As though I needed yet another reason to justify a complete lack of posts on this blog, I’ve now taking on co-hosting duties for the recently revived Zunior.com Podcast.

In its previous incarnation the podcast was done on a monthly basis by veteran Halifax-based host (and all around good guy), Steve Dinn. However, he’s found it a bit tough to fit in to his increasingly busy schedule these days, so the torch has been passed to myself and good friend Luther Mallory.

We’re going to aim for a bi-weekly schedule (I prefer fortnightly, as it’s far nerdier) and the plan is for an irreverent mix of indie music updates and tidbits bolstered by some great tunes. We’re unseasoned though, so at this point it’s mostly the two of us mocking each other between songs.

We published our first episode yesterday and you can check it out here.  Or just listen below:

Zunior.com Podcast - 201 - July 2009

A first look at the SappyFest 2009 lineup has just been posted at the Sappy Records website and I think I just peed myself a little in excitement. Take a look at it yourself and see if you don’t loose a little control:

http://sappyrecords.com/SappyFest_09/lineup.html

What a collection of bands! I missed the boat on submitting to perform this year, but I’m sure as hell going to try to make it to Sackville anyway this summer, as this lineup looks top notch (with more TBA).

Info for purchasing tickets can be found below:

http://sappyrecords.com/SappyFest_09/tickets.html

Here are some tunes from a couple of the lesser-knowns performing this year that I think ought to be better-knowns:

The Gertrudes - The Gertrudes (Myspace page)

Bloodsport -My Last Trip to Salem (Radio 3 page)

I’m pleased to announce that Wax Mannequin, WHK favourite and all around awesome character, has a new album in the can. It’s called Saxon and will be released on the Zunior Label at some point in July of this year.

I’ve had the pleasure to see a lot of these new songs live over the last year or so and I don’t mind saying I think it’s his strongest stuff yet. Don’t want to take my word for it? Fine, be that way. Zunior is offering up a free 2 song taste of Saxon right here to prove that very point.

Here’s one of the two, an excellent touring song called “End of Me”:

Wax Mannequin - End of Me

Grab both tunes Zunior is offering up free at Zunior and keep posted for more info on the release of Saxon.

Hot damn! This is just what the groove doctor ordered. Family, the latest album from Montreal’s Think About LIfe, is simply fantastic. It’s a wonderfully layered, upbeat and candy-coated work of sheer exuberance that makes you forget your dog is dead.

Frenetic, soulful, and infused with an ability to make you move, listening to Family is pretty much the most fun I can remember having in a while. Hell, if Graham Van Pelt wanted to leave Miracle Fortress behind for good in favour of doing Think About Life fulltime it wouldn’t bother me at all (and I like Miracle Fortress, so that’s saying something).  Suffice to say that I’ve been pumping this album pretty consistently since the moment I first popped it in the ol’ CD player and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

The highest accolade I can levy on Family is that it’s the sort of incredibly enjoyable album that makes me giddy to share it—to force it on everyone I know. I want to throw a party just to watch people have a good time and ask what it is they’re dancing to, or buy a car so I can be that douche-bag blaring his tunes at stop lights and gas stations. Don’t make me go that far. Do us all a favour and just go get it yourselves.

—

Think About Life - Johanna

Hear more at the Think About Life’s Myspace page or grab a digital copy of Family from Zunior.

Every time I want to throw in the blogging towel (which, as you can probably tell by the eradic posting schedule lately, is often) something comes up that I just can’t help but write about.  The most recent musical firecracker-up-my-butt is The CFL Sessions, the latest project from Henry Svec.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Henry’s (Peter Mansbridge and The CBCs, The Boy from ET). He’s one of the most charismatic live performers around (see here) and his song writing is top notch. In fact, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been salivating in anticipation of the release of The CFL Sessions since I heard him perform these songs last year at the Tranzac. That’s saying a lot, as I’m far from a sports nut and don’t know much about the Canadian Football League at all. These are just damn good tunes.

Of course, with Henry there’s always more to it than just individual songs. As the name would imply, this particular high-concept involves Canadian football. The official byline is as follows (from The CFL Sessions website):

“The original CFL Sessions were captured in the 1970s by the late Canadian folklorist Staunton R. Livingston. The tapes (of Canadian football players performing both original and traditional works) collected dust in the National Archives of Canada until the summer of 2008, when they were discovered by resident folklorist Henry Adam Svec. Now, with the help of ethnomusicologist and composer WL Altman, Svec has transposed the rough, deteriorating recordings into lush and contemporary orchestrations.“

Basically, these are meant as songs performed by CFL players, lost decades ago, but found and given new life by Svec. Whatever the case, they are astounding songs—“Song Written Upong Getting Cut By the Argos” has pretty much been a favourite of mine since seeing it live for the first time last year. They capture an honour and dedication to craft (football or otherwise) that is humble (it is Canadian football…), masculine and divine. All of this is exemplified by the wonderfully forthright admission in “On Discipline”:

“I’m a bad lover and I can’t dance, …but you should see me down in a three-point stance. I’m a terrifying machine. Some of you know what I mean.“

Perfectly unpretentious lyrics like that combined with Svec’s undeniably charming delivery combine to make some truly compelling moments throughout the album (“Linebacker Passing Through” is another prime example).

Another thing that adds to The CFL Sessions‘ overall capacity for repeated listens is that Svec went straight for a collection of songs this time out, unlike The Boy From ET (read about that concept here) which included a large spoken word component.  The stories on that album were hilarious and very entertaining, but made for a far less casual listen.  With The CFL Sessions you’re able to enjoy the excellent songs and impeccably convincing delivery simply as is or dig deeper into the intriguing overall concept.

Whatever the case I can’t help but count my blessings that people like Svec are out there pushing the conceptual envelope while at the same time delivering such an engaging listen. It’s either that or resent him for making me get off my lazy butt and write, but I’d prefer to choose the former and simply sing along.

Oh, did I mention the whole album is free? Get it here.

—

The CFL Sessions - Song Written Upon Getting Cut by the Argos

The CFL Sessions - On Discipline

The hard-hitting duo of Cambridge, Ontario’s HotKid have just released a brand new full-length called Someday Somehow.  Just in case 10 adrenaline-filled tracks weren’t enough to get your ears salivating (…or waxing, I guess?) the album’s price should ought to seal the deal…because it’s FREE!

That’s right, you can download the whole shebang for zero spacebucks from Zunior. Just click image below and get your fists ready for pumping:

Here’s a track from the album to get your tails wagging, but seriously, just go download the damn thing already:

HotKid - Burning Daylight

The band is also currently on an eastern tour with Andrew DeVillers and you can find dates at their Myspace page.

What albums do you take with you on a 3 week drive from Toronto to Newfoundland and everywhere in between? The answer: ALL OF THEM, as it’s a damn long time in a car. Thankfully, between a bevy of iPods, stowaway CDs stuffed in the car doors and those that we would accumulate on the way, there was more than enough music to go around.

Of course, just like how Entire Cities won me over on a drive to Windsor last year, a few albums clawed their way to the dashboard more memorably than others this time around. Here are the ones that stood out the most for whatever reason:

Al Tuck - Food for the Moon

The latest from this east coast troubadour extroardinaire was in heavy rotation in more than one of the vehicles in our convoy. Of course, there’s good reason for that, as it’s an excellent addition to an already fine catalogue. Al Tuck’s croon is soothing music to highway bound ears.

Al Tuck - Every Red Road

Shotgun Jimmie - Still Jimmie

The sophomore solo effort from this Sackville resident is nothing short of a triumph. Full of endearing lyrics and infectious melodies, Shotgun Jimmie is cementing his status as one of the best songwriters around (not to mention an all-around good dude). It’s no wonder this album was the soundtrack to a debaucherous night of hanging-out just outside of St. John’s, as it really is solid from start to finish.

Shotgun Jimmie - Mind Crumb

Jon-Rae and the River - Knows what You Need

This album has been kicking around for a few years now (released by Jon-Rae and The River in 2006), but I’ve never really given it the attention or love that it deserves. Consider this my pennance, as Knows What You Need is a raucous and spirited hootenanny like no other. Unabashedly frantic and overtly sexual, this album made the perfect soundtrack to a wild dance-party in Sackville.

Jon-Rae and The River - Nothing to Do

Add to that a smattering of Paul Simon, a whole lot of Chad VanGaalen and a few oddballs like King Biscuit Boy and you’ve got the makings for a great soundtrack to an even better trip.

Wow. It’s been over three months since my last post. I swear I only planned on taking a couple weeks off in the new year, but time flies and all that.  The good news is that I’ve been productive in my absence, as I finally got off my butt and recorded an album of my very own!

It’s under the name Dog Is Blue and is called …Makes Ghost Noises. I wasn’t going to post about it, as it seemed cheesy to write about my own album, but I saw Jen and Colin at The Burning Hell show at the Horseshoe tonight and they seemed to think I should.

How about this? As a compromise I’ll just tell you that making this album is why I haven’t been posting (see, directly blog related, no self-promotion) and You can get more details about it from this blog instead. Suffice to say that this is the reason WHK has been languishing in 2009 (and will continue to do so as I’m about to leave for most of April on a tour with Jenny Omnichord).

—

Here are some more links for those of you that are curious:

http://www.dogisblue.com

http://www.myspace.com/dogisblue

And here’s a track from the album for your listening pleasure (hopefully):

Dog Is Blue - Grandma

All the best!

Here we are folks: I’ve finally gotten off my festively-enlarged ass (seriously, between Mom’s holiday treats and Dad’s beer I gained about 8 pounds) and finished my top albums of 2008. As per usual, these are all Canadian releases, as that’s where the ground is closest to my ears.

Here they are roughly arranged in descending order (very roughly):

The Olympic Symphonium - More in Sorrow Than in Anger (Forward Music Group)

I was a huge supporter of The Olympic Symphonium’s 2007 debut, Chapter 1, so it’s no surprise that I’m all over the follow up. Warm and thoughtful, More in Sorrow Than in Anger is a somber, but engaging album brimming with grace.

The Olympc Symphonium - Intentions Alone

Fall Horsie - Devil(e)durge (Youth Club)

Having been a fan of Fall Horsie’s sparse 2007 debut, From the Seam of Doors, a Cone of Light, I was taken a back by the full and largely piano based sound of this sophomore effort. Of course, that’s not a bad thing at all and I quickly began to appreciate the richer production of Devil(e)durge, not to mention its theatrical and emoted nature.

Fall Horsie - The Devil’s Performance

Contrived - Blank, Blank, Blank (Hand Drawn Dracula)

Lush and sprawling, but with hooks in all the right places, this third release from Contrived (made up of members of both Holy Fuck and Wintersleep) is an engaging listen from start to finish that seamlessly blends pop/rock sensibilities with rich instrumental lanscapes.

Contrived - Celebrate

Tricot Machine - Tricot Machine (Grosse Boite)

“Lighthearted and fun, with witty and endearing lyrics Tricot Machine’s piano driven folk-pop is just what I needed to get my French on. In fact, as if a tuneful album full of addictive songs like “L’ours” (which won the ECHO songwriting prize) and “Pas Fait en Chocolat” wasn’t enough, Tricot Machine’s comprehensive liner notes actually include the chords required to play the songs on the album as well (previously posted here)!”

Tricot Machine - Super Ordinaire

Sleepless Nights - Turn Into Vapour (Forward Music Group)

“when it comes to Turn Into Vapour I have to admit that I was sold immediately upon having heard the first two tracks. What can I say, the one-two punch of the bouncy romp “Allyson Got Robbed” and the riff-tastic “Got Caught” (previously featured here) gives you everything you need to know to get on board with this release: the songs are upbeat and well-crafted, the backup vocals are endearing, and the guitar is explosive and melodic (all of which can be heard on “All Andrews Friends”)—that’s a pretty damn good formula for tuneful indie rock success in my book (previously posted here).”

Sleepless Nights - Allyson Got Robbed

The Bicycles - Oh No, It’s Love (Fuzzy Logic)

“Listening to Oh No, It’s Love is the equivalent of having your ears attend the biggest party of the year—it’s frantic, fun and ridiculously intoxicating. Just when you think you’ve got one song’s awesome melody in your head the next one is upon you and wreaking mental havoc. Of course, the tunes aren’t just quick throwaways. They each represent a diverse and expertly crafted dose of melodic pop and no two of which are exactly alike (previously posted here).”

The Bicycles - Won’t She Be Surprised

Castlemusic - You Can’t Take Anyone (Blue Fog)

Warm, soothing and intimate, this album from Toronto’s Jennifer Castle is pure sobriety of thought.  While other bands are heralded for their ability to intoxicate with upbeat melodies and send your consciousness into a fit, Castlemusic’s You Can’t Take Anyone, with its sparse arrangements and confidently understated vocals, is the embodiment of an album that should be lauded for the exact opposite: the humbling ability to keep you grounded in appreciation.

Castlemusic - We Always Change

Forest City Lovers - Haunting Moon Sinking (Out of This Spark)

Blissful and moving, the sophomore album from Toronto’s Forest City Lovers can just as easily lull you into vegetative satisfaction as it can invigorate. A lazy river at one bend and a driving current at another, the destination in either case the same: hands down appreciation for the effortless and intoxicating vocals, carried by charming and perfectly tempered arrangements.

Forest City Lovers - Orphans

Culture Reject - Culture Reject (White Whale)

“Lush, layered and hypnotizing, this self-titled debut from Toronto’s Culture Reject had me thinking big things from the very first time I pressed play. Think Plants & Animals meets Apostle of Hustle, but without having to try so hard (previously posted here).”

Culture Reject - Fireflies Are Fading

FemBots - Calling Out (Weewerk)

Admittedly, I wasn’t immediately struck by Calling Out, the fourth full-length from FemBots. However, compelled by my fondness for their earlier albums and spurred by fantastic live performances, when I finally came around it hit like a ton of bricks. Seductive and raucous, full of trademark unorthodox instrumentation and sing-alongs, and bleeding an amalgamation of blues and roots rock, this is a damn sexy album.

Fembots - Good Days

Snailhouse - LIes on the Prize (Unfamiliar)

I knew from the first listen that Lies on the Prize was good, but I’m ashamed to say that it took a few months for just how good it actually is to sink in. That latency is likely due to the trademark humility inherent in all Snailhouse releases. His music is just so effortless that it doesn’t have to demand attention—good music for good music’s sake—as though it’s of no consequence who listens. Unlike the attention starved, in your face cries for adulation of pop/rock, Lies on the Prize is full of the sort of laid-back, graceful and undemanding songs that you can imagine still thriving when your back is turned.

Snailhouse - (Not) Superstitious

Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is a Mouth (Independent)

The simplest testament to the greatness of Bruce Peninsula’s debut full-length that I can offer is the fact that it has made it on to this list after only being released (digitally) a few weeks go. Rife with anthemic choir-folk, A Mountain Is a Mouth manages to be undeniably epic, while still remaining humbly down to Earth.  Add to that a driving sense of urgency and the result is simply invigorating.

Bruce Peninsula - Steamroller

The Violet Archers - Sunshine At Night (Zunior)

I missed out on The Violet Archers debut, but was all over Sunshine At Night when it came out. In fact, at one point I had listened to the title track so many times that I had to take a breather.  In the end Sunshine At Night became the audio equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet, as I gorged myself until sick, but couldn’t help going back for more.  With each trip I’ve become further and further incensed by the album’s subtle and sweet dynamic. This is endearing folk-pop at its finest: blissfully effortless and undeniably tuneful.

The Violet Archers - Listening

Plants & Animals - Parc Avenue (Secret City)

My pick for the 2008 Polaris Prize upon seeing the short list (for what it’s worth), the debut full-length from Montreal’s Plants & Animals was the first album in a long time to give me tingles on first listen. It’s a wonderfully diverse blend of jam and roots rock that is just as content to jam-out for a while as it is to intoxicate with irresistible melodies (of which there are many).

Plants & Animals - Faerie Dance

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns (Independent)

Hot damn this album is fantastic! Diverse and unorthodox, yet accessible and intoxicating, The Rural Alberta Advantage have crafted an enviable debut of indie folk/pop that is tireless and far too easy to recommend.  Simple as that.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - The Air

Entire Cities - Deep River (Independent)

“Deep River is the epitome of energy and rootsy charm. I can play this album ad nauseum without a single complaint (previously posted here).”

That pretty much sums it up. Deep River has easily been among my top listened-to albums of the year which is a simple testament to how enjoyable it is from start to finish. Loose and raw at times while endearing and sweet at others, Entire Cities have made one hell of a debut.

Entire Cities - Coffee

Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (Flemish Eye)

No surprises here, as Chad VanGaalen’s latest is getting the nod all over the place. Of course, that’s not so much a reflection of the blog hive-mind as it is that Soft Airplane is just damn good.  There’s definitely a particular aesthetic to VanGaalen’s tunes, as they are often fascinatingly morbid and eerie, but are usually also firmly planted in upbeat melodies and quirkily uplifting instrumentation.  Life and death, horror and science-fiction all collide at every turn and on Soft Airplane those dynamics are pushed even further. Diverse and challenging, but always enjoyable, this is the sort of album that makes me proud to stand up for Canadian music when onlookers berate our Celines, Avrils and Nickelbacks.

Chad VanGaalen - City of Electric Light

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Once again, most of these (all but The RAA, in fact) are available from Zunior.com, so show some support for these excellent Canadian bands.

There you have it, my top Canadian albums of the year. On that note, I’m off to a farmhouse near Kingston for New Year’s Eve, so enjoy giving 2008 it’s severance package and remember to get a good breakfast on January 1st. There’s nothing worse than starting the new year with a bad meal.

Sweet peanuts, 2008 is running out fast! I’ve only got a couple of days to get the rest of my lists in order before the year is in the books. In the spirit of pressing on, here are my favourite EPs of the last twelve months. 

Initially a much larger list, I scaled it back to my top 5 (not really intended to be in a particular order, but turns out its a good indication of my favourites from top to bottom).  Looking at it now I realize these are all similarly upbeat, hook-laden doses of indie pop, so I’ll add a few other recommendations at the end to diversify my portfolio slightly.

As for the top 5, I’ve pretty much written about all of these at length before, but here’s a brief recap of each:

Boxer the Horse - The Late Show

“Simply put, with its six diverse tracks The Late Show exhibits more potential and vivacious know-how than most bands can fathom.  Sure, there are comparisons to be made—The Kinks and Bob Dylan come to mind immediately for me—but that’s not to say Boxer the Horse are lacking originality. In fact, any influences are clearly just a jumping off point, as The Late Show never pigeonholes itself in one style. (previously posted here)”

Boxer the Horse - Jackson Leftfield

Ruby Coast - Projectable Collections

The last time I wrote about Ruby Coast at length it was based on their hastily recorded, yet highly enjoyable demo EP. The boys have since re-recorded a number of those tunes for a more proper go around by way of the Projectable Collections EP and my previous wholehearted recommendation is unwavering. 

Upbeat, charismatic and exuberant, Ruby Coast can do no wrong. 

Ruby Coast - More than Television

The Magic - The Magic EP

The Magic’s EP is probably the least like anything else on this list. Sure, it’s just as upbeat and vivacious as the rest, but there’s an aged quality about it that sets the Guelph band apart—what some would call an old soul, I suppose. In any case, the songs are diverse, catchy and very well crafted.

The Magic - No Sound

Hooded Fang - Hooded Fang EP

“There isn’t enough hyperbole available for me to lavish on this EP. Effervescent, uplifting and infectious, Hooded Fang prove themselves to be a new musical collective definitely worth keeping tabs on. There’s an effortless quality to songs like “The Pageant” that you just can’t undervalue. Add to that the casual interplay between male and female vocalists on “Land of Giants” and the undeniably intoxicating swagger of “Fall Leaves” and there’s nothing here not to like. In fact, probably the highest praise I can give the EP is that it simply sounds like people having fun (previously posted here).”

Hooded Fang - Land of Giants

Incidentally, I’m not really sure how the above track was left off my favourite songs of 2008 mixtapes. A thousand kicks to my own butt for that gaff. 

Bells Clanging - The Law of Averages

“…Bells Clanging have an innate ability to craft excellent and compelling melodies. The result is an EP free of misteps. Whether it’s the sugary-sweetness of the excellent title track, the arpeggiated intensity of “Morning Episode” or the slowed-down ease of “Little Star” and “Undone” (the latter of which is currently envelloping me with its seductive rhythm), The Law of Averages is a must listen (previously posted here).”

Bells Clanging - Even Stars Burn Out

—

Here’s a quick take on some runners up:

Brasstronaut - Old World Lies EP - Lengthy, complex and highly rewarding jazz-pop.

Jenny Omnichord - Pregnancy ‘P - Wonderfully endearing and under-polished tunes with irresistible melodies. 

J’envoie - J’envoie - Lavish and moving instrumentals (read more here).

The Weather Station - East - Haunting and eerie roots-folk.

The Superfantastics - Choose Your Destination - Uplifting, fun and undeniably charming indie pop (read more here).

Just about all of the above EPs are available for download at Zunior.com, so give them a try, as they’ll only cost a few dollars and these are all new(ish) bands that need your support!