My latest collection of 45s I picked up over the weekend. This time from Ditch Records in downtown Victoria.
It begins with the contemporary Mumford & Sons. The song “Little Lion Man” has taken on new meaning to me as of late and seeing it at Ditch was kismet so i had to have it. The b-side might be of interest to you major fans as its not on their album and could be new to you.
Then we blast off to the 60s. I bought “The Nana Song” by The Scorpions for my nana… but he really is singing “na-na” not about Nana. Oh well, groovy beat band of the 60s, and the song sounds great.
More beat band action from The Creation, then The Zombies who I have a major lust for as of late. The set ends with some American doo-wop of the 60s in Randy and the Rainbows and then a weird, rare cut from UK’s female vocal group the Four Pennies. The song “My Block” doesn’t appear to have ever been a single. weird.
I hope you enjoy the set. Thank you for making the time to listen to music.
Dave, Christi and Me somewhere in Nevada. photo: chrstwzrd
While driving around the deserts of Nevada, the HIGH desert, where it is fucking cold as fuck. Fuck. We saw lots of a gas stations that we fondly called Dinosaur Gas. We started looking for them and only filling up there. When we’d roll through some town that had a population far lower than its elevation, Christi Wizard would point and shout, “Dinosaur Gas!” And we’d look at the gas gage of the Chevy Cruze and stop or not. Sometimes we would just stop and take a picture!
Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or lack of food… or both, but we came up with a pretty hilarious cartoon for Dinosaur Gas (narrated by actor Paul Walker). I think the Wizard has it on her “to do list.”
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Ian White is rumoured to be heading to Vancity to become a Canuck? hmmm.
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In other news…
I got a great message the other night from Dustin McLean. This Victoria artist is in the band The Wicks.
Their song “Geese” has a superbly pleasant alt-country vibe going on. I almost think about Leeroy Stagger a bit when I hear it… and then wonder, Leeroy was a bit ahead of the curve with his brand of music. Its so hot right now and I remember seeing Leeroy Stagger at Steamers in like 2003?
I think The Wicks will be your new favourite band if you like a serving of fibre with your rock & roll.
“Whenever I think of Canada…. I just think of more Amurika. ” – some guy from Texas at the Blackjack table
A collection of songs that I am feeling right now. Some inspired by a recent road-trip of the western Untied States (minus the Green Day) some are just inspired.
I hope you love listening as much as I enjoy presenting them for you.
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DJ Notes
01) Beach Boys – “God Only Knows” could this be the greatest song of all time?
02) Geoff Lundstrom – “Sail” you already know the story of this fine AWOLNATION cover.
03) Local Natives – “Airplanes”
04) Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill” we jammed this song out tons on our trip through the Western US last week.
05)Bear in heaven – “Wholehearted Mess”
06) Geographer – “Original Sin”
07) The Zombies – “She’s Not There”
08) Up Up Down Down – “Boise” one of my all time favourite bands singing a less than flattering song about the Capital of Idaho. i totally went there, Christi Wizard bought TWO jugs of wine! Truth.
09) Destroyer – “Poor In Love”
10) R.E.M. – “I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” that title sums out how I’ve been feeling lately.
Thoughts or feedback, you know where to leave a comment.
It is nice to not be in Wells. Truth. And I missed my kid more than I thought I might. I hope you missed my blog at least a little bit?
Where was I? Last week, David Eleanor, Christi Wizard and I took off to Las Vegas for a radio/Chevy Cruze adventure. If you’re into checking out, hit The Zone dot FM. I do hope to blog some stories on here but right now, I am more interested in music.
Because… music soothes even the savage beast. And I could use some of that.
When I got back early yesterday morning, there were many correspondents to correspond with. One was an email from my ganger Jason Cook sharing with me Geoff Lundstrom’s cover of AWOLNATION‘s “Sail.”
If you love that cut you gotta check this out. If cover songs are not your style, move along.
Geoff and Jason perform as Adults on Thursday nights at theCanoe Brewpub. My man Josh heard the song the other day and implored me to check it out… so just before we were off to Vegas, Dave and I popped in and were impressed with Geoff’s interpretation.
The song takes on a whole different and sadder direction when the party beats and anthemic driving bass is removed. What we’re left with is a very mellon collie bluesy tune that boils the song down to some very humbling and basic truths. There is a lot of remorse and regret permeating throughout the song.
Jason and the rest of Geoff’s band, continue to push the song forward with the drive of the original, but where the original has the bass as the central story, the insecurity of the character shines to wrap you in his misery.
And of course, maybe it sucks and I’m an idiot or perhaps I just heard the song in the right frame of mind and it grabbed my ears.
Love your thoughts.
I have a mixtape welling up in me, might bubble out tonight if I find the energy, look for that if you care.
I hate the words “soft rock.” Its like, if you identify with that kind of music, I don’t want to be your friend. It reminds me of being 19 or 20 years old and working at QMFM in Vancouver and not getting it.
Turns out they do (QMFM crushes in Vancouver radio ratings)… but the whole idea of “soft” and “rock” being two words, though maybe accurate, together to brand something seems weird and not right. On a fundamental level!
So what is up Destroyer? You’re new record Kaputt is getting a ton of positive hype and is described as soft rock. And yeah, honest moment, I didn’t buy the hype at all based on that description alone.
Pitchfork“Best New Music” ‘d the record. That is something right? PopMatters was a little more critical giving it a strong 6 out of 10.
My man Simon was talking about how good the record was last week at Veneto Lounge. Its funny, not until after a trusted friend says, “yeah, for real,” did I even think to check it out.
I began by downloading the free download offered up at Pitchfork.
First listen… while doing other internet trolling… it was pleasant. You know, like soft rock.
Second listen… this is too much, too much.
Third listen, OK I like the album cover (I’m a sucker) so I bought the record Kaputt.
Admittedly, it was a hard for me to get into right away. It wasn’t till I hit the middle-ish and songs like “Savage Night…,” “Suicide Note…,” “Poor In Love,” and “Kaputt,” that i started to gel on the record a bit.
The disc is crazy pleasant… and can be too much for some (it was for me at times… saxophone fills? c’mon man!). This record reminds of eating too much Koala Kandy Kones at work. So yummy, so upset belly.
The final cut is an older song that he had released then included on Kaputt, “Bay of Pigs.” There are some interesting tones and audio-weirdness that feel like a massage on all the little hairs that grow in my ears.
If I had to give it a score, I might split the difference between Pitchfork’s glowing 9 and PopMatter’s ho-hum 6. Like a 7 or 7.5. Its a cool record, but it won’t be for everyone.
I am not too sad in that… well the band hasn’t been functioning lately. It was like a married couple that gets separated. We’ve seen this coming… and now the paper just got served and its official. Sad, but we’re glad they’re both happy now.
I like that they ended it, because it helps preserve the great amount of art they have created before. They can’t become a parody of themselves. PLUS, now we have a future “Oh My GAWD!” reunion show for Coachella to think about.
The White Stripes – “Fell In Love With a Girl”
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I need to cut my nails. I hate, HATE, H A T E typing with nails. gross.
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So I am pretty much obsessed with both the desert and the arctic.
If there is a documentary on my holy trinity of HD channels of Discovery World, Nation Geographic or Oasis on either hot or cold climates… I HAVE to watch it.
Saharan Africa… well I have my night planned out. I know pathetic, I also have four channels of porn, but I’d rather hear about Timbuktu or Berber peoples.
The other day, there was a show about Hammerfest, Norway. The northern most “city” in the world.
Such an adorable city. If Canadian northern communities looked more like this and less like … uh, well less… I’d be living in Nunavut.
To be fair, there is a $10 BILLION dollar natural gas plant pumping $90 million dollars into the local economy every year… so, yeah, they can afford to pave a few streets and open a few pubs.
But I keep reading about all the potential of the Canadian North and how there *could* be riches buried beneath the ice or sea bed, but it sure ain’t no Hammerfest.
I may never make it to Hammerfest, but I do hope to one day get a chance to explore the Canadian Arctic. There is a radio station in Iqaluit. neat.
I don’t have too much of a story to relate to you about Fleet Foxes. Their music is pretty.
I was a little late to the game when their self-titled 2008 record came out. they were an example of me reading too much hype before actually hitting play. So then I get all, “meh… I don’t even care.” and put off listening to the record for a bit.
But then I really liked the medieval cover art and wanted the record for my collection.
Occasionally my cute wife does super-duper sweet things for me and she bought me the record!
The album grew on me heavy and now I love Fleet Foxes. Happy music.
They will be in Vancouver to perform at the Vogue Theatre on April 30th. I can tell that their live show will be one where you get wrapped up in the beautiful harmonies and ambiance. Maybe not too different from Band of Horses.
Their new record is out May 3rd (my brother’s birthday!) and I found an MP3 for you if you care to listen.
Its been a few days since I’ve been back from Vancouver. I had a 24 hour adventure in the Terminal City to check out one of my all-time favourite bands, Interpol.
The show was pretty magical because I love their music… but especially the first two records (like everyone, I guess). The set was heavy on most of the best from Turn on… and Antics. The show also featured lots off the critically underwhelming Interpol. And was exceptionally light on Our Love to Admire. In fact, I think they just jammed out “Rest My Chemistry.” Which is cool as I personally think that song is the stand out from the record.
Interpol – “Rest My Chemistry”
There was not much of any “show” in the sense of lasers, devil worship, girls flashing their tits. Just four guys on stage in suits sounded great. The Orpheum Theater made the sound of their songs sparkle. A great audio environment. It didn’t hurt that @Nucksgrl got us 6th row! It definitely was a fan’s show.
I loved the song selection. I am weakest on their new music so it was great that they paced the new songs in with so many great “hits” from the beloved first two albums.
Interpol has been a favourite band of mine for a number of years and this show helped build on the sonic lust. Good times.
I was up late reading about the ancient Christian philosopher St. Augustine.
Augustine of Hippo grew up in North Africa where Algeria is now and lived during the actual last days of the Western Roman Empire.
Like many people of the Dark Ages (or Early Middle Ages), he believed that they were in fact living in the time of Apocalypse.
And like college kids today, he also went off to college where he got up to (or lied about) all sorts of sex. And he’s the patron Saint of Brewers… of course you are Augustine.
Since the times of antiquity, young gentlemen have gone off to college, had sex and believed that their generation would be it. The end.
Fast forward a whole bunch college toga parties (some actual toga parties, others ironic) to the 60s and whole other generation believing that this will be it. War, civil unrest, Woodstock.
Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone magazine in 1995 that their 60s jam, “Gimme Shelter” wrapped all these ideas up in a song. “It’s Apocalypse.”
I am not too down with whole dubstep phenomenon so I wouldn’t be able to tell you if low bass warble is any better or worse then the next glitched out production… but I did enjoy the Stone’s hooks thrown into the mix.
I check out some comments on the youtube view and not surprisingly, many people thought the remix was an abomination. You can check it out for yourself… if you dare! muhahahahahaha
Rolling Stones – “Gimmie Shelter” (Zed’s Dead Remix)
I am pretty liberal on my view of a remix or cover. Remixes or covers don’t go back in time and erase the old classic. They always have the ability to generate excitement for the original and enable discussion and reflection.
I enjoy this song for what it is… dubstep but with the Stones. In fact, that is why I like. If I had to be at a dubstep party, I might as well get some Stones in there. I could also imagine this cut being a real banger on the dancefloor.
Mick says the song was created in a time of unrest and uncertainty. Nothing amplifies that feeling of dred more than the post-industrial noise of dubstep.
I an appreciate the challenge of trying to merge the two conflicting styles into a cohesive song. For the most part I think it works alright. It does feel a bit like the Rolling Stones vocal track floats over a dubstep base. The “gun click” sound was a little heavy fisted for my personal taste as well.
One of the best parts of Gimmie Shelter is the end when Mick sings, “Love sister… its just a kiss away, its just a kiss away.” But I don’t recall hearing that in the Zed’s Dead version. Maybe that was intentional in their reinterpretation or maybe they didn’t fully appreciate the context of the original? I’ll hope for the first.
Either way… if “Gimmie Shelter” was Apocalypse before, its Armageddon now.
My latest collection of 45s I picked up over the weekend. This time from Ditch Records in downtown Victoria.
The Morning After 