Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Creative outbursts

Some people are just so damned creative. Such as tonight's featured musical artistes. So why not me? I bet it has something to do with talent and effort. Let's think about it later, shall we? Yes, laaaaaater.

Track list:

1. Lightning Dust - lightning dust - castles and caves

Comments: Pretty piano, theatrical vocals, very lovely.

2. Immaculate Machine - immaculate machine's fables - northeastern wind

Comments: pretty guitar, heartfelt vocals, also very lovely.

3. The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets - the shadow out of tim - Chapter VIII: operation: get the hell out of here

Comments: The concept album: a beast that is meant to be conquered again and again. Often, the beast eats you whole (see: John, Elton. And it wasn't even really his!). This sounds lighthearted enough that they'll probably be okay. I'm pulling for you, thickets!

4. Language-Arts - language-arts - either way

Comments: I enjoyed this enough that the band merits a second "spin" (ooh, industry-speak!). This is like theme music for a very mellow caballero film. Probably the hero is kind of a whore. But who doesn't love that, in a film hero. Why else would everyone enjoy James Bond so much?

5. Alec K. Redfearn and the Eyesores - the blind spot - the burning hand

Comments: Kind of mesmerizing. That beat, it's lulling me. Quick, stop me before I hand my wallet to a complete stranger.

6. Slow Learner - in their time they are magnificent - east river

Comments: I love growly-voiced singers. And so does everyone else, if the enduring popularity of Tom Waits is any indication. I guess Rod Steward can thank his growly voice too, but in a different, more whiny, more stab-me-in-the-face kind of way.

7. Illfit Outfit - proudly resenting illfit outfit - eat the prairie

Comments: I know I keep playing this but... dammit, it's canadian and it's pink! Not to mention good and totally weird.

8. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's - various: the trial of darryl hunt - things you shouldn't do

Comments: You were hard to spot on there Margot, but don't worry, I gotcha. Oooh, pretty.

9. Tim Gilbertson - tim gilbertson- get going

Comments: I really like this album alot. It totally shoots to hell my theory that people who record under their actual full names are at risk of sucking. This is just plain good. I love that wonky guitar effect, I really do.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

grawp.

Today is not my favourite day. But why should I mess you up too by telling you about it? OH BLOG. Shut up blog.

Your sporadically scheduled download is especially sporadic today.

Track list:

1. Ghost House - these are ghost house - we run of chorus

Comments: Happy and with a delightfully uneven tempo. Like falling down stairs with a drum kit. But better organized. I like this. I need a drink. Those two things aren't related though.

2. Trembling - pulses in the dark - silent fanfare

Comments: This is nice. I've heard that local cds get stolen from the station faster than anything else, so it's a good thing I'm playing this song today. I hope you guys make it to next week, trembling, but I'm not making any guarantees. There are some very sticky-fingered types around here. I guess it's a compliment, but it's about as backhanded as they come.

3. The Doers - gaiety - hey there, hoser

Comments: I'm counting on this cheery band to cheer me up a bit. Mission accomplished! Even if he seems to be a bit of an emo-hoser. Wait, have I miscalculated here? Aw, it'll be fine. Just huddle and rock.

4. Esther Galil - z-land - z-land

Comments: For you, my beloved French friends. How I adore you. And how I adore Esther! She's so bitchin'.

5. Great Plains - home of the new totem - halogen

Comments: This is very earnest, and it's hard to be cheeky about it. Dammit!

6. The Reasonable Men - the reasonable men - undersold

Comments: I gravitate back to this disc because it is good. Is that so wrong?

7. The Grim Beat - isle of man - the red light

Comments: This band gives me hope that I too could be the lead singer of my own fun/awesome pop outfit! Aw who am I kidding, I love lead singers who can't actually sing. They have been the foundation of my happiness for as long as I can remember.

an aisle of lady

8. Percy Farm - the end's in the beginning - sarah got her freedom

Comments: Delightful. I love the guitar bit that comes in with a minute to go.

9. Sleepless Nights - sleepless nights - godspeed you deathwolf

Comments: Nonsensically, NOT norwegian death metal. Dude, I don't want to move to Toronto either!! I so GET this song. Fantastic.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

preoccupied with outdoor activities

There is a subconscious 'fire' theme going on tonight. Might not be my fault though - most of these guys are feeling things pretty deeply, which makes them think about being 'consumed' by emotion, which, naturally, leads to the fire metaphor. Ring of Fire, Hunk o' Burnin' Love, etc. etc. It's no accident.

Update: Show audio mysteriously absent this week! Aww nuts. I'm a bit down about it too, because I think this week's show kicked about half an ass. Not bad. But since you can't hear it anymore, I'm free to lie. It was spectacular! Obliterated all traditional forms of broadcasting in one fell swoop with its excellence! Ronnie Radio is dead and buried!

Track list:

1. The Mohawk Lodge - wildfires - wildfires

Comments: Nearly seven minutes of amazing. I already knew I love these guys, but now I know it in a much more immediate way. Soon to result in obnoxious proselytizing and alienation from family and friends! TML, you are my L. Ron Hubbard.

2. Roland Blinn - the official - untitled track 8

Comments: ummm... experimental! Actually it sounds like a remix of a bunch of balloon-animal noises. Roland is always providing something different. Every time.

3. Immaculate Machine - immaculate machine's fables - old flame

Comments: Starts out sounding dour, and then throws in a very petshopboysesque beat. I love dancing while miserable!

4. Rockpile - seconds of pleasure - teacher teacher

Comments: Nick Lowe will play Vancouver on October 10th! He is a genius! I will be there, listening reverently and loving every moment. He won't play this, but it's still effin great.

5. Nick Lowe - pinker and prouder than previous - big hair

Comments: Some solo work. Fantastically good. He won't play this either.

6. Nick Lowe - the impossible bird - where's my everything

Comments: He's much more introspective in 1994. More of a song about legacy than anything, which is an old man's reflection. But I'm all over it anyway. So pretty. He might play this. And I might sigh distractingly throughout.

7. The Doers - gaiety - party's in the kitchen

Comments: This song doesn't have time to turn to gumbo, it's too peppy and fun. I'm enjoying it almost excessively.

8. Language Arts - language arts - family tree

Comments: Kinda funky, almost ladyrap. I'm doing the white girl headbang in my chair.

9. Transylvanian Polka - transylvanian polka - dance with the geeks

Comments: Delicious wackiness. The name of this band was decided upon after much analysis and deliberation, and was probably approved by a panel of academics and/or experts. It's that accurate.

10. John Vanderslice - emerald city - tablespoon of codeine

Comments: John, let's hang out. I like codeine too. Call me.