Generally when I read or hear about some hipster jam and its not reviewed or mentioned on Pitchfork, my bullshit meter goes off.
One of two things must be true about this song:
01) Its a corporate construct like Paramore or Taco Bell “Beef”
02) Its too enjoyable and accessible for the “Dictators of Taste” in Chicago.
The story is bizarre and wonderful and strange.
LA scenesters record one ice-cool song. Share it for free on their website. One friend tells another down the grapevine and presto-bingo-bango, internet phenoms.
Foster the People‘s “Pumped Up Kicks” reverberated around the internet tubes this past summer and with a discography that includes… uhh, “Pumped Up Kicks” they are now off to do a little tour of Australia and will be at this year’s Coachella.
What’s going on? Is the song really that good? I dunno… lets have a listen.
The LA Times had all sorts of positives to say about the song, I mean, if you think sounding like Phoenix or Empire of the Sun is a positive.
I’ve listened to the song a half-dozen times at my desk today. I like it. Is it changing me world? not really… so maybe I don’t fully appreciate or understand why this particular track got touched by the fickle hand of the viral internet. But I will download the the free MP3 and include it in my set at Veneto for sure.
Go with yourself.
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Years ago now… maybe 2004 or 2005 or 2006? Wow, James Sutton (the Zone’s music director) came across a song from a Vancouver band called Northern Alliance or NA.
The song was called “Take Me Higher” and we played it a bit on the radio here and like tons of feature songs before and after, it was played and drifted away into obscurity.
The funny thing about this song is that it still gets requested from time to time on the radio despite the fact the band was a story of never was.
What happened to Northern Alliance?
Searching the internet and there is a smattering of circa 2005 websites that are big on promises. A band full of bravado and breaking the status quo and how we’re all Sheeple but they have the answer to break the cycle and blah blah. One website, their shtick is to end every paragraph with “f*** Northern Alliance.”
I always find it adorable when counter-culture types edit themselves.
Its really too bad, they had an awesome song that I still remember and listen to and is still remembered by some Zoners to this day.
The song “Take Me Higher” is a pretty impressive Nu-metal rap/rock dealio. remind me of Linkin Park if I took them seriously (maybe how Linkin Park sounded when they were hungry).
Its a song about cogging your way through the day, through life. A great anthem for the people out there maintaining life but wanting a little more.
Musically, its not changing your world. Rap verse, soaring chorus, huge hooks… back to rap and repeat. But where I like this song compared to say something from most early 2000 nu-metal bands is that I believe the hardship from the singer. Its just hard to take the angst from millionaire douche-bags. But from Vancouver skids, its real.
Time and reflection add to the drama of the song. We now know they had designs on rock stardom to escape the deary madness of life… and it failed ( that I know of, perhaps their lives are in good places, and I hope they are).
This song is full of bravado and optimism. Their website screams the same. But we, the world of 2005-ish… weren’t buying it. And so fade to black on the chapter of music that was NA (METAPHORS!).
Who knows, maybe the band will google themselves and find my blog and smile that someone remembers their music. They’ll drop me line, let me know they’re still grinding and rhyming. Until then, download this old song that I think me and James ripped off MySpace many moons ago.
She talked about how when she was young, her life maybe wasn’t so much different, or better… but uncertain. The uncertainty is what made it all bearable I guess? I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but that was the vibe I took from it.
Funny, though… you can’t go back in time… and kids take your uncertainty from you, but at the same time, they also give you back a lot of that wonder. Mine does for me at least.
I love watching cartoon movies with Madelyn and the cartoons blow her mind. I watch way more cartoons now than I ever did when I smoked pot. So that has to be something right?
We watched Astro Boy last night (and its on again this morning with our breakfast while I blog). The film is a silly computer animation based on the original Japanese Anime from the 50s. Nothing too special for a grown up but as a music nerd my ears perked up during the only scene where there is an actual pop song. The rest of the movie is a score, but the scene where they paint the ZOG features an old song that I so recognize.
I thought maybe David Eleanor punched it up on the Modern Rock Inbox… but it turns out that I probably heard it during a TV commercial.
Supergrass – “Alright”
What a cool song. About being 13 or 14 and discovering girls and beer for the first time. Hey Supergrass, I like girls and beer too.
I can’t believe I didn’t remember this song from 1995. It apparently was a number 1 hit in both the UK and North America. Supergrass’ only one. Neat.
The boys don’t like it being called an anthem… but uh… its pretty anthemic? I’ll be singing it all day hoping for a little uncertainty.
I vaguely remember when my old man bought our first CD player.
I think it was a Boxing day maybe? or around Boxing Day… part of me feels like it was winter.
We drove out to the A&B sound in Burnaby. This was before there an A&B Sound everywhere and obviously before the chain closed down.
If I remember, he bought the player and then needed a CD so he bought an Elton John Box-set that had four discs of hits. I listened to a lot of “Crocodile Rock” as a young’n. I don’t know what it cost, but I think it was pretty expensive for the late 80s or early 90s. I can’t really remember, its a bit of hazzy remembrance.
I read today that Sony is closing one of their last two CD plants in America. Its a warehouse in New Jersey that employs about 300 people. It seems most the people that work there know whats up. They stopped making Blu-Ray discs last year and one worker said his own daughter steals music off the internet despite the fact the roof over head and food in her belly comes from him pressing CDs.
Then I read some facts about the CD.
Invented in 1979. Which makes it older than me… which means… I’ll be discontinued soon. sad face. Do not disassemble.
The first test pressing happened in Germany. It was Richard Strauss‘ “Eine Alpinsinfonie.”
The first public demonstration happened on BBC television and featured the Bee Gees 1981 record Living Eyes.
The first record to be pressed in the manufacturing plant in 1982 was ABBA’sThe Visitors. The first CD album to be released for sale was Billy Joel’s52nd Street.
By 1983 you could buy a CD player in America and there were 16 titles (all from CBS Records) you could buy to play in it.
The first record to sell 1-million compact discs was Dire Straight‘s 1985 classic Brothers In Arms. Wait a minute, that song “Money For Nothing” says “faggot” a bunch, maybe I need to edit history to make a more politically correct record the 1st ever?
First artist to release their entire catalog on Cd was Mr. David Bowie when he took all 15 of his albums and 4 best of’s… and pressed them also in 1985.
First CDs I bougth with my own money were… Metallica’s…And Justice for All, Alice in Chains s/t and Seven Mary Three. I think it cost me close to $80 and was almost all of one of my first paycheques from the job I got that summer. making sandwiches at Subway in the summer of ’96.
Then I bought a lot of CDs. I do remember my Dad getting mad at me for wasting my paycheques on CDs. What did I need so many for? So I need to find an excuse for having so many… so I became a DJ.
A girl called up the Zone today during the Picks @ 6 to request the January Band of the Month, On Call Heroes.
The song “That Guy” (mp3) is a neat song. Its about d-bags that end up with the hot girl. A story all us nice guys who finish last can relate too.
And of course… do they? What’s a “hot girl” and why are the nice guys being so defeatist… maybe a little confidence and the pole would get waxed? but yeah… that’s another debate.
Lets pretend then, that yes, the nice guy gets dumped on and the hottie is running around with the dude that has a neck tattoo.
Its a popular theme in movies, books, TV and of course music.
On Call Heroes the latest in a fine line of songs wondering aloud and with melody… “WTF hot girl, why do you waste your time with Johnny Daterape… I mean his last name is daterape, c’mon man”
Lots of 90s punk rocker dwelt on the subject… I am thinking songs by The Offspring (Self Esteem maybe) or Blink 182 (Dammit) or Green Day (Nice Guys Finish Last).
Green Day – “Nice Guys Finish Last”
My favourite jam is a little ditty by a gentleman that recorded music under the moniker The Mr. T Experience. His 1993 song “Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend” nails it down perfectly. If you’re currently suffering through virginitis, this shit is the remedy for the lonely night (and the internet I guess).
The Mr. T Experience – “Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend”
“Even Hitler had a girlfriend, who he could always call. Someone to be there despite of all his faults. Hitler was the worst guy ever, despised and reviled… even Hitler had a girlfriend, why can’t I?”
Holy shit, if that doesn’t make your loneliness worse, nothing will. Hitler man…Hitler was getting laid. And you gotta think that back then, some German bureaucrat was pushing pencils in Nazi HQ thinking to himself… “WTF, douche bag gets the chicks. Every time, every time.”
This song is pretty magical… but I didn’t hear the MTX version… no this song was made popular (to me) at CiTR by a one Mr. Plow.
One of (if not) the first Mr. Plow records is a home burned creation called Shut Your Legs and Open Your Ears. 6 songs recorded in Vancouver circa 2000. Track 6 is a cover called “Even Hitler…” and 20 year old Jeremy’s mind leaked out through my ears after hearing it. The song was a hot rotation on the old Morning After Show. I would end up becoming half decent friends with Plow for a few years in Burncouver (or was it Vanaby?).
Mr. Plow – “Even Hitler…”
Plow introduced me to the other bizarro-acoutic-punks in Vancouver. We did some shows together at the Cobalt or the Java Joint in Surrey. He stayed up late and jammed out my radio show. He took me around with him to pick up dead bodies one time. Good times, great reflections.
Plow has put out quite a few records over the years and continues to perform to this very day. I think right now he might be in Portland hosting a weekly night at some bar? That’s the last I heard on the Facebook at least.
Right… what was the point of this? Oh, a girl requested On Call Heroes and it got me thinking of my old friend Plow and one of my favourite songs, “Even Hitler…”
So I had a birthday the other day and I’m a walking “Touch of Grey” commercial… some grey to let you know I know what I’m talking about. But not enough that you don’t think I can have erection… ya dig.
My Mom and Dad sent me some money which was clutch because on my birthday I once and for all killed my headphones.
When I started at the Zone, I bought a pair of headphones… that was back in 2003. And I still had them in something resembling working order till Monday. Sure, they were down to one ear-muff. And they used to electrocute me occasionally (nothing dangerous, just a little love buzz to let me know they cared). I got that fixed. I did love these headphones.
But on Monday, I caught the cable on the chair when I turned my head to answer the Zone phone, and I really ripped the cable out. Real good.
I am sure Russ the Engineer could fix them, he can fix anything. But maybe it was their time. In headphone years… they were like 100.
Sad, I cheered up when came home to a birthday card with some money stuffed in it . I bought new headphones.
A brand called “Skull Candy.” Click <– that link… pretty bad ass right? OK, not really, I bought them at London Drugs. They had really expensive home/audio headphones, real cheapo Maxwell and then Skull Candy splitting the middle. So I bought Skull Candy. Bad idea for the Zone. Maybe its because they’re new and different, which… with women is exciting, but for headphones, not so much. Luckily Coral has the same brand as my old ones… so I brought the Skull candy home and traded.
This is working out great, because for home use, these Skull Candy muffs sound awesome on my laptop.
And the longer tougher cable of the Sony Headphones of Coral’s works better at the Zone. It like soccer where all the games end in 1-1 ties. Satisfying. I now understand why that sport is popular.
Ash Poon is a guy I went to college with. Ash Poon is also the man that taught me not to judge a book by its cover.
The first time I took a crack at the wonderful world of radio broadcasting I was at BCIT in Burnaby and I jammed out a weekly indie rocker radio show on the Vancouver community radio station CiTR.
The class was full of media wannabe hopefuls. Some I knew better than others. Some just kids I went to school with. Ash was for sure, one of the latter. I knew him, good guy. I don’t think we were in too many of the same classes, just same program. The radio class is split into two… A and B. I think Ash was an A and I was a B… But its all kinda fuzzy.
I worked part-time at CFUN as a board op/slash/infomercial-kinda-producer type. Ash applied there as well and got hired on. So we worked together.
I also had a shitty band and was into rock and roll so Ash invited me to check out his band, In Medias Res, sometime.
Ash was this geeky, Asian kid and to be honest… I thought, “hmmm? I guess.” Most the Vancouver rockers I knew at the time had nipple piercings, a jam studio in New West, bitchin’ T-shirt logos, and smoked a ton of pot. Ash showed up to work everyday and I think he is a Christian. He gave me a burned CD of their first ep and I brought it to my radio show.
In Media Res – “Best Kept Secret”
That song changed my world and remains an all-time favourite of mine. If I ever made a Morning After Show best of record, that song would need to be on it.
I saw In Medias Res play a show at the Purple Onion in Gastown and the man blew me away. His band was fantastic and Ash was a rock and roll demon on stage. Not at all how I had stereotyped him. Lesson learned… stop being a snobby minger.
I quit working at CFUN in… 2001? to go work at Telus and would eventually move to Victoria in 2003. I stayed in contact with Ash and In Medias Res through the power of the internets and loved their first full-length LP Of What Was (2004).
In Medias Res – “Shakeher”
In Medias Res played a ton of shows in the mid-2000s and then… you know, people get older, they get married, life, work. Didn’t really hear too much from them until just the other day I got a Facebook message from Ash.
New record.
On January 4th, 2011 you can point your mouse over to http://imr.ca and download It Was Warm and Sunny When We First Set Out. Also being pressed on vinyl? OK Ash… I guess I’ll owe that much and buy that too.
The cover is great. Nice vintage family shot that speaks to the themes and title of the record. I like how the title also appears to be a nod to the band, and their journey. Nothing like getting older and reflecting on what it was like back in the late 90s/early 00s when you first starting thinking about future and how rosey it would/should/might be. What is that saying, “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step?” awwww. Maybe their journey begins now? And it is filled with optimism? As they’ll say later on the record, “tonight I am new.”
First listen and immediately I like it. The record feels warm and recognizable as soon as it pops in. Their first album in almost 7 years and if you know and love Of What Was, you can grab on to this collection of music.
In Medias Res creates an atmospheric, sweeping brand of rock music. Great slow dirges that build into cascading guitars, fuzz and howling vocals before settling back down into lullabies and echo.
The record is broken up with some spazzy rockers and begins with the ferocious “The Final Flight of the Bees.” The distortion and reverb are also turned on and up on the aptly named “Fight Song.” Noises…. “Bears” is another savage jam that I hope really is about BEARS!
I like In Medias Res best when the slow it down and then build it up. “Come Back Down” or the most excellent “Tonight I am New.” “Tonight” is an older song as I know I’ve heard it before. I think they recorded it as a one off or it was finished sooner in the album recording process so they shared it. I asked my friend Alix what her favourite song on the record is so far, and she said “Tonight I Am New.” It must have been released before.
What a great song and a stand out on the album so far during my first listen.
In Medias Res – “Tonight I am New”
I don’t really know what Andrew Lee is singing about with this song… but it sounds romantic. If Coral and I get married again, and we had a first dance song, this one would need to be short-listed. So Pretty.
Ash Poon is a great guy, we don’t send each other Christmas cards or anything (but damn, we should!) but blessed be the internet and I am thankful he took 4 seconds to write me a message.
It was a slow day at the radio factory today so I took a long lunch to head downtown and get p to one of my favourite pastimes, record shopping.
Victoria has a few great record stores and my faves are Talk’s Cheap (556 Pandora) and Ditch Records (635 Johnson… but moving to Fort).
Today I was on a quest to continue my 45s collection and bought a combination of both classic and contemporary singles. A great reflection of how i listen to music at home, new and old.
The first song is a cover from the Gaslight Anthem. In November they released this limited edition rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice” from Exile on Main Street. Great package and the vinyl is a brown marble-y look. Comes with a download card for the MP3 and the b-side, “She loves You,” is also not from the album American Slang, unless you downloaded it from iTunes… then it was one of the bonus cuts.
The National‘s second single is track one, side one from High Violet. A song called “Terrible Love.” Great song, but not the one I played for you, instead I went with the b-side, “She Was a Kindness.” “She Was a Kindness” was later included on the November re-issue of the album. Being a fan and buying the record when it came out means I get punished so I need to acquire it later. The cover continues the Mark Fox art theme… this single has a picture of Untitled (The Ark). The internet says my National single should be violet vinyl which would be so bad ass, but sadly, it is just plain jane black. Sad face.
Next we travel back to 1964. UK band The Shadows are known for popularizing the four piece rock band. Lead and rhythm guitar with bass and drums. This song is an instrumental.
Also in 1964 (I think), The Blues Magoos recorded their first single for Verve Records, “So I’m Wrong and You’re Right.” I first heard about the Blues Magoos on a 60s on 6 XM show. The DJ Cousin Brucie talked about how they were a favourite of his during the 60s. I thought, “alright, if this old DJ was from the 60s and this is what he listened to, they must be good!”
Moving forward almost 10 years and I found Al Green’s “Let’s Get Married.” I thought this jam from 1973 might be a good wedding type song and Al Green is always popular during my sets at the Veneto Lounge.
The final song is from late 70s Canadian punkers Teenage Head. Formed in Hamilton, Ontario… Teenage Head had a minor hit with 1980 single “Let’s Shake.” Sounds a whole heck of a lot like The Ramones. Its a fun catchy one for sure.
Wow, just like that and Christmas is over. The adventures, good times, family, presents, dinners, treats. All done. Back to the grind.
And what does the DJ who has everything get for Christmas? Music silly.
My lovely sister-in-law Alyx found me a couple vinyl records to add to the collection. The first up is the Japandroids’ second record which is actually a collection of their first two EPs.
No Singles ain’t blowing my mind in awesomesauce. But even a casual reader of my blog should know they are one of my favourites and this record helps in my collection (though oddly I don’t have Post Nothing on vinyl? weird.)
Where maybe the musical immaturity falls a little short, the vinyl packaging is great. Beautiful white vinyl, nice cover and the record comes with a picture book of the Japandroids life circa 2006-2008. Lots of concert shots from little bars mostly in Vancouver and poster art.
It was funny… for Christmas I didn’t really ask for anything… but come to think of it… and it took my brother reminding me, I needed a new amp for my record player. Actually, my brother thought that was what I was gunna for him. Derrrrrr…. hmmm, his 30th Birthday is when? November? Maybe then?
If you see or have an old amp for sale, let me know! I want two of them. One for me, and one for CJ.
Alyx was a doll and got me TWO records… and I guess she reads the blog as she knew that one of my great misses of 2010 was being slow to the resurgence of the Deftones. She said she was going to try and track Around the Fur down for me, but no dice. So Diamond Eyes it is!
My man Jon Williams talked far more eloquently on his Top 10 of 2010 than I will here as I am still new to the record and learning the songs. I only had a chance to drop the needle on this record once and it was Christmas morning, uhhh, yeah, didn’t mesh then. But maybe a different time it will.
Coral and my folks both got me iTunes gift cards! Huzzah… so tonight I took some chances on some albums that got great hype over the year on Pitchfork but I was unsure on.
Sleigh Bells, LCD Soundsystem, James Blake, and Flying Lotus.
Getting a bunch of new music can be blessing (well it is) but also a curse in that of these 6 new records… some will rise to the surface with repeat plays and some sadly will drift away. Maybe I’ll blog in a month on what is still getting plays and what is not.
The Flying Lotus and James Blake will be good electronic music in the lounge for the nights when I feel more modern and less classics. Maybe LCD Soundsystem has a party rocker or two that can go in a progressive dance set and Sleigh Bells will live in the indie/eclectic playlist for now… but we’ll see with repeat listens where they end up.
Lastly a couple singles.
Cage the Elephant‘s new record Thank You, Happy Birthday is out in January… the single is “Shake Me Down” and both Coral and I love it on the Zone… so it can live on my computer for home listening for sure. In fact… this is a 45 I want to find too.
The other single is kinda silly, but I got the song stuck in my head and this is the best I could on iTunes.
Coral has had a fairly hilarious and ultimately fulfilling fascination with the straight to video British tween drama Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging… based on the popular book series Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. I suppose in Coral’s defence, she might have been 16 when the first one came out? So nostalgia compelled her to watch the film adaptation what 3 times? In the last 3 days? Go on-demand video!
The story centres on 15 year old Georgia and you know… boys. errr, they’re so infuriating sometimes you know.
She falls for a one Mr. Sex God and wouldn’t you know it, he’s in a band! The Stiff Dylans… great band name, and they play a song a bunch in the film called “Ultra Violet.”
I searched for the song on iTunes, but no dice… some more searching and I found it by a singer named Joanna. That’s it, that’s her stage name… back to branding school for her… or American idol? or whatever, but the song sure enough is on there. So I downloaded it. And its terrible, not in a good way. Doh, that .99 gone to the Itunes monster.
Now I’m thinking? Do I download a couple Bruce Springsteen records? Some 50s jams? Or call it a night and leave my iTunes windfall for another night?
Instead of jamming out a Modern Rock Countdown this weekend (it being Christmas and all) I thought it would be fun to play some selections from the Zone DJs “Best of 2010” lists. I hope it sounds like a pretty good couple hours of music to be enjoying your Christmas brunch too.
Selections from the Zone DJ Top 10 of 2010 Lists
01) Dead Weather – Die By The Drop
02) Middle Class Rut – New Low
03) Gorillaz – Stylo
04) Deftones – Diamond Eyes
05) Eminiem – Not Afraid
06) Slash – Going Back to Cali
07) Maurice – Robin
08) Tokyo Police Club – Bambi
09) Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
10) The National – Bloodbuzz ohio
11) Sweet Thing – Dance Mother
12) Frightened Rabbit – Swim Until You Can’t See Land
13) Vampire Weekend – Cousins
14) Bedouin Soundclash – Mountain Top
15) Hot Hot Heat – 21@12
16) Infant Sorrow – The Clap
17) Daft Punk – Derezzed
18) Kings of Leon – The End
19) Arcade Fire – We Used to Wait
20) Mumford and Sons – Little Lions Man
21) Kanye West – Power
22) Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside
23) Hollerado – Juliet
24) Black Keys – Tighten Up
The Morning After 
