Filed under: News , Exclusive , Movies When documentary maker Jody Shapiro decided to interview people who were literally building their own countries, he went straight to Toronto singer-songwriter/producer Howie Beck to score his film. 'How to Start Your Own Country' looks at several 'micro-nations' and their creators, ranging from the Principality of Sealand off the coast of England to the Principality of Seborga in Italy. "I've done stuff for all of his past documentaries," Beck tells [...]
I was clicking around on Threadless a few weeks ago and noticed their cool new " Living in Harmony " dual guitar design (acoustic? electric? how about both). I tend to be lamely paralyzed by indecision when buying clothing online and didn't get it then, but serendipitously now the folks at Threadless have contacted me with a sweet little promo contest for you guys! Fuel/Friends has two prize packs to give away containing the tshirt design by artist Josh Perkins , and matching Havaianas flip flops as well. You may or may not wear them [...]
(photo: James Minchin) As you might be aware, Canadian Music Week is coming up next week, and I naively put forth my name and the blog for media accreditation, trying to get a chance to cover some of the shows and events that'll be happening around Toronto. So last night, while I'm knee-deep in recycled paper, trying desperately to find the carpet in my office, I get a call from someone associated with the event, who's in charge of contacting everyone who's applied and letting them know where they stand. Turns out I stand [...]
When I started compiling my year end list and trying to rank everything, it became exceedingly clear to me that comparing local Toronto band X to Jay-Z just wasn't going to work. Not that I haven't done that in the past, my top three albums last year were Chad VanGaalen's Soft Airplane , Ketch Harbour Wolves' Dead Calm Horizon , and Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreaks , but it just seemed like this year, there was going to be such a weird grouping of albums that it didn't really make sense [...]
Filed under: News , Exclusive , Canada 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false [...]
Not familiar with the Polaris Prize ? They're like the Grammy's, except Canadian, and the jury is made up of people who like and care about music, and there's only one category, and the winner gets a cash prize. So, in another far more accurate way, they're the opposite of the Grammy's.... Despite being the editor/owner/president of this here prestigious blog I was not selected to the Polaris Jury. I know, I'm shocked too. But, luckily, you all still get to hear my thoughts on the Polaris process through my contribution to [...]
I've never really listened to Howie Beck before. I mean, I have listened to him before, I've seen him open for Hayden at least once, maybe twice, but I've never heard a Howie Beck album . I guess I always just assumed it was kind of generic singer-songwriter fare, but after seeing him on the cover of the National Posts' Arts section I made a mental note to check it out, then, of course, I promptly forgot about him. But, I got an email from [...]
I've never really listened to Howie Beck before. I mean, I have listened to him before, I've seen him open for Hayden at least once, maybe twice, but I've never heard a Howie Beck album . I guess I always just assumed it was kind of generic singer-songwriter fare, but after seeing him on the cover of the National Posts' Arts section I made a mental note to check it out, then, of course, I promptly forgot about him. But, I got an email from [...]
Since it's patio weather I will speed blog more of my current Toronto favourites.... The Wooden Sky - loved them since they were Friday Mornings Regret. They are appear to be leading an alt-country revival in Toronto. TWS is lead by Gavin Gardiner. Gavin can be found behind the mixing desk producing some of these up and coming Toronto bands. TWS are working on a new album. Can't wait. $100 - my favourite country album this year....is from Toronto. Bahamas - The newest to hit my desk [...]
(photo: Jody Shapiro) The breadth of songwriting talent Canada has produced in the last 10 years or so is staggering, even if popular media tend to focus on just a select few. Perennially on that list over the last decade has been Howie Beck , whose timeless pop songs have stood head and shoulders over many of his peers. His work has led to being a producer and collaborator with the who's who of Canadian indie music, having most recently helped Jason Collett produce Here's To Being Here . [...]
He didn't go outside for weeks. I guess that's what depression can do. He wasn't socially interacting, for fear of perpetuating the sadness. Writer's block precluded any new music. His relationship was ending. There was the constant reminder of debilitating stage fright that plagued his earlier tours. A dark time, indeed. When you begin to cave into yourself, I guess what else can you do but change everything. Howie Beck moved to Paris to record How to Fall Down in Public [...]
Howie Beck How To Fall Down In Public 13 Clouds Records Release Date: 02.24.09 Howie Beck is more than a producer, singer or songwriter. He is a rock historian who writes chronology in his albums. On How To Fall Down In Public , Beck's first album in four years, he revisits the progression of pop music from the 1960s to its redundant present: the bouncy Motown bassline and acoustic layering on opening track "You'd Better Watch Out For The Fuzz" contains the raw whimsy of Kelley Stoltz , while melancholy pop [...]
Because... We're feeling like zombies today, having stayed up till 5.30am the night before to watch Manchester United beat Chelsea to win the European Champions League Cup (one of those incongruent timezone things that Europe will never get). Still, I'll have you know that feeling like a zombie is the second best feeling in the world, next to feeling a zombie. Like, fo' real. Go test it out. The Cranberries - Zombie (from No Need To Argue ) Tell me you didn't want to sing this every time you [...]
Fans of the Casablancas crew will want to pick up on this one (if you haven't already!). Toronto-troubadour Howie Beck's lo-fi, acoustic take on "Reptilia" reminded us that The Strokes really do have some great, recent songs -- once you...
So I woke up Sunday morning to a thick dusting of snow on Pikes Peak and surrounding mountains. Breathtakingly beautiful, yes. But I really do not know if I am ready for winter again. I kind of like my flipflops. Well, the bright side of the picture as we are now into Fall and cruising towards shorter days and longer nights: more downtime to listen to music? Here's a few to start your week off in
We're getting ever closer to living in an apartment. It's quite exhausting. I can't even make it to great concerts like Peter, Bjorn and John on Thursday night, or Casiotone for the Painfully Alone on Friday night. I just hope we get to Hot Chip next week. Fingers crossed. Also, Joseph Arthur's new album Nuclear Daydream is out on September 19th. Here's an mp3: Joseph Arthur - Black Lexus And some more songs for you on this fine weekend: [...]
Image:TV On The Radio One Ring Zero - Mannequins MP3 Roger O´Donnell - Not Without You MP3 Bend Sinister - Through the Broken City MP3 David Vandervelde - Jacket MP3 Sara Culler -... sabas.jud.as-new indie music messiah
Annuals - Brother (THE best song of the year in my opinion) The Little Ones - Oh MJ! Ray LaMontagne - Three More Days The Village Green - When the Creepers Creep In Ratatat - Wildcat (E*Vax Remix) Sondre Lerche - (I Wanna) Call It Love David [...]
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