I had a chance to sit down and talk with former WHL Victoria Cougar Tom Martin. Tom is best remembered as “that guy that got traded for a used bus” in 1983. He ended up being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets and enjoying 7 seasons of professional hockey between the AHL and NHL. He played in NHL games for the Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and briefly with the Minnesota North Stars.
Mixcloud: Hockey! with Jeremy >> Bussey (Interview with Tom Martin)
Thank you for listening.
Posted in Dave Babych | Tagged AHL, Hartford Whalers, Hockey, Minnesota North Stars, NHL, Tom Martin, Victoria Cougars, Victoria Royals, WHL, Winnipeg Jets | Leave a Comment »
The ghosts of bands past have to come together for a new project.
Justin Peroff of Broken Social Scene is using the indefinite hiatus to team with a couple bros from The Stills… who sadly are also now defunct. Which is too bad because I have always enjoyed The Stills.
The band is called Eight and a Half and the record will come out in 2012 but for right now I have the single “Scissors” for you.
Eight and a Half – “Scissors”
Download MP3 >> Eight and a Half – Scissors
and remixes?! Oh OK I like remixes.
Small Black who normally I love… this remix to me… not so much.
Eight And A Half – Scissors (Small Black Remix)
and one from TOKiMONSTA which I like more.
Merry Christmas!
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Eight and a Half, Remixes, Scissors, Small Black, TOKiMONSTA | Leave a Comment »
Checked out Melbournian indie star Gotye finally today. Wow. His song “Somebody I Used to Know” is a little quirky and insanely catchy. This song is DEMANDING my attention right now.
I remember a couple weeks back James Sutton over at the Peak in Vancouver posted the music video. He said something about it being the greatest song he heard that day… and the video has been viewed 20 million times! Isn’t that like the population of all Australia? Amazing.
I punched up the video and at the time I didn’t get it. I didn’t pay much attention and it sounded a lot like, just another indie rock jam. Cute, quality, but it didn’t emotional grab on yet yet.
Today, trolling my twitter and Brandy Taylor (by-the-by, I don’t think that’s her real last name) on Sonic in Edmonton was talking the song up. Saying the phone at the radio station explodes in joy every time she hits play. What’s interesting about that is it takes a special record to garner that kind of energy.
Now I had to check it out again. So I downloaded the song and read about the man.
Gotye – “Somebody That I Used to Know“
It sounds like Gotye is a fairly popular indie rockstar in Australia. He has a number 1 record and shows up on the Triple J “best of” charts. I can respect that.
The song might be a little off putting the first time you hit play, but stay with it. Its a grower, not a shower.
“Somebody I Used to Know” is a crushing breakup song. Wally De Backer lays down the cold reality of a breakup so completely that even though I am married, I got sad thinking about break ups past!
He sings his sad sack tale of woe. He pleads, he is confused, he questions and he’s sad.
Then the second act has the female perspective detailing what a weirdo he was and that the break up is … for the best.
Whaaaaat tha fuck.
This song is so powerful that if you are currently going through a break up, I don’t think you should listen to it. Fer realz. Like Surgeon General Warning seriousness.
When you’re in a relationship… right in the meaty thick of it… it seems so important, but after it ends… its just a foot note in your long personal history. This song captures that story wholly and completely. Amazing.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know | 6 Comments »
Writing a top 10 list of favourite records has become a bit of a holiday tradition for me. Not too sure how long I’ve been doing it… many years.
Thank you if you took the time to read… we’ll level up that thank you if you also shared a link. The other day’s blog post was one of my bigger posts in terms of web-traffic in awhile. Thank you.
Megan Will asked if I’d string the songs together for a Mixtape so she can listen to it as like a podcast. Easy enough and thank you Megan for asking!
Mixcloud: Mixtape >> Top 10 Records of 2011
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged 2011, Podcast, Records, songs, Top 10 | Leave a Comment »
Picking a top 10 list of favourite records is always excruciating fun. I always think it will be easy until I sit down and start going through my records. I enjoy remembering, but then quantifying and sorting those memories can be a challenge.
The radio consultants at the Zone always say that “your heavy rotation songs should be easy to pick.” I agree that my number 1 this year (like previous years) was an easy pick. But then after that… I dunno.
Another challenge is trying to weigh something I listened to heavy in January to something that is bright and new and shiny right now… Generally I figure, if I am not rocking it now, then probably not a top 10 list type of band. But then… Awolnation I used to listen to all the time. But couldn’t find a spot on the list. Also, Destroyer or Fleet Foxes I jammed out for a time…but not on the list.
Lots of bands had songs that I adore, but couldn’t include the record because:
A) I don’t actually have it
B) Not that good, even if I listened to a particular song a trillions time.
Man, I loved songs from Holy Ghost, Atlas Genius, We Are Augustines, Dinosaur Bones, The Strokes, Airborne Toxic Event, Gold Panda, Bell X1… hmmm there are bound to be even more… I jammed out tons of country, metal and electronic this year… but no records that get played heavy.
And then there is The Black Keys. Record comes out on Tuesday. It’ll come out in 2011… but I haven’t heard the whole thing yet so.
11) The Black Keys – El Camino
I have only heard part of this record… and I already know I’ll love it. The band dominated the Zone (and rock radio in North America) this whole year. 4 number 1 singles on the Modern Rock Countdown. My goodness.
I know doing things on margin is what caused the financial crisis but I had to include El Camino on my top 10 list! Even if its Number 11.
The theme song to my Hockey! segment… “Lonely Boy”
10) By A Thread – By A Thread
Over 10 years I waited for the follow-up to post-whatever band By A Thread’s The Last of the Daydreams. Over 10 years!
I loved this record when it showed up in the mail back in April. I put the record aside for most the summer… but once the weather turned, I dunno, but this record has featured tons on my listening habit. When I walk to the Zone, this record get blasted through the headphones and transports me back to my college radio days. I love this record because it has both a timeless feel to me, while sounding somewhat modern . I say “some what” because sometime I get tricked. maybe you’ll listen to this record and go… “hmmm, sounds like late 90s post-alt rock to me.”
all you need is “Fashion.”
09) Coldplay – “Mylo Xyloto”
Haters gunna hate… but whatever, this is a pretty good record from Coldplay. I enjoy the singles on the radio, I enjoy them when they pop up in mixes, and I enjoy the record which lives in my van for long drives. Just a plain, good old fashioned well produced mega slick, great big record.
Live to be a 40-year-old virgin listening to “Paradise.”
08) Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Another big, slick mainstream record that is just good. I enjoy all the songs we play off this disc on the radio. The album was so super hyped before its release I was a little concerned I wouldn’t like it. But hitting play on this album is a rewarding experience and is another point on the list of why Dave Grohl is a living legend.
Shower in a truck stop with friends to this song, “Rope.”
07) Arkells – Michigan Left
Arkells are the band that demanded to be on my top 10 list. The story goes… I knew of the Arkells as a band. A Canadian rock band like a billion before them and a billion after them… then I saw them open for Tokyo Police Club and rattle the cage that was my brain. I quickly became a convert and devoured the back catalog. I was primed for the release of Michigan Left and was not disappointed. A fantastic, front-to-back album of rock & roll music. This CD lives in my van and I punch it up often.
If I had a friend named Matty that rocked ‘Women and Songs 2’… well I don’t what I’d think about that. “Book Club”
06) Washed Out – Within and Without
Just look at that album artwork… don’t you wanna make-out?
An album of easy listening. I have a sweet tooth for this type of chill electronic music. I can’t deny it. This record is a staple of my lounge set at Veneto. This record also lives in the Civic and sounded so awesome this summer barrelling up the Pat Bay Highway.
You’ll get to third base if you drop the needle on “You and I”
05) The Naked and Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You
Tricky… this record was technically released in 2010… but then re-released to a world-wide audience (and on vinyl) in 2011.
A super fun and catchy record that contains a couple of my favourite songs of the year on it. “Young Blood” and “Punching in a Dream.”
Jon Williams was a big champion of this album and randomly showed up at the Zone one day with a vinyl copy tucked under his arm; which he then gifted to me. Nice. This record was the soundtrack to most my summer… and spring… and actually I jam out “Punching in a Dream” during many of my club DJ sets.
its a banger… “Punching in a Dream”
04) The Decemberists – The Kings is Dead
A record that came out in January of 2011… King is Dead is the first Decemberists record that I truly loved…
I went to see the Decemberists in the summer with Simon from the Veneto and his wife. There I met up with Dan and Laura visiting from France and had one of my great summer nights of 2011. I drank a cocktail that night that tasted like a spicy Chicago Dog! (in the best of ways)
“Rise to Me” would also make my list of top 10 songs of the year.
03) Foster the People – Torches
What do I say about Foster the People? Their song “Pumped Up Kicks” went sub-atomic on not only rock radio… but a bonafide top 40 jam. Soccer Moms hum along to a song about Columbining your school.
This record was played all-the-time around my home in the Spring and Summer. Coral and I don’t really jive on the same bands much anymore. So I do find it special when we both have a record we could put on and crank.
I swear, I could take any song off this record and play it on the Zone and it would be a hit. If anything, this record is TOO sugar sweet on the ear drums.
I like the song “I Would Do Anything For You” because I am a romantic (and a dork). Ooh-la-la
02) M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
My top two records both win because they are chill-out records and most my (as in MY) listening… is late at night (what time is now… shit, 1AM). I put on headphones, hit go… and dream. So my Top 10 has a lot of records that reflect that as they are the records that I listen to.
M83 is a record I wish came out anytime prior 2006 when I smoked way too much pot. This is a pot record in the best way. Lots of weird audio wickedness to pet your ear-holes. I’ve blogged lots about M83 and could go on all day on why he’s so awesome. You’ve read it and taken it to heart, or you haven’t… so what Imma gunna do is post “Midnight City” again and hope this time… this time it is the time you go… “riiiiiiiiight.”
M83 could and almost should be my number 1, but it doesn’t win for a few reasons. As much as I love the sonic oddities… sometimes I’m not in the mood. I do find myself occasionally skipping songs which I never do with…
01) Bon Iver – Bon Iver
I said at the top of my list that picking the number 1 should be easy and this year it was… My end of the day go to record when the weight of the world is pushing me down.
Hot dog, its good. A front-to-back masterpiece of modern light rock. I am sure in like 20 years Bon Iver will be the Hall & Oates of this generation… but fuck, whatever. Hall & Oates is cool again, so maybe that says something?
This is another record that both Coral and I listen to… cute attack!
This album is not a rocker or very pop. So if you need growls, distortions, tattoos, testicles… this album won’t be for you. But if you like to strap in and explore time and space in some sort of out-of-body astral projection experience… then you’ve found the soundtrack.
This song is so beautiful, “Holocene”
That’s another list of some of my more memorable albums of 2011. If I can find the energy, I wouldn’t mind trying to lay down a top 10 songs… but now that would be an even greater challenge. Maybe top 20? Top 50? Zoinks.
As with anything, music is subjective so unless we’re already musically compatible, you might scratch your head at some selections… and that’s cool, maybe it’ll inspire you to write your own list? Just be sure to post a link in my comment section so I can read your’s too.
Ugh, I always feel like I am forgetting something…. I am sure that I am.
Thank you for reading my blog. Go with yourself.
***
Because lists are fun:
Top 10 Records of 2010
Top 10 Records of 2009
Top 10 Records of 2008
My Favourite Records of the 00s
Top 10 Zone Shows of the 00s
Posted in music | Tagged Arkells, Black Keys, Bon Iver, By A Thread, Coldplay, Decemberists, Foo Fighters, Foster The People, M83, Naked and Famous | 8 Comments »
k-os came to Victoria today to perform a nooner lunch concert at Sauce Restaurant. Oh the times we shared….
Check out a chit-chat with k-os and the performance of the song “Crucial.”
k-os – “Crucial”
Download MP3 >> K-Os – Crucial
Thank you k-os for coming by Sauce to perform for us.
See k-os live tonight at Club 9one9.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, The Zone @ 91-3 | Tagged Crucial, Download, k-os, Live, MP3, Sauce Restaurant, Victoria | 1 Comment »
Stream from Mixcloud: Mixtape >> When its sunny in December
A playlist that began to take shape after I heard a few interesting songs. The first couple of jazz numbers I heard when I read one of my favourite male fashion blogs (yes I have a favourite male fashion blog).
I also tracked down Ben Kweller after watching the movie “The Change-Up.” (don’t make fun of me, I already feel like a weirdo jiving on Ben Kweller… and to discover the song on a Jason Bateman film… shameful… but thus is fate)
Then it became a matter of trying to draw some parallels and connecting some dots and this is the playlist I sported.
I little melancholy, but at times erotic or desperate. Sprinkled in the forlorn… I heard brightness and rounded out the little set with some Afrobeat.
The idea of December came from Vampire Weekend drinking horchata in the winter. And The Green Arrows are an African band from the 70s. There style reminds me winter holidays in sunny places.
I hope you enjoy the mix.
The flip to this playlist…. when its raining in December is coming soon….
Posted in music | Tagged Ben Kweller, Jazz, Mixtape, The Change-Up, The Green Arrows, Vampire Weekend | Leave a Comment »
The other day a song pumped into me head that I could not shake. The lyrics went something like, “if you love her, buy her a gun!” I vaguely remember this song being on MuchMusic or CFOX a bunch when I was a kid. We don’t have it in the gold category here at the Zone and searching for it… the video is on Youtube but the band is not on iTunes.
The band was 90’s alt-rockers Furnaceface from Ottawa. They actually had a decent amount of records and singles… so says wikipedia.
Searching the internerd, I found a blog that has posted their cult-classic “If You Love Her (Would You Buy Her a Gun?).”
Furnaceface – “If You Love Her (Would You Buy Her a Gun?)”
Download MP3 >> FurnaceFace – If you love her
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Furnace Face, Furnaceface, If You Love Her Buy Her a Gun | 1 Comment »
Oh man… do I ever feel like a tool. There is nothing worse than watching a formulaic Hollywood comedy and at the end they play a song and its so good.
No, wait… there are tons of things worse than that.
Ben Kweller, is a name I’ve heard but never really listened to. I was watching The Change-Up last night (Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde’s tits… yeah you know the one). The movie was hilarious enough… I mean, I did see a baby projectile shit in Jason Bateman’s mouth and Ryan Reynolds put his thumb in the anus of a Lorno star. Neat.
OK, I am getting off topic… Olivia Wilde has nice side-boob… OK, no seriously….
The movie ends, credit roll, good job everyone, and a Ben Kweller track from his 2006 album named after himself plays.
Ben Kweller – “Sundress”
Download MP3 >> Sundress
What a super cute song. Nothing like an adorable forlorn love song about a nostalgic era in a relationship.
***
also, whenever I try to type “from” I always type “form.” Always, even when I’m aware. I have to go back and fix all the forms to froms. Fucking weird.
***
That’s all I got.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music | Tagged Ben Kweller, Ryan Reynolds, Sundress, The Change-Up | 1 Comment »
The latest instalments of Hockey! with me… likely will air during this weekends Victoria Royals WHL hockey broadcasts on the Zone.
Mixcloud: Hockey! with Jeremy >> Roman Horak
Mixcloud: Hockey! with Jeremy >> Suicide Box
#51 for the Calgary Flames is Roman Horak. Horak played his junior hockey in the “dub” for the Chilliwack Bruins. Bruins were a WHL expansion team that played only 5 season in Fraser Valley. This year… they are our team, the Victoria Royals… so that makes Horak an alumni of our team. Neat.
I talk to Roman about how awesome it is to be in the NHL.
In episode 5, Suicide Box, I hang out at ice level to record the sounds of the game… I capture a great exchange between Timmy T and the Edmonton Oil-Kings.
I love hockey.
Go with yourself.
Posted in Dave Babych | Tagged Calgary Flames, Chilliwack Bruins, Edmonton Oil Kings, Hockey, Royals, Victoria, WHL | Leave a Comment »
The Morning After 