Pre-fat Kirk

Listen you stupid chief!

2011-12-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

OH MY GOSH you guys, they are remaking THE SWEENEY as a film. It is going to be set in the modern day, so no big hair and bigger pant cuffs, but I bet it will still be full of DAMN GOOD COPPAHS.

I am optimistic about the project, because the video shows the director just totally getting it. Yes your gun still has bullets! Run! Bang! Run! Bang bang bang!

Relaxing the mind with origami

2011-11-17T12:03:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just need to unwind! Relax! Settle down for goshsakes! How about with some paper folding?

Okay but don't actually try to make this thing, that will turn you into a lunatic, and undo all of your relaxation efforts. Let's not go crazy.

Her voice is hypnotic. And foooooold.

I could never be your rock critic

2011-08-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

Strong opinions about music have led me into trouble more times than I can count, and I tend to change my mind about these things over time anyway, which makes fastidiousness seem silly. (ssssss.)

I think that in many cases I develop a nuanced connection to the material over time - exalting the positive while gently forgiving the negative (welcome to yet another bad boyfriend analogy).

And still, some artists creep up on me and immediately I just want to screeeeeam rather than listen to them. Today I tried out a new album - a free download, so no names because that would be unforgivable ingratitude - which is supposed to be an r&b record, about which I thought, "hooray! ", forgetting that r&b no longer exists and instead we're faced with music that makes you feel like you're covered with hot slime. What I really want to say is "BARF BARF BARF X1000 NEGATIVE EIGHT STARS PLEASE NEVER MAKE SOUNDS AGAIN." But that might negate someone else's beautiful experience with the hot slime album, so I won't. It's agony.

Related: I went to an art show a couple of months ago where all I wanted to do was scream "WHY DOES SHE ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE IT ABOUT BOOBS?" But I waited until I got home instead, which I felt was evidence of growth.

Questions for a hypothetical conversation with Steve Coogan

2011-08-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

This is the face he would make during the interview.

Having built up and torn down many characters, some of them over the course of decades, do you ever find yourself slipping into them accidentally, in your mind?
Do you think of yourself as a character, noticing your own traits and the way that you speak and walk and dress and so forth? Does thinking about how to be different characters make you more self-conscious? Is this how you ended up playing versions of yourself professionally?
Do you prefer playing characters you've created, or is it more relaxed to let someone else write you a part which you can then leave behind when the project's over, eg Roderick the water rat? (Could you ever accidentally slip into Roderick?)
Are there aspects of your characters that are aspirational? Do you wish you knew as much about wasps as Tommy Saxondale, for example? Do you wish you were as emotionally resilient as Alan? (Or maybe you do have these things? Would you be able to help me with the raccoons in my shed?)
Do you ever wish people would stop laughing and just take you seriously for once?

OH ALSO THIS (1 of 12)

2011-06-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

Nick Lowe - "Country Girl", Glastonbury Festival, 25th June 2011

2011-06-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

Robot Owen Wilson is Freaking Me Out

2010-12-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

One day I will forget what humans look like and just go around hugging mailboxes and shaking hands with trees all day. Doesn't sound too bad.

Ultra-petite daywear.

2010-07-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

One of my remotest friends had himself a baby earlier this year, which, you know, finally. Babies are nice, because they don't mind if you make an irrational fuss over them. They don't give you the eyebrows (you know the ones). They feel they're worthy of your devotion. It must be a nice place to be! I've also heard that they vomit unexpectedly and can be cantankerous, but I think that happens behind closed doors, with mother, at 3am. I'm very inexperienced. More of a baby tourist, over here.

As such, I like to dress them up like little squishy dolls!

Green because she is sort of a redhead, as far as I can tell. Those buttons are like tiny sheriff badges. I die.

Quiet humour.

2010-06-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I listened to this, which is a humorous essay on opera by Armando Ianucci. (Armando is a harmonized Scottish/Italian blend, which I think is nice!)

Armando! This horse cannot play clarinet AT ALL.

I am also reading The Best of Modern Humor by Mordecai Richler (1986). Both of these things are meant to be funny, and they are! But for the most part I have not been injuring my ribcage over them. There has been nose wrinkling, and I've had to re-read some passages; sometimes it seems like I'm the one being laughed at, for being generally knuckle-headed. Sometimes I make a face like I've just been handed a particularly lurid piece of birthday cake. Sort of a stifled grimace of amusement.

I get a strong sense that this kind of humour is maybe the most sophisticated writing there is, and maybe it is up to all of us to try to appreciate a little bit of it, lest our civilization's funny index be abandoned to the evil whims of John Travolta's hairpiece.

But it's not a chore, I swear! You will love not laughing at things.

Bread Thursdays are All for Loooooove

2010-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

It is totally Bread Thursday. Does that need any explaining? NO.

These are rolls made with sourdough starter, which makes the dough nice and moist. Make a snake, tie a knot, tuck one end into the middle of the bread and the other end underneath. It is easy.

In fact, everything about making bread is shamefully easy, especially when you factor in that bourgeois classic wedding present, the Kitchenaid Mixer (insert angel choirs here). I am 4 serious Holmes, do not buy bread unless you are currently working three jobs and are just too busy. Or maybe you have a nice relative who makes all of the bread, I don't know. At least, do not buy it from the grocery store, that stuff is like, pudding with crumbs? And petrochemicals probably? Who knows.

These buns also have oregano in them, so your sandwich is extra faboo automatically. Here, I will take you INSIDE THE BREAD:

Terrifying.

What you do then is just stow it in those big freezer baggies, and remove from freezer as necessary for mid-afternoon carb-gorging. Preferably while watching 80s classics! OH LLOYD.

Najibullah Quraishi, can we be friends?

2010-04-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr. Quraishi,

Here's the thing: I realize that for you it would be like being friends with a flatworm, but at the same time I would like to ask you some questions. For example, should I be supportive of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan right now? If yes, what should we be doing differently? Should I quit my job and just storm parliament already? What I'm hoping is that you will tell me what to think about the issue, whereupon I will feel more politically confident, and at the very least I will know what to ask for, despite our government's probable unwillingness to provide it. They seem to have their own very fixed ideas. But I'd still like to know.

It might seem like laziness on my part, but then don't you think it would be presumptuous of me to make up my own mind, given my cushy situation? Google Maps cannot even give me directions to Kandahar from here. So you see Naji (is it okay to call you that? I hope so), I'm just looking for some expertise. With your excellent moral compass and range of experience in the field, you're really the most qualified person I can think of. In return, I am knitting you a jumper. What size are you? Do you object to having "JUST A SUPER GUY" emblazoned across the front? I could also go with "FEAR ME, JERKS." Your call.

Sincerely,
Emily.

Gingerino

2010-04-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

My brother was ten when we went to Italy, and he remembers nothing of the experience - except the gingerino. Those suckers have old fashioned bottle caps, not twist-off tops, so once you open them you either have to drink it or pour it on the pavement. One relative gave the three of us two bottles each, setting them in a row and then attacking them, overzealous-bartender-style, snapping the little lids off before our startled eyes. And the thing is, the only flavour you could discern in those things, if you could call it flavour at that high concentration, was ginger. As advertised! I would not describe it as a sophisticated taste experience. You may as well drink your mother's vanilla extract from out of the baking cupboard. It goes down your tongue like a bowling ball covered in tacks.

The website suggests some fun-type mixes. To which I say NO. Do not sully the pineapple juice and vodka with this crap. It is like cough syrup without the numbing and possibly harmful drugs. I do not understand you, gingerino, but there are lots of other Italian things I don't understand too, so maybe it is related.

He knew he was right (and also a bit of a jackass)

2010-03-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

Anthony Trollope makes fun of himself, his readers, his characters, his book, literature in general, and the world. Andrew Davies completely fails to televise it, but can you blame him really?

Nielyo

2010-02-15T19:23:00.001-08:00

The LIVE BAND in STRIPED SHIRTS with HORNS at the Richmond Ohhhhlympick Oval just played 'Sweet Caroline' and everyone in the house sang along, it was magic.

If you are interested in coverage sans Brian Williams, sometimes it is available, like right now for instance over here.

Who's responsible for airline safety?

2010-02-11T13:49:00.001-08:00

Not this guy, he's way too busy drizzling himself with butter under an industrial heat lamp.

Cheap joke!

But seriously, this is just freaking me out.

Extreme ladydom

2010-01-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

Argh, Casey from Ninja Turtles!
Okay, for the record, strippers.

Things that everybody knows:

- Strip bars are way less interesting in real life.

- Strip-choreography is not generally as creative or interesting as one would like.

- Strippers' bodies are largely plastic, surreal caricatures of womanhood. This makes the experience of seeing them naked equally plastic and surreal. Last week I was in a public washroom when a woman decided to pee with the door wide open, and it sent me running down the hallway of the professional building. Running. Whereas the strippers are just kind of there, you know?

- It's a living, even though most people's moms don't want them doing that.

- It is cruel to refer to an actor who is just doing his job as 'Casey from Ninja Turtles'.

- Stripping is probably forever, barring some nuclear incident, and even then you could take your clothes off for cash in a fall-out shelter, although what you would then spend the cash on I don't know. Maybe you could create some sort of ultra-primitive economy where everyone is simultaneously a stripper and a voyeur, and you all just run around in the shelter shoving money in each others' underwear.

- Don McKellar and Sarah Polley directed by Atom Egoyan in CANADIAN FILM ABOUT LIFE COMPLICATED.

Look into his big pretty eyes, he is having feeelings.

Whoopsum Leap

2010-01-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

By accident today my computer thinks it is American and I suddenly get aaaaall the TV.

Shhhh.

It could disappear at any moment, so I am quickly absorbing much Quantum Leap. They must have really wanted that sucker to get pickup, because the Bakula spends 3/4 of the first episode with no shirt on, looking quite Harrison-Ford-y, actually, although with roughly 6x the eyebrows.

UPDATE, 4pm:

I am sure no good will come of this.

The Edible Woman s13e73

2010-01-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

This morning my tea smiled up at me with five thousand tiny, shiny bubble eyes. "Charming," you might say. I let it go cold and then tipped it in the sink (after grabbing the appropriate evidence, as you see).

That book is just totally self-indulgent, isn't it? I'm sure that's why I like it. BARF.

The Christmas Problem

2009-12-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

I am one of those troubling women who hoards Christmas decorations in massive quantities. Worse, I keep an eye open for them, year-round, in dusty back corners of thrift stores.

A couple of weeks ago it was a wicker basket under a table at a church 'Fall Fair' garage sale.

Thrill to my pink tablecloth with grease spots. These ornaments (except the one on the far right, which is probably homemade - bless) are 'Shiny Brite' ornaments, which I have just finished reading about here. Manufactured in the U.S.A, it says so right on the, uh, lid? So the guess is that they're from no later than 1962, because they're all made from that delightful thin glass that likes to go boom when the cat gets too close.

I especially like these weird tree ones:

They're kind of battered, and that frosty stuff is turning a bit icky, but there is no denying the appeal of those seasonally nontraditional colours. The blue and yellow in particular. I find the vintage approach to be comforting, at Christmas; new and perfect things only serve to remind me that I, myself, am not perfect or at all new (and neither is the family as a whole, woof, amirite?). Instead I choose to embrace the slightly soiled loveliness of somebody else's castoffs.

These 'double reflector' numbers are heavily reminiscent of the ornaments on the tree at my grandparents' farm, many years ago. Although I believe those were plastic, as was the tree. That carelessly globbed-on orange paint is just pure pathos, isn't it? Pure pathos for, like, a dollar? You can get these all over the online auction sites, but that sort of takes the fun out of it; if you find it yourself in a thrift shop and give it a polish with a soft rag, it's like you adopted it, whereas there is far too much choice, sometimes, online, and then you just end up unhappy no matter what. Me and the thrift store, we find mutual satisfaction.

Le Livre de Poche

2009-10-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

I love it when people post book cover scans; old Penguin and Puffin Classics are so delightful, and I'm not above buying a copy of a book I already own because the cover is really great. Generally these are old books I'm digging out of a stinky pile at the local thrift store, while my paramour holds his nose and sags noticeably with every passing minute. He doesn't like standing around in musty second-hand shops. Unfortunately for him, I love it. If all I had to do all day was sift through other people's attics and closets looking for weird old junk, I would be a happy lady. As it is, the bread, she must be earned. And the kettle chips.

Anyway, old books. Here are a couple that I'm particularly fond of. And because we are in Canada, a land peppered liberally with native French speakers and frustrated French students, these castoffs are in French, and all from le Livre de Poche.

La Jument Verte - Marcel Ayme, 1933

How could anyone pass up this book, which is about a green horse, and includes an obviously crazy ensemble cast. As with many old books, this one is lovingly inscribed with its owner's name - useful in case you went to a wild book party and needed to collect your things a week later, when the gin had worn off. So we know that Janice owned this in 1971, and she had very nice handwriting. I'll also mention that all rights are reserved in every country, even the U.S.S.R.; were they particularly guilty when it came to copyright infringement? I do not know.

The back. "A well of health and good humour." (Very roughly.) I guarantee Rene Lalou never though his review would look so funky. If book backs could be this well-designed now, people might bother reading them with some interest. There are more words on the backs of some books than in them, and for what? Abandoned self-congratulation, methinks. This, however, is beautiful. Your local bookstore could display this thing backwards.

le Diable au Corps - Raymond Radiguet, 1923

This book is gorgeous and creepy all at the same time. When I read this on the bus (showing off, obviously) it eventually occurred to me that it could make you look like a proud French smut enthusiast, which is maybe not the worst thing. The problem occurs when you notice the obvious youth of that kid on the right. Ick. Thankfully the book isn't criminally perverse, just sexually weird in interesting ways (I'm defining something here, but I'm not quite sure what).
This book belonged to Odette. Charmed.

When Jean Cocteau says you're a phenomenon, and compares you to Rimbaud, and says that your genius is basically a giant burden, you jot it down and fax it to your editor, asap. Probably that's not what happened here, but it's a good tip for any aspiring writers out there.

Le seigneur des anneaux - Tolkien, 1954

It can scream pocketbook all it wants, but that sucker is huge. This is a 1979 edition of a 1966 translation. The fun of this book is to hold it up in front of nerd friends and challenge them to identify it. If you want to make it legitimately difficult, cover the author name, but honestly it's amazing how long it seems to take. Maybe the little hobbit (oops, spoiler) in the bottom right corner, with his loopy hairy feet and spats, seems a bit... goofy? And I'm not sure why we've got TOLKIEN in giant BONANZA-style lettering. I enjoy the big gold rings though, very threatening and Christmasy, all at once. The French edition wins out in this regard also: "Tome" is waaay more impressive than "Book" or "Volume."

I take it back, he's not goofy, he's hilarious and I would like to watch him eat scones and fight dragons in a mountain:

Paul McGann, MCMVIXXX

2009-09-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have not ever watched Doctor Who. I realize that there has been considerable renewed interest in the franchise over the last few years thanks to a Mr. David Tennant, who is considered quite handsome. Fair enough. And the new Doctor (premiering next year!) appears to be even more entrenched in the alterna-cheesecake vein, which only proves that the Doctor Who producers know their youthful nerdlady audience extremely well, and are trying to ensure the series' longevity by installing what is essentially a British Wentz in tweed (fig.1, at right) as their new hero. He's very cute, don't get me wrong, I support you, young nerdladies! Chase that tweed fox! But there are other things to be considered, like the fact that I am ancient, and no longer with it; what is out there in the Dr. Whoniverse (actually a real thing on the internet, gurgle) for moi?

Shall I tell you? I shall. It is the Eighth Doctor series on BBC Radio 7. Starring the lovely Paul McGann, whose voice is really his best attribute anyway. The adventures are glorously improbable, and very silly, and always involve disastrously cheesy aliens (I think this is the deal with Who, M.D., but I'm a beginner, so it stands out) and of course there is a harshly shrieking companion lady who always gets into scrapes, boy howdy. She grows on you, though, despite the constant 'oi!'-ing.

McGann was on TV once as Dr. Who, although I have not seen it. He's solely a radio Who now. Because really: Paul McGann does not need to get dragged onto the TV for this gig anymore. Not that he isn't dreamy or anything, because I think it's been clinically proven that (even at 50, long pause) he is. But oh my grandmother, that is not a good look for him, that eighth doctor outfit. And they assault me with it every time I open the BBC page; like cold defiance. I can handle the velvet jacket and the ascot, mostly. But the hair is beyond the pale.

Here, take a look at this fan art (thank you, dedicated fans, you never fail me), and I challenge you not to spontaneously scream, all together now:

AAAH, FLOATING HEAD!

But really it's the wig's fault. It's very alarming, and fully overpowers an otherwise quite nice looking person. And that was in 1996! A man doesn't need to deal with that when he's reached his fifth decade. It's just not right. It shows a lack of respect, strapping that limp rug on his head. Never again, atrocious wig, never again. He looks like Rex Smith after a conditioning accident.

I think we've established, I hate the wig.

And also this is just wrong:

Ten years and no gold watch

2009-09-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

As much as I love it and will miss it probably, I've left CJSF. So there. I've been doing a radio show at Simon Fraser University for ten whole years, and frankly my old bones don't want to make the weekly drive up the hill anymore. Yes, that's me, so broken down that even a short car ride is a hardship. The bumps in the road! My hips! I mean, yes, it's good knitting time, but the risk of spearing onesself in the eyeball is ever-present. Where is my PSA about that? Blah blah blah, sum up: Flushie flushie goes Singing with Barbra.

However.

I did so used to enjoy bleughing, and so I am going to instead use this space to catalogue my many little projects outside of radio, provided any of them get off the ground at all. Also to complain about my angina (which incidentally would be a lovely baby name, I think - let's rehabilitate that word via innocent children) and itchy scalp. Baby, it's gonna be a ride and a half, and you and I will take it together. Or I'll take it alone, what the shit.

She's real good lookin'.

2009-05-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit fixated on Rick Moranis this week. Every time we dip into the old video collection and he stumbles in, being hilarious and endearing, I think to myself, "Hey self, where has that charming Moranis fellow got to?" Thankfully, my self has a subscription to the internet.

Download this week's show: Part 1 Part 2

On this week's show:

Song 1: Immaculate Machine - thank me later
Comments: Chugging rock dealing with hindsight. I know you'll thank him for it later, when your heartache nets you a hit song and you make millions! You will curse him when Bruce Allen waves a pistol at you and demands you take up smoking to give you edge, however.

Discussion: The Joel Plaskett concert at the Vogue a couple of weeks ago, it was extremely good, and the crowd loved him like a deranged parent loves their glue-eating child (i.e. unconditionally, and with goodwill to spare). He's very talented though, so we could have been quite grumpy and he probably still would have won us over.

Song 2: Joel Plaskett - wishful thinkin'
Comments: This is yet another j.p. touring song. It sounds like a train! Somebody's been taking notes from their Can-rock elders. The line "I wish you were here but you're naaaaaaaaaaht!" sounds like a taunt, which is what makes it so appealing, I think. Ha ha, Joel is beyond supervision and out of control! He's probably wearing multiple sweatervests, you cannot stop him!

More discussion: Playing solo, like Mr. Plaskett, takes some serious avocados in the pants. You have to make the material speak for itself, sans Marshall stack! That is an impressive feat. Nick Lowe is my favourite example of this. He could play any of his songs just with an acoustic guitar and force you to listen. Probably has endless success picking up chicks in bars using roughly the same skill set; there are some things you can't teach.

Song 3: Nick Lowe - Tanque-Rae
Comments: The rhythm of this is reckless and fun. Mr. Lowe specializes in songs about girls, and the fact that this one doubles as a song about alcohol is no accident. Dance dance dance, gulp gulp gulp.

Light chat: Should they make moves out of just any old book? They are probably going to make one out of What is the What. I refuse to watch actor children pretend to eat baby birds. But would I like to hear it as a radio play? Possibly! Somebody needs to resurrect the radio play business with some really gripping stories, and not ones about little orphan Annie and Superman, thanks.

Song 4: Mathias Mental - my little life
Comments: I've decided that Mathias Mental and Joel Plaskett should have a keyboard-off, if only because it would amuse me. This whole album is really great, I have made a habit of listening to it at home. This particular song is a bit melancholy, but still so danceable, and combining the two without re-writing an old Joy Division song is truly a wonderful skill.

Further talking: My summer project for 2009 is THIS. 75 pages per week and I should have read David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest by the end of September. I'm on the library waiting list now. I hope it's full of repressed females and brooding tall dark men in tight pants! But I doubt it somehow.

Song 5: Luke Doucet - Pedro
Comments: A cross-border love song full of resonant guitar that would make Neil Young blush with simultaneous pride and envy. Pedro is some sort of Mexican-Canadian angel with a serious power over the ladies. Specifically the American ladies.

Talky talk talk: Rick Moranis, and why he continues to fascinate me, perhaps unhealthily. I think it behooves us all to think about how we might achieve success as early as possible so as to retire and devote ourselves to family and maybe put out a hilarious country album.

Song 6: Rick Moranis - music and love
Comments: Rick Moranis talks for ages about nothing, basically listing song titles and random stuff, and still it's hilarious. I cracked at "she's acting single, I'm drinkin' doubles." This is from the 1989 album 'You, Me, The Music and Me' which is out of print, but I suggest you click on that link up there, AHEM, cough, wheeze.

Talking: Wherein I refer to that last track as 'a song,' because I am so clever. Anyway, you should waste some time at Vectorpark, apropos of nothing.

Song 7: Kiss Me Deadly - dance 3
Comments: This is very pretty, and has sort of an outdoor festival feel to it. Would sound great in a park, full of crazed people in face paint. Get on that kids.

Song 8: Wax Mannequin - dustboy rides the train
Comments: Adventurous yet stripped-down guitar in no fixed time signature (or maybe there is one, but heck if I know, I only got to grade 8 in the royal conservatory). Thankfully the middle bit is in 4/4, which even I, the musical heathen, am familiar with. The charm of this is that it's sort of cocky but also low-key, which almost implies a threat. A threat to rock.

Song 9: Eddie Furman - jobs I'd like to have
Comments: Pretty much anything as long as the overtime's not too heavy, huh Eddie? I feel you. Can't really relate to your wish for surprise illegitimate children though. That's a bit weird.

live as I'll ever be

2009-03-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

I think Grant of Downliner's Crypt told everyone I would be pre-recorded tonight, but no, he's wrong, I'm here flying by the seat of my pants. If the whole thing falls apart at 7:17pm, you'll know it's real. Reality radio! The punters love it, amirite?

Put it on yer mp3 player: Part 1 Part 2

Track list:

1. Afternoons in Stereo - Everybody dance now: songs from Hamilton 3 - party at dick & mimi's

Comments: This is being played again, because it is a stone groove. I'm stealing terminology from 'Trading Places' and using it incorrectly! Check me out! I'm also chair dancing. Grrr, Hamilton, you sexy, uh, industrially-based town.

2. Gentleman Reg - jet black - how we exit

Comments: More dance dance dancing! I love his little beard. The whole package is quite charming. Meets or exceeds my criteria for excellence. Music, facial hair, chair dancing, check check check!

3. Grandfather Fire & the Holy Mourning - freedom street

Comments: A dramatic interlude for a dramatic show. Think about life: the song.

4. Anime feat. Versus - If we ever get out of here, a prince george tribute to band on the run - helen wheels

Comments: Yes, that really is what it says it is. This is so much better than McCartney. Ooh, sacrilege! Ah hell, I slaughtered that goat a long time ago.

5. Cursed Arrows - cfru: just west of something big - run forever

Comments: Grr, angry guitar. Very crunchy, I like it. I want to destroy small business equipment to this song! In boots! And then maybe dance for a bit. And then kick stuff some more!

6. The Maynards - date & destroy - dance fight '83

Comments: I like the dance instructions, and also the mysterious warning. They're going to get me. It is maybe not as threatening as they want it to be. They seem too cuddly for this kind of thing. Also I just kind of want to hang out with their bassist, whose stoicism is undeniably compelling.

7. Lola Dutronic - in berlin - brigitte bardot

Comments: Boys are just so silly sometimes, don't you think? I love this whimsical techno-pop! And it has a fake ending. This song is basically perfect.

8. The Buttless Chaps - cartography - total amounts left are not enough

Comments: An economic crisis-appropriate song, right? This is pretty and honest. I'm feelin' it.

9. Final Fantasy - plays to please - crush love crush

Comments: reliably sad and lovely. Okay, must dash, see you next week.

Wearing my Ira Glass costume

2009-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

Which consists entirely of silly glasses, but hey, I'm already feeling 30% more excellent and gender-confused. Huh?

Track list:

1. The Bicycles - oh no it's love - leave that woman alone

Comments: So overwhelmingly optimistic, I think I will come back and listen to it again in the summer, in the car, repeatedly.

2. Mathias Mental - is the happiest boy in montreal - she's a character

Comments: Baby you're such a character. The girl in the song is right, everyone in Montreal has a show on TV, the CBC is so freaking indiscriminate.

3. Pine Tarts - faux fauves - etoiles

Comments: Tarts in French, you know I can't resist. Sort of a gentle ballad over a determined guitar and drum combo. Charming as usual.

4. Cam Malcolm - a little bit of history - basement rock

Comments: Ha ha, he's going to move out based on his degree! Hilarious. Despite (because of?) the magic realism it's very enjoyable.

5. Economics - economics - birds are probably dinosaurs

Comments: A one-man dance band, with science! I don't know what I'm saying anymore. Let's make a movie about space ships and use this as the score! It's a deal.

6. The Magic - the magic - deep water

Comments: Another danceable public service announcement! Don't swim in the deep water, sharks will eat you. I love the saxophone, and the bongos, and the uh, wacked out theremin-y guitar. You are being chased through the jungle! Run Indiana, run! It's great, whatever it is.

7. Elephantine - quebec emergent 08-09 - la beaute

Comments: I think there are French swears in this song. But I'll never know for sure because our French teacher would never really tell us. Darn her inhibitions!

8. Crash the Car - they built houses here - atlas & axis

Comments: This is to make you feel really sad that I am leaving again for a week. Suffer! Weep! Ha ha HA HA HA. Phew. Lording it over you is exhausting, listener.

Old 78's

2009-02-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

I got a whole giant box of 'em, from the magic radio station library. I'm takin' em home. But man, those things are not vinyl, they're metal and hard plastic and stuff. They are very, very heavy. I have been told to lift with my knees.

Liberace was kind of cute when he started out, actually...? Am I a twisted weirdo? Oh yes.

Download the show, if you wish: Part 1 Part 2

Track list:

1. Le Roi Poisson - quebec emergent 0809 - premier rang

Comments: Funky with excellent keyboard. I wish I knew the more technical term for that keyboard sound. It's like, one of those little organ things? Anyway, this rocks times french!

2. Bad Flirt - virgin talk - heart of darkness

Comments: Their CD art is so professionally done that at first I was nervous. This is college radio after all, what would we be if we were not pretentious? We would cease to exist! Even my cold dead heart has to admit that this is pretty rad though. If I were 15 again this would rock my ass to the point of hysteria.

3. DD/MM/YYYY - 777 - vantan

Comments: Driving rock with an electronic sort of a thing going on, and basically I'm trying to express something I have no business expressing. Whatever, I'm inexpert! daymonthyear, you're great, you know it.

4. Direction - est - caption

Comments: Sort of epic. Sounds like massive arena rock, but with low-key vocals. At first I thought Rush but Quebecois, but now I'm not sure. Emerson Lake and Palmer, maybe? (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ricki Lake and Arnold Palmer, obviously.)

5. The Soles - you burst into fire again - hey old man

Comments: Funky with amusing lyrics. Nobody writes modern pop for old people! Thank you Soles for addressing this major oversight.

6/7. B.A. Johnston - stairway to hamilton - you will miss me when the zombies come/dirtmall

Comments: I find that first one romantic and touching; am I deranged? He wants to hide with me in the dollarama! Swooooon.
Uh yeah okay.

8. Down the Lees - the guest room - the gallivant

Comments: I have decided this bridges the gap between dance music and my beloved sad bastard indie rock. I know it sounds like an insult but I swear on my mother's eiderdown that it is not. I enjoy to dance and cry simultaneously.

9. The Magician - who will cut my grass when I'm gone - indicator stop bath

Comments: Lengthy, epic, passes through many moods. I would like to use this in a film. Make a note!

10. The Stolen Minks - high kicks - your broken heart

Comments: Will slam-dance you into a coma in three minutes or less.

11. Land of Talk - some are lakes - yuppy flu

Comments: I don't have this, I live in the suburbs and I'm distinctly unprofessional, ahahaha!

Secret dirty lyrics

2009-01-13T19:03:00.000-08:00

They're not always obvious. So much fast singing these days. Probably nobody notices but me, armed with my lyric sheets and my filthy mind.

Track list:

1. The Organ - thieves - fire in the ocean

Comments: This is an existing favourite. It's great! But I think I would like to reassure you; you do not need to throw yourself into the ocean to feel a comforting all-over embrace. It's dangerous and cold. And eiderdowns are so affordable these days. Especially if you go synthetic.

2. Paper Moon - one thousand reasons to stay, one reason to leave - the history of punctuation

Comments: Dance dance dance to the history of Canadian pop music! I'm delving into the library today.

3. Corb Lund Band - unforgiving mistress - mora (blackberry)

Comments: Corb goes latino! This is a bit cheeky and also hip-swagglin'.

4. jale - various: never mind the molluscs ep - lung

Comments: Delicious east-coast grunge.

5. Emilie Muscle - laches louuses ii - manger la tete

Comments: Slow fast slow fast awesome.

6. Weasel Faced Judge - hear & now '92 - bacon and egg bicycle

Comments: Craziness. A sausage built for two! Glad to know someone else has embraced weird for the sake of weird.

7. Donner Party Reunion - "it's been about five years, hasn't it?" - days of degradation

Comments: Punktacular, and from the past. It has been about fifteen years I think, actually.

8. Search Parties - an hour like this - wonderful disease

Comments: I love how this song is like eight songs all smashed together. Sort of symphonic, in that sense.

9. Wintermitts - heirloom - mer de l'atlantique

Comments: Sort of sad and dance-y at the same time. And tinkly at the end.

10. Jenny Omnichord - charlotte or otis - I sneeze in threes (with Andy Swan)

Comments: So adorable. I have this at home and it just makes me grin horribly. I miss being five. Except the time I was punished for smacking a kid with a rubber porkchop in kindergarten, that sucked. I had to sit on the orange chair! Ick.

11. B.A. Johnston - stairway to hamilton - tetris junkie

Comments: DELIGHTFUL. LOVE IT.

moi je n'aime pas!

2008-12-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

Oh Quebec metal, why has it take me this long to love you?

Track list:

1. Monon'c Serge & Anonymus - Various: Quebec Emergent - sebastien benoit

Comments: AMAZING. The combination of heavy metal styles and cheeky french lyrics has blown my mind.

2. Rich Aucoin - personal publication - 10,342 cuts for the us (an exploding)

Comments: Dancy, and perfect for watching with clips of old cartoons. This is not a coincidence.

3. Jenny Omnichord - charlotte or otis - the old prince

Comments: Jenny Omnichord and Shad!!! Oh-mazing.

4. Great Lake Swimmers - various: weewerk is 6 - song for the angels (miracle version)

Comments: So soothing and nice, I accidentally played the first part twice, due to smacking the cd player prematurely, argh. Still, I have no real regrets. The song prevents me from feeling anything except whistful.

5. Change of Heart - steelteeth - orange

Comments: Some soothing 90s Canadian rock, for me and my tortured, uh, arms. I gave blood yesterday, and it did not go well. This is my reward.

6. Fatal if Swallowed - thank you, goodnight! - beer for my dear

Comments: The sentiment behind the song was so heartwarming, how could I not play it? I can totally be won over with beer! I could cry right now.

7. Wintermitts - heirloom - schoolyard

Comments: Simultaneously pretty and rockin'. Not easy to do!

8. Castanets - city of refuge - refuge 1

Comments: To fuel your misery. Hey, this is college radio, it's my job.

9. Kellarissa - flamingo - tiny things

Comments: Remember when Larissa was in Choir Practice and I was very appreciative? Well, say hooray if you like continuity, because I like this too. Nice sort of 60s keyboard sounds, with kind of futuristic undertones. But then, to me, the 60s were all about futuristic undertones, so maybe it's all tied together.

10. Call the City - ep - svetlana says

Comments: I love this song because it is so sassy. I never get tired of sass.

11. Grandfather Fire & the Holy Mourning - various: nothing on but your radio - live sessions from cjsw 90.9 - my allergy to the fans

Thoughtful piano, thoughtfully

2008-12-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

If only I hadn't given up lessons (I might have been even more warped and frustrated).

Track list:

1. Valery Gore - avalanche to wandering bear - shoes of glass

Comments: Plink plink plink! Lovely.

2. Winter Gloves - about the girl - party people

Comments: Woo hoo hoo! Michael Jackson-style. I am dancing, as usual. Ooh, I love the talking bit, always a winner.

3. Stacy Lloyd Brown - automatic ep - the motherload

Comments: Squidge squodge music! This is how I am most comfortable describing slightly electronic music. Through onomatopoeia! It works for me. This is sort of a soothing ocean of synthesizer punctuated by squidge squodge and bloop bloop. I feel like a chidren's tv presenter right now.

4. DD/MM/YYYY - 777 - super vgf

Comments: More boops and bloops, very catchy and delightful.

5. The Judes - sunflower - plastic surgery

Comments: He only wants to love you, and your fake boobs. Delightfully retro-garage.

6. Young Rival - young rival - poisonous moves

Comments: It's an awesome retro-garage double shot!

7. Elliott Brood - mountain meadows - fingers and tongues

Comments: This sounds very beautiful and old, but modern. Kind of classic western film, but with today's angst.

8. Spiral Beach - bonus! - kind of beast

Comments: A danceable choral rock song with sort of... a space truckin' feel? I think it's possible.

9. Sex with Strangers - the modern seduction - downtown fever

Comments: And the dancing just keeps on, um, happening. I am picturing people bouncing in their cars, you know, if people listened to me in their cars. I don't think the transmission tends to be strong enough, but I have trouble letting go of the vision.

10. The Human Statues - the human statues - the man on the radio

Comments: As a lady on the radio, I'm not thrilled to be excluded, but whatever.

11. Modernboys Moderngirls - I might as well break it- my baby says boy etc.

Comments: So good! Too short!

12: Sean Cullen - i am a human man - addicted to the disco

Comments: Oh dear Sean.

13: Search Parties - an hour like this - an hour like this

North end strangled!

2008-11-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

I submit!

Track list:

1. The Stolen Minks - high kicks - north end strangler

Comments: Frig you're awesome, minks.

2. The Great Outdoors - summer - last day of our vacation

Comments: To help you recover from being brutalized by the minks! But really, this speaks to me of my current situation, strapped into five months of frost and drizzle. It's both sympathetic and comforting.

3. Woodland Telegraph - sings revival hymns - how I get buried

Comments: More gentle misery. It's in the title though, isn't it. Yes, yes it is. But it's sweetly demoralizing.

4. 1977 - 1977 - get the feeling

Comments: Pretty! It's a generic comment, but true. I feel this in my pretty-bone. It's a small bone, but very sensitive. Uh, yes. That sounded not great. But this, this IS great. Yes it is.

5. Dylan Thomas & The Vancouver Vipers - fortune teller miracle fish - seasick ocean queen

Comments: Charming and lovely and man, I'll play it again. Oh my, Josephine. Instant winner lyrics, Mr. Thomas!

6. Josh Reichmann Oracle Band - life is legal ep - plant words

Comments: Funky! Bwow chika deowwwww... he's Canadian too. That combination doesn't necessarily come without significant practice and effort. Kudos, Mr. Reichmann, kudos.

7. Modernboys Moderngirls - I might as well break it - where's your boyfriend

Comments: Sassy and very rock n' roll. It's more authentic with the apostrophe. Well, where is this alleged boyfriend? He sounds awesome.

8. Afternoons in Stereo - Everybody dance now: songs from Hamilton 3 - party at dick and mimi's

Comments: Is there anything to say except, that is one wicked funky party to which I have probably not been invited? This music would have been at home on the turntable at Eddie Murphy's house in Trading Places, until he kicked everybody out. Yeah. YEAH!

9. Pants and Tie - washing machine/you rub me the wrong way ep - washing machine

Comments: Maybe this guy doesn't do laundry. Seriously man, laundry is not as awesome as you make it sound. Not even close.

(EDIT: LOVE it.)

10. The Organ - thieves - don't be angry

Comments: And a sharp left at the relationship anguish ballad! Lovely guitar strumming, and singing that reminds me of swans. The Organ are beloved by music critics, however, so I'm sure it's nothing they haven't heard before.

11. Tullio De Piscopo - disco italia - e fatto e sorde! e? (money money)

Comments: Oh you know I can't resist. When they finally hide this album from me in the stacks, I will publicly weep, and possibly mount a protest. In the meantime, dance like there's no tomorrow, kids.

Steve-a Peron

2008-11-18T19:03:00.000-08:00

If you use that as your new band name, remember who to credit (and where to send your first ten bucks, or some flowers or something).

Track list:

1. I ate your legs - I ate your legs - certain breeds

Comments: At first I thought it would be all backwards (nee-oooop, nee-ooooooop), but then it resolved itself into a nice, grungy, nihilistic instrumental number. You will dance the tarantella into your own grave, listener!

2. Ertha Kitt - where is my man (single) - where is my man

Comments: Ertha credits a "B. Vilanch" on this song. Seriously? I would not be surprised if it were THE Bruce "Sally Jesse eyewear" Vilanch. Grrrr.

3. The Good News - the good news - oh na na

Comments: Hop hop dance dance weep weep! This song has everything I like, including a chorus of sweet male voices, and a jumpy and defiant chorus. And fake-rap! Oh em gee, you guys.

4. Fur Bearing Animals - fur bearing animals - space shuttle worn machine

Comments: This band is about to disco your ass into next week. And: GO! But also incongruous fiddle. And robot voices! I am about to turn into the bike courier from Spaced, right about now.

5. Matthew Ryan Woods - edgewise - the arrival

Comments: Fulfilling my self-imposed country quota. Very slick.

6. Said the Whale - howe sounds - my government heart

Comments: For a Canadian band to talk about being a government agent and how that's somehow cool... well anyway, this song is awesome. I guess the secret agents here have time for saucy love affairs, at any rate.

7. The Sheepdogs - big stand - garbagemen

Comments: Appropriately gritty! I like the repeated guitar phrase, it's a total singalong guitar part.

8. Tusks - tusks - baby noise

Comments: This is a convertible-with-the-top-down type song. About babies! As a lady with variable hormone levels, I predict this song will reach maximum effectiveness in approximately three weeks.

9. Poorfolk - our burning street - dead pan dance

Comments: More sort of misery dance music. Well, I like it, what can I say. It has that quick-quick-slow thing going on too. As a lady of a certain age (still with variable hormone levels, let's not forget), I appreciate a break now and then, even in the midst of the rocking. Not too much of a break, small is okay. Wouldn't want to start going all Enya or anything.

10. Red Dragon Band - let me be your radio

Comments: OH MAN, I love this so much.

Nauseated by politicians

2008-09-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

It is the only explanation. Why else would I feel so ill? No, it is not because I just used the cjsf-adjacent bathroom! That thing is spotless!

Track list:

1. End this week with knives - we are so transparent - arms akimbo

2. Lexington & Whatevski - I love Alberta rap - captain of the football team

3. Malajube - le compte complet - la valerie

4. Poor Folk - poor folk - shots

5. Secret Fires - I only want what I can't see - baby I'm a rat

6. The Jealous Girlfriends - the jealous girlfriends - the pink wig to my salieri

7. Cour de lane - cjsr: get out of your basement - burn down the house

8. Illfit Outfit - cjsr: get out of your basement - acid jungle

9. You Say Party! We Say Die! - you say party! we say die! - what's the holdup? where's the fire?

10. The Clips - matterhorn - wire

boiling molten students

2008-09-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

SFU is back in session, and the whole place is overrun with youth. Eeep. Everyone looks quite nervous, and there is no recourse in smoking, thanks to the new rigorous no smoking on campus rules. Plus, they have replaced all of your vendo chips with nutritious fruit leathers! Oh, you're all in so much trouble.

1. The Telepathic Butterflies - breakfast in suburbia - if it's all too much

2. Junior Pantherz - rejoice, remain - high hopes

3. Love and Mathematics - love and mathematics - remember to masticate

4. Aching Heart Foundation - the destination - heaven on earth

5. Artificial Workshop - various: esopus number ten: good news - miracle man

6. Hey Rosetta! - into your lungs - handshake the gangster

7. Shotgun Jimmie - various: do you want to talk all night? a sappy records tribute to snailhouse - 21 years

8. Man Man - various: esopus number ten: good news - a song for liza minelli

9. Duchess Says - anthologie des 3 perchoirs - gilbert

10. The Golden Dogs - big eye little eye - painting ape

Radio Dinners - now more satisfyingly 2008

2008-08-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

This evening's Singing with Barbra radio show is dedicated to the people over here! the people over here! the people over here!

I have been listening to old school rap lately, can you tell? Rip rop rippity roo. I think my skills are improving.

Anyway, I recently borrowed a few of my father-in-law's old timey records (old timey for me being the 70's, obviously). Now I am digitizing them and turning them over to you, the greedy public. In this show we have an inspirational number from National Lampoon, featuring a young and be-babyfaced Christopher Guest. Interspersed with mostly Canadian indie rock and such. This radio show has no attention span, friends.

Track list:

1. Kick in the eye - sea of bitterness - anytime

2. National Lampoon - radio dinner - deteriorata

3. Simply Saucer - half human, half live - clearly invisible

4. Grand Theft Bus - made upwards - roses

5. Alena Manera - alena manera ep - let her go

6. July 4th Toilet - presents balls bougie - name on door

7. The Tetraktys - die brucke (in which the yo-yo string is reavealed as a state of mind) - mellower in canada

8. The Plastic Constellations - we appreciate you - so many friends

9. The Ferris Wheel - ep - stay with me

Oh, are we on fire or what.

2008-08-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

This week I spent a hell of a long time debating the merits of Bigfoot, and basically asking whether life would be more interesting and/or worthwhile if he were around more, you know, to give us advice and such. I say bring him to dinner and let's find out. Unfortunately the establishment keeps faking us out with rubber suits and pig intestines. It is a crime. All I want to do is sit awhile and eat pie with the sasquatch! See what kind of crazy ideas he might have cooked up in the mountains up there! I promise I will not tell him about cars or spaceships or anything. Yeesh, it's like the government doesn't trust us or something.

Track list:

1. Fur Bearing Animals - fur bearing animals - someway

2. Ruby Coast - nopq uvwx - brittle bones

3. Jellyfiche - tout ce que j'ai reve - les arbres

4. Young & Sexy - the arc - up in the rafters

5. Ghostkeeper - ghostkeeper and the children of the great northern muskeg - solid gold

6. Sebastian Grainger - american names - map of the world

7. Sean Savage - summer 5000 - I've got the worm

8. Belleisle - longstanding - old noise

Ship fitter?

2008-08-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Good evening, my sweet. May I rub your back? Would you like some toast and jam? How about a restraining order?

Mmm hmmm.

Tonight we have a whole heck of a bunch of Canadian alt-rock, and one old dude making fun of lounge singers. See if you can tell them apart! I bet it will be hard. Everyone's so damned "ironic" these days.

Listen to this show!
Part 1 Part 2

Track list:

1. Tagaq - auk/blood - fire ~ ikuma

2. Guy Marks - loving you has made me bananas (HINT! HINT!)

3. Women - women - shaking hand

4. Hills Like White Elephants - himalaya - a sword in the circle

5. Cinderpop - a lesson in science - boomerang

6. The Jolts - haute voltage - black snake

7. Ghost Bees - tasseomancy - erl king

8. Mattress - heavy duty - don't forget

9. Ryan Driver - feeler of pure joy - why the road?

Look away

2008-07-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hey you! This is a private blog! Nothing to see here. Except, of course, for a fine selection of songs from some lovely Canadian types.

Track list:

1. Tagaq - auk/blood - hunger

Comments: Occasionally I like to break away from the usual and play something a bit artsy and experimental. This would be one of those times. Reveen only wishes he could relax you like this does. Also, Tagaq's voice is much prettier than Reveen's... and her backing musicians are more talented too. There's no comparison here, really.

2. The Ferris Wheel - the ferris wheel - i hear skeletons

Comments: Mr. Bones feels rattlin', ha ha, that's a good one. Doot doot doot - this CD proclaims that it was "recorded at Sean's," which just impresses the hell out of me. I realize everyone's doing it now, but man, so many people are just doing it wrong, you know?

3. Pete Samples - the jumper cables - bobby raindrop

Comments: I personally think it's the new "we are the world" - it's that sing-along chorus, whoa-oah, whoa-oah, it gets me every time! This is frankly quite gorgeous. And apparently his mom created his album art! I love that. My mum has an embroidery setting on her sewing machine too. She doesn't usually include velcro though. Kudos, Momma Samples.

4. Ghost Keeper - and the children of the great northern muskeg - cruisin the chev

Comments: Look out ladies and gentlemen, ghost keeper is out on the town, and I believe every single member is wearing leather pants and swaggling their hips suggestively. It is highly rock n' roll of them.

5. 4d - l'equanimite - les morts-vivants sifflent

Comments: The zombies are whistling?! Awesome. Is it like, some sort of all-zombie version of West Side Story? OH NO WAIT ACTUALLY - would it not be AMAZING if somebody made West Side Story as the tale of star-crossed lovers, one zombie and the other non-zombie? I vote for lady-zombie, and uninfected dude. I see... Kristin Chenoweth, maybe?

6. The Coast - expatriate - killing off our friends

Comments: Metaphorically I've been doing alot of this lately. You know how it is, you move to the suburbs and suddenly it gets so hard to bother to hang out with anybody. Not that I was doing tons of it before. It's just now it's pretty much absolute.
This song makes it sound kind of glamorous and fun. Thanks, coast!

7. Hills Like White Elephants - himalaya - gulls

Comments: They're building up to something here, I can tell. Sort of sounds like they're setting up a massive party in an airport hangar, but they're not letting any of the plebes in yet because the 40-ft amps are still being rolled into place.

8. Hilotrons - hoppymatic - lovesuit

Comments: David Byrne is going to call you up and ask when you snuck into his apartment and rifled through his funky loop drawer, hilotrons. And you should answer, "ha, two can play the funky loop game, Byrne; also, let's hang out and be awesome together, okay? Thursday at six good for you?" I am just making suggestions here.

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

Comments: Funky, funky funky. And they're going to be playing right by my house, and the Beanstalk festival in Port Coquitlam! I love it.

10. Young & Sexy - the arc - the fog

Comments: A little weather-appropriate music for you. Next week I'm going to the lake, and on my first day there it will be thirty degrees and sunny, aka bathing suit weather. DAMN.

Messing around with playlists

2008-07-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

You could probably listen to some songs here.

delightful noises

2008-07-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hello all, welcome to today's blog about the show, wherein I will list the songs played on Singing with Barbra and give my immediate impressions, whatever they might be.

Just an introduction, in case you're new.

I find you intelligent and charming, with just a hint of jaw-droppingly gorgeous, have I mentioned?

Track list:

1. Team Building - upon st. lawrence - upon st. lawrence

Comments: This is a lovely song, which reminds me greatly of drifting on water. Successful songwriting, that! Quite beautiful, really. It's a bit of a musical journey through a Canadian landmark, if that's your thing.

2. Videotape - my favourite thing - night lights

Comments: This has an awesome culvert-recorded sound, like David Bowie's Heroes, a bit (it always comes back to Bowie for me). Distant vocals, and there is something very nostalgia-inducing about that particular sound. Have you noticed? Anyway, it's also danceable, in a very nice way.

3. Statues - terminal bedroom - husbands and wives

Comments: Dee dee deedeedeedee DEEEEEE! DANCE DANCE DANCE! If only there were a ballroom in my basement full of bedazzled friendly people, I would play them this song. And they would enjoy it heartily.

4. Culture Reject - culture reject - inside the cinema

Comments: Is that... a harmonium? Delicious. Creative percussion also. Always appreciated.

5. Ghost Keeper - and the children of the great northern muskeg - solid gold

Comments: ghost keeper, feeling a little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll. But mostly country. And also some disco, I guess, what with the 'solid gold.' Well, that's what I always think of. Solid gold... jumpsuits! Is that a leap of logic I'm making alone? Oh well.
This is excellent, by the way. Swaggerin.

6. Koak - morningtime stumble - y knot

Comments: This is the song I would play if I was returning to my hometown after a fire had gutted all of my favourite childhood haunts, just to set the mood. Those arc-ing, twangy guitars would punctuate my turning over of bits of wood, and discovering scorched street signs and old rags, and other detritus, with a pained look on my face.
Call me, T-Bone Burnett, I long to be your understudy.

7. Ruby Coast - ruby coast - brittle bones

Comments: Beeps and bleeps done right. Tugging at the heartstrings and pleasuring the eardrums with synthesizer - it's not easy, is it? I mean, so many have tried and failed. It must be a bit of a daunting task, all told.

8. The Hung Jury - 'the windsor scene' live at cjam fm - except the whiskey

Comments: Slightly belligerent songs about liquor consumption, I adore you! This one is predictably fun and mildly mournful, all at once. Oh, you know it's kind of a country song. Please, obviously.

9. Hills Like White Elephants - himalaya - a sword in the circle

Comments: Jangly and slight. Atmostpheric! Echoing and moody! Adjective adjective adjective! I do love a good adjective.

husband soup

2008-07-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

New band name: husband soup. Right? It's my favourite thing. Not that I'm into cannibalism, I just like it when he cooks. So I figure the idea would appeal to people, therefore tricking them into buying the album. Or into making soup for their spouse. Win-win, yes?

Track list:

1. Statues - terminal bedroom - lifting fingers

Comments: DANCE DANCE DANCE! WOOO! It's been a long day. This is eminently jiveable. Thanks ever so, statues.

2. The Jealous Girlfriends - the jealous girlfriends - machines

Comments: The guitar in this, it's gorgeous. It has a lovely grinding industrial feel, by which I do not mean to imply that it's metal. It's just beautiful and very joyously electric. Ladies, you know what you're doing.

3. Videotape - my favourite thing - dancing on the sound

Comments: A journey, a gradual journey through a varying soundscape, toward dancing, dancing daaaaaancing! Love that.

4. Japandroids - lullaby death jams - darkness on the edge of gastown

Comments: Heyyyyy, your future is bleak! Dark and all, but also kind of amusing. The juxtaposition of the "heyyyyy!" and "you will never amount to anything" kind of phrases is interesting. Like if the Fonz were an embittered guidance counsellor.
Sorry, got a bit sidetracked there. This is a heady, emotional song with awesome local implications. I will say that actually, all of Gastown is looking a bit sad these days.

5. Cinderpop - a lesson in science - boomerang

Comments: Pleasantly fluffy, with organ... or keyboard? I'm no professional when it comes to these things. Oh, it says keyboard in the liner notes. I like the irregular drum beat, a bit like my heart after a tennis match. Ah youth. How I miss it.

6. Jellyfiche - tout ce que j'ai reve - source infinie

Comments: I will play you, Quebec artists, I don't care who you are or what you did as long as where you're from is the french part of eastern Canada. Grrr.
This is dark and brooding, and then soaring and optimistic! Just like all of my favourite David Bowie songs. WIN! WIN! WIN! The bassist is having a hell of a good time, also.

7. Horses - horses - gasoline

Comments: Let me just say that I have now played 'the catwalk' a few times, but this is my first experience with 'gasoline,' and I am not disappointed. This is just plain awesome. I'm doing the head-bop dance, and I don't care who sees.

8. Mattress - heavy duty - pollution

Comments: Just as I feared, there ain't no solution to the pollution. We're all gonna die, so, as my husband so charmingly put it last night, why don't we just go live in a box and do heroin. No reason to guard ourselves when death is so inevitable. And now he's making soup! His optimism always comes back to haunt him like that.
This is kind of bitchin' mournful electronica. Buck the system, yes!

9. The City Streets - concentrated living - mastodon

Comments: The packaging of this CD makes it all seem much more bleak than it actually is. The city streets may feel a bit discouraged, but their instruments don't know it. Sort of a 'jump around and cry' number. I approve.

10. Bil Hetherington and the Asian Tigers - bh and the at - leaders in the know

Comments: Pretty. I want to write all about it, but I'm being ejected from the studio. Well, I can't live here or anything, that wouldn't do. But really, this is lovely.

Unbelievable

2008-06-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hey, are you a musician of sorts, trying to gain a foothold in the world of nastiness we call "rock 'n' roll"? Or not? Either way, if you feel the urge, send me a note and I'll play your song. I'm not even kidding, I'm a complete slut for attention. Hey, self-knowledge is all that matters here.

I can't believe I'm doing this blog-post thing again, but somehow it makes the whole experience feel more worthwhile. Rather than just pumping the radio waves into the ether and claiming to have done it afterward, I'm creating somewhat of a record of it here. Until Gore trips over the internet cord and the whole thing goes up in bits.

Track list:

1. Horses - horses - the catwalk

Comments: The coolest thing I have played in a while. May mislead listeners. Disclaimer: I am not cool!

2. The River Pilots - the unexpected adventures of... - a game of trust

Comments: of who? OF WHOOOOO? AAAAAAARGH.
It has been a trying day.

3. Ookpikk - total home job - soda fountain of youth

Comments: Somebody out there's an incurable optimist, ain't they, ookpikk! Seriously. Delightful electronic squishing.

4. Danger Danger Mammoth Hunter - four songs - old party

Comments: This is a song about me, 'the old party'. No seriously, we go to a restaurant, it's like "Table for two, party of OLD!"
This song is not really about me. Too much energy.

5. UTS - foam faces - disco lady

Comments: Whoever filed this called the CD "foam aces", which sounds like the name of a film about a pool & poker party, probably with John Cusack.
This song is a total self-fulfilling prophecy.

6. Young & Sexy - the arc - peer through the lock

Comments: Funny name, pretty vocal. It's all I ask, really.

7. Women - women - lawncare

Comments: Now there is a name I am not going to google. It'll be all NAKED WOMEN ICKY BOOBS EMPORIUM DOT COM. You really think they put the filters on at a college radio station? Well actually they might. Probably not, but maybe. I think they just check after and then kick you out of school if they find any nasty links. Like Maxim, according to my place of employment. Well, I half agree with them.

8. The Coast - expatriate - song for gypsy rose lee

Comments: So pretty. It even has tinkly bells! Siiiiiigh. What are you trying to do to me here, coast??? It is not fair to massage me this way with your gentle musician-ing.

9. The Neighbourhood Council - the neighbourhood council - pheonix

Comments: According to some, they spelled it right. I don't know how I feel about this OED subversion, but, oh, what the hell. Englilgilsh degree be damned!

Radio, in the aft-er-nooooon

2008-03-31T18:01:00.000-07:00

I'm pre-recordage tonight, because of a previous engagement. You understand, don't you? You're so accommodating that way. Grr.

Track list:

1. Bloody Chicletts - presenting... - radioheadache

Comments: I remember when this CD came out. They were giving it away free somewhere! And I didn't get one. Sigh. Probably for the best; how much stuff do I need anyway? I got one of the songs stuck in my head this week somehow, so I carry it with me regardless. And now I'm passing the buck on to you.

2. World of Science - makeout music by - you're so handsome

Comments: This song was rudely cut off by some happy folk music a few weeks back. And I say, what the hell??!? It's quality, so that was just unnecessary. And a shame. Well, now it's in the middle of the show, so there's nothing "the man" can do, if you can call a bebirkenstocked fellow with a beard "the man".

3. Brasstronaut - old world lies ep - fan

Comments: Further proof that the planet is reaching critical mass when it comes to cute punsy band names. We're almost out of stock!!! Who will save us from a world where everyone's musical act will have to be classified via the Dewey Decimal System?

4. Plants and Animals - plants and animals - new kind of love

Comments: Listen to while reading postcardsfromyomomma.com

5. Cortez the Killer - #05486 - broletariat

Comments: Heavy, yet interesting. This is something that is rarely possible for my ears to discern, now that I am old. YES, I AM OLD. At least, older than your nephew who likes Tool.

6. Proof of Ghosts - proof of ghosts - my baby don't come 'round here anymore

Comments: sigh. Well, if she's totally nuts, it's probably just as well, right? look on the bright side, PoG.

7. Ladyhawk - shots - faces of death

Comments: I think the appropriate word is: poignant. Pretty voice, non-lady member of ladyhawk.

8. Rough Skeletons - rough skeletons - sound of pony

Comments: Ambient horror film music? It's cool, but could be very scary in the right context, I think. Consider it, rough skellies, would you? Unrelated: I need some pony manure for the garden. Don't scoff, city dweller, it works.

9. Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - real emotional trash - hopscotch willie

Comments: When I grow up, I want to be like Janet Weiss. Totally chill and awesome, and the owner of a wicked bad drum set (I'm not holding out for the ability to play it, though).

The music is forcing me to act.

2008-03-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

This is like what those people in the 50s warned about, and I can't even see the artists featured in tonight's show gyrating. For the full effect, I suggest checking out 'live shows', which generally feature a fun mix of dancing and EVIL SUGGESTIONS.

Tonight's radio-host -supplied evil suggestion: kill the hippies. That is all.

Track list:

1. Vile Style - mad times at v.i. high - mad times at v.i. high

Comments: Victoria! They have a rabbit problem. Victoria! Violin-playing Darth Vader is surprisingly talented. Victoria!
I can play this game too.

2. The Greenbelt Collective - our homes - get up and go

Comments: Dance dance dance up and DANCE.

3. Giantess - giantess - wheels on fire

Comments: Bowie-esque. If you know me at all, you know it's like a marriage proposal.

4. The Trophy Wives - the trophy wives - go cat go & alley cat

Comments: Two songs about cats, back to back. Poignant, because I'm about to move in with a cat I despise. He recently broke something I love in the night. I don't know how this is all going to shake down, honestly.

5. The Superfantastics - choose your destination - lullaby punches

Comments: This is happy and nice, but fails to distract me from my cat-related angst. Pant, pant.
I loved Nancy Drew, but I think it was because I always hoped she'd get it on with (boring) Ned. Life was dull when I was 13, what can I say. Eric Wilson, however, I agree - dull dull dull.

6. The Neighbourhood Council - the neighbourhood council - of people

Comments: Is this sort of zydeco (sp) -ish? It's interesting and fun. I loved the genre when Dennis Quaid did it, not so much Paul Simon. I think for purely superficial reasons. Sorry Pauly, you look like a girl.

7. Dolly Sillito - smartbomb for heartache - shine a light

Comments: Pretty, languid, wailing and casually stirring, if you can imagine such a thing. TRY. Did they teach you nothing about the creative powers of the mind in kindergarten? Yeesh.

8. Team Captain - team captain - who are the lions

Comments: breakup music, methinks.

9. Mannequin Depressives - girls are evil - erase it (re-version)

Comments: ARGH, TECHNO AWESOME

WTF Reeves!

2008-03-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

He has a reputation for brooding and rumours swirl that he's bisexual. Fun for everyone! Your wait to see Keanu at SFU ends on Thursday. No, I am not kidding.
Jennifer Connoly is coming too but I can't say whether she's quite as broody or adventurous, just so you know.

Track list:

1. Better Friends Than Lovers - great loves - nightbus

Comments: Fun and pretty! I can't resist songs about buses.

2. The Trophy Wives - the trophy wives - cake song

Comments: For Lydia. This is a lovely instrumental entry from the trophy wives. So versatile, ladies.

3. The Barmitzvah Brothers - let's express our motives - trailblazer

Comments: I like the everyman vocal and persistent piano. Scat! This is super danceable, which is always welcome.

4. Music for Money - music for money - hymne a la fuite

Comments: Hymn to Flight, as in 'flee, Keanu, flee! Run from the passionately interested college students! They may act too cool for school, but they'll steal your hair gel and sell it on the internet if given half a chance! But seriously Canoe, trust me on this one.'
Also - Music for Money is an awesome Nick Lowe song. Just saying.

5. Sunset Rubdown - random spirit lover - trumpet, trumpet, toot! toot!

Comments: Sort of apocalyptic and windingly gorgeous in its mild dissonance. Solidly grating vocal, which I love. Who originally determined that the apocalypse is best represented by piano? There should probably be a plaque erected, or something. We should not be neglecting the archives like this.

6. The Tom Fun Orchestra - you will land with a thud - rum & tequila

Comments: So much fun, from the raggedy voice to the feverish yet sweet strings and the snazzy, snazzy brass section. I'm delighted, yet again, by these crazy people.

7. Madcowboys - baby steps - the gods don't wear tight jeans

Comments: Grrrrrrr!

8. Fancey - schmancey - let the breeze in

Comments: So optimistic, it's appropriate for a dryer sheet commercial. Not a bad thing - happy happy! Fling those dandelions, small adorable children!

9. The Rocky Fortune - back of the beeside - educated lady

Comments: You heard him young women, stay in school. Otherwise how will you ever discuss Proust with this guy? His brown corduroy jacket calls to you!
I love how this song is like the update of the old blues 'I'm a Man' thing, but intellectualized. Hillary! HA!

10. The Helio Sequence - keep your eyes ahead - hallelujah

Comments: Pretty. And yet...

Okay, absolutely nothing against the HS or anything, but the response (usually in-studio) whenever I put on music that has name recognition always disappoints me just a mite. Disclaimer: I enjoy music like a raccoon enjoys balls of tinfoil. In the moment! I mean, I love Bowie too. But I think it's important to experiment with your preferences and make up your own mind, lest you miss out. You who are casually indifferent until you hear me play something your myriad friends have already branded acceptable? YOU ARE TOO UPTIGHT. JUST DANCE LIKE THERE'S NOBODY HOME ALREADY, ONE DAY YOU WILL BE DEAD SO YOU BETTER DO IT NOW.

It's possible I'm just playing a load of old crap - if so please sulk and give me a big ol' thumbs down through the glass, I just like the feedback.

headache machine

2008-02-26T19:17:00.000-08:00

Not a review of the show - I am literally a machine for making my own headaches. Second day in a row! I'm not proud, but I am tired.

Track list:

1. Proof of Ghosts - proof of ghosts - my baby don't come round here anymore

Comments: I love cheatin' songs. So infused with ultimate misery.

2. Luscious Jackson - naked eye ep - banana's box

Comments: Daniel Lanois can do no wrong, full stop.

3. Giantess - giantess - wheels on fire

Comments: Epic, and passing through many moods. I approve.

4. Joan Armatrading - me myself i - all the way from america

Comments: This is a confusing show right? With the bizarre random 80s picks? Well, that's what happens when the CD player breaks and you're forced to resort to vinyl. Enjoy, Joanophiles, I know you're out there.

5. World of Science - makeout music by world of science - you're so handsome

Comments: You had me at 'makeout' (and I can name a couple of other people who love that word as well). This is mellow but buttswigglin' too.

6. The Greenbelt Collective - our homes - car planet

Comments: Oh what? I played this before! I meant to expand my reach and include a new track, but this CD player is being so damned tricky. Well whatever, the song is still quite great, so no harm done.

7. The Barmitzvah Brothers - let's express our motives - show promoter

Comments: Must dash - bye!

Throw me to the voles!

2008-02-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

Hey, how are you this evening? It's SOCAN night, which means everyone I play gets .4 cents in the mail! It'll cost you more to cash the cheque than it's worth, but hey, at the very least it's fuel for the fire, in these cold winter months.*

Podcast WHAT!!? Oh yes, I am not lying. I am IN that mp3.
Part 1 Part 2

Track list:

1. Th e Tom Fun Orchestra - you will land with a thud - throw me to the rats

Comments: This punchy, dance-y song with the Tom Waits vocals makes me feel like a million dollars! Tom Fun, you have earned your $$$ tonight.

2. Shotgun Jim mie - the onlys - onomatopoeia

Comments: I loved it the first couple of times, so I just had to pull it out and make sure Jimmie got paid, yo. It's kind of a hip-swaggling lament, stripped down and laid bare, musically speaking. Local-Rabbits-y, definitely.

Update/disclaimer: I enjoyed the music before I discovered the handsomeness. But it's undeniable, right? Well, who cares if it has nothing to do with musical vision! I say get ahead however you can. It's hard out there for a Canadian musician. Still, I just want to empasize: I will play your music even if you are the homeliest home that ever homed, I do not discriminate.

Sigh.

3. The Superfantastics - choose your destination - turn on me

Comments: Predictably pretty and great. Because of the band name, obvs. She's turning on him, which sounds unpleasant, but then in song form, it's not. Irony?

4. Hinterland - pan pan medico - future ghost

Comments: so sad and lamenting, which I guess has something to do with the theme of being a ghost in the future. Very lovely.

5. The Bella Donnas - the bella donnas - meating up

Comments: I love this disc simply for its DIY aesthetic. Their photo is on the CD! It's a fairly common sight here at the CJSF studios, but it remains a delightful one. This is SASSY, I love it.

6. Pine Tarts - pine tarts - the fire escape

Comments: Pine Tarts friended me on myspace this week! So playing them is like paying them to be my myspace friend. I love it because it's both sordid and lame. This song isn't lame though, it's grungy and gorgeous.

7. The Trophy Wives - the trophy wives - robbed the bank

Comments: AWESOME. You rule, bass player.

8. Homebodies - construction and destruction - perimeter

Comments: I know some piano snobs who would say that your piano is BROKEN, Homebodies. I wouldn't agree with them though - I love that old smashy saloon piano sound. It drives the neighbours nuts though, don't you find?

9. Kara Keith - kara keith - gorgeous gets the gold

Comments: The title of this song is very apt. I love it.

10. The Beladeans - trailer park - international hip swing

Comments: grrrrrr!

*cheque may arrive in August.

No snow on Terry

2008-02-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it means, but there's no snow gathered on Terry Fox, out in the main SFU park. He's pristine in the midst of the piles of icy muck.
There are also several broken chairs in the reflection pool, and I don't know what that means either.

Track list:

1. Orillia Opry - lighthouse for stragglers' eyes - shadow shadow

Comments: This is very beautiful, but also not for sissies. This is like if you're miserable with a slight twinge of angry, and you're going to turn yourself around, possibly punishing yourself for having been such a downer. While all of this is happening, wind machines are highlighting your awesome shampoo-commercial-grade hair. I'm in love with it! Will re-enact again!

2. Something French - saint john 3 the revenge - i am a microphone

Comments: I don't think you're drunk either! I think you're FANTASTIC! Not that the two things can't go together. This song is suitable for stomping and singing along to, if that suits you. It suits me TO A TEE.

3. Tenant - all my favourite bands are breaking up - all my favourite bands are breaking up so I think I'll write a song about girls

Comments: HA! Wow, lots of yelling in tonight's show, right? This is pretty much metal, but how could I possibly turn down the majesty of that song title based on incongruous musical forms alone? That wouldn't have been in keeping with my usual methods at all.

4. The D'Urbervilles - we are the hunters - belladonna, deadly nightshade

Comments: Very nice, and I would like it to be made into a film post-haste. Please get on this, d'urbervilles.

5. Better Friends Than Lovers - great loves - le sabre

Comments: Tried, tested, true, much like the classic car.

6. Mongrels - oshawa - the answer

Comments: Damn, I love me some classic 80s-style power-rock with frontwoman. The acoustic guitar and inventive drumbeat make it new!

7. Feu Therese - ca va cogner - ca va cogner

Comments: Synthesize me! Har har.

8. The Grass - report all ghosts - bandit soul

Comments: Zip, pop, pow, it's over!

Environmental fretting

2008-02-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

I watched that craaaazy Al Gore film last night, and now I've lost all hope for the world. I have a feeling that's not what Al intended, but hell, that's not my fault.

Track list:

1. The Summerlad - city of noise - city of noise

Comments: There were two options for me here: the 3 minute version and the 40 minute version. I'm kind of regretting my choice. The song's good, and I could have had 40 minutes of unrestricted internet use. Radio-slackaholic, that's me.

2. Gutterawl - a sound experiment: live sessions from cjsw 90.9fm - bismuth

Comments: Awesome. Galloping, much like the food, uh, does not after I take the pink stuff. So, is the tempo ironic? "Heeeey, put it back in your pants there, English major."

3. Roger Dean Young & The Tin Cup - threshold - keremeos

Comments: So very mellow. I like the tentative vocals. This totally blows a hole in my Keremeosite (keremeosote?) friend's assertions that the town is one wild-and-crazy time after another, though.

4. Listening Party - who are we missing? - oh my

Comments: The album art is cool, and pretty! I like this, it's semi-experimental and has that feeling of gradually building toward a major eruption (not like Van Halen's Eruption, something infused with a little more earnest emotion, but still).

5. Pine Tarts - pine tarts - la neige, la nuit

Comments: Charming charming charming. Lovely. Chair-danceable. French-titled. Begirl-chorused. Did you guys go to French Immersion too? It's hard to deny, it's a serious advantage. I will probably be singing this to myself on the bus later, it's catchy.

6. The Greenbelt Collective - our homes - car planet

Comments: Bop bop bop! I want to be in a band like this where I can sing in a big group, and nobody can point out that while I might have the right note, I sound like a braying bovine. Wah! Enough self pity. This is awesome.

7. One Eleven Archer - familiar highs - apocalypse jeans

Comments: Blue jeans on fire! Chevrolet Elvis! Blue jeans on fire! NEW YORK LET'S GO!

8. Hinterland - pan pan medico - 300.6

Comments: uh

9. Black Mountain - in the future - tyrants

Comments: Bless you, you creative genius, for your ability to write nice songs that also happen to be eight minutes long! Hell, I'm weak, I admit it! It's time for some more bus ridin', so it's not as if I'm doing myself any major favors here! Cut your hasslin'! Sigh. You know I'm out of steam when I start dropping 'g's left and right.

Sadness!

2008-01-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not as sad about the stock market unsteadiness as you probably want me to be, DAD. But I guess it will screw some people up. Other things are pretty crap though too, you know? It's all about perspective, I guess.

Track list:

1. Jenny Omnichord - cities of gifts and ghosts - birthday song

Comments: A lengthy number that advocates drinking at 5pm - which is early for us workaday types, I have to point out. It has lulled me into a sense of being at ease with the bizarre. Success!

2. The Deep Dark Woods - hang me oh hang me - river in the pines

Comments: The old musical forms were really so much more successful at taking crushing futility and turning it into something aesthetically redeeming, weren't they? I mean, apart from, I don't know, Joy Division. They did it in a modern sort of way. This is lovely, if you were wondering.

3. The Art Department - the art department - higher the hair

Comments: Ooh, sad. Casual intimidation and nervousness! I think it's probably true that the endless songs about being screwed up are just screwing us all up more. But I don't care, I'm still not listening to I'm Every Woman. Screw that yo!

4. The 6ixty 8ights - pica electric armada - and i walk

Comments: What is that, like, text-message speak? No, that doesn't make sense. I'm interested to see whether it repeats itself with other groups. This is what I like to call a boppy song. Bop bop bop, xi6yt yachts.

5./6. Jale - closed ep - wash my hands/Jesus loves me

Comments: Yeah, I played two. What was that? Can I just do whatever I want? Yes, yes I can. Geez, it's not like anyone's paying attention around here or anything. I could just make fart sounds on the air (shout out!) and nobody would bat an eye. You might think the lack of supervision is irresponsible, I think it's irre-awesome.

7. Secret Broadcast - plastic fantastic - i am sound

Comments: polyester justokay. My brother would love this, probably.

8. The Darcys - endless water - endless water

Comments: Soothe me, Darcys! Gratuitous French: winning me over every time since 1986 (at the latest). I like the secret! hidden dance!! section.

9. mcenroe - the convenience ep - corner store

Comments: love that guy. That over there is not the album this is from, but does it matter? The visual is always appropriate. Appropriately inappropriate, ha! Oh I don't know, it's kind of sexist, isn't it? But in the context of parody it's hilarious and awesome. And reminds me of my grandparents' house, which is always nice.

RATS!

2008-01-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Literally, rats. I mean, I'm appropriately horrified, so why can't they also do their part and run away like good(bad) vermin? But no, they gotta just sit there, like they have a right to exist on the sidewalk too. Ooooooh SHUDDER.

Track list:

1. Plants and Animals - various: pop montreal 2007 - a l'oree des bois

Comments: Again I'm stymied by the lack of accents in this sub-standard blogging platform. Bwaah. This is so pretty and nice, I love it.

2. Fenaison - plat - interrelations c

Comments: Weird plinky eeriness to go with your (my) meditation on rats. I will have icky nightmares, but set to this music they will at least be film festival ready.

3. Andy Swan's Ottawa - andy swan's ottawa - the sound of snowflakes falling

Comments: I would visit. I like the idea of tour guide andy swan showing me around, in his small, quirkily painted bus.

4. Luke Doucet and the White Falcon - blood's too rich - it's only tuesday

Comments: IT IS! I bloody well HATE Tuesdays. They are, scientifically speaking, the worst day of the week, figured by weight of yearning for time off and pressures at the office. If I didn't have this show to worry about, I would ALWAYS be home drinking and eating well-buttered toast on Tuesdays, to balm my wounds. I like to picture the listener at home doing this while I talk, for vicarious comforting purposes. This is a really fantastic song about Tuesday syndrome. Note to self: go back in time, write this.

5. The Clips - matterhorn - enrique mcteeth

Comments: Reminds me of Hamish Macbeth, the best show ever, and the MacLopez clan. Ha. Okay, enough references only I get. This is great, sounds like driving rain and persistent nagging undefined emotion, in intermittently danceable song form. Like you could have a bit of a weep to it, and then get up and hop around a bit to dry your cheeks off. I think context is everything, don't you?

6. Sock Hop Arousal - revolution of hope - loud part quiet

Comments: SHA, are you getting... funky... with me? I think you are. J'accuse! Aw, go on, cop to it, I'm enjoying it.

7. Pine Tarts - pine tarts - the fire escape

Comments: Based on the cover art, I was expecting to be rocked viciously, but I find now that I'm being gently pleasured by tinkly yet fuzzy guitar. Uh. Just put "very good, would sing along if permitted."

8. The Ex-Boyfriends - coming before the next one - spanked by lightning

Comments: Most ex-boyfriends deserve it though, right? I mean, he sounds charming, but there must be a reason you broke up. Don't go feeling sorry for him now.

9. The Trophy Wives - the trophy wives - I'm yer wife

Comments: SO AWESOME. Let's be pals, you hilarious ladies.

10. Axis of Conversation - delusions of safety - readymade heart attack

Comments: Ethereal, with the heartbeat in the background. The title makes it ominous, no?

This is a sing-along only zone.

2007-12-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

Entertain yourself while I'm away, stuffing myself into an eight-foot turkey and broiling myself to death in honour of the holiday (yes, probably it will hurt, but who am I to break with family tradition? There are only so many unmarried females left). I hope to be back, with a raging tan and an extra six pounds of unnecessary hip-chocolate, on January 8th.

Wondermark was suicidally delicious today.

WHAT??! ALL of Bernard and the Genie, with the GLORIOUS Alan Cumming and the DELIGHTFUL Lenny Henry, ON THE YOUTUBE??? I hope you have high-speed, dearest darlings. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten.

Finally, what to do if you're hopeless and haven't bought anything awesome for your loved ones yet.

Track list:

1. Border Brass - tijuana christmas - tijuana christmas

Comments: This is a holiday classic. For the cover alone. But the music is quite nice too.

2. Eddie Cantor - the only thing I want for Christmas

Comments: LOVE it. Hilariously earnest, but heartwarming too. Kind of beats the cynicism out of you, you know?

3. Thee Crusaders - thee crusaders 7" - born in bethlehem

Comments: This is an old spiritual, turned into a pop-rock bopfest! Awesome.

4. Danielson - Christmas eve night

Comments: Crazy kid remix! This is as frantic as it should be.

5. Rich Aucoin - personal publication - behold the lamb

Comments: Man, gotta love that glittering disco keyboard. This is meant to sync up with the old grinch cartoon. You can see the results of that little experiment here.

6. Frank Kelly - Christmas countdown

Comments: Matt, you rule for sending me this. Hilarious!

7. Bim and Connie Kaldor - a Christmas album - ring the bells at midnight

Comments: This is mellow and quintessentially Canadian. Roy Forbes, you have charmed me, probably not for the last time.

8. Jethro Tull - Christmas album - first snow on Brooklyn

Comments: Power flute for Christmas! Everybody kick your sister! Maybe this only happens at my house.

9 Barbra Streisand - Christmas album - Christmas song

Comments: yipe!

Gratitude! Bow chicka wow yeowww...

2007-12-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

Tonight, all songs by people who have contacted me (or something) in the past year. It's payback time, suckas.

Track list:

1. Goodnight, Streetlight - arithmetic with tigers - overswanned

Comments: sweepingly beautiful. I want to direct a film just so I can use this during an extensive montage of pensiveness.

2. Brown Recluse Sings - black sunday - margo, left in bed

Comments: The name Margo is kind of hilarious. I'm glad you thought to use it in a song, BRS, because I don't think it's the automatic choice. This song could change that though - highly catchy.

3. Illfit Outfit - proudly resenting - thee & me

Comments: I played the hell out of this record this year, so this was more a case of being 'beaten into submission' than choosing to get in touch with me just for fun, probably.

4. The Choir Practice - red fox

Comments: A stunning example of choral sensibilities taken to new pop-heights by an experienced hand. Enthusiasm to burn! (I hope I did better this time.)

5. Anomie - distant memory & the safe places - american architecture

Comments: This goes out (with kisses) to YOU, anonymous. Well, better late than never, right? I'm really beginning to wish I was a filmmaker, or at least a soundtrack-ist(?) a-la T-Bone Burnett. I could rock that job so hard.

6. Lions and Tigers and Bears - louder than your shirt - from far and wide

Comments: This is danceable and fun, but sounds exHAUsting to play. How do you keep up with that guitar? This would tax even the most professional Guitar Hero, I would think. You should talk to the playstation people about that, guys.

7. The Deep Dark Woods - s/t - vancouver

Comments: Wow, this is mournful and pretty. This is in fact exactly how the city feels right now, especially after work when it's dark and you have to take the bus to your empty apartment, and even the cat's not that interested. I could totally faceplant onto the couch while this is playing. Sob!

8. The Square Waves - s/t - dreams kept on machine

Comments: Dance like your girlfriend doesn't understand you! What? I'm kidding. But somehow this is a lament that still makes me want to flash the lights on and off, you know what I mean? I kind of love it.

Alcohol and memories, and the relationship between the two

2007-11-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

If there is a relationship, I've conveniently forgotten about it.

Track list:

1. The Cuds - the taste of crow - drinkin your mem'ry away

Comments: This is beautiful and contains deep longing. I don't think it's particularly smart to drink until you have general amnesia, but hey, sometimes the pain gets pretty intense, am I right? At that point, what does smart have to do with it?

2. Hot Springs - volcano - fantome dinosaure

Comments: Oh, I love it so much. It's super catchy and great, and gently massages my french bone. Uh, yeah.

3. Jale - closed ep - nine years now

Comments: Beautifully 1995. Why didn't I listen to this when I was 14, instead of the white album? Maybe I could have alternated, it wouldn't have hurt.

4. The Sadies - new seasons - yours to discover

Comments: Mike Belitsky, drummer for the Sadies, briefly drummed/sang for Jale. Also for:

5. The Vees - v ep - denied

Comments: Mike, with the singing! And the chorus girls? This is not what I would have expected.

6. The Paperbacks - an illusion against death - rattled by failure

Comments: You're not rattled by it? How did that happen? I'd love to know how you achieved that. You seem very pleasantly boppy about it, at any rate.

7. Sunset Rubdown - random spirit lover - the mending of the gown

Comments: I love the tinkly guitar, followed by bells, followed by plinky piano. They're drawing clever musical parallels, and I'm liking it. Clearly my generation, all of whom were forced to learn Royal Conservatory piano, are finally poised to dominate the music industry.

8. Better Friends than Lovers - great loves - sailor

Comments: I'm just going to get the obligatory bad joke out of the way: hellooooooo sailor! This is more of a goodbye sailor, you cad. I'm miserable! Don't get scurvy! If you decide to come back I'll totally be here! Oh, shoot.

9. Bella - no one will know - give it a night

Comments: Two ambiguously persuasive phrases back to back, very nicely done. We will speak more about this form of speech at a later date. This is what I would call a driving song, in that it would sound good on the freeway.

Not feelin' it

2007-11-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

I've been told before, by professionals (!!!) that it is not professional (!!!) to let your listener know that you're all messed up, or having a bad day, or whatever. But this isn't professional radio, dammit. I'm pretty sure whoever tunes in is super disappointed if they don't hear an incompetent whinging self-indulgently. It's campus radio, for crying out loud.

Track list:

1. Cone Five - ants in the sugar - personal spacecraft

Comments: This is so great, it should jog me out of my ennui. If this song can't do it, nothing can. So obviously it's hopeless. Thanks for trying though Cone Five, I felt my interest stir briefly but it was like kicking a dead raccoon, hoping for a nice rabid chomp on your boot. It will only make your boot smell dead.

2. Sports - sports - vampire blues

Comments: boppy and nice. Not so much with the blues, or even the vampires, but still eminently enjoyable. I'm over Buffy anyway (not that I was ever under her. what?).

3. Catriona Sturton - wanna be your friend: a tribute to the inbreds - north window

Comments: Why yes, I AM attempting to beat this record to death, why do you ask? Well?

4. Feu Therese - ca va cogner - la nuit est une femme

Comments: yes, and she's a cold, miserable old broad too. Why aren't there more songs about things being dudes? Everything's a 'bitch' and I think that's unfair. I'm going to start changing that right now. Radio, for example. Radio is an exacting, uncommunicative old bastard with a Napoleon complex. I mean, I love it and everything, but really.

5. I See Rowboats - hide & seek behind the throne - ci ci

Comments: I'm liking this gentle misery music so much I wish I could play it twice. I would, except I bet I'd get in trouble. Programming guidelines, and so forth. It's so nice though. It's getting a little embarrassing, how much I'm starting to enjoy all this new-wave accordion music.

6. First Aid Kit - rocket summer - sleepwalk

Comments: I don't... I just don't know. I sort of blacked out there for a second.

7. Tim Gilbertson - tim gilbertson - long walk

Comments: Speaking of self-indulgence. I love this, I think it's really nice. This song is dedicated to ME.

8. Peter Green - kolors - liquor and you/gotta do it with me

Comments: My mum says that if Peter Green had managed to keep it together, then maybe the Buckingham-Nicks disaster would never have happened. Not his fault though, it would have taken someone amazing. Maybe Batman could have held off the insanity, but even he might have had a hard time.

9. Shotgun Jimmie - the onlys - onomatopoeia

Comments: The last song of the show is usually a throwaway, but I can honestly say that this is not the case today. I like this, despite the questionable album art. It charms me.

Noir, baby.

2007-11-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

Songs about the dark. Well, it's not much to look at, but it has inspired some beautiful melancholy. And films!

Track list:

1. Black Mountain - s/t - heart of snow

2. Jonathan Richman - not so much to be loved as to love - les etoiles

3. Neko Case - boyfriends - porchlight

4. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - sport fishin' - spy school graduation

5. The Sadies - new seasons - sunset to dawn

6. The Stolen Minks - family boycott - batman (you're the sex)

7. The Rheostatics - the blue hysteria - a mid winter nights dream

8. Local Rabbits - this is it here we go - the lights turn on

I hate you too Johnny. I hate you so much I think I'm going to die from it. Grr.

Horrifying radio

2007-10-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't advertise any different. No refunds!

Track list:

1. Transylvanian Polka - transylvanian polka - 13th night

Comments: Apparently the last show played these guys too. We will make you famous, TP!

2. Ruth Minnikin & Her Bandwagon - various: wanna be your friend: a tribute to the inbreds - she's acting

Comments: I'm in love with this album. I want to have its little babies, excpet I've heard it's illegal.

3. Sunset Rubdown - random spirit lover - the mending of the gown

Comments: Oooooh good. Driving pop kicks my ass in seven directions.

4. Ira Lee and Critical Mass - die. - alberta's trying to kill me

Comments: The province of Alberta is trying to kill him! I agree, Alberta freaks me out. Perhaps I should dress as Alberta for Halloween? This song, though it has many offensive words, has a socially conscious message attached and also pretty much rocks the party.

5. Parlour Steps - ambiguoso - gargoyles passion

Comments: Good good introspection, and howling! Nicely done.

6. Share - pedes trian - dance dance retribution

Comments: HA! I can't resist the occasional video game joke. This is delightfully offbeat.

7. Bitter:Sweet - the remix game - bittersweet faith (thievery corporation remix)

Comments: Very funky, and yet so smooth, I think I just buttered myself.

8. Wax Mannequin - various: cbc radio 3 breaking new sound tour compilation - you and all your friends

Comments: Wax Mannequin send me regular emails, letting me know what's up with them. I appreciate it. Thanks, WM! You guys sound charmingly upbeat. Either that or you're bitter angry types who are also academy-worthy actors. Either way you have my respect.

Seafood buffet

2007-10-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to tell you. I'm conflicted about my vegetarianism! And yet I'm wearing a leather jacket. But it's second-hand! Aw hell.

Track list:

1. Baby Eagle - no blues - rainwater blues

Comments: lamenting and lovely.

2. The Bloggers - the bloggers - last pay

Comments: unabashedly weird and therefore great.

3. Low In The Sky - we are all counting on you, william - the pursuit of the giant squid

Comments: Yeah, William. Don't let us down. Yeesh. This is serene and pretty, and makes me love squid even more than I already do.

4. Tunturia - our world is yours - cast shadows on clouds

Comments: The prettiest soundtrack music I have heard in weeks. I must be feeling vulnerable, because I'm even unironically enjoying the 'kids talking' sfx. Some of my filters must be on the fritz.

5. Portico - progeny blues - all you daughters

Comments: More lamenting pretty music. I swear, it's like you could map my psyche by the music I play each week. But don't! I don't need that. Use your skills for something worthwhile. Map your backyard, or something.

6. The Sadies - new seasons - my heart of wood

Comments: Oh, they were so good! SO GOOD. It was like stupid human tricks with guitars. Fabulous.

7. Tim Gilbertson - tim gilbertson - long walk

Comments: I'm always glad when it's been a few weeks since I played this song, because it means I can play it again. It's very charming.

8. Element Kuuda - le village - le ruisseau

Comments: The internet must make the French absolutely nuts, because you can't put any accents on anything. I know it makes me just about claw my own face off in frustration, so I can't imagine what a French internet cafe would look like. Miserable, purple-faced people with tension headaches, frantically drinking straight out of wine bottles to take the edge off. How awful.
You know what else might make me drink heavily? If this song refuses to kick in for a whole four and a half minutes. Still, an excuse to dull the pain is still an excuse, so I'm willing to go with it.

9. The Reasonable Men - the reasonable men - the gap in my teeth

Comments: strummy and scrummy. Is that just a made-up word? Is it only me and my granma that use that word? Probably.

The internet, she is broke

2007-10-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

I can complain about the internet in a funny Italian accent because of my heritage! It is not offensive because my dad was born there! Woodstove-loving grape-squashers!
Anyway, the internet was broken yesterday, so I'm putting this list together today. And since I'm not spontaneously reviewing the songs as I go, I'm going to instead attempt to attach pictures that accurately represent my mood as it relates to the songs. Some explanation may be necessary. Here we go.

Track list:

1. John Vanderslice - the emerald city - kookaburra

Short, hammy, happy yet introspective, able to commune with the animals.

2. The Cave Singers - invitation songs - seeds of night

For some reason, when you google image search "eccentric genius" you get... buttwings. I guess everyone's definition is different.

3. The Details - draw a distance, draw a border - a national anthem

I am extremely conflicted about this Cuomo guy. Over time I expect it to turn to the raw hatred that can only be born of betrayal, at which point I guess I'll have to change the photo.

4. Ruby Jean & the Thoughtful Bees - wanna be your friend: a tribute to the Inbreds - amelia earhart

In this photo we have true love and raw power, battling for supremacy. True love will win out in the end.

5. Nick Lowe - at my age - I trained her to love me

Here is a dude (?) who is thinking wistfully, possibly of olden times. But this hat is nice, he thinks, and the toilets now are undeniably better. Perhaps it is wiser and more satisfying to appreciate what we have now (plus ca change, and all that).

6. The Sadies - new seasons - yours to discover

Don Quixote, like me, is on an epic quest. We are both terribly dim, well meaning, and never going to achieve our ends. I'm trying to get a handle on the sprawling Sadies catalogue, whereas he's attempting to impress chicks while hallucinating. Only slightly more difficult, believe it or not.

7. The Luyas - faker death - cats in a bag

This cat likes this song very much. But he's currently a bit preoccupied by our society's overindulgence in collectibles. When will the crap-madness stop!

8. Legion of green men - baqontraq - dubbaq

Smash the system, yeaarrgh! There's a folk show on after me, so this is good for contrast. And also for system smashing hiiiiii-yah! And now I must take a nap.

Concertina

2007-10-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Shows - October is concert month (unofficially). I'm going to see at least four shows this month, which is at least four more than I have seen in the last six months. Oh, I never go anywhere. It's about to get socialized!

Track list:

1. Hrsta - ghosts will come and kiss our eyes - beau village

Comments: dude owns a proper Thom Yorke voice, which I'm sure he hears constantly and hates. I'm sorry about that, I'm constantly saying these things and then having to apologize. You would think I'd learn, but you'd be wrong. Anyway, I love it, own your pretty voice!

2. The Weakerthans - reunion tour - tournament of hearts

Comments: If you can catch all of the curling references, then you win my affection. And possibly some curling trophies, you must be a professional.

3. Nick Lowe - at my age - join the club

Comments: Continuously great. I love misery! I would like to formally note that this is basically the tijuana brass and elvis version of "just ask the lonely". Who knew such a thing was possible?

4. The Sadies - new seasons - the trial

Comments: Neko Case said they're the best live show ever, and she don't lie.

5. B.A. Johnston - various: cbc radio 3 breaking new sound tour compilation - deep fryer in my bedroom

Comments: If the carnival went to Alabama. Uh, what? I really just love this crazy crap. Be aware: language warning. Hear it on his myspace if that interests you (and it should). "Is it wrong? NO!"

6. Octoberman - run from safety - elbow room

Comments: Hey Marc, what's shakin? I like this, it's plinky and nice. This is definite walkin' home in a funk after a bad day at work music. Thank you for meeting my personal music needs.

7. The Deep Dark Woods - hang me oh hang me - shores of alabama

Comments: Radio stations demystified, part #85693 - The DDW sent two copies of this record to Ed, the music troll. He kept one for our library, which I am now playing for you (while typing this, anyway). The other happened to fall into my filthy little paws, totally unscathed by magic marker, and it now lives at my house. Or I lent it to my large paramour, I'm not sure. Anyway, it's mine, and it's damn good. Thank you for your unknowing donation, DDW! If you're playing a show anytime soon, I should come see you, just to pay you back, even the score, as it were. I'll have to do that. Okay, it's a date.
***
The closest I'm getting is my birthday in Banff. Dammit!
***
UPDATE: Luke, the skinsman for the band (okay drummer, but that sounds so much less dirty) says they'll be at the Railway Club, probably, sometime in late January. Hey, I think I just made a semi-exclusive concert announcement! Awesome.

8. Donovan Woods - the hold up - my cousin has a grey cup ring

Comments: awww yeah. I love the CFL. No lie. I could make a similar comment here to the one I made during song #1 with reference to Donovan and a dude called Sufjan, but again, I think there's no shame in that. Sufjan has a beautiful voice, and he's never going to venture into this awesome football territory.
To your right you will see an Argos ring, because Donovan is from Toronto - and because it's so sparkly. What other options do old men with a love of bedazzlement have? Sigh.

9. Bend Sinister - bend sinister - tv war

Comments: Somebody in the studio just said "eye of the tiger", but I think it's flattery rather than mocking. This is damned fun, that's all. And "she don't like" songs rule, in general.

A celebration of coldness!

2007-09-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

My sweaters welcome me back into their, uh, sweaty embrace. It is Autumn! Bring on the woolly hats!

Something you should read: The tears of Burt Reynolds.

Track list:

1. Winter Mitts - the cascadia fault - din din

Comments: The guitar work is both haunting and masterful. My only complaint - less finger mobility than gloves. But the finger warmth! It is worth the sacrifice.

2. Lightning Dust - lightning dust - take me back

Comments: Charmingly dour. I feel... contemplative.

3. The Ease Down - shapeshifter - into the air

Comments: Like lounge music for the intelligent, which may sound impossible to you, but that is because you are... a lounge music bigot! Jackass! (Actually, I may have betrayed my own prejudices too, but tell noone, particularly not Mr. Wayne Newton, as I think he could have me killed.)

4. Caribou - andorra - after hours

Comments: I like it, but I suspect alot of those horrible indie snob kids do too. I will now transcribe the guitar part in this song: Wing-ing-ing-inggggggg.... Wing-ing-ing-inggggggg..... I believe I have just taken this whole 'weird for the sake of weird' thing too far. Oh well, onward and upward!

5. Torngat - you could be - mouton noir

Comments: Played for its incredibly miniscule French content, aka the title. But I stuck with it for the intermittent percussion and horns! A delight! A++++ WOULD ENJOY LISTENING TO AGAIN!!1!

6. Oakley Hall - I'll follow you - all the way down

Comments: If Lynyrd Skynyyryd were able to come up with a song like this right now, they'd be even more in love with themselves. I think you appreciate the magnitude of what I'm saying here.

7. The Ghost is Dancing - the darkest spark - wall of snow

Comments: Here comes that weather-related music again... dooo doot-doot dooooo doot doo doo. This is an extremely optimistic and danceable look at a wall of snow, I have to say. They're havin' a laser party behind the wall of snow, woooooooop!

8. Mice Parade - mice parade - snow

Comments: appropriately gloomy. Somebody got a ski-pole in the face as a child.

9. Shapes and Sizes - split lips, winning hips, a shiner - the taste in my mouth

Comments: Delicate and lovely, with voices like a horn section. Also an actual horn section. And a banjo, for those of you who enjoy that sort of thing (sickos).

Emily and the Bad Decisions

2007-09-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

It could be a book title, but it ain't. It's a potential band name! Want to join? Me neither. Sigh.

Track list:

1. Jon-Rae & The River - knows what you need - roll

Comments: I like the "I'm sick of you, my band is awesome, we're going on the road, BYE!" thing that is going on in this song, but I bet in real life it's quite tiresome. The song version is nothin' but great, however.

2. James McKenty and the Spades - let it grow - snub harbour falcons

Comments: Aaaaah, Canadian spelling.

3. Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts - from the photographs - where is the chorus

Comments: So lovely, with its irregular tempo and quirky feel. It makes me want to cast everyone around me in a spontaneous Miranda July film. And then eat pie! More on that later.

4. Petunia and the Loons - pentunia and the loons - hillbilly hut

Comments: Very morose - what horrible things happened to you in the hillbilly hut, dude who sounds nothing like a Petunia? Deliciously morose. Now I want to cast everyone around me in a Cohen Brothers film, and then eat corn on a stick. Oh, and it has a surprise hoedown ending! This rules.

5. Grandfather Fire and the Holy Morning - grandfather fire and the holy morning - wicked walls

Comments: Could be the title of a horror movie. "Wicked Walls: DO go outside..." I don't know, actually that sounds horribly lame. I like this song though, which has some urgency to it and yet also some lovely guitar layering.

Okay, enough with the "blank and the blanks" bands.

6. Carolyn Mark - nothing is free - pink moon and all the ladies

Comments: Need it be said? Carolyn is fundamentally awesome.

7. Stewart Coupland with Adam Ant - 'out of bounds' original motion picture soundtrack - out of bounds

Comments: Oh, I found it at random, and I find AntMicHall kind of irresistible, teenage trainwreck that he was. Also, Stewart Coupland? Think he pulls this out of his back pocket when he plays intimate club dates as a solo act? Yeah, well, it's a shame.

8. Sean Na Na - family trees or cope we must - hairspray

Comments: The musical would have been better if they had included this little number. Seriously guys, it needed an introspective moment or two. And a hefty editing job, but meh.

9. Carbon Dating Service - polyentendrii - sea moose

Comments: Ooh, I don't think I've played this song before, it's mega pretty. That is an EU-approved measurement.

Creative outbursts

2007-08-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

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.

grawp.

2007-08-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

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.

preoccupied with outdoor activities

2007-08-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

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.

countdown to holidays

2007-07-31T19:02:00.001-07:00

I'm going to jump in a lake, and be covered with leeches! Back in the middle ages it would have been for my health. Not so much this time. But if it helps, I'm willing to pretend to be Guinevere for an afternoon.

Download this week's show. It's slightly less illegal than what you're usually doing on the internet. Part 1 Part 2

Track list:

1. The Reckless Sweethearts - the reckless sweethearts - open road

Comments: Very heartfelt and soothingly country. I like country! Sometimes. That nu-stuff not so much. But this sort of thing I can appreciate.

2. Roland Blinn - daily - track 5

Comments: This week's installment of 'mystery roland roulette'. And the verdict: more carnival music from Roland, this time with a childhood innocence I'm really enjoying. So delightfully wacky!

3. Kids on TV - mixing business with pleasure - breakdance hunx (psbeuys pnp remix featuring boy george)

Comments: Real Boy George? Or fake? Or some sort of culture club edit? I can't really tell. But it got my attention, so kids, you win. This is so much rapid clicking I don't think I could possibly dance to it without extensive training first. I like the spoken word portion. The soulful bass-y noises are also pleasing.

4. Skull Time - skull time - sexy fancy

Comments: Honestly, is it even worth asking why I would choose this song? Come on, sexy and fancy. This is fun and kind of awesome. I love how many left-turns I'm making today, as far as mood goes. Keeping you on your toes since 1999!

5. Love and Mathematics - love and mathematics - copper coin bikini

Comments: How could I resist a song about a bikini, right before holidays? This is a lovely song with just enough angst. It's a tribute to my own bikini, which sits neglected in a drawer, never to see the light of day. How I managed to spend so much money on two scraps of fabric that I'll never wear I do not know.

6. Carbon Dating Service - polyentendrii - light up the synchrotron

Comments: Soothing songs about science. With trumpets! This sounds very cooperative, and I like a band that doesn't sound hostile to people singing along (it's an impulse I have trouble controlling).

7. Mice Parade - mice parade - satchelaise

Comments: Cool inventive time-signature, or something. Many layers, including piano. I know some artsy types who would love this. I like it too. It's crazy dramatic! If there's anything I enjoy, it's being violently swept off my feet in a wave of emotion. As long as Tom Hanks isn't trying to do it. That no longer works.

8. Monotract - trueno oscuro - under my arm

Comments: Creepy, like a twilight zone soundtrack! I'm nervous, and pretty sure the aliens are on their way.

9. Lucid 44 - ...and God gave me legs... - untitled track 1

Comments: Slow to start. Mellow and spooky. There's an echo in here for sure.

10. Volcanoless in Canada - in tune Saskatchewan 2007 - she moves

Comments: I've played them before and I'll play them again. I hope they become megastars. Saskatchewan, you're adorable, and so are your musicians (it's inevitable).

Bending my genre

2007-07-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Probably bending it in unhealthy ways, ways in which it was not meant to be bent, which I will feel like musical arthritis in my old age. But heck, you're only young once.

NEW! (Thanks Ed.) Get this episode: part 1 part 2

Track list:

1. The Reasonable Men - the reasonable men - undersold

Comments: They can't say no, and neither can I. I like the plaintive quality.

2. Joan Armatrading - into the blues - my baby's gone

Comments: Joan is so hardcore. She has artistic integrity pouring out of her socks when she's not even paying attention. Nothing will stop this lady. Bonus: look how much fun she's obviously having.

3. Jliat - now that's what I call noise vol. 1 - mystery track 3

Comments: ow ow ow. Proficient in noise. Some "wisdom" on this from wikinerdia.

4. Roland Blinn - de - mystery track 11

Comments: Like if the carnival went horribly wrong, in a sad burnt-out problem-drinking kind of way. The definition of 'maudlin'. But good!

5. Tim Gilbertson - tim gilbertson - long walk

Comments: I like this piece of summery delight. The happy guitar trills perfectly compliment the smooth descending vocal lines. Plus I enjoy the occasional long walk. Gives me time to think about things before I do them (which saves molto embarrassment, I don't mind saying). Tim, good job on this one, you could rent yourself out to the very wealthy as a personal balladeer. Seriously, let me know if you need help with the business plan.

6. Illfit Outfit - proudly resenting illfit outfit - pink bathwater

Comments: Girl drummer, woot! Jenni the girl drummer, I would like to apologize for my previous mistake. So anyway. This is an excellent song. I want to hop up and down. Sadly, I'd probably just rip out an important cable with my clumsy feet. I'm settling for head-and-shoulder bops in my chair.

7. Carolyn Mark - nothing is free - pink moon and all the ladies

Comments: So, so pretty. With casual swearing. You know what else is so, so pretty? Cartoon Carolyn. Like lovely bobble-headed Dita Von Teese. And about to be attacked by a badger! Exciting and gorgeous, all at once.

8. Jon-Rae and the River - knows what you need - eastern migration

Comments: The growling frustration I was hoping it would be. Mmm. Especially for everyone I know who is pondering the trek out to their hometown (necessarily back east) this summer, to visit their parents. Listen to Jon-Rae! It's a bad idea! Don't leave me here alone! Desperate clenching will ensue!

9. The Blow - poor aim: love songs - come on petunia

Comments: Get it, like Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter! Crap, I'm such a nerd. This is a nice low-key funky little song though. I like it. And I love that she's re-imagining Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. It's my least favourite Police song, but now I'm kind of starting to like it.

10. The Great Outdoors - food booze and entertainment - a short dissertation on post traveling blues

Comments: Holy song title guys, it almost didn't fit on the internet. Crazy. I like the gentle combination of strumming and whiny fiddle. Siiiigh.

emily the unregistered animagus.

2007-07-17T19:14:00.001-07:00

Although I'd prefer to be a wherewolf, they get all the action. Grr.

Track list:

1. The Big Disappointments - the big disappointments - the ugly man

Comments: Garage-delicious. I love this! TBDs, you have seriously undersold yourselves on this one. Perhaps it is ironic comment.

2. Roland Blinn - ticket - track 10

Comments: The first Roland Blinn track of the summer. Roland, a bit of a mystery man, has sent about 14 cds to the station in the last two weeks. He's very prolific. I'm going to play one song every week. It is my summer project. That being said: I love this! Glorious lo-fi acoustic guitar, vigorously strummed. Roland is starting off on a high point.

3. These Electric Lives - these electric lives - soda water

Comments: Happy-sounding. I always find it difficult to relate to that. However: soda water is my favourite summer drink. Add liberal amounts of Rose's Lime Cordial and you're set. So really, what could be wrong with this?

4. The Ghost is Dancing - the darkest spark - greatlakescape

Comments: This song insists that I listen to it and find it compelling. It is successful. It also has that "driving" sound I'm so fond of. Actually, this would be an excellent song to listen to as you're driving home late in the evening after a particularly successful camping holiday (maybe you got to second base!).

5. Secret Mommy - mammal class - bottom 40

Comments: Winningly weird electronic sounds. Take me to class, secret mommy.

6. Shapes and Sizes - split lips, winning hips, a shiner - the horse's mouthy mouth

Comments: deceptively mellow, with that big swear. I should really mark that on the disc, I know I've been tricked before.

7. The Choir Practice - the choir practice - red fox

Comments: The Choir Practice identified me as a "review" on their blog, which I found charming in a horribly misguided sort of way, since I have all the musical authority of a lobster. But whatever! It's enough to get you played again, TCP. Just know this: I wouldn't do it if I didn't like you anyway. Radio show integrity!

8. Tour De Fours - atlantis - sheeps clothing

Comments: Poppy, in a 60's sort of way. I want to bang a tambourine to it, basically. It's delightful.

9. Alex Delivery - star destroyer - rainbow

Comments: I object to the font used on the back of the cd. Come on guys, I'm not an elf here, okay? But this is a nice relaxing church-hall-organ sound. A good wind-down song.

laaaaaanguid.

2007-07-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

It's a very hot day, I'm on the mountain, in the rarefied air (but only just), consuming "post-punk" etc. I think it's possible to be too relaxed. But what am I gonna do?

Track list:

1. They Shoot Horses Don't They - pick up sticks - that's a good question

Comments: The changing tempos might make me feel panicked, on a regular day. But not in a bad way. More in a 'dance contest, final round!' kind of way. Is that a clarinet I hear? This is extremely fun.

2. The Julius Airwave - the city the forest - shipwreck

Comments: Iiiiiiii like it. Gosh I'm relaxed. This is sweetly sung happy pop music over restrained organ. Aaah.

3. The Neins Circa - sleeves and wigs - welcome home, eugene choo

Comments: Hilarity, right near my house.

4. Parts & Labor - mapmaker - the gold we're digging

Comments: A slightly darker mood now, but delicious nonetheless.

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

Comments: This has that 'driving' quality to it. The same quality Space Truckin' has, but in an optimistic indie-pop from Nova Scotia kind of way. I would like to go east one day and just hug every maritimer. Is that creepy?

6. Carbon Dating Service - polyentendril - another you

Comments: Very pretty, and with an imaginative combination of instruments that includes... the xylophone? I don't know, I'm no musicologist. I like how this is slow and gentle, and seems to come in (radio-host-heart-stopping) waves. Is it over now? Argh! Now? Arrrgh! But then it just relaxes you all over again. So in the end it's okay. For YOU.

7. Greenness - howard hello/greenness split cd - the 1994 two-piece rump shake

Comments: Experimental! I don't hear any similarities with Bobby Brown. But I don't care either, since that guy was kind of a hack in bike shorts. These people obviously have vision!

8. Ford Pier - organ farming - you don't want to know what I'm into

Comments: I have a feeling Ford is trying to creep me out. Is that true, Ford? Well, the organ farming thing, for a start. Anyway, I like the harmonica. Plus it's a bit dramatic, and I love drama.

9. The Hits - hello everybody we are the hits - sand in my shoes

Comments: Summer-appropriate punk! Lovely. It's so comfortingly old-school. The leather jackets covered in zippers are like valium teddy bears to me. In that they are soothing and provide a feeling of safety. But punk!

10. Imaginations Treetrunk - branching out - ol' lady love songs

Comments: you never can get enough of the magic of that title.

somebody's worst birthday ever

2007-07-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the world, it is someone's very worst birthday of all time. Can I take comfort in that? Well, maybe. Maybe things are looking up from now on! Hey kid, your seventh is always rough. Eight is a piece of cake in comparison. Chin up soldier!

Track list:

1. Wafer Thin Mints - the finest car they ever built in 1983 - hot chevette

Comments: A cute countryfied piece about buying a hatchback in Calgary. Very nice. You're all being added to my Christmas card list.

2. People for Audio - the new ancients - black memory white whale

Comments: Soothe me, People. Aaah. This is the mellow part of the show, where you reflect on your life and all of the novels you have never completed. Cough.

3. Tranzmitors - tranzmitors - why don't boys cry

Comments: I love this happy poppy song with its lo-fi guitar, and I love that it's asking the question I long to ask! And now a brief discussion of my secret fantasy, which is that boys cry alone, when no one can see them do it. They are compelled, by the weight of their everyday stoicism. Sigh.

4. Lymbyc Systym - love your abuser - love your abuser

Comments: Sweet quasi-electronic instrumental stuff, at a nice relaxed pace. For playing while you are floating through space toward monoliths. And the bells! So pretty. But not lame or anything. Just pleasant.

5. Bill Callahan - woke on a whaleheart - a man needs a woman or a man to be a man

Comments: The country music of yesteryear, lightheartedly updated to reflect the themes of today. Sigh. I just feel good right now. Lollipops for everyone!

6. Miracle Fortress - five roses - beach baby

Comments: Soothing, sparing with the singing. Minimalist in its vocal stylings, if you will. I like that funny wibbly synth effect that sounds like it's coming from the sky. Eep!

7. Grandfather Fire and The Holy Morning - gf and the hm - it's gonna blow, cokato

Comments: Now that I type it out, it looks a whole lot like some sort of hideous branded potato. This is one of those songs with that eerie thing going on where it might exploed at any second and melt your face off, but you're just not sure. It's building momentum, almost imperceptibly.

8. Sterling - cursed - eyes

Comments: I think I like that same Yes album that you like.

9. Wolfgang - the wicked truth about loving a man - master of the music

Comments: holy BEATS! My favourite thing is that I'm playing this techno 80s massacre right before the folk show. Oh sweet victory over traditional notions of format. This is the icing on my radio cake!

Now with 15% less cynicism

2007-06-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Sort of. I still don't like being kidded all that much. Don't prod me today, I'm sensitive.

Track list:

1. The Reasonable Men - the reasonable men - saloon song

Comments: Delightful.

2. Handsome Furs - plague park - handsome furs hate this town

Comments: But they hate it in such a lovely way. This is fantastic, I want it for Christmas.

**and now, a brief discussion of the film Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, which ROCKED MY FACE OFF. So amazing. Also a small clip from the song: Ticket to Hollywood

3. The Superfantastics - pop-up book - the only one I c++ is u++

Comments: This rules. I love nerd love lo-fi pop. I don't care how much of it they write, I love it to the limit!

4. Chet - flight against darkness - dollarton harbour

Comments: Unremittingly excellent.

5. Derek Robinson & Matt Brown - the indifferent ep - how we chose to travel

Comments: Lovin' songs about travel since 1981.

6. The Book of Lists - the book of lists - little jerk

Comments: Insult rock, very nice.

7. Bears - shortest day of the year - you can tell

Comments: cripplingly adorable album cover. Also really liking how this is gently rocking me into liking life. Stop that Bears, another five minutes and I'll be hugging strangers! Thankfully this song is only three minutes long or I would be humiliating myself and possibly getting in trouble with the po-po.

8. Illfit Outfit - proudly resenting illfit outfit - thee & me

Comments: Pinkest album ever not to feature girls. I approve. This is pretty great. I like the shocking vocals, which seem to say, my emotions are getting the better of me, but I am still unwaveringly cool, and very artistic, and my trousers are tight also. Love it.

9. Sean Na Na - family trees or cope we must - hairspray

Comments: Relaxed and lovely.

Pollen wolves, aaaargh.

2007-06-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

I can feel them closing in. It would take very determined toothpicks to keep my eyes open.

Track list:

1. Land of Talk - applause cheer boo hiss - speak to me bones

Comments: Delightfully energetic. I love it! Play it again, talky.

2. Kids On TV - mixing business with pleasure - breakdance hunx (market value mix)

Comments: Saucy! This is some sort of lo-fi disco fight. It makes me want to dance in an extremely ugly yet comfortable outfit, in a dingy and tacky club, surrounded by the people I love. No hipsters allowed.

3. Shapes and Sizes - split lips, winning hips, a shiner - the horse's mouthy mouth

Comments: WHOO! Swears. I'm being edgy tonight, I guess. Well, not me personally, but the shapes and sizes are. This is very mellow who is messing up, uh, stuff. It's a nice mellow exploration of languid - something, with teamwork and variated tempos. Believe it or not, all of this becomes something I'm quite liking. My tastes are so varied these days.

4. The Sea and Cake - everybody - lightning

Comments: I always feel like a cheater when I pick a song by a band whose name I recognize. They're not obscure and exclusive enough! Their name is less than fifteen syllables and can easily be remembered by the hoi polloi! What a sellout I am! Aw, who cares. I like this.

5. The Februarys - all the time in the world ep - invisibility is a disability

Comments: This music was made in abbotsford! This in itself makes it a curiosity. What kind of music can you make in abbotsford? Well, this, evidently. I'm talking in circles.

6. Kill The Lights - buffalo of love - lady sniper

Comments: Driving music, for sure. I like the bit with the "lady".

7. Joel Plaskett Emergency - ashtray rock - nothing more to say

Comments: I'll probably just keep playing this until they tear it out of my cold, cramped hands. I love how bitchy it is. 'Don't call me up when you figure it out' is my favourite. Delightfully juvenile.
I ran out of space on the log sheet and had to shorten it to 'Joel Plaskett Emerg.', which is what my mum, the hospital worker, calls it. "Just take him down to Emerg." I like it, it implies an intimacy that is totally not there, but which I wish for. "hey yo, Emerg, let's hang out!" Fantastic.

8. Wooden Stars - people are different - gold dust

Comments: Fine craftsmanship, and an enjoyable result. Again with the variable tempo! this must be something the kids are doing now. Although I don't think you could do a comedy sketch where dad finds a variable tempo under your bed and is shocked and horrified. Where would the visual portion of that joke be? Larger minds would have to figure it out.

9. Au Revoir Simone - the bird of music - the lucky one

Comments: I sensed you were feeling tense, and I ordered this up to mellow you out. Soooothing, chickadees. Rest your downy heads on pillows made of pure cloud. Ahh.

Thinkin' about girls.

2007-06-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

More specifically, today I have been thinking about lady issues, and mostly to do with equality and such. Notice how non-committal I'm being? Oh, I'm at odds with myself alright. But there are just so many important issues. Like, why are the ladies as consistently convincing rock-posturers as the men? The men seem to get more cred dressing up as ladies than the actual girls do. I think this is the result of some bogus construct that causes us to be defeated before we begin. Also, guitars are long and skinny, fundamentally. I didn't need to see Prince on the Superbowl to figure that out. He was great, though.

Track list:

1. Justine Electra - soft rock - fancy robots

Comments: Very slick production value. I like anything with robots in the title.

2. The Choir Practice - the choir practice - things I say

Comments: Ladies! Nice. I feel better, and possibly ready for a religious revival and/or nap. Can you have both at once?

3. The Mudlarks - various: innocence is bliss - gimmie some

Comments: Woot. Combined with the last one, I suddenly feel like I've overestimated the whole 'angry femiladyism' problem. In that maybe we don't need it so much. But wait! Neither of these bands are on the all-important Billboard top eight-hundred-and-seventy-three! For shame.

4. You Say Party! We Say Die! - lose all time - opportunity

Comments: So danceable. I just saw a dude dance in the studio. Your license to love this has just been renewed.

5. Shrimp Attack - shrimp attack - house of dead bodies

Comments: Music from a wonderful group of artists with developmental disabilities. It's honestly jaw-droppingly great. The bit about the disabilities is not a qualifier in any sense. It should just make you appreciate even more the effort that someone made to bring a group of people who might otherwise have been musically ignored together. Gloooooory glory halleluuuuuu... ahem. Pardon me.

6. Mary Timony Band - the shapes we make - killed by the telephone

Comments: She owes a debt to Courtney Love - but I kind of think we all do. Oh sure, she's betrayed the sisterhood by becoming a surgery-mangled strung out incoherent freak with designer shoes (gasp), but she did it her way, I guess. And she legitimately rocked it out. Not many of us can say that.
I like the funny little arpeggios in this, it's a bit funky but musically proficient also.

7. The Book of Lists - the book of lists - moon balloon

Comments: Awesome, in a subtly Jerry Lee Lewis way. The piano guy, not Jerry Lewis. Nobody in the band is chewing scenery. Featuring the lovely Laura Piasta on bass! See, sister-mine, you can be the bassist in an awesome band too, if you want.

8. Les Petits - the mighty antlers of song eps - best tasting wool in the whole world

Comments: As a knitter AND a vegetarian, I totally love this song. Not exactly sure why, but it moves me. And just enough sing-along potential to knock me on my butt with awesomeness.

9. Mob - polygon - memento

Comments: Because I've never seen the movie, but I want to. Also, a ladytrack! Which completes the novecta of ladysongs. You love it.

Cardboardasaurus

2007-06-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Today I will be conducting a little experiment. More on that later. On to the oddments!

Track list:

1. The Soft Parts - unerring melodic scents - christine is pristine

Comments: Pleasant. If elementary school kids were as good with the name-rhyming as the soft parts seem to be, the insults would be much more interesting. And potentially less hurtful, but whatever.

2. The Cripple Lilies - la bete - carnations

Comments: Soft, soothing, ladysinging.

3. Chet - flight against darkness - don't let your cruel heart count me in

Comments: So deliciously mellow. I want to run through remembered fields of wheat in slow motion. Aaaah.

4. The Sea and Cake - everybody - coconut

Comments: Played for its 'Waitress' appropriateness. Sort of. Pie, cake, I like them both. And both could potentially have coconut.
I LOVE this. Predictably.

5. The Great Outdoors - food, booze and entertainment - too many jennifers

Comments: Ooh sad. sounds like maybe there were too many Jennifers, he dated all of them, and they all broke up with him, one at a time, each more horribly than the last.
Oh, pickup. Too many g.d. jennifers! Sing it sister!

AND NOW: an experiment. I've noticed lately that many groups have decided to release their CDs with minimalist packaging. Namely, the rough, undyed brown cardboard sleeve with foldover cover. Before the show I pulled FIVE of these from the playlist shelves. I'm sure if my eyes were better I could have pulled more, but hell, who wants to hear more than five anyway? Okay. So now I'm going to play them back to back and try to discern whether there is a band type associated with this brown cardboard approach (not my wildest hypothesis ever, but what the hell). Here we go.

6. Goodnight Streetlight - the curfew bell - mesmer

Comments: so slow and instrumental. And yet I love it. Is that wrong? This sounds like music to have an amusing and quirky revelation to. Like when the guy got in the tub and discovered density. Yes. That's it.

7. The Phonemes - there's something we've been meaning to do - snowshoes

Comments: Oh, I'm sensing a common theme already. And it is: amplified acoustic guitar. Also, making me feel mighty relaxed. I like how the singing grows subtly, and kind of has a threatening undertone, like "yes, I will soothe you, but you'd better pay attention in case I bite your neck after." This is honestly very pretty, and I'm sure no neck-biting was involved.

8. Gowns - red state - cherylee

Comments: This is piano and soothing, but with some electronically produced sounds thrown in. I feel that it's building toward something... please stand by... oh, key change! We're now having a piano recital underwater. Float away on a sea of pain and fluffy pink dresses. And now singing. Makes Catpower sound hyperactive.

9. The Line Atlantic - the subhuman condition - public transit

Comments: You knew I was going to play the song about public transit, right? Have we met? Hm. Anyway. My hypothesis on this was "hey, they're from Edmonton, I assume they're full of vigour, that economy is booming!" Hell no, I was terribly wrong. This is more sad piano. Come on, there are crazy people on public transit! What, do they only ride it at 2am? Ridiculous. But it conforms to my misery hypothesis, so, uh, go me?

10. Unknown Instructors - the master's voice - this black hat is rage

Comments: Yeow, with the yelling! I like the drums. So, so much wackier than any of the other cardboard bands, and therefore extremely refreshing.

CONCLUSION - Everything in moderation. Including misery and brown cardboard.

11. Maybe Smith - animals & architects - I fight birds

Comments: Have accumulated recent cache. With the accent on the 'e'. I like them.

So so northern

2007-05-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, I'm playing all Canadian songs this hour. It's probably because I'm so damn patriotic. Or something. Or I just flourish under restricitions! That's totally it. Check out the flourishing.

Track list:

1. Andy Palacio & The Garfiuna Collective - pioneer woman - farley mowat (remixed by calvin dick)

Comments: I've heard that Mr. Mowat is now living in a secluded sort of a spot, and is working on the title of "world's most pissed off man". This song makes him sound like Raffi. But whatever, he's earned a little respect. The respect of finely crafted tuneage!

2. The Carps - the young and passionate days of carpedia - compton to scarboro

Comments: I think he wants to fall in love. With you. Just try and resist. He's very sassy, and you know how you love sassy men. Don't try to fight the funk.

3. Peter Elkas - wall of fire - something beaming

Comments: Peter Elkas could romance a stone (HA) with these songs. Seriously, he's been giving me palpitations for far longer than is decent. I don't think I'm alone in this. He's sort of a white skinny alt-rock Al Green, if that's possible.

4. Wooden Stars - people are different - last secret infirmary

Comments: Fun - love the irregular chords and odd melodic line. Ha, somebody stupid might think I knew what I was talking about there, BUT I DON'T. It is the running theme of the show. Keep up! Anyway, this song rulezz. Seriously, I'm adding it to my list of love immediately.

5. Jump & Dash - jump & dash - i don't love you

Comments: Love it, despite the title. Or because of it! Apparently I'm drawn to dysfunctional relationships like that.

6.The Sheepdogs - trying to grow - it's alright

Comments: Delightfully optimistic and guitaresque.

7. Kittie - funeral for yesterday - everything that could have been

Comments: The all-girl metal band I seriously did not know was still around. Crazy hilarious. I'm have a wave of nostalgia that is totally inexplicable, as I couldn't figure out what to do with Kittie in 1999. And I still can't.

8. Joel Plaskett Emergency - ashtray rock - nothing more to say

Comments: The first line is an instant favourite. It's bleeped on the vinyl though. Weird, no? Sigh. Joel.

9. The Besnard Lakes - the besnard lakes are the dark horse - and you lied to me

Comments: I've played it before, and I'll play it again, bitches. It's good. It takes a while to get going, but it's good.

Old lady beatdown

2007-05-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

So close. If only the dude on the bus had just been a hair more confrontational. I really need to cross that off on my transit bingo card.

Track list:

1. Strategy - future rock - can't roll back

Comments: Far funkier than it has any right to be. But smooth, you know? So it funks you up before you have a chance to protest - before you even know what's happening to you. Brilliant, I say.

2. Chet - flight against darkness - because my name is lion

Comments: Well, lion, you maybe having a bad day, but you're doing it in a reliably melodic way. And yes, I am planning on gradually playing every song off of this album.

3. Dog Day - night group - career suicide

Comments: quick drums! misery! I can't NOT play a song called career suicide. I've played the band as well. It's like an Emily-magnet that cannot be overcome.

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

Comments: I think they name-dropped Regina! Love it.

5. Peter Elkas - wall of fire - sweet nancy

Comments: So ridiculously adorable. He is a seasoned professional, and it shows in the solid songwriting and pretty, pretty voice. And the beard, good choice too! Also, I saw him at The Commodore on Friday and it was very nice. His bassist looked like our news teacher at radio school. It was good all around.

6. Shelby Lamb - suburban cowboy - can of salty ham

Comments: Very soothing, for a chunk of dehydrating meat. Bleah. But the song is good!

7. Joel Plaskett - ashtray rock - soundtrack for the night

Comments: flat-out delicious. Someone I know owns this on vinyl, and as soon as I can borrow that I'm going to make a tape, or something else portable. Vinyl is pretty, but not too practical in the car. JOEL!

bitchin' consumption!

2007-05-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

The coughing is a bit distracting, sorry. And for whatever reason I'm struggling for things to say. My major accomplishment for this week was developing an unnecessary Nathan Fillion awareness. That's not something I'm willing to advertise on the air. Nobody would get it.

Track list:

1. The Kent Boys - atticus finch - dust bowl

Comments: Pleasant country, perfect for sweating through your dinner jacket to.

2. Steve McKay - whistle ep - brake lights

Comments: also nice.

3. JP Hoe & The Truly Richards - the live beta project - always

Comments: hearteningly enthusiastic.

4. The Pointer Sisters - yes we can can (live)

Comments: the most motivational song of all time, woo!

5. The Slip - eisenhower - first panda in space

Comments: short and deliciously bizarre. Love it.

6. Chet - flight against darkness - by night into paradise

Comments: the more I hear this the more I love it. Chet, let's be friends, you're clearly much more awesome than me, but you might get off on having stupid friends, I don't know. I have to take what I can get. (but seriously, call me.)

7. Brown Recluse Sings - black sunday - mystifying oracle

Comments: a deep cut! oh, any song that starts with counting is automatically up ten points! Unless every band starts doing that and I get tired of it. But I don't see how that'll happen. this hypothetical universe you speak of sounds very bleak.

8. My Brightest Diamond - tear it down - the good and the bad guy (siamese sisters)

Comments: hello miserable piano, it's been all of five minutes since we last met, and man, have I missed you. I was starting to feel a bit uplifted there for a second, and it had me all disoriented. Really great though.

9. Kill the Lights - buffalo of love - orestes

Comments: hm, loud!

Cybernerdtastic

2007-05-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

I'm on facebook, right now. No, right now. Actually, probably "right now" too. Dang, it's a sad thing.

Track list:

1. Imaginations Treetrunk - branching out - ol' lady love songs

Comments: East Van Hip Hop! I'm reprazentin'! Okay, I take it back. I don't want to uncool this group with my allegiance. That wouldn't be fair.

2. Au Revoir Simone - the bird of music - a violent yet flammable world

Comments: So pretty.

3. R.E.N. and the Panic - the panic - get more an lose

Comments: Pretty frickin' awesome. I give it two Northern thumbs up.

4. Land of Talk - applause cheer boo hiss - street wheels

Comments: The cover says it's like Catpower. Basically yes, if she was a bit happier than usual today and plugged in. This is a very pleasant thing.

5. Love of Diagrams - mosaic - confrontation

Comments: wacky, I love the ending! This is like the Who's 'Tommy', but about doomed relationships between slightly bored punks. Awesome.

6. Derek Robinson & Matt Brown - the indifferent ep - Track 2

Comments: I don't think it's indifferent - come on Derek and Matt, don't undersell yourselves here. I bet your moms told you that too. I'm notorious for sounding like everybody's mom. That really annoys the heck out of just about everybody. Sorry.

7.The Besnard Lakes - the besnard lakes are the dark horse - and you lied to me

Comments: An epic opus. My favourite bit comes at -2:50, for future reference.

8. Sybarite - sybarite - sanctuary

Comments: beeps and bleeps, with some trumpet.

9. My Brightest Diamond - tear it down - freak out (gold chains panique mix)

Comments: dark and punchy, like how I feel.

so pale and wan.

2007-04-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

Probably should have eaten more than an orange and a vat of coffee today.

Track list:

1. The National Lights - the dead will walk, dear - swimming the swamp

Comments: quiet, smooth, mellow. With a girl in cowboy boots.

2. The Soft Parts - unerring melodic scents - a missed television opportunity

Comments: I love television, so I can totally relate to this. I get whistful over missed tv opportunities too. TV watching opps, that is, because I'll never be on TV. Dang no, I don't even like having my picture taken! Come on now.

3. Chet - flight against darkness - ships sink in the fall

Comments: It's funny how men with vocal incompetencies are somehow the most beautiful and poignant thing, sometimes. I really love this, and I can't necessarily tell you why. I just really love it. Sigh.

4. Quadra - based on a true story - between the lines

Comments: But there are no lines! Crazy Quadra.

5. Dustin Cole with The Specialest - try and love me - oh! my captain

Comments: Weird use of flute. I do not object.

6. Gloom Room - mr. resistor - mr. resistor

Comments: I don't usually play the title track, it seems so obvious. However, I will make an exception for this ska for robots. I appreciate extreme niche-marketing.

7. Go Jeff!!! - wake up the dance machine! - womandolin

Comments: I'm iffy on the use of exclamation points since that whole panic! debacle. But the song titles make up for it. Meh, I'm not a big fan. Too braggy.

8. Aereogramme - my heart has a wish that you would not go - a life worth living

Comments: aw, cheer up, wouldja?

9. Cinemascope - soundimension - exotica

Comments: I love that movie. It has casey jones in it, in his vindicating role! It's all so very great.

10. Eric Hanson and The Church of Doubt and Dissent - the pills helped but where have the years gone? - famous child actor

I would rather be playing video games

2007-04-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

er, with you! Because that is somehow more personal than this radio thing. Still, since this is as close to you as I can get, I will have to be content with it. Sigh. You're pretty.

Since I mentioned it, you should go here.

Track list:

1. The Approach - safe as houses - pistols at dawn

Comments: I'm gonna be might pissed if I just inadvertently played a side project by the dude from Billy Talent.

2. Graydon James - the ominous panda ep - confession

Comments: Pretty, very very pretty. I love the word "fiasco". It's so endlessly useful. I have just inadvertently bled myself into the next show. Whoops! Oh well.

3. Bellevue - lost in space - this house

Comments: I love weird harpsichord! I love everything today, evidently. Well, I bet if Bellevue threw a couple of "Emily is a blabby idiot"s into their song the sheen would come off. Lucky for them they're totally ignorant of my existence. Lucky for me also, I guess. I get enough name-calling in my personal life, I don't want to start getting it from impersonal media.
This is a nice song, I like it. It feels like I do.

4. ESG - come away with esg - dance

Comments: Funky and kicky. This rulez. Damn! No seriously, this is awesome. I even love the "yip yip woo woo woo" parts. I can't really explain it, but I am feelin' this action.

5. The Fortunate - get up, you dead - the storm and what came of it

Comments: What came of it? Broken eardrums and a sore throat. Misery never tasted so much like broken liquor bottles.

6. The Fussy Part - s/t - near you

Comments: tinkly and Hayden-ish. this is by no means a bad thing.

7. Woods - at rear house - night creature

Comments: like a lullaby to the subject of a horror movie. I would like an album's worth, Woods! "Chuuuucky, dream of plastic surrrrgery..." Or "float peacefully and without pause... JAWS." I have to tell you, that took just about every ounce of creativity I've got. I'm spent.

8. Knock Knock Ginger - based on a true story - the makeout song

Comments: A tested favourite, with a surefire title.

I will see you in two weeks, my little sticky bun. Grr.

anxiety music

2007-04-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm feeling bejangled. I'm being forced out of the house for "fun times", and I have to wear work slacks for the whole evening. This is bullshit. So let's hope tonight's music soothes my aching nerves - or at the very least shows some sympathy by being appropriately frenetic.

Track list:

1. Collapsing Opposites - inside chance - song for two

Comments: utterly sweet. Very traditionalist rock lyrics, but sort of in the homage sense. And nice music too. Delighted.

2. Do Make Say Think - you, you're a history in rust - a tender history in rust

Comments: pretty, could be on some sort of 'Wonder Years' reunion soundtrack, if that ever happened. For my own benefit, the part of Fred Savage will be played by John Cusack.

3. M 80's - you only get one shot at the big time: obscure powerpop & punk 1979-1985 - walking on the surface of the moon

Comments: delicately punk-y. I hope they get a second shot.

4. Nervous Fellas - born to be wild - gimme somethin' strong

Comments: cute, competent, not terribly unconventional, but who can argue with a band that includes a guy called "Buzzsaw Pete"?

5. T Bone Burnett - s/t - Time

Comments: Gratuitous Tom Waits cover.

6. Joni Mitchell - blue - this flight tonight

Comments: Nazareth has annoyed me forever with this song, which is really unjust, because it's a fantastic song. It's a bit saucy, actually. Probably why they decided to do it. Shut up, I'm playing this for my mother, that's immunity from criticism right there.

7. ZMF TRIO - circle the path - wild horse

Comments: Like music from a film noir by Ingmar Bergman, set in Istanbul.

8. Tuck - seven songs - haven't we lost the same thing lately

Comments: Excellent cello!

9. Abernethy - college grove - astronaut

Comments: bye!

Bitter about coal

2007-03-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Track list:

1. Change of heart - 50 ft. up - into the clock

Comments: I had forgotten how much I loved them. Their enthusiasm alone captivates me.

2. The Local Rabbits - the super duper ep - shot me down

Comments: These I did not forget. It's unreserved.

3. The Men of the Deeps - s/t - the omen

Comments: I call bullshit! There's no way these guys are coal miners! There is no such thing as a lily-voiced coal miner!

4. The Hidden Cameras - Shortbus - boys of melody

Comments: For such a supposedly graphic movie, this song is very mellow and romantic. Perhaps it is all a ruse, like the miners.

5. Quintron and Miss Pussycat - let's lazertag sometime - swamp buggy badass

Comments: I think there was the king swear in that song. Whoops!

6. The D'Urbervilles - friends in bellwoods - we are the hunters

Comments: My favourite book ever? Check. I like how this song teases me. We will rock you? Maybe? Ohhhh... wait a sec... NOW! No, only joking.

7. Anagram - the lights went up - thrill of separation

Comments: They don't sound that thrilled. Maybe it's a neutral thrill, like getting thrown into a bucket of ice water in your underwear. Taking emotion out of it, it's a bit of a shock. Anagram, are you playing word games with me?

8. Les robots de la rime - dans la marge depuis 15 ans - sympathie pour les robots

Comments: Normally things don't get played twice, but hey, there are always exceptions. French rap about robots is one of those exceptions.

9. Maurice & the Cliches - c'est la vie - it's all talk

Comments: So gloriously awful looking, from 1982! And it's Canadian! When a Canadian group makes ill-advised new wave music, it must be heard.

politechno

2007-03-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Track list:

1. Mountain Movers - we've walked in hell and there is life after death - not quite yet

Comments: poppy and terrifying.

2. The Electrobe - electrobe - church and state

Comments: INXS and protestations.

3. You Say Party, We Say Die - lose all time - teenage hit wonder

Comments: hooty and needy.

4. The Mighty Vitamins - take-out - talk that big talk

Comments: experimental and commanding.

5. Jliat - a well tempered clavier - track 3

Comments: oh and my.

6. Roland Blinn - rosebud - nicholas II

Comments: a weirdly shallow yet well-intentioned history lesson? Social commentary? Sci-Fi soundtrack music? Surprisingly listenable.

7. The Reveries - live in bologna -

Comments: so many questions. Bologna: bo-log-NA? BO-lonia? Baloney? Merriam-Webster can kiss my ass. I said it.
As if Bob Dylan had an onstage meltdown.

8. Sneaky Thieves - accident(s) - old tired joke

Comments: I was hoping for some sort of "awww daaaad" song, but not so much. The old tired joke must be that she broke his heart fifty times. Real knee-slapper, that.

va fa etc.

2007-03-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a bit too whacked out to provide good commentary today. Sorry about that. I've been a little too obsessed with Friday Night Lights this week. I started watching episodes off the internet on Friday and now I'm caught in the inevitable downward spiral. Damn, Kyle Chandler looks good in that headset. I wish he'd yell at me like that. Grrr.

Ahem.

Track List:

1. Screaming Eagles - enemy gold - prom song (california raisin remix)

2. Intercom - aaaaaaa - electroluxe

3. Minibloc - carton, micro, recreation - encore parle politique a table

4. Daddy's Hands - welcome kings! - french made simple

5. Nick Lowe - pinker and prouder than previous - cryin' in my sleep

6. Sam Phillips - omnipop - slapstick heart

7. Jane Siberry - the speckless sky - seven steps to the wall

8. Joan Armatrading - walk under ladders - I wanna hold you

9. Sarah McLachlan - touch - ben's song

je ne sais blah

2007-03-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
It's time for another rambling nonsensical show, with matching blog post. Hang on to your pleather.

Track list:

1. Johnny & the moon - the aaaargh annual year two - the ballad of scarlet town

Comments: pretty. Very pretty. so deliciously country, and in the good way.

2. Live Country Music - long hard season - long hard season

Comments: there's some okey from muskogee vibe in this song, which is expected I guess. I enjoy it, but I was hoping it would be more sexual, given the title.

3. Octoberman - laguardia - laguardia

Comments: saw this live a few weeks ago and loved it very much. Also, he stood right in front of me and I had to vigorously fight the urge to nudge him and then talk his ear off. Trust me, it would have been positive for no one.

4. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - living with the living - the toro and the toreador

Comments: I love how it starts so unassuming, and then about 1:30 in kicks out the jams hardcorse. I know this will be obvious, given that it's TL and the P, but it kicks them out extremely well.

5. Statues - new people make me nervous - (you can't wash) dirty thoughts

Comments: no you can't, sadly.

6. The Finches - human like a house - june carter cash

Comments: I have absolutely nothing to say about june. this woman's voice is lovely though.

7.Pawa Up First - introducing new details - j'garde ca reel (feat. Seba)

Comments: I am such a sucker for French rap. this is one of the great mysteries. Why do I love it? It makes no sense. And yet somehow it makes all the sense in the world. this is nice French rap, with lovely bell-like synthesizer. Aah.

8. The Magic Numbers - those are brokes - carl's song

Comments: Adorable, as usual. I like the everyone singing, participatory and chorus-like quality of this band. And they have long hair and like dancing! Superb.

9. Run with the Kittens - run with the kittens - ??

Valentine's Birthday

2007-02-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

The station is full of special visitors, and I'm having heart palpitations. No really. I heart coffee!

Track list:

1. Mother Mother - touch up - love and truth

Comments: both important for valentine's day, and also this song is fun. I like the drama mixed with silliness. Like if Tori Amos wasn't such a drag.

2. Value Village People - extreme makeover, audio edition - fireworks

Comments: I will never stop loving you, you're that weird.

3. Fabio advice. I'm sorry, I don't have track names or an album title. Update: it's called 'Fabio After Dark', and is sadly out of print. Just assume I'm interspersing this throughout, because it's so creepy. And you know how I love to make you squirm, you little minx.

4. Billy and the Boingers - U Stink but I Luv U

Comments: I don't know either. Aren't they cartoon characters? I thought this album was just a joke. Ouch.

5. Astrud Gilberto - once I loved

Comments: I'm in love with this song, almost as much in love as Astrud seems to be with this scampy fellow who ran off on her. Bastard.

6. Away Ri'o! - all things shining - only bad can come of this

Comments: Like Axl Rose, but sentimental and awesome. I love the sliding guitar sounds of this.

7.Octoberman - laguardia - I'm not drunk/Island time

Comments: soooothing. I love you too, Octoberman.

8. Field & Stream - snowed in, a tribute to Hank Snow - I don't hurt anymore

Comments: so damn depressing. My dead black heart loves it. Next!

9. Black Heart Procession - square heart

Comments: the obvious choice. So obvious I probably shouldn't have played it. Oops.

10. Marit Bergman - my love

Comments: Apparently the hipsters are now into unironically loving Timberlake, so maybe this is okay. I hate hipsters.

11. Away Ri'o - all things shining - ...like the big kids play

Comments: Yes, Away Ri'o, I like you that much. You're so nice I'm playing you twice.

12. Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand - you don't bring me flowers - you don't bring me flowers

Comments: for obvious reasons.

cranky and disoriented? check and check!

2007-02-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

Well, things have been changing for me and I guess I can say the changes are okay... except for the minor detail that I abhor change. I think my language skills are slipping too.

Track list:

1. Rabbit Ears - rabbit ears ep - jenny

Comments: I love it, it sounds like a nihilist danced until he exploded.

2. Cinemascope - soundimension - see my eyes

Comments: Mellow and acoustic but sounds like it's on the verge of exploding into insanity. I'm on the edge of my seat. This could have something to do with the old coffee I drank today.

3. Mixel Pixel - music for plants - ghost for life

Comments: Ironical title? Good for one point. This is a bit morose though, isn't it? Maybe it's not ironical after all. Unfortunately those points are hard to get back once you've given them. There's some really weird guitar soloing. Someone outside the window is making an odd sign with his hands, like this rocks, or maybe he's in horrible pain. My final verdict, it's catchy, with a dose of who gives a damn. It's the perfect combination.

4. No Luck Club - prosperity - better times will come

Comments: Playing at the Anza club this Friday as part of the 4th annual CJSF FM party. We lurves them, and want them to have many wealthy diamond-encrusted children. (That's them on the left. Everyone looks awesome in black and white, and also more introspective. Plus you do not have to match your clothes. Trevor is wearing purple pants and a bright green hat, but you would never know. Trick photography.)

5. Teenage Head - dave rave anthology vol.2 - everybody needs somebody

Comments: Is this nostalgic for anyone? It feels that way to me, and I've never heard it before. That's a weird state of things. I love this sound, it's a very 1990 Cancon sound, with ratty boots and mild but not unconquerable misery. Seriously, I should write for the backs of albums, that was damned eloquent.

6. The Dry Heeves - snowed in, a tribute to hank snow - my nova scotia home

Comments: Played for very obvious reasons. I love songs about Canada, the more gratuitous the better. Plus obscure tribute albums rule. *Caveat* - sometimes they may not rule. Don't blame me if you buy some weird Dolly Parton by Green Day & Friends and it sucks. Your own fault, really.
The voiceover is so, so great.

7. Camaromance - different paths - mostly harmless

Comments: Douglas Adams factor - it's a weighty factor. And this song is really about the book! Or at least it mentions the book. It's good to credit your sources. I like this alot.

8. Malajube - dans la marge depuis 15 ans - la fille a plumes

Feb 9, wanna go?

2007-01-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

It's the FM Party, at the Anza club. I hear all the cool kids are going. So you have to go with me, so I won't be intimidated. Let me know guys.

Track list:

1. For The Mathematics - we impend - this transient

Comments: Aaaugh, the energy! I love it, in fact. You have to be both fit and scruffily handsome to pull this off.
Also, I'm looking forward to a wave of bands with the same grammatical structure to their names, since this is how these things tend to work.

2. Junior Boys - so this is goodbye - FM

Comments: To remind you that you should come to the FM party. I'm serious, if you want to go I'll hang out with you and everything, just send me a note.
This song is dreamily delicious. I will add it to my list of love immediately.

3. Neko Case - live from austin tx (austin city limits) - buckets of rain

Comments: I had this stuck in my head earlier today. It's fabulous. I once heard it live too, so that's probably part of it.

4. Million Dollar Marxists - zero culture - comma come on

Comments: I like the anger. They're so yelly and earnest. Plus I like their pro-punctuation stance. Good job MDM!

5. The Lemonheads - lemonheads - let's just laugh

Comments: This is part one of the 'highschool flashback' portion of the show. Beautifully produced, I have to say. Lovely and swimmy and kind of like if I went to India in my plaid-shirt-and-misery costume. Not only is Evan Dando not dead (as most people I know thought), he's producing fairly nicely, isn't he? Writing songs and everything. Good job, undead Evan!

6. Veruca Salt - IV - damage done

Comments: The WTF??? pick of the night. Why, Louise Post, why are you still making music as Veruca Salt? It makes no sense. Everyone else is gone! It's like, if we all left Canada, and only Anne Murray was left, would she call herself Canada and be all exclusive about it? Because that would be odd... and yet somehow not that surprising.
God Louise, let it go.

7. BA Johnston - call me when old and fat is the new young and sexy - kiss her you loser

Comments: I love this song so much, I needed it to counteract the veruca salt. This is the balm that heals my every wound.

8. aMute - the sea horse limbo - disco flags are all around you

Comments: But they're not waving, because this is another mellow one.

9. The Walkmen - pussy cats - save the last dance

Comments: this is the saddest possible version of this song. But I like it, because I like depression. This makes for some seriously paradoxical situations. Meh.

10. Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich - one meat ball - taylor the latte boy

Comments: a special in-studio request. I met a latte boy and I wanted nothing more than to call him a bitch and scowl at him. However I did not, because being overly courteous in a phony way is not enough of a reason. I need to get some medication, maybe.

hellothisisemily

2007-01-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Campers. I'm having a damnably difficult day. That's why the show is seriously shortened tonight. By half, in fact. No one is more sorry than me. However, we will soldier on, won't we. Yes, we will, because there's nothing like the cold hand of routine to get you through your day.

Moving on, cheerfully:

Track list:

1. Hellothisisalex - the stump act - long naked violets

Comments: Demonstrating the correct use of synthesizer. I like it. The CD is adorable, with its hand-drawn stump art. The transparency of the name is also pleasant. The prequel to Alexisonfire? The intermediary band being Somebodydoesn'tlikealex? No, probably not. I'm a jackass, I'm sorry.

2. Unitus - caretaker - the highly prized bruising of violent consumerism

Comments: An interesting concept. I'm picturing women decked out in yoga pants and furry coats, showing each other their mall-lesions. Gross. Also, they have no website...? Have I inadvertently wandered into 1992?

3. The Thurstons - I have to live forever - ...and I'm key

Comments: I'm worried about the amount of pressure The Thurstons are putting on themselves, like it might mean undue stress if they persist in this 'living forever' mission. Ooh, a thought. Martha Stewart should change the name of her mag to 'Martha Stewart Living Forever', just to freak people out. I know I would probably vomit in the grocery store.
Despite all of this rambling, I do really love the song. Thurstons, stress agrees with you.

4. Lions & Tigers & Bears - louder than your shirt - scarf rock

Comments: concerned about global warming, I threw this song on in an effort to 'rain-dance' us into some colder weather. Because it's been freakishly spring-like around here. Now this little town is snowing its arse off. Sorry about that, everyone. Also, some nice fellows in the cjsf green room loved this song, asked me about it, said they would check it out. So listen, LaTaB (sounds like the youngest Jackson, maybe?), I guess you owe me one. I will think about what gruesome deed will be required as payment.
I'm kidding, all I ask is that you continue to play your little Calgarian hearts out.

5. The Sweet Homewreckers - from the letdown to the come around - louis

Comments: Three reasons for playing this tonight. 1: it is good. 2: the name "louis" is seriously on the outs and should be resurrected, because I think too many kids have soft little lives these days and it's turning us into a bunch of pansies. 3: last time I played a sweet homewreckers song somebody in the band noticed and sent me a thank you note. In this respect I am a bit like your grandmother - your attention will get you even more knitted hats, or in this case, airtime. So actually I beat your grandmother by a mile. Ha!

the french resurrection!

2007-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

let's get right to it people, I don't have all day.

Track list:

1. Esther Galil - z-land - pas de loup

Comments: I don't know if it's a dance or an interdiction, but it's fecking amazing, no matter what it is. This is a lost classic from the music library. Her hair, also, is killer. Seriously - I would take that hair and rule the world with it, way past 1976.

2. Mayor McCa - cue are es tea you - hair farmer

Download MayorMcCaHairFarmerLIVE.mp3

Comments: LOVE it. So batshit crazy! Plus the concept is stunningly great. I think he's referring to his own shiny luxurious locks (what is this, the hair show?), but I can pretend he's one of those guys with the hairy billiard balls in his basement, right? That sounds all wrong, I know.

3. Harvee - sink or swim - remember we were sailing

Comments: I knew this would soothe me based on the album cover alone. I'm now unsure whether this show is the hair show or just the French show. Next week: the FRENCH HAIR show. I don't know what that sounds like, but I'm sure it's glorious, whatever it is.

4. The Machines - after my misspent youth - snatching defeat (from the jaws of victory)

Comments: pretty good, and the title is from something, and I don't know what. Infuriating.

5. Octoberman - laguardia - intoxicated/walking time

Comments: According to our resident folk expert, "sounds like Dan Byrne". It's very mellow, and yet it has a skull on the front. Amazing. I like it a lot actually. (Also, putting closed-eye photos on the website? Mildly adorable. Plus, I sympathize with this problem - every picture of me since 1996, apart from my grad photo, is a squinter. Don't know why that is.)

6. God Made Me Funky - we can all be free - down with the king's

Comments: Hm, another self-referential hip-hop song. Maybe one day it'll all seem like Cervantes. I don't know.
This is where people pop their heads into the studio and tell me how 'diverse' this all is.

7. The Mall - emergency at the everyday - hospital mouth

Comments: Fun, very violent but with a lull involving synthesizer. Good stuff. Plus, hospital mouth, about the most disgusting thing I've contemplated all day, so, um... bonus!

8. The Winks - birthday party - slumber party let's go

Comments: Love it, plus it's seasonally appropriate for me. I mean because this is the time of year when everyone shows up to sleep on my floor for some reason. Come on, hobo relatives, it's slumber party time!

9. Esther Galil - z-land - white tears

Comments: Because I can. Seriously, she is my new hair hero, and also her music is awesome (I realize it's hard to transmit a hairstyle over the radio - this is why I have the blog). I have had some inquiries about this record today, so I'm not just lying and saying it's good. It really is good. Also, hilariously, at the beginning of the show I misread the album title as "zlang", which sounds like an uncomfortable new underwear style. I will forever love this record as a result. It's fate.

dreams, nightmares

2006-12-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

Track list:

1. Roy Orbison - Harvest of Hits - Blue Bayou

Comments: why was this sitting neglected on a floor at cjsf? For obvious reasons. And because this is the only song on the album that's only mildly embarrassing. The rest are flamingly so.

2. Million Dollar Marxists- zero culture - in nightmares

Comments: see what I did there, with the roy orbison & 'in nightmares'? Clever. Anyway, this is alright but fairly generic. I suggest getting out of st. catharine's once in a while. Ooh, that was harsh man. Sorry. People will probably love these guys when word gets around and they'll be huge and then I'll have to eat my words (only not really). Good murphy this goes on, doesn't it?

3. No Luck Club - prosperity - corporate spy hunters

Comments: Love love looove. Sounds like hip hop done in an alley with corrugated tin. So, corporate spy what? Oh, here's some melodic stuff, I guess I can see it. It's great regardless. You should go to their shows and throw money at them. How did I do, guys?

4. Immaculate Machine - les uns mais pas les autres - les dernieres nouvelles

Comments: Delicious, and French too. Wheee! I like it alot.

5. Les Robots de la Rime - Dans la marge depuis 15 ans - sympathie pour les robots

Comments: Oh, French rap, you rule my world so hard.

6. Frenemies - birds in high school - everybody wants a piece of you

Comments: so far my favourite of the night, I think. I like the beat that makes me want to dance, and the sad bastard vocal that makes me want to weep. I declare new-age dance party! Everbody lie under the strobe light and cry!!

7. Califone - roots & crowns - the eye you lost in the crusades

Comments: Love it, fabulous, etc. Plus I have this fascination with the crusades, and also eye patches. Especially the diamond-studded kind. So it's all coming together for me in this song.

8. 1090 Club - shipwrecked on shores - business end

Comments: there's a reason that 'business end' expression has survived for so long - it's awesome. There's poetry to it. This song is not bad. Band name reminds me of 'Freedom 55', which is really just my own hangups getting in the way. Gotta think about retirement, it's coming faster than you think.

9. The Sweet Homewreckers - from the letdown to the come around - amplification

Comments: it's a given - I love the sweet homewreckers. I'm very loving and open when it comes to music though, it's the way I am. I sense your creative effort, and I nurture it with my positive energy. And spastic dancing. You can thank me later.

two more weeks. sigh.

2006-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

Due to lack of internet (what is THAT about?), this is going up a day late, via a scribbled-on piece of scrap paper. The old methods, while charming, are quite, quite lame.

Track list:

1. Shad K - when this is over - out of love

Comments: Owner of my new favourite hip-hop lyric of the moment: "I don't want to tell you all to put your hands in the air, and wave 'em all around 'cause I just don't care." This is the truest thing I have heard in months. Perhaps I should try motivational seminars or something.

2. Reality Sandwich - dejeuner s'il-vous-plait - castles in the sand

Comments: quite odd, but delicious also.

3. The Mountain Movers - we've walked in hell and there is life after death - the devil is alive

Comments: I love listening to extremely religious and musically adventurous bands. So bizarrely entertaining. Don't know if I'd have the guts to go to a show though.

4. Local Rabbits - this is it here we go - the lights turn on

Comments: This is a test. I haven't listened to this album in quite a while, and today I am listening to it again in an effort to become friends again. Little did I know I would instinctively run screaming into its arms screaming "mummy!".
In case you're wondering, that means I love it.

5. Navet Confit - dans la marge depuis 15 ans (CISM Montreal compilation) - asphalte

Comments: Extra super great, because of the French factor. Also because of the techno factor, which inexplicably gets me every time. I'm like a mid-90s dance machine, if such a thing exists.

6. BA Johnston - call me when old and fat is the new young and sexy - I am a robocop

Comments: I appreciate having the whole concept explained to me when I'm listening to a song. I want to know the background story and everything. I mean, if you're talking about driving to your girlfriend's house at 4am and you pass 16 fire hydrants along the way and it makes you need to pee, I want to know that.

7. BA Johnston - kiss her you loser

Comments: oh maaaan, my personal favourite. Just... unbelievable. I love it so hard.

8. BA Johnston - sleepin with my walkman

Comments: also fabulous. Whoops, f-bomb! It's fine, whatever, we're so college. I feel a little uncomfortable finding out this much about his life though. What's worse is finding out that he lives exactly like me (substitute 'guy next door' for 'roommate' and you're there).

BONUS: BA Johnston - 'Captain's Catch', because I couldn't find the songs I actually played. But this is totally amazing too, so you won't know the difference.

9. Still Flyin - time wrinkle ep - rope burn

Comments: I am totally caught off guard by the reggae-ska of this. The cover is so hand-drawn and pink, I totally wasn't expecting it. Enjoyable enough.

10. Built to Spill - linus and lucy

Comments: A Christmasy favourite. I'm sure Charles Shultz would be totally annoyed.

sweating through four layers? eesh.

2006-12-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

Not really, but I feel like I could. I sweat like a mediterranean, especially when it's least convenient.
And scene.

Track list:

1.Ten Year Drought - memoranda - screaming at cars

Comments: surprisingly serene, given the title. There is no screaming in this song. It made me feel a bit better, in fact, about having witnessed a good deal of car screaming in the last two hours. So that's good.

2. Shot While Hunting - man eating tiger - holliday now

Comments: different for me, and I'm fine with that.

3. Swan Lake - beast moans - the partisan but he's got to know

Comments: a song title so odd I can't possibly understand what it's supposed to mean. I don't appreciate that swan lake! Still, I like that this song is such an overwhelming group effort. How many bad male voices can we layer together over slightly hawaiian guitar? ALOT. And yet I'm enjoying it. Feel free to make whatever conclusions you want.

4. Supersystem - a million microphones - joy

Comments: funky. Like the bongos and synthesizer. Hey, actually this is pretty awesome, and incredibly weird. It's so hard to find anything original anymore that it's a relief when someone thinks of something, no matter how bizarre. Thanks Supersystem, for just being you.

5. Bright Eyes - noise floor - soon you will be leaving your man

Comments: I'm intrigued by this song - what is your reasoning, bright eyes? How will you make me leave my man? Or are you just clairvoyant? Or will I have to take a sudden trip to Eurasia? What is it?? Well, whatever it is, it's musically extremely enjoyable. Love it. Well done. Personally I'm not planning on following through on your little predicition, but I bet there are some chicks who would, because you have a definite charm.

6. Scream Club - life of a heartbreaker - i'm going crazy

Comments: if this album is the hypothetical diary of one of Tom Petty's heartbreakers, then sign me up! But it's not. Ah well. Recommended to me by a fellow programmer, thanks Elvira. Pretty great, in fact - they'll be here in March, if you enjoy sort of tag-team Peaches style music. Snicker.

7. The Gumshoe Strut - 52 pick up - broke off rap

Comments: very nice sounding countryish rap. Delighted.

assaulted by musical contrast! don't fight it!

2006-11-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

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

2006-11-21T19:15:00.001-08:00

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

2006-11-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

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.

CRAB INVASION!!!

2006-10-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

I am Jens, Drummer of the crab, the KING CRAB! (However, I don't play on recordings, I am
the useless performance drummer.)
First song: Rocky Monty
Really just about substance abuse and Dave and Josh's problems with it. Really a sad story. I didn't play on this track. I mean, I really didn't play on this track! really....
Watch out...tape recordings lead to bands....ARRGH!
Steroids are not my friend...
French's alphabet makes a very good folk song.
Swedish folk songs (or arias) by Flonk are very incredible.
Track 2: Straw House
Jens' poor singing. Bad.
Track 3: Sailin' Home
Skipping songs are hilarious. This song is about a man coming home from a deserted island. He gets nookie. I don't play on this track. Josh always rocks the house on guitar. Dave's drumming and falsetto make me laugh. That's why he plays bass.
Hello to Mr. Baker!! HI!!!
I like PSA'S!!!
Last names make me laugh!
Snobbery is not awesome!
Track 4: First Day Out of Jail
A messed up song for Josh! I like it! I didn't play on this track...again!
Track 5: Army of Love
Dave's in command!! Apparently Dave is Jimmy Smits! I didn't play on this track! BEWARE THE PROFANITY!
Dave is like David Byrne!!
Track 3: Town of Funk!
I named this song! I love it! I don't play on this track!

**update: listen to the show HERE:
The second half-hour (unfortunately the first half got toasted by the server. Sorry guys).

Guest appearance

2006-10-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

And the guest is.......Jacob, Emily's brother. Well it's not that exciting at all. I'm subbing in for Emily today on the blogging aspect of the show. (This blog entry may be worth something someday....so copy it in a text file and keep it in a safe place.)

1. Lily Tomlin - This is a recording - Mrs. Mitchell
Comment - Halarious! We'll funny, I'm not sure I didn't listen to it fully. I'll need a second oppinion. Emily loves her, everytime she snorts everything is right in the world.

2. AA Sound System - Laissez Faire - Vermillion
Comment - Emily goes out on a limb and thinks that it is great. I'll agree with her on this one, it hits that soft spot.

3. Jane Siberry - The Walking - Red High Heels
Comment - Emily loves this song so so much. I mean a lot. She wanted you to know. Emily loves Jane Siberry or her new name Issa Jar Jar Binks...sorry, just Issa (eeee-sah)

4. Volcanoless in Canada - Volcanoless in Canada - We Win
Comment - First off to clear things up, they are from in Saskatchewan. Lots of drums, guitar, and I hear some tambourine. This combination produces some interesting music that Emily agrees with and would like anyone out there to buy her this CD for christmas. That means you Santa..... or Mom and Dad.

5. Gordon Lightfoot - Did She Mention My Name - The Last Time I Saw Her
Comment - Lightfoot! Lightfoot! Lightfoot! Come one, come all! What is not to like about this man. Other than his tailored tuxedo. "This is nice." quoted from Emily. Of course she would say that. She joined her boyfriend in the mosh pit at the Gordon Lightfoot concert.

6. Steve Bell - My Dinner With Bruce - Closer to the Light
Comment - I would like to have dinner with Bruce Cockburn. He's like a hero to me. I can say that I want a rocket launcher and my mother can't complain. I think it's hard to ruin a song of Brucy, unless it was someone like Avril Lavigne.

7. Ramonettes - Ramonettes - I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend
Comment - Totally awesome, living the dream.

8. Great Aunt Ida - How They Fly - Company You Keep

Mississip!

2006-09-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

Track list:

1. Miss Violetta Beauregarde - odi profanum vulgus et arceo - the unbearable lightness of a farm tractor

Comment: oh crap, so weird. Therefore fabulous.

2. The Sadies - live vol. 1 - Tiger Tiger

Comment: The only way to see the Sadies is Live. I don't know what your alternatives are, but there it is.

3. Ghostrain - let the record show - the modern age

Comments: I can relate - I also fear the modern age. I feel I belong in the 1920s, with the girls with no boobs. Oh wait... damn.

4. The Old Soul - she's got party davis eyes - he's got larry david eyes/she's got party davis eyes

Comments: played almost solely for the titles. Absolutely love it, because anything weird is instantly my friend.

5. The Stance - shall inherit the earth - kiss me kiss me

Comments: masterful use of the word 'baby'. Really quite kick-ass musically also.

6. Giant Squid - metridium fields - versus the siren

Comments: Ack, too emo for me. Sorry giant squid, your ink is running all over my new dress, which cost me $5, and that hurts because I am poor and my boyfriend called me a whore. What? Sorry, just getting into the spirit.

7. Bettie Serveert - bare stripped naked - roadmovies

Comments: so perky. I'm going home everyone. Try not to fall on your swords, I'll be back two weeks from now (cjsf.com, 7-8pm)

emily sings the blues

2006-09-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Please disregard that. I promise no singing.

Track list:

1. Lake Holiday - The Curse of Sunshine - press record then play

Description: Ding! Love it. Happy sounding.

2. The Square Waves - s/t - dreams kept on machine

Description: Loopy. And there are some tinkly sounds. Love it also.

3. David Bowie - David Live - Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (reprise)

Description: This is maybe in my top five albums of all time, so you don't even need to ask.

4. Rafter - Achoo! An Asthmatic Kitty Sampler Vol. 1 - zzzPenchant

Description: If you're a music student, try to count along with this one. Maddening. But so unspeakably great.

5. The Fabulous Kildonans - bottle rocket - marktember rain

Description: Kind of generic, but overall fairly okay.

6. Cat Scientist - cicada - pink dress

Description: How could I avoid playing a song called 'pink dress' really. Being the owner of a little Pepto Bismolesque number myself, I can fully appreciate the sentiment behind the song... maybe. Unless it's about some horrible person with a pink dress, and then I just feel sad for pink dresses everywhere... Honestly, this song is super great. It's sort of funky but country-ish... something. It's really, really good, I recommend it.

7. Bonnie Prince Billy - cursed sleep - cursed sleep

Description: Carla, this is for you. Or is it your friend who likes him? I can't remember. Anyway, you're the reason I know who he is, so it's your song, enjoy it.

ain't got nobody

2006-07-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hey, where's the J? She's not here yet. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime I'm playing a song that is almost 8 minutes long, just to keep you occupied. I'm like a bad babysitter. But man, this isn't what I'm usually paid for!

Track list:

1. fond of tigers - a thing to live with - here, you are hated

Comments: horn-y. By which I mean there are horns. It's piano-y too, if that helps. It's sort of experimental band geek jazz. I quite like it.

2. super xx man - x - garage apartment

Comments: mellow! I like it. Summery.

3. dirty on purpos e - hallelujah sirens - no radio

Comments: this song has the driving sound. I like it.

4. rae spoon and rodney decroo - trucker's memorial - double wedding

Comments: Jonelle's favourite today. I like it too. This also has a very summery feel. Country music screams delerifying heat and stultifying amounts of iced tea and beer. Mixed. Mmm.

5. tuxedomoon - bardot hotel soundtrack - effervescing in the nethersphere

Comments: selected solely because of the sailor moon factor.