When it comes to defining Woodpigeon 's sound, force feeding genre lists into the mix is a pointless exercise. The beauty of Mark Hamilton's compositions are the subtle shifts he and the band execute, transforming their orchestral pop goodies into folk, rock, country effortlessly. Every record - and the countless EPs and covers offered to fans - finds Hamilton uncovering inspiration in new sounds, new places, and new emotions. Die Stadt Muzikanten is no different, in that it's rooted by the same touch points - Mark's heartfelt vocals and meticulously constructed arrangements - but [...]
Jenna Wakani Since first seeing her in a little basement pub at Pop Montreal 2006 , it's been a real treat watching Basia Bulat's career blossom. 2007 saw her gig relentlessly - I saw her a half-dozen times and wasn't even really trying - and release her debut Oh, My Darling to much acclaim both at home and abroad and earn a place both in my favourites of the year and the almost-as-prestigious 2008 Polaris Music Prize shortlist . As debuts go, it yielded [...]
It's freezing outside and (just slightly) covered in snow (about half an inch) so naturally the entire nation has ceased to function. Erm, okay, it really isn't that cold and the snow really isn't that big a deal in all honesty but of course given the worst weather conditions we usually have to deal with are constant and life-sapping drizzle it seems that it's all come as a bit of a shock to the nation as a whole. We live in a city by the sea of course, which means that we never get the sunshine which is [...]
Frank Yang Is there any better/lazier way to start of the new year's concert calendar than with the band that closed out the old year's sched? I think not. And so The Balconies , who were one of the last bands I saw in 2009 are the first I've seen in 2010, thanks to last night's show at Supermarket. And seeing as how I was sort of running out of things to say about the trio that time, it being third time I'd seen them in less than [...]
Photography by Mirjan aka Rooze Photography Snow, snow, snow! Dang! I like riding my bike in snow, it's a lot of fun, but when it's a slippery mess like the past two days of ice, snow, and slush, then you add in unbelievably stupid drivers out there (I've seen 2 accidents in two days on my commute and almost another today when some guy tried to gun it when a lane started to end), and well, outside of playing on the snow bike [...]
Woodpigeon – Die Stadt Muzikanten via You Ain't No Picasso
Woodpigeon were described as being akin to some of my favorite pop groups: the Kinks, Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura and Sufjan Stevens. And even when descriptors get a little over-reaching with their "sounds likes," it's usually a good sign when all the bands are giant worshipers of melody. Woodpigeon's record is a sweet love [...]
Fireworks over the Sydney Opera House And so we come to the last post of the year. As I'm using a PC at my parents' place because my laptop is currently a virus infested pile of uselessness (yeah thanks, hackers) and I'm sitting down the hall in the extremely un-air conditioned part of the house, this will be brief! New Year's Eve will be a fairly low key event for me this year, as it is most years. I don't get too caught up in the whole New Year's stuff I have to say. [...]
Marshall Angus Christmas may be a distant memory now - it was a whole WEEK ago - but the giving continues thanks to Can-indie supergroup Novels . The outfit, comprised of Tokyo Police Club keyboardist Graham Wright, Born Ruffians guitarist/singer Luke Lalonde, Will Currie of The Country French , Ex-Po's Dean Marino and Jay Sad , have completed their self-titled debut - though at five songs and not even 12 minutes in length, perhaps novella (or short story, or paragraph) would be a better name - and are [...]
For me 2009 was a good music year where I had no trouble finding entire albums that I loved to play over and over. Since I am not a musician, nor have I studied music, nor am I a professional music critic, I base my list of favorite albums and songs of the year on what I call "thrill factor," that indefinable something that makes me keep going back to an album or song again and again. I might think something is good, but if I experience no yearning to listen to it again, it is lacking [...]
While I professed in my albums post that perhaps this wasn't the greatest year for albums, or at least it didn't have too many true classics, 2009 has been an incredible year for songs. I really had trouble culling this list down to only 100, which is definitely a lot of songs. Of course, when Spencer Krug's various bands take up over a dozen slots, it leaves little room for other things, but this was a really wonderful year. Even more shocking is the staggering list of great new albums expected out in 2010, but we'll save [...]
Although this series has been a lot of fun to write as it is, my sincere hope for it is that, after a dozen days of downloads and gimmickly visuals, you'll have found a handful of tracks (or at least one, damn it) by artists you'd not previously gotten a chance to wade into. I know that was my experience as I listened to various tracks and selected each day's new song. Today's track, "xoxmas" by Woodpigeon, is the perfect example of that for me. Prior to this series, I was blithely unaware of the beautiful [...]
Half-handed Cloud - Once, Twice, Seven Times A Werewolf Cut Me Down & Count My Rings ( Asthmatic Kitty - 2009) www.halfhandedcloud.com Rocky Votolato - Sparklers (Live In East Palo Alto) True Devotion ( Barsuk - 2010) www.rockyvotolato.com Woodpigeon - Empty-Hall Sing-Along Die Stadt Muzikanten ( Boompa records - 2010) [...]
Today is my last work day before going on a nice little extended break over the holidays, and so I don't really want to say that I've mentally checked out already, but yeah, I've checked out. However, I did mention the other day that I've been saving some of the better Canadian Xmas/Holiday songs that we've been sent, and so I figure I should share those with you over the next couple days. After all, what better to get you into the festive spirit than a little Canadian Christmas fare? Nothing, I say. [...]
L ast week Woodpigeon released a holiday song online. Not to be outdone, label-mate Christopher Smith has not only recorded a Christmas song himself, but has also made a video for it. Smith and Woodpigeon's Mark Hamilton are collaborating on 2 EPs to be released in 2010. Christopher Smith + The Beckon Call will also open Woodpigeon's Vancouver CD release show on January 16th at the Biltmore in support of Die Stadt Muzikanten out earlier that week. Smith's debut album, The Beckon Call [...]
Woodpigeon - "Music Belongs To Those Who Make It" . This is, I presume, a song about the music business's empty suits. (And not, I hope, the biz's bloggers.) But Mark Hamilton's artistic license, his sticking guns, aren't represented in roaring shouts or a steely stare. Instead, he executes one of the most precise songs of his career: something carved out of piano, voice, clarinet and strings. Everything is perfectly measured; nothing is to excess. And yet the song is not timid. It is merely quiet, baroque, sturdy as a man with a notebook full of marvels. [ buy [...]
It's pretty incredible to think that the holiday season is here. It seems like just yesterday we were ringing in 2009, a year, which as we eventually discovered, would be beyond our wildest imaginations. From the scorching musical brilliance of Bonnaroo to the incredible weekend that was Lollapalooza ; from our interviews with Tom Jones , Slayer , Passion Pit , Pavement , Ben Kweller , and Ms. Consequence of Sound herself, Regina Spektor , to debates over the metal heads , 311 , and Albums [...]
Candian indie rockers Woodpigeon are returning in 2010 with much anticipated release Die Stadt Muzikantan ("that musical city"? My German is not good). To preview this upcoming album, the band has released this much easier to pronounce single "Empty-Hall Sing-Along". I dare you to get that melody/chorus out of your head after you've given this one a few spins. Woodpigeon's new album will be out January 12th on Boompa Records . Download: Woodpigeon - Empty-Hall Sing-Along [MP3]
Leigh Righton For a band that's so good at doing things quietly, Calgary's Woodpigeon certainly has a thing for volume. Their debut Songbook was originally released in 2006 in Canada and Japan, then reissued in Europe in 2008 to great critical acclaim. Their next release Treasury Library Canada wasn't even intended to be a proper follow-up - just a collection of outtakes and leftovers from Songbook intended for sale as a limited run direct from the band. [...]
Calgary's Woodpigeon has announced a Winter tour of Canada that includes record release celebrations in Vancouver and Calgary in January and Ontario/Quebec dates in February in support of "Die Stadt Muzikanten" which arrives in stores January 12th on Boompa. Produced by Arran Fisher (acoustickitty), the fifteen tracks on "Die Stadt Muzikanten" are stunning, lush and orchestral, inspired by songwriter Mark Andrew of the Hamiltons' travels in Germany and the comparative lives of his ancestors. In addition, "Die Stadt Muzikanten" will include a just announced bonus album recorded with Howard Bilerman, Steve Albini and Husky Hoskulds; 12 new tracks [...]
Herohill
Chromewaves
Song, by Toad
T S U R U R A D I O
gbabuts
You Aint No Picasso
It All Started With Carbon Monoxide
speed of dark
VAGUE SPACE
Citizen Dick
Music Arcade
Raised on Indie
Said the Gramophone
Consequence Of Sound
Austin Town Hall
PlugInMusic.com
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Bison - Quill
American Idol Finalists: where are they now?
