I am a Wild Party

On my patriotism

2010-07-01T07:55:00.002-03:00

When I was a youngin' there wasn't much in the way of Canadian patriotism. Sure we were proud, and sure people knew we were good, but we didn't talk about it. We were told by our parents and teachers that we lived in one of the best countries in the world, and we truly believed that, but we didn't flaunt it, neither to each other, nor to people we met from outside our world's longest unprotected border.

As I got older, our national patriotism grew stronger. I remember buying my first piece of merchandise with a cuss-word on it. A plastic hackey sack that said "Canada Kicks Ass" on it. I kept it hidden from my mother, but I was always quite proud of it. I felt Canadians were becoming more badass and in a roundabout way made me feel more badass. We were the largest country in the world after the USSR was disolved. We have the longest unprotected border. We have the worlds longest coastline. We have the Magnetic Hill, we have a huge Nickel, the Rocky Mountains, The Tragically Hip, Leonard Cohen.

We invented without a doubt basketball, and arguably hockey. We made the Canadarm used on NASA space missions. We invented the caulking gun, the Blackberry, the Goalie Mask, insulin, and arguably the greatest invention, The Poutine, both Quebecois, and Acadian.

Our patriotism has grown leaps and bounds. We're still not as over the top and gawdy as our neighbors to the south, but we're proud of who we are and of what we've done, and what we continue to do. We help, but we don't take over. We're there when you need us, but we're gracious enough to wait til we're asked.

We're Canadian. We're the true north, strong and free. We're resilient, we're smart, we're modest, and we're the greatest country on this planet. I'm a proud Canadian. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. It's a bit dorky, I'll admit but I wouldn't have it any other way.

On my advancing age

2010-06-30T23:57:00.002-03:00

Tonight I spent 15 minutes digging through facebook pages about Air Cadets. I realized it's been 11 years since I aged out of the program. That means it's been 13 years since Senior Leaders, 14 years since Introduction to Leadership, and 15 years since my basic training. I graduated from high school 11 years ago. I've had my drivers license for 14 years. I'm old enough now that my neighbours kids haven't heard of my favourite hockey players.

I'm reminded of girls I had crushes on, and girls I "dated". I'm reminded of dudes I hung out with and ran amok through shopping malls and quiet neighbourhoods. I'm old enough now to be glad that things didn't work out with those girls, and that when guys do what I did at that age, I think their dumb. It makes me realize that I wasn't as cool as I thought I was. That makes me wonder if I'm truly as cool as I think I am now.

I wonder why I wasn't as mature as the others around me at that time, and I wonder why kids now aren't as mature as we were. Then I wonder if we were really mature at all. I was 16 years old and in charge of twenty five 12 and 13 year old for two weeks at a time, many of whom were away from home for the first time.

It amazes me how much has changed. I've been away from my family for 10 years. I've been with my wife for 5 of those. In the first five I broke enough hearts, told enough lies, smoked enough cigarettes, drank enough booze and gambled enough money to fill every seat at the SkyDome. Someday my son is going to fail English class because I forgot to call his teacher back after a one night stand. Or he'll come home and ask me about the time I drank too much and stole a 2-4 from a bar and went drinking til 6am when his mother was 6 months pregnant for him.

When it all comes down to it, things have changed. Your 20's are a time of transition. Things latch on, and things let go. When I moved away from home, all I was worried about was growing my hair long, letting my beard out, and playing my guitar. Nowadays I'm lucky to have time to play guitar at home, and I keep my beard and hair short and tidy. Where I used to go days without family contact, my immediate family has become my tether. My port in a storm. My lighthouse when I'm about pack it all in, find a basement apartment and start drinking again.

I've done a lot of shit. I don't regret any of it. If I could go back and change it, I wouldn't because if I did, I wouldn't be where I am. I'm moderately successful, I have a very patient and understanding wife, and I have two children who think the world of me, and I of them. Someday I'll have to fight myself from telling them not to do what I did. They'll need to make their own mistakes. Learn to live their lives. Become their own people who when they're 28 years old and up later than they ought to be will look back on their lives, wonder where the time went and try to muster up the strength to move forward and live the rest of their lives.

I'm old

2010-06-29T23:43:00.000-03:00

Heartburn city tonight.

kimbo slice

2008-09-25T22:06:00.003-03:00

i don't watch mixed martial arts fighting, but if i did, this guy would be my favourite.

tv on the radio

2008-09-23T10:03:00.003-03:00

is it just me or does the new tv on the radio album sound like the david bowie movie labyrinth?

it's a good record so far. bob boilen from http://www.npr.org/ mentions prince and bowie when describing it, and i can definitely hear that.

Shad

2008-09-21T21:29:00.003-03:00

When I listen to a rap record and don't hear curses, I know one of two things has happened.

1. Somebody slipped me a copy of "Big Willy Style" again, or

2. I've managed to get my hands on a new gospel rap album.

I really had no idea what I was getting into when I procured the new record by Shad. The Rwandan born, London ON raised Polaris Prize nominated emcee has his new video on Much Music. He does a cute little homage to the Fresh Prince.

My favourite thing about this track is the inventive little piece just before the last verse when the beat breaks down and the producer is like "what's going on?" and Shad is like "Oh, I couldn't afford the whole beat."

The rest of the record is OK. Nothing groundbreaking which makes me wonder if it's me, or Polaris that's losing it's edge. There's something about this "holy hip hop" that makes the beats and lyrics seem more fresh on the first listen, but the sheen wears off after a while.

There's an Eminem influence, as well as a Fresh Prince influence, other than the video.

All in all, it's an OK record, but nothing I would be running around heralding.

word up.

Zune Update

2008-09-21T21:27:00.001-03:00

So, I was talking to somebody at work about my Zune the other day. She was telling me all about her iPod and how it plays games! I didn't know iPods did that. But apparently they do. So I was bummed out. That night I went home and there was an update for the Zune software and a firmware update for the machine itself which gave me TWO GAMES!! HEXIC and TEXAS HOLDEM. They kill the battery, and they make my shuffle songs go in alphabetical order, but whatevs! I have games!

Now I need somebody to tell me their iPod allows them to download cheeseburgers.

kings of leon

2008-09-15T21:43:00.003-03:00

oh shit!!! i just got my grubby little mitts on a copy of the new KoL! it's called "only by the night".

two songs in and it's my favourite record of the year.

also, who knew but there's a new mitch hedburg out called "do you believe in gosh?" the track headless horseman is pretty awesome. you can check out that track at you ain't no picasso

i've got a review of the new shad record lined up, too so hold tight, sweethearts.

michael james

2008-09-09T20:49:00.004-03:00

so, because i'm a "blogger" and i have a myspace account, i get spammed with a shit ton of new bands pretty much every day. most of them i'll listen to at least a bit of one tune, and if it sucks the monkeys nuts, it's gone. this seems to be the case in most situations. until yesterday.

this shithead comes out of nowhere and "drops some new canadian rock and roll" on me.

and ya know what? it's pretty fuckin' good. if you're familiar with mayor mcca he sounds a bit like him in some places.

he was smart and put the really good songs at the top of the list. it starts to get a bit too NORMAL near the end. but the tune "he do work" is fucking stellar.

peep that shit.

word.

rage against the machine

2008-09-05T21:54:00.002-03:00

I’m not political. I never really have been. I don’t have the time or energy to really follow all that’s happening be it in my own country or in the country that shares our border. That being said, I know of some injustices. Peltier, Mumia, etc. The common thread of all these things that I do know about is that I learned about them listening to Rage Against the Machine.

I’m not going to say anything new here. RATM were in Minneapolis this weekend for the National Democratic Convention. They were supposed to play a show. The police wouldn’t them.

Fuck you. I won’t do what you tell me.

music savant

2008-08-28T21:19:00.003-03:00

alright shitheads. i didn't know blogs could be the subject of other blogs, but i am.

go to the music savant and check out a quick little write up about yours truly and read some other stuff about some music.

mike's a big time pimp and loves music, so it's a double whammy. pussy and rock and roll. where can you go wrong?

coheed and cambria. that's where.

we, the undersigned

2008-08-26T22:26:00.003-03:00

alright shit heads. let's lay it all on the line here. heavy metal music and punk rock is for neanderthals. except for good heavy metal and good punk.

now, let's be real for a second. i'm not a fan of the who "metal-core" thing that koRn influenced, save for a few bands.

we, the undersigned from sussex, or fredericton, or wherethefuck ever is one of those bands.

they borrow liberally from koRn (they'll never admit, but realistically, who would?) and my favourite norma jean, who's tune memphis will be laid to wasteis pretty much flawless.

so, you can check out we, the undersigned at their myspace page and tell them they should cover memphis again and let me sing.

you can also download their ep there for free. word up.

broken ohms

2008-08-24T21:34:00.002-03:00

every once in a while i like to cruise myspace looking for the profiles of women who have accidentally flashed a nipple in their profile shot.

i kid. but that DOES seem like a good idea now.

what i actually cruise for are bands i've never heard of who don't suck the camels dick.

i don't remember exactly how i found them, but front runners for my favourite band name ever, broken ohms out of halifax blew me away.

every once in a while you hear a song and it's like "this is pretty kick ass on album, but it must SLAY DRAGONS live"... and it does.

this video really doesn't give it justice, but here's them performing "for the air" in Moncton.

you can check out their myspace page to take a look at their tour dates and listen to a couple tunes. their new record drops this month and i'm pretty pumped for that.

fuckin' eh.

https://www.noisetrade.com/

2008-08-02T23:06:00.003-03:00

So, the blog a good day for airplay told me about a record by a band called the major labels that have something to do with blur.

anyhow, if you visit their myspace page, you can find a link that brings you to noise trade , a site that will allow you to download albums for whatever you wish to pay, or by telling three of your friends about that album.

pretty fucking sweet. i just wish i could do the same for the "paste" subscription.

live tom waits

2008-07-29T21:33:00.003-03:00

so, he surprised us all with a 16 city tour called the Glitter and Doom tour. But now he's home, and I still haven't gotten to see him.

Well, the folks over at NPR are KINDA doing something about it. If you go to their website you can stream a 2 and a half hour show recorded in Atlanta, and if you're ok with podcasts, you can subscribe to their live concert series and download the show. Looking at the last few weeks of concerts, you also have spiritualized, the ting tings, fleet foxes, the raconteurs, the black keys, and nada surf.

so head over to www.npr.org/music and check yourself out some live tom waits.

new kings of leon

2008-07-28T22:37:00.002-03:00

SPIN.COM NOW FEATURING EXCLUSIVE KINGS OF LEON DOWNLOAD

"Crawl," From The Band's Upcoming Album "Only By the Night," Now Available Through Web site

"Only By The Night" Out on RCA on September 23

SPIN.com is proud to present an EXCLUSIVE free download from Kings of Leon. The song being featured is titled "Crawl," the first track (although not the official single) from the forthcoming "Only By The Night," due Sept. 23 through RCA.

The band has also been known lately to lead off their propulsive live sets with the track.

It's the first new material heard from the Southern boys since 2007's "Because of the Times," but as one of rock's busiest bands, the intervening period has seen them traverse the globe with shows ranging from Spin's SXSW party last year at Stubb's to New York's Radio City Music Hall to the U.K.'s Glastonbury Festival.

Please visit the band's Web site to have "Crawl" as your very own. The track will be available for free for one week only, so get your download on, stat!

SPIN.com piece:http://spin.com/articles/exclusive-mp3-download-kings-leon-crawl

Download "Crawl" http://www.kingsofleon.com/spin_crawlfreedownload/

pretty serious tune. i love how you can always tell it's KoL, but it never sounds like it's going to be a KoL song.

one day as a lion

2008-07-24T22:39:00.000-03:00

do you like rage agains the machine?

and do you like the kid who played drums in the mars volta?

chekkit

http://www.myspace.com/onedayasalion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Day_as_a_Lion

pretty serious business so far.

alicia penney

2008-07-22T23:22:00.002-03:00

alright. like 5 or 6 years ago i met a girl on the net and slept with her maybe once or twice.

she was in a band. also in her band was alicia penney who is a fucking STELLAR singer/songwriter.

anyhow, the girl i slept with is, well, i don't know where she is... but alicia is in cape breton demo-ing stuff for her new record. in the meantime check out a fanstastic cover of the inbreds song "cut my throat" that alicia did with one of her bands, the excellent navigators on her myspace page. If the Inbreds are half as good as this cover is, I wonder why I'm not already a fan of theirs.

regardless, keep an eye out for alicia and her new band, "the responsibility band". It'll get rid of that rash, Sean. No lies.

the bells of san juan capistrano

2008-07-21T22:26:00.001-03:00

right now, the state of independent music as a culture is resting solely on the shoulders of country music.

i've gotten my hands on a lot of free indie releases over the last couple of years. only a couple of them have made their way into regular rotation. the latest one being a young dude by the name of beau jennings.

he's not country in the way of whiskeytown, but more along the lines of bruce springsteen. you can hear that influence all the way through, but there's something that sets it just outside that niche.

it's a sing along record at it's finest, and a bit cheesy at it's worst. jennings voice seems like it's a bit too at ease in some places. i would hope he belts it a bit harder when he plays these tunes live, which i would imagine he does. i hope so.

there are some great moments of levity as far as lyrics are concerned on this record, my favourite being in the song "holy tulsa thunder"

when you were born you came out swingin'
and no one could pull you under
you tried to rumble but you blended in
to the holy tulsa thunder

it's a good record. you should probably buy it.

this might be important to somebody

2008-07-21T16:15:00.003-03:00

a guy named Tito, which is a common nickname for my friends from me, emailed me today letting me know that Liz Phair is performing her "groundbreaking" "album" "exile in guyville" in it's entirety in three different cities at the same time while balancing the empire state builing on her chin.

some of that maybe a lie.

here's the release...

LIZ PHAIR TO PERFORM 'EXILE IN GUYVILLE'
IN PHILADELPHIA, DC & BOSTON
ON AUGUST 27TH, 28TH & 29TH

'EXILE IN GUYVILLE' REISSUE AVAILABLE NOW
ON ATO RECORDS

In celebration of the 15th year anniversary of the groundbreaking album Exile in Guyville and its reissue by ATO Records, Liz Phair will perform the entire album at three engagements: August 27 at Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia; August 28 at 9:30 Club in Washington DC; and August 29 at The Paradise in Boston. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 23 via Ticketmaster.

These three additional shows come on the heels of four hugely successful sold out June events - two in New York City and one in each San Francisco and Chicago. Said Jon Pareles of The New York Times in his recent review of one of Phair's Exile in Guyville shows, "After 15 years of other people's indie-rock idiosyncrasies, "Exile" still holds up in all its conflicting impulses: its determination to be 'adamantly free' and its longing for someone to trust, its swagger and its pain." A modern classic, Pitchfork recently gave the album a 9.6 rating while both Rolling Stone and Blender gave Exile in Guyville a perfect score of five stars ("*****").

Exile in Guyville, which was out of print, is again available on CD, vinyl and - for the first time ever - in digital format. The special reissue package includes three never-before-released songs from the original recording sessions: "Ant in Alaska," with Phair simply accompanying herself on guitar, "Say You," which features Phair and a full band, and an untitled instrumental with Liz on guitar. Phair has also just completed a new, 80-minute DVD, "Guyville Redux," for the reissue.

In "Guyville Redux" - which features an introduction by Dave Matthews, founder/co-owner of ATO Records - Liz and the "guys" of Guyville take us back to the making of the album, the male-dominated, Chicago independent music scene of the early 1990's (which included Urge Overkill, Material Issue, and Smashing Pumpkins), and the Wicker Park neighborhood where it all happened. Phair interviews Gerard Cosloy and Chris Lombardi of Matador Records, which originally released the record, famed indie producer Steve Albini, Ira Glass of NPR's "This American Life," John Henderson of the elusive indie label Feel Good All Over, Brad Wood (producer of Exile In Guyville), John Cusack (who founded the Chicago avant-garde theater group New Crime Productions), Urge Overkill, and more.

Conceived as a song-by-song response to the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street, Exile in Guyville was released in 1993, and ranked #1 that year on both the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll and Spin magazine's year-end critics poll. Incredibly influential to this day, its place as a seminal rock album has been reaffirmed by its inclusion in countless historical "best of" lists over the past 15 years, including: "Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," Spin's "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005," Rolling Stone's "Women in Rock (the 50 essential albums)," Blender's "Best Indie Rock Albums of All Time," Pitchfork's "Top 100 Albums of the 1990's," and VH1's "Greatest Albums Of All Time," to name but a few. Exile in Guyville is, in the words of Pitchfork, "a certifiable indie roadtrip classic."

Phair is currently working on new studio album for the fall.

Maybe I ought to listen to it... I mean, I was kinda 12 years when it came out and really I was only into Billy Ray Cyrus, and boobs. What can ya do?

angelie jolie is somewhat attractive

2008-07-20T00:20:00.002-03:00

so today was a good news/bad news/good news day as far as movies were concerned.

good news: my brother in law and i got tickets for DARK FUCKING NIGHT

bad news: the line ups were ridiculous even though we had tix.

good news: we traded in our tickets for WANTED.

it was pretty good. a couple of twists and turns, and most importantly, angelina's nekkid ass.

sweet. merciful. crap.

but yeh, good flick. Very Matrix meets Fight Club. James McEvoy's character was a bit annoying at times, and there's a scene with rats that's just ridiculous, but overall i was ok with it.

word.

choke trailer

2008-07-11T21:40:00.003-03:00

i read choke a few years back not long after i finally got to read fight club...

sam rockwell is going to SLAY this role.

zune

2008-07-11T05:08:00.003-03:00

they asked me to post this, but i'm not sure what it is...

i still like the zune... a couple of little things as usual... won't play avi's... takes a few clicks too many to get to the song i want to hear... but all in all it's a handy little rig... i'm really enjoying it...

go buy one.

edit: oh! THAT'S what it's for!

Gallactus - Nine Mile Wood

2008-07-10T22:31:00.001-03:00

Y’know, if I didn’t know any better, I would almost think this was going to be one kick ass cover of “Ballroom Blitz”. Ready, Steve?

Fuck. No. I was then kicked in the balls by Gallactus’ COSMIC BONG DOOM, straight out of the mean streets of Sussex, New Brunswick.

Gallactus and Blood Royal are responsible for one of the worst drunks of my life and for that and love and loathe them both.

The G-Men’s latest platter “Nine Mile Wood” is a pretty varied record. Well, as varied as COSMIC BONG DOOM can be, right?

The opening track THE FURY is fast heavy and brutal. Honestly I was hoping the record would be like that but alas, I’m a douchebag.

There are a couple of spots on this record that drag a bit, and one spot in particular that reminds me A LOT of a tune from their last record, EMPIRE OF THE EYE, but hey I’m not THAT picky.

COSMIC BONG DOOM is here to kick your nuts and steal your girl. And your beer.
HANG FROM THE LOCUST NOOSE!!!!

me and every other canadian blogger...

2008-07-08T22:48:00.002-03:00

...is writing about polaris announcing the short list for the polaris prize. i for one am pissed cadence weapon didn't make the cut. but here's who did...

Black Mountain – In The Future(Vancouver, BC) official site MySpace

Pretty serious record. Not what I was expecting. I wanted Mastodon and got Pink Floyd. Tomato, Tomato.

Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue (Montréal, QC) official site MySpace

No idea.

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling (London, ON)official site MySpace

Hayden likes her and that's fine by me.

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War (Montréal, QC) official site MySpace

I bought their last record (something about a fire) because Jesse from Kary told me to. I'm a fanboy of Kary, so I bought it. To be honest, the only part I liked was at the first. "When you have nothing left to lose, you have to set yourself on fire". After that, je n'etais pas interessé, for my francophone readers.

Caribou – Andorra (Dundas, ON)official site MySpace

I like the idea of Caribou. But the stuff I heard was TOO dancy. I might check it out again though cause lately I've really been digging on Datarock, Digitalism, Justice and...

Holy Fuck – LP (Toronto, ON) official site MySpace

Serious. That's all their is to it. MSTRKRFT with ballz. Plus a guy from Blue Rodeo played drums for them for a while.

Shad – The Old Prince (London, ON) MySpace

Huh?

Kathleen Edwards – Asking For Flowers (Ottawa, ON)official site MySpace

She's hot, and sounded great on Austin City Limits this one time. And a dude from Blue Rodeo likes her.

Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs (Charlottetown, PE) official site MySpace

I liked these guys better when they lacked stage presence. The April Storm EP was serious business.

The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour (Winnipeg, MB) official site MySpace

I borrowed a copy of Reconstruction site from a girl I dated like 6 years ago and still have it. H, if you're reading this, the cd broke. Literally.

So there it is. I don't think we get to vote on this, sadly. There was a good Blue Rodeo content this year which is rockin', too.

Keep it up, Sarah.

Joe

Zune Day 1

2008-06-28T13:07:00.000-03:00

I get an email at work from Cathy.

“You got a package. Can I open it? I’m going to anyway. Unless you say no.”

She opened it. Inside was my brand new 8G Microsoft Zune for me to test out and give my honest feedback on.

So Cathy charged it up for me and when I got home, I installed the software and all that jazz.

After that, things weren’t looking so good. It took nearly two hours just to get the thing to sync. The software was installed, but nothing was clicking between the Zune and it’s software. Eventually I figured out it was something to do with the driver, and I fixed it, but not without some frustration.

One I was synced, it was super easy to get songs over onto the machine, and even a few pictures so I could change the background to the kiddos.
More tomorrow!

the music of artisanship and war

2008-06-26T22:51:00.000-03:00

if you're in a heavy band, take heed

Diminished Fifth Records is pleased to announce that we have begun planning for the second installment of ‘The Music of Artisanship & War’ series. ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II’ is being planned for a September/October release date to coincide with the 2 year anniversary of the label’s first release. Please consider this our official Call for Submissions for heavy bands on the East Coast. If your band is interested in submitting please complete the online form available at:
http://diminishedfifthrecords.com/submissions

Please ensure that you fully read the ‘Guidelines’ and the ‘Disclaimer’ and that ALL information fields are fulfilled, otherwise you will need to resubmit your application. Questions or Concerns can be directed to: info@diminishedfifthrecords.com or in the Additional Comments box within the submission form.

We would also appreciate if you forwarded this to anyone who you know in heavy bands in the East Coast of Canada.

Cheers and thank you for the support!

so, if you're heavy, and a maritimer, hook it up, dawg.

the special fucking goodness

2008-06-25T22:03:00.002-03:00

a few years ago i was putzing around trying to find new music and i stumbled on the epitaph site.
i fucking hate punk music, but i dig what epitaph has been doing, especially with the -anti label.

i came across a band called the special goodness that features some members of weezer.

i would be fucked in the ear if i said i didn't like this stuff MORE than weezer.

check out their epitaph (hahaha) site to read their bio and listen to a couple of tunes. NFA is serious business.

sunfold

2008-06-24T20:57:00.003-03:00

i've been digging through some emails i got from a few record labels that i accidentally skipped over and came across this one... sunfold... a young fella named kenny florence is the mastermind... the tune they sent is one called "sara the american winter" and it's pretty serious...

bio and mp3 here

men dressed as woman smackin' dingers

2008-06-21T14:04:00.002-03:00

in high school, 3 guys from california dressed as women kicked the shit out of an entire local softball team. i can't remember the score, or what the name of either team was, but i remember being pretty fucking impressed, let me tell you. i would LOVE to see that kind of thing again.

i've been listening to the new gallactus record quite a bit and i'm digging it. look for a review in the next little while as soon as i can get pen to paper, or more accurately, fingers to keyboard. SAY WHAT?

also, i'd like a copy, digital or otherwise, of Deepspace5 - the night we called it a day. if anybody has this, i would love it.

this is cool. legit.

2008-06-18T21:52:00.002-03:00

ok. do you like country? and radiohead? and girls? i sure do. they're practically 3 out of my top 5 favourite things.

check THIS out. some girl doing a cover of idioteque.

it's actually emily neveu of the band calico horse and black heart procession.

this is literally awesome.

download

free mp3 player you say?

2008-06-17T20:48:00.002-03:00

checkit. i've been talking with these dudes and they want you to know about this.

www.matchstick.ca/mp3

word up.

i've been busy. fuck you.

2008-05-28T23:05:00.003-03:00

Iron Giant – Creator of Scars (Diminished Fifth Record 2008)

Alright. Let’s be completely fucking honest here. I’ve been waiting for the new Iron Giant record right from the minute somebody said they were writing. So imagine my excitement when Diminished Fifth Records decided they were going to put it out.

I decided I was going to like this record before I eve heard it. I have a really bad habit of doing that, and usually I get pretty disappointed (like the new atmosphere joint. Sux. Ballz.). Well, this time I wasn’t. Catchy. As. Fuck. And entire new side of the band is shown on this record. The title track has to be one of the best riffs from a band in Moncton ever.
Loud, obnoxious, riffy and pure east coast white trash this is a record for the ages. If they can keep the momentum going with the recent changes on the guitar spot 2008 will be the year of the Giant.

The Cotton Jones Basket Ride

2008-05-16T04:51:00.001-03:00

Michael Nau, previously well known as the primary singer/songwriter for Page France, will be pushing back the release of his debut full-length as The Cotton Jones Basket Ride in favor of an EP series to be released through Quite Scientific records.
Apparently it's a cd, but it's a book, too. This newfangled multi-tasking business is definitely going places.

Check out a song here: http://www.quitescientific.com/mp3/tcjbr-midnightmondayandatelescope.mp3

He's going on tour, too.

Cotton Jones On Tour:
Sat May 10 - Frostburg, MD - Rite Aid Benefit for the Children's Miracle Network
Tues May 13 - Baltimore, MD - Talking Head
Wed May 14 - Hamden, CT - The Space
Thurs May 15 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
Fri May 16 - New York, NY - Pianos
Sun May 18 - Philadelphia, PA - The M Room
Mon May 19 - Arlington, VA - The Iota
Tues May 20 - Norfolk, VA - The Boot
Wed May 21 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
Thurs May 22 - Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
Fri May 23 - Charleston, SC - The Village Tavern
Sat May 24 - Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
Mon May 26 - Lexington, KY - The Dame
Tues May 27 - Nashville, TN - The End
Wed May 28 - Cincinnati, OH - Southgate House
Fri May 30 - Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar
Sat May 31 - Fredericksburg, VA - The 3rd Floor
Wed Jun 11 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
Thur Jun 12 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern
Fri Jun 13 - Bloomington, IN - Bear's Place
Sat Jun 14 - Champaign, IL - Mike N Molly's
Sun Jun 15 - St. Louis, MO - Bluebird
Mon Jun 16 - Lawrence, KS - The Replay Lounge
Tue Jun 17 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
Wed Jun 18 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
Thur Jun 19 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry
Fri Jun 20 - Iowa City, IA - The Picador
Sat Jun 21 - Dekalb, IL - The House Cafe
Sun Jun 22 - Madison, WI - Cafe Montmartre
Mon Jun 23 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's
Tue Jun 24 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
Wed Jun 25 - Detroit, MI - Alvin's
Thur Jun 26 - Toronto, ONT - Silver Dollar
Fri Jun 27 - London, ONT - London Music Club
Sat Jun 28 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox

old record of the week

2008-05-01T22:32:00.001-03:00

Record of the week

Iron & Wine – The Creek Drank the Cradle

Back in my early 20’s I was a hopeless romantic with bad hygiene. I used to spend most of my time off work and school on a bus to a few towns over to visit my girlfriend at the time. One time on my way back she couldn’t come with me to the bus stop, and I had some time to kill so I hit up one of my favorite record shops in the Maritimes.

When I got there, the guy working was closing up shop for the day, and I didn’t want to waste his time.

“I know you’re closing up in a few minutes. What should I buy? I’ve got a 5 hour bus ride ahead of me and don’t want to be bored.”

“Well, I’ve been listening to this record quite a bit lately. Really lo-fi stuff out of Florida.”

Good enough. I had just gotten my student loan so I picked it up. I stopped at a pharmacy and got some batteries for my Discman for the trip and went to the bus stop.

I don’t remember if it was an instant epiphany with this record, or if it took me a while to really get it, but I do remember that when I got it, I REALLY got it. This is a beautiful record. It’s the kind of record that invokes memories even if you’ve never heard it before.

Sam Beam didn’t set out to make Iron & Wine something big. He’s actually a fairly successful film teacher at a school in Florida. But when his friend’s band was in talks with Sub Pop, they sent a couple disc’s worth of Sam’s recordings along with their own. Sub Pop loved it, whittled down the songs to one album and released “The Creek Drank the Cradle”. They say the bigger your vocabulary the smarter you are. The average person has a 12,000 word vocabulary. Shakespeare had 25,000. While I agree with this to a point, it’s not always how much you have, but how you use what you have. Sam Beam probably doesn’t have a 25,000 word vocabulary. But the way he uses the words he knows makes for a beautiful experience. (I’ve used the word beautiful twice in this write-up).

This is a record I remember and a record I love. Sit down with this one. A nice glass of wine or a big mug of beer. You’re going to feel relaxed.

We found your name across the chapel door
Carved in cursive with a table fork
Muddy hymnals and some boot marks where you'd been

The shaking preacher told the captain's man
The righteous suffer in a fallen land
Then pulled the shade to keep the crowd from peeking in

We found your children by the tavern door
With wooden buttons and an apple core
Playing house and telling everyone you'd drowned

The begging choir told the captain's man
We all assume the worst the best we can
And for a round or two they gladly drag you down

We found you sleeping by your lover's stone
A ream of paper and a telephone
A broken bow across a long lost violin

Your lover's angel told the captain's man
It never ends the way we had it planned
And kissed her palm and placed it on your dreaming head

marr contest winner

2008-04-24T04:31:00.001-03:00

well, i only had one submission...

Bonham-ized. I wish you'd have gone with Bonzoed. But it's your contest – about my idol.

Anyway, remember Joe Bonham from Johnny Got His Gun? No? Well, anyway, there's where Bonham-ized would work. The agitation/expectation you felt watching him slam out SOS with his head trying to get the nurse's attention – "The last 3 scenes really Boham-ized me! I had a hard time getting to sleep afterward!"

I'll admit the the addtion of the "ized" suffix makes for a good sounding verb. But Bonzoed sounds like a reference being made to Goofy blowing away his classmates. That's the kinda guy I want to watch playing a drumkit.

This contest blows.

You're Bonzoed.

--Errol

Errol, you win. Thanks buddy.

new nine inch nails song

2008-04-23T16:50:00.002-03:00

i've never been a big nine inch nails fan, but his ideas of distributing music are really fantastic.

http://dl.nin.com/discipline/nin

new song available RIGHT NOW.

a new meaning to music geek

2008-04-19T12:12:00.001-03:00

three scientists (excuse me, janitor) have used Pythagoras discovery that that pleasing musical intervals could be described using simple ratios and taken it step further.

music = shapes

http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=120&csid2=844&fid1=30837

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/04/17/scimusic117.xml

review: the penny blacks

2008-04-19T10:25:00.003-03:00

Penny Blacks – Regret Regret (2008)

Back in the 90’s, long before the internet became what it is today, the only way to find half decent new music in my home town was to spend countless hours sitting on your arse in front of the tv glued to Much Music.

Sook-Yin Lee introduced me to Hayden and The Folk Implosion on one of those sunny summer days when I should have been at the beach. This was my first real introduction to “lo-fi”. The Folk Implosion didn’t really make a mark, but Hayden did. My son’s middle name is Hayden.

Regardless, Penny Blacks featuring one of the guys from Hospital Grade is in that lo-fi vein, but in sound quality only. These are great slow relaxing pop songs. Reminds me of the first Two Hours Traffic EP but not as whiney. There is a definite maturity spoken in the quality of the songwriting here.

Regret, Regret is a seriously solid debut. I look forward to hear more from The Penny Blacks, and wish I didn’t have to sass the last show here in town.

It's a pretty record. One that I wish I had made myself.

live man man

2008-04-17T03:40:00.002-03:00

a HUGE thanks to whoever run you ain't no picasso for posting this Man Man bootleg. Serious business.

download it here

review: Marr Winter Ditches

2008-04-15T04:52:00.002-03:00

Marr – Winter Ditches (2008)

A few years ago I remember getting into an e-fight with some dude about a show his band had recently played. We argued back and forth for a few weeks and with every click of the submit button I felt cooler. Looking back I realize I was being a big douchebag. I’ve met the guy in real life and we’re actually pretty tight now so I guess it worked out.

Anyhow, the night he was talking about was the last time Marr hit Moncton. Truth be told I didn’t pay much attention to it. I had actually never heard Marr until this record showed up at my place.

Looking at a list of influences you can see that Marr are big Mike Patton fans listing Faith No More, Tomahawk, and Mr. Bungle all within one breath.

I’ve never listened to Tomahawk. An old roommate of mine probably made me listen to Mr. Bungle but I couldn’t name a song of theirs if my life depended on it. And the only Faith No More song I know is “Epic”. That flopping fish is creepy.

The bands I hear when I listen to Marr probably aren’t as flattering but it’s not meant as a slight. I hear a bit Stone Temple Pilots influence as well as a touch of Slipknot. Some might say I’m way off, but some might be wrong.

Now, that being said these influences work for Marr. And they take what they learned from these bands and twist it just enough where there is no way you’d mistake them for anybody but themselves.

The Highlight track for me is Indie Dirt Nap. I have a thing for screamed lyrics like that. It reminds me of “Blood” or “Lukin” by Pearl Jam. Also, opening track Peacock has a great soaring vocal right off the top which reminds me of “For the Air” by Halifax’s own Broken Ohms.

All in all, I really dig Winter Ditches.

Also, don't forget to check out the Marr contest down the page a bit, or click here

3 ½ out of 5

here's what i'm doing today

2008-04-13T10:01:00.002-03:00

then i'm gonna stick that bitch on a spit and spin her til she's dizzy and cooked.

god. bless. bbq. season.

wtf!?!? a contest!?!?

2008-04-11T21:15:00.003-03:00

alright assholes. here it is.

the guys from marr sent me a copy of their cd and a tshirt to give away through the blog.

if you feel you deserve a copy you only have to do one thing.

i want a written essay on why led zeppelin's legendary drummer JOHN BONHAM deserves to have his last name become a verb. ie: he really bonham-ized those drums, didn't he?

so, write it up and email it to me at iamawildparty@hotmail.com

you've got two weeks.

my blog looks like asscakes

2008-04-10T10:20:00.003-03:00

i'm trying to find a half decent lay out for my blog, but they all look like ass cakes. and the ones that don't, have stupid advertisements at the top for where i took them from and i don't know how to go into the code and take it out. fuck.

anyway.

i'm not normally a "metal" guy, but there's this jesus band, norma jean that has been putting out a few good records. today's song is from their record "bless the martyr, kiss the child".

it's call "memphis will be laid to waste"

listen to it here

my favourite parts are when the lyrics "you're doing the waltz with your murderer" come along, and the guest appearance by the singer from mewithoutYou right near the end. he's a great lyricist.

He laid emeralds in her eyes,
But Id already tried a bracelt made of gold
And a scarlet thread around her wrist.
Everything was wrong so we sang sentimental songs.
Oh how seldom we belong but how elegant our kiss.
We painted crooked lines
But danced in perfect time to a love so much refined,
We know not what it is until like a dullen wine we pour into a grief know before
But never quite like this.
All I know now is regret,
It follows like a silhouette along the cobbelstone behind us,
But has nothing to say except to innocently ask,
Its voice delicate as glass,
Do you see me when we pass?
But I continue on my way.

and this song always reminds me of moncton's own "laid to waste" who broke up earlier this year.

check them out here

random mp3 of the day

2008-04-07T22:19:00.002-03:00

Ben Kweller - Family Tree

I have a few Ben Kweller records. I'm not a huge fan, but this song has always been one of my favourites. I think it's the harmonies in the chorus.

Yeh, it's those harmonies...

download it here

official site
myspace page
wikipedia

i love when the internet is used for cool stuff

2008-04-07T08:47:00.001-03:00

Rivers Cuomo, singer/songwriter for Weezer is getting Weezer fans to help him write a song... via YouTube!

here's a story about it

here's the YouTube link

i don't understand why

2008-04-04T11:27:00.000-03:00

but this is a legit sentence...

“Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo”

HA!

2008-04-04T11:16:00.000-03:00

http://bigstonehead.net/dino/

shit this is annoying

2008-04-03T20:49:00.001-03:00

i've had one part of baby got back stuck in my head all day...

but not the part you'd think...

"little in the middle but she's got much back"

over. and. over.

This week in Moncton

2008-04-02T21:04:00.002-03:00

WEDNESDAY --

Rise Above Wednesdays (The Birthday Edition)

Nathan Jones and Don The Van Door will be spinning emo records at the Paramount to celebrate Jones' b-day extraordinaire.

THURSDAY --

The New Cities at the Paramount for $8.

www.myspace.com/thenewcities

apparently they sound like you say party we say die... i don't think you say party, so i'll be sitting this one out.

Michale Graves WM3 Benefit Tour W/ Carey Beck & The Original Boxcar Shakers @ The Manhattan Bar & Grill

Some douchebag from the Misfits or something with local rockabilly guy Carey Beck. Apparently Carey's actually good, but don't quote me on that.

FRIDAY --

HOPE Live Album Recording Show @ The Paramount

plus acoustic sets by: The Motorleague (Don The Van Door & Nathan Jones
The Damnsels (Illisha French)
The Payrents
Secondsdown (Denis Babineau)
$7at the door, only 200 people permitted so be there early!

You can leave after The Motorleague cause Hope sucks.

SATURDAY --

HIGH FIVE DRIVE
The River Munks
The Manhattan
$5.75

I Capture The Castle
The Umph
Lost Cause
Doc's Upstairs
$5
10pm door
19+

and that about covers it!

fuck you eagles

2008-04-02T20:53:00.001-03:00

i bought my bob dylan tickets last week. 80 smackers canadian after all the taxes and service charges.

the eagles are coming to moncton, too and bringing a whole shit storm of terrible bands with them.

fuck the eagles, man. fuck them.

haha... recording company

2008-03-31T21:50:00.004-03:00

The Royal Army Recording Company – Mary, Your Ghost is Showing

In the summer of 1998 I convinced somebody to trade a copy of Beck’s Odelay for a pair of sunglasses with yellow lenses. I lost those glasses, and ended up buying Odelay again when I was in college. I have a very good feeling The Royal Army Recording Co. are Beck fans, too. Except they didn’t trade Odelay for a pair of shitty sunglasses.

I’ll be 100% honest here and tell you that I’ve never actually heard “Sea Change” but somebody told me it’s Beck’s country album. If this is true, The Royal Army Recording Co. are fans of that album. Singer K. Tompkins has just enough of his influence in there to be reminiscent, but not enough to be a rip off.

Some people singing voice sounds the best right at the tip of it’s range when they’re giving it shit like it stole its bike. K. seems to shy away from this and play it safe. The melodies are there, and the musicianship is there, but I would consider bringing the key up a half a step or a full step just to strain that voice enough to make sound like ya mean it.

A catchy little ep, “Mary, Your Ghost is Showing” is a great precursor of what’s to come from this Maryland based “community” of musicians. Indie/pop/country-delica. Sweet! I invented a genre!
http://www.myspace.com/theroyalarmyrecordingco

Hi, we like Jesus AND U2!

2008-03-31T21:50:00.003-03:00

The Blackstones – Self-Titled EP

If I had my way, U2 would have one record. It would be side one of The Joshua Tree, and a few other tunes. Especially that “Discotheque” song from that record nobody likes. Redundancy will prevail here and I will say it again in plainer language. I’m not a big U2 fan. I’m not a Bono fan. And any man who calls himself The Edge, and looks like my Uncle Paul is probably a douche.

Regardless of my head-in-ass opinion of U2, it cannot be denied that they’ve had a huge influence on today’s rock landscape. Everywhere you look, so-called modern rock bands are ripping off U2’s sound left and right. People about 5 to 10 years my junior may argue and say most bands are ripping off Coldplay’s sound. These are the same people who think Green Day started the punk rock revolution.

I’m kinda proud of Bono, though. A lot of people in his position play the “I didn’t ask to be a role model” card and continue about their ridiculous behavior. I’m on the fence about that myself. If you’re famous, you’re a role model regardless of whether or not you asked for it. So you need to clean up a bit. But on the other hand, and I say this as a father, parents need to monitor what their children are doing a lot more closely. Bono, though, has completely embraced being a role model. He’s an advocate for change. That I dig about him. His annoying voice, and shitty records after The Joshua Tree, I can do without, though.

The Blackstones from Washington State in the U.S. are one of those many bands who have been influenced by U2. They’re mixing U2’s songwriting craft, with a bit of Sonic Youth lite guitar noises to make a an album that’s a bit hard to get through, but once understood is a nice little piece of music.

The album is a bit murky in sound. A lot of guitar noises, and muddy sounds, and very sparse drums for the most part make it a bit hard to appreciate the quality of songwriting, but once you get passed this, you start to see and hear the talent these young men have.

Atmospheric and partly about Jesus, The Blackstones EP is a great little record for fans of good music.

http://www.myspace.com/theblackstones

Joseph Edgar

2008-03-31T21:50:00.001-03:00

Joseph Edgar – Oh Ma Ma

When I first moved to Moncton, all I knew about the music scene was The Monoxides and Eric’s Trip/Elevator to Hell/Elevator/Elevator Through etc. Then after a while of being here, I started stepping out every once in a while to different shows and jam nights and whatnot. This was my first introduction to the real Moncton music scene.

A few people I met along the way introduced me to the different aspects of this scene. I met the hippy jammers, the metal heads, and a few punk rockers. I also met a few great singer/songwriters. One of the first of those artists I heard of and met through mutual acquaintances was Marc “Joseph Edgar” Poirier (pronounced pouArier). Marc is a singer/songwriter in the style of “proper” singer songwriters, (see: Bob Dylan, Neil Young, etc.) except, you know… French. He’s a scene veteran having played with “Zero Degrees Celsius” and done the solo thing for a while.

Listening to a record in a foreign language is hard on some people. You feel a bit out of the loop. You want to understand what the singer is going on about, but at the same time you ask yourself “is it really worth learning a new language just for this?”

If you want to know the answer, in short, it’s yes. If you’re listening to “Oh Ma Ma” that is. This is a great record. If this album were English, it would be all over the goddamned place. Brilliant songwriting by PouArier, a great back up band in Moncton “French-Jam-Rock” mainstays Les Paiens, and great production by Chops make this a disc worth picking up and a disc worth listening to repeatedly.

www.myspace.com/josephedgar

Jinder

2008-03-31T21:48:00.000-03:00

Jinder – I’m Alive

When I was growing up my Mom listened to a lot of country music. She was a big Willie Nelson fan. She LOVED George Jones, and was also a Kris Kristofferson fan before it was cool to be a Kris Kristofferson fan. So because of that, I listened to a lot of country music as a child. But, just like every kid does, I “rebelled” against my Mom and started listening to rock and roll music. It wasn’t cool to like country music when I was in high school. But when I got older, I discovered a “new” country. Whiskeytown, Wilco, and The Drive by Truckers. Bands who were fans of that outlaw country, but were able to make it just modern enough to catch the ears of indie hipsters everywhere.

Jinder’s Mom and mine probably have a lot in common because if I were to write some sad bastard country influenced music, this is the record I would have written. Chock of full of sippin’ whiskey pity songs, “I’m Alive” is what to listen to if you’re reminiscing about your younger years. (Which is exactly what I did a couple of times with the record)

It’s the mundane in life that makes life so important. Beat up guitars, traveling, cheap wine, and your heroes are all the things that make the world go around. With songs about each of these (see “Travellin’ Song”, “Townes Blues” and “Train in Your Voice”) Jinder has made a record about his life, and subsequently about yours, and mine too. And keep an ear out for an homage fellow Brits “MYE” on the traditional track Jinder arranged for this record.

Now that I’ve been over all the good of this album, there is a slight hint of bad. While his slow, and sad bastard traveling songs kick more than the llama’s ass, his upbeat numbers sometimes sound a bit corny, or cheesy. But considering there are really only two songs on the record that fall into that category, we’re still at a batting average well above the major league average.

When you’re reviewing records, some of what lands in your mailbox isn’t very good, and a lot of the time it’s a record that you listen to for the review and throw it in the pile. “I’m Alive” doesn’t fall into that category. This is a record that is on my top 10 list for 2006. This is a record I’ll listen to again. Often. Go buy this.

www.myspace.com/jinder

Does anybody say "That's how I Roll" anymore?

2008-03-31T21:47:00.000-03:00

Jesse Cox and the Hooch – That’s How we Roll

A few years ago, when I was in the middle of a long distance relationship and a dead-end job at a bookstore, I decided to go back to college. Looking back on it, it was a stupid idea, and I regret it. I mean, education is a great thing, but not for a guy like me. I suck at learning in a structured environment.

Anyhow, there were a few guys in the class that played music, just like me, so we got along straightaway and started jamming every once in a while. That didn’t really last long because college didn’t last long.

After I quit college, I got out of that long-distance relationship (read: I got dumped) and started another dead-end job at an electronics store, and eventually started my own band. One of the guys I was in the band with knew a guy I went to college with, and these guys knew another guy who would eventually start his own band. (What?)

I’m listening to a debut record by a band called “Jesse Cox and the Hooch”. One of the Hooch is that guy that those other two guys know. (What?) He brought me a copy of the CD one night when I got off work. I was trying to eat a burrito, and I kept looking out the window expecting him to show up and interrupt me.

“That’s How we Roll” is a record that pays homage to the bands it’s members are fans off. I hear a lot of classic rock stuff, like Skynyrd, Tom Petty, The Stones, and other radio staples. The shining point of this band has got to be its namesake, Jesse Cox. It’s a very soulful, whiskey-tinged voice. Which is odd, because according to the liner notes, his favorite drink is rum and coke. I’m not a big rum drinker, but I would imagine copious amounts of any hard liquor will rough your throat up pretty good.

If I could change anything about this band, I’d make them a little more ballsy. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and blame some of the lack of balls on the production of this debut. But a lot of it I think has to do with songwriting. Case in point, Sam Beam of Iron & Wine fame, or Japan’s Guitar Wolf. Balls isn’t about sound quality as much as it’s about attitude. There are a lot of spots on this record that could use some really heavy dirty guitar leads, but are filled in by, well, nothing.

All in all, “That’s How we Roll” is a great little record. When I listen to this record, I picture what I think the band wants me to picture. A bonfire at the beach, a whole lot of booze, and hot chicks in bikinis. And for that picture, Jesse Cox and the Hooch, I thank thee. Especially the bikini part.

harps, bitches

2008-03-31T21:44:00.000-03:00

Flotilla – Disaster Poetry

At one point in my life I used to wish I were Rob Gordon. Do you remember him? He was character John Cusack played in High Fidelity. I identified with this character so much that I thought I could do no wrong, and I was justified in my actions because Rob Gordon did the same thing. I worked at a record shop. I was going through a nasty break up. I failed out of college. I called that girl every night for months hoping she would not break up with me until she eventually just did it. But it was ok for me to do that, and to call her and get mad at her, because Rob Gordon did that to Laura.

Enough of that, though. One of the best things about High Fidelity, other than Lisa Bonet, was the soundtrack. There were two bands that I was REALLY introduced to from that record. The Beta Band (Who’s this? The Beta Band. They’re Good! I know) and Stereolab (Rob, phones for you. Take a message. It’s your GIRLFRIEND!)

I bought the Beta Bands “3 EP’s” and I was terribly disappointed. So when it came time to get into Stereolab, I balked. I downloaded “Emperor Tomato Ketchup”. It fucking ruled.

This review has nothing to do with either of these bands. It has to do with a Montreal band called Flotilla. The reason I mention these other two is cause I’m long winded, and Flotilla reminds me of Stereolab. The same sort of awkward melodies, the beautiful high-pitched voice of a French girl. At least, I think Veronica Charnley is French. It doesn’t matter, cause she sounds like Laetitia Sadier, and that rules.

Some more things that rule about Flotilla are as follows:

1. They have a harp.
2. Their bass player Geof is a classical music composer.
3. If you play your cards right, you can get laid while this record is on. It’s very sexy.

It’s a good record. It’s a cute record. The harp is noticeable, but not overbearing like some bands with weird instruments tend to do. It’s tasteful. There’s a pretty good chance if you don’t like this record, you have bad taste in music. Or you’re a metal head. They pretty much mean the same thing though, don’t they?

www.flotilla.ca
http://www.myspace.com/flotillamontreal

this is pretty amazing...

2008-03-22T20:08:00.002-03:00

the website itself sux some serious balls, but this kid might be on to something here...

http://www.jz-dc.net/

this would make nascar cooler

2008-03-18T22:12:00.002-03:00

Well, Nascar is kinda boring, and here's why. They just keep turning left, and not enough crashes. So, here's what we can do.

Two tracks. Side by side. And every 10 laps, you switch to the other track. 10 laps of turning left, and 10 laps of turning right. This switches it up to keep it interesting, and it increases the chance of crashes.

Fuck I rule.

C-Note Bitches!

2008-03-18T21:07:00.002-03:00

I doubt Corey remembers this, but one time he was drunk and told me a story about being in a big city some gangsta's. He was really scared of them until they nick named him. "C-Note". Cause his name is Corey.

Corey has a band now called Percolator and their record is being mixed and mastered right now, and I was asking Kyle Mac (THE BAND!!! MEN!!! HAI!!!) how it was going.

Kyle says:
that album is going to bust everyones balls

joe says:
serious business?

Kyle says:
fuck dude. no kidding. you're going to poop a few logs, let me tell you.

joe says:
sweet. i love pooping.

Kyle says:
it's the best if you're constipated. throw this on, get on the toils. bam! game over!

do you like free music?

2008-03-18T10:33:00.002-03:00

i know i sure as fuck do.

zunior.com has a section called "free stuff". there are a couple of samplers, most notably, one by a lable out of fredericton called "forward music group". it has the likes of grand theft bus (i still don't like them), sleepless nights (i like them), share (he has a ukelele) and a few other bands associated with that "scene".

you have to sign up for zunior, but it's pretty painless.

DO IT!

FEE FI FO FUM!

2008-03-18T08:53:00.002-03:00

Man Man has a new record out. It's called "Rabbit Habits". You can get it here.

if you've never heard them, you can see them here. they're really good. if i had to describe them it would be "If Tom Waits 'Blood Money' spent more time at the circus."

New Radicals

2007-11-30T20:35:00.000-04:00

i fucking love the new radicals. great record, great hooks, great melodies, great story.

checkit.

hippy music guy hates music industry. hates pop music. still writes one of the best pop albums of the last 20 years, and gets sucked in. hates where his band is going, and where the industry is taking home. says "fuck you, you can't have me". breaks the band up.

for those of you who only think of "you only get what you give" have to get your heads out of ur arses and check this record out.

download mother we just can't get enough

watch it live on muchmusic. it's a shitball version, but gfy.

GENESIS EXODUS LEVITICUS AND NUMBERS!

2007-11-29T22:36:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I've gone this long without mentioning practically my favourite band of all time, Clutch.

Their album "Blast Tyrant" (this is the short form of the albums name... the long form is Blast Tyrant's Atlas of the Invisible World Including Illustrations of Strange Beasts And Phantasms) is my favourite of theirs. Some prefer the stuff they did before this record, and some prefer after. I prefer after. Fucking gold.

So, here's a live video of them playing "mercury" and "profits of doom" from Blast Tyrant.

The Motorleague

2007-11-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

I've only mentioned them in like 50,000 of my posts.

Probably one of my favourite Maritime Bands. Even if I'm friends with them.

The Motorleague. They're cute and they're good.

Video for "Series vs Parallel

Project Danko

2007-11-27T20:06:00.000-04:00

Well, Project Danko was a bust. I only lasted 3 days or so. The man just gave me a fucking headache.

Wanna know what broke the streak? I'm sure you do.

Weekly Top 5

2007-11-25T14:13:00.000-04:00

Well, this was gonna be a weekly Friday Top Five Update, but I didn't do it Friday.

So it was going to be a weekly Saturday Top Five Update, but then I went to bed at like 7:30 or some shit.

So here it is. A Sunday afternoon Top Five Update.

This week: Guilty Pleasures.

Now, most peoples guilty pleasures are things like "blow off of a hookers arse crack" or "17 liters of Chunky Munky Ice Cream" or some ridiculous shit. But this is a music blog, so here they are, in particular order.

1. R. Kelly's Ignition Remix

I so don't feel guilty about it, but I want to post about him again.

2. Fallout Boy - This Ain't a Scene (It's an Arms Race)

There's something about that little monkey's voice on this tune. It's almost sounds MoTown. Plus he has pretty nice sideburns...

forgive the shitty audio in the youtube link... universal won't let me link their vid, and apparently kids who like fallout boy sux at teh internetz

3. Phish - Farmhouse

I hate Phish with everything in this excellently toned body of mine, but for some reason this song slays me. This is a live version, so they'll probably "jam" this song out for like 3 days or some shit, but at least listen to the first minute or two... BECAREFULFORTHECHILDMOLESTER!

4. slipknot

I can literally feel myself getting stupid when I listen to slipknot. But at the same time, a lot can be said for the happiness of stupid people.

IPUSHMYFINGERSINTOMYEYESFTW!

5. Paul Potts

AMG says he's not really opera, but then again, they gave Madonna's POS Ray of Light 4 stars, while Kings of Leon's "Because of the Times" gets 3...

Paul Potts was a cellphone salesman in England, and he won the first "Britain's Got Talent." He was so good, he made the hot chick who found the dead body cry. Before she found the dead body.

Anyway, he did a KILLER version of "Everybody Hurts. Go listen.

So, that's the top 5 for this week. If you think I'm a douchebag, you're probably right. If you hate this music, you're a douchebag, too.

ANDREW WK!

2007-11-22T11:52:00.000-04:00

this one of my favouritest songs evar.

2007-11-20T22:48:00.000-04:00

Jason Isbell used to be in The Drive By Truckers. As far as I'm concerned, he was the best songwriter of the lot of them. I mean, they're all great, but he was my favourite.

Every once in a while you'll catch a song that just fucks your shit up. For me, "Goddamn Lonely Love" written by Isbell and recorded by The Drive by Truckers on the record "The Dirty South" is one of those songs.

Download a live version brought to you buy the guy who runs http://www.southernshelter.com/. Drop by his site and see what he has to offer. He's got a great archive of the music scene in Athens, Georgia. Fantastic.

Anyway, quit being a douchebag and download the song.

Goddamn Lonely Love

2007-11-20T21:47:00.000-04:00

Remy Shand is the whitest man in Canada, which says a lot cause Canada is pretty white.

Regardless, back a few years ago he made the best soul record of the decade.

If you disagree, you're probably deaf.

Sure he looks like a douche, but he SOUNDS fantastic.

Fuck you, NathanJones

The Hives

2007-11-20T11:33:00.000-04:00

I agree 15000000000% with The Hives when they say they are the best band in the world. Sure, I don't listen to them a lot, and sure there are bands I like more, but technically and egotistically speaking, The Hives are the best band in the world.

"Hate To Say I Told You So" is the best song Danko Jones didn't get a chance to write.

"Tick Tick Boom" is the lead single from their new "Black and White Album".

Watch the video, buy the record.

Cream your pants.

I'm out.

You shook doggie. You shook.

R. Kelly

2007-11-19T21:57:00.000-04:00

now, usually i don't do this, but let's go ahead and admit i like bad music.

JINDER

2007-11-18T22:24:00.000-04:00

I don't know why, but apparently good alt-country music comes from England now. Jinder's last record "I'm Alive" pretty much owns anything most alt-country bands have done in the last few years.

My only damage with Jinder is when he tries to be honky tonk. He sounds better as a sad bastard. If he cried the whole record, I'd like it more. But I'm a whiny bitch, so whateva.

Download his song Train in your Voice.
Download his song Townes Blues.

GALLACTUS

2007-11-18T19:39:00.000-04:00

Gallacticus is probably one of my favourite heavy bands. They sound like whiskey, weed and DOOM! They feel like 100% rayon.

If you dig "stoner rock" and bald men with beer guts, and men with mighty beards, you'll probably really like Gallactus a lot. I mean, those are some of my favourite things and I thing Gallactus rules pretty hard.

Download their song "Ghost Girl" here

and get the rest of their untitled 2002 demo here

If you're really fucking into it, watch an interview with them done by Moncton's now "defunct/hiatus" videocast Sessions

ZUKU!

2007-11-18T11:27:00.000-04:00

Zuku played Moncton a few months back. The Motorleague opened for them. I sassed and didn't stay for Zuku. Turns out it was apparently the biggest mistake of my life.

Big props to Kyle THE BAND MEN HAI McDonald for hooking me up with the ep until the next time they hit town.

Check out a video of them playing their song "Without a Doubt" live at the Bovine Sex Club in Toronto.

Also check out their myspace page and listen to the song Shuuugar. If it doesn't slay you, then you're obviously some sort of super vampire that even Buffy couldn't fuck with.

White Cowbell Oklahoma

2007-11-17T21:19:00.000-04:00

So Friday night I went to see my friends The Motorleague (http://www.guntohead.com/) play at The Manhattan in Moncton, NB.

They've played a few times in the last few months, but since I don't get out often, I like to bet on a sure thing.

The last time they played, they opened for a band called ZUKU and the next day everybody was raving about ZUKU. This time I would not be left out.

The Motorleague was opening for White Cowbell Oklahoma. I said to myself "I'll stay for two songs, and then go home." During the first two songs all I could say was "Holy Fuck" and "Unfuckingbelievable". They were phenomanal.

I couldn't find any full mp3's online for you to download, but here's a video clip of the tune "Monster Railroad".

Check it.

http://www.whitecowbell.com/

Music Post #1

2007-11-17T20:01:00.000-04:00

I was putzing around on Rogers On Demand yesterday afternoon, and I came across a Danko Jones video.

Now I've heard a few tunes by Danko, but never really got into him. After listening to this tune "Baby Hates Me" I decided that the next band I start will sound like Danko.

His stage persona is all cock and swagger. But seeing him in interviews, he comes across as very meek.

He plays a lot of shows in Sweden where he's huge. Well, maybe not huge, but popular. More popular than he is in Canada at least.

Anyhow, do yourself a favour and go listen to some Danko.

Baby Hate Me
Rock Shit Hot

Well, let's try this again.

2006-12-15T22:49:00.000-04:00

I have an opinion on anything and everything. I'm going to use this here place to put them out there. I hope somebody will actually read it. Word.