Archive for November, 2008

NME Cool List ‘08

November 18th, 2008 | By: Christine Morasse

NME

NME

NME is like the obnoxious friend of a friend you have to be nice to once in a while to get into bars without paying for the cover. I hate these people. Last week they published their cool list of 2008, and not so surprisingly, it’s as ridiculous and useless as usual. Here’s the top ten:

  • 10 Caroline Mackay, Glasvegas (new entry)
  • 09 Liam Gallagher, Oasis (new entry)
  • 08 M.I.A. (last year: 11)
  • 07 Caleb Followill, Kings Of Leon (last year: 21)
  • 06 Ladyhawke (new entry)
  • 05 Sam Dust, Late Of The Pier (new entry)
  • 04 Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys/The Last Shadow Puppets (last year: 6)
  • 03 Andrew VanWyngarden, MGMT (new entry)
  • 02 Jay-Z (new entry)
  • 01 Alice Glass, Crystal Castles (new entry)

(check out Stereogum for the 40 other “cool” people)

Oh, dear. I did not know “cool” meant douche bag. M.I.A. is a great artist, so is Karen O but Jay-Z? Really? And there is no need to go on about how delighted I was to see Oasis getting their ass kicked in Toronto (I don’t mean to offend anyone; I do not promote this kind of behaviour. I was just so sick of hearing them brag about how good they supposedly are and that interview where they insult Radiohead was a little too much for me. And apparently for the guy who jumped on Noel Gallagher, too.). This list could’ve been worst, but I sure hope kids don’t plan their year of music on it. And why did Alice from Crystal Castles make the list and not Ethan? Although I’m not big on CC Ethan Kath deserves at least a top ten, if only for his douchy moustache!

Zut Alors,
Christine

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Welcome Back!

November 16th, 2008 | By: Melody Lau

logo

Singing Lamb

As much as I enjoy the fast-paced, crowded environment of downtown Toronto, nothing felt better than walking down the streets of a quiet suburban neighbourhood in the afternoon, listening to one of my new favourite bands, Hooded Fang…that was last week. Now, I sit in my bed, coughing my lungs out, praying for the flames of hell to burn a whole in my throat. Being sick sucks. What also sucked was that the Singing Lamb had to be down for so long! I’m so sorry! But alas, it is back and better than ever! A lot of hard work was put into it by Tech Nerd, so if you see him walking around, give him props. And then punch him (for me) for the embarrassingly bad video of me.

Anyway, I’ve done a lot of searching and listening lately in light of my search of bands for the upcoming launch party in January. Bands of all sorts were asked, and even though the process was/is quite tedious (and heartbreaking at times – rejection is always painful), the silver lining to it all was that I was able to learn more about some amazing bands in town. But let’s just cut to the important stuff here. Here are the three bands that have been confirmed (so far!) for the official Singing Lamb Launch Party!!

  • Sports: The Band
  • Maylee Todd
  • Green Go

We’re still waiting on a response, but there’s a good chance that we’re getting some folks from Montreal to play at the show as well…you’ll just have to wait and see who that is! Quick hint: the two potential bands are both featured in this month’s issue of Chart.

I know there’s been a whirlwind of news last week, so I’ll just sum it up as quickly as possible!

The Pipettes lose yet another member, moving them down to two. Seriously, just stop it with the Pipette-switcheroo and release a new record! Read more here.

The Hives are teaming up with Cyndi Lauper for a Christmas single…strange, but true.

What’s even stranger is the group of people in this holiday ad for The Gap. Stereogum says “Jingle FAIL” but I say fuck it, that’s my new Christmas anthem. Rainn Wilson said so.

Speaking of commercials, this makes me cry.

Not so into holiday jingles or chocolate commercials? Want to just stick to simple children’s tunes? Well Tilly and the Wall have it covered. Here’s the new way to sing “ABC”, kids.

The Handsome Furs are releasing a new LP on February 3rd, 2009 entitled Face Control. Here’s the tracklisting:

Face Control:

  1. Legal Tender
  2. Evangeline
  3. Talking Hotel Arbat Blues
  4. (Passport Kontrol)
  5. All We Want, Baby, Is Everything
  6. I’m Confused
  7. (White City)
  8. Nyet Spasiba
  9. Officer of Hearts
  10. (It’s Not Me, It’s You)
  11. Thy Will Be Done
  12. Radio Kaliningrad

Does anyone else love the steamy new photo on their MySpace? Forget Face Control, these two need to learn some body control.

Final Fantasy also has a new video out for “Blue Imelda”, off of his Spectrum. 14th Century EP. Great EP; I recommend “The Butcher”, but “Blue Imelda” is also great. According to Owen Pallett, he will not be playing any shows in Toronto in the new year until he releases his upcoming LP (still entitled Heartland?). Let’s hope that it comes out soon then.

Broken Social Scene (Presents Brendan Canning) has a new video out for “Churches Under the Stairs”, arguably one of the best songs from Canning’s album, Something For All of Us…

Some upcoming shows to be aware of:
Casiotone For the Painfully Alone @ 6 Nassau (November 15)
Elliot Brood @ Lee’s Palace (December 31)
*Thunderheist & Shad @ Nathan Philips Square (January 31)
*The Stills @ Nathan Philips Square (February 7)
Cut Copy & Matt and Kim @ Circa (March 20)

*WinterCity Festival shows, FREE

As for the opening acts for the Stars gigs, those are as follow:
Dec. 11 – The Russian Futurists
Dec. 12 – Gentlemen Reg
Dec. 13 – The Done Me Wrongs

Phew, I think that’s all for now! Feel free to send comments to our e-mails or just chat about music; that’s always a joy!

Musically,
Melody

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Projectable Collections

November 7th, 2008 | By: Melody Lau

Ruby Coast

Ruby Coast

Don’t you love it when you find look-alikes of musicians? I found myself extremely fixated by this man on the subway a couple of days ago who looked like an exact, Asian version of Bradford Cox (Deerhunter). I don’t know, I’m strange. And I also watch too many episodes of Look-A-Like on Star! Damn television. If you want good TV, please just watch The Office, 30 Rock or Heroes. Heroes is getting much better, I promise. Oh, and Weeds!

Anyway, back to some music…

I’ve grown a little bit of an addiction recently – a Ruby Coast-addiction. I’ve always known about the Aurora, Ontario band but I had never really listened to them. Then I heard them briefly sound-checking at the Horseshoe a couple of months ago when they played with Plants and Animals. Long story, but I missed them play. I was terribly upset as I was really impressed by their sound-checking. So I went home and looked up their MySpace right away and I was hooked. “Neighbourhood” is cute, fun and catchy as hell. Watch here. The band gives off a Tokyo Police Club-meets-Born Ruffians vibe, with the appearance of the fun-loving kids of Los Campesinos! If you want to check them out, go to their MySpace now, followed by a trip out to Sneaky Dee’s tonight as they are playing their CD release show for their new record, Projectable Collections (19+). From what I’ve heard, you’d be crazy to not pick up a copy.

Another band I’ve been listening to a lot is Toronto’s very own Lioness. I caught a brief in-store by them a couple of weeks ago at Sonic Boom and I was quite impressed by their sound, as I hadn’t heard of them prior to that show. So I noticed a copy of their EP at Soundscapes the other day and I just had to pick it up. It is amazing. It’s filled with dark, danceable rock that will just blow you away every time. I still can’t shake the similarities between Lioness and the now-defunct Controller.Controller though (they do share members) but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I loved C.C, and it’s nice and refreshing to see that Jeff Scheven and Ronnie Morris are able to transition their infectious, “stomping disco pulses” to Lioness while adding a new twist to it. Make sure to catch them on November 14th at Wrongbar for their album release party, featuring Stop Die Resuscitate, Jaime Sin & Mikey Apples (19+).

M for Montreal, now T for Toronto? As reported by Exclaim, the annual M for Montreal music showcase will be taking place from November 20-22 this year, featuring some of Montreal’s most promising acts such as The Winter Gloves, Beast, Duchess Says and many more. But what’s more important is that there’s apparently a T for Toronto music showcase in the works. Details have yet to be finalized, but Woodhands, Lioness, the Mark Inside and Sweet Things have already been confirmed as performers. As I read this, I had a tiny school-girl panic attack.

Speaking of Montreal, a quick Arcade Fire update here.

In other very exciting news, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are apparently close to finishing their upcoming album. According to the band’s MySpace blog post, the new album doesn’t sound like any of their previous albums. But do not fear, as this is what the band had to say: “DOES IT SOUND LIKE THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS??? YOU BET YOU’RE SWEET ASS IT DOES.” Sweet indeed. The album is slated to come out sometime next year.

Somehow, I totally overlooked this post on Stillepost, but Human Highway are playing a show on December 16th at the Tranzac Club along with The Magic. This will be Human Highway’s Toronto CD release party for their album, Moody Motorcycle, which was released in August. Doors are at 8:00 pm and tickets are $10 (advance) and $12 (at the door). Nick Thorburn and I demand you to go.

As you all know, I’ve been listening and reconnecting with Metric a lot lately. Here’s a YouTube video of another new song, possibly entitled, “Lazy Dancer”. I love it; Metric, you’re on a roll.

For all Architecture in Helsinki fans, here’s a new song.

That’ll be all for now! Hope you all enjoy Singing Lamb 2.0! It’s the Lamb of the future.

Musically,
Melody

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Mind Flood

November 6th, 2008 | By: Melody Lau

Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts

Quick note of advice, never buy big, ugly couches that don’t fit through the door properly. It’s more tedious than sitting through shitty opening bands. I am so tired. But on the bright side, my week of hell at school is coming to an end; therefore I can return to my daily posts of nothingness and ramble about Feist! Hurray!

Okay, I have nothing to report regarding Feist, but for anyone keeping track of how many times I name-drop Feist, here’s another three. I demand someone to start a drinking game.

Here’s a little news round-up right now. Actually blogging will come later on today or tomorrow, but trust me, I have things to blog to you about! Exciting stuff!

Pitchfork reports that Bloc Party and Animal Collective have just announced new tour dates – none of which are in Toronto (YET) though. Damn.

Sam Roberts, who will be spending plenty of time in Toronto, will also add an in-store to his list of shows. He’ll be playing at Sonic Boom on November 15th at 3:00 p.m. November 15th is starting to shape up pretty well, what with the free library show that night at North York Central too (feat. Gentleman Reg, Masia One, The Winter Gloves and Slim Twig).

For the closeted and un-closeted Gossip Girl fans, this week’s episode featured a new Ramones cover by Thurston Moore and Jemina Pearl. Click here to see a clip of the show and listen to “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”. I’m not going to lie – I’m a fan of the show.

You Ain’t No Picasso reports that The Music Tapes will be making a tour stop in Toronto on December 1st. I’m not entirely sure about any further info, but I’ll let you know when I figure it out. For now, enjoy this new video for “Majesty”

While I was on Y.A.N.P., I also stumbled upon this Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s video I had never listened to them (yet), but it’s a really good song! I shall inquire more on said band…

Looking for some holiday fun? Well the Tiger Bar is hosting a two night event presented by No Shame called“Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em!” Night one (December 12th , 9:00 pm) is as follows: The D’Urbervilles, Katie Stelmanis, Mantler. Night two (December 13th , 9:00 pm) goes like this: The D’Urbervilles, Bocce, Slow Hand Motem. Mmmm, lots of D’Urbervilles. The events are 19+.

The Kinks are apparently reuniting and working on a new album. Sweet! Read more here.

That’ll be all for now, as I must run to class now! Hurray, education… at least Ryerson’s not on strike.

Musically,
Melody

OH, P.S. EVERYONE, MARK JANUARY 10TH 2009 ON YOUR CALENDARS.
BIG PLANS.
SINGING LAMB LAUNCH PARTY.
BANDS AND DETAILS TBA.
KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN.

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Lamb Chops

November 6th, 2008 | By: Matthew Braga

Feist-Jam

Feist-Jam

Good evening, fellow lambs!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock – or, perhaps, a dingy sewer with French revolutionaries – you’re probably already well aware of Barack Obama’s election to the U.S presidency last night. The announcement came before a crowd of over 70,000, who gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park to hear the Democratic nominees victory speech. And amongst the supporters? The likes of We Are Scientist, and Kings of Leon, no less.

Both bands are the latest in a string bands to voice their support for the new U.S president, joining the ranks of hundred of American celebrities and musicians who have aligned themselves with the Democratic leader. While music has long been a medium for political bashing and support, almost a decade worth of a less-than-stellar Bush government have made this election particularly rife for action

As Nikolai Fraiture, bassist for The Strokes, stated, “it felt like finally having been freed after eight years in prison.”

Meanwhile, I seem to have developed a bit of an obsession with Britpop as of late. After having rediscovered much of Blur’s back catalog last week, I’ve had an insatiable desire for as much of the band’s material as I can find. Of course, with guitarist Graham Coxon long gone from the band, Blur is largely just a shell of what it once was, creatively and otherwise.

Strangely enough, Coxon has surfaced once again in the music world, but not under the guise of a solo album, as one might think. Instead, Pitchfork is reporting the former Blur guitarist to be working with the supposedly cleaned-up Pete Doherty – which, I assume, they mean purely in reference to his appearance – of Babyshambles fame. Discounting the fact that they’re both British, I really can’t think of any shared qualities that would attract the two artists together. But alas, Doherty’s drummer on the album, Adam Ficek, told NME that Coxon had contributed some guitar work on the album, to be release later next year.

While it’s not quite the complete Blur reunion many have been hoping for, it still marks a return to the mainstream for the talented guitarist.

And finally, browsing aimlessly through my iTunes library today reminded me of an interesting – albeit little-known album – from one of Canada’s largest musical talents of recent years. Formed in the early nineties, the band was called Placebo. But this particular Placebo is not to be confused with the UK alternative band.

No; this particular Placebo featured Leslie Feist.

Don’t Drink the Bathwater, the only full-length release from the band, was Feist’s first project, existing long before either Broken Social Scene or her successful solo career. Not only does it feature a fairly truthful approximation of the early nineties grunge/punk scene… but it also sounds a little bit like Pearl Jam, at times.

Just, you know, with Feist.

And if you’re feeling really brave this evening, there’s even a video. Fair warning though; there’s some particularly fierce air guitar around the 45-second mark.

Stay classy,
Braga

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Turn the Lights Off, Turn the Lights Off

November 4th, 2008 | By: Max Mertens

Every Time I Die

Every Time I Die

So it’s only Tuesday, but already I’m feeling pretty stressed about my university workload that is beginning to accumulate. Grammar tests, essay outlines, in-class debates – it all seems to piling up this week, and if I survive until Friday, it’s going to be a small miracle. Luckily, I have a pretty uncommon method that may just help me avoid having a mental breakdown. I’m going to a metal show tonight.

Not just any metal show though. I’d be the first to admit that metal isn’t my preferred listening genre by any means. I don’t own a single Black Sabbath-related article of clothing, nor would I like to discuss the finer points of the new Metallica album with you (but if I was to guess, I’d say that this is pretty damn accurate). Yet, there’s something about a good metal album with southern-fried rock influences, pummeling riffs and drums that you can jump around your bedroom violently to, and lyrics that if you listen really, really hard you can almost make them out. That album for me last summer was Every Time I Die’s The Big Dirty, and the band is finally getting off their asses and are bringing their “November Reign” (how appropriate now that Axl has finally announced Chinese Democracy will be in stores November 23) tour to The Opera House tonight at 7. For those of you not willing to brave the inevitable mosh pits, but don’t mind their music with a bit of volume, check this out.

If you’re feeling something more mellow, Matt & Kim are playing a show with Best Fwends at the Whippersnapper Gallery this Saturday, and you can still pick tickets up at Rotate This. If really good, infectious pop-rock isn’t incentive enough, Mel and myself will also be there to check the show out. Score!

Another band that should make you smile, is New York’s Jesus H. Christ & The 4 Hornsmen of the Apocalypse, who just put out a new album entitled Happier Than You. If the absurdity of the band’s name alone doesn’t do it for you, their horn-drenched catchy pop songs with a wry sense of humour (they have a song called“Connecticut’s For Fucking”), will.

I’ve had the new Bloc Party album Intimacy stuck on repeat on my laptop the past week, and it is easily the best album that I have listened to in months. Seriously, if you are fans of the band and you don’t own this album, you need to run out and get it right now. For those of you who were disappointed with A Weekend In The City, the new songs are more in the spiky post-punk experimental vein of Silent Alarm, with electronic elements that has me definitely hoping this spawns a remix album. Classics-in-waiting include “Mercury”,“Ares”, “Biko”, “One Month Off”, and “Talons”, which you can watch the video for here.

I almost hate to dirty this website’s good name by mentioning their name here, but last Tuesday, my friend and I were out walking on Queen St. West on a chilly evening when we came across Fall Out Boy playing a live set outside the MuchMusic headquarters. I’m sure most of your reactions were similar to mine – who gives a fuck? – but it just was another reminder for me where I am living, and that so many bands come here on a regular basis. Here, Fall Out Boy playing a free outdoors show is just an ordinary Tuesday in Toronto. Oh, and apparently (not as if you care though) Chicago’s “finest” have a new album under their belts, entitled Folie A Deux. I watched the new video for the first single “I Don’t Care” and I thought it was complete garbage – it’s full of gratuitous product placement (let’s hope Nokia’s cutting them a fat royalties cheque as we speak), shameless guest appearances (hey, is that the guy from Cobra Starship? Pharrell? really Gilby Clarke, you didn’t have anything better to do with your time?) and a supposed political message (or at least that’s what they calling it and trying to disguise the fact that they’re just trying to cash in on the Barack Obama fever sweeping the nation).

That just reminds me that today is election day in the States. It seems that there is a greater interest in Canada about this federal election than the botched excuse of one we had the other week (I’m not bitter). If you are an American reading this, and you haven’t done so, go vote for Obama. Us Canadians (and the rest of the world) will thank you for it. Heck, and if Obama’s personality and politics haven’t impressed you yet, maybe his dance moves will. Hilarious.

Anyways that’s all I have for today. Get out there and enjoy the unusually warm weather that we are having this week for me, as I will be confined to labs, the library and my dorm room. Such is (university) life.

Cheers,
Max

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Justice + So Me + Busy P @ CiRCA – Oct. 29, 2008

November 3rd, 2008 | By: Max Mertens

Justice @ Circa

Justice @ Circa

After braving a cold night, a wait at the nearby Chapter’s filled with high-schoolers with bad taste in fashion, and a longer wait in line while being accosted by sketchy characters selling cigarettes, I expected more from Justice’s appearance at CiRCA and I didn’t really end up getting it.  The Parisian electronic duo of Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay were in Toronto on their promotion tour of their new DVD documentary/concert film, cleverly-titled “A Cross The Universe” (get it?  get it?), yet unfortunate circumstances beyond my control ended up putting a slight damper on my evening.  I had jumped on getting a ticket almost as soon as I heard about this show, not wanting to take any chances that this – a rare all-ages show at CiRCA,  I figured would sell out early.  My friend, who had recently turned 19, and I waited in line for about an hour before we were separated like cattle into two lines.  The legal half of the crowd entered unarguably one of city’s most premier clubs through the main entrance, while the rest of us were ushered up a dirty back stairwell.   It was only after I found myself on the CiRCA’s third-floor balcony overlooking the main floor, that this is where I was going to be stuck for the night.

I don’t want this to be a rant about being under-age, but alas, I was none too happy that I was going to watching this show from above amongst swarms of high-schoolers and hipsters-in-waiting.  I know that there were students my age there too, but I swear there were at least a dozen 12-year-olds there out past their curfews to see live DJing that they couldn’t truly appreciate.  Blame it on my naivety perhaps, but I wrongly assumed that we’d be the ones on the ground, while the people wanting to shell out $6.50 for a gin & tonic (my friend ended up splitting her time between hanging out with me and fetching herself a drink or two) would be in the bottle service lounges and VIP booths.  CiRCA is a massive club and there is much to see, with decorations ranging from a giant head to Spiderman to a large skull mural, but we were definitely confined in the designer toy company Kidrobot-themed area with its large rabbit-shaped chairs and a bar selling overpriced Red Bull and water.

However, back to the show itself.  Before Justice came on the crowd had to wait through two opening DJ sets, one by manager and owner of France’s Ed Banger Records Pedro Winter (aka Busy P), and one by label mate So Me.  The Ed Banger Records label has blown up in the past few years and has introduced some great new electronic music acts, including Justice, to a wide international audience.  Yet listening to these two unmemorable and repetitive sets, I couldn’t help but wish that somebody else from the Ed Banger family could have been there to support Justice on this particular night of the tour.  Where was Feadz (whose real name is Anna-Catherine Hartley), who recently remixed the stellar teaser for the label’s latest compilation? How about Uffie – the crowd could’ve benefitted from her trashy brand of pop/rap?  Busy P and So Me’s sets were so unspectacular that I couldn’t even tell where one ended his set and the other began.  It was now approaching midnight, and I was starting to wonder if this night was going to be a complete waste of time and hard-earned cash.

Yet the previous two performances were instantly forgotten as Justice took to the stage and the crowd was whipped into a frenzy. That, combined with a Red Bull and meeting some unexpected neighbours and classmates, and I found myself getting a welcome second (or first?) wind and was eager to see what the duo’s DJ set would sound like. Justice opened with their own “Tthhee Ppaarrtttyy”, which features vocals from Uffie, and then proceeded to play a pretty solid set that featured plenty of reworked material (often with upped frequencies) from Cross. In my opinion, I think that the key reason that sets Justice apart from other electronic outfits and appeal to so many, is that they incorporate rock and even heavy metal (check out “Stress“, which criminally was played only for about 30 seconds during the show) elements into their music. I think many people were anticipating de Rosnay and Auge to be performing their songs live as opposed to in a DJ set, but the pair worked the mixing boards and requisite MacBook Pro like seasoned veterans, adding stabbing frequencies to songs and even sneaking in a snippet of Daft Punk. The set ended slightly earlier than promised, but Justice saved their biggest hit for last. Any guesses? You’d have to have been living under a rock the past few years, if you were to pick anything other than the ubiquitous “D.A.N.C.E.”, which is destined to become the “Y.M.C.A.” of our time. The duo stripped the playground chanting chorus of the original in favour of a straight vocal while the swaying crowd was bathed in red spotlights – the rendition even stirred some trouble in the crowd, as I caught a glimpse of a man being held off by security.

In the end however, this show will be unfortunately remembered for the crappy view I had to deal with when I had expected to be front and centre watching the artists. The third-floor balcony didn’t even give us really enough room to dance (no pun intended), because there were moments during Justice’s set were I would have liked to. As the crowd spilled back out into the cold night while someone played a Vampire Weekend song, I reflected on the night and came to the conclusion that the time has come for me to pursue a fake ID. But that is an entry for another day…

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One Evening

November 2nd, 2008 | By: Melody Lau

Feist

Feist

Don’t you just hate it when you throw something into your bag and hours later, you take it out and realized that the item has been squished, snapped, broken or just fucked up? Yeah, just a random thought. I just took out a necklace I was wearing from last night and it’s in the most unimaginable tangle on earth. Halloween can mess people up.

But it was buckets of fun, nonetheless. I decided to dress up as Princess Daisy from the Mario games (not entirely sure if I mentioned that already) and wore the most ridiculous light brown wig ever. Definitely opting for my natural hair next year. Unfortunately, because I’m still recovering from that night (and because I shall be cramming for an upcoming exam), I also opted out of last night’s Feist show at Massey Hall. The first (and last) time I will ever refuse Feist. My friend texted me after the show telling me how glad she was that she went and how good she was. Fuck. I’d say there’s always the next time, but as Feist has clearly been saying recently, that probably won’t be for a while. Double fuck.

While we’re on the topic, Feist will be releasing a bonus disc to her 2007 release, The Reminder. The disc will feature remixes, her version of Broken Social Scene’s “Lover’s Spit” (which I totally prefer over BSS’s version), her collaboration with the Constantines for a cover of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream” (beautiful song) and a couple of videos. It’ll be available digitally on November 25th and in stores right on time for the holidays on December 2nd.

I will actually be taking a leap of absence for half a week due to a stressful few days with school work. Damn you, essays and exams! Anyway, hopefully tech nerd and some other non-Ryersonians will step in (finally?) and post some exciting stuff while I’m gone. If you’re in need of some random music to listen to, feel free to visit http://sixeyes.blogspot.com. It’s quite the wonderful blog to browse through at times because of the fun mixes and such! For example, last night I checked it out and through it, started listening to Oklahoma’s The Uglysuit (of whom I’ve heard of for quite some time now, but had yet to check them out). Good stuff all around! So please, check out Sixeyes and The Uglysuit!

Also, when I first saw this post on Stereogum, I thought it was a joke, but evidently it wasn’t. Ben Gibbard was indeed attacked by a scorpion… twice. Am I evil if I laughed really hard at this?

I also laughed at this.

Okay, enough of the laughing and back to some serious work for me. See you later this week!

Musically,
Melody

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Let’s Chat: Matt & Kim

November 2nd, 2008 | By: Melody Lau

Matt & Kim

Matt & Kim

Singing Lamb: Would you like to update us on what’s going on in the world of Matt and Kim lately?

Matt: Hmm, what’s going with us? Well, other than sleeping in till noon… Actually, I think we just got the final version of our next CD. That’s pretty exciting. Well we’ve got at least three versions that I said would go to the manufacturers’ for promotions, but I’m fucking nuts about getting things to what I consider is right. So it’s gone back again and again. This one may actually be it – but I’ve said that a couple of times before! I think they have to make the CD soon!

Well it doesn’t hurt to be a perfectionist.

No I don’t think…well, to what extent, you know? Our last record, we worked on it for nine days. This, I realized we started working on it last December. So we’re coming up on almost a full year! But no, this is exactly what Kim and I wanted to be able to make. We started, but never had the time or means to do so. But yeah, we have this song called, “Daylight” out and we shot a video for it that will be premiering on MTV next week.

That’s cool!

Yeah, we haven’t made a video in so long – since the “Yeah Yea” video. I don’t even remember when that was…maybe the beginning of 2007?

Probably; sounds right to me.

It’s all a blur!

Well do you think that videos are even relevant anymore?

I do! I think they are. Depending on what direction you take them in. It is relevant. It’s funny because I remember before Kim and I did that video for “Yeah Yea” we had released the album a few months prior but we got so much more attention by just doing that one video than you do a whole album. And things are so based on singles now and things like that and having things like a visual. Even so, people go online and go on your MySpace and look at it. What else are you going to do? There’s something there for you to look at. But yeah, I’m a film guy; I went to school for film. I’m a fan of film and video, so I might be biased!

Maybe; just a tad! But I think it’s just how memorable it is nowadays.

Yeah, before they used to spend so much freakin’ money on videos but now there’s not much money in records so they can’t spend the same amount of money. And before, when they used to have a lot of money, sometimes they just didn’t have an idea; like “let’s just throw a lot of money at it and make it flashy!” But no one even cares about flash that much. And now, I think people are forced to think of a good idea because they can’t spend that much money. Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe people are actually going to think a bit more and appreciate that!

So will be playing a lot of your new material on tour?

We play half and half. Maybe a bit more of the older stuff just because I know when I go see a band, I’d like to see stuff I know.

Mhmm!

But then we’ve done so many tours since we put out that last album that we can’t just keep playing the same songs or else we’d totally get sick of it.

Are you sick of it?

No, no! We wrote the songs, we get to play them, its fun. As a band early on, there was no advertising and it was mostly word of mouth and we were trying to create a base of people who would come back numerous times. So if you’re trying to make people come back for the fourth and fifth time, we have to show them that we’ve got some other tricks to spice it up. A few songs can’t hurt.

So you’ll be back in Toronto in a few weeks.

I guess so!

What have been some highlights the past few times you’ve been in Toronto to play?

Well I remember our last time in Toronto, when we were with CSS and The Go! Team, a big highlight was that we made it through the freakin’ set.

Haha!

Before that, we kept having these technical problems and we were just not making it through sets on their shows. Things were breaking because we were in this bizarre spot where we didn’t get sound checks and we couldn’t work out any issues beforehand and we’d play four or five songs. So I remember in Toronto, after every song we made through, I would be like, “Hell yeah! We’re going to make it through this whole thing!” So yeah, that was a big thing. Oh, and our last time in Toronto, before that, we played with another group of bands…

Are you talking about your first show? I was there! [May 2007 @ the Mod Club - as part of Toronto's annual Over the Top Fest]

Oh really?! Yeah, that was really like my first time in Toronto other than when I was a kid. It was really nice to hang out with those guys (Japanther, Meligrove Band) and we were here for a couple of days. I was thinking, “I’ve got to start getting my paper work for immigrating to Canada!” But when New York City goes under water because of ice caps melting…

Haha, Toronto will be here for you!

Yeah! It was really nice here.

Is there anything about Toronto that you miss sometimes?

Hmm, the problem is when we were back there – maybe you can help me – there was this area where we walked across a park and we were kind of on top of this hill and all these nice, smaller shops. We walked into a musical instrument shop and there were salads on the corner, outside in the sun…I can’t figure out what the heck that area was that we were in!

Ummm…

Well it seemed a kind of cultural area like there were coffee shops and record stores…I have no idea where we were.

There are a couple of places I can think of but I’m not sure.

We were on a hill! Haha, I know I’m being very vague. I’ll just have to ask Eric [Warner, organizer of the Over the Top Fest]. But it’s probably different there now. What is it, winter there?

Nah, it’s quite fall-ish here right now.

Yeah, yesterday I rode my bike over the Williamsburg Bridge to Manhattan in a t-shirt and shorts. There must be something wrong, it’s closing in on November and I shouldn’t be wearing this!

Yeah, there’s definitely something wrong! Also, I’ll let you know if I ever figure out that place you were talking about! [I am 99.1% sure that it's Trinity Bellwoods]

Awesome!

So I have one last question for you – if you were a singing animal, what would you be?

If I was an animal? I’d have to say dog. Well I don’t have a dog, but both Kim and I are dog fanatics. I think it’s partially because we can’t have a dog because we’re touring half the year and we live in a little apartment, but whatever. We’ll go to the dog park and sit outside of it and just look at dogs!

Haha!!

Yeah, so I don’t know if that means that I want to be a dog, or if that’s just part of my dog fanaticism of not having one, but I’d say for both Kim and I we’d fall into that category.

*For more Matt and Kim, make sure to catch them at the Whippersnapper Gallery with Best Fwends and Bocce on November 8th, visit their website and/or be sure to check out their new album, Grand, when it comes out on January 20th!

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CD Review: Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life

November 2nd, 2008 | By: Max Mertens

The Chemistry of Common Life

The Chemistry of Common Life

If you picked up October’s issue of EXCLAIM! magazine, you may have turned inside to read the cover story on Toronto’s Fucked Up.  If you did, you would have seen a close-up photo of the band’s lead vocalist, a behemoth of a man who goes by the stage name of Pink Eyes, shirtless with shards of blood-stained glass protruding from his forehead.  So why then does this image perhaps comes closest to capturing the true essence of the band – in all their brutality and brilliance – that has catapulted them to status as Canadian hardcore saviours?  One only needs to listen to the band’s sophomore album The Chemistry of Common Life, to begin to understand the sometimes confusing but always provocative modus operandi of Fucked Up.

If you were to go by their stage identities alone – there is of course Pink Eyes (whose real name is Damian Abraham) but the rest of the band includes 10,000 Marbles (Mike Haliechuk), Gulag (Josh Zucker), Young Governor (Ben Cook) and Mustard Gas (Sandy Miranda) – you might think the band is a circus of musical miscreants playing loud, dumb punk music that is easily consumable for the masses.  You’d be wrong.  Over the past few years, Fucked Up has released an ambitious series of 7″ and 12″ records that have tackled such weighty topics as prostitution, religion and politics.  Their debut LP Hidden World was finally released in 2006 – a 72 minute opus of metaphysical observations, choruses calculated to offend (such as “We’ll smash your house, we’ll smash your car” in “Baiting The Public”) and average song lengths over five minutes.  The band also grew a reputation for their insane live shows, as MTV has discovered on several occasions.

Fucked Up has always operated like a collective of musicians rather than an actual band – you never know who might appear on their albums or limited edition vinyl releases.  Hidden World featured Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett on violin, and those paying attention to this album may hear some familiar voices singing back-up vocals on several tracks.  This includes the females of the Brooklyn trio Vivian Girls, and two Canucks, Sebastien Grainger and Dallas Green (whose haunting voice is perfectly juxtaposed with Pink Eyes’ gruffness in “Black Albino Bones”).

The Chemistry of Common Life eschews the traditional loud-soft-loud dynamics of the majority of hardcore these days, by experimenting with a variety of different instruments and styles of music.  The album opener“Son The Father” leads in with a flute solo before Pink Eyes’ frenetic vocals come crashing in.  The rest of the album contrasts between lush, string-drenched instrumentals such as “Looking for God”, which have moments of true beauty, and chaotic guitar and lyrical tunes such as “Days of Last”.  The religious symbolism is still there; the band makes references to Jerusalem and judgement, but isn’t trying to preach a message and seem more interested in creation in the scientific sense.  In the standout title track, Pink Eyes sings about birth in relation to the elements – ice, fire, sky and earth – in a testament to Fucked Up’s ability to challenge themselves and listeners alike with their lyrics.

Oh, and that EXCLAIM! article?  In the response on the band’s blog, they had the following to say: “Most of this story is BS by the way.”  More proof that Fucked Up is truly a band that plays by their own rules.

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