what's the story Noel?

oh sibling rivalry. I can remember a long time ago my sister and I getting into an argument over the TV. It was probably an argument over saturday morning cartoons (Thundercats vs. My Little Pont most likely). Of course, the only way I knew how to win the argument was not through constructive debate or acqueicing (10$ word. Booyah!) to those crazy horses. No, it was to toss the remote at my sister's head. WINNER!!!! well, the subsequent spanking probably wasn't worth it (yes kids, back in the day, parents WERE allowed to punish their children and not by taking away your playstation time). Needless to say, though my sister still brings it up on occassion, it's not like our relationship was scarred for life.

Which brings me to Oasis. When they first came on the scene, they were known for their catchy rock songs, but also for their hooliganism. Liam and Noel were either fighting pub patrons or fighting each other. They JUST couldn't get along. Whether or not this was an "act" to bring about a sense that brit poppers are just as dangerous as grunge rockers or whether or not this internal conflict within the band was bad for mama Gallagher but great for the music created is left to aging brit pop lovers (who me?) or conspiracy theorists.

So with last night's announcement on Oasis.net from Noel that he has decided to quit the band because he just can't work a day longer with Liam, how do you take that? Do you say, "oh it's just brothers being brothers" or do you say "wow, is this the end of Oasis for good?". I'll be honest with you, I've never really been a HUGE fan of Oasis. Their "act" tired me out. I never knew which brother was more angrier than the other and just couldn't let the music speak louder than their words. Don't get me wrong, they had some great songs too. I still get some chills hearing "rock and roll star" and have a place in my heart for "Wonderwall", but am I tearing up with the "breakup" of Oasis? No.

Thanks for the tunes Oasis (if you truly are broken up). Maybe one day we can get together over a pint and some Thundercats/ My Little Pony episodes. After all, if my sister and I can get along, i'm sure you guys can too.

Blip.fm fail

so it didn't work. apparently in some cases outside of the US, the widget for Blip.fm doesn't work. So I went all ghetto and posted the Blip.fm URL up there instead.
So sad.

Reverend and the Makers – A French Kiss in the Chaos

The church and I have been at odds for quite some time now. Call it philosophical differences; call it really bland bread and boring wine, I don’t know. Let’s just say that if we were to walk in to a church together, you might either want to a) wear a rubber hard hat or b) walk a few paces ahead or behind me for fear of SMITING.

The reverend (Jon McClure) returns with the second album, A French Kiss In The Chaos for Reverend and the Makers. Whether this album gets me believing once again is anyone’s guess, but it’s a pretty good album.

McClure and his band have maintained the indie feel from their first album into this one. Hell, they’re so indie, they still busked on the streets of London to promote their album.

The album itself is a mish mash of sounds right from the first track “Silence is talking”. Hints of the Chemical Brothers, some oasis, and a sampling of “Low rider” from War for good effect. Fitting given Low Rider’s placement in Ferris Beuller’s day off and our continuing tribute to John hughes no? I’m good with the segues, trust me. A great start to the album

“Hidden persuaders” follows. I like the old 60s/70s sound. Maybe as a child of the 70s I’ve that ingrained like for that weird kitschy sound. Reminds me of classic James Bond movies or something. Are musicians hidden persuaders? If someone is trying to get you to buy something (like a big market advertiser, would musicians not be part of that capitalist steam roller too? Discuss.

“ No wood just trees” is probably the weakest song from the album. I’m not dwelling on it.

“Professor pickles” – A song that screams a 70s maddening trip. Hunter S Thompson would be proud.

“Long long time” – great ballad to mellow the album down a bit. It’s a long long long time before I come home. please don’t try to contact me. The ringer runs the battery from my phone. Still cheeky, I Like.

“No soap (in a dirty water)” – the album’s current single. Has great radio quality and I think that people hearing this song may be confused by the rest of the album, but if you’re going to persuade someone to buy the album, might as well lead with this song right (tying things together people that’s my job).

“Manifesto / people shapers” - this song takes you in two different journeys. The first being another hallucinogenic rock-filled staggered walk which turns into the second part of the journey where you’ve stopped and there’s a moment of clarity.
I’m in love with the notion
I’m in love..
With the idea of giving a fuck
About these things that surround me and stuff
Fantastic song.

“Mermaids” – is not bad. Introspection on what a man has become.

“The end” – is ok.

“Hard Time for Dreamers – good song to end the album after that wild ride.

The album is a crazy mish mash of energy and lulls that seem to work. You’re not leaving this album, after a listen, on a huge caffeine high nor are you so mellow that all you have a craving for are magic brownies. Hmmm it’s Red Bull and Vodka. Yah, that’s it.

No, this album won’t get me back to church. That would take….a miracle, but if the Reverend and the Makers were to show up to a blessing of pets at…oh say a rock concert, I just might be there. Amen

Blip FM

Am trying out this Blip thing (to the upper right of this blog). I don't think i have it right. Enh, time will tell, some cool live stuff stuck in the deep recesses of Blip, so we'll see.

virgin fest moved back to TO

I guess in a recession and the thought of driving up north has made people reconsider buying tickets to virgin fest 2009. It's now moved back to the city at the Molson Amphitheatre. Now you just have to fight traffic to park at Ontario Place or take the TTC!!!!!!

John Hughes - RIP

So John Hughes passed away today. Heart attack at age 59.

Instead of an obit, i'm going to highlight tracks from some of his movies. Starting with what is definitely in my top 10 of all time:

Ferris Beuller's Day Off
- The Beatles - twist and shout : classic scene on the streets of chicago
- The (english) beat - March of the swivelheads
- Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Love Missile F1-11
- The Dream Academy - Please Please Please Let Me Get What i Want : one of the great Smiths covers and made me want to spend more time in the art gallery
- Yello - O Yeah : mushy gummy bear anyone?
- Big Audio Dynamite - Bad : CLASSIC!

The Breakfast Club
there's really only one song you need to concern yourself with:
- Simple Minds - Don't you forget about me : probably MADE Simple Minds with this song

Sixteen Candles
weirdly, this only had 5 songs.
- The Stray Cats: 16 candles
- Thompson Twins: If you were here

Pretty in Pink
CLASSIC soundtrack
- OMD - If you leave : who didn't slow dance to this?
- Suzanne Vega - left of center
- INXS - Do wot you do
- Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink : did what " don't you forget about me" did to Simple Minds
- New Order - Shell Shock
- Echo and the Bunnymen - Bring on the dancing horses
- The Smiths: Please Please Please Let me get what i want: do you think there's a trend from this to Ferris?

Weird Science
- Oingo Boingo - Weird Science
- Mike Oldfiend - Tubular Bells: some trippy shit you should listen to
- OMD - Tesla girls
- Killing Joke - Eighties
- General Public - Tenderness

John Hughes' movies were a mecca for awesome music. You'll be missed. In the meantime, I might need to put a John Hughes playlist together.

Radiohead - Harry Patch

Radiohead released a song yesterday called Harry Patch (in memory of). Dedicated to the UK's last remaining WWI vet who passed away at 111 years old. All the proceeds of the download (from their website) were to go to the British Legion. Good job fellas. There's been a lot of talk about the way countries treat their vets. The UK has recently been blasted for their treatment of their wounded soldiers from the middle east and I'm sure North America can't necessarily claim some moral highground on that either.

The song itself is melancholic, they sing about the horrors of war and sounds almost fatalistic that we're bound to keep on fighting. I wouldn't say it's their best single to date, but the meaning and charitable work behind it is good enough for me.

Reckless Records and the indie record shop

With the advent of digital music downloads, and big record chains either closing down (Sam's, I'll always miss you) or turning to other non-music items (HMV i'm looking at you) to make a buck, there's one thing that still brings joy to my heart. The little indie records stores.

I know that someday they will go the way of the dodo bird or for kids in this age, the Sony Walkman/Discman, but still love em nonetheless.

Checked out Reckless Records in Bucktown (there's actually 3 of them in chi-town) this past weekend and it brought up great memories of walking into old record shops and just hanging around to see what the record store guy was spinning on the record player or what weird CD import they got in (the japanese seem to get the best album versions don't they?).

Walking into the store, we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of LPs from golden oldies to the latest releases. Not just that, it's the smell. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the records, the dank musty smell of old stuff, poster glue, fanzines or the music nerd checking out if there was any scratches on the LP he was looking at. I loved it! It was a blast from the past and made me think about the old music indie shops still in Toronto.

They're not all gone. Some are (Edward's record world? Record Peddler?), but some still exist that you might want to check out:

Vortex Records - used to hang out here every once in a while. It's a weird place given the location is the heart of Yonge and inEligible (you see the yoga mom's around, look, but don't touch)

Penguin Music - these guys used to be on Queen West and McCaul (cool little space), but have since moved to Queen and John in the Black Market

Sonic Boom - across from Honest Ed's, get some tunes, 12 pairs of socks for a buck, and then hit some good korean food.

Rotate This - uhm Ibid!!! just west of Honest Ed's

Soundscapes - music and italian food in Little Italy (i'm getting a sense i could get a travel guide for getting tunes and then eating good food)

Lollapalooza 2009

With Lolla coming up this weekend and the fact that I just got back from Chi-town, thought i'd write a post on this.

Here's the lineup for this year's weekend show at Grant Park in Chicago:

- Depeche Mode (they're looking their age)
- Tool (good times)
- The Killers (great album)
- Jane's Addiction (duh)
- Sam Roberts Band (GO CANADA!!)
- King 0f Leon (never got into this band for some reason)
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs (someone should write a review of their latest..oh wait..)
- Lou Reed (he's still alive?)
- Ben Harper
- Thievery Corp (oh yah baby)
- Snoop Dog (requisite hip hop act?)
- Rise Against
- Andrew Bird
- TV on the Radio
- Vampire Weekend (brilliant!)
- The Decemberists (nice)
- Neko Case (no New pornographers?)
- STS9
- Animal Collective
- Band of Horses
- Of Montreal
- Arctic Monkeys (monkeys and animals, and horses, oh my!)
- Coheed and Cambria
- Ben Folds (no five?)
- Fleet Foxes (more animals?)
- Silversun Pickups
- Kaiser Chiefs
- Crystal Castles
- Bon Iver
- Santigold
- Atmosphere
- Dan Auerbach
- Cold War Kids
- Deerhunter
- Lykke Li
- Robert Earl Keen
- Peter Bjorn and John (still think they're a one hit wonder)
- Heartless Bastards (I've been called worse)
- Gomez
- GlasVegas (check these guys out. BLOODY BRILLIANT)
- Federico Aubele
- Dan Deacon
- Passion Pit
- Zap Mama
- The Raveonettes
- The Gaslight Anthem
and a shitload of other bands that i can't type right now.

I fear i cannot do the music fests anymore. The old knees and the fact i'm regressing into a child means i wouldn't have the strength nor the patience to attend a 3 day fest. I'm glad that Perry Farrell still has the drive to hold Lolla, it's a shame that it hasn't been able to travel as it once did.