assaulted by musical contrast! don't fight it!

Track list:

1. Various - African Christmas - White Christmas

Comments: Aieee! No really, would it really be Christmas without painfully ill-advised re-thinkings of holiday standards? No it wouldn't. That's why I'm so glad they come up with new horrifying crap every year.

2. Melvins - a senile animal - a history of bad men

Comments: I was honestly hoping this would provide more of a list, but I guess this is okay. I like this the way I secretly love Faith No More. Seriously, when they had that album out in the mid-90s, with 'last cup of sorrow' on it, and the video was the band members all re-enacting Hitchcock's Vertigo? That was freaking amazing.

3. The Ghost is Dancing - the ghost is dancing - to french ave

Comments: I like the synthesized accordion. "Orchestral indie rock from Toronto." Indeed. Seriously, it's good. This song is on their myspace page, if it interests you to listen.

4. Ohbijou - swift feet for troubling times - widths and curves

Comments: she's sort of the Cranberries' singer without the accent, and maybe a little more undernourished. In short, I love it. I could listen to this on public transit all day and feel vaguely romantic and miserable. Every criteria is fulfilled.

5. The Purrs - the purrs - she's gone

Comments: love, love love love. Fabulous. It's like the animals but with a new and more vaguely miserable sensibility. And moan-y singing. I would sing along, but my throat hurts. And there are people.

6. K-Os - atlantis hymns for disco - born to run

Comments: sadly, not a Springsteen cover. In keeping with my usual enigmatic reasons for playing songs, I'm playing this first for Ash, who loves k-os even though he is a confirmed indy-rocker. It's also for Scott, who loves Brucie's Born to Run more than any other song. To both of you, I freakin' HIGHLY recommend this truly funky-ass song which I now completely love. I need to get this album I think! (It's not just the suburban nerd-boys who want to be mcs. It's me too. Hot damn.)

7. The Establishment - economy radio - economy radio

Comments: must be economy, because it comes in very large volumes. Pretty great actually, which is hard for me to admit, because I'm usually so anti-establishment. HA. Ugh.

8. In Ink Please - formica table for two - faster first half

Comments: cute, with matching glasses.

unironically listening to canconcoun

Hey, what's up. It's time again for me to waste my life at my former university AGHAHDOODOODOO spend an hour at the radio station I love so much.

Track list:

1. The Divorcees - you ain't gettin' my country - nearly fell

Comments: Hm. In order to appreciate this you have to turn off your inner skeptic. Mine is virtually impossible to squish, but I did my best, and there was some oooing I liked. I also love Blue Rodeo to absolute distraction when I'm drunk. Seriously, if Jim Cuddy got me liquored up, I'm not making any promises about where things might or might not go. This is about the situation with the delightful Divorcees (although they're not as pretty as Jim).

2. Ill Scarlett - epidemic - n.t.f.

Comments: I think ska is dead.

3. Career Suicide - anthology of releases 2004-2005 - There's Something Wrong With You


Comments: But there's nothing wrong with this track, which kicks ass. It could be a reaction to the first couple of songs. So what. I luuuuurves it. Oh hey, I never thought I'd say this but: nsfw. Seriously, that t-shirt is the dirtiest line drawing I have ever, ever seen, and I've been using the internet for several years now. As usual, I'm fascinated.

4. Hilary Grist - on my way - unless you're sure

Comments: Just playing it because we were friends in the fifth grade. Odd, don't you usually think these people just vapourize after highschool? Apparently she decided to be a singer/songwriter instead, so more power to her. She'll be on Melodies in Mind, the show after mine, on January 9th! That'll be good. You should listen.

5. Powder Keg - quality you can taste - beefcake

Comments: They have much energy. I'm exhausted. Also, it's not my fault I'm not linking to anything, their site must be all flashed up or something because google doesn't know them at all.

6. PJ Harvey - Peel Sessions - Wang Dang Doodle

Comments: love it. I am familiar with this song only from the Pointer Sisters version. If you don't have the Pointer Sisters Live album, you should immediately take thyself to whatever used record bin is in your vicinity and beg for it. It doesn't have 'I'm so excited' on it, so relax yourself dammit. Anyway, PJ Harvey does a damn good job and rocks and is generally awesome, like a young british Patti Smith. Maybe it's just the hair, but also the growling I think.

7. Ox - american lo-fi - Miss Idaho


Comments: Really great. The cover art didn't speak to me, but when Canadians write songs about American things in a sort of lamenting way I generally enjoy it. It all balances out.

8. Lesser Birds of Paradise - space between - Claire Danes if you ever get a nose job I swear to Jesus I'll hang myself

Comments: So nice I'd like to reminisce about Jordan Catalano twice! Speaking of which, didn't that guy turn out to be a world-class dick. Appropriate really considering what he did to Claire Danes in the boiler room. Asshole. I'd like to punch his pasty face.
This song has nothing to do with any of that, and is completely and utterly awesome.

9. Lesser Birds of Paradise - space between - do you remember when we overthrew the government

Comments: I must have been drunk or something, because no. But this song makes me wish I did, with its sheer excellence.

rainy day people

Da da dooo dedaada dummmm.

Track list:

1. Himalayan Bear - la lonesome island - I swam with turtles

Comments: I find it hard not to love this. So strummy and soothing with the high man singing and the lyrics about creatures, or something. Screw it, I am going to love it. You can't stop me.

2. Their majesties - lands where tales are tall - sweet sweet thunder

Comments: Trying to stick with the water theme here, and thunder tends to signal that I'm about to get wet. Clearly I'm enjoying being a little morose lately, because I've picked another song featuring a guy who can't really sing. But since that's the trademark of every really great band, I can't fault them for choosing the man-who-can't-sing direction. In fact, I applaud it. I like this quite a bit.

3. The Stolen Minks - family boycott - Batman (you're the sex)

Comments: Really this is an excuse to talk about Batman the animated series and how much I love it. Who cares! Oh my gravy, 'you can leave the mask on'? SO TRUE. Stolen Minks, you are awesome. Full stop.

4. Mathias Delplanque - ma chambre quand je n'y suis pas (montreal)

Comments: um, I think he actually set up a recording device in his room and just left for 45 minutes while the ghost of a reggae man messed with his laundry and whistled. Honestly. This is what we call a "soundscape", I believe.

5. Minisystem - madingley - cheddar

Comments: this is for my cousin, who likes cheese. She's too young to be allowed to listen to the station, but spiritually I think she feels the vibe. Plus, this is very danceable and there's no reason I shouldn't be able to play it back for her later, the odds are very slim that it'll cause her to start using crystal meth or something.

6. The Curtains - calamity - World's Most Dangerous Woman

Comments: Lucky bastards managed to land on Asthmatic Kitty, and are therefore beneficiaries of Sufjan and his magic industry love. Which isn't why I'm playing them, but it doesn't discourage me either. There's a reason the man has magic industry love, okay? Most of these bands are really good, as far as I'm aware. They're pleasantly consistent in that respect.

7. No Luck Club - prosperity - Birds on Parade

Comments: ooh, I'm soothed and I keep waving my arms around in interpretive dance fashion against my own will. Who doesn't love that. Perhaps I am biased toward liking these guys, since they have cjsf roots. Who cares. I say you have to use whatever you can to get ahead in this nasty harsh brutal world. Which is currently, for me anyway, flooded with a smooth beat and some panflute-like sounds. Aaah.

8. The Pants Situation - the ugly man - The bigamy was big of you

Comments: I wanted to talk about Britney here, but there was nothing I could say without embarrassing myself quite a bit. Even with the disclaimers I didn't do too well. Whatever, I'm so happy, I hope she comes back with some completely heinous single and a very stupid hat and kicks pop music ass.
The Pants Situation, on the other hand, are actually a good band, and this song has very little to do with Britney's marital situation, but is instead cool and interesting. Thanks TPS. Ha! TPS.

9. Destroyer - we'll build them a golden bridge - Islands in the Stream

Comments: I doubt there's a way I could love this concept more - random songs given the titles of famous songs. I now wish I was a musician so I could do this too. I would have a weird obsessive love ballad called Lady Stardust, and then a rocking power ballad called, um, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This is the best idea ever. Destroyer, for the 57th time, I love you.