Dec. 28 - The All-Canada show

Figured we may as well end the year celebrating the music of the Great White North.

Bedouin Soundclash – Dub in the Kalamegdan – Root Fire – Side One Dummy
Tea for the Voyage – Music Found Me – s/t

Destroy All Dreamers – Automne – Wish I Was All Flames – Where Are My
The Book of Lists – Lost Weekend – s/t – Scratch Recordings
Infighter – Silencer – s/t
Spygirl – Come Out to Play – Pieces of Evidence

Basia Bulat – December – Oh, My Darling – Hardwood
The Foreign Films – Distant Star – s/t
Wintermitts – Heartbeat – The Cascadia Fault
Young Galaxy – Wailing Wall – s/t – Arts & Crafts

The Locusts Have No King – Anna’s Smoke – s/t – Sturgeon
Dean Droulliard – What I’m Waiting For – Dust – 57 Songs
Citywide Vacuum – Circlops – Pact – Eleven37 Music

Slap [Unmodified] – Effexor Redux – Auto [repeat] – Architecture of Sound
Numéro# – Hit-Pop – L’idéologie des Stars – Saboteur
Chromeo – Fancy Footwork – Fancy Footwork – Last Gang
Omnikrom – Nahnahnahnah – Troupe Banane! – Saboteur

The Cliks – Soul Black Driver – Snakehouse – Kindling Music
Jets Overhead – Killing Time – Bridges – Microgroove
Certain Breeds – Cold Room – s/t – Global Symphonic

Death From Above 1979 – Blood On Our Hands – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine –
You Say Party! We Say Die! – Monster – Lose All Time – Paper Bag

Dec. 21 - The Xmas show

Well, partly anyway...

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – This World Has No Place for Me – s/t – Bloodshot
Jarvis Cocker – From Auschwitz to Ipswich – Jarvis –

Six Organs of Admittance – Jade Like Wine – Shelter From the Ash – Drag City
Degenerate Art Ensemble – PNX – Cuckoo Crow – Tellous
Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer – Redemption Song – Unearthed – American
Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy – Daniel – The Brave and the Bold – Overcoat

The Most Serene Republic – Humble Peasants – Population – Arts & Crafts
The Winks – Slumber Party Let’s Go – “Birthday Party” – Ache
The Darcys – I’ve Been Sleeping – Endless Water –
Five Blank Pages – She Sleeps Soundly – Last Blush – City Mouse

Weird Al Yankovic – Christmas at Ground Zero – Dr. Demento’s Christmas Hits –
Fear – Fuck Christmas – Christmas Punk –
The Ramones – Mery Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) – Christmas Punk –
The Smugglers – Lonely Christmas – It’s a Team Mint Xmas, Vol. II! – Mint

AKIM & the Teddy Vann Production Company – Santa Claus is a Black Man – A John Waters Christmas – New Line
Tom Waits – Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis – Blue Valentine – Elektra
The Pogues – Fairytale of New York – If I Should Fall From Grace with God – Island
David Bowie and Bing Crosby – Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth

Small Sins – Airport – Mood Swings – Boompa
Static North – Westbound – s/t
HotKid – Get On the Road – Got It to Give – P572
Ancestors – Roman Numerals – s/t

The Murder City Devils – 364 Days – Thelema – Sub Pop
Klaus Nomi – Silent Night

Whatever you celebrate, have a good one!

Dec. 14 - the Monkey Day Show

Today's show is in honour of National Monkey Day, a holiday we can (or should, anyway) all get behind. 'Cause let's face it, monkeys make everything better.

Act 1: La nouvelle musique Canadienne
Spymachine 16 – For the Jocks Who Scream from Cars – How Things Come Apart –
Bang Lime – Kings & Queens – Best Friends in Love – Last Gang

The Love Machine – Godspeed – If You're a Bird –
The Barmitzvah Brothers – Trailblazer – Let's Expres Our Motives – Weewerk
Madcowboys – Gender Rolled – Baby Steps –
The Micronite Filters – Train Robbers – Part Two – Get Bent

The Diableros – No One Wants to Drive – Aren't Ready for the Country – Baudelaire
Certain Breeds – 2 a.m. – s/t – Global Symphonic
The Paperbacks – Things Get Abstract – An Illusion Against Death – Parliament of Trees
Pink Mountaintops – Erected – the CBC Radio 3 Sessions Volume III – CBC Radio 3

Act 2: Too Much Monkey Music
(bed) The Misfits – Kong at the Gates – Famous Monsters – Roadrunner
Big "T" Tyler – King Kong – Loud, Fast and Out of Control – Rhino
Tarantuala Ghoul & the Gravediggers – King Kong – Jungle Exotica – Strip
The Groovie Ghoulies – the King Kong Stomp – Monster Club – Springman
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – King Kong Kitchee Kitchee Ki Mi O – Henry Lee single – Mute

J.C. Davis – Monkey – Jungle Exotica – Strip
The Meltdowns – Monkey Grip –
The Cramps – Monkey With Your Tail – Big Beat from Badsville – Vengeance
The Mummies – (You Must Fight to Live) On the Planet of the Apes – Death by Unga Bunga!! – Estrus
Deadbolt – October in Zimbabwe – Zulu Death Mask – Cargo/Headhunter

The Specials – Monkey Man – s/t – 2 Tone
The Tijuana Bibles – Gorilla Stomp – Apartment Wrestling – Trophy
Turbonegro – Monkey On Your Back – Apocalypse Dudes – Epitaph
Jughead – Monkey and the Hammer – Uncorked – On Tap

Don & Dewey – Koko Joe – Loud, Fast and Out of Control – Rhino
The Damned – Bad Time for Bonzo – The Collection – Castle Communications
The Ramones – My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg) – Hey Ho! Let's Go! – Rhino

Epilogue
Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - Rocket "88" - Loud, Fast and Out of Control

Dec. 7 - the mostly roots show

Los Perros del Pueblo Nuevo – Corrido de César Chávez – Rolas de Atzlán: Songs of the Chicano Movement – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Rodriguez y Gabriela – Vikingman – s/t – Rubyworks

Robert Plant and Alison Kraus – Killing the Blues – Raising Sand – Rounder
Neko Case – Wayfaring Stranger – The Tigers Have Spoken – Mint
Luke Doucet – Vanessa – Aloha, Manitoba – Six Shooter
Megan Hamilton – Saint Francis – How We Think About Light –

Emily Jane White – Sleeping Dead – Dark Undercoat – Double Negative
Flogging Molly – Within a Mile of Home – Within a Mile of Home – Side One Dummy
Dougie MacLean – Eternity – Live from Mountain Stage – Blue Plate Music
Andrew MacFayden – Dòmhnall Iain Duibh (Donald of Black John)

The Sadies – Yours to Discover – New Seasons – Outside
The Lonesome Valley Singers – There Are Ghosts in These Places – Corpse Circus Review – Self Righteous
Lee Hazlewood – Run Boy Run – Trouble is a Lonesome Town – Smells Like
Minnie Driver – King Without a Queen – Seastories – Trampoline

Emm Gryner – Southern Drreamer – Science Fair – Dead Daisy
Shivaree – Cold Blooded – Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs – Zoe
Insurgent – Dissolving Behaviour – CBC Radio 3: New Music Canada vol. 1 – CBC

Einstürzende Neubauten – Alles Weider Offen – Alles Weider Offen – Ryko
The Tear Garden – LAMENT – Crystal Mass – Nettwerk
The Triffids – Tender is the Night (The Long Fidelity) – Born Sandy Devotional – Domino


Wax Mannequin – You and All Your Friends – CBC Radio 3 Presents: Breaking New Sound

Nov. 30

Martin Atkins China Dub Soundsystem – Tibetans Vs. Dirty Girl – Made In China – Bloodshot

Plasticines – Lost in Translation – LP1 – Caroline
The Libertines – Time For Heroes – Time for Heroes: The Best of – Rough Trade
Tokyo Police Club – Nature of the Experiment – A Lesson in Crime – Paper Bag (request)
Attack in Black – The Love Between You and I – Marriage – Dine Alone

The Foreign Films – Clouds Above Radio Towers – Distant Star
The 6ixty 8ights – Yes You Did – Pica Electric Armada – Back House
The Pipettes – ABC – We Are… - Cherrytree/Interscope
Pulp – Something Changed – Different Class – Island
Joy Division – These Days (live) – Closer – Rhino

Caribou – Skunks – Pink Room Session
Tea for the Voyage – A New Low – s/t
Go Ghetto Tiger – Tiger Park Motel – s/t
Infighter – The Actor – s/t

Sonic Youth – Kool Thing – Goo – Geffen (request)
The Afghan Whigs – Debonair – Unbreakable (A Retrospective 1990-2006) – Rhino
Calexico – Alone Again Or – Convict Pool – Quarterstick
New Order – Ceremony – Substance – Qwest (yeah, I know I played Joy Division and New Order in the same show… it's my show, you can't stop me!)

Joey Ramone – 1969 – Don't Worry About Me – Sanctuary
Iggy Pop – Funtime – The Idiot – Virgin
Brian Eno – Baby's On Fire – Here Come the Warm Jets – EK

Stars – Life Effect – Heart –
The Evaporators – St. Roch – Gassy Jack and Other Tales – Mint
The Evaporators – Nardwuar vs. Courtney – Gassy Jack and Other Tales - Mint

Nov. 23

What you need to know:
Carbon/Silicon is the new project of Mick Jones (the Clash, Big Audio Dynamite) and Tony James (Generation X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, the Sisters of Mercy) and as you'd imagine, it's rather good.
The whole Baile Funk phenomenon is fairly fascinating and worth a Google search or two.
In the excellent Clash documentary film Westway to the World, the band's final album, Cut the Crap, isn't even mentioned. There's a good reason for this.
Vinyl sounds better than CDs. It's a fact.

Carbon/Silicon – Caesars Palace – The Last Post – Caroline
The Clash – This is England – Cut the Crap – Epic

The I Spies – Sleepwalkers – In the Night –
Slowking – You Were There – Rival Cities –
AM Synidcate – The Neighbor and His Wife – Liberation – Novastar

Bonde Do Role – Cagado – Marina Gasolina – Domino
Kraftwerk – Der Telefon Anruf – The Telephone Call 12" – Warner Bros.
Omnikrom – Backstage – Trop Banane! – Saboteur
David Bowie with the Pet Shop Boys – Hallo Spaceboy PSB Extended Mix – Disco Four – EMI

A Place to Bury Strangers – Don't Think Lover – s/t – Killer Pimp
Destroy All Dreamers – Le Pianiste Météorologique – Wish I Was All Flames – Where Are My
Arctic Monkeys (w/ Dizzee Rascal) – Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend – Brianstorm single – Domino
Hard-Fi – I Shall Overcome – Once Upon a Time in the West – Necessary

Spygirl – Beautiful – Pieces of Evidence –
Axis of Conversation – They Can See Your Ghost – Delusions of Safety –
Degenerate Art Ensemble – Blackened Crow – Cuckoo Crow – Tellous
Placebo – Follow the Cops Back Home – Meds – Virgin

The Assistants – In My Dreams – s/t –
The Ex-Boyfriends – Chinese New Year in Vancouver – Coming Before the Next One – Appropriate
The Rolling Stones – Down the Road Apiece – The Rolling Stones, Now! – London

Jesse Malin – Black Haired Girl – Glitter in the Gutter - Adeline

Nov. 16 - some a dis, some a dat

Tarentel – Dreamtigers – Ghetto Beats On the Surface of the Sun - Temporary Residence Limited
Os Mutantes – Ave Gengis Khan – Barbican Theater, London, 2006 – Luaka Bop

Dust Galaxy – Sun in Your Head – s/t – Fontana
The Coral – Put the Sun Back – Roots & Echoes – Columbia
Red Orkestra – Radio Towers – Life With the Machines – Fading Ways
Certain Breeds – In the Dark – s/t – Global Symphonic

The Foreign Films – Another World Behind the Sun – Distant Star –
Viva Voce – One in Every Crowd – Lovers, Lead the Way!/The Heat Can Melt Your Brain – Amore!Phonics
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – If Love Is the Drug – Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective – Tee Pee
Jets Overhead – Sun Sun Sun – s/t –

Hologram – Night Swimming – Hologram+ – n5MD
Last Days – Devil's Wood – These Places Are Now Ruins – n5MD
Near the Parenthesis – The World Is Inside You Now – Of Soft Construction – n5MD

The Cult – I Assassin – Born Into This – Roadrunner
The Cliks – Soul Black Driver – Snakehouse – Kindling Music
Tin Bangs – Shake! – Heavy-Handed Darling – Constant Crush
Arrows – Creaky Pipes – Knives Are Falling From the Sky –

The Casket Bastards – Headstone Hop – Hot Rod Ghoul Dance Party – Bowl-O-Phonic
The Mummies – (You Must Fight to Live) On the Planet of the Apes – Death by Unga Bunga! – Estrus
Les Séquelles – Monstre-Á-Go-Go – Et Tant Pis Si Cela Vous Déplaît – Grenadine

The Detroit Corbas – Leave My Kitten Alone – Tied and True - Bloodshot

Nov. 9 - a show of ska, punk, and soul

Lloyd Parks – Kung Fu Fighting – Kung Fu! Reggae Vs. the Martial Arts – Trojan

Jimmy Cliff feat. Joe Strummer – Over the Border – Black Magic – Artemis
The Aggrolites – Faster Bullet – Reggae Hit L.A. – Hellcat
The Selector – Too Much Pressure (live) – 2-Tone: A Look at Ska – EMI
King Django – Kick It Out – Reason – Hellcat
Operation Ivy – Sound System – s/t – Hellcat

Joe Shithead Keithly – Rebel Kind – Band of Rebels – Sudden Death
The Mahones – Queen and Tequila – Here Comes Lucky – True North
Dropkick Murphys – Captain Kelly's Kitchen – The Warrior Code – Epitaph

The Pariahs – Joan Jett – s/t – Creative Commotions
No Means No – You Are Not One – Would W Be Alive? – Alternative Tentacles
The Smugglers – What Do You Want Me to Do? – Growing Up Smuggler – Lookout!
The Weekend – NYLA – Beatbox My Heartbeat – Teenage USA

The Pipettes – It Hurts to See You Dance So Well – We Are… - Cherrytree/Interscope
The 6ixty 8ights – The Way It'll Be – Pica Electric Armada – Back House
Shout Out Louds – You Are Dreaming – Our Ill Wills – Merge
Deadstring Brothers – Tennessee Sure Enough – Silver Mountain – Bloodshot

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – Let Them Knock – 100 Days, 100 Nights – Daptone
Lattimore Brown – Night Time Is the Right Time – The Rich Records Story – SPV
Frank Penn – Gimme Some Skin – Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay – Numero Group
Isaac Hayes – By the Time I Get to Phoenix – Ultimate – Stax

Mike Ness – Funnel of Love – Under the Influences – Time Bomb
The Creepshow – The Garden – Sell Your Soul – Stereo Dynamite

Big John Bates – Bad Girls Go to Hell – Mystiki – Devil Sauce

Nov. 2 set

First thing, since last week was the Pledge Drive show, I only played a handful of songs between talking, so I didn't bother to record the set list.

You can blame the more avant stuff towards the end on my helping out the Misanthropy 916 program with the Drive.

And now, on to the set:


Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – Then and Not a Moment Before – s/t – Bloodshot
-
The Barmitzvah Brothers – Library Page – Let's Express Our Motives – Wee Werk
The Octopus Project – Ghost Moves – Hello, Avalanche – Peek-A-Boo
The Owls – Apocalypse – Daughters and Suns – Magic Marker
Spiral Beach – Kind of Beast – Ball – Sparks Music
-
Saturday Looks Good to Me – (Even If You Die On the) Ocean – Fill Up the Room – K
Pas/Cal – The Handbag Memoirs – Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous – Le Grand Magestry
Doveman – Chasing Clouds – With My Left Hand I Raise the Dead -
-
Destroy All Dreamers – Wish I Was All Flames – Wish I Was All Flames – Where Are My
Bloemfontein – Straighter Shorelines Mean Faster Currents – Maniosn Sessions
The Swans – The River That Runs with Love Won't Run Dry – The Burning World – Uni
Tom Waits – Hoist That Rag – Real Gone – Anti
Plants and Animals – Trials & Tribulations – With/Avec – Secret City
-
NOT_Digital – Apnea – In Dreams of Something New I Have Not Been Well –
Throbbing Gristle – United – Greatest Hits – Mute
Psychic TV – Saint Francis E. – Ultrahouse: The L.A. Connection – Wax Trax
180 G's – Christianity is Stupid – 180 D'Gs to the Future! – Seeland
-
We Are Wolves – Fight & Kiss – Total Magique – Dare to Care
Gang Gang Dance – Nicoman – Rawwar – the Social Registry

Oct. 19 set

Malcolm Middleton – Fight Like the Night
The Cake Sale – Black Winged Bird

The Diableros – Left From the Movies
Construction and Destruction – the Unconsolable
Five Blank Pages – She Sleeps Soundly
Tegan and Sara – I Know, I Know, I Know

VHS or Beta – Love in My Pocket
Deborah Harry – School for Scandal
Tiger Army – Forever Fades Away
The Cramps – People Ain’t No Good

Blanche – Never Again (demo)
Iron And Wine – Lovesong of the Buzzard
The Organ – Love, Love, Love
Danny Michel – Ashes to Ashes

C’Mon – Psychotic Retraction
Tom Waits – Earth Died Screaming
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Alligator Wine
John Zacherle – Dinner with Drac pt. 1
Screaming Lord Sutch – She’s Fallen in Love with the Monster Man

Slave to the Square Wave – Thank You Very Much
Gorillaz – M1A1

Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart
Morrissey – You Have Killed Me

And yes, the Morrissey show was great, as we all knew it would be.

Control update

We finally got a local release date for Control! Friday, October 26th, at the Maple Art Theater in Bloomfield Hills.

Begin countdown now.

Oct. 12 set

Coco – Your Own Secret Way – Play Drums + Bass – K
Siouxsie – Here Comes That Day – Mantaray – Decca
PJ Harvey – Dear Darkness – White Chalk – Island
-
High On Fire – Rumors of War – Death Is This Communion – Relapse
Mono – Due Foglie, Una Candela: Il Soffio del Vento – Gone
Trembling – Silent Fanfare – Pulses in the Dark –
Bend Sinister – Yours Truly – s/t – Distort Digital
-
Michael Yonkers – 162 – Grimwood – De Sitjl
The Raveonettes – Somewhere in Texas – Pretty in Black – Columbia
The Sadies – What's Left Behind – New Seasons – Outside
Luke Doucet – Outlaws – Aloha, Manitoba – Six Shooter
-
The Champs – Tijuana Two Step – Tequila! The Very Best of – Music Club
Los Straitjackets w/ Big Sandy – La Suegra a/k/a Mother In Law – Sing Along with – Cavalcade
El Vez – Viva La Raza – G.I. Ay, Ay! Blues – Big Pop
Link Wray & His Raymen – Fat Back – Born Bad vol. 1 –
-
The Cliks – Dreaming – s/t – Big Bug Music
Modernettes – Suicide Club – Get It Straight – Sudden Death
The Gruesomes – So Far, So Bad – Live in Hell – Ricochet Sound
Danko Jones – Strut – We Sweat Blood – Razor and Tie
-
Henry Rollins – As the Crow Flies – Live at the Westbeth Theater – 2.13.61
Tijuana Bibles – Ring y Lucha – Apartment Wrestling – Trophy
The Avatars – Never a Good Time – Never a Good Time – No Fun
-
Tuuli – Who's the Fool Now? – Rockstar Potential – Sympathy for the Record Industry

Set Oct. 5

Starting with folk, a big electronic block in the middle, and ending with punk? It can only be the new episode of Dreaming in Stereo!

Basia Bulat – Snakes and Ladders – Oh, My Darling – Hardwood
Akron/Family – Don't Be Afriad, You're Already Dead – Young God
-
The Besnard Lakes – Devastation radio edit – Are the Dark Horse
Alistair Christl – Two Ravens – Unmarked Grave –
Angels of Light – Black River Song – We Are Him – Young God
-
Aun – Flint – Mule – Oral
Photek – Deadly Technology – Form and Function 2 – Sanctuary
Chris & Cosey – This Is Me – The Kings of Electro – K7
Slap [Unmodified] – Omnipresent (2nd edit) – Auto [repeat] –
-
Swayzak – No Sad Goodbyes – Some Other Country – K7
New Order – Your Silent Face – Power, Corruption & Lies – Qwest
Omnikrom – Nanananah – Trope Banane! – Saboteur
-
Thurston Moore – Honest James – s/t – Ecstatic Peace!
Young Galaxy – The Golden Coin – Swing Your Heartache EP – Arts & Crafts
M83 – Don't Save Us From the Flames – single – Mute
-
Joe Shithead Keithly – When Power Came to Canada – Band of Rebels – Sudden Death
Jello Biafra and D.O.A. – We Gotta Get Out of This Place – Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors – Alternative Tentacles
-
Patrick Wolf – The Libertine – Wind in the Wires – Tomlab
-
Fire Engines - Get Up and Use Me - Hungry Beat - Acute
The Jam - Down in the Tube Station at Midnight - Greatest Hits - Polygram

Europe v. North America

Well, in sensibilities, anyway.

Just discovered that the Pipettes North American tour was rescheduled (with no Detroit date, of course), and also that their album, We Are the Pipettes, just had its North American release. Leaving aside the fact that it makes more sense to tour after the album has had a chance to sell, this is still a disappointment, since much as I'd like I can't just go to Toronto for every band. *cue the Morrissey*
Anyhow, I noticed the artwork for the album was changed a bit for the release here. Note:

European cover:


And then the North American edition:


Maybe it's just me, but the one for here seems a bit flashier, and maybe sexier in its own way. Shorter skirts, tighter fits, more modern hairstyles - yeah, definitely aimed at America.

Then again, it reminds me of a similar happening in 1979:





While technically true that Three Imaginary Boys and Boys Don't Cry are different albums (and much as it goes against my instincts, I'm going to have to say that BDC has the better tracklist), you can see the difference in continental aesthetics. Not that each doesn't evoke the era in its own way, but the TIB cover definitely lacks a certain "Sam Goody" vibe, whereas the BDC makes the Cure look like some Venice Beach electro-dance act. Or maybe it's easy to make judgements in retrospect.

set Sept. 28

I actually really dig this show; everything fit well, even the bands I wasn't familiar with. It's nice when that happens. It inadvertently became the Can/English show - well, except for Iggy, but close enough, right? (And yes, I know Belle & Sebastian are Scottish, but just go with me on this one.)

The second chunk of bands are playing the PA Festival this weekend, at the Avalon Front and Phog Lounge, both in downtown Windsor. The Pipettes are playing the Magic Stick on Wednesday, and I'm definitely excited. Also, I can't say enough good things about that Wintermitts album. It impresses me every time I put it on. As for the Brett Anderson album, I picked the most rocking track on the album. Yes, that's correct. It's not a bad album by any stretch, but it's really a good breakup/depression album, but not much else. Oh well, we'll always have Coming Up, won't we?

Go! Team – Doing It Right – Proof of Youth – Secret City
The Pipettes – Pull Shapes – We Are… - Memphis Industries
-
The Locusts Have No King – Anna's Smoke – s/t
Ten Year Drought – Kill This Month – Memoranda
The Most Serene Republic – (Oh) God – Underwater Cinematographer – Arts & Crafts
Bend Sinister – Yours Truly – s/t – Distort Inc.
Doers – Hey There, Hoser – Gaiety – Reluctant
-
the 6ixty 8ights – Dirty Business – Pica Electric Armada – Back House
Slave to the Square Wave – New York's a Go-Go – Big Change – Sparks Music
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Weapon of Choice – Baby 81 –
The Jesus and Mary Chain – I Hate Rock 'n' Roll – Hate Rock 'n' Roll – American
-
Infighter – The Actor – s/t
Fields – You Brought This On Yourself – Everything Last Winter – Atlantic
The Book of Lists – Lost Weekend – s/t – Scratch Recordings
Clinic – The New Seeker – Visitations – Domino
-
Brett Anderson – Intimacy – s/t – V2
Film School – Go Down Together – Hideout – Beggars Banquet
Wintermitts – Heartbeat – the Cascadia Fault
Au Revoir Simone – The Lucky One – The Bird of Music – Our Secret
-
Belle and Sebastian – Is It Wicked Not to Care? – The Boy with the Arab Strap – Matador
Iggy Pop – China Girl – The Idiot – Virgin
David Bowie – Uncle Arthur – s/t – Deram
-
The Charlatans – Can't Get Out of Bed – Up to Our Hips – Beggars Banquet

your music news

Found this clip while tooling around on Youtube, dealing with the Ramones' time with Phil Spector:



I think it gives an interesting perspective, given that the Spector case ended in a mistrial.

Also, it's been two weeks since 50 Cent said he'd retire if Kanye West outsold him - which has happened two weeks in a row - so now, I guess it's shut up time. Not that I'm a huge Kanye fan - his childish tyrades notwithstanding - but anything that even begins to promise the death of commercial "gangsta" rap can not come soon enough.

And as if he wasn't amazing enough, David Bowie recently donated $10,000 to the Jena Six defense team. 'nuff said.

The big surprise of last week wasn't the fact that Gerard Way, singer of My Chemical Romance has written a comic book called The Umbrella Academy, but that it turned out to be really entertaining. It's very tongue-in-cheek b-grade sci-fi stuff (think Hellboy or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen[the good comic, not the abominable movie]), and if this page doesn't sell you, nothing will. That's right, that's the Eiffel Tower he's punching out. In fact, only one thing would have made this book better: more monkeys.

set Sept. 21

Bettye Lavette – You Don't Know Me At All – The Scene of the Crime – Anti
Marion Black – Come On and Gettit – Eccentric Soul: the Prix Label – Numero Group
Promise – I'm Not Ready for Love – Home Schooled: The ABCs of Kid Soul – Numero Group
-
Black Lips – Lock and Key – Good Bad Not Evil – Vice
Radio Moscow – Timebomb – s/t – Alive
Black Mountain – No Satisfaction – s/t – Jagjaguwar
-
Shout Out Louds – Your Parents' Living Room – Our Ill Wills – Merge
Infighter – Lost Types – s/t
Film School – Lectric – Hideout – Beggars Banquet
His Name is Alive – Go to Hell Mountain – Xmmer – Silver Mountain
-
HRSTA – Tomorrow Winter Comes – Ghosts Will Come and Kiss Our Eyes – Constellation
Mono – Gone – Gone: A Collection of Eps 2000-2007 –
Wintersleep – Weighty Ghost – Welcome to the Night Sky – Labwork Music
Wendy McNeil – Restless – The Wonder Show – Six Shooter
-
We Are Wolves – Some Words – Total Magique – Dare to Care
Japandroids – Avant Sleepwalk – All Lies EP –
Numbers – Mind Hole – Now You Are This – Kill Rock Stars
Black Francis – Lolita – Blue Finger – Cooking Vinyl
Kevin Drew – TBTF – Spirit If… - Arts & Crafts
-
The Doers – So It Is – CBC Radio 3 Breaking New Sound Presents – Radio 3
Mudhoney – Touch Me I'm Sick – Kurt Cobain: About a Son sdtk – Barsuk
The Creation – How Does It Feel to Feel –
The Yardbirds – For Your Love – Live at B.B. King Blues Club – Favored Nations
-
Bend Sinister – Happiness is a Warm Gun – CBC Radio 3 Breaking New Sound Presents – Radio 3

Best. Movie. Ever.

Now, I know it's a bit of a cheat to simply put a link to someone else's blog as an entry (as though posting Youtube videos isn't?) especially when I don't post nearly enough as it is, but Chris Sims on his Invincible Super-Blog wrote a pretty awesome review of the greatest rock 'n' roll movie ever, Wild Zero. How incredible is this movie? It has Guitar Wolf, aliens, zombies, and a villan with the tightest shorts ever. Do yourself a favour and see this as soon as you humanly can, and realize how incomplete your life was without it.

Virgin Fest (more or less)

I suppose billing this as a review/commentary on the Virgin Festival as a whole is a bit mosleading, as through a combination of circumstance and intent I really only made it for three bands the first day. So as not to belabour things, a quick rundown of what I did catch:

Arctic Monkeys: If this is how they've been playing the whole time, it makes sense why they got as hot as they are. Straight-ahead, high-energy, good, fun rock.

Interpol: Is it them or is it me? Interpol has always been cleanly efficient in their performances, but now it just feels mechanical: enter stage, play note-perfect recreations of the songs as they sound on the albums, exit stage. But the crowd seemed to dig it, so take that for what you will. That having been said, hearing "Slow Hands" was pretty exciting.

Björk: You know those books listing various things a person should do before they die? Seeing Björk live should be in every one. With a set culled mainly from Post, Homogenic, and Volta, with the stars overhead and the open air, it was beyond words. Certain people have that ability to take a performance and make it something more, and that's exactly what she did.

In other news, a couple of native groups worth mentioning: Cities In Dust (okay, technically they're from Hamilton, but close enough, right?), who do the hyper, post-punk thing well enough to remind you why it was cool in the first place, and Slap [Unmodified], the project of one Thomas Sinclair, a nice bit of retro-inspired electronic work. To give you an idea of where he's coming from, the Slap Myspace page features a cover of Vangelis' end credits music from Blade Runner. Good work all around.

Sept. 7 (aka the Virgin/Toronto show)

Here's the set for tonight's show, pre-taped a few weeks ago (hence my not knowing about a couple of release dates, and thinking Any Winehouse was still able to perform in public). The theme, just to be redundant, is half- bands playing the Virgin Music Festival in Toronto this weekend, and half- bands from Toronto. Also, Morrissey tickets go on sale today, which should satisfy the painfully awkward 15-year-old in all of us. Or me, anyway.

Metric - Rock Me Now
Stars - The Ghost of Genova Heights
-
Bjork - My Juvenile
Bjork - Bacholrette
Blonde Redhead - 23
Interpol - Mammoth
-
Peter Bjorn and John - Let's Call It Off
Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good
M.I.A. - Galang
-
Editors - You Are Fading
The Cinematics - Maybe Someday
Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker
-
Feist - I Feel It All
the Organ - Steven Smith
Boy - Same Old Song
Stirling - Slack Sabbaths
-
The Constantines - Soon Enough
Megan Hamilton - Beautiful Girl
City and Colour - Comin' Home
Apostle of Hustle - My Sword Hand's Anger
-
Slap [unmodified] - Effexor Redux
Cities in Dust - The Last Dance

I'll report on the Fest (or at least the little bit of it I'll actually see) and perhaps more next week.

Aug. 31 show

Toots and the Maytals – Love So Strong – Light Your Light
King Tubby and Friends – Beat Them in Dub – Dub Like Dirt – Blood and Fire
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros – Redemption Song – Streetcore – Hellcat
-
Wintermitts – Petit Monstre – The Cascadia Fault –
Jonathan Seet – Watching You Sleep – Thanks to Science, We've Got Love – Mazurka Music
Moose – The Only Man in Town – Baby It's Over single – Saltwater
Editors – An End Has a Start – An End Has a Start – Epic
-
Measured in Angles – The Opposite of Light – Lo Standards for Hi-Fi – Minidirge
The Locusts Have No King – Cruelty Is King – s/t – Sturgeon
Hot Springs – Fog and the Horn – Volcano – Aquarius
Lotus Child – Gossip Diet – Gossip Diet –
-
M.I.A. – Bird Flu – Kala – Beggars
Justice – One Minute to Midnight – Cross – Vice
Front Line Assembly – The Blade (Worldwide Mix) – Monument – Roadrunner
Fauxliage – Magic – s/t – Nettwerk
-
Tom Waits – Jockey Full of Bourbon – Rain Dogs – Island
The Ramones – Rockaway Beach – Hey Ho, Let's Go! – Rhino
Lou Reed – NYC Man – Set the Twilight Reeling – Warner Bros.
Bryan Ferry – Dance Away – Street Life – Reprise
-
Modernettes – Little Girls – Get It Straight – Sudden Death
The Soviettes – Roller Girls – LP III – Fat Wreck Chords
The Damned – Democracy? – Grave Disorder – Nitro
-
Morrissey – Bigmouth Strikes Again – Live at Earl's Court - Attack

Random notes:
- I've been meaning to play Strummer's cover of "Redemption Song" for weeks now - it's just so damn good, and yet another reminder of what a great talent he was.
- The new Editors disc may hopefully begin the backlash against the whole "Joy Division-esque" sound... I'm sure they're great guys, but at this point, if you can't bring something new, don't bother, I reckon; speaking of which, expect a rant about the new Interpol album fairly soon.
- Do yourself a favour and check out the Wintermitts. Well-written and performed pop music with fun French vocals never goes out of style.
- That new M.I.A. sounds like it's gonna get real old real fast. I don't mean to be so negative, I just gots to be honest wit' ya.
- Morrissey is touring again. October 18 at the Royal Oak Music Theater. You know, even being as old as I am, I can still revert to the horribly-awkward-yet-painfully-earnest 15 year-old when listening to the Mozz. Some artists just have it, I suppose.

set for Aug. 24

The Alarmists – Voice Within – The Ghost and the Hired Gun – Instrument Control
-
Angels of Light – We Are Him – We Are Him – Young God
Nina Nastasia and Jim White – The Day I Would Bury You – You Follow Me – Fatcat
Elais – Sinking Ships – Blow Away EP –
-
Digitata – Marinos Amores – II Daggers – Totally Gross National Product
Caribou – She’s the One – Andorra – Merge
Airiel – Thrown Crystals – The Battle of Seeland – Highwheel
My Bloody Valentine – When You Sleep – Loveless –
Ether Aura – Sirens – Before We Could Sing
-
Holly Cole – Shiver Me Timbers – The Collection vol. 1 – Alert
Rufus Wainwright – Rules and Regulations – Release the Stars –
The Magic Numbers – Take A Chance – Those the Brokes – EMI
Mecca Normal – Frozen Rain – Sitting On Snaps – Matador
-
Bend Sinister – TV War – s/t – Team Distort
Mono – Where Am I – One Step More and You Die – Arrco
Ragni – The Somnambulist – s/t – Seven Story
Billy Bragg – A New England – Must I Paint You a Picture?: The Essential – Outside Music
-
Silver Apples – Program – Silver Apples –
Danko Jones – Dance – We Sweat Blood – Razor and Tie
James Chance and the Contortions – Contort Yourself – Sax Education – Tiger Style
-
D Generation – Waiting for the Next Big Parade – s/t - EMI

It's too bloody hot, seriously. Nothing like sitting in a nice air-conditioned studio to make it all better...

Aug. 17 set

So yeah, went all over the place with this one, but gotta keep it interesting, no?
The show was pre-recorded, owing to a work obligation which would have made getting to the station on time a risky-at-best proposition. Not to worry, next week should see me live and in effect as usual. And maybe I'll hold off on the 5+ minute experimental tracks. Maybe.


All the King's Horses - Bloodless
-
Bang Lime - Iris
Jets Overhead - All the People
Arab Strap - Don't Ask Me to Dance
The Twilight Sad - Walking for Two Hours
-
Fine Motor Control - Come Down
They Shoot Horses Don't They? - The Guest
the Gossip - Fire With Fire
the Clash - White Man in Hammersmith Palais
-
the Russian Futurists - Karkarodon Karkarius
A Silver Mt. Zion - Built Then Burnt (Hurrah! Hurrah!)
Six Organs of Admittance - Bless Your Blood
-
the Twilight Singers - Decatur St.
Firewater - When I Burn This Place Down
Current 93 - The Summer of Love
The Cranes - Shining Road
-
Young Galaxy - Wailing Wall
Aqualung - Something to Believe In
Tarkio - Better Half
Velvet Underground - There She Goes
-
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - New Morning

Notes: That Bang Lime track was the sleeper hit of the set, grabbing me far more in person than whatever track I previewed online, and that Jets Overhead disc continues to impress me more with every listen. Oh, and the Current 93 song is a Blue Oyster Cult cover. Not only do I love the term "dad rock," but I'm also liking the phenomenon itself more and more.

set Aug. 10

Aun – Flint – Mule – Oral
-
Shellac – Be Prepared – Excellent Italian Greyhound – Touch and Go
Mission of Burma – (This Is Not a) Photograph – A Gun to the Head – Ryko
Turbo Fruits – Volcano – s/t – Ecstatic Peace!
Killing Joke – Primitive – XXV Gathering: Let Us Prey – Cooking Vinyl
-
The Locusts Have No King – Catching a Slow Train On a Dead Man’s Birthday – s/t – Sturgeon
Johnny Cash – Highway Patrolman – The Legend –
-
A Certain Ratio – All Night Party – All Night Party – Factory
Joy Division – These Days – Substance – Factory
Happy Mondays – Hallelujah – Rave On EP – Factory
New Order – Ceremony – Substance – Factory
-
Junior Boys – The Equalizer – In the Morning EP – Domino
Holy Fuck – They’re Going to Take My Thumbs – EP – Dependent
Omnikrom – J’ai Quoi Moi? – Trop Banane! – Saboteur
Numéro# - Journaliste – L’Ideologie des Stars – Saboteur
-
Tijuana Bibles – Reverse Psychology – Custom Made – Tear It Up
Mazinga – Namorita – s/t – Reanimator
Groovie Ghoulies – The Beast With Five Hands – Monster Club – Springman
Forbidden Dimension – Sinner Take All –
Tuuli – Tough Guys – Rockstar Potential – Sympathy for the Record Industry
-
The Damned – I Just Can’t Be Happy Today – Machine Gun Etiquette – Emergo
Zolar X – Rocket Roll – Timeless – Alternative Tentacles

RIP Tony Wilson...

set Aug. 3

The Thieves of Kailua – Welcome - Clouds Roll In – s/t – Mill Pond
Kid Django – Hard, Hard Thing – Ska is Dead – Stomp
The English Beat – Save It for Later (12” Version) – 2-Tone: A Look at Ska – EMI
-
the Stooges – Loose – Fun House – Elektra
Turbonegro – Do You Do You Dig Destruction – Retox – Cooking Vinyl
The Knifings – Jimmy Pots and Pans – s/t –
The Big Bad – No One Gets Hurt – Middle of the Night –
-
Bleach03 – Rock is Calling – The Head That Controls Both Right and Left Sides Eats Meats and Slobbers Even Today – Australian Cattle God
The King Brothers – Go to Hell!! – s/t – Bulb
The Birthday Party – Happy Birthday – Hee Haw – Shock
Simply Saucer – Nazi Apocalypse – Cyborgs Revisited – Cargo
-
Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton – The Bank – What Is Free to a Good Home? – Last Gang
Bat for Lashes – What’s a Girl to Do? – Fur and Gold – Caroline
Jason Plumb and the Willing – I Do – Beauty in this World – Soccer Mom
Lightning Dust – When You Go – s/t – Jagjauwar
-
Sixtoo – Pt. 9 – Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man – NinjaTune
Slap [unmodified] – Omnipresent (2nd edit) – Auto [repeat] –
Tubeway Army (Gary Numan) – Me: I Disconnect From You – Replicas – Beggars Banquet
-
Shivaree – Cold Blooded (yes, it is a Rick James cover) – Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs – Zoe
You Say Party! We Say Die! – Teenage Hit Wonder – Lose All Time! – Paper Bag
We’re Marching On – “Hot Heats, Soaked Streets” – Argh! Umph! Ahh! –
-
Lights Out Asia – Oh! Toronto – Tanks and Recognizers – n5MD
Ether Aura – Chemistry – Before We Could Sing –
Citywide Vacuum – Circlops – Pact – Eleven37

Playlist July 27

Lots of good stuff this week, all over the board musically as we’ve come to expect. Especially of note are the artists on n5MD and the Montreal-based electronics of Onmikrom and Numéro#, as well as Megan Hamilton, who proves that folk’s not dead.

Also, The Freedom Principle ended early this week, so we got a little more Dreaming than usual, which was good for me, if no one else.

Be Bad – White Tongue – Vision Correction – Divorce
The Medium Mood – Big Bang Theory – New Alarm – NoYes
Fugazi – Bulldog Front – 13 Songs – Dischord
At the Drive-In – One-Armed Scissor – This Station is Non-Operational – Fearless
-
Justice – D.A.N.C.E. – Cross – Vice
Numéro# - J'aime la Bourgeoisie – L'idéologie des Stars – Saboteur
Omnikrom feat. TTC – Danse la Poutine – Trop Banane! – Saboteur
-
Chromeo – Fancy Footwork – Fancy Footwork – Last Gang
Bonde Do Role – Office Boy – With Lasers – Domino
Digitalism – Idealistic – Idealism – Astralwerks
-
Montag – I Have Sound – Going Places – Carpark
Damiak – Iridescent Wings – Micalavera – n5MD
Proem – Secret Knots – A Permanent Solution – n5MD
Matthew Dear – Deserter – Asa Breed – Ghostly Int'l
-
Megan Hamilton – Saint Francis – How We Think About Light – Familiar Music
Ron Leary – Years – The Road In Between – Bootbrush Music
Dean Drouillard with Jill Barber – Valentine – Dream at Harmony Motel – Drou Music
Luke Doucet – Lucky Strikes – Broken (and Other States) – Six Shooter
-
Patti Smith – Dancing Barefoot – Wave – Arista
Suede – So Young – s/t – nude/Columbia
The Cure – Primary – Faith – Elektra
16mm – Beg – 16mm web site
-
Gaudi + Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Bethe Bethe Kese Kese – Dub – Qawwali – Six Degrees

July 20 show

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? – A Place Called La – Pick Up Sticks – Kill Rock Stars
-
Attack in Black – Inches and Ages – Marriage – Dine Alone
Shane MacGowan and the Popes – More Pricks Than Kicks – The Crock of Gold – ZTT
The Mahones – Going Back to Dublin – Here Comes Lucky – True North
-
They Might Be Giants – I Can’t Hide From My Mind – Spine – Idlewild
Citywide Vacuum – Souvenirs – Pact – Eleven37
Caribou – Zoe – Melody Day single – Merge
Digitata – Diet Riot – II Daggers – Totally Gross National Product
-
The Twilight Sad – Walking for Two Hours – Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters – Fatcat
The Two Koreas – Pegasus Wept – Altruists – Unfamiliar
Sonic Youth – Lights Out – Rather Ripped – Geffen
Megan Hamilton – Beautiful Girl – How We Think About Light – Familiar Music
-
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Do You Love Me? – Let Love In – Mute
Bellavista – River of Lust – s/t – Take Root
Black Mountain – Druganaut – s/t – Jagjaguwar
Dengue Fever – Hold My Hips – s/t –
-
Suzanne Vega – Ludlow Street – Beauty & Crime – Blue Note
Pulp – The Night That Minnie Timperley Died – We Love Life – Rough Trade US
Tom Waits – Danny Says – Orphans – Anti
-
Wooden Stars – Gold Dust – People Are Different – Sonic Unyon
(bonus beats)
The Long Blondes - Lust in the Movies - Someone to Drive You Home - Rough Trade
The Fall - Over! Over! - Reformation TLC - Narnack

Friday the 13th set

No real theme for this one, though I did get a little in the mood at the end...

Bob Marley and the Wailers – Rainbow Country (DJ Spooky's Subliminal Funk Remix) – Roots, Rock, Remixed – Quango
-
The Aggrolites – Reggae Hit L.A. – Reggae Hit L.A. – Hellcat
Westbound Train – Please Forgive Me – Ska is Dead – Stomp
Tim Armstrong – Inner City Violence – s/t – Hellcat
Madness – House of Fun – Ultimate Collection – Hip-O
-
Gogol Bordello – Super Theory of Super Everything – Super Taranta! – Side One Dummy
Mando Diao – Tony Zoulias (Lustful Life) – Ode to Ochrasy – Mute
Jets Overhead – Seems So Far – Bridges – Microgroove
Arcade Fire – Headlights Look Like Diamonds – s/t EP –
-
the Russian Futurists – Our Pen's Out of Ink – Me, Myself and Rye – Upper Class
the Cliks – Eyes in the Back of My Head – Snakehouse – Kindling Music
Immaculate Machine – Dear Confessor – Fables – Mint
Cities In Dust – If You're Jealous, I'm Happy – Night Creatures – Paperbag
Josef K – Sorry for Laughing – Entomology – Domino
-
Built to Spill – In Your Mind – Ancient Melodies of the Future – Warner Bros.
Mirah and Spectratone International – Community – PDX Pop Now! –
Cinemascope – See My Eyes – Soundimension – Airline
Spygirl – Drive Away –
Young Galaxy - The Golden Coin – Swing Your Heartache EP – Arts & Crafts
-
the Casket Bastards – Headstone Hop – demo
Guitar Wolf – Sky Star Jet – Ronk and Roll Etiquette – Narnack
Groovie Ghoulies – Zombie Crush – Re-Animation Festival – Lookout
The Ramones – Needles and Pins – Weird Tales of the Ramones – Rhino
The Jam – David Watts – Greatest Hits – Polydor
-
the Weekend – There Goes My Heart – Beatbox My Heart

Random noises

Haven't had much chance to post more than the weekly setlists as of late, something I continually hope to remedy. I do want to give a big "thank you" to everyone who came out to the Avalon Front last week for my installment of Radio Free Thursdays. The turnout was fairly decent, and really well in comparison to previous weeks (word is finally getting out, it seems). It was a lot of fun, a little challenging, and overall a really good night, and I hope to get back in soon for the next round of scheduled nights.

And my new shift turns out to be slightly earlier than I'd originally thought - 6:30-8 p.m. Friday evenings. Good after-work time, and definitely works better with the life schedule than overnights.

In the good news/bad news department, I found out today that Placebo are coming to town, only to discover that they're part of the Projekt Revolution tour package, headlined by Linkin Park and featuring such luminaries as My Chemical Romance, HIM (who I actually enjoy as a guilty pleasure) and Taking Back Sunday. I'm not sure what Molko and co. were thinking, but hopefully they're getting paid decently and will garner enough new fans to come back on their own soon. Sometimes music is a cruel mistress indeed.

set July 6

Digitalism – Digitalism in Cairo – Idealism – Dreamworks
-
Maps – You Don’t Know Her Name – We Can Create – Mute
Shapes and Sizes – Alone/Alive – Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner – Asthmatic Kitty
You Say Party! We Say Die! – Like I Give a Care – Lose All Time! – Paper Bag
Ninja High School – Positive Laser – Young Adults Against Suicide – Tomlab
-
Datarock – Computer Camp Love – s/t – Nettwerk
Klaxons – Gravity’s Rainbow – Myths of the Near Future – DGC
Arctic Monkeys – Flourescent Adolescent – Favourite Worst Nightmare – Domino
Apostle of Hustle – My Sword Hand’s Anger – National Anthem of Nowhere – Arts & Crafts
-
Stars – Calendar Girl (Young Galaxy remix) – Do You Trust Your Friends? – Arts & Crafts
Autumn Shade – Seagarden – Ezra Moon – Strange Attractors
Davendra Banhart – Support Our Troops – Xiu Xiu, Remixed and Covered –
The Decemberists – O Valencia – The Crane Wife – Columbia
-
the Superfantastics – Late Night Phone Calls – Pop-Up Book – MAPL
the Choir Practice – I See Things – s/t – Mint
the Pipettes – Simon Says – Judy single – Memphis Industries
Belle and Sebastian – Funny Little Frog – The Life Pursuit – Matador
-
the Constantines – Sea Line Woman – Young Lions single – SubPop
Cyril Ferguson – Gonna Build a Nation – Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay –
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich – Hold Tight – Death Proof sdtk – Maverick
The Gruesomes – The Deal – Cave-In! – Tyrant
-
Mystery Jets – The Boy Who Ran Away
BRMC – Took Out a Loan – Baby 81
Bad Brains – Right Brigade – s/t
-
Lemmy & Rollins Band – Thirsty and Miserable – Rise Above - 2.13.61

set June 29

Airiel (feat. Ulrich Schnauss) – Sugar Crystals – The Battle of Sealand – Highwheel
-
Elias – Sinking Ships – Blow Away EP
Metric – Rock Me Now – Grow Up and Blow Away
Arks – Cars on Fire – The International – Highwheel
Sonic Youth – Touch Me I’m Sick – Daydream Nation (Deluxe) – Geffen
-
The Long Blondes – Heaven Help the New Girl – Someone to Drive You Home – Rough Trade
Shitdisco – I Know Kung Fu – Kingdom of Fear – Fierce Panda
Chromeo – Momma’s Boy – Fancy Footwork – Last Gang
Death to Sexy – Like a Record – Fall of the Prom Queen –
Adult. – I Feel Worse When I’m With You – Why Bother? – Thrill Jockey
-
the Little Bicycles – Portland – Broken Hearts and Tired Legs – Jane Awesome
the Icicles – La Ti Da – Arrivals & Departures – Microindie
Love Spit Love – Am I Wrong – s/t
Morrissey – Interesting Drug – Bona Drag – Sire/Reprise
-
Lotus Child – Had to Laugh – Gossip Diet –
Interpol – Evil – Antics – Matador
The Moonbabies – Shout It Out – At the Ballroom – Hidden Agenda
Feist – Brandy Alexander – The Reminder – Arts & Crafts
-
Lavender Diamond – Open Your Heart – Imagine Our Love – Matador
The Magnetic Fields – Young and Insane – The House of Tomorrow – Merge
-
T Rex – Jeepster – Death Proof sdtk

recommendations and reconsiderations

Finally, I've gotten around to putting something here besides the weekly setlist. Well folks, grad school will do that to a person, but hopefully I can keep up a little better with this, at least til the next semester starts.

Enough of that, on to the goodness...

Stuff you should know about (in my opnion, anyway):

Girl in a Coma: Both Before I'm Gone - Texas=based three-piece doing indie guitar rock with a very heavy British influence. Solid songwriting with some definite Morrissey-isms (listen to some of the vocalisations) and they're on Joan Jett's label, so there you go.

Elias are some lads out of Canada who tread the same emotional/epic ground as Coldplay and Keane, but with more spark than a lot of groups doing the same.

The new Björk is all kinds of awesome, but you knew that already.

Now, I know what you're saying, "I don't like comic books, I don't like magic, and I don't like comic books about magic." Fair enough. But you really need to check out Phonogram. Writer Kieron Gillen takes the premise of "music as magic" and makes it literal, but then uses the story as a set-up for an examination of the heroes and casualties of Britpop and the dangers of aging hipsterism. And Jamie McKelvie's art is just spot-on. You're best off getting the individual issues, if nothing else then for Gillen's commentaries, which act as a nice primer both for the series and the scene in general.

Similarly, while you may have had your fill of mp3 blogs, Emptyfree is well worth a look. Not only because you'll find links to things such as the entire Aphex Twin discography or all three discs of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' B-Sides and Rarities for download, but because of nuggets of joy such as this. Now, if that's not worth the price of admission, well, you tell me what is.

A little while ago I sang the praises of the Chris Randall solo album. Well, recently I had the chance to get properly acqauainted with it and, well... I'm not going to go a full 180 and completely rescind my recommendation, but man, does this guy want to be Tom Waits. Not that anyone in their right mind wouldn't want to be Tom Waits, but seriously, it did get to be a bit much after prolonged listening. Still and all, there are plenty worse artists to try and ape.

Don't forget, starting this Friday, June 29th, new DiS day and time, Fridays 7-9, and July 5th, Radio Free Thursdays presents Dreaming in Stereo at the Avalon Front, 300 Oullette Ave. in Windsor. All the best tunes of the show, and the bartender's pretty cool, to boot.

announcement and setlist

Starting next week, DiS will no longer be heard on Thursday nights, but rather Friday evenings, 7-9 p.m.! That's right, all the same music, but while the sun's up!

And now, the set list for 22 June:

Maserati – 12/16 – Inventions for the New Season – Temporary Residence
-
Teach Yourself Piano – Beer Hall Lament – Sweet Waltz, Bitter Waltz – TYP
The Dresden Dolls – Shores of California – Yes, Virginia – Roadrunner
The Gossip – Listen Up! – Standing in the Way of Control – Kill Rock Stars
Wilderness – The Blood Is On the Wall – Vessel States – Secretly Canadian
-
Wafer Thin Mints – Hot Chevette – The Finest Car They Ever Built in 1983 – WTM
The High Strung – Gravedigger – Get the Guests – Park the Van
Pissed Jeans – Secret Admirer – Hope for Men – SubPop
Mission of Burma – (That’s When I Reach for My) Revolver – A Gun to the Head – Rykodisc
-
Beastie Boys – Electric Worm – The Mix-Up – Capitol
The Kleptones – Listen – A Night at the Hip-Hopera
G.I. Joe Killaz – We Possess Power – s/t – Cobra Records
Aphex Twin – To Cure a Weakling Child – Richard D. James Album – Warp
-
Clorox Girls – Le Banana Split – J’aime Les Filles – BYO
The Horrors – Horrors’ Theme – Strange House – Loog
Guitar Wolf – Jet Generation – Golden Black – Narnack
The Gruesomes – Bikers from Hell – Live in Hell – Ricochet Sound
Los Straitjackets w/ Big Sandy – La Hiedra Veneosa – Rock En Español – Yep Roc
-
Elias – Burn to the Ground – Blow Away EP –
The Moonbabies – War On Sound – At the Ballroom – Hidden Agenda
Young Galaxy – Wailing Wall – s/t – Arts & Crafts
Broadcast – Black Cat – Tender Buttons – Warp
-
The Afghan Whigs – I’m a Soldier – Unbreakable (A Retrospective 1990-2006) – Rhino
Weird War – See About Me – Illuminated By the Light – Drag City
The Ripps – Loco – Loco single – Catskills
Bauhaus – Third Uncle – The Sky’s Gone Out – Beggar’s Banquet
-
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Bad Reputation – Bad Reputation – Blackheart
Buzzcocks – Everybody’s Happy Nowadays – Singles Going Steady – Capitol
The Misfits – Skulls – Walk Among Us – Rhino
Andrew W.K. – Party Party Party – Aqua Teen Hunger Force soundtrack – [adult swim]
-
Blondie – Dreaming – Eat to the Beat – Chrysalis
OMD – Dreaming – the Best Of – Virgin
Kate Bush – The Dreaming – the Whole Story – EMI America
- (I think we killed that joke dead)
Tom Waits – Cold, Cold Ground (live) – Beautiful Maladies: the Island Years – Island
Love – Alone Again Or – Forever Changes – Elektra
The Jam – The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow) – The Bitterest Pill… Single – Polydor
Belle and Sebastian – Judy and the Dream of Horses – If You’re Feeling Sinister – Matador
-
Tenderhooks – Mouthful of Rain – Vidalia – Rock Snob
The Bluetones – The King of Outer Space – s/t – Cooking Vinyl USA
Boats! – Classic Rock Weekend – Intercontinental Champion –
New Order – Ceremony – Marie Antionette soundtrack – Verve/Polydor
Muse – Thoughts of a Dying Atheist – Absolution – EastWest
-
Arab Strap – There is No Ending – The Last Romance – Transdreamer

set 15 June

Love of Diagrams – Confrontation – Mosaic – Matador

-(bed) King Nawahi’s Hawaiians – Hawaiian Capers – Hawaiian String Virtuoso - Yazoo

Metric – The Twist – Grow Up and Blow Away – Last Gang
The Rosebuds – I Better Run – Night of the Furies – Merge
Trans Am – White Rhino – Liberation –
Death to Sexy – Pick Up Line – Fall of the Prom Queen –
Chicks on Speed – Love Life - 99¢ - Chicks on Speed Records
Bonde Do Role – Geremia – With Lasers – Domino

-(bed) Four Hawaiian Guitars – Singin’ In the Bathtub – Hawaiian String Virtuoso – Yazoo

The Kill Devil Hills – Jesus Train – The Drought – Torn & Frayed
Flogging Molly – If I Ever Leave This World Alive – Drunken Lullabies – Side One Dummy
The Veils – More Heat Than Light – The Runaway Found – Rough Trade
Catherine Wheel – Kill Rhythm – Chrome – Fontana

(bed) Georgia Jumpers – Ukulele Benny

The Twilight Sad – Mapped By What Surrounded Them – Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters – Fatcat
Stars of Track and Field – Movies of Antarctica – Centuries Before Love and War – Wind-Up
The Awkward Stage – We’re Going for a Ride – Heaven Is For Easy Girls – Mint Records
The Autumns – Siren Wine – In the Russet Gold of This Hour

(bed) King Nawahi’s Hawaiians – May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

Bad Brains – Banned in D.C. – s/t – ROIR
D.O.A. – Brigands and Pirates – Live Free or Die! – Sudden Death
Tiger Army – Forever Fades Away – Music From Regions Beyond – Hellcat
Girl in a Coma – Say – Both Before I’m Gone – Blackheart

(bed) Red Devils – Dinah

Arcade Fire – Oceans of Noise – Neon Bible
Rufus Wainwright – Going to a Town – Release the Stars
Current 93 – Black Ships in the Sky – Black Ships Ate the Sky – Durtro
Espers – Cruel Storm – II – Drag City

(bed) King Nawahi’s Hawaiians – Mauna Kea

And One – Military Fashion Show – Body Pop – Metropolis
CSS – This Month, Day 10 – Cansei De Ser Sexy
The Rapture – Sister Saviour (DFA dub) – DFA Compilation #2 – DFA

(bed) Hawaiian Beach Combers – Honolulu Bound

Ride – Vapour Trail – OX4: The Best of -

set list 8 June 07

The Choir Practice – Things I Say – s/t
Sun Ra Arkestra –Cosmo Sun Connection – Cosmo Sun Connection

-(bed) Jack Nitzsche – The Last Race – Death Proof sdtk

Khan – Golden Dawn – Who Never Rests
Bjork – Earth Intruders – Volta
Bonde Do Role – James Bonde – With Lasers
Balkan Beat Box – BBBeat – Nu-Med

-(bed) Ennio Morricone – Paranoia Prima – Death Proof

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Weapon Conflict – Living Like a Refugee
Tim Armstrong – Inner City Violence – A Poet’s Life
The Aggrolites – Faster Bullet – Reggae Hit L.A.
Madness – I Chase the Devil aka Ironshirt – The Dangerman Sessions
Burning Spear – Them A Come – Studio One Kings

-(bed) Pino Donaggio – Sally and Jack – Death Proof

Dengue Fever – Made of Steam – Escape From Dragon House
T-Rex – Jeepster – Death Proof
Soular – Take Me Away – Love Crash Heal
Blonde Redhead – The Dress – 23

-(bed) Eddie Beram – Riot in Thunder Alley – Death Proof

Jarvis Cocker – From Auschwitz to Ipswich
Keren Ann – The Hardest Ships of the World – s/t
The National – Fake Empire – Boxer
Immaculate Machine – Dear Confessor – Fables

-(bed) Luis Bacalov – The Grand Duel (Parte Prima) – Kill Bill vol.1

Chow Nasty – Thick Shake – Super (Electrical) Recordings
Glomag – Pocket Calculator – 8-Bit Operators
Bloc Party – Banquet – E.P.
Ladytron – Cease2exist – Light & Magic

-(bed) Bernard Hermann – Twisted Nerve – Kill Bill vol.1

Peter Murphy – Subway (Epilogue) – Dust
Mali Music – Sunset Coming On – s/t

-(bed) Zamfir – The Lonely Shepherd

Easy Dub All-Stars feat. Citizen Cope – Karma Police - Radiodread

set list 1 June 2007

Viarosa – Only Child – Where the Killers Run – Tarnished
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Frog Eyes – “Stockades” – Tears of the Valedictorian – Absolutely Kosher
Xiu Xiu – Ceremony (Xiu Xiu Remix) – Remixed and Covered – 5RC
Cornelius – Breezin’ – Sensuous – Everloving
Mukesh – Awaara Hoon – the Rough Guide to Bollywood Gold – Rough Guides/World Music Network
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Tiger Army – Ghosts of Memory – Music From Regions Beyond – Hellcat
The Gruesomes – You Gotta Believe Me – Cave-In! – Ricochet Sound
Mark Sultan – Two Left Feet – The Sultanic Verses – In the Red
The Detroit Cobras – Leave My Kitten Alone – Tied and True – Bloodshot
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James Chance & the Contortions – Contort Yourself – Soul Exorcism Redux – Roir
ESG – Dance – A South Bronx Story – Universal Sound
Devo – Get Feeling/Slap Your Mammy – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! – Warner Bros.
Sexual Harassment – If I Gave You a Party – Anti NY – Gomma
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Matthew Dear – Deserter – Asa Breed – Ghostly International
Schneider TM – The Blacksmith – škoda mluvit – City Slang
Chromeo – Bonafied Lovin – Fancy Footwork – Last Gang
Death From Above 1979 – Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edition) – Romance Bloody Romance – Vice
Thomas Jirku – Footloose – Monoeuvers1: A Collection of Vancouver Electronica – So Called Recordings
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Young Galaxy – No Matter How Hard You Try – s/t – Arts and Crafts
A Band of Bees (a.k.a the Bees) – Who Cares What the Question Is? – Octopus – Astralwerks
The Ladybug Transistor – I’m Not Mad Enough – Can’t Wait Another Day – Merge
The Pipettes – Pull Shapes – We Are the Pipettes – Memphis Industries
The Raveonettes (w/ Ronnie Spector) – Ode to L.A. – Pretty in Black – Columbia
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South Ambulance – Saturdays for Sad Excuses – s/t – Rollerderby
The Icicles – Crazy – Arrivals & Departures – Microindie
The Velvet Underground – Femme Fatale – The Velvet Underground & Nico – Polydor
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Klaus Nomi – Simple Man – Simple Man - RCA

(Bed music - Piero Piccioni - Puppet On a Chain soundtrack - DC Recordings)

Upcoming Events

Summer's nearly upon us, and with it comes Concert Festival season - and this year offers an especially choice selection of performers.

The Detroit Festival of the Arts generally promises a fun time just for showing up, with numerous local artists and restaurants offering their wares for display and sale. But the music also provides a strong hook, and this year promises a pretty stellar line-up. Of special note (in DiS's opinion, anyway) are:
Dengue Fever - '60s style Cambodian psych pop by way of San Francisco.

The Dansettes - NYC septet who make Motown/Soul tracks that sound like they came from Berry Gordy's secret stash.

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars - Even if they didn't have such a harrowing back story - the musicians in this group all met in a refugee camp while fleeing the notoriously violent civil war - the All Stars would still be a must-see act. African pop meets folk meets reggae meets R&B.

Lelavision - Less a concert and more a theater performance, the group plays sculptures and pieces they've created, incorporating dance and high energy movement.

In July is the TasteFest, er Comerica CityFest (yay corporate sponsorship), which features a rather impressive line-up, including the Wailers, Femi Kuti, Spoon, Yo La Tengo, and Cheap Trick (c'mon, you know you want to hear "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me"). The inclusion of Spoon and YLT seem far more hip/indie than usual, wand you won't hear any compaints here.

Other upcoming concerts/shows of note:

May 29:
The Rosebuds, Land of Talk, Mason Proper
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

June 2:
Skinny Puppy/Otto Von Schirach/Sword Heaven
St. Andrew's Hall

June 3:
The Clientele, Beach House
Magic Stick, Detroit

June 3/4:
Dinosaur, Jr., Awesome Color
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

June 6:
The National, Talkdemonic
Magic Stick, Detroit

June 7:
Voxtrot, Favourite Sons, Au Revoir Simone
Magic Stick, Detroit

June 12/19/26:
Apostle of Hustle (monthlong residency)
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

June 15:
Northern Soul Night
CAID, Detroit

June 16:
Motor, Kill Memory Crash, Dethlab
CAID, Detroit

June 17:
Shiny Toy Guns, Stars of Track and Field, The Hourly Radio
(while DiS has no real use for STG, SoTaF put out one of the better albums of last year, and would probably make for a decent live experience)
Magic Stick, Detroit

June-July:
Radio Free Thursdays!
The fine DJs of CJAM will host a rotating residency at The Avalon Front for two months this summer (and hopefully longer!). Each week will feature a different CJAM DJ playing the music of their program. The Dreaming in Stereo night will be July 5th.

set list 25 May 2007

A set which I think speaks for itself... There are more CDs I'll need to recommend, which will be coming forthwith, promise.

Rick White – Beat – Memoreaper – Bluelog
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the Rosebuds – My Punishment for Fighting – Night of the Furies – Merge
the Rosebuds – El Camino – Unwind – Merge
Clinic – The New Seeker – Visitations – Domino
The Black Angels – The Sniper At the Gates of Heaven – Passover – Light in the Attic
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – 666 Conducer – Baby 81 – RCA
The Horrors – Draw Japan – Strange Hours – Loog
Pale Moon Gang – All the Nightcrawlers – s/t – Fast Loose
The Runaways – Queens of Noise (live) – the Best of – Polygram
Edith Massey – Hey Punks Get Off the Grass – Hey Punks Get Off the Grass – Big Spurt
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Mystery Jets – The Boy Who Ran Away – Zootime – Dim Mak
Mando Diao – The Wildfire (If It Was True) – Ode to Ochrasy – Mute
Mad Juana – Steel Will – Acoustic Voodoo – Azra
Chris Randall – Two Trains Comin’ – The Devil His Due – Positron!
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Meat Beat Manifesto – No Words Necessary – RUOK? – Run Recordings
DJ? Acucrack feat. Toni Halliday – So to Speak – Sorted – E-Magine
Daniel Ash – Spooky – s/t – Psychobaby
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Primal Scream – Accelerator – XTRMNTR – Creation
Stars – Calendar Girl (Young Galaxy remix) – Do You Trust Your Friends? – Arts & Crafts
Elsiane – Morphing – s/t – Vega Music
Cocorosie – Black Poppies – The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn – Touch and Go
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Joy Division – These Days – Heart and Soul – London
Radio 4 – Rise Up – Party Crashers single – Astralwerks
Black Strobe – Girl Next Door – Burn Your Own Church – Playlouderecords
Gary Numan – Remind Me to Smile – The Collection – Castle
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Phillip Glass – Heores – Heroes Symphony/the Light – Naxos

Now it's off to sleep and then to the BRMC show. Still a bit miffed about the Horrors dropping out, but hopefully the replacement band will prove worthy of the spot.

Control trailer

Finally! The trailer for Control, the Ian Curtis biopic is out. It looks bloody good, I have to say. Let's all cross our fingers the movie makes it to North America sooner rather than later.

Here you go:

finally, the long-promised show reviews

I have to say, this was a completely mind-blowing weekend - how often does one get to experience so much good music in a row? What follows is my attempt to convey the sheer awesomeness of it all, a task almost instantly doomed to failure. But here goes anyway:

Saturday, May 12: Mando Diao/Pop Levi/The Films at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto

First up was The Films. For an American band, they have a very Brit vibe to them, all jangly rock which one wouldn’t be worng to say has a certain Ferdinandian Mokeys quiality to it. That said, it’s not bad, and rather well put together. As for their performance, they did well in the thankless slot of First Opening Band. And apparently their lead singer is possessed of an innate and undeniable charisma, as during the first song, when he chided the audience to come up close and fill the vacant front-of-stage floor area, they actually did, and in droves. Now that’s a rock star.

Pop Levi came next. They came out and began with an extended intro to the new album opener, “Sugar Assault Me Now.” It was kind of a cool idea, but after a couple of minutes, it felt like time for the song to actually begin. The band were on, and sounded pretty much just like on disc, which could be good or bad depending on one’s outlook. The upshot was the almost parodic point after the first song where Levi kept asking the sound guy for more reverb on the vocals. “More reverb. Mo-orrre reeverbbb. Mooorrre rrreevveeerrbb.” Still, good fun.

Then Mando Diao came out, and everyone in the place met their new favourite band. From the first note it was all systems go!, and the band didn’t pause for a second. The band was giving everything, were blood-brother tight, and energetic like an ADD-addled ten year old on a sugar buzz. And the audience was giving back as good as they got, waving hands, dancing, totally into it. It was one of those perfect rock and roll moments that you wish could happen at every show.

Sunday, May 13: Lisa Gerrard at the Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
A better writer could give you all kinds of details about the show: the intimacy of the venue (roughly 1,100 person capacity), the minimal stage set up (white cloth draped in the back, piano and keyboard behind Lisa), or technical details about the performance (her range, pitch control, etc.). And I’m sure if you do a search, you’ll find that better review (and if you do, send a link). However, all I can say is this: I’ve only been to two shows that have had an almost transcendant quality to them, where the music just took over. This was the second (the first, in case you’re wondering, was Diamanda Galas in a church somewhere in Canada). Her voice was amazing, and however good it sounds on disc, whatever effect it has, that’s nothing compared to the live experience. I’ll spare any more cliches, suffice it to say if you ever get the chance to see her, run don’t walk to it.

Monday, May 14: Morrissey at the Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor

Say what you will about Mozzer, but the man can put on a show. The set was a decent mix of new and old, peppered with some classic Smiths tracks (opening with “The Queen is Dead” is a recipe for success). The band was on, his voice was great, and he threw not one but two shirts into the crowd. For the most part, the idea of being fifteen again holds no appeal whatsoever, but in this case, it was perfect.

(For a real, properly written review, here is a recap of his performance in Milwaukee (and it even has a picture of Steven sans shirt). It features the exact same set list, so there you go.

(And you can see a photo from the show here, which is much better than one taken from a camera phone in front of the stage.

set list 18 May 07

This was the "Mark blew out his vocal cords at the Morrissey show and can't talk all that well" show. *sigh* Well, we all have to be 15 again every now and then, no? Anyway, lots of new good stuff this week, some of which I'll comment on soon. And with that, I give you this week's set:

Aja West & Friends – Wanna Get Up – Total Recall 2012 – Mackrosoft
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Keren Ann – Lay Your Head Down – s/t – Delabel
Stirling – Ostalgia – The Fall of the Winter Palace – Aporia
Chet – The Shepherd – Fight Against Darkness –
Luke Doucet – It’s Not the Liquor I Miss – Broken (and other rogue states) – Six Shooter
Rufus Wainwright – Tiergarten – Release the Stars – Geffen
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The National – Brainy – Boxer – Beggars Banquet
Fembots – Demolition Waltz – The City – Paper Bag
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – God Is In the House – The Abbatoir Blues Tour – Mute
Sinead O’Connor – Psalm 130 (Out of the Depths) – Theology – Koch
Nathan Lawr – Bury Me Blues – Secret Carpentry –
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Goose – Modern Vision – Bring It On – Skint
Shitdisco – Reactor Party – Kingdom of Fear – Fierce Panda (cut off – grrr…)
Gorillaz – All Alone – Demon Days – Virgin
Kraftwerk – Das Modell – Das Mensch Maschine – Electrola
Junior Boys – FM (Tensnake Mix) – The Dead Horse EP – Domino
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High Watt Electrocutions – The Thief Steals in the Night – Night Songs – Introspection
Throbbing Gristle – Above the Below – Part Two: Endless Not – Mute
The Young Gods – Everythere – Super Ready/Fragmente – Ipecac
Dungen – Gor Det Nu – Tio Bitar – Kemado
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Max Romeo – I Chase the Devil – War Ina Babylon – Mango
Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come – The Harder They Come soundtrack – Island
Girl In a Coma – Clumsy Sky – Both Before I’m Gone – Blackheart
Elastica – Stutter – s/t – DGC
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Y Control – Fever To Tell – Interscope
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the Smiths – Oscillate Wildly – Louder Than Bombs – Sire
Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon – Songs to Learn and Sing – Sire

Expect the aforementioned reviews, along with notes/reviews from the Weekend of Awesome Music that took place last week. Yes, I know it's overdue, but, ya know, life and all that.

set list 11 May 07

Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder – Soukora – World Circuit Presents – Nonesuch
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Björk – Earth Invaders – Volta – Atlantic
!!! – Sweet Life – Myth Takes – Warp
Green Go – You Know You Want To – s/t – Burnt Oak
Psychic TV – Good Vibrations – Hex Sex: the Singles Part 1 – Cleopatra
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Mando Daio – Long Before Rock n Roll – Ode to Ochrasy – EMI/Mute
Pop Levi – Pick-Me-Up Uppercut – The Return to Form Black Magic Party – Counter
Belle and Sebastian – Sukie in the Graveyard – The Life Pursuit – Matador
Phil Upchurch Combo – You Can’t Sit Down (Parts 1 & 2) – Mojo Mod Club Party – Mojo Magazine
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the Clutters – Radio – Don’t Believe a Word – Chicken Ranch
Electric Six – She’s White – Fire – XL
Arctic Monkeys – Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend – Brianstorm single – Domino
Primal Scream – Kill All Hippies – Xtrmntr – Sony
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Cat-A-Tac – Needles and Pins – Past Lives and Former Lives – Needlepoint
Psychedelic Furs – President Gas – Forever Now – Columbia
Arab Strap – Don’t Ask Me to Dance – The Last Romance – Transdreamer
The Book of Lists – Lost Weekend – s/t – Scratch Recordings
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the Kinks – Til the End of the Day – Greatest Hits! – Reprise
the Pretty Things – Baron Saturday – S.F. Sorrow – Snapper UK
Smith – Baby, It’s You – Death Proof – Maverick
The Small Faces – Get Yourself Together – Mojo Mod Club Party
The Jam – Town Called Malice – 45 – Polydor
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Elvis Costello & the Attractions – Oliver’s Army – The very Best of – Rykodisc
The Clash – Let’s Go Crazy – Sandinista! – Epic
Desmond Dekker – 007 (Shanty Town) – Club Ska ’67 – Mango
The Specials – Too Hot – s/t – 2 Tone
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Sam Cooke – Summertime – the Best of – Columbia
Serge Gainsbourg – Je T’aime Moi Non Plus – Master Serie Vol. 1 – Polygram France
Morrissey – If You Don’t Like Me, Don’t Look at Me – The Youngest Was the Most Loved single – Attack
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Lisa Gerrard – See the Sun – The Best of – 4AD

Mando Diao/Pop Levi; Lisa Gerrard in Toronto; Morrissey - yes, it's going to be a busy weekend. Why does everyone have to schedule their tours at the same bloody time?

set list 4 May 07

Mad Juana – Ghost Riddim – Acoustic Voodoo – Azra
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Arctic Monkeys – Balaclava – Favourite Worst Nightmare – Domino
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Lein On Your Dreams – Baby 81 – RCA
Maximo Park – Girls Who Play Guitars – Our Earthly Pleasures – Warp
Wire – On Returning – 154 – Revovler USA
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Adult. – Herd Me – Why Bother? – Thrill Jockey
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Hold Tight – Death Proof Soundtrack – Maverick
Ponys – Harakiri – Turn the Lights Out – Matador
Magazine – The Light Pours Out of Me – Real Life - EMI
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the Icicles – Chasing Fireflies – Arrivals & Depatures – Microindie
Camera Obscura – I Need All the Friends I Can Get – Let’s Get Out of This Country – Merge
the Rosebuds – Hold On to This Coat – Night of the Furies – Merge
Yoko Ono – Walking On Thin Ice (Pet Shop Boys Mix) – Open Your Box – Astralwerks
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Chromeo – Fancy Footwork – Fancy Footwork – Last Gang/Turbo
Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip – Thou Shalt Always Kill – single – Lex
Rondo Brothers – Hard Rocks the Roof – Seven Minutes to Midnight – Citrus to Citrus
Tricky – Black Steel – Maxinquaye – Island
-
Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position – The Magic Position – Low Altitude
Jarvis Cocker/Beth Ditto – Temptation – Youtube clip from NME Awards
David Bowie – Queen Bitch – Hunky Dory – Ryko
Feist – Honey Honey – The Reminder – Arts & Crafts
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Modest Mouse – Fire It Up – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank – Epic
Dntel – Roll On – Dumb Luck – Sub Pop
Laura Viers – Ocean Night Song – Saltbreakers – Nonesuch
Stephen Merritt – In the Spring, When I Was Young – Showtunes – Nonesuch
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Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake – Saktvshiva – From the River to the Ocean – Thrill Jockey
Deerhunter – Spring Hall Convert – Cryptograms – Kranky
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Public Image, Ltd. – Rise – The Greatest Hits So Far – Virgin

albums worth hearing

I promised at the start that there'd be reviews along with the playlists and video nonesense. I don't know if this counts, but here are a few things that have been getting me excited of late:

1) Arctic Monkeys (Favourite Worst Nightmare). To be honest, up until now I never understood what the fuss was all about, and to be honest I'm still not sure why the first album and EP got as big as they did, save for the Brits' love of hype. With the new album, however, the Arctics (or is it Monkeys?) have finally delivered the album their press has been promising. Tight, taut, loud, rude, and all aroud a good time. www.arcticmonkeys.com

2) The Pipettes (We Are the Pipettes). Pre-fab British girl group guitar pop. Melodies you'll be humming thirty seconds after hearing coupled with a sense of modern cheek and attitude that make it perfect summer music. Just in time, no? www.thepipettes.co.uk

3) The Icicles (Arrivals and Departures). Along a similar vein, a group from Grand Rapids, MI, who seem to know a thing or twelve about writing a good hook. Bubblegum in the best sense, sure to put a smile on even the most cynical listener's face (hi, how are you?). www.theicicles.com

4) Chris Randall (The Devil His Due). This has been one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises in a long while. Since the 90s, Randall has fronted the group Sister Machine Gun, who've been doing the guitar-based industrial thing long before (and after) it was cool to do so. On this, his solo ablum, he changes things up completely, and goes for a swampy blues/country/roots sound. Amazingly, he pulls it off well beyond reasonable expectation. Think of Tom Waits' rough edges with Nick Cave's sense of foreboding, and you're getting the picture. These songs were giving me chills the first time I listened. Get this now. www.chrisrandall.net

5) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Baby 81). This is the album we've been waiting for. Maybe the last couple of albums were them trying to throw off all the Jesus and Mary Chain comparisons, but it's good to see them come back to the rock camp. Cocksure and swaggering, this one delivers. www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com

for those who missed it...

Jarvis performing "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" on Letterman from Friday night:

While we're on the subject of videos, the original video for the song is pretty stellar, too:

And we'll leave you with this gem, from the British Ali G series:

Set List 27 April 2007

Los Tainos – Amor Mio – Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba, Volume One – Waxing Deep
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the Book of Lists – Journey East – s/t – Scratch Recordings
the Veils – Jesus for the Jugular – Nux Vomica – Rough Trade
Grinderman – When My Love Comes Down – s/t – Anti
Chris Randall – Sin Eater – The Devil His Due – Positron!
-
Bang Gang – Forward and Reverse – Something Wrong – From Nowhere
Benni Hemm Hemm – Skvavars – Kajak – Morr Music
Air – Redhead Girl – Pocket Symphony – EMI
Björk – Venus As a Boy – Debut – Elektra
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Au4 – An Ocean’s Measure of Sorrow – Manouvres 1: A Collection of Vancouver Electronica – So Called Recordings
Ether Aura – Tell Me I’m Nothing – Before We Could Sing –
My Bloody Valentine – Blown a Wish – Loveless – Sire
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Good For My Soul – Honey’s Dead – Rhino
-
Trans Am – Obscene Strategies – Sex Change – Thriil Jockey
Trans Am – Molecules – TA – Thrill Jockey
DAF – Der Mussolini – Alles Ist Gut - Virgin
Codec & Flexor – Black Diamonds – Tubed – Emperor Norton
-
Junior Boys – In the Morning (Hot Chip remix) – The Dead Horse EP – Domino
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Bonde Do Role – Quero Te Amor – Solta O Frango EP
The Rapture – Whoo! Alright Yeah… Uh Huh – Pieces of the People We Love – Universal/Motown
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver – Sound of Silver – DFA/Capitol
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Joy Electric – Frivolity and Its Necessities – The Otherly Opus – Tooth & Nail
VNV Nation – Carry You – Judgement – Metropolis
New Order – Touched By the Hand of God – (the best of) – Qwest/Warner Bros.
-
the Psychic Paramount – Echoh Air – Origins and Primitives vol. 1+2 – No Quarter

The Trans Am is in honor of their show with Zombi and the Psychic Paramount this Sunday at the Magic Stick.

Not a manifesto, but a good starting point...

Good evening, and welcome to my blog. For the first post, I thought I'd share this brilliant video with you:


"Thou Shalt Always Kill" by Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip