Friend of the blog, Pol Plastino, joins the Modern Rock Countdown to help us get to know the Nanuqsaurus hoglundi.
Thanks Pol! – Go with yourself.
Posted in neat-O gang | Tagged Dinosaur Jr, Dinosaurs, Get To Know a Dinosaur, Pol Plastino | Leave a Comment »
I was thinking about more recent “one-hit-wonders” the other day. Some songs we used to play on The Zone all the time, but you don’t hear so much. It began when I was dreaming about the 2009 college party jammer “I Love College” by Asher Roth. That song was never a major hit on alternative radio. We spun it very occasionally 5 years ago.
I started exploring other cuts from 2009 and ended up trolling all Alternative charts from 2009 and back into 2008 and hit about Carolina Liar. The American/Swedish group put out their debut record, Coming to Terms, in May 2008. The record featured the song “I’m Not Over” which peaked out at #3 on the Billboard Alt. chart.
The band’s website appears to be in hibernation…but checking out lead singer Chad Wolf‘s twitter hints at some new recordings.
John Lenac of the internet says, “I still have “I’m Not Over” in Power Recurrent.” Power Recurrent? Good words.
Go with yourself.
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Current Swell have returned. It began with the statement cut “Rollin’,” a bluesy, rockin’ jangle that ripped out of the gate. Now the Island boys give us something a little more complex off their upcoming record, Ulysses (May 6th, Nettwerk).
New single on the radio… and a new music video for “Rollin.'” Monday, you ain’t all bad.
Go with yourself.
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I had a chance to talk with Dylan Kongos from the modern rockers Kongos. He dialled up the show from the Lower Eastside of Manhattan the other day.
We talked about the accordion that threads together Kongos’ smash “Come With Me Now” and the world music inspirations. I also ask Dylan about his old man, John Kongos, who had some European and South African hits in the 1970s. Have a listen to “He’s Gonna Step on You Again.”
Go with yourself.
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My daughter Madelyn reviews one of her favourite records right now, Arcade Fire’s Reflektor.
Posted in ...this is your father speaking, music | Tagged Arcade Fire, reflektor, The Madelyn Review | Leave a Comment »
Coral and I hunkered down last night to watch the film 12 Years a Slave. The Academy Award winning film based on the true-life tales of Solomon Northup is an emotional and heartbreaking story.
There are many harsh, beautiful, and extreme scenes throughout the film. One part of the movie that stood out for both my wife and I was the soundtrack.
The film uses sound to tremendous effect in the presentation, mood, and place of the film. Solomon Northup is a remarkable fiddle player and that style of 1840s music is threaded throughout the film. During times of joy, and then corrupted and used during macabre dance parties.
There are scenes that depict traditional slave and gospel songs.
Part of the film use the natural sounds or even drone to build tension.
The original pieces crafted by Hans Zimmer are some of the most devastating. Listening to the almost industrial noises invoked the madness of slavery and the complete destitution of Solomon and the other characters. Here is a sample of the way Hans Zimmer creates a soundscape that is maddening and disorientating.
He talks about some of the minimalist aspects of his orchestration at Variety, “creates a stillness, or a tension through the stillness, using very minimal means,”
He says to Vulture.com, “If you happen to be courageous enough to watch [12 Years a Slave] twice, in a way, your emotional dominoes are already starting to fall when you hear those first few notes.”
There are many reasons why 12 Years a Slave is a celebrated film…for fans of sound, add the soundtrack and foley.
Go with yourself.
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Island artist Kandle Osborne took the trip east and settled in Montreal to work on her career as a performer. Her bluesy, garage, dark swamp pop record In Flames came out yesterday. Check out the second single “Control Me.”
The record was recorded with the help of Neil Osborne of 54-40 fame (her dad) and she was able to rope in Sam Goldberg on guitar. He has done work with Broken Social Scene and Bionic.
The Montreal Gazette calls her “an old witch for a young generation.”
That’s weird.
She talks in the interview, “I sort of get into character when I sing. I can become a bit of a creep (…) I like to get a bit spooky or dramatic at times. Singing a song straight is all right, but why do that when you can do something cooler?”
Go with yourself.
Posted in Capital Rock City, music | Tagged Kandle | Leave a Comment »
Canada’s favourite dance-electro-funk duo, Chromeo, are put with a new record White Women is out on May 12th.
These guys have been making this fun brand of propulsive funk for many years. I remember seeing these guys at Central Bar & Grill (remember that place?) way back in the mid-2000s. That show was mental. Some guy tried to climb on stage and the lead singer guy bounced a mic stand off his face. The audience went berzerk. Well worth the price of admission.
New song is a beauty. Have a listen to this.
Go with yourself.
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Thursday, Jon Williams and I got spoiled at the Radio Factory. We had our Zone Band of the Month Geoff Lundstrom in to perform his single “Wash The Dirt Off.” But then the dude stuck around and recorded a cover of Lorde‘s Much Mega Hit, “Royals.” His trio consisted of himself with Amy and Chris on keys. Amy let Jon hold her 1948 Martin D 28 acoustic guitar!
Earlier, we had Victoria’s Zerbin in studio. The boys dropped a beautiful take on The National‘s “I Need My Girl.”
Maybe you’ll be able to get behind one of these covers and you’ll share it with your friends.
Go with yourself.
The Morning After Show in on Facebook? Believe the hype and throw me a “like.”
Posted in Capital Rock City, music, radio, The Zone @ 91-3 | Tagged acoustic, cover, Geoff Lundstrom, I Need My Girl, Live, Lorde, Royals, The National, Zerbin | Leave a Comment »
Have a listen to this….
What do you think of the song? Wildlife are a group from Toronto. It gaining in on the Canadian charts .
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The Morning After 