Sometimes, I find myself in a bit of a funk. Nothing necessarily bad has happened, but for some reason, I just find myself with a rather heavy case of "blah". And, minus a rather enjoyable saturday night hanging out with Happy Apple, it's definitely been a "blah" heavy weekend.
As a music nerd, it's probably to be expected that I like to play music to blast me out of the funk. I'm sure most people would gravitate towards incredibly cheerful music when they're feeling down... but I'm not most people. Instead, I tend to play super depressing music - radiohead, old school blues, and sombre Johnny Cash tunes. You'd think this music would destroy me, but it always helps boil away the blahs.
This weekend, I've dusted off some of my go-to songs for "blah" weekends, and I figure I'll share some of them (as well as the downer lyrics) with you guys. Enjoy!
Do You Realize? the flaming lips
This song has been on almost constant repeat all weekend. I have no idea why it picks me up, because the lyrics are kind of a downer, but they really make me smile.
do you realize that you have the most beautiful face
do you realize we're floating in space
do you realize that happiness makes you cry
do you realize that everyone you know someday will die
and instead of saying all of your goodbyes
let them know you realize that life goes fast
it's hard to make the good things last
you realize the sun don't go down
it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
do you realize
do you realize that everyone you know someday will die
and instead of saying all of your goodbyes
let them know you realize that life goes fast
it's hard to make the good things last
you realize the sun don't go down
it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
do you realize that you have the most beautiful face
do you realize?
Chill Out, ze frank
I also wish I could find a way to legally purchase this song, too. The story is pretty sweet, too - a woman wrote Ze Frank saying she felt alone and stressed, and he penned the song. Then he got something like a couple dozen people to sing the chorus ("hey, you're okay, you'll be fine, just breathe"). He sent it to her, and well, there's a reason Ze Frank is the man.
right now it feels like i forgot to turn the light on
and things that looked so good yet sturdy are now shades of gray
and it seems like the world is spinning while I'm standing still
or maybe I am spinning I can't tell
and then you say hey, you're okay, you'll be fine, just breathe
and now the women sing hey, you're okay, you'll be fine, just breathe
now everybody sings hey, you're okay, you'll be fine, just breathe
hey you're okay you'll be fine, just breathe
hey, you're okay, you'll be fine, just breathe
Dinu Lipatti's Bones, the mountain goats
And then there's The Mountain Goats. The most depressing band on the face of the earth (and I use the term "band" loosely, as 'they' consist of just one guy). However, I guess for me, there's just something about depressing music that makes me happy. My mother always said I listened to music you could hang yourself to. I guess this song is a case in point, eh?
we stank of hair dye and ammonia
we sealed ourselves away from view
you were looking at the void and seldom blinking
the best that I could do
was to train my eyes on you
we scaled the hidden hills beneath the surface
scraped our fingers bloody on the stones
and built a little house that we could live in
out of dinu lipatti's bones
we kept our friends at bay all summer long
treated the days as though they'd kill us if they could
wringing out the hours like blood drenched bedsheets
to keep winter time at bay
but december showed up anyway
there was no money it was money that you wanted
i went downtown sold off most of what i owned
and we raised a tower to broadcast all our dark dreams
from dinu lipatti's bones
So, that's my list. What's your list of pick me ups? Is it half as bleak as mine?
Showing posts with label Music Mondays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music Mondays. Show all posts
Albums to Look Forward To:
There are a few albums coming out in the next few months that I'm pretty excited for. These are albums that I just can't wait to hear, because these bands have yet to disappoint me.
The Dodos, No Color: The fourth studio album by the Dodos releases on March 15th. The album supposedly will feature a return to the heavier drum sound that was prevalent on Visiter, and roughly half the songs will feature the amazingly talented lady (and honourary Canadian), Neko Case. The band has released their first single, "Black Night", and it's classic Dodos fare. Life is good, my friends. Life is good.
Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues: The fleet foxes, a Seattle based band I'd tag as "diverse new-age folk hippy music", releases their new album on May 3rd. I've heard the title track, and it's thie great acoustic bit that definitely is low-key and just a little sad.
Hey Rosetta!, Seeds: Canadian Maritime band Hey Rosetta! releases their new album on February 15th. I've seen these guys live a few times, and I've never been disappointed - they are a large band, with a wide range of available sounds. They can do introspective blues, angry rock, and cheerful pop... sometimes all at once. I don't really know anything about this upcoming album, but that's not stopping me from being excited about it!
Mother Mother, Eureka: I love Mother Mother. I love them so very much. They've released their first single for this album, called "The Stand", and it's bizarre in that lovingly original Mother Mother fashion. I have to admit, I'm a bit grumpy that I have to wait until March 15th before I can listen to the rest of the album.
We Are The City, High School: a Kelowna-based band, We Are The City consists of a guitarist, a pianist/vocalist, and a drummer. While they have a threadbare lineup, their sound is surprisingly layered and complex. While I'm not a huge fan of the lead vocalist, I do find myself in love with the furious piano lines and frenetic guitar. The album releases on March 22nd.
Other Releases of Note: While it's unconfirmed, there are talks that we'll see 2011 releases from Queens of the Stone Age, Tool (!), and Radiohead (though it'll probably be an EP).
The Dodos, No Color: The fourth studio album by the Dodos releases on March 15th. The album supposedly will feature a return to the heavier drum sound that was prevalent on Visiter, and roughly half the songs will feature the amazingly talented lady (and honourary Canadian), Neko Case. The band has released their first single, "Black Night", and it's classic Dodos fare. Life is good, my friends. Life is good.
Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues: The fleet foxes, a Seattle based band I'd tag as "diverse new-age folk hippy music", releases their new album on May 3rd. I've heard the title track, and it's thie great acoustic bit that definitely is low-key and just a little sad.
Hey Rosetta!, Seeds: Canadian Maritime band Hey Rosetta! releases their new album on February 15th. I've seen these guys live a few times, and I've never been disappointed - they are a large band, with a wide range of available sounds. They can do introspective blues, angry rock, and cheerful pop... sometimes all at once. I don't really know anything about this upcoming album, but that's not stopping me from being excited about it!
Mother Mother, Eureka: I love Mother Mother. I love them so very much. They've released their first single for this album, called "The Stand", and it's bizarre in that lovingly original Mother Mother fashion. I have to admit, I'm a bit grumpy that I have to wait until March 15th before I can listen to the rest of the album.
We Are The City, High School: a Kelowna-based band, We Are The City consists of a guitarist, a pianist/vocalist, and a drummer. While they have a threadbare lineup, their sound is surprisingly layered and complex. While I'm not a huge fan of the lead vocalist, I do find myself in love with the furious piano lines and frenetic guitar. The album releases on March 22nd.
Other Releases of Note: While it's unconfirmed, there are talks that we'll see 2011 releases from Queens of the Stone Age, Tool (!), and Radiohead (though it'll probably be an EP).
Music Mondays - The Black Keys
Seriously, when I first heard this album on a good pair of headphones, I think the only reaction I was able to muster was to grab a cloth and wipe the drool that was dribbling down my chin. It is, after all, very unbecoming to drool while listening to a band. It's just as bad to be coming while listening to a band.
Or something like that. It sounded a lot funnier in my head. Sue me.
Recently, I picked up the Black Keys' Brothers and promptly proceeded to call it "a good fusion of electric blues, 1960s R&B and Soul, and modern folk, with a heavy dose of late era stoner rock thrown in for good measure". And that's a statement I stand behind. Or at least beside. Or maybe in front of. Look, I'm not too sure about positioning, but let's just say we're both in the same photograph, saying "cheese".
The Black Keys have this great rock sound to them that definitely has some echoes of the past. They're often called a blues band, and it's true that they definitely have a blues side to them. But it's blues reimagined and repackaged for the modern audience - there are no blues guitar soloes, no wailing cries for mercy, and no crystal-clear guitar lines. They are a blues band that has fully embraced muddy distortion, modern sensibilities, and are more than willing to experiment with new instruments and sounds. And while there are a lot of pseudo blues bands out there ran entirely by white dudes (I'm looking at you, John Mayer and The White Stripes), these guys do the whole blues-rock thing a helluva lot more authentically.
I mean, Robert Plant is a fan. Robert fucking Plant. He of the voice. You know... this guy?
I've been loving "the Keys" since the first time I heard their album Attack and Release, an occasionally folky, occasionally rocky album that was on constant rotation in my house for a good three months. And the band just keeps getting better and better. Brothers starts off with a bouncing, rhythmic bass line that has a good touch of distortion on it - something reminiscent of early Queens of the Stone Age. But the soul-like vocals layered on top bring this album into a whole new range.
This is popular music that we don't get to hear very often - popular music that is actually good. It is deep, layered, and a shout-out to all of those great R&B acts that have come before. "Tighten Up" reminds me of those great bands like Rare Earth (and has an awesome music video, holy crap), while "Howlin' For You" reminds me of that anthemic Gary Glitter song, only with, y'know, far less Paedophilia. And "I'm not the one" is a classic blues song given an entirely new spin that defies explanation - it reminds me of my absolute favourite B.B. King song, and that's high praise indeed.
So there.
Music Mondays - The Barmitzvah Brothers
I really wish my first music post of 2011 would be about some new, cutting-edge band. But were I to do that, I'd be lying - the bands I've been listening to lately are not brand new musicians, bright eyed and bushy-tailed. Nope. The bands I've been listening to have all been around for awhile, and released multiple albums.
And so it is that I mention the Barmitzvah Brothers. Describing themselves as "Alt Pop", their sound is one that is based upon multiple instruments and simple vocal schemes that are surprisingly witty and layered. Personally, I'd describe it as "old timey radio songs meets sixties-style folk, all tied together by a ukelele".
The band, which - despite the name - is neither jewish nor brothers (or even predominantly male), makes a point of having every musician play multiple instruments depending on the song. And they do it with a sense of humour while not being one of those dreaded "comedy acts".
Their last album, released in 2007, is pretty much on constant repeat on my ipod right now. And it's really no surprise why - it goes from funny and self-referential jokes right into deep, thoughtful lyrics that shy away from being morose or "broody". The album, "Let's express our motives: An Album of Under-Appreciated Job Songs" is dedicated to all those jobs that don't get the praise.
Which brings my main point of contention. Sure, it has songs dedicated to those who work at animal rendering plants, janitors, rodeo clowns... but it doesn't cover the most under-appreciated job of all time... the blogger.
I really am just a tad offended. Who cares if a guy at a rendering plant has stinky fingers? Do you people realize just how much diet coke and hickory sticks I burn through every week to bring you blogging gold? When in the hell do I get my song?
But I'll forgive them, if only because the album is just so awesome.
It's just amazing just how fast it can go from quirky, upbeat songs such as "Sign Erector" to hauntingly dark songs like "Salvage Diver", a simple vocal/ukelele combination that just happens to have some of the greatest lyrics I've heard in a long time ("All those things the water kept/burned an image that I can't forget/going down to look for bodies"). I'm not much of a lyrics person when it comes to music (which might explain my love of Led Zeppelin), but with this band, I'm really paying attention to just what's being said.
You see, the primary singer, Jenny Mitchell, sings with such conviction. Every song is about an occupation - and with each song, I'm convinced she's singing about a job she's personally held. I am sure, in fact, that she has worked as a Library Page, a Denture Technician, a Show Promoter, a Thrift Store Owner, a Bookbinder, a Piano Tuner, and...
..well, you get the point. But there is one song that she's held that I'm sure is 100% accurate - she has been a member of The Barmitzvah Brothers. And yes, they included their own jobs as musicians in an album about under-appreciated jobs. Remember what I said about funny, self-referential lyrics?
Bad news? They haven't released an album in three years. Their main website is a dead link. And they all have "side projects". On the plus side, they just did a "reunion tour" last month, so there's still hope yet. I'd love to catch these guys live - they sound like they'd be a lot of fun.
And so it is that I mention the Barmitzvah Brothers. Describing themselves as "Alt Pop", their sound is one that is based upon multiple instruments and simple vocal schemes that are surprisingly witty and layered. Personally, I'd describe it as "old timey radio songs meets sixties-style folk, all tied together by a ukelele".
Their last album, released in 2007, is pretty much on constant repeat on my ipod right now. And it's really no surprise why - it goes from funny and self-referential jokes right into deep, thoughtful lyrics that shy away from being morose or "broody". The album, "Let's express our motives: An Album of Under-Appreciated Job Songs" is dedicated to all those jobs that don't get the praise.
Which brings my main point of contention. Sure, it has songs dedicated to those who work at animal rendering plants, janitors, rodeo clowns... but it doesn't cover the most under-appreciated job of all time... the blogger.
I really am just a tad offended. Who cares if a guy at a rendering plant has stinky fingers? Do you people realize just how much diet coke and hickory sticks I burn through every week to bring you blogging gold? When in the hell do I get my song?
But I'll forgive them, if only because the album is just so awesome.
It's just amazing just how fast it can go from quirky, upbeat songs such as "Sign Erector" to hauntingly dark songs like "Salvage Diver", a simple vocal/ukelele combination that just happens to have some of the greatest lyrics I've heard in a long time ("All those things the water kept/burned an image that I can't forget/going down to look for bodies"). I'm not much of a lyrics person when it comes to music (which might explain my love of Led Zeppelin), but with this band, I'm really paying attention to just what's being said.
You see, the primary singer, Jenny Mitchell, sings with such conviction. Every song is about an occupation - and with each song, I'm convinced she's singing about a job she's personally held. I am sure, in fact, that she has worked as a Library Page, a Denture Technician, a Show Promoter, a Thrift Store Owner, a Bookbinder, a Piano Tuner, and...
..well, you get the point. But there is one song that she's held that I'm sure is 100% accurate - she has been a member of The Barmitzvah Brothers. And yes, they included their own jobs as musicians in an album about under-appreciated jobs. Remember what I said about funny, self-referential lyrics?
Bad news? They haven't released an album in three years. Their main website is a dead link. And they all have "side projects". On the plus side, they just did a "reunion tour" last month, so there's still hope yet. I'd love to catch these guys live - they sound like they'd be a lot of fun.
Music Mondays - Bon Jovi!? Really?
I had a great post figured out, regarding one of the greatest new(ish) bands from British Columbia. It was going to be funny, insightful, and educational.
But then I spent a whole day at work, listening to the canned music overhead. Apparently, someone decided it was appropriate to spend the whole day playing the entire Jon Bon Jovi catalogue. Everything from "You give love a bad name" to the Young Guns soundtrack to "Who says you can't go home?".
After a while, all Bon Jovi songs sound about the same. And it's a sound that's roughly analogous to screeching tires on wet asphalt - it triggers a primal terror response that is impossible to shake.
They found me, after my eight hour shift, curled into the foetal position in the home theatre department, nestled behind some panasonic sneakers wearing a best buy flyer as a hat. Apparently, I was sucking my thumb and muttering something about 'musical gremlins trying to get me', but I'm not sure of anything - I blocked out most of the day.
You ever see those firemen who visit the burn ward in the hospital and then become unable to fight fires? Or those artists who get completely burned out after teaching a community college painting class? Or actors who lose their edge after doing a season on a soap opera or something?
That's happened to me. I'm pretty sure Mr. Jovi has destroyed my sense of music. For the last 48 hours, every time a song plays, I get flashbacks to that fateful day.
Some people can't forget Vietnam.
I can't forget "Livin' on a Prayer".
And that is why there is no music post for the day.
But then I spent a whole day at work, listening to the canned music overhead. Apparently, someone decided it was appropriate to spend the whole day playing the entire Jon Bon Jovi catalogue. Everything from "You give love a bad name" to the Young Guns soundtrack to "Who says you can't go home?".
After a while, all Bon Jovi songs sound about the same. And it's a sound that's roughly analogous to screeching tires on wet asphalt - it triggers a primal terror response that is impossible to shake.
They found me, after my eight hour shift, curled into the foetal position in the home theatre department, nestled behind some panasonic sneakers wearing a best buy flyer as a hat. Apparently, I was sucking my thumb and muttering something about 'musical gremlins trying to get me', but I'm not sure of anything - I blocked out most of the day.
You ever see those firemen who visit the burn ward in the hospital and then become unable to fight fires? Or those artists who get completely burned out after teaching a community college painting class? Or actors who lose their edge after doing a season on a soap opera or something?
That's happened to me. I'm pretty sure Mr. Jovi has destroyed my sense of music. For the last 48 hours, every time a song plays, I get flashbacks to that fateful day.
Some people can't forget Vietnam.
I can't forget "Livin' on a Prayer".
And that is why there is no music post for the day.
Music Mondays! Playlist for December:
I've been listening to quite a bit of indie acoustic rock. Really, for some odd reason, december's playlist really is more uplifting than most of the stuff I usually listen to. Not that I'm complaining - these songs are frakkin' amazing.
There's even a Hannah Georgas song on the list, which is surprising, as I usually don't like her stuff. I'm pretty sure Kittens is reading this and smirking with an "I told you so" look on her face... but I'm too cheerful to care about it!
There's even a Hannah Georgas song on the list, which is surprising, as I usually don't like her stuff. I'm pretty sure Kittens is reading this and smirking with an "I told you so" look on her face... but I'm too cheerful to care about it!
- The Dodos - This is a Business
- Christian Hansen and the Autistics - Don't Leave Her Out
- The Barmitzvah Brothers - Show Promoter
- Hannah Georges - The national
- The Awkward Stage - I Hurt the Ones That Love Me
- Apollo Sunshine - Singing to the Earth (To Thank Her forYou)
- Said the Whale - The Light is You
- Hey Ocean! - Song About California
- Dan Mangan - Tina's Glorious Comeback
- Matt & Kim - Daylight
Music Mondays - Matt and Kim (with footnotes!)
And she told me about Matt and Kim.
Imagine a two piece band - a girl on drums, and a guy singing and playing an instrument. Sound sort of like the White Stripes? Well, imagine the white stripes, only they're much, much happier. And instead of playing blues-inspired rock, they're playing pop music you can dance to. Oh, and instead of being divorced and angry-looking, they're dating and clearly in love with each other and the world around themc.
How have I not heard of these two? I mean, I'm kind of embarrassed that I'm learning about them just now. How can I be a music fan who also loves youtube, and yet still be unaware? I'm pretty sure the answer has something to do with global warming, but I'm not entirely sure how. I'll get back to you on thatd.
It might take a while, though, because I have a feeling I'll be listening to these guys for a bit. It really is detrimental to your mental and emotional well-being to avoid these guys - some guys blow money on therapy to feel better, but wiser men spend a couple of bucks on a Matt and Kim album. And not only is the Matt and Kim album cheaper, but it also involves absolutely no cigar-smoking therapists that want you to talk about your mothere.
Matt and Kim are just so damned cheerful and happy that, after watching a few of their videos, you can't help but feel happy. The look of sheer joy on Kim's face as she plays rather basic drum beats, or the look of pleasure and contentment on Matt's face as he pounds through a keyboard line - these are looks of sublime human happinessf.
Don't believe me? Check out their videos - whether it's the cramped happiness of Daylight, the free-spirited striptease of Lessons Learnedg, or the literal "food fight" of Yea Yeah. Watch those videos, and you will find yourself a happier person. Your faith in humanity will be restored.
a. (Pssst - not her real name!)
b. Have I not talked about Rah Rah yet? I really should do that one of these days...
c. Also, Matt and Kim have never had their music in a crappy ipod commercial.
d. I have a theory involving dolphin farts, a plastic garbage bag the size of mexico, and Ray Liotta.
e. Sometimes a cigar is just a penis, doch.
f. Sort of like that feeling you get when you see an obnoxious child get punched in the groin.
g. Lesson Learned: cops are apparently afraid of grabbing a naked woman, but have no problem wrestling a naked dude to the ground.
h. Wait. Did I say penis? I meant "cigar"i
i. Alright. You caught me. I actually meant "penis".
Music Mondays - Christian Hansen and the Autistics
While listening to CBC Radio 3, I came across a very strange little band. And, as you all know, I'm quite the fan of strange little bands. But this one stood out among all those other strange little bands for one simple reason - they were making a type of music I usually hate.
It's electronic. It has a dance music vibe to it, with maybe a touch of industrial or 80s new wave thrown in. The drum beats are simplistic, and the instrumentation is almost entirely digital. And yet, after listening to songs like Don't Leave Her Out, High School's Over, and Cocaine Trade, I found myself nodding my head in a very Roxbury-esque fashion.
The band hails from Edmonton, Alberta and they are known as Christian Hansen and the Autistics. They get five gold stars for the name alone. And then you watch their videos and live feeds, and you just fall in love with them - 1980s cheese, combined with over-the-top indie self-deference and simple yet complex dance beats with just a hint of early punk thrown in for good measure.
The lead singer (Mr. Hansen, I presume?) kind of reminds me of Rick Astley, in a bizarre sort of way - but rather than the crazy humour involved in rick-rolling, he's in on the joke. And somehow, that makes it all better.
All in all, a good collection for driving, cleaning the house, or cheering up the missus. And definitely a band I'm going to check out when they roll into town.
It's electronic. It has a dance music vibe to it, with maybe a touch of industrial or 80s new wave thrown in. The drum beats are simplistic, and the instrumentation is almost entirely digital. And yet, after listening to songs like Don't Leave Her Out, High School's Over, and Cocaine Trade, I found myself nodding my head in a very Roxbury-esque fashion.
The lead singer (Mr. Hansen, I presume?) kind of reminds me of Rick Astley, in a bizarre sort of way - but rather than the crazy humour involved in rick-rolling, he's in on the joke. And somehow, that makes it all better.
All in all, a good collection for driving, cleaning the house, or cheering up the missus. And definitely a band I'm going to check out when they roll into town.
Music Mondays - November Playlist
These, dear friends, are the ten tunes I've been listening to as of late. Normally, November is all about angry music for some reason, but this year, I'm going in an entirely different direction. An almost entirely indie direction. After all, it's a well-known fact that Indie music is prime movember beard-growing music.
- "Fools" by The Dodos
- "Song About California" by Hey Ocean!
- "Greetings in Braille" by The Elected
- "Dinu Lipatti's Bones" by The Mountain Goats
- "Fly Away" by Poe
- "Tic Toc" by Mother Mother
- "Pink Noise" by Most Serene Republic
- "Multiply" by Jamie Lidell
- "Body's Warm" by Jon and Roy
- "You Have Been Loved" by Sia
Whoa, this is cool....
I'm not always a big fan of putting links in my blog - it seems very counter-productive to say "Hey, go somewhere else! Anywhere but this blog!". But sometimes, it just has to be done.
That, my friends, is the new music video from the band Hollerado. You may remember that I wrote a rather passionate blog post about them only a week or so ago. Or, maybe you don't.
Anyways, about a week after Rifflandia, they released this video, which is going viral on youtube and is already being described as the "Next O.K. Go". Since the music video is awesome, and the music is definitely better than O.K. Go, things are looking pretty damned peachy for Hollerado.
Seriously, check them out, buy their record in a bag, and listen to rock and roll the way it should be played. I actually picked up the album last week, and it's amazingly fun - not only does the album come with a list of ways to recycle the bag ("Put your lunch sandwich in it!") but it also comes with temporary tattoos, stickers, fortune cookies (bring them to a live show and they'll give you presents, apparently), and confetti! Which is pretty damn nifty.
That, my friends, is the new music video from the band Hollerado. You may remember that I wrote a rather passionate blog post about them only a week or so ago. Or, maybe you don't.
Anyways, about a week after Rifflandia, they released this video, which is going viral on youtube and is already being described as the "Next O.K. Go". Since the music video is awesome, and the music is definitely better than O.K. Go, things are looking pretty damned peachy for Hollerado.
Seriously, check them out, buy their record in a bag, and listen to rock and roll the way it should be played. I actually picked up the album last week, and it's amazingly fun - not only does the album come with a list of ways to recycle the bag ("Put your lunch sandwich in it!") but it also comes with temporary tattoos, stickers, fortune cookies (bring them to a live show and they'll give you presents, apparently), and confetti! Which is pretty damn nifty.
Music Mondays - October Playlist
My playlist for October. I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I always seem to get into a pretty energetic mood, but one that is coupled with self-destructive music. My mother used to accuse me of loving "music you can hang yourself to," and this is true. But this month, it's all about energetic yet simultaneously depressing music.
I have no idea why this is.
I have no idea why this is.
- "Love Love Love," The Mountain Goats
- "How Does it Feel?" Zeus
- "Fools," The Dodos
- "Loyal Man," Yukon Blonde
- "Gonna Get Myself a Gun," Jon and Roy
- "Oh Ana," Mother Mother
- "Climbing up the Wall," Radiohead
- "Astronomers," We Are The City
- "Since I've Been Loving You," Led Zeppelin
- "Gravity," A Perfect Circle
Rifflandia! Part one.
Last week, yours truly was at Rifflandia 3. For those not in the know, Rifflandia is a multi-day, multi-venue music festival, chock-full of super amazing awesome indie rock bands. Basically, you can go from venue to venue, watching the bands that you like, and all it costs is $65.00 ($75.00 after taxes). Considering that you could conceivably see up to twenty bands over the entire weekend, we're talking a price of less than four dollars a band!
Now, I wanted to give you guys a rundown on the awesome bands I saw, in the hopes of getting even more people to show up next year, at Rifflandia IV: A New Hope (apparently, that is the name they are going for, which should give you an idea just how awesome this festival really is). It's going to be a long list of bands, so I figure I'll spread it out over the course of the week.
This has nothing to do with the fact that I can't think of anything else to write in this blog right now.
Um.... Anyways...
Each band name links to their website, and I'm trying to include youtube links to their music (if possible, an actual peformance from Rifflandia - maybe you can even see me in the video!?).
Day One: Thursday, September 23rd. Club 9One9.
I got here early. In fact, I was the first person in line. I said to the guard "Um, where's the line?" and he said "Uh, you're it." I looked at my clock. It was 7:15. The show started at 7:30.
"This is weird. I'll be back in ten minutes," I said, and then walked around the block. When I came back in, the doors were open, and I grabbed a really good seat. The Shlesbian and Moon Rock joined me a little bit later, and we watched a bunch of bands. And drank. We left early, because it was thursday, and we all had to work the next morning. Also, the bands were not really that good.
Geoffrey Lundstrom: I only figured out this guy's name because it was on the Rifflandia website. Not once during his set did he say his name, or why he was there and not the band on that silly little schedule that was given us. Because the guides said it was supposed to be a band named "Vicious Cycles" - which doesn't seem to fit a guy that played acoustic ballads on an old guitar. I have a feeling Mr. Lundstrom was a last-minute fill-in, because the Vicious Cycles group didn't want to be the openers for a thursday night show that was guarenteed to have a fairly small showing.
This was probably good in the long run, because Geoffrey Lundstrom was actually pretty good. He made a few quiet jokes, played some nice-enough music, and didn't seem too annoyed by the fact that most of the crowd wasn't paying him the slightest attention and were, in fact, trying to talk over him while they jostled for their seats. They did shut up when he did a Springsteen cover, which made me feel bad for the guy - if the only time you get a good reaction from the crowd is when you play someone else's music, it can't feel good.
Or something.
Best part was when the singer declared "this song is about a tv show that got cancelled way too early". I bet the Shlesbian that it was about Firefly. We listened to the song, and the only lyric I heard was "The Yellow Sun was retarded". Then, the lead singer told everyone afterwards that the song was about Firefly. I stood up, pointed at Shelley, and yelled "HA! I'M RIGHT!".
I acted like a douche... and I didn't need a jean jacket or a hat to do it.
We Are The City: A three man group (drummer, keyboardist, and guitarist) that sort of remind me of a stripped-down Cold War Kids. Imagine songs that are super soft, mixed with parts that rather frenetic. They were the best band we saw that night. I bought their CD, which has a title that makes is sound a lot more pretentious than it actually is. Thumbs up for that.
Plus, they had a buttload of energy, and I think the keyboardist actually played using his foot for a little bit. These guys won a music award a few months ago, winning something like a hundred thousand bucks in a city-wide contest in Vancouver (the band, by the way, is from Kelowna). I have a sneaky suspicion they're going to be around for a while, and we'll see even better albums from them in the future.
Of course, maybe I'm just crazy, because after this set, Moon Rock shook his head and said "fuck it, I'm going home," and left. So maybe not everybody was as jazzed by these guys as I was.
The Hounds Below: The Shlesbian and I wanted these guys to be good. I mean, one of their band members was in a wheelchair. And when we see handicapped people, we always seem to root for them in whatever it is they're doing. Granted, I did crack a joke or two when I wondered if it was a smart idea for a handicapped keyboardist to use so many foot pedals, but I was generally on my best behaviour.
Unfortunately, their music sucked. Imagine generic rock and roll from the late nineties. Now, let's strip it of any energy it may have. Okay? Now, let's lose any originality. Following me? Alright, cool - let's also make everyone in the band wear dress like they're replacements for The Strokes, and let's have this indie band that no one's ever heard of swagger like they're The Rolling Stones. After all, they have to be cool - they have a cripple on keyboards.
After a few songs, the Shlesbian and I decided to head home.
We missed the closing band, an energetic punk band that used to be named "You Say Party... We Say Die". After the unfortunate death of their drummer, they changed the name to "You Say Party". Considering my streak of douchiness throughout the night, I'm actually kind of glad I didn't see them, because I have a sneaky suspicion I'd just make Spinal Tap references.
Now, I wanted to give you guys a rundown on the awesome bands I saw, in the hopes of getting even more people to show up next year, at Rifflandia IV: A New Hope (apparently, that is the name they are going for, which should give you an idea just how awesome this festival really is). It's going to be a long list of bands, so I figure I'll spread it out over the course of the week.
This has nothing to do with the fact that I can't think of anything else to write in this blog right now.
Um.... Anyways...
Each band name links to their website, and I'm trying to include youtube links to their music (if possible, an actual peformance from Rifflandia - maybe you can even see me in the video!?).
Day One: Thursday, September 23rd. Club 9One9.
I got here early. In fact, I was the first person in line. I said to the guard "Um, where's the line?" and he said "Uh, you're it." I looked at my clock. It was 7:15. The show started at 7:30.
"This is weird. I'll be back in ten minutes," I said, and then walked around the block. When I came back in, the doors were open, and I grabbed a really good seat. The Shlesbian and Moon Rock joined me a little bit later, and we watched a bunch of bands. And drank. We left early, because it was thursday, and we all had to work the next morning. Also, the bands were not really that good.
Geoffrey Lundstrom: I only figured out this guy's name because it was on the Rifflandia website. Not once during his set did he say his name, or why he was there and not the band on that silly little schedule that was given us. Because the guides said it was supposed to be a band named "Vicious Cycles" - which doesn't seem to fit a guy that played acoustic ballads on an old guitar. I have a feeling Mr. Lundstrom was a last-minute fill-in, because the Vicious Cycles group didn't want to be the openers for a thursday night show that was guarenteed to have a fairly small showing.
This was probably good in the long run, because Geoffrey Lundstrom was actually pretty good. He made a few quiet jokes, played some nice-enough music, and didn't seem too annoyed by the fact that most of the crowd wasn't paying him the slightest attention and were, in fact, trying to talk over him while they jostled for their seats. They did shut up when he did a Springsteen cover, which made me feel bad for the guy - if the only time you get a good reaction from the crowd is when you play someone else's music, it can't feel good.
So, yeah, he was a decent enough musician, but his single ear ring, jean jacket, and silly little fedora made him look like a douche. No, really, it did.
 |
| The keyboardist from We Are the City looks suspiciously like Peregrin Took, if "Pippin the hobbit" shaved his feet and wore skinny jeans. |
Acres of Lions: Indie rock band that plays, well, energetic indie rock. I had never seen them before, but a lot of locals were excited about seeing these guys, because they are all Victoria boys. Their lead singer was a little chunky, and after two songs, he was sweating rather heavily - which I prefer to the alternative (bands that just sit there and have absolutely no energy whatsoever).
Thing is, I didn't really like these guys, but that's entirely because they were playing a type of music I'm not really into (energetic electric indie rock). I would recommend them to friends in a heartbeat, and they were probably the nicest band I saw thursday night... but their music isn't really my cup of tea. To put it bluntly, they're Earl Grey, whereas I'm more of a Chai type of guy.
Or something.
Best part was when the singer declared "this song is about a tv show that got cancelled way too early". I bet the Shlesbian that it was about Firefly. We listened to the song, and the only lyric I heard was "The Yellow Sun was retarded". Then, the lead singer told everyone afterwards that the song was about Firefly. I stood up, pointed at Shelley, and yelled "HA! I'M RIGHT!".
I acted like a douche... and I didn't need a jean jacket or a hat to do it.
We Are The City: A three man group (drummer, keyboardist, and guitarist) that sort of remind me of a stripped-down Cold War Kids. Imagine songs that are super soft, mixed with parts that rather frenetic. They were the best band we saw that night. I bought their CD, which has a title that makes is sound a lot more pretentious than it actually is. Thumbs up for that.
Plus, they had a buttload of energy, and I think the keyboardist actually played using his foot for a little bit. These guys won a music award a few months ago, winning something like a hundred thousand bucks in a city-wide contest in Vancouver (the band, by the way, is from Kelowna). I have a sneaky suspicion they're going to be around for a while, and we'll see even better albums from them in the future.
Of course, maybe I'm just crazy, because after this set, Moon Rock shook his head and said "fuck it, I'm going home," and left. So maybe not everybody was as jazzed by these guys as I was.
The Hounds Below: The Shlesbian and I wanted these guys to be good. I mean, one of their band members was in a wheelchair. And when we see handicapped people, we always seem to root for them in whatever it is they're doing. Granted, I did crack a joke or two when I wondered if it was a smart idea for a handicapped keyboardist to use so many foot pedals, but I was generally on my best behaviour.
Unfortunately, their music sucked. Imagine generic rock and roll from the late nineties. Now, let's strip it of any energy it may have. Okay? Now, let's lose any originality. Following me? Alright, cool - let's also make everyone in the band wear dress like they're replacements for The Strokes, and let's have this indie band that no one's ever heard of swagger like they're The Rolling Stones. After all, they have to be cool - they have a cripple on keyboards.
After a few songs, the Shlesbian and I decided to head home.
We missed the closing band, an energetic punk band that used to be named "You Say Party... We Say Die". After the unfortunate death of their drummer, they changed the name to "You Say Party". Considering my streak of douchiness throughout the night, I'm actually kind of glad I didn't see them, because I have a sneaky suspicion I'd just make Spinal Tap references.
Music Mondays - Late August Playlist
I've mentioned this before, but my good pal Kittens has this little tradition where she gives her monthly playlist. It's a pretty good tradition, and it's not really one I like ripping off.
However, there comes a time in every blogger's life when he finds it's sunday night and he has no idea what to write for his monday music-themed post because he's spent most of the weekend having fun with friends/arranging his upcoming class schedule/congratulating his sister on her engagement. And when those times come, those bloggers shamelessly rip off other blogger's ideas.
"Those bloggers," by the way, consists entirely of me. In case you hadn't put two and two together.
Hopefully, my re-workings of her ideas will inspire her in her own blogging creations, which I will then shamelessly rip off at some point in the future.
It's the blogging circle of life.
Anyways. My music list for this month has been all about "the cool" - songs that sort of rhythmically roll back and forth and have a groove all their own. With a few indie acoustic-y numbers thrown in for good taste.
It at least belongs on some sort of top ten list.
However, there comes a time in every blogger's life when he finds it's sunday night and he has no idea what to write for his monday music-themed post because he's spent most of the weekend having fun with friends/arranging his upcoming class schedule/congratulating his sister on her engagement. And when those times come, those bloggers shamelessly rip off other blogger's ideas.
"Those bloggers," by the way, consists entirely of me. In case you hadn't put two and two together.
Hopefully, my re-workings of her ideas will inspire her in her own blogging creations, which I will then shamelessly rip off at some point in the future.
It's the blogging circle of life.
Anyways. My music list for this month has been all about "the cool" - songs that sort of rhythmically roll back and forth and have a groove all their own. With a few indie acoustic-y numbers thrown in for good taste.
- Spoon: "Who Makes Your Money" (Transference)
- Cold War Kids: "Hang me up to Dry" (Robbers & Cowards)
- Desert Sessions: "Subcutaneous Phat" (Desert Sessions 9 & 10)
- The Dodos: "Jodi" (Visiter) (not the best link)
- Dan Mangan: "Fair Verona" (Nice, Nice, Very Nice)
- Queens of the Stone Age: "Auto Pilot" (Rated R)
- Modest Mouse: "Float On" (Good News for People Who Like Bad News)
- Kyuss: "Gloria Lewis" (...And the Circus Leaves Town)
- Mother Mother: "Ghosting" (O My Heart)
- Marvin Gaye: "I Heard Through the Grapevine" (In the Groove)
It at least belongs on some sort of top ten list.
Music Mondays - The Dodos
For example, after buying my ticket to Rifflandia this year, I realized I didn't know too many of the artists, and got to work doing my research - listening to free mp3s and the like. This wasn't enough to give me an impression, so I torrented some albums, with the idea that I'd buy the albums I liked at the live upcoming shows.
This led me to The Dodos, an american group that I would describe as a sort of Indie Folk Rock. The song "walking" is a mixture of classic acoustic jams and banjo lines, combined with a very modern "indie" vocal mixture. "Paint the Rust" makes me think of an acoustic gypsy march, while "The Season" sounds almost like has a Theremin in the background.
To put it simply, these are tunes that are comfortably familiar to those songs you grew up listening to while also being exciting, fresh, and modern. In my mind, The Dodos are the band I was hoping to hear when I first listened to The Fleet Foxes.
So, yeah, I torrented their album. But you can bet your ass I'll be buying at their live show. As well as every other album they have on sale.
Can't wait to see them live. If you're at Rifflandia, that's the show I'll be at. Front and centre, intently staring at the guitars and being absolutely oblivious to everyone else at the show. I'll be doing my best to creep out the band with my intent lack of blinking. It's gonna be awesome.
Music Mondays - We've come full circle
A little bit of a history lesson for you all:
Way back in the 1960s, if you wanted to listen to music at home, you bought everything in the form of records. They weren't particularly cheap, but it was the only option available. Sure, they took up a lot of space, had only about twenty minutes of music per side (meaning you'd have to flip the record every couple of songs), and, quite often, more attention was paid to the album artwork than the actual content... but what else could you do?
The eight track tapes came out in the late 1960s/early 1970s, and were a breakthrough. You could now listen to music in your car! They were clunky, of course, and the sound quality was worse than a record, but the convenience! Oh, the convenience! Plus, if someone tried to break into your car, you could hit them with one of your tapes, causing a subdural haemotoma.
Cassettes were a marked improvement - better sound quality, more space for music, less flip time. Plus, they were cheaper to make. And every car had a cassette player come standard in the eighties.... which is probably why the 80s were all about high energy "Driving Music" - hair metal and new wave and whatnot. Not surprisingly, traffic fatalities were high in the 1980s. I blame Flock of Seagulls.
CDs came out in the late 1970s, but only saw widespread use in the late 80s/early 90s. And they revolutionized everything: high sound quality, none of that useless "flipping the record" jazz, and you could program in your favourite tracks. They also doubled as a frisbee, in a pinch.
The mp3 revolution further expanded on this (though audiophiles will tell you the sound quality of mp3s is fairly low). They were cheap (in fact, they can be as cheap as.... free!), they took up absolutely no physical space, and were infinitely convenient.
And now? Now, people like me complain because mp3s have no album artwork. They take up no space, except on your hard drive, and so feel empty. They are not "albums" but rather a collection of singles. And you can listen to them anywhere, making the idea of "listening to music" as an activity in and of itself a thing of the past.
So, what do we do?
We buy records.
We've come full circle.
Way back in the 1960s, if you wanted to listen to music at home, you bought everything in the form of records. They weren't particularly cheap, but it was the only option available. Sure, they took up a lot of space, had only about twenty minutes of music per side (meaning you'd have to flip the record every couple of songs), and, quite often, more attention was paid to the album artwork than the actual content... but what else could you do?
The eight track tapes came out in the late 1960s/early 1970s, and were a breakthrough. You could now listen to music in your car! They were clunky, of course, and the sound quality was worse than a record, but the convenience! Oh, the convenience! Plus, if someone tried to break into your car, you could hit them with one of your tapes, causing a subdural haemotoma.
Cassettes were a marked improvement - better sound quality, more space for music, less flip time. Plus, they were cheaper to make. And every car had a cassette player come standard in the eighties.... which is probably why the 80s were all about high energy "Driving Music" - hair metal and new wave and whatnot. Not surprisingly, traffic fatalities were high in the 1980s. I blame Flock of Seagulls.
CDs came out in the late 1970s, but only saw widespread use in the late 80s/early 90s. And they revolutionized everything: high sound quality, none of that useless "flipping the record" jazz, and you could program in your favourite tracks. They also doubled as a frisbee, in a pinch.
The mp3 revolution further expanded on this (though audiophiles will tell you the sound quality of mp3s is fairly low). They were cheap (in fact, they can be as cheap as.... free!), they took up absolutely no physical space, and were infinitely convenient.
And now? Now, people like me complain because mp3s have no album artwork. They take up no space, except on your hard drive, and so feel empty. They are not "albums" but rather a collection of singles. And you can listen to them anywhere, making the idea of "listening to music" as an activity in and of itself a thing of the past.
So, what do we do?
We buy records.
We've come full circle.
Music Mondays - This post is a little limp...
I don't really like blanket statements, but I think I can safely make this one: if it is the year two thousand and ten, and you're still a fan of Limp Bizkit, you, sir, are a fucking retard.
Seriously. The band sucked when they were current, and ten years or so down the road, they have not aged like a fine wine. They are now, metaphorically speaking, vinegar. One of the most unfortunate coincidences of my life is the fact that I share a birthday with Fred Durst... this is only balanced out by the fact that I also share a birthday with Robert Plant, who is infinitely better than Mr. Backwards Red Ball Cap.
So, if you are a Limp Bizkit fan in 2010, you're seriously handicapped. If you're a limp bizkit fan in 2010, and you think that it's cool for you to play a limp bizkit album on your stereo while at work, someone should take you out back and put you out of my misery.
And if you actually try to sing along to the lyrics, and say "I totally get what this song is about" - and you're pushing thirty - there's absolutely no hope for you whatsoever.
Whatsoever.
Seriously. The band sucked when they were current, and ten years or so down the road, they have not aged like a fine wine. They are now, metaphorically speaking, vinegar. One of the most unfortunate coincidences of my life is the fact that I share a birthday with Fred Durst... this is only balanced out by the fact that I also share a birthday with Robert Plant, who is infinitely better than Mr. Backwards Red Ball Cap.
So, if you are a Limp Bizkit fan in 2010, you're seriously handicapped. If you're a limp bizkit fan in 2010, and you think that it's cool for you to play a limp bizkit album on your stereo while at work, someone should take you out back and put you out of my misery.
And if you actually try to sing along to the lyrics, and say "I totally get what this song is about" - and you're pushing thirty - there's absolutely no hope for you whatsoever.
Whatsoever.
Music Mondays - "Ain't no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed. We were barely seventeen, and we were barely dressed."
It is 12:40 am as I write this, on a sunday night that is technically now a monday morning. I have to be at work in seven hours. And I can't get to sleep?
Why, you ask?
Well, let me tell you.
I've just spent the last two hours listening to old school rock and roll tunes, and getting super pumped up. We're talking Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, here.
But, those weren't the ones that were really pumping me up. Nope, that honour is reserved for a song that, until tonight, I had very little respect for. Even though it's on one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Yes. I've spent the last hour listening to Meat Loaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".
It never felt so good, it never felt so right.
I think my "music nerd" license is about to be revoked.
Why, you ask?
Well, let me tell you.
I've just spent the last two hours listening to old school rock and roll tunes, and getting super pumped up. We're talking Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, here.
But, those weren't the ones that were really pumping me up. Nope, that honour is reserved for a song that, until tonight, I had very little respect for. Even though it's on one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Yes. I've spent the last hour listening to Meat Loaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".
It never felt so good, it never felt so right.
I think my "music nerd" license is about to be revoked.
Music Mondays: The Poser Trap.
A little while back, I came up with a plan: to create a fake band T-Shirt, and then to wear said T-Shirt to a place where a lot of self-righteous hipsters congregate. The game was simple: to see how many hipsters would, without provocation, start talking to me about the band I was supposedly a fan of... and to see how many hipsters would tell me they'd heard of my band, or actively listened to them.
In short, it was a poser trap.
Well, I'm going into the printing shop tomorrow, to make up just such a shirt. The band name will be called "The Generic Douchebags" (name courtesy of Girl Interrupted), and I'm putting in a list of tour locations on the back. I want it to be a very indie-looking shirt, so we'll see how that goes. Don't worry... there will be picture.
To be honest, I think I have the beginnings of a new hobby. Or maybe even a sport - who can snag the most hipsters in a day? An hour?
Along that note, where is a good place to go "hipster hunting"? Record stores, small venue shows, and vegan eateries are all obvious places. I'm also thinking The Noodle Box would be filled with pretentious hipsters. As for other places, I'm not entirely sure.
Finally, the shirt will be printed tomorrow (tuesday the 22nd), but if someone wants to link to an appropriate picture beforehand, I'd be more than willing to consider using it. I still haven't found a band image worth using.
In short, it was a poser trap.
Well, I'm going into the printing shop tomorrow, to make up just such a shirt. The band name will be called "The Generic Douchebags" (name courtesy of Girl Interrupted), and I'm putting in a list of tour locations on the back. I want it to be a very indie-looking shirt, so we'll see how that goes. Don't worry... there will be picture.
To be honest, I think I have the beginnings of a new hobby. Or maybe even a sport - who can snag the most hipsters in a day? An hour?
Along that note, where is a good place to go "hipster hunting"? Record stores, small venue shows, and vegan eateries are all obvious places. I'm also thinking The Noodle Box would be filled with pretentious hipsters. As for other places, I'm not entirely sure.
Finally, the shirt will be printed tomorrow (tuesday the 22nd), but if someone wants to link to an appropriate picture beforehand, I'd be more than willing to consider using it. I still haven't found a band image worth using.
Music Mondays - Any way the wind blows...
...
...
(Crap! I think they're out there!)
(What do they want?)
(A post, I imagine....)
(Like, a full post?)
(Yeah, I think so.)
(Don't they realize you're a busy guy?)
(I don't know)
(And very, very important?)
(I have no idea)
(Don't they know you have better things to do, than to entertain them with your amazing wit?)
(I haven't the foggiest)
(The philistines!)
(So. What should I do?)
(Um. Take the easy way out and post a link to something silly?)
(I couldn't do that to them. It's so lame and unoriginal)
(Well, then, I guess you'll just have to buckle down and post something then, eh?)
(Hm.)
Hey, ladies and gents! I was strolling around the internet, and saw this amazing video. After seeing it, I just knew I had to share. You see, it's a very, um... uh....
HEY, LOOK!
(*runs away*)
...
(Crap! I think they're out there!)
(What do they want?)
(A post, I imagine....)
(Like, a full post?)
(Yeah, I think so.)
(Don't they realize you're a busy guy?)
(I don't know)
(And very, very important?)
(I have no idea)
(Don't they know you have better things to do, than to entertain them with your amazing wit?)
(I haven't the foggiest)
(The philistines!)
(So. What should I do?)
(Um. Take the easy way out and post a link to something silly?)
(I couldn't do that to them. It's so lame and unoriginal)
(Well, then, I guess you'll just have to buckle down and post something then, eh?)
(Hm.)
Hey, ladies and gents! I was strolling around the internet, and saw this amazing video. After seeing it, I just knew I had to share. You see, it's a very, um... uh....
HEY, LOOK!
(*runs away*)
Music Mondays - An Actual Conversation with a Credit Counselling Agency:
During the work week, I process papers in a Collection Centre. It's boring work, and part of it involves talking to credit counsellors... people who try to consolidate the debts of the broke and set up payment arrangements with the creditors. They have a job just as depressing as my own, and they have to deal with a lovely class of people - people that don't pay their bills, get sick of harrassing phone calls, and so enter a credit counselling service... and then are surprised when they're expected to actually, you know, pay their bills.
I was discussing this phenomenon with one of the counselling ladies, when she said she'd had enough of it. That she wasn't going to take it anymore, and would just call them on their B.S. "Just like that song," she said.
"What song is that?" I asked, completely lost.
She didn't know the name, but she started giving me the lyrics.
And that was how I wound up singing Twisted Sister's "We're not gonna take it" over the phone with a credit counsellor in her mid thirties. And how one of the collectors, upon hearing it being sung, decided to join in.
Strange.
I was discussing this phenomenon with one of the counselling ladies, when she said she'd had enough of it. That she wasn't going to take it anymore, and would just call them on their B.S. "Just like that song," she said.
"What song is that?" I asked, completely lost.
She didn't know the name, but she started giving me the lyrics.
And that was how I wound up singing Twisted Sister's "We're not gonna take it" over the phone with a credit counsellor in her mid thirties. And how one of the collectors, upon hearing it being sung, decided to join in.
Strange.
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