Unbelievable

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

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.

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!

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

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!

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. The 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 Jimmie - 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

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

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!

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!

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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).