Posts under ‘Music’

I’d kind of forgotten about all the movies we’ve watched over the past week: Kick-Ass: most excellent Precious: good, incredibly well-acted (in that if I ever see Mo’Nique walking down the street I’m likely to punch her face in) but hard as fuck to watch Stripes: I’m sure it was a classic for its time, [...]

I have a special fondness for good bands who take bad pop songs and make them awesome. I picked a few of my favourites, and let me tell you…it was only Gordon Lightfoot’s general awesomeness that kept me from putting The Dandy Warhols‘ version of “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” on here. The Bird [...]

shearwater . “castaways” hidden cameras . “he falls to me” titus andronicus . “four score and seven” titus andronicus . “the battle of hampton roads” besnard lakes . “like the ocean, like the innocent part II” frightened rabbit . “things” black francis . “six legged man” avi buffalo . “what’s in it for?” vampire weekend [...]

Last night, as part of nxne, about a zurbillion of us crowded into Yonge-Dundas Square to see the godfathers of punk: Iggy and the Stooges. Unfortunately Nellie and I arrived too late to see The Raveonettes play; dinner at the nearby Queen and Beaver dragged a little. Though I could barely see them from where [...]

shearwater . “castaways” spoon . “mystery zone” hidden cameras . “he falls to me” titus andronicus . “four score and seven” titus andronicus . “the battle of hampton roads” besnard lakes . “like the ocean, like the innocent part II” frightened rabbit . “things” black francis . “six legged man” avi buffalo . “what’s in [...]

avi buffalo . avi buffalo band of horses . infinite arms black francis . nonstoperotik black keys . brothers bonnie prince billy & the cairo gang . wondershow of the world circa survive . blue sky noise dead weather . sea of cowards for a minor reflection . reistu thig vid, solin er komin a [...]

Yes, I know we haven’t really begun a new decade yet. And yes, I know we’re already a month into the “new” decade. But everybody else did it, so me too me too me too. Here are, in my opinion, the best albums released between 2000 and 2009: The Arcade Fire . Funeral And You [...]

Two tragedies caught my attention last week. One was massive and horrible in scale, the other rather more private. I tend to associate songs with feelings or memories, often for no particular reason. This past week, while absorbing scenes of destruction in Haiti following the massive earthquake, a friend emailed me news of the passing [...]

Lo and behold, my twenty favourite songs of 2009, listed according to artist: and you will know us by the trail of dead . “fields of coal” the antlers . “two” dan auerbach . “heartbroken, in disrepair” neko case . “middle cyclone” drummer . “mature fantasy” florence and the machine . “dog days are over” [...]

All week Maclean’s has been issuing ‘best-of-decade’ lists, focusing only on Canadian content. Best Canadian TV shows, best Canadian movies, and so on. Today was the one I was really waiting for: the best Canadian music of the decade. In true Canadian spirit, it is both indie-focused and very safe. Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004) [...]

We’ve entered the time of year where there aren’t really any more new albums coming out that I care about, so here are what I consider the ten best to be released this year. and you will know us by the trail of dead . the century of self the antlers . hospice neko case [...]

As of August I’d picked off my 18 favourite songs of the year so far: neko case . middle cyclone von bondies . chancer dan auerbach . heartbroken, in disrepair john frusciante . unreachable heartless bastards . be so happy and you will know us by the trail of dead . ascending and you will [...]

Friday night Nellie and I went to see The Rural Alberta Advantage (site | myspace) at Lee’s Palace with Joe and Sheila (who must be gold member frequent RAA concert miles collectors by now). I’d heard loads about their shows, as they play Toronto a lot, but decided I had to experience it for myself. [...]

Have you heard of Drummer? As in, the band made up of five drummers from Ohio? Most famous of which is the Black Keys‘ drummer? No? Well, you should. Legally, as a former drummer, I’m required by international statute to like them, but I think they’d stand up to an objective examination by others. I [...]

As I have so many times before I made my Dad a CD yesterday. Or, rather, I compiled a playlist; I neglected to get a CD writer in my lastest computer — I simply never burn anything anymore — so my brother had to burn the CD. Thanks Andrew! Here’s the playlist: Holly Golightly . [...]