Corin Tucker Band: "1,000 Years" (album review)

1,000 Years is a strangely appropriate title for the debut solo album from Corin Tucker (out Oct. 5th).  That's because not in 1,000 years would I have expected the former Sleater-Kinney singer to release an album like this one.

Those expected Sleater-Kinney-lite will be sorely disappointed.  With the exception of "Doubt", there is precious little that touches on the D.I.Y. aggro-rock of Tucker's past.  That's not a bad thing.

That's not to say that the intensity is not there, Tucker simply finds other, less obvious ways to create it.  The title track absolutely smolders, while a track like "It's Always Summer" latches on with a unwavering emotional tug.

For the most part Tucker has traded her trademark wailing warble for a more contained vocal delivery.  By scaling back on the expected siren screams, Tucker actually conveys a much broader range of emotions, which are no less gripping.  Hearing Tucker channels Chan Marshall on the mopey blueser "Handed Love" is a prime example.

Maybe the best part of 1,000 Years is that Tucker seems to be free to utilize sounds and styles that she never really touched upon in Sleater-Kinney.  The mellow piano of "Miles Away", the inclusion of strings on several tracks, the off-kilter percussion of "Half a Wold Away", and the Helium-esque chamber rock of "Dragon" all point to a refreshingly expansive sound.

1,000 Years may not be Sleater-Kinney v. 2.0, but it looks like it's the start to something that could be even better.

Best tracks: "Handed Love", "

Track listing for 1,000 Years:

• 1,000 Years
• Half a World
• It's Always Summer
• Handed Love
• Doubt
• Dragon
• Riley
• Pulling Pieces
• Thrift Store Coats
• Big Goodbye
• Miles Away

8.5/10

Dora Alexander announce new EP, give away "Marlboro Friday" (MP3)

Toronto ambient/experimental rock outfit Dora Alexander are poised to release their new EP, Travelers.

Check out the promo clip:


You can also get a sense with the track "Marlboro Friday":



Dora Alexander play a CD release show at The Piston in Toronto on October 22nd.  Also on the bill will be Bravestation, First Rate People, and Volcano Playground.  Admission is $5 and includes a copy of the EP.

Dora Alexander's Myspace

"From the Land of Ice and Snow: The Songs of Led Zeppelin" (album review)

From the Land of Ice and Snow: The Songs of Led Zeppelin is by far one of the most ambitious album projects to come across my desk this year.  The 2-CD set (a third digital bonus album is available) comes from Portland's Jealous Butcher records on October 9th.  The album, six years in the making, features Zeppelin covers performed by Portland and area notables with a portion of the proceeds going to First Octave, an organization the promotes music education.

When it comes to reviewing this record I have to admit that I'm at a bit of a disadvantage.  That's because, well frankly, I hate Led Zeppelin.  I find their music bloated, self-indulgent, and boring.  That earns them a coveted spot right next to Pink Floyd on my "Most Over-rated Bands of All-time" list.  That said, it is intriguing to see what bands choose to do with this material.

The tracks that work the best are the versions where an artist takes a song and makes it their own.  Whether it's string reinterpretations by The Clampitt Family and The Portland Cello Project, or piano renditions by Nick Jaina, these arrangements add new life to otherwise tired tracks.  "Stairway To Heaven" is churned and cleansed until it becomes a fairly good pop rock tune by Kelly Blair Bauman.

The sweet vocal pop of Kaia and the country blues of Lana Rebel do well by stripping out the superfluous wanking of Page and company.  That wanking is modernized by Carcrashleander and played almost Minutemen-style by Pellet Gun.  Laura Veirs and Mount Analog rock "The Ocean" in a charming way.

Possibly the best track on the album is Knock Knock's tongue-in-cheek take on "Moby Dick".  They intersperse goofy snippets among what it otherwise a true to the original version.  It seems to me as though they are taking the piss out of a legendary rock band who are too often taken way too seriously.

Other acts choose to highlight aspects of Led Zeppelin's music that reinforces exactly why I dislike them.  Among those are Kind of Like Spitting, who's take on "Good Times, Bad Times" verges on unlistenable.  Amy Annelle goes to the completely opposite end of the spectrum with a snooze-inducing rendition of "Friends".

Surprisingly, the biggest names on the album contribute some of the least noteworthy tracks.  Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla drops a plodding dud.  Loch Lomond's wandering indie folk only exacerbates "Kashmir"'s interminable feel.  M. Ward's instrumental "Bron-Yr-Aur" is pleasant but unremarkable.

Despite the inconsistent nature of the album, not unexpected with a collection this size, the sheer volume of tracks and the cause it helps support make this worth picking up.

Best tracks: "The Ocean", "Black Dog"

Track listing for From the Land of Ice and Snow:
DISC 1

• Good Times Bad Times / KIND OF LIKE SPITTING
• Babe I'm Gonna Leave You / THE CLAMPITT FAMILY
• Dazed And Confused / THE PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT
• featuring LAURA GIBSON & JOHN MOEN
• Your Time Is Gonna Come / NICK JAINA
• Whole Lotta Love / FUKD'UPTIGHT
• Poor Tom / ADAM SELZER
• Nobody's Fault But Mine / CARCRASHLANDER
• Fool In The Rain / KAIA
• Thank You / DAN JONES
• Heartbreaker / LACKTHEREOF FEAT. PETE MCCRACKEN
• Moby Dick / KNOCK-KNOCK
• Out On The Tiles / SUPER XX MAN
• Friends / AMY ANELLE & THE SHISHI VALLEY BOYS
• Tangerine / JEFF LONDON
• Bron-Y-Aur Stomp / ARCH CAPE
• Hey Hey What Can I Do / WEINLAND
• In The Evening / CHRIS WALLA

DISC 2

• Black Dog / LANA REBEL
• Rock and Roll / PELLET GUN
• The Battle of Evermore / TU FAWNING
• Stairway To Heaven / KELLY BLAIR BAUMAN
• Misty Moutain Hop / BUELTON
• Four Sticks / REBECCA GATES AND THE CONSORTIUM
• Over The Hills and Far Away / JOHANNA KUNIN
• No Quarter / TESTFACE
• The Ocean / LAURA VEIRS & MOUNT ANALOG
• Houses Of The Holy / BELTLINE
• Kashmir / LOCH LOMOND
• In The Light / THE LONG WINTERS
• Bron-Yr-Aur / M. WARD
• Down By The Seaside / POWER OF COUNTY
• All My Love / PARKS & RECREATION
• I'm Gonna Crawl / DAVE DEPPER

6.5/10

Jealous Butcher's website

Teenage Kicks: "I Get What You Give" (video)

Toronto rockers Teenage Kicks recently released their debut 7" Shook Our Bones.  The band has just put out an official video for that release's track "I Get What You Give".

Check it out the infectious guitar anthem here:


Teenage Kicks play the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on November 11th with Clothes Make the Man.

Teenage Kicks' Myspace

Last minute plans: Small Sins

Cr: Leigh Righton

Toronto synth-pop band Small Sins, the brainchild of Thomas D'Arcy, plays Nu Music Nights at the Horseshoe tonight.  The new album, Pot Calls Kettle Black, has been getting rock solid reviews (although I was lukewarm to it) and it comes out on October 12th.

Small Sins goes on at 10:45pm, and as always, admission is free.

Small Sins' website
Small Sins' Myspace

Soars: "Soars" (album review)

Fans of dream pop and shoegazer should circles October 5th on their calendars.  That's the day that Pennsylvania quartet Soars drop their ethereal debut album.

The stage for the record is set by "Introduction", a track that hints of the cacophony to come.  Whether it's the meandering soundscape of "The Sun Breaks Every Way But One" or the shifty phases of "Throw Yourself Apart", Soars creates a deeply textured and subtly menacing atmospheres and classic dream pop vocals.

The album can get bogged down in too much texture at times.  The over 6-minute "Escape On High" crosses over the line into plodding monotony territory.  By the time the shimmering metallic arch of the gorgeous album closer "Monolith" comes around, Soars will have you yearning for more.

In the end Soars may make you bin your copy of Darklands, but it should certainly help to quench a thirst.

Best tracks: "Monolith", "Throw Yourself Apart"

Track listing for Soars:

• Introduction
• The Sun Breaks Every Way But One
• Throw Yourself Apart
• Escape On High
• Ditches
• Figurehead
• Young Adult
• Monolith

7.0/10

Soars' website
Soars' Myspace

New releases for Sep 28th: Neil Young, Bad Religion, No Age

Here's a look at a jam-packed new music release day:

• Bad Religion- Review
• Bedouin Soundclash
• David Bowie- reissue
• Katie Costello
• Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
• Gin Blossoms
• Jimmy Eat World
• Lazerbeak
• Maps & Atlases
• No Age
• Paper Lions
• Soundgarden
• Tom Tom Club
• Tricky
• UNKLE
• Whole Sky Monitor
• Women
• Pete Yorn
• Neil Young- Review

Hot Panda: "How Come I'm Dead?" (album review)

Edmonton's Hot Panda won a generous sized audience with their indie pop debut.  On October 12th the group return with their follow-up, the intriguingly titled How Come I'm Dead?

At the top of their game Hot Panda know how to pen fun, catchy pop songs.  The whether it's the engaging back-and-forth vocals on "Pools" or the gritty groove of "Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex" or the infectious keyboard line of "Mindlessnesslessness", the band can hit your indie pop funny bone when they put their minds to it.

The band may actually be too eclectic for their own good at times.  Much like Los Campesinos, Hot Panda has a tendency to shift rapidly from feedback and clattering rhythms to tranquil wafting airs, often over the course of a single song.  This makes it difficult to get in a feel your way around tracks like "Start Making Sense".  The urge to flirt with the monotonous, like on the opening track "Membership Fees (Intro)", feel completely out of place.

How Comes I'm Dead? certainly has it's share of enjoyable moments, it simply fails to deliver them in a suitable context on a consistent basis.

Hot Panda play the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on October 12th.


Best tracks: "Pools", "Mindlessnesslessness"

Track listing for How Come I'm Dead?:

• Membership Fees (Intro)
• Evil Nature
• Pools
• Shoot Your Horse
• Fuck Shit Up/Hell Hey Hex
• Start Making Sense
• Poor Little Ambulance
• Clever Fox
• Mindlessnesslessness
• 1995
• The Ghost
• Last Night Calling (Outro)

6.0/10

Hot Panda's website
Hot Panda's Myspace

This week's entertainment picks: Villagers, James and lots more

This is one of the best concert week's that I can remember.  Almost every night poses hard decisions.  Thankfully I have taken the burden out of your hands and I'm suggesting:

Villagers

Villagers, The Drake Underground, Sep 27
Since I accidentally saw Villagers perform at CMW their debut album Becoming a Jackal has received a Mercury Prize nomination.  This is a great chance to see frontman Conor O'Brian in an intimate solo show.


Villagers' Myspace

James, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Sep 30
It's been a long time since they hit it big with "Laid", but their material is still very strong.  It appears as though the band is back for the long-haul, and I'm excited to see a rejuvenated band play.

James' website

...also this week:

• Boxer Rebellion, Sep 27
• Foals, Sep 27
• Klaxons, Sep 27
• Lost In the Trees, Sep 27
• Turbogeist w. PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots), Sep 28
• Menomena w. The Suckers, Sep 28
• Alejandro Escovedo, Sep 29
• Eels, Sep 29
• Holy Fuck w. Indian Jewelry, Sep 29
• Laura Veirs w. The Watson Twins, Sep 29
• Liars w. Women, Sep 29
• Serj Tankian, Sep 29
• Talvin Singh, Sep 30
• Tom Tom Club, Sep 30
• Charge of the Light Brigade, Oct 1
• Matt Pond PA, Oct 1
• Shonen Knife, Oct 1
• Shad, Oct 1
• Serena Maneesh, Oct 1
• Scout Niblett, Oct 2
• Semi-Precious Weapons, Oct 2
• Swans, Oct 2
• The Toasters, Oct 2
• Macy Gray, Oct 2
• Deerhoof w. Xiu Xiu, Oct 3

Falklands: "Think About It" (album review)

Sometimes it's the most basic albums that make an impact with you.  When a band strips things back to the guitar/bass/drums and bangs out some raw tunes it hits all the right chords.  That's exactly the kind of album we get in Think About It, the new record from Edmonton's Falklands.

Tracks like the opener "It's Good To See You" are the soundtrack of a bunch of guys having fun playing their songs.  There are ample hooks as songs like "Hell Is Up", "Saint Vinny" and "Earthquake", with it's Motown-inspired tumbling bassline, bop along.

Occasionally you do want a little bit more contrast between songs.  Falklands don't necessarily need to add fancy instruments or dabble in obscure styles, but some additional variation in tempo and rhythm would make each song more distinctive than they currently are, thus making for a more sustained interesting listen.

When all is said and done, Think About It is just a solid rock record.  There's no frills, no superfluous hoopla.  It's the kind of album that makes you think: 'yeah, rock is still alive and well'.

Falklands play Studio BLR in Toronto on October 15th.

Best tracks: "Earthquake", Saint Vinny"

Track listing for Think About It:

• It's Good To See You
• Lonely Son
• Earthquake
• Saint Vinny
• Southern Cross
• I Thought I Understood
• Found
• Yellow Rose
• Hell Is Up
• Drunks & Thieves

7.0/10

Falkland's website

Toronto concerts announced this week: Front Line Assembly, Melissa Auf der Maur

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

Emm Gryner

• Emm Gryner, Dakota Tavern, Oct 1
• Edgewater Hotel, Tiger Bar, Oct 1
• The Good Lovelies, Harbourfront Centre, Oct 9
• The Good Lovelies, Harbourfront Centre, Oct 10
• The Good Lovelies, Harbourfront Centre, Oct 11
• Coco et Co, Holy Oak Cafe, Oct 15
• Free Energy, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 16
• Emm Gryner, Harbourfront Centre, Oct 23
• Tom Green, The Phoenix, Oct 23
• Bruce Peninsula, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 28
• Melissa Auf der Maur, Tattoo Rock Parlour, Nov 4
• C.R. Avery, The Rivoli, Nov 12
• carmen Townsend, Horseshoe Tavern, Nov 16
• Rankin Family, Massey Hall, Nov 18
• The Gertrudes, Imperial Pub, Nov 18
• No Age, Polish Combatants Hall, Nov 18
• Bedouin Soundclash, Sound Academy, Nov 19
• Delhi 2 Dublin, Mod Club, Nov 20
• Front Line Assembly, Opera House, Nov 24
• Bahamas. Glenn Gould Theatre, Nov 25
• Hannah Georgas, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Nov 26

Luke Doucet: "Steel City Trawler" (album review)

Barring a surprise commercial crossover there's little left for Luke Doucet to accomplish on the Canadian indie scene.  He's been nominated for slews of awards, he's played with some of the biggest and best, and most importantly he's built himself up a tidy fan base.  Now he returns with his fifth collection of dusty roots rockers Steel City Trawler.

The new album doesn't stray far from the recipe that made Doucet a critical success.  Tracks like "Dirty Dirty Blonde" and "Monkeys" provide solid mid tempo hooks in a country-tinged framework.  Rockers come in the form of the moonshine-fueled "Thinking People" and "Love and a Steady Hand".

The standouts for the album both have undeniable hooks, though they come from vastly different origins.  The first is the sweetly yearning track "Hey Now".  The second is a fairly true rendition of Gordon Lightfoot's classic "Sundown".  Each is marvelous in their own way.

There's only really one tune that misses the mark completely.  The Simon & Garfunkel-esque vocal harmonies on "Magpie" tragically hoover the life right out of the middle of the album.

Throw in a biographical song about Joy Division's Ian Curtis and you have yourself one heck of a little record.  Doucet delivers once again.

Luke Doucet plays the Mod Club in Toronto on November 27th.

Best tracks: "Hey Now", "Sundown"

Track listing for Steel City Trawler:

• Monkeys
• Thinking People
• Hey Now
• Ballad of Ian Curtis
• You Gotta Get It
• Magpie
• Sundown
• Dirty Dirty Blonde
• Love and a Steady Hand
• Dusted
• Some of You Folks

8.0/10

Luke Doucet's website
Luke Doucet's Myspace

Quick Hits: Jesse David Weeks

Being Saturday, here's another look at things I just couldn't deal with this week:

Jesse David Weeks, Somewhere In the Distance
This is the debut full length album from Weeks, a Toronto police officer.  The songs are fairly catchy pop rock, that carry a positive message.  With the occasional reggae tinge and ill-advised hip hop foray, Bedouin Soundclash is not an unreasonable comparison.

The lyrics are well-meaning, but they frequently stray into the realm of cheesy predictability.  At it's worst is "Year Of The Gun", a song obviously intended to inspire, which instead sounds like an adult's awkward attempt at being 'cool' and speaking with the kids.

Jesse David Weeks' website
Jesse David Weeks' Myspace

Imaginary Cities announce EP, tour

Buzzed-about Winnipeg indie pop duo Imaginary Cities have announced the release of their new EP.  Hummingbird will be available as a 7" and digitally on October 26th.

The record serves as a teaser to their debut full length, Temporary Resident, which is scheduled for a February release.

Imaginary Cities have a number of Ontario dates coming up including:

• Thunder Bay, Jacks, Sep 27
• Sudbury, The Townhouse, Sep 29
• Kingston, The Mansion, Oct 1
• Hamilton, This Ain't Hollywood, Oct 4
• Toronto, The Dakota, Oct 5
• Peterborough, The Red Dog, Oct 6
• Toronto, The Horseshoe, Oct 7
• Thunder Bay, Jacks, Oct 9
• Toronto, The Mod Club, Dec 1 (opening for Ra Ra Riot)
• Waterloo, Starlight Room, Dec 2 (opening for Ra Ra Riot)
• Kingston, Chalmers United Church, Dec 4 (opening for Ra Ra Riot)

Imaginary Cities' website
Imaginary Cities' Myspace

Next Music From Tokyo announces tour dates, gives away sampler

uhnellys

Next Music From Tokyo, the package tour designed to bring up-and-coming Japanese bands to North America, is returning for a series of dates in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.  On this edition of the tour will be sgt., uhnellys, susquatch, and MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS (that name probably sounds better in Japanese).

Grab a sampler of the bands here.

Next Music From Tokyo shows will take place in Toronto at the Rivoli on October 16th and the Velvet Underground on October 17th.

Next Music From Tokyo's website

Aidy runs Song A Week series

UK musician and blogger Aidy has undertaken an ambitious project.  Every week since the beginning of the year he has posted a new original song in a feature he titled Song A Week (no ambiguity in that name).

Each Friday he posts a brand spankin' new MP3 and this being Friday I thought you should check it out.

Explore the archives too for tracks like "Hurt Me Bitch", "Hodge Plays Mario Kart", and "The Guy With No Username".

Aidy's website

Maximum Balloon: "Maximum Balloon" (album review)

I'm always curious about what motivates an artist to do a side project.  Some seems like they want to do something completely different.  Some simply want get their own songs heard.  Then there's Maximum Balloon, the side project from TV On The Radio's David Sitek.  The new self-titled release from the group was released this week and it seems the motivation is to work with a handful of different people.

I say that because he certainly isn't branching out too far stylistically.  There are precious few songs on the record that would be out of place on a TVOTR disc.

The TVOTR sense is heightened when Tunde Adebimpe makes an appearance on the dark, swirling "Absence of Light" and Kyp Malone pops up with his falsetto on the funky "Shakedown".  Another huge indie name lends her talents as Karen O performs vocal duties on the equally funky "Communion".

There are a handful of experiments here.  Theophilus London adds some hip hop on top of the typical TVOTR fare on "Groove Me".  Bonus track "Quantum Exit" is a tremendous jazzy opus.  The real standout though is "Apartment Wrestling", which introduces David Byrne and his herky jerky Talking Heads' New Wave into the mix.

Not everything on the album's a winner though.  The horns on "Young Love" have a pre-fab '80s feel that evoke images of Huey Lewis.  The techno beats on "If You Return" are way over the top.  Holly Miranda brings her textural influence to "The Lesson", turning it into a shadowy but meandering snoozer.

The deluxe edition of the album comes with a few extras.  Two overly dancified remixes of "Groove Me" aren't worth the extra cash, but the afortmentioned "Quantum Exit" and R&B-infused "Lovely View" provide decent moments.

Maximum Balloon will grow on you over time.  Unfortunately, it's too similar to TVOTR's output to warrant high marks for experimenting and just dissimilar enough to feel like something is just slightly askew.

Best tracks: "Absence of Light", "Communion"

Track listing for Maximum Balloon:

• Groove Me
• Young Love
• Absence of Light
• If You Return
• Shakedown
• Communion
• Tiger
• The Lesson
• Apartment Wrestling
• Pink Bricks

7.0/10

Maximum Balloon's website
Maximum Balloon's Myspace

3 More To Explore: Little City, Angie Foster, Peach

Can you believe it's almost October already?  What the heck has happened to 2010?  Oh well, check out these acts in between the early and late NFL games this weekend:

Little City
For those who like: early Apples In Stereo

A relatively new Toronto band, Little City dropped their debut EP The Going and the Gone about a month ago.  If you like folky pop with great melodies then you'll dig this.

Little City's Myspace

Angie Foster
For those who like: Sara Bareilles

There's something to be said for the simplicity of a strong female performer and her piano.  Now that Sarah McLachlan has decided to suck there's a huge opening.  Try Foster out.

Angie Foster's Myspace

Peach
For those who like: PJ Harvey

Hailing from St. Louis, this duo play in clattery fits and starts with multiple layers of sound.

Peach's Myspace

British Sea Power announce "Zeus" EP (MP3)

Indie rockers British Sea Power have announced the release of a new EP.  The 7-song Zeus will be available digitally on October 5th.  The set is a precursor to a new full length album in 2011.

Hear some snippets and get a download of the title track here:


British Sea Power's website

Edgewater Hotel announce release of debut EP

Toronto-based band Edgewater Hotel have announced the release of their debut record.  The group, named after an, um, venerable Parkdale landmark officially drop their Sounds & Sine Waves EP on October 1st.

The EP is 6-songs of restrained alternative rock that seems oddly appropriate for beach side listening.  Think of hHead playing Jack Johnson songs...if that makes any sense to you.

Check out the standout "C-Funk" when you have a chance.

Edgewater Hotel play a CD release show at Tiger Bar in Toronto on October 1st.

Edgewater Hotel's Myspace

CONTEST: Win tickets to see James in Toronto

It pains me to have to do this, but I have two tickets to see James (of "Laid" fame) in Toronto next week that, due to circumstances, I can't use.  So rather than scalp them I thought I'd give you, my *ahem* loyal readers a crack at getting them for free.

The show is Thurs. Sept. 30th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

To get your hands on the tickets please hit me up one of these ways:
Email
Twitter
Myspace
Facebook

If you are the lucky person who gets them I simply ask that you write me a quick blurb of your thoughts on the show that I can run in this space.

James' website

Bad Religion: "The Dissent of Man" (album review)

Let's get this out right up front: Bad Religion is the greatest punk band to ever walk the face of the Earth.  Period.  No debate in my mind.  That's what makes their new album The Dissent of Man, out September 28th, so disappointing.

It would be wrong to ever describe a Bad Religion record as 'lazy', but there's a feeling of that with The Dissent of Man.  The blistering guitars that open the album on "The Day the Earth Stalled" are clichéd, and make many appearances throughout.    Greg Graffin seems almost winded delivering his parts on tracks like "Only Rain".  As a result the entire band needs to dial everything back.  The result are an abundance of blase mid tempo (mid punk tempo anyway) numbers like "The Devil In Stitches" and "Ad Hominem".

Even Graffin's lyrics aren't as sharp as we've come to expect.  There may be a couple of slightly clever song titles, but the lyrics themselves are incredibly predictable.  Beyond that I nary had to reach for a thesaurus.  Frankly, I listen to Bad Religion albums to expand my vocabulary.  There's no such luck here.

The album does have some bright spots.  The choppiness of "Someone To Believe" is a nice variation on the standard punk sound.  The riff on "Cyanide" is as close to classic rock as Bad Religion have ever come, but it strangely works.  They also show a pop side with the poignant closer "I Won't Say Anything".  A handful of tracks over the course of a 15-song album isn't enough to garner a recommendation though.

If ever you could listen to an album and clearly state that here's a band in desperate need of a recharge, The Dissent of Man would be it.

Bad Religion play the Kool Haus in Toronto on October 14th.

Best tracks: "Cyanide", "Someone To Believe"

Track listing for The Dissent of Man:

• The Day the Earth Stalled
• Only Rain
• The Resist Stance
• Won't Somebody
• The Devil In Stitches
• Pride and the Pallor
• Wrong Way Kids
• Meeting of the Minds
• Someone To Believe
• Avalon
• Cyanide
• Turn Your Back On Me
• Ad Hominem
• Where the Fun Is
• I Won't Say Anything

4.5/10

Bad Religion's website
Bad Religion's Myspace

Coco et Co give away debut album (MP3)

Montreal duo Coco et Co are making their debut record St. Denis available for free download.  The album is a collection of eight tracks of thoughtful indie pop that should strike a chord with fans...especially given the low, low price.

Listen to the track "State of Radio" now and download the entire album here.

Coco et Co play the Holy Oak Cafe in Toronto on October 15th.

Coco et Co's Myspace

In The Audience announce release of "What Lives"

In The Audience is an indie pop rock band hailing from that hotbed of DIY music Portland, ME.  They've got their new album What Lives coming out on October 12th in the US and October 19th in the GTA.

The group also has a local connection as Sonia Sturino, who provides stellar vocals as a member of The Box Tiger, contributes vocals keyboard and guitar to In The Audience as well.

Check out the track listing:

• American Names
• For Girls
• For Courtney
• Shine
• Fun Jungle Playground
• Mr. Manager
• Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament
• Not Alone

I think "Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament" earns a place on my forthcoming Hockey Songs playlist on the strength of its title alone.

In The Audience's Myspace

Nicole Atkins gives away new track "Vultures"

Singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins releases her new studio album Mondo Amore in January of next year.  She's giving everyone a preview with the free download of the track "Vultures" at her website.

This is an early entry on the list of albums I'm looking forward to in 2011.

Nicole Atkins' website
Nicole Atkins' Myspace

Neil Young: "Le Noise" (album review)

The great thing about Neil Young is that from record to record you have no idea what you're going to get.  When a new album is announced, you wonder will it be the plaintive folk, will it be the angsty feedback-drenched rock, or will it be something completely different.  Young's forthcoming album, Le Noise, falls under the completely different category.

The iconic producer Daniel Lanois is behind the console for the new album, which sees it's release on September 28th.  At first blush the concept seems simple.  Lanois records what is merely Young playing songs solo on his guitar.

It doesn't end up being that easy though.  Lanois coaxes big, dissonant riffs out of Young.  On top of that, and sometimes underneath it, he drapes electronic effects and production tricks to provide distortion.  It works better than the last time Young dabbled in these kinds of techniques.

For the most part the production melds far more seamlessly with the guitar fuzz, making it an accent rather than the focal point.  That gives the autobiographical "Hitchhiker" a liberating drone.  It also adds another layer of intrigue to "Sign of Love" with its "Downtown" guitar intro.

These tricks aren't always aurally pleasing though.  Tracks like "Someone's Gonna Rescue You" get bogged down in it.  Weighed down by the burden it turns into a sluggish mess.  The echo effects are overdone on "Angry World", making Young sound like he's singing inside an astronaut's helmet.  That's not even mentioning the grating loop used on the track.

Lyrically, these songs are some of Young's most personal observations in recent memory.  "Love and War" (I can't believe he hadn't used that title before) is both intimate and political.  "Peaceful Valley Boulevard" is a poignant song, though one that unfortunately suffers from bland arrangements.

Le Noise is an album that sees Young re-exploring some sound he flirted with thirty or so years ago.  While he does a much better job of it this time around, it should be clear now that this is not where his musical soul lays.

Best tracks: "Sign of Love", "Hitchhiker"

Track listing for Le Noise:

• Walk With Me
• Sign of Love
• Someone's Gonna Rescue You
• Love and War
• Angry World
• Hitchhiker
• Peaceful Valley Boulevard
• Rumblin'

5.0/10

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