Think About Life – Johanna

This song was on repeat the entire 6 hour drive back from Pop Montreal. The addition of Caila to the band was brilliant – that girl has pipes like whoa and gives 100% every time. TAL has gone from my favourite live band to my favourite much music video dance party; I’m regressing, and I love it.

Thunderheist – Jerk It

What can i say? Isis is young, sexy and the song is catchy as shit. It’s like peaches, only I feel really hot listening to it, instead of just dirty.

Green Go – Put Your Specs On Boy

GG are old hat to me – I feel like this album has been out for about twelve years. But the fact that I’ve heard their songs for ages shouldn’t touch the fact that they are great… really really great songs from a really really great album. Get a drink in me and put this on, and I still squeal THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG! Every time.

Everything All The Time – Lazy Days

Britney and Beyonce move over. Catchy as fuck quality pop has a new face, and it’s EATT. Welcome to the only indie pop band I know who has a real singer. Plus I love each and everyone of them… just delightful people.

Sports The Band – Castlots

Between the harmonies and the basslines and the interband drama, I always forget just how good Sports are. Until I walk into a room where they’re onstage and all I can do is beam.

Dirty Projectors – Remade Horizon

I had to move to the front of the sold out room to understand exactly what the hell was happening. Is it a keyboard? A guitar? No… its vocals. Wait, what?! Motown in a meatgrinder – groundbreaking.

Gentleman Reg – You Can’t Get It Back

Either you like his voice or you don’t, but there’s no denying guy can write a song. It’s like I couldn’t pick between my favourite frontman, and my favourite front woman, so I got both. Reg is sassy like a pop diva, he’s the best of all worlds.

Pick A Piper – Rooms

You’re a summer festival, you’re a boy with slight B.O., you’re a joint rolled in cinnamon rolling paper. I love you, let’s stare at the stars.

Akron/Family – Everyone is Guilty

I drove to Hamilton to see these guys because I’m didn’t grab tickets to their sold out 2 night stand at Sneaky Dees with Born Ruffians. Worth It.

Animal Collective – Brother Sport

Every time Fez from Green Go spins this at a party, I get all ‘This is great! Who IS this?’ And it’s always Animal Collective. I actually bought this album in a store. This is significant.

Patrick Watson – Beijing

When his first album came out, I described my heart school heartthrob as creating music that sounds like Montreal. Cinematic, decadent, urgent and idiosyncratic. And endlessly romantic. Somewhere between the pots and pan percussion and the lush string arrangements is my hometown.

Portico – The Battle of Duck Lake

My favourite songs of the 90s are reborn in this CBC radio 3 hit.

The Darcys – The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead

Sure it’s a cover, but what a cover! This is how you do covers, people, pay attention. Just listen to that guitar solo! This is a cover enough to build an entire tour around… which is exactly what they did. I expect big things from The Darcys in 2010.

Great Bloomers – Speak of Trouble

Full disclosure; I manage these guys. But there’s a reason – they are The Band as arranged by Queen, epic twangy roots rock with charm and soul for miles. The album is a slow burn – I like it more with each listen, and young frontman Lowell Sostomi will be writing songs for the rest of his life. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.

Evening Hymns – Dead Deer

I had to wait a year from the first time I heard these songs until the album was released. They almost didn’t make the 2009 cut off… Jonas! Way to build suspense. As expected, you were worth the wait.

Peter Wolf Crier – Down Down Down

A last minute discovery and one I’m still digesting. But the Minneapolis duo’s superlative Inter-Be may be my favourite album of the year.

Wooden Sky – Oh My God (It Still Means A Lot To Me)

For petty personal reasons, I REALLY didn’t want to love this album. But I do, and how. My opinion of Gavin Gardiner remains the same as the first time I heard him open his mouth… it’s a crime he’s not famous worldwide yet – every teenage girl should be mooning around her bedroom to this.

Wilderness of Manitoba – Evening

I wasn’t expecting to find one of my favourite albums in a backyard shed on Delaware street north of Bloor, but I did. And even though the music was coming from people I already knew and loved, I never could have predicted the delicate beauty of this album. Wilderness of Manitoba give me hope.

Timber Timbre – Demon Host

His Halifax pop showcase was legitimately frightening. Taylor’s talent is otherworldly…

NOTES

I would have included the Rural Alberta Advantage, Olenka and The Autumn Lovers, Tune Yards and Parlovr, but though they really saw acclaim this past year, their albums were originally released in 2008. And I would’ve included Bruce Peninsula, but I doan’t think the recording of Mountain is a Mouth , lovely as it is, reflects how magnificent they really are.

Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest

Are you familiar with the concept of dualism? Me neither. Completely irrelevant to the philosophical concept, though, 2009 definitely presented quite the interesting polarity when it came to album releases. There were plenty of great ones and an unfortunate amount of things never meant for the ears. But focusing on just the positive side of 2009′s musical spectrum, the following are some of the records I’ve fallen in love with this year.

Personally, ranking stuff in accordance to best and least just make me uneasy. Hence, I’m listing my top ’09 records in alphabetical order (with supplementary zany visual aids for your short attention spans)!

Beacons – Ohbijou

Check: New Years – Ohbijou

Bitte Orca – Dirty Projectors

Check: Stillness is the Move

Far – Regina Spektor

Check: Laughing With – Regina Spektor

If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone – The Wooden Sky

Check: Oh My God (It Still Means a Lot to Me) – The Wooden Sky

It’s Blitz! – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Check: Heads will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Merriweather Post Pavillion – Animal Collective

Check: Summertime Clothes – Animal Collective

Speak of Trouble – Great Bloomers

Check: This Ain’t You – Great Bloomers

Technicolor Health – Harlem Shakes

Check: Strictly Game – Harlem Shakes

Tight Knit – Vetiver

Check: Everyday – Vetiver

Veckatimest – Grizzly Bear

Check: Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear

If you were one of those people that really does believe that Animal Collective are the sound of the future, you probably would have been completely blown away by their show last Saturday at the Sound Academy. If you were a doubter – and if you’ve spent every night since Merriweather Post Pavilion’s release ingesting pep pills to avoid sleep so that Pitchfork’s goons won’t snap your neck while you rest as punishment for your skepticism – well, then you may have been surprised at how entertained you might have been. I know I was.

I must admit that Animal Collective, and Merriweather Post Pavilion in particular, have grown on me since my first listens. And yet, they seem to be one of those groups where you can’t find anyone who shares the same love for them as all the critics do; indeed, all the people I know who’ve heard them (not many) are either indifferent or dismissive of the Baltimore collective’s version of electronic pop (or whatever they’re calling it these days). According to these few, they’re “screechy” (Lara), “overrated, to say the least” (Melshean), “wankery” (Dustin) or “pseudo-experimental crap” (mom).

The opening act was Grouper, aka Liz Harris, an ambient artist whose work I had not previously heard, and frankly have no intention of checking out anytime soon based on the performance. Maybe the audience was just impatient from being cramped like sardines, but they didn’t seem to take to the music – this was not unique noise rock or sedating ambient of any kind. If you took one of the forgettable tracks from Aphex Twin’sSelected Ambient Works Volume II, coupled it with a Bilinda-Butcher-with-laryngitis vocal and looped the sound of a jackhammer around the whole thing, you might have the whole experience in a nutshell. Many adjectives could describe the music, but I think the tall fellow standing to my left had perhaps the most succinct comment: “This is fucking tedious.”

It came as a surprise, then, at the particular and unique atmospherics that Animal Collective (a trio on this tour) used to back up their shimmery soundscapes once they took the stage. Segueing all their songs together with watery effects that made you feel like you were falling into a deep sleep at the bottom of the ocean, the group played some expected favorites – “My Girls” (which featured some excellent use of the strobe lights), “Leaf House” (that Avey Tare can yelp like no other), “Chocolate Girl” (with some loose harmonic interplay between Tare and Panda Bear) and “Lion in a Coma” (why?).

Despite the fact that the group didn’t play some songs that may have been expected of them (no “Who Could Win a Rabbit,” “Grass” or “For Reverend Green”), they managed to take some less-anticipated songs and make them work with some rhythmic improvisation and some syncopated vocal mannerisms from the very energetic Avey Tare. Personally, I would have liked to hear their live takes on “Banshee Beat,” “Winter Wonder Land” and “No More Runnin,” but it wasn’t expected. And you can’t have everything. Still…”Lion in a Coma?” Really?

The show clearly emphasized the ‘rock’ aspects of the group, not the calmer jams that held up on their albums – there would have been no place for a slower number here, anyway, what with the booming percussion and emphasis on immediate gratification. The highlights, most would agree, came with an extended “Fireworks” and a killer “Brother Sport” (the most immediately danceable song in the set), as well as a fine encore performance of “Summertime Clothes.”

The flaws aside – a little too much time was given for Panda Bear to ramble on some songs, and Avey’s sporadic harmonizing on “My Girls” got a bit grating – the whole thing was one of those experiences that could leave you with dozens of subjectively profound moments. For me, it was quite a thrill seeing sound-master Geologist strap his trademark light onto his head; equally thrilling to me was the surprisingly touching way that Avey Tare sang the climactic line ‘You’re only what I see sometimes’ in “Fireworks.” Why? I don’t know. I guess you had to be there. If you weren’t? Well then, I’d keep taking those pep pills, if I were you.

An Horse

Santigold will be at the Phoenix on June 3rd.

I hate myself for forgetting to mention this (although to be fair, I said it on Twitter when I found out a few days ago) - Laura Barrett and The Phonemes will be at the Tranzac on Thursday, April 2nd. And on April 3rd,Out of This Spark Records will present Picastro, Casey Mecjia (Ohbijou, Bruce Peninsula), and Chris Sutherland at the front room of the Tranzac. Doors for both shows will be at 10:00 pm and the April 3rd show is Pay What You Can.

Green Go will be celebrating the release of their new album Borders at the Wrong Bar on April 30th, along with special guests The Magic, Everything All the Time and DJ sets by OPOPO. Cover is $5.00 – worth it!

In case you missed Australia’s An Horse during CMW, the duo will be back on April 21st, opening for Appleseed Cast at the Horseshoe. Tickets are still available for $10.00 and this will be a 19+ event.

Lewis and Clark will open for Bat For Lashes at the Mod Club on April 25th. Tickets are still available for $15.00 and this will also be a 19+ event.

Opening for The Pains of Being Pure At Heart at Lee’s on April 28th will be Brooklyn’s Zaza.

Portland’s Grouper will join Animal Collective on tour this summer. Look for them to make a stop at the Sound Academy on May 16th. I do believe tickets are sold out for this event though.

And last but not least in “opening acts” news, Montreal’s David MacLeod will be opening for Plants and Animals at the Mod Club on May 7th. Tickets are still available for $15.00 and this event will be 19+.

Sunset Rubdown has announced details about their new album, entitled Dragonslayer. Read more about it (and take a look at the sweet album cover) here!

And to end off today’s news update, I’d like to dedicate this post to Blender Magazine, as the publication will be shutting down, with its current issue on newsstands being its last. I had stopped reading Blender for quite some time now, but I was a fan at one point; they will be missed.

Happy listening!

Musically,
Melody

Merriweather Post Pavillion

Just over a month ago, Pitchfork awarded Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillion an astonishing – and rare – score of 9.6 out of 10. It’s a fairly safe bet that Pitchfork won’t give a higher score all year (well, unless Radiohead magically release a new effort…but that ain’t gonna happen). Other reviewers have already called Merriweather a ‘landmark’ album, ‘one of the greatest achievements of the decade,’ and other hyperbolic praise.

As expected, nothing could live up to the hype that’s already been bestowed upon these intrepid avant-gardists. Avey Tare and Panda Bear, the group’s two explorers, have created their most ‘pop’ album, and thus their most accessible, though Animal Collective are still a loooong way away from radio airplay.

Pitchfork got one thing right in their review: this is one of those albums where any track could be a favourite. There aren’t any stand-out weak spots, and just about every track has something to like (and occasionally love) in them. At the same time, though, Merriweather has the effect of keeping you lightly sedated instead of both challenged and sedated. While listening to it, I found myself enjoying small phrases of songs, but then feeling confused as the memory of said phrases disappeared from my mind as soon as the next track slithered in.

Merriweather is not so much a regression from their previous album (Strawberry Jam), as much as a detour. It’s an aggressively ‘summer’ album, meant to convey a relaxed mood of a hot day as evening falls and you’re wondering what to do with yourself. Like what The Beach Boys would sound like if they were produced by Christian Fennesz.

Indeed, “My Girls” casts an exhilarating spell with a very fast downward arpeggio, repeated over and over against a barrage of percussion and the voices of those two oddballs. “Summertime Clothes” is the closest thing the band gets on the album to memorable lyrics (‘You close my rest with a saccharin sheen/Kissing my wind through my window screen’).

Okay, so that’s all fine enough. But while every track has the capacity to appeal, every track also has the capacity to lag. Panda Bear’s “Daily Routine” seems to stumble along slowly before reaching a beautiful, shimmering finale. “Taste” has a tranquil feeling that is dampened by a repeated lyric in the coda: “Am I really all the things that are outside of me?” It’s sung without conviction, like a cool phrase that sounds only mildly interesting, rather than something that pulls the song through.

And therein lies the problem with Merriweather (and, broadly, with Animal Collective in general): frustration. Good ideas are undercut by bizarre tics that render the songs forgettable, and allow a repetition to slip through. The song structures of the band are reminiscent of Arcade Fire or Brian Eno, wherein the songs start loud and get louder rather than starting quiet and getting louder.

That’s interesting. But at the same time, the actual songwriting suffers from the monotony of the album as a whole. Just about all of the eleven tracks follow the same formula: a wispy synthesizer hook, dreamy vocals fading in and out, and percussion coming in counterpoint to it all. And again and again.

And is it just me, or do Panda Bear and Avey Tare need more distinct voices? Now, I understand that Animal Collective’s music has never been about singing (let alone lyrics), but it would be nice if one of them at least had an interesting voice to carry it all through the dreamy atmospheres they’ve created. It can end up sounding a bit callow otherwise.

I hope I’m not conveying that the record isn’t enjoyable. It is. But it’s a record that doesn’t permeate your mind in any distinct way, and is not a record that’s going to ‘define the decade.’ 9.6? Please.

[Dumb analogy] Merriweather Post Pavillion is like a collage that looks nice at first glance, but then dwindles away from your memory as soon as you’ve turned away from it. [/dumb analogy]

Nickel Eye

I just sat through a whole Nickleback video – because I was too lazy to change the channel. I feel like slitting my wrists now…but I’m also too lazy for that. I’ll just settle for self-loathing, I guess.

In other Nickle-related news, Nickel Eye (side project of The Strokes’ Nikolai Fraiture) will be playing at the El Mocambo on January 20th, along with Low Vs Diamond; tickets are $12.50. Honestly, is it just me or do all Strokes side projects sound the same? I have yet to listen to Nickel Eye but from what I’ve already heard fromAlbert Hammond Jr. and Fabrizio Moretti’s latest project, Little Joy, they all sound like mediocre versions of The Strokes. Not that sounding like The Strokes is a bad thing; I love them – but come on guys, give me a new album!

If you were as big of a fan as I was of Bon Iver’s 2007/2008 release, For Emma, Forever Ago and you’re craving more, go to his MySpace right now to stream his upcoming EP, Blood Bank. Blood Bank will be officially released January 20th (Jagjaguwar).

The New Year has a new video out for “Seven Days and Seven Nights (Airport)”. Watch here.

SHOWS: Reminders, New Listings, Opening Acts
Land of Talk @ Horseshoe (Thursday January 15) $10
Bishop Allen, Hooded Fang, Electric Owls @ El Mocambo (Saturday January 17) $10
Magneta Lane, Ashley, Wilderness, The Stormalongs @ Horseshoe (Thursday January 22) $4
Passion Pit @ Horseshoe (Saturday January 24) $10
Beast @ Mod Club (Thursday January 29 – rescheduled from December 19) $10
*Secondhand Serenade, Everlea, Meg and Dia @ Mod Club (Tuesday February 3) $20
The Virgins @ El Mocambo (Thursday February 5) $12.50
Lykke Li, Wildbirds & Peacedrums @ Phoenix (Friday February 6) $22.50
Emm Gryner @ Glen Gould Studio (Saturday February 7) $29.50

Speaking of the Glen Gould Studio, how is it there? There’s been shows in the past that I’ve wanted to attend there (e.g. Apostle of Hustle), but it’s always been a little pricy for me. If someone could let me know how the venue is, that would be great! Just a curious thought.

I also thought I’d end of this new post with another curious question – with all the talk about the new Animal Collective album being oh-so-amazing (you and your 9.2′s, Pitchfork), is it really worth checking out? I’m not a frequent AC listener, although I’ll listen to the odd track from 2005′s Feels but I would like to hear your opinion on the record. Is it really the best album of 2009? Keep in mind, someone said that about Vampire Weekend early on last year and I am not crazy about them. But then again, they’re two totally different bands. Anyway, voice away your thoughts! I want to hear!

Happy listening!

Musically,
Melody

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.