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First Listen: Jimmy Eat World – “Invented”

Posted in music, tagged , on September 28, 2010| 9 Comments »

Nostalgia. The yearning for the past… a popular theme with many of my favourite 90s and early Oughts rockers.

We all get old, and we all start thinking about the olden days.  The beer was colder and cheaper.  The days longer. The breasts were all firmer.  The good ole’days.

I have noticed with so many records right now, songs that try to go back and capture old emotions or ideas.

Jimmy Eat World‘s 7th studio record, Invented, is full of nostalgia.  One of my favourite songs on the new record is “Coffee and Cigarettes.”  JEW is not the first band to sing about these two vices that make your breath stink and (could) kill you… but they have mined the territory again in search of youth.

Its hard to write a critical review of Jimmy Eat World’s music for me, because I generally love all their music.  I think ion the pantheon of all their records… so far I’d give this record a pass.  With repeat listens, it might end up being a fave.

I remember in 2007 when Chase This Light came out.  At first I wasn’t into it… but given time, I lean on that record before I’ll punch up Futures or Bleed American.

I thought this was neat.  As I trolled my JEW music on the laptop… all their recent record have a title track.  For example, in Invented, there is a song called “Invented.”  Chase this Light has a song called “Chase This Light.”

But their first two record, Jimmy Eat World and Static Prevails… no such song.

During my first listen today, while waiting for Mads to get out of Step Up To Pre-School, the three songs I gravitated to right away were the three I have heard the most.

People always say to me, “why do radio stations keep playing the same songs over?”

Because people like the songs they know.  I am aware of the science behind it… and still it works on me.  I enjoyed the radio single, “My Best Theory,” Chase This Light second chancer “Stop” and “Movielike.”  I had been jamming those songs out on repeat for awhile when I found them online.

Lots of romance on this record, I also really liked “Littlething.”

If you’re a Jimmy Eat World fan, there should be something you can grab onto right away and I think enough depth to give you satisfaction with repeat listens.

Go with yourself.

PS >> I’ve had impure thoughts about the model on the cover of the record.

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Otis and Paul are not brothers

Posted in music, tagged on September 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »


I think if I got to work at an oldies radio station, the format would be this picture.

I do know I need a suit like this pronto.

Go with yourself.

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Happy Rifflandia-ing

Posted in music, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Last night was the first meeting of the newly inaugurated Victoria Record Club.

If you love vinyl or think one day you might… or like hanging out with music nerds… join the group!

Not sure how many of us packed down a used shopping bag of vinyl to Talk’s Cheap on Pandora Street… but I’d imagine there were about 12 or 13 of us standing around awkwardly in Tiemen’s store.

I met a music blogger named Michelle and wanted to share her blog with you: Eh B Sea Sides

By some accounts, it was kinda fun… so we’ll do a second meeting in October.  Can’t wait.  I already know what record I am going to bring. But shhhhh… its a secret b/c I am going to buy it for Coral.

***

Rifflandia starts tomorrow! ahhhhhhhhhh

Have you checked out the schedule to draft your map or zig-zags around the beautiful Capital of British Columbia to see your favourite bands and discover new ones?

I will be broadcasting from Market Square all afternoon tomorrow as the bands roll in to set up and sound check.  Then at 7PM I am free to party (probably, need to see if Nana will watch Mads… or else Coral is free to PARTY! and I’ll be watching Parenthood on my PVR  and colouring).

Having Coral in tow does change my idea a bit of what I want to see.  I am interested in the punk rock going down Thursday at Rehab, but Coral is probably not as inclined.  She hasn’t seen the magazine yet, so this all subject to change… by her… but here’s my dream plan:

Thursday

7:30 Sunday Buckets – Market Square
8:30 Acres of Lions – Club 9one9
9:30 We Are The City – Club 9one9

*maybe grab some food or a cocktail at Veneto, or some noodlebox or something to sustain me*

11:30 JFK (MSTRKRFT) – Touch Lounge

Conversely… I could stay at Market Square all evening… or stay at Club 9one9 and be happy.

If Coral is feeling some more aggressive rock, I’d love to hit Rehab.

Sadly, I have to work Friday and Saturday (DJing at Veneto if anyone Rifflandia-ing needs a time-out, come see me for a cocktail). I might sneak to a 7:30 show… or join the party at 1AM if people are still out and about.  Razer (Acres of Lions) and Scott (Dojo Workhorse) … I’m looking at you.

Sunday… maybe Ball Gag and Chain Gang at Club 9one9 then Big Muff… then fly over to Lucky Bar to see DJ Siclife then back to Club 9one9.  Sunday depends on childcare/money/energy for sure.

It’ll be fun!

What’s your plans and where should I meet you for cocktails?

(Zone dot FM slash Jeremy readers click here to comment)

Go with yourself.

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Record Club 01:: Conan O’Brien – “And They Call Me Mad”

Posted in music, tagged , , , , on September 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I love mail, but I hate bills.

And most mail is bills.  That is the worst.

Every so often, my Uncle Visa will allow it, I like to order something online and then it gets mailed to me!

At the end of summer it was announced that Conan O’Brien recorded a spoken word single with Jack White at his Third Man Records (home of the Triple Decker!) in Nashville.

Pol Plastino was excited because Conan is his hero.  I was excited because… well it was being pressed on 7-inch vinyl!  Then the best… it was just $5 to order ($6 something after shipping and tax).

After ordering online, then it is the waiting game.  Pol and I pre-ordered so we knew it would be weeks before shipping.

At the end of August it was time to ship and by early September Pol had his.  FUN!

Mine will probably come in a tomorrow.

And I waited by the mail box.  And I chatted up every mailman. And it did not come.

I sent a sad sack email.  The reply (which came quickly) said I should exercise patience.

And fortunately, before the first record club meeting… it came!

Conan’s single is part of Third Man’s ‘Green Series.’  The green label records are their spoken word records and I think Conan is their second.  The point is to have random people come into the studio and tell their story.

Conan and Jack White have a little history and when his stand-up rolled through the South, jack had him in.

Side A features Conan doing a spin on the Frankenstein saga.  Its funny, starts strong but panders out a bit.  I might have heard in an interview with the producer that it is improved.  Which makes sense.  Its funny… but not well structured or written.  And doesn’t really have a strong punchline, conclusion or ending.

Side B is more interesting to a Conan fan as it is a back-and-forth between Conan and Jack.  There were more than a couple lolz on buried in there for the listening fan.

I love owning this interesting single as Jack White is one of my rock & roll heroes and Conan is a comedy great.

It was pressed at a weird time in entertainment history and does make some mention of the whole Leno/Tonight Show debacle.

I’d love to read Pol’s take on the record has he is a true Conan fan and might have some more insight into the performance.

Go with yourself.

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Interview: Guilty About Girls

Posted in music, radio, tagged , , , , on September 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Remember that band Pure? We used to play (used to? still do!) on the Zone.  Like that song “Denial.”

Yeah good song.

The principle artist from that Vancouver heritage modern rocker is Jordy Birch and his new project, Guilty About Girls, is one of my favourites on the Zone right now.

Jordy took a few moments to talk about The Nails, his old band; Pure, how the song “Candy Candy” is not as sexual as I thought it was, and how New Westminster is a bit of a dive.

Check it: Guilty About Girls’ Jordy Birch on The ZAS

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Interview: Neon Trees

Posted in music, radio, tagged , , , , on September 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Neon Trees are a massive popular rock band.

The radio feature cut we’re jamming on the Zone is called “Animal” and it currently sits at #2 on the Billboard Alternative Rock Charts, #8 on The Zone’s Modern Rock Countdown and #23 on Billboard’s Hot 100.  Not bad for a little band outta Provo, Utah.

Tyler Glenn is the lead singer and he took a few moments to do a quick interview and talk about their cover of The Bieb’s “Baby,” coming from Utah and their show September 22nd at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver with 30 Seconds to Mars. He also says something about admiring the lead singer of INXS.  Sure.

Check it: Interview with Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn on The ZAS


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First Listen: Linkin Park – “A Thousand Suns”

Posted in music, tagged , on September 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

If I went into yesterday’s listen of the new Brandon Flowers CD with hopeful expectations… today’s endeavor with Linkin Park was met with trepidation.

Actually, trepidation might be the wrong word, but I like it…

Linkin Park’s A Thousand Suns is LP’s forth studio record and likely destined for a billion-trillion copies sold and numerous radio hits.  It seems to be the way of this band.  Generally speaking, I don’t care much for Linkin Park.  I don’t hate them, but I don’t go home and get jacked to throw their music on.  For me personally, its kids music.

Now here’s the thing, the new record in kind of interesting.

From what I’ve been able to gather from LP fans; they are disappointed in the direction… but as an outsider that has always wished there was more to Linkin Park’s facade, I like all the audio textures.  I punched the record up last night and enjoyed all the weird little sonic interludes that intertwine around all the cuts.

Even the second single, “Burning in The Skies” which I generally hate on the radio, sounds good in the context of the record.

Lots of weirdness and samples and meandering between the songs.

This record will probably not be something I focus on too much when it gets buried by something newer and shinier in a week or two… but then again, no Linkin Park record ever has for me.

Linkin Park is sounding very adult contemporary with their style these days.  Pleasant.  Maybe they are growing up and getting old?  Not so much rage or anger.  The last song soars with some babble about love being the answer or something and there is a song in the middle with a hackneyed, “the weight of the world will give you strength to carry on.”  No it won’t Chester… it’ll crush you into the ground.  I think they’ve been millionaires too long.  Some songs don’t resonate with me at all.  Weird middle school kid lyrics.  But whatever, when he sings it with a dainty little guitar, it sounds pretty.  I guess that is what Linkin Park is all about.  And tattoos.

I’ll give the record a “download it for free” recommendation.  It’ll be cool for a few listens then you’ll move on to something meatier or graduate middle school.

Go with yourself.

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jabbered their hearts out

Posted in music on September 15, 2010| 5 Comments »

I read a great editorial today that got me thinking about music.  Writer Steve Guttenberg asked; why can’t you listen to music?

Basically the man talked about the idea of the act of enjoying music.  Setting aside a unit of time for the sole purpose of consuming music.  He talked about people that go to rock shows and talk through the music sets or get locked into their phones texted away.  I must say that that is both a major pet peeve of mine and also something I have been guilty of.  Strange but true.

I am fortunate that my line of work surrounds me in music. I am not terribly funny or any more interesting than anyone else.  I got into radio because it was one of the few jobs I could think of that paid me to do the one thing I loved to do.  Listen to music. I was like, “they pay people to sit in a room and jam out rock & roll all day… and fucking people still fight wars?”

As a kid in highschool, I’d fire a CD into my discman every night before bed and listen to a whole album, often twice before going to bed.  The same record would live on my bedside table for weeks.  CDs were like $25 back in the mid-90s!

I have a vivid memory of laying on the floor of the living room in my parents house one hot summer afternoon and listening to Big Wreck’s “That Song” over and over and over.

The hobby or habit of listening to music for the sake of the experience continued into adulthood except girlfriends put a real crimp into music time.   they always want your undivided attention at bedtime.  Hard to bury my head into headphones when there are breasts to bury that head into.

Now that I am married guy with kid… everyone goes to bed and some nights I get left to my own devices.  Believe me, internet porn was fun again for awhile… but the call of the record has crept back into my life.  Lately I have been finding myself decompressing to music as I lay on my couch at some weird hour.

Some nights I pull out old favourites, others, something totally random or new.

If you love music, and you’re not setting aside music listening time… you’re doing yourself a major disservice.

Go with yourself.

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First Listen: Brandon Flowers – “Flamingo”

Posted in music, tagged , , , , , on September 14, 2010| 1 Comment »

Here is a post for Vancityrockgirl… the new Brandon Flowers’ solo record Flamingo is out today.

First listen and I must say, I do enjoy it.

The man is having a pretty good couple days.  His record has already gone #1 in the UK and it was also announced that he is expecting another young’n to his family brood.

I have always loved the Killers and so far so good, the solo stuff is as good… or maybe better than some of the Killers songs.

If you’re a Killers fan, you’ll easily get into the solo stuff.  Flowers has stated that many of the songs were destined to be Killers tracks but when the band went on hiatus, the Dad had to stay working, so solo it is.

The Zone is jamming out the lead single right now, “Crossfire” (number 1 on NME).

Picking a favourite album cut is a challenge right now during this first listen as I have enjoyed all the songs.  The opener is pretty cool… I could see it being a travel theme song for my favourite Rock Travel Agent, “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.”

“Hard Enough” is sexual as its a duet with Jenny Lewis and she’s hipster cuteness.

“Playing with Fire” isn’t doing it for me.  Maybe he’s singing about being a Mormon or something? I don’t get it.

Skip.

Skip again.

“Magdalena” might be another religious song. maybe he is singing about a Spanish sweetheart?  Lots of different southern Mexican sounds mixed into the epicnessisms of Brandon Flowers.  Songs builds into an expansive Western Film sounding song.  go Mexico!  I think A Perfect Circle rocked this subject matter harder.

Near the end of the record we get to the hit, “Crossfire.”

You already know this cut and have an opinion on it.

The record ends with “On The Floor” and “Swallow It.”

“On the Floor” calms it right down after the more energetic radio single.  trying to like it but sadly… skip.

And now the closer, “Swallow It.”

Brandon are you singing about a young lovely swallowing your knob?  Maybe its a metaphor for life, but it seriously sounds like forcing your wang down someone’s throat who might be performing oral for the first time.

Well there is no “Parental Advisory” on the cover, and he is a married family man… so I guess its a metaphor for life.  Sorry to take this to the gutter, but come on… listen to the song.

OK lets add it up.

10 songs.

3 skips.

I’ll give the record 7/10.

Brandon, you won’t be getting into UVic with that grade… but a couple years at Camosun, keep your nose to it, you might make something of yourself.

The record is overall enjoyable and if you’re already a Killers fan, I’ll put a recommend on this record.

Hey remember that time I interviewed Brandon Flowers?
Brandon Flowers Website

Go with yourself.

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Download: “475-0913/Zone DJ”

Posted in Jeremy Baker, music, tagged , , , , on September 6, 2010| 2 Comments »


Download: “475-0913/Zone DJ”

The Zone will be unleashing some crazy devil science during our back to school crawl.  Some sort of “push” technology. We’ll be up at the University and College campuses over the next week or two and asking people if they want to add some content to their phones.  The experiment will be Tuesday, 11AM-1PM at Camosun Landsdowne.  The first bit of content will be a ring-tone.  The above spin on the Tommy Tutone 1982 hit anomaly, “867-5309/Jenny.”

I was looking for some help brainstorming ideas for a ring-tone when a facebooker named Alexandra sent the link for the song.

The next day, I hopped in the studio with Cassie and she banged this out with the help of Megan, Tess and Kim.

***

A gorgeous rainy day.  Its Labour Day and so to celebrate, I labour.  Its started pouring rain last night and to have an honest moment, I enjoyed it.  After watching the Kurt Cobain documentary, “About a Son,” I went out on my deck and just sat watching the rain.

Today I was excited to dig my rain pants out of the closet: “CORAL! Where are my rain pants?”

“I don’t know, have I ever wore your rain pants?  Where did you leave them?”

“NO! You must have moved them because they are not… oh, here they are.”

And off into the rain I go.


Go with yourself.

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