OK Cobra "I Quit (I Give Up)"

The third (of four, possibly) in our series of videos this week is "I Quit (I Give Up)" by OK Cobra off the recently released Delirium Tremens (Urbnet), although, you probably gathered all that based on the title of the post.

So, while I don't know much about OK Cobra, despite the fact that they list London as one of their hometowns, I do know I thing or two about Rap videos being an avid viewer of MuchMusic's RapCity circa 1999 - 2004ish. During that time I watched many, many, many, many, rap videos, and given that experience I'm fairly confident in asserting that OK Cobra has not produced a rap video. There's no scantily clad booty shaking women, no slow motion posse shots, no cityscape, no graffiti, no break dancing, and no XXXL sports jerseys... huh.

I'd go so far as to say that "I Quit (I Give Up)" is the antithesis of the modern rap video. It's a single man, fields, rocks, trees, some type of traditional Vietnamese hat (I think), and it's incredibly introspective. I think it might be the literal, visual, embodiment of Backpack Rap -- in as far as, at the beginning of the video he's wearing a backpack and gets in some type of motor vehicle and appears to be traveling around for much of the four minutes.

And Backpack Rap, if that is, in fact, a genre or sub-genre of music, has the tendency to get preachy or overbearing or douchey. This video, however, is not any of those things. It feels like an honest expression of someone who is just fed up and wants to escape, and if you've ever felt like that, I suspect you're going to enjoy the video above. Hopefully, this is a good omen as I'm about to give Delirium Tremens a spin...

[mp3] OK Cobra - I Quit (I Give Up)

Culture Reject "Inside the Cinema"

Turns out it's going to be video week here at the BM. You got the outstanding, outstanding, video for Kae Sun's "Lion on a Leash" yesterday, and so, naturally, you're going to get something completely different today and tomorrow.

I've had the chorus for Culture Reject's "Inside the Cinema" stuck in my head for the better part of the last, say, summer or so. You see, I caught about 5 mins of CR's set back at the Zunior 5th Anniversary Party in June, possibly heard him on a Zunior Podcast, and have been playing this video at least once a week since then.

I don't know much about Culture Reject, aside from that he is from Toronto (according to myspace), and that the combination of the picking on the electric guitar and the sort of echoey vocals (in the video above) are pretty sweet (I think I'm going to start using the word sweet more). More than anything else though, I think the best part of this track - much like Julie Doiron, discussed last week - is the way that these lyrics, while pretty simple (he doesn't use big words I don't understand), are smart; and rather than consciously trying to sound 'intelligent' or 'profound' or 'meaningful', the Bill Murray reference and the Eff Bomb fit, and they don't seem like he's trying to win people over (b/c indie kids love Steve Zissou) and who doesn't love cursing (except for parents)? Again, this is an album that I'd be interested to hear the rest of...

Sweet.

Kae Sun "Lion on a Leash"

I'm fairly certain everyone, or almost everyone, goes through a phase in their adolescence or early adulthood where they hear Legend, buy a poster of Bob Marley and throw it up on their wall. Since that point, I have subscribed to the Barney Stinson school of reggae, "Does she know that one song that goes: Umm-Umm-Chalka Umm-Umm-Chalka? What's that song called? Oh right, its called every reggae song". Of course I'm not that crass, but I couldn't name another reggae artist in the history of the genre... Peter Tosh? Do Sean Paul or Kardinal count?

Well, after an email from the good people at Urbnet, I can add Kae Sun to the list as my second favourite reggae artist, ever. Kae Sun, like Shad or K'Naan, certainly seems be inspired by his move from his country of birth, Ghana; and also like Shad and K'Naan, that inspiration has lead him to create a song - and presumably other songs as well - that give us all a small glimpse into his journey from Accra to the Hammer and Hogtown.

The video, both the them - the official one (above) and the 'live' video (below) - are simple and straight forward, like "More than Words" sort of simple, which I think is a really smart move on the part of Kae Sun, Urbnet, and the video director. The reason being, the straight ahead playing guitar on a stool format really serves to highlight how powerful the music and his message is. Kae speaks (sings) with the authority of someone who has seen and experienced the world in a way most of us in North America have not, and he can does that without coming across as arrogant or preachy. Mostly, he comes across as awesome.

I am very excited about Lion On A Leash, the album, to be released Tuesday, October 6th and the CD release show the following day, Wednesday, October 7th at the Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas St. W).

Pick of the Week #38: Julie Doiron

I wrote (a poorly written and edited) post not so long ago about Julie Doiron, how I'd inexplicably had never heard any of her music, and how supposedly great she was/is. After soliciting some opinions and getting some feedback, I ended up settling on starting into her collection with her newest album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day.

So, I listened to it, and didn't really think much of it. It's unassuming, conversational, and not something that is going to blow you away, knock your socks off, or otherwise rock your cazbah. Based on this interview with Colin Medley (see below also) that kind of seems fitting. She doesn't seem like one for self-promotion, which is rare for a musician, let alone a successful musician, and she generally seems like a pleasant, humble sort of person. I've come to appreciate that this is the beauty of her music, that it's not about creating a persona, making people's heads turn, or anything else except for her songs. She's not, or doesn't seem like, she's interested in celebrity or the other trappings of professional musicianship. She likes writing songs, having people hear them, and isn't worried so much about what happens after that.

There are a couple of songs that feature an electric guitar "Spill Yer Lungs" and "Consolation Prize", otherwise the songs are JD picking/strumming away on her guitar. The songs are simple, and I kind of feel like they're the kind of songs that anyone could write, but that's the beauty of them, because 100s and 100s of people try to write songs like these, and they can't. It's like watching a great athlete, you watch them and it looks easy, and then you try to copy them and you hurt yourself, badly.

Now, not having much beyond this album I can't speak with any sort of authority about Julie Doiron being a Canadian 'indie' music icon, but I can extrapolate and suggest that mentioning her alongside BM favourite Hayden wouldn't be completely out of place. I mean, for her to end up in the BM Hall of Fame (note, this does not actually exist but I feel like I might actually start my own Hall of Fame) she's going to have to produce on some of her other albums, but she's well on her way (I'm sure she feels like she's really made it now!)...

Also, kudos to JD for winning NxEW's Shadow Polaris Prize.

[mp3] Julie Doiron - Consolation Prize
[mp3] Julie Doiron - When Brakes Get Wet

"Soundcheck #23 w/ Colin Medley"




Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya
Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents ...
Pick of the Week #34: Mantis
Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings
Pick of the Week #36: The Wilderness of Manitoba
Pick of the Week #37: Asher Roth

Continued Commentary on the Polaris Process: The Winner

Not really sure what to make of the Polaris Jury's pick, the Toronto "hardcore/punk" band Fucked Up and their album The Chemistry of Common Life. It probably goes without saying that I'm not really a fan, nor do I think that they deserved to win, and they give me a headache, but I'm not bitter...

I guess there are really two things that grind my gears about giving the prize to Fucked Up. Mostly, its the cursing, oh god the cursing!

But seriously. First, and contrary to what some have speculated I don't think this vote was necessarily a --no pun intended-- fuck you to the Conservatives, Stephen Harper, and any sort of arts funding cut backs (although that may have been an added bonus). I see this vote as more of a, oh shit, look at the relatively similar/safe albums that ended up on the short list, we need to really surprise people by picking an album that they're not expecting. And, if that was in fact the conscious or unconscious thought process, you're really left with three albums that don't fall into the white-english-males-with-guitars category (I'm excluding Metric): Malajube, K'Naan, and Fucked Up (I understand they play shouting machines or something). Malajube's album just wasn't that good, K'Naan's was too over produced had too many high profile guest appearances/producers to be artistic enough, and Fucked Up was about as different from the other albums/past winners as you could get. Basically, I see Fucked Up's win as being more about the jury and the Prize making a statement rather than the artists' "creative artistic acheivement in recorded music".

The second thing that cheeses me off is that a certain basement dwelling Albertan recorded an album that is, in my estimation, something just short of genius, which, for a singer-songwriter album, is incredibly impressive. Yes, CVG's Soft Airplane was far less esoteric than either of his previous albums, but its not like he's gone into John Grisham mode churning out albums based on some Sub-Pop developed formula. He fits the Polaris criteria.

Not only do I think he fits the Polaris criteria, I think he (and, to a lesser extent Patrick Watson circa 2 years ago) embody what the Polaris should be about. It should be about artists that push boundaries, but who can also create music that the public at large can appreciate and should be paying attention to. It is not a chance to stick it to Joe the Plummer and show him how much different your award is in comparison to the crap award shows he keeps watching that keep giving prizes to Celine Dion (who apparently is not dead yet) and Nickelback (still alive also).

Obviously the selection process is a little more complicated and nuanced than I'm making it out to be, and I really don't mean to bag on Fucked Up, maybe I'm just a little cranky about not being on the jury... but don't you think if the CVG had won over Fucked Up we wouldn't have to stick it to the Conservative art haters so much? Just a thought...

[mp3] Chad VanGaalen - City of Electric Light (Live on CBC Radio 2)
[mp3] Chad VanGaalen - Rabid Bits of Time (Live on CBC Radio 2)

"Molten Light"

Basia Bulat's New Album, and Some Thoughts on Change

I have some very mixed feelings about Basia Bulat and her soon to be released sophmore album, Heart of My Own. On the one hand, in the first six months of this blog, it feels like I wrote about Basia almost exclusively. I could've been her personal publicist. I saw her play, I wrote about her as a contender for the Polaris Prize, I hung around waiting for her outside her apartment, and I listened to her debut Oh My Darling over and over. I was mesmerized by her voice, and was itching to hear anything, anything that she'd done. I scowered the internet for live sets, youtube clips and anything I could find.

Well, now she's done it. Basia is releasing Heart of My Own on Secret City Records (Patrick Watson, Miracle Fortress, Plants and Animals) January 26, 2010. One would imagine I'd be jumping off the walls (excited) at the prospect of a new BB album, but, well, I'm not. Not that I'm not excited, but I haven't been counting down the days or anything. After hearing the lead single "Gold Rush", which she is giving away for free in exchange for your email address, I'm less excited then I was before.

Part of this has to do expectations. Her debut, as I previously mentioned, knocked my socks off and really made an impression on me. That said, given the wowness of the first album, she was in a spot where she'd really have to do something to wow me again. I mean, if you think about all the great albums, and then think about the ones that came after, they were/are, by and large, not as good. Honestly, I can't really think of any bands that released an excellent debut, and followed it up with an excellent sophomore album. I have a hard time even thinking of bands that have released to albums back to back that have been excellent, very good, or even just good.

I think the second part of this equation is my inclination to under appreciate the status quo. There are some people who like what they like, and don't want things to change - with music, and in life. While I'd categorize myself as someone who is partial to the status quo with life stuff in general, with music, I get bored easily. I'm of the mind, rightly or wrongly, that if you're going to release another album that sounds the same you might as well release it as a book of poems or something. It's like, I'm a big fan of grilled cheese or kraft dinner, but if you start having it too often you're going to get sick of it. Maybe Basia and I just need to take a break until January.

After all that, I'd encourage you to check out Basia if you haven't already. She's worth some space on your iPod, and these videos from a show last year at Aeolian hall are pretty awesome:
"The Shore"


"Heart of My Own"

Pick of the Week #37: Asher Roth

When discussing Asher Roth international law dictates that one must mention Eminem no less than 6 times, so, let's see how we do...

It's funny, cause I think when I first started reading stuff about Asher Roth I felt a little offended about all the Eminem comparisons. Asher, like Em, is white, and after only hearing the "I Love College" remix ft. Ludacris I got a little indignant thinking, he's white, that doesn't mean he's like Em. Then, after getting through both The Greenhouse Effect Mixtape and his debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle I'm definitely not offended, in fact, I think the comparison is dead on.

Don't get me wrong, Roth is not an Eminem clone, but the biting pop culture references, his flow, and his whole persona wreak of Em's influence. He is his own man though. Asher Roth grew up in Morrisville, PA and has no delusions about being anything other than a suburban white kid. He doesn't front (in the rap lingo that means that he doesn't pretend to be something he's not). He raps about stuff that he knows about: weed, partying, girls, and he does it all with some pretty spectacular word play and rhyming.

Although, if Roth was just weed/booze/girls I'm not sure I'd be so into him, because those things are fun, but its not something I'd feel particularly strong about endorsing. There are flashes, and they are just flashes, where he gets a little introspective "I am Em" (re: the comparisons to Eminem) or "The Lounge" (where he quizzes the listener about their stereotypes about rappers). On the whole though, Asher Roth is just a whole lot of fun and clever lines, and it looks like he's gonna be around for a while. Oh yeah, you can download the whole Greenhouse Effect Mixtape at theDailyKush.com fo free.

[mp3] Asher Roth - Roth Boys
[mp3] Asher Roth - The Lounge

Video: "Lark on My Go-Kart" (awesome!)
Video: "Be By Myself" ft. Cee-lo

"Roth Boys"


"Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyed Peas Cover)


Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya
Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents ...
Pick of the Week #34: Mantis
Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings
Pick of the Week #36: The Wilderness of Manitoba

... you can feel the realness... The Best 5 Rap Albums of 2009... so far...

I start off virtually every post on hip-hop by explaining how I used to be into hip-hop, but then, for whatever reason, I stopped listening... I made a slow move to pop, rock, country, folk, roots, and virtually everything else. If you peruse through my best albums lists ('05 (3/10), '06 (1/15), '07 (3/20), '08 (6/28)) there's some hip-hop, and certainly more as a percentage at the margins in '05 and '08, but after the run of rap albums I've heard lately, I feel like I'm back. I'm getting into hip-hop again... I've got my tickets for Jay-Z at the ACC (thanks Allan), so, hip-hop, I'm ready... unless, of course, you let me down again...

Anyways, here are, in my opinion, the 5 best hip-hop albums of the year (so far, obvi), and the albums that are making me think the I may be leaving the hologram on the next fitted baseball cap that I buy (I'm thinking an argyle patterned Yankees hat)...


Mantis (Toronto) Still Life

I think I may have exhausted everything I had to say about Mantis' debut, Still Life, when I wrote about it last month (Pick of the Week #34), but every nice thing I said about it remains true. I think as an Emcee he may still need to find his voice, and what he has to say about the world, but I feel like his floor - that is, the least we can expect from him - is for him to be one of the best hip-hop producers to come out of Canada.
[mp3] Mantis - You Don't Know


Jay-Z (Brooklyn) The Blueprint 3

Reflecting on last week's post on the third installment of the Blueprint series, I feel exactly the same way - and a few friends have said they agreed with my analysis - but, if I was underselling how good some of the singles were, I shouldn't have. Without going on and on, this album is chalk full of great singles and songs that are bound to be up in da klub, and they're awesome. At least 3/4/5 of these are going to make the wedding (mine - yeah, ladies, you're out of luck, sorry) playlist. So, I guess if you were looking for an album, its not really that, but its an awesome collection of songs that probably would've been more suited to show up as guest appearances on other albums...
Video: "Run this Town" on Youtube.


Asher Roth (Morrisville, PN) Asleep in the Bread Aisle

Mad props, respekt, etc. to my buddy Special K for throwing Asher Roth's "College" rmx ft. Ludacris on a mix CD for me. While my initial reaction was to cast him as an Eminem knock-off, which, given his flow, wouldn't necessarily be far off; after listening to Asleep in the Bread Aisle a pile of times in the last week, he has the self-awareness (and a substantially different, much more suburban upbringing) that pretty clearly differentiates him from Em. I'm not going to tread too much on what is sure to be a pick of the week soon, so, suffice to say that its awesome, and you should really, really, watch the "Lark On My Go-Kart" (yes, that is a Lark Voorhies (Lisa Turtle) reference) video.
Video: "Lark On My Go-Kart"



Mos Def (Brooklyn) The Ecstatic

Again, this album deserves more than a paragraph, and it'll get it (I hope), but I may remind you all that the Mighty Mos released BlackStar 11 years ago, Black on Both Sides ten years ago, and then proceeded to do nothing of note (as far as I'm concerned) except for performing "Close Edge" in Dave Chappelle's car... until now. I may be way off, but The Ecstatic feels like it might be a Quintin Tarentino movie in musical form...


Tor (MTL) & Sufjan Stevens Illinoize

When I wrote about this album back in March (March!) I said it might well end up being the best album of the year, and despite a littany of hyperbolic posts proclaiming the awesomeness of other albums, Illinoize, I think, is still the album of the year. Not to take anything away from the others, because over the last month or so I feel like I've come across a dozen 'list worthy' albums, but Illinoize, for me, strikes a great balance between being creative, something that gets me doing the white-boy-bob, while still being "musical" (not beats made by robots). Is it a little un-fair that its a mash-up album? Yeah, probably, but I don't really care. Illinoize is right in my wheel house (lush orchestral pop music meets thoughtful hip-hop), and its spectacular. The 7 song EP is also a free download at illinoize.biz, which is insane. Truly, truly, awesome.

[mp3] Tor/Sufjan Stevens - The Dress Looks Nice On You/Make Me Feel That Way (ft. Gift of Gab)
[mp3] Tor/Sufjan Stevens - Night Zombies/Talkin' My Shit (ft. Brother Ali)

Miss Maya "Red Dress" mp3

Considering how often I whip up playlists on my iPod (or Zune, thanks Matchstick!) and how much I enjoy making mixCDs, its kind of bizarre that I tend not to talk about individual tracks. I mean, typically I don't have that much to say about a single song, but, I feel like there's a lot of stuff that I'm ignoring because I don't really have anything to say about the album as a whole (although you should note that this does not apply to Maya, and the This Refers to You EP -- Pick of the Week #32).

I suspect the snobbier, more douchey readers, might not appreciate Maya's brand of pop music. After all, "Red Dress" doesn't reflect on current events, its not about hard hitting news stories, and for some of you all it may not be "indie" (see the previous post here) enough... if you are one of those people I have likely alienated you already, and if I haven't, get a haircut. But, if you can get over yourself enough to enjoy music that's fun, catchy, and that you can roll down your windows and listen to while we still have a little bit of summer left, "Red Dress" is your jam... its kind of sexy... "Baby when you get home I've got my red dress on/No turning off those lights, I'll keep you up all night"... sorry, I'm sweating a little here... I should go...

[mp3] Miss Maya - Red Dress

Hilarious Sidebar: If you google "Miss Maya" the first link is this. That is NOT this Maya...

A Pet Peeve, re: the term "Indie"

Allan, the proprietor of AWmusic recently (actually, a while ago now) ranted (he called it a rant) about the definition of "indie". And so, I had no other choice than to weigh in and write what follows:

Here's my biggest pet peeve about people/music/and the internet music world: music snobbery and the use of the term "indie" to score cool points or to market an album/artist rather than using the term to describe an album/artist that has released an album independent of any record label support (which means that even if you're on a small label, you are not independent, "indie"). This doesn't mean that releasing an album independently means that its going to be good, or bad, its just a statement of fact. Major labels tend to release albums that are going to appeal to more people. Smaller labels tend to cater to niche markets. Independent albums are all over the map, some bands want to be signed on a big label, some don't. Some artists release the albums as a hobby and some people want to make it a career (although, given the choice, I think there are a lot of people who wouldn't object to being paid zillions of dollars to make music). I guess the point being, which Allan made, is that "indie" is just a short form for independent, it doesn't (or shouldn't) say anything about what the music is like i.e. before The Beatles, Coldplay, the Rolling Stones, KanYe West, and Blink-182 were signed, they were "indie".

Of course, that has not been what a fairly innocuous term has come to mean. Now, it means "not mainstream" or "band that no one has heard of"; and for a certain sub-section of the population this means "cool", and for another sub-section of the population this means "douchey and pretentious starbucks drinkers". But really, the co-opting of the term "indie" or the bastardization of the very simple original meaning, has everything to do with bands, small record labels, and music listeners in concert (no pun intended) trying to sell their music (or themselves) as decidedly different than people who listen to mainstream music. By no means does everyone in the "indie" scene try and market themselves like that, but there are some who do, and obviously it works. I mean, nobody (or very few people) want to see themselves as cogs in the machine, and the "indie" ethos taps into the desire of people (again, most people) to be viewed as individuals. This (the desire to be viewed as an individual), I think, accounts for the success of platforms like Facebook, Myspace, and, well, blogs.

So, while I don't begrudge the success of musicians/bands who successfully market themselves as "indie" (okay, I do a little bit) it seems to me that its counter-intuitive to what music is about. And music can be about a lot of things: advocating for justice, expressing feeling, scoring chicks, grinding it up on the dancefloor, whatever. And those who frequent this blog (Burgeoning Metropolis for people reading elsewhere) will know that I like a lot of different kinds of music -- for instance my last picks of the week have been: #34 a rap album, #33 a college a cappella album, #32 a dance-pop album, #31 a folk-americana album, #30 a roots-rock album, #29 a country-rock album, and so forth. What I'm saying is that I understand that people like music for different reasons, and I think that's a good thing. What I'm also saying is that people should like music for those different reasons -- because they want to advocate for justice, share feelings, etc. -- and not because they get a kick out of telling their friends that they knew about X before they got popular (though, it is fun to see a band you like have success) or because you're looking to score cool points with your friends (though, its important to store up cool points for important occasions like Weddings and Birthday Parties).

This all may sound a little like the pot calling the kettle black since the bulk of the bands that I write about no one (and when I say no one, I mean if you pulled 50 people off the street in Toronto I'd imagine maybe one has heard my favourite record of '09), but the difference is, at least in my head if no where else, is that I'm not trying to score cool points (anymore). To me (at least now), music is best when its heard live and the best to hear live if you can see the facial expressions of the people playing the music. Its about (barf) some type of communal, shared experience, whether that experience is sweating it out at the front of the stage or doing the whiteboy nod/underbite at the side of the stage. Or, its about doing drugs and getting laid...

Pick of the Week #36: The Wilderness of Manitoba - Hymns of Love and Spirits

Last fall, Nov. 3 to be exact, I reviewed an EP called Iron Ponies by Toronto band Provincial Parks. It was an album that had gorgeous harmonies, catchy choruses, and an aesthetic that said to me, if these guys catch a few breaks they are going to be the next John Mayer (in group form). Of course, that didn't happen...

What did happen, according to the guys at herohill, was the passing of Will Whitwham's mother and the formation of the Wilderness of Manitoba. The Wilderness of Manitoba, which, as far as I know, contains roughly the same group of people as Provincial Parks, was obviously hit hard by the passing of Whitwham's mom and the music of Provincial Parks turned from the upbeat, sunny, we wanna score chicks like John Mayer sort of sound, to something decidedly more somber.

Yes, decidedly more somber, but also absolutely stunning. After listening to this album a staggering number of times since receiving it on Monday I've come to the conclusion that Hymns of Love and Spirits is a combination of the best parts of two of last year's breakout bands, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver. The foxes-esque 4 part vocal harmonies are apparent from right out of the gate, but its the Bon Iver-esque strain and heartache that lingers under the surface through those harmonies that makes them meaningful... all those emotions that come from the heartbreak of losing a loved one are palpable.

If there's a bright side to all of this, its that the music that has emerged from the pain is something the likes of which I haven't heard this year. I'm thinking we might have a new front runner for Best Album of 2009...

[mp3] The Wilderness of Manitoba - Dreamcatchers
[mp3] The Wilderness of Manitoba - Manitoba


Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya
Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents ...
Pick of the Week #34: Mantis
Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings

The Rural Alberta Advantage on Daytrotter w/ Some New Songs

I wrote a post last week about the Rural Alberta Advantage, how they've got a great album under their collective belt, how they've had a great year, and how they've come a long way from playing in front of 5 people (including me and Liz) at the Alex P. Keaton in London (On). I also mused about where they go from here and how they'd follow up on their impressive, but possibly constricting debut, Hometowns. I say constricting (even though there's likely a better word, restricting?) because they've named their band and written a slew of songs about Alberta. On the front end, this has been great -- album number one has been a resounding success, and paints an incredibly vivid picture of the beauty and despair in/of Alberta.

Now, its not often that you'd say an excellent debut album would hurt a band, but their identity is so inextricably tied to Alberta I'd imagine its going to be hard for them to avoid it. Unless, of course, they just decide to ignore it. The king of geographically inspired music, Sufjan Stevens, did a bunch of weird shit, Michigan, Seven Swans, Illinois, the Christmas Music, and now his Brooklyn-Queens Expressway thing. So, its not unprecedented that an artist would flip back and forth, then again, Suf never tied himself to anyplace with his moniker. I guess the thing is, I think completely ignoring the great province (wince) of Alberta, or geographically inspired music, to become another band who writes songs about life/love/trouble/whatever would be a mistake, since it basically means that the Rural Alberta Advantage starts from scratch again (albeit with a bigger fan base and the support of a very solid label, Saddle Creek).

Obviously I'm slightly (though likely needlessly) concerned about the RAA's sophmore album, but I would probably be more concerned if the new songs weren't so good. The new tunes (from Daytrotter) "Two Lovers" and "Barnesyard", as well as stuff I've heard live, is every bit as good as the music on Hometowns and happier... so maybe its best that they're moving on from their Albertan past...

[mp3] Rural Alberta Advantage - Barnesyard
[mp3] Rural Alberta Advantage - Two Lovers

My Two Cents on The Blueprint 3

If you own (or borrow regularly) a computer and/or have an internet connection, you may know that Jay-Z (you know, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets) has just (like, today) released the final edition of his Blueprint Trilogy appropriately titled, The Blueprint 3. I think for a lot of people this was a pretty highly anticipated release i.e. according to wikipedia people were guessing which songs were going to be on the album, who was producing it, etc. etc., ... you may have guessed that I was not one of those people (doing the anticipating).

But, just because I haven't been hitting refresh on The Blueprint 3 wikipedia entry since Jay-Z released his second post retirement album, Kingdom Come, doesn't mean that I wasn't excited about TBP3. I would definitely classify the original Blueprint as a 'classic' hip-hop album. I might also be the one person in the world that would say that Jay's Black Album was even better than the Blueprint; this may be due to the Black Album's ability to spawn some unbelievable remix albums (Kev Brown's Brown Album, 9th Wonder's Black is Back, Kno vs. Hov The White Albulum -- not a typo) and, of course Danger Mouse's Jay-Z/Beatles mash-up Grey Album.

Given the Jigga Man's place on the R.O.B.'s Mount Rushmore of Rappers and all the hype surrounding TBP3 I feel like he's managed to live up to the hype admirably. I'm not sure the album is stronger than either the original Blueprint or the Black Album, but there's certainly enough there to keep me (and others) happy. If I were going to be picky, I'd say there were a few too many guests (only 3 songs don't feature another artist), the album is too long and could really have done with probably three less songs ('Venus VS. Mars' 'Hate' and 'Reminder'), and could have been a little bit more sonically/thematically cohesive. But, hey, things could definitely be a lot worse; like, I'm going to pretend they never happened Kingdom Come and American Gangster (minus 'Roc Boys') worse. At the very least, if you like any hip-hop at all there are a slew of really great tracks ("Real As It Gets" "Run This Town" "Off That" "A Star is Born" and so on) and you're bound to like a couple of them...

Bottom line, like with any release of this magnitude - which creates expectations - people are going to be disappointed, its inevitable... anyone remember the Arcade Fire's Neon Bible? Yeah, same sort of deal. It didn't really matter how good it was, it wasn't going measure up to Funeral, and it definitely wasn't going to measure up to the next Arcade Fire album, and if you're going to take the time to bag on Neon Bible then there probably wasn't going to be much that would keep you happy in the first place, so, please view this as the place to not complain about TBP3...

Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings

(Photo: Matthew Filipowich)

You probably don't want all the gory details, but I've been sick all week, hence, no posts. So, sadly, this week's Pick of the Week isn't exactly going to be as comprehensive as usual (note: usually they're not comprehensive, so you're not really missing much).

The first time I saw this video via Colin Medley (dir.)'s blog I said to Liz "it looks like the guy from the D'Urbervilles got into his Mom's closet" (jokingly)... kind of like the scene on Friends where Ross dresses up in girl clothes and hosts a tea party... turns out, it is, in fact, John O'Regan of the D'Urbervilles and his alter-ego Diamond Rings.

I wasn't exactly sure what to make of the song at first -- I mean, the make-up and the whole aestetic of the video threw me for a curve -- but I've definitely warmed to it, the Seattle SuperSonic (R.I.P.)'s jerseys, the eye make-up, and the whole bit. Most of all, the last couple of days while I've been under the weather (and feeling like Armegedon is imminent -- the airshow is in town) its been a nice pick-me-up. Basically, its a really fun song, so it'll be interesting to see what, if anything, comes out of the song (an album? EP?). In any event, it'll be a good tune to send you on your holiday weekending, presuming, of course, you don't have to work; but even if you do it might make you feel better about working...

"All Yr Songs" (dir.) Colin Medley


"All Yr Songs" (acoustic)



Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya
Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents ...
Pick of the Week #34: Mantis