I first heard Dance Yourself to Death for the first time when I was volunteering as a stage hand at the NXNE music festival in Toronto this past summer. It was the second of the three nights I worked at the Cameron House, and just by the name of the band I thought it was going to be something I would enjoy. After talking to Jen from the band, I was caught off guard when she took the mic since I didn't know she was the singer, but after the first couple of bars I was sold. I [...]
Self-described as "Sweden's and the world's finest purveyor of pop music," Labrador Records certainly does have some excellent arguments for the title. Sweden is probably the best, or at very least the most consistent source of indie pop in the world today and Labrador Records is located its indie capital (Gothenburg) generating a plethora (that's right) of Indie Pop, Shoegaze, and New Order inspired output. Amongst its large roster , Labrador is home to three of Sweden's most established indie pop bands, Acid House Kings, Club 8, and The Legends, all of which are the creation of [...]
I kicked off my 2009 partying with My Morning Jacket and 20,000 of their friends in Madison Square Garden . It was a pretty good way to start the year. Pretty much everyone in the building was "dressed to tha nines" and had their dancing shoes on. I've never been to an arena concert where every person in the entire building were on their feet singing and dancing the entire show. The energy in that building was just unreal. My Morning Jacket brought their A-Game as usual. Their set lasted just under 4 hours and featured a [...]
I'll be the first to admit that A.C. Newman's solo work has an awful lot in common with his 'mainstream' work with The New Pornographers - considering he's a lead vocalist and songwriter in both projects, I suppose it makes sense that his particular brand of arrhythmic rock-pop would be a common denominator. The line between the two is particularly blurred when comparing Challengers, TNP's most recent release, with Newman's brand new Get Guilty. Before Challengers, The New Pornographers' sound focussed mainly on tricky rhythms underlining harmonious vocals to form catchy-yet-complex pop hits. Newman's first solo [...]
I've been feeling a bit disconnected from the modern music scene lately. The new Andrew Bird album didn't thrill me. I still haven't bought into the Animal Collective love-fest. The new Whitest Boy Alive album has been growing on me, but other than that I'm fairly uninterested at the moment. As my Blur rant from a few weeks ago may indicate, I may be living a few decades behind in the times. I've been listening to a lot of Pavement and the Replacements, but really, it's been mostly The Beatles on repeat. But oh, the blogger's conundrum: how do you [...]
YES YES YES! This '09 year has gotten off to a great start. GL OBAMA MANIA ! Some lesser in magnitude events but still worth mentioning: a FANTASTIC season premiere of 24. The previous seasons have been a bit lacking but the 2 hours x 2 days introduction of 24 back into my life was magnificent. I lalalalalala loooove Jack Bauer! ANNND Slumdog Millionaire won FOUR TIMES at the Golden Globes: best drama, best director (Danny Boyle), best screenplay (Simon Beaufoy) and best original score (A.R. Rahman). It is one of the best movies I've [...]
I kicked off my 2009 partying with My Morning Jacket and 20,000 of their friends in Madison Square Garden. It was a pretty good way to start the year. Pretty much everyone in the building was "dressed to tha nines" and had their dancing shoes on. I've never been to an arena concert where every person in the entire building were on their feet singing and dancing the entire show. The energy in that building was just unreal. Of course My Morning Jacket brought their A-Game as usual. Their set lasted just under 4 hours, and [...]
Over the past few weeks, while everyone was sexually gratifying themselves to the new Animal Collective (no offence, I listened to it too), I enjoyed an upcoming release from Slumberland Records. The self-titled debut from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is out soon and has already been added to my canon of great albums from 2009 (the only entry so far besides Face Control by Handsome Furs ). Although they sound like indie pop from London, Bristol, or Glasgow, the Pains are actually a group of stateside (New York, New [...]
I've been waiting for something to look forward to in 2009, and I finally have it. It has been six years since the Wrens last released an album, and when that album is as stunning as The Meadowlands, I've understandably been anticipating new material for quite some time. As announced from their newly renovated website , the Wrens will mark their 20th anniversary with a new single and the recording of their fourth album next week, in hopes of a late spring release. Of course, that's hardly a solid release date, but if these dudes from New [...]
I saw the Arcade Fire at Massey Hall during their Neon Bible tour a couple of years ago. Much to my dismay, I just missed Handsome Furs' opening set. Several months later, I missed another chance to see them in a far more intimate setting. I feel as if I'm doomed to never see these people live. Yet another in a slew of Wolf Parade off-shoots and side-projects, Handsome Furs is made up of Dan Boeckner and his wife Alexei Perry. Their follow-up to the outstanding Plague Park is due this March, and first impressions indicate that Face Control is [...]
The optical illusion above has probably become one of the most blogged-about pictures of the past few weeks, as the internets have gone crazy for what people are already calling, the best album of 2009. Merriweather Post Pavillion is Animal Collective's 9th album, and the journey they've taken to get to it is fairly incredible and sonically unique. The title of this post is a dedication to one of my best friends, who has been all about Panda Bear, the Geologist, Avey Tare and Deakin (the four animals that make up the Collective) for years. He and I [...]
With all the scientific literature and research papers I've had to read within the last year, my time for pleasure reading has diminished significantly. I've been meaning to rectify that. I recently finished reading Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E, frontman for the Eels. E's troubles have been notably documented in his many songs and albums, but this memoir presents the first time E tells his story in print. The book is written in a straightforward tone, beginning with his childhood as son of a renowned physicist, continuing until present day. It's an [...]
Not one to take a comment lightly, this is a defense of Blur in the unending Blur vs. Oasis feud. Dona, consider the gauntlet thrown. Regardless of commercial success, Blur has been and will always be the superior band, for the following reasons. Variety. Unlike Oasis, who have stagnated since Definitely Maybe and What's the Story Morning Glory?, beginning with 1991's Leisure, Blur has consistently evolved and experimented with new songs and styles. Girls and Boys, She's So High, Parklife, The Universal, these are but a few of the genre-jumping hits Blur has attained over [...]
The Blood Bank EP , the follow-up to Bon Iver's pretty much unanimously adored debut LP, For Emma, Forever Ago , will be released later this month on Jagjaguwar. The EP is more of the same from the Wisconsin-based singer-songwriter, which in this case is good thing. If he keeps this consistent song craft up, he could be the next Bonnie Prince Billy, just 13 albums to go. Bon Iver - Blood Bank Also being released are albums from two of the best guitar bands that just won't quit. The [...]
It's the end of the year! Can you believe it? I swear each year goes by faster and faster. The end of the year is a time consolidating the past memories and preparing yourself for new ones. The year end activity is of course, making new year's resolutions...new ones, improving on old ones, or ditching the whole process in generaaaal. I discovered a pretty cool site for you goal-oriented folks called 43 Things where you share your goals with other people, your progress, and at the same time, you can cheer each other on! The most [...]
Ring in 2009 with a bang, people. This is the last New Year's Eve you'll be able to wear oversized novelty glasses with the year on them. 2010 is going to be a bummer. Yes, it's probably cliché at this point, but damn it if I don't listen to this song as soon as possible on January 1. Death Cab for Cutie - The New Year If that's [...]
This year's mixtape is ready for you to download, just in time for Christmas. This two disc set is packed with 2008 favourites from all of our writers. Enjoi! Download: The Ca Va Cool Mixtape 2008 - Disc 1 01 | She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? 02 | Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor 03 | Chad VanGaalen - TMNT Mask 04 | Bloc Party - Signs 05 | Mystery Jets - Young Love feat. Laura Marling 06 [...]
Of all the Christmas songs, these remain my favorite. Enjoy and happy holidays!!! Belle & Sebastian - Are You Coming Over For Christmas? The Walkmen - New Year's Eve Sufjan Stevens - Sister Winter I HAD TO PUT THIS IN...I don't care what anyone thinks...WHAM! is awesome!!!! WHAM! - Last Christmas One of the best remakes of this [...]
It's that time of year again. My gift to you is a collection of some of my favourite non-traditional Christmas songs that I've compiled over the years, along with something from the Star Wars Christmas album, because that's just too hilarious to ignore. Enjoy. The Christmas 2008 Mix (Download Here) 1. Eels – Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas 2. [...]
Ca Va Cool
Avicii – Two Million
Beck – I Just Started Hating Some People Today
Pitchfork Festival Paris unveils initial line-up
Princesse - Tell Me | MP3
