawlings' Myspace

Paul Weller previews "7 & 3 Is the Strikers Name" single

The Modfather is back.  Following up last year's 21 Dreams former Jam/Style Council honcho Paul Weller has returned with a brand new single.  The track, "7 & 3 Is the Strikers Name", is available by digital download and limited edition (1,000 to be exact) 7" vinyl.

The track is currently previewing on Weller's website.  Hear some here.

Paul Weller's website
Paul Weller's Myspace

Fever Ray: "Keep The Streets Empty For Me" (video)

Hot on the heels of the release of the deluxe edition of her debut album, Fever Ray has just dropped a video for her eerie track "Keep The Streets Empty For Me".

Check it out here:


Fever Ray's website
Fever Ray's Myspace

Ash release "Tracers", hear all four new singles here (stream)

Over the past eight weeks we've been following Irish rockers Ash as they embark on their project of releasing a single every fortnight for a year, the A-Z Series.  This week sees the release of single D: "Tracers".

We've got a treat for you as you can stream the singles, including "Tracers" right here:

Ash's website
Ash's Myspace

Karen O and the Kids: "Where The Wild Things Are" (album review)

Soundtracks are iffy propositions.  Most of the time they are just a random collection of songs that were strewn throughout a movie.  Occasionally we even get random songs that were featured in scenes that were left on the cutting room floor, meaning none of us got to hear it in the film.

Better soundtracks though are ones that are cohesive and specially written for a film.  That's what we get with Karen O & the Kids' soundtrack for Where The Wild Things Are.  This is the perfect example of a soundtrack that tells the story itself, without even the aid of the visuals.

With co-conspirators that include Raconteur Jack Lawrence, Deerhunter's Bradford Cox, and her Yeah Yeah Yeahs bandmate Nick Zinner, Karen O has concocted an album that sweeps the listener away to a fantasy world rife with wild things.  Whether it's a beautifully melodic full of life song like "All Is Love" or a lullaby like "Worried Shoes" or "Hideaway", the songs envelope the listener and whisk him or her away to wonderful lands and adventures.

Surprisingly it's Karen O's vocals that really make this album fit for both children and adults alike.  Her sound, much like with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, is sophisticated.  Yet on track like "Rupus", she brings a playfulness that makes many of the songs the aural equivalent to ring-around-the-rosey.

If you're looking to take a ride and escape from the humdrum, let Karen O and the Kids take you away for a while.

Best tracks: "All Is Love", "Heads Up"

Track listing for Where The Wild Things Are:

• Igloo
• All Is Love
• capsize
• Worried Shoes
• Rumpus
• Rumpus Reprise
• Hideaway
• Cliffs
• Animal
• Heads Up
• Building All Is Love
• Food Is Still Hot
• Sailing Home

8.5/10

Jihae: new album coming, get "My Love" for free (MP3)

NYC singer Jihae is getting set to release her new studio album, Fire Burning Rain, in 2010.  She's got a video for the track "My Love" coming up in December.

In the meantime, you can get a free MP3 download of "My Love" right here:

Jihae's website
Jihae's Myspace

Sloan: "Hit and Run" (EP review, stream)

Very very few Canadian bands that came to prominence in the post-Nirvana alternative music boom have managed to stick it out this long.  Nearly 20 years down the road however, Sloan is still standing tall.  Sure, the band has fallen into a safe rut over the course of the last handful of albums, but they look to break that with the release of their new EP Hit and Run.

Hit and Run actually serves as a pretty decent survey of Sloan's output.  The album opener "Take It Upon Yourself" features big hooks and a classic Sloan power pop riff.  The band's beautiful melodies and vocal harmonies are front and centre on "Midnight Mass".  For the album closer "Oh Dear Diary", the quartet pull out their best Rubber Soul-era Beatles impression for a swirling ditty.

Some of Sloan's less admirable styles are also on display.  For example, "Is It Never" is the kind of plodding, overproduced track that has been all too common from the band lately.

Thanksfully, "Where Are You Now?" jerks us back to the pleasant with a rough-around-the-edges rock sound that the band seemed to lose sometime in the mid-90s.  I for one am ecstatic that they've rediscovered it.

Don't believe me?  Preview the EP yourself here:

Best tracks: "Where Are You Now?", "Take It Upon Yourself"

Track listing for Hit and Run:

• Take It Upon Yourself
• Midnight Mass
• Is It Never
• Where Are You Now?
• Oh Dear Diary

8.0/10

Sloan's website
Sloan's Myspace

Mick Jones' Carbon/Silicon give away new album for free

Free albums are good.  Free albums from former members of The Clash are even better.

That, in a nutshell, is how I feel about The Carbon Bubble, the new album from former Clash guitarist Mick Jones' Carbon/Silicon.  The band is offering up their latest 12-song effort without asking anything but your love and affection in return.

So what are you waiting for?  Go grab the album here.

Carbon/Silicon's website

Los Lonely Boys: "Let's Go Cowboys" Dallas Cowboys tribute song (MP3)

Few rock groups have the pedigree of Los Lonely Boys.  The group returned recently with a brand new EP.  1969 is a covers record of tracks from the likes of The Beatles and The Doors.

The band has also written a brand new song in honour of their Dallas Cowboys and the opening of the team's new stadium.  You can download a copy of the track here:

• "Let's Go Cowboys"- MP3

Los Lonely Boys' website
Los Lonely Boys' Myspace