So so northern

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

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!

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

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.