Episode 10: Zazziness

H'lo folks. New Episode, up and at 'er.
While I am here, I have some things to relay:
A friend lent me the first season of "Metalocalypse", and I have now found a new love. I had scoured through the whole disc in what seemed mere moments. For those familiar with the 'black metal' genre, or fans of obscure humor, it is a must have.

My favorite parts in the random collection are 2:20-2:38 and 7:56-8:06. Brutal, yet, zazzy.

One more thing:
If you have not checked your Myspace page in a while, you should. Within its weathered talons lies all of your social history from 2005-2007, which grants Myspace much more power than we would dare attribute to it. Essentially, we are talking about a good way to waste 5 hours of your day checking ancient dialogues/blogs the remind us that, well, nostalgia is the shit.

Notes on the 10:

I have purchased quite a few albums as of late, and this blog will be a reflection of that.
*New Bon Iver from the 'Blood Bank Ep' Expect more of the same lonely winter cuddle fests that made 'For Emma, Forever Ago' such a hit.
*New Morrissey from the icon's latest album, "Years of Refusal".
*New Phosporescent from his Willie Nelson covers album, 'To Willie'.
*New Four Tet featured on 'The Eraser RMXS' album. This remixed recording is a collaborative second look at Thom Yorke's underrated solo release put together by various high profile DJ's. The only problem with this album is the lack of vowels.

The second song on the mix is by a local band out of Victoria called 'Elephant Island'. The band is really fantastic, garnering rave reviews across the board.
And for the record, I work with the pianist/accordian dude/etc etc; he is a total dude.

I inserted a bit of guitar eroticism by way of Pearl Jam. Semi-recently I had rented their live concert DVD entitled, "Touring Band". Needless to say, my ass was blown out of the water; they fucking rule! The ever tasty 'Dissident' boasts what might be my all-time favorite guitar lick. Come on, try and lend a deaf ear to its triumphant majesty....

1. Blood Bank - Bon Iver (Blood Bank EP)
2. What Is More Fun Than A Circus? - Elephant Island (Don't Say You Don't Know What You Want)
3. Deep Water - Portishead (Third)
4. Veronica - Elvis Costello (Spike)
5. Something Is Squeezing My Skull - Morrissey (Years of Refusal)
6. Dissident - Pearl Jam (Vs)
7. Club America - The Cure (Wild Mood Swings)
8. Burning Airlines Give You So Much More - Brian Eno (Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy)
9. One Fine Day - Brian Eno/David Bryne (Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
10. Walkin' (Willie Nelson Cover) - Phosphorescent (To Willie)
11. Atoms For Peace (FourTet Remix) - Thom Yorke (The Eraser RMXS)
12. Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset - Modest Mouse (A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About)

CTLG #9: Nein, danke

Yes, CTLG is consistent in its ability not to annoy anyone with constant episodes. CTLG is also consistent in annoying people who are actually trying to download the episodes.
My response? A big ol fuckin' a.

NOTES ON THE NINER RECLINER:
-Songs 1,2,3,6 are dedicated to my sister. I figure she would enjoy those ones most. See we shall. The Force is strong with this one.
-One of my Christmas gifts was a pair of tickets to a February concert. It is David Byrne (yeah, of the Talking Heads) performing the songs of Eno and Byrne. Who's excited? Me. Why? Bryne is the fucking man; his stage presence is fantastic! Here is a clip of DB from their famous live show, "Stop Making Sense".


And This:

.
Included in this simple podcast is the 'hit' from Eno and Byrne's latest project, "Strange Overtones"

-Department of Eagles is a neat little side project featuring most of the members of Grizzly Bear, minus Ed Droste (featuring some dude named Fred Nicolaus). It is good (more of the 'freak-folk' kind of stuff...if that means anything to you), but not as good as Grizzly Bear's monster, "Yellow House".

- One more thing, I have taken the liberty of changing the structure of Chad Vangaalen's "name" to Chad van Gaalen. Let's just say it is personal.
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1. Be Dark Night - Phosphorescent
2. Strange Overtones - Brian Eno & David Bryne
3. No One Does It - Department Of Eagles
4. Love Vigilantes - New Order
5. Paint A Vulgar Picture - The Smiths
6. Willow Tree - Chad van Gaalen
7. Amputations - Death Cab For Cutie
8. Let Down (Radiohead cover) - David Bazan's Black Cloud
9. Heaven - The Talking Heads
10. We Rule the School - Belle & Sebastian
11. The Bells - Pedro the Lion

Rod le Dangereux!

Can I just say that the movie Hot Rod (by 'The Lonely Island' dudes) is the funniest film I have seen in years? That shit damn near killed me!


Reason 1!



If you are not sold yet

If you don't think these scenes are funny it is because you are not an artist.
-fin

Episode 8: CTLG is a Neglected Child (download here)

Apparently this podcast still gets updated. News to me.

All you really need to know about the show is that I think the songs are good shit. If you want to know anymore, look below.

Notes on the 8:

-Phosphorescent sounds like Bon Iver's sketchy drunk cousin; and I like it.

-I like the new TV On the Radio. Key word = like. I am not quite sold on the whole funk thing they are throwing out there. At least the featured track, "Halfway Home", has one of the best melodies I have heard from those goombas. The song 'teh rulexors'.

-"Dave's Song" is by the handsome Jordan West, errr, Jordan 'T' West. It is a delicate song...a song to induce sobbing (if you're into that shit. Crying, that is).

-Low, ne'er fails, ne'er shall. Except 'The Great Destroyer'. In golfer's terminology, the concept we'll employ is 'the Mulligan'. For those of you who didn't watch TSN Sportsdesk for hours when they were 10, I am sure Wikipedia can describe that one for you.

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1. Wolves - Phosphorescent
2. Halfway Home - TV On the Radio
3. Out On the Weekend - Neil Young
4. Death Of a Disco Dancer - The Smiths
5. Lights - I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
6. Favorite Girl - Joseph Arthur
7. Seven Swans - Sufjan Stevens
8. Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads
9. Us Ones In Between - Sunset Rubdown
10. Dave's Song - Jordan T West
11. Weight of Water - Low

Carnival Knights

Carnival Knights are a tight amalgamation of influence; neatly constructed together into a cohesive gem of sound. Accessible, powerful, and ambitious, they aim at the heart with a tenacious emotional intelligence as they tackle lament, romance, and the metaphysical; this all done while pooling together an eclectic merge of influences ranging from Radiohead, Neil Young, U2, and B.B King. The Knights foster a real love for the epic chorus, and who can blame them? Many share the innate desire for epic heart-on-sleeve-isms, and Carnival Knights creates the subject for our catharsis. Lyrically, the songs resonate within metaphor and mystery; inviting the contemplative listener to wholly search out the musical landscape laid out before them. Their onus is not to be an easy escapist outlet, nay; Carnival Knights seek their identity through encouraging the personalization of their music.

This band is one with every intention of being heard, and judging by their debut EP, I would say they deserve it. If you have the chance, see them live. It is where they belong.
Check them out September 27th (8:00pm) at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford, and October 2nd (9:00pm) at the Media Club in Vancouver!
(If you haven't already, giver a listen to CK on Episode 7!)

Episode 7: Hiatus Over

Notes on the 7:


I have finally returned from vacation; and so the show continues (it helps that after nearly a month back home our internet finally works). I (as well as K) cannot help but feel extremely spoiled. A full week of 30 degree heat with 100,000+ drunk northern europeans. Apparently, over 1,000,000 litres of beer (Tuborg) was purchased at the festival after the first 3 days alone. Scary. In this atmosphere, we had the honor of seeing some generation defining music (Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine, Neil Young...even Judas Priest and Slayer) alongside some other fantastic bands (Black Mountain [pictured],Holy Fuck, Mogwai, Notwist, et al) at the Roskilde Festival 2008. It was a fantastic time that certainly was a once in a lifetime experience for us. With that said, never again will I willingly subject myself to that much concentrated urine. Not if SDRE reunite, not if Lennon/Harrison crawl out of their graves. Regardless of the craziness, I am glad I did it, if only once.


(check out the 'festival '08' photo album from our facebook, look up jk vbvv)

*I am showcasing the debut EP from 'Carnival Knights' on this show. Look for a little write-up on them in the coming days.... In the meanwhile, enjoy the few folk-OK Computer mash-ups I put awwwwwn.

*The most important aspect of this episode (other than enjoying Carnival Knights, naturlich) is bent on the patience of the listener concerning the Low/Dirty Three cover of Neil Young's 'Down By the River'. Yes, it takes around 6-7 minutes of dreamy musical navigation to get to the vocals, but if you would just let it be as preparation, soothing preparation, then you will understand what I mean when I say that it is just.....painfully beautiful. This song is the poster child for a slow, aesthetic life. Please, please, give it all of your attention.

*My Morning Jacket is the reason why me and wifey think that listening to 'Fleet Foxes' is kind of pointless. Besides, animal bands are sooooooooo yesterday (there is a certain intonation implied in that statement, I should hope you understand which one). The song teh rulexors.


*mewithoutYou: Artsy punk-rock that is seemlessly aggressive, spiritual, energetic, vulnerable and poetic. I absolutely adore this band.

*After seeing Radiohead, once cannot help but obsess over their catalogue. As I have listened to the albums, the song Lucky has significantly stood out. At the moment, it is my favorite.

*First Reign's drummer, Sean "The Heartbreak Kid" Lang has a little ambient/electronic side project going on. I think it is pretty rad, and so should you. I decide how you should feel. 2+2=5.

*As a rule, it is not corny if it is The Cure. So shutup.

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Song - Artist (label) Album
1. Horse Chariot, Chariot Horse - Carnival Knights (unsigned) EP
2. Rose Parade - Elliott Smith (Kill Rock Stars) Either/Or
3.Down by the River - Low/Dirty Three (Koncurrent) In the Fishtank
4. Man of the Hawkridge Ranch - Carnival Knights (unsigned) EP
5. Gideon - My Morning Jacket (ATO) "Z"
6. A New Career in a New Town - David Bowie (EMI) Low
7. Thistle - First Reign (unsigned) As the Dead Lead the Dead
8. Nice and Blue, Part Two - mewithoutYou (Tooth and Nail) Brother, Sister
9. Lucky - Radiohead (EMI) OK Computer
10. Filter Me - Sean Lang (unsigned) n/a
11. Pictures of You - The Cure (Elektra) Disintegration

Episode 6: Sunny Day Real Estate

Notes on the 6:

Sunny Day Real Estate, or as they'll be known on this blog: 'SDRE', have been amongst my favorite bands since I was an awkward girl-lacking 16 year old. I was listening to Jimmy Eat World's 'Clarity' when my sister popped in and mentioned that I would probably like SDRE. Needless to say, old Jimmy has been collecting dust ever since. SDRE signed to the same label (Sub Pop) as 90's juggernauts Nirvana and Soundgarden had , and in 1994 they released their debut album "Diary". Furthering the emotional element set in place by bands like Rites of Spring, Minor Threat, and Fugazi, SDRE took hardcore to new levels. They merged skilled instrumentation with self-reflective lyrics and tenacious melodies, leaving behind the sloppy 3-chord punk that typified hardcore in the mid 80's.

The boyz are currently within their, what, 3rd-4th break-up now? What a shame. At least we have 4 albums and 1 live disc (not to mention a few solo albums by their lead vocalist Jeremy Enigk and a pseudo-SDRE album under the name "The Fire Theft") to carry us over until they reunite...god willing. In the meanwhile, I would encourage you to pick yourself up a copy of both "Diary" and "How It Feels To Be Something On". It may change your life.

This podcast is just a list of my favorite SDRE songs (aka. a pure disservice to the albums). In reality, I prefer listening to the full albums because each song feeds off of the next to cluster into one amazingly epic emotional breakdown. I guess it is a good sign when it pains you to create a 'best of', because the full genius of the band can only be revealed within the original context of the record. Oh glory hallelujah, do I loooooove that original context. Sexy!

Editors Note: I'll now admit that SDRE's original guitarist Dan Hoerner worked with Chris Carabba (yea, the Dashboard Confessional guy). 'Screaming Infidelities' - not my slice of pie, that is all I will say. It is very interesting, that is, the crap that has been influenced by the hardcore movement of the 80's. Although, It is very intriguing to me how one gets from Bad Brains to Fall Out Boy in 15+ years. Makes me wonder where the black metal genre will be when I am middle aged *imagine Christina Aguilera wearing corpse paint*
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Song - Album

1. Roses In Water - How It Feels To Be Something On

2. Every Shining Time Your Arrive - How It Feels To Be Something On

3. In Circles - Diary

4. One - The Rising Tide

5. The Prophet - How It Feels To Be Something On

6. The Blankets Were The Stairs - Diary

7. Friday - LP2

8. How It Feels To Be Something On - How It Feels To Be Something On

9. Shadows - Diary

10. Guitar and Video Games - How It Feels To Be Something On

11. Seven - Diary

12. 8 - LP2

13. Song About An Angel - Diary

14. The Ocean - The Rising Tide

*by the way, I accidentally labelled the episode '#7' on the downloadable file, so don't fret, it is still #6