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I remember back when we started

Posted in music, tagged , , , on August 9, 2011| 1 Comment »


“We sit in the car outside your house
I can feel the heat coming ’round
I go to put my arm around you
and you give me a look like I’m way out of bounds
well you let out one of your bored sighs
Well lately when I look into your eyes
I’m goin down”

The first verse of the 6th single off Bruce Springsteen mainstream calling card… Born in the USA.  The song is “I’m Going Down.”

Bruce Springsteen – “I’m Going Down”

Can you believe this classic tale of the standard relationship experience almost didn’t even make the cut for the album? Granted, it was between this and another Boss jammer, “Pink Cadillac” but still… such a beautiful song.

Born in the USA is such a big and polished record, but my fave songs off this disc are the more melancholy downer cuts.  “I’m Going Down” or “I’m On Fire.”

On the Boss song “No Surrender” he sings that “we learned more from a 3 minute record than we ever did in school”… and that sentiment plays out in the melodrama of “I’m Going Down.”  It gets all Tarantino where we start at the end of a relationship that is fizzling out then travel back to happier times, passion and excitement.  It is such a sad, modern tragedy.

***

Today I woke up and read the story that Vampire Weekend had to cancel their only US show this year.  The show is in the Hamptons and normally wouldn’t care but I clicked the link and read the story anyways.

I am kinda glad I did because I read that Vampire Weekend does a cover of “I’m Going Down.”

“It’s one of those classic songs that has very bright music and dark lyrics.  Coercing thousands of people into chanting those lyrics is pretty fun.” – Rostam Batmanglij, Vampire Weekend

I had to seek this bomber out… and wouldn’t you know it?  They laid this cover down for an iTunes session.

Vampire Weekend – “I’m Going Down”

The cover by no means brings out the same emotion to me as the original.  But I like it because it is sounds like a cute, “Vampire Weekend sings Bruce, adorable” kinda song.

I always enjoy VW’s style… and having them cover one of my favourite Born in the USA songs puts a smile on my face this fine Tuesday.

Go with yourself.

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She’s Not There…but I am.

Posted in life or something like it, music, tagged , , , , , , , on August 8, 2011| 1 Comment »


Had the strangest dream last night (yeah, this is a dream blog).

I have been reading tons of fantasy lately as I plug away through George RR Martin’s A Dance With Dragons.  Lots of sorcery and shape-shifters and things that go bump in the night.

Watched a bit of True Blood last night… lots of sorcery and shape-shifters and things that go bump in the night… and tits and vampires with perfect abs.

Last night I dreamed that I could change my appearance and I changed into an “Eric The Sexy Vampire” type dude to seduce Coral.

I tried to get her to cheat on me, with me… which she did.  It was sexy times.  When I had enough, I did the big reveal… “muhahahaha, it is I!  Evil Warlock-Husband Jeremy, not a sexy vampire.  I can’t believe you cheated on me!”

Coral said, “I didn’t cheat on you… it was you I had sex with…”

wah wah wah…. she’s always so much smarter than me, even in my dreams!

Evil Warlock-Husband Jeremy will continue to plot…

***

Check this rad jam out… it is from the True Blood episode “She’s Not There.”

The Zombies (who are amazing By-the-by) originally dropped this hot #2 single in 1964 and is a highlight of my 60s sets at Veneto Lounge.

When the credits rolled on True Blood and this song came up… I instantly recognized it and Coral was jiving on it too… but what is this cover?

It is Nick Cave and Neko Case… the song was commissioned for the show by the music supervisor who happens to be a radio DJ in LA on KCRW.

Neko Case + Nick Cave – “She’s Not There”

Go with yourself.

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the truth

Posted in music, tagged , on August 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »


“The truth/ is you could slit my throat/and with my one last grasping breath/ I’d apologize for bleeding on your shirt.”

and that my friends is how you write one of the greatest emo songs of all time.

Back in 2002, the kids from Long Island called Taking Back Sunday put out their record Tell All Your Friends.  A record that to me, might go down as a 2000s post-harcore (see: emo) masterpiece.

Taking Back Sunday – “You’re So Last Summer“

I have lots of stories about Taking Back Sunday. There was that religious music experience I had at Christina Lake.  And the time me and Matt saw them at Richard’s On Richards.

I can’t remember what summer it was, but we headed down for a snazzy quadruple bill of the hottest emo bands of the time, all headlined by The Used.  When we got there, there was a sign on the door that said 3 of the 4 bands couldn’t make it over the border.  FUCK.  We came to see TBS!

Turns out, the one band that got to Vancouver, was Taking Back Sunday.  They offered a refund at the door (sweet) then TBS played as the only band that night.  They played an “extended set” which was their whole first album.  and that was it.  One of the best shows I’ve been to (if I remember it right, maybe Matt can fill in the blanks).

The other neat story is how Brand New has two “dis” songs about TBS.  SWA?  people do that?  Well they used to….

Brand New – “Seventy Times 7“

Go with yourself.

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It is what it is

Posted in music, tagged , , on July 28, 2011| 1 Comment »


Humility is not a virtue of Kanye West or Britpop bands… the latest floppy haired four piece and angular guitar stabbers is a group called Viva Brother.

The buzz machine is operating at 100% for the latest foray into the lad-rock arena.  Viva Brother are from an area of England called Slough… famous for being dreary and the home of the original British Office.

The boys began performing in barn they had purchased and honing their skills.  They played a show in London, and one month later they had a record deal.  They grow up fast in the UK!

If their Spin article is an indicator, they could be the re-incarnated Oasis?  or maybe just brash 20-somethings that have been told their “special” by their parents too much.

Will they be remembered as “(…)as important as the Clash” hmmm… not from this debut record, but damn, the singles are catchy and the style is fun.  Damn you Viva Brother… your personal style is such a turn off, but your musical is so fun!

Viva Brother began life as “Brother” but right after the buzz machine rumbled to life to crown these guys the “next big thing” a folk group from Australia said, “pardon me… our band is called ‘Brother.'”

For awhile you’d read them as “Brother (uk)” but I guess they settled on throwing up a “Viva” in front.

Their style is fun, simple and straight forward.  I think the machine calls it “Gritpop?”  Sure.  I like Lad rock.

Lots of genres… yessh, sounds like four white kids playing rock & roll to me.

Viva Brother – “Darling Buds of May“


Boss Man John really like track one, side one as a single for us here at the Zone.  Have a listen to this.

Viva Brother – “New Year’s Day“

I hope the Spin article was a misinterpretation of their style…. because I love the music.  Super fun guitar pop rock.

Go with yourself.

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Steam Powered German Trench Zombies

Posted in music, tagged , , , , on July 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »


Coral and I watched Sucker Punch last night.  What a strange little film.  A misogynistic geek film where a hot blond in a short skirt almost gets raped a bunch and fights German Trench zombies with a machine gun and samurai sword.

It was fun to look at and the music was great.  The story was bizarre and weak and I felt like my IQ dropped a few points trying to rationalize why its cool that a girl in a school girl outfit its fighting Orcs in a machine gun spraying orgy… well I mean I get that its cool. The movie is basically porn… but PG 13 Porn?  C’mon man, at this point just show tits, no one is buying that a male comic book nerd is trying to make a “point” about female empowerment.  You like school girl outfits, rape scenarios, strippers, machine guns and historical anachronisms.

Fun fact: I kinda also liked the historical anachronisms.  I dug the World War 1 Steam Powered German Trench Zombies and bi-planes.  The dragon bit was savage as well.

Coral and I both agreed that the music was fun and added to the film.  I loved the cover songs!

A song featured a ton was this jammer.

Emily Browning – “Sweet Dream (Are Made of This)”

Zach Snyder (god bless him) dreamed up this fantasy and according to Wikipedia said he was trying for an Alice in Wonderland with Machine Guns vibe.

So this next song makes a whole lotta sense!

Emiliana Torrini – “White Rabbit”

The final song that really stood out from the film is a cover of the Pixies.  Lyrically the song touches on a lot of the themes of the film and is used to effect in the film.

Yoav and Emily Browning – “Where is My Mind”

Emily Browning also plays the star, Baby Doll.  neat.

Go with yourself.

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Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks

Posted in music, tagged , on July 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »


I had a Tom Petty weekend.

Growing up, I loved Tom Petty.  I remember being in like grade 6 and going on the weekly Elementary ski trip up to Cypress (yeah I grew up in a well-to-do-middle-class-suburb) and on the bus ride home, “Free Falling” would come on and the whole bus of grade 6 and 7 kids would belt it out!

One of my favourite records is Tom Petty’s movie soundtrack for 1996’s RomCom She’s The One.

I must have bought that record at a young age, because to this day the song “Walls” gets jammed in my head.

I was feeling the vibe of this song during a rather hectic and stressful weekend and I found the song to be very soothing.  When I punched it up, I was surprised to find I remembered all the words and I sang along at the top of my lungs in the Jeep.

Tom Petty – “Walls”

Reading about the record, I thought it was neat that he also includes a cover of Beck’s “Asshole.”  Nice.

Tom Petty – “Asshole”

Go with yourself.

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Stay Away

Posted in music, tagged , , , , , , , on July 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »


Woke up and did some push-ups and sit-ups this morning… yessh, that is hard work.  Reminds me of bootcamp, which, come to think of it, I should try again!

Yesterday, the internets were all aflutter over the Spin Magazine’s Nirvana tribute record, Newermind.

So on over I headed to Spin’s Facebook page… liked, then really liked this jam.

Charles Bradley – “Stay Away”

Download MP3 >> 10 Stay Away

Its a pretty dramatic take on the Nirvana grunge classic.  I really enjoyed the James Brown-esque interpretation.

Charles Bradley’s story is bizarre and crazy too… if the internet is to be believed.  You should read about his life path. The dude did a James Brown lounge show… of course he did.

Neat, there is also a Jessica Lea Mayfield, Amanda Palmer and Surfer Blood cover on there.  Track one, side one… Meat Puppets.

Go with yourself.

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Blood into Wine into Rock

Posted in music, tagged , on July 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »


All Hands on deck and turn it up to 11…. new Puscifer.

The new song we’re going to listen to is called “Man Overboard” from a record out on October 18th, Conditions of my Parole.

Is this song the next “The Mission?”  Probably not… but its still a slinky Maynard jam.  A little sinister, spooky, nervous energy that breaks free at points to soar upward.  Have a listen to this… women and children first.

Puscifer – “Man Overboard”

Go with yourself.

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Sound Capital

Posted in music, tagged , , on July 13, 2011| 1 Comment »


As I was talking about yesterday, a bunch of new records from SubPop showed up on the Zone music desk.

One of those discs was former Lake Cowichan native Dan Boeckner’s band Handsome Furs.

Now that his previous band Wolf Parade is on the hiatus train, this husband/wife duo scratches that itch nicely.  Song 8, “Cheap Music” sounds just like a Wolf Parade cut to me.

Check out the NSFW music video for the single “What About Us?”  Trippy good.

Go with yourself.

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Some people kiss, some people makeout

Posted in music, tagged , , on July 12, 2011| 1 Comment »


I am a romantic.  I listen to way too much Rascal Flatts, more than any red-blooded male should ever admit to.

Coral is into texting and the W network… I wanna sit in the rain and makeout.  Fucking weird shit like that.

Its probably why I gravitated to chillwave.  Its just a genre dedicated to the makeout jam.

FYI (this Rascal Flatts video is so terrible.  Terribly great!)

I was excited yesterday when Dave opened the Zone’s music mail and out tumbled Washed Out’s Within and Without.

I already have and love the ep Life of Leisure.  Then I collected what remixes popped up on Pitchfork and now… debut full length!  Savage.

Lots of songs to love on this record and I’ve only listened once, quietly on a shitty Zone stereo in an office.  Can’t wait to punch it up in the car on a sunny day (or rainy).

First listen, I’ve already started to lean on a couple great songs.  I like song three “Amor Fati,” the cello flourishes of number five “Far Away,” and this jam that was hinted at before as a free download.

Washed Out – “You and I”

Download MP3 >> Washed Out – You and I [ft. Caroline Polachek]

This is a lazy weekend record, or the soundtrack to a night that will end with romance.

Go with yourself.

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