September 30, 2012

Nude Beach. The band, not the one down at Hanlan's Point.

Nude Beach are a fun power pop band from Brooklyn, NY. If you like upbeat, fun, rock indie-alternative music, you'll love these guys. Listen!

Here are a couple of great tracks from their most current album II.

"Radio"

"Walkin' Down My Street" I don't know about you, but I hear some Elvis Costello coming through in this one.

September 29, 2012

Frank Turner performs I Still Believe on Conan

Frank Turner is getting more and more well deserved international notoriety in no small part due to his appearance at the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremonies. He's getting even more North American exposure thanks to a recent appearance on Conan.

And he's taking advantage of this attention by releasing a 2 disc package called Last Minutes and Lost Evenings on October 2. The first disc contains previously released songs that's, "... kind of a primer for new people coming on board..." and the second disc is his entire Wembley performance.

So as we await a new album from Frank, we can enjoy this energetic rendition of "I Still Believe" from 2011's England Keep My Bones.


Here's a fan video from the Wembley show. A new Frank Turner song called "Four Simple Words".



And here's a new one called "Recovery" from Frank's show in Toronto back in May.

September 28, 2012

The Junction and their Grievances

The Junction have a new album out called Grievances. Here are a couple of tunes. They're a pretty straight ahead rock band. Nothing wrong with that at all.

"Awakenings"



"Futurists"

September 27, 2012

Favourites: Naked in the Rain by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I had heard Red Hot Chili Peppers before they released 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Songs like "Special Secret Song Inside", "Fight Like A Brave", "Knock Me Down" and their cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" were all featured on my college radio show.

However, Blood Sugar Sex Magik was a different beast. Produced by Rick Rubin, it featured a unique sound and solid song writing from end to end. I'm sure you're familiar with hits like "Under The Bridge" and "Suck My Kiss". If you haven't heard the album all the way through, I think you should.

This is one of my absolute favourites from this monumentally amazing album, "Naked In The Rain".



Just don't get me started on the stuff they've released since then...

September 26, 2012

Off to see Blood Red Shoes and DZ Deathrays

Tonight is the Blood Red Shoes / DZ Deathrays show at the Drake Underground here in Toronto. Looking forward to a loud night out...
Here are the latest clips from Blood Red Shoes' latest album, In Time To Voices.

"Lost Kids"

"Je Me Perds"

If you like, check out the other posts where I mention BRS.
And here are a couple from DZ Deathrays, who I just discovered.

"Dollar Chills"

"The Mess Up"


Bet you can't wait for my horrific photos from the gig...

September 25, 2012

Feist wins Polaris Prize for Metals

Another year, another Polaris Prize. This year, the $30,000 grand prize went to Feist's Metals. Congratulations, Leslie Feist!

If you're not familiar with the album, check out a few songs.

"How Come You Never Go There"

"The Bad In Each Other"

"Bittersweet Melodies"

"Undiscovered First"

I really like Feist, but have to admit that I've been really enthusiastic about Japandroids' Celebration Rock...  and Cold Specks' I Predict A Graceful Expulsion... and I know the other shortlisted nominees were all great, too. It's a good time for Canadian music!

September 24, 2012

Stream the new Muse album The 2nd Law

Update: Here's a working link for Canada. If I were in Muse, I'd be pretty pissed with my label for not having proper links working.

Muse have announced that you can listen to a stream of their forthcoming album, The 2nd Law. They've got different stream providers for different countries, so follow the link to their site for deets. Personally, I can't find a link for Canada that works, perhaps due to timing, but someone's posted a URL to a private Soundcloud stream in the comments of the announcement post. Try that for as long as it may work.

Now we can all see how far down the dubstep hole they may have fallen...


In case you missed it, the video for "Madness" is here. The 2nd Law is out October 2.

September 23, 2012

The Hundred in the Hands

The Hundred in the Hands are a duo from NYC. They have an online zine on their site that I'll have to spend some time delving into. I think that zine is a way cooler word than blog. Back when I was a kid, this blog thing would have been a zine. The difference is that I would have to publish it on paper and distribute it by hand and you wouldn't be able to listen to the bands right away. You might even have had to buy an album by some band that I made sound cool that you really didn't like in the end. So, there you go. Blogs are way better than old zines, but zine is a way cooler word. And THITH is a very cool band. If you don't believe me, you can listen. And if you don't agree with me, then you don't agree with me.

"Commotion"

"Pigeons"



"Keep It Low"

September 22, 2012

Surprise Song #7... or not

I was doing this thing called a Surprise Song. I thought it would be cool if you came to the site and clicked "play" on a song, having absolutely no idea what the song would be. And it would be cool.

However, it's the least-clicked set of posts on the site. Total failure.

So now I will abandon the Surprise Song concept and post more of my old favourites. That's what the Surprise Songs were supposed to be anyway.

Like this one. For this one you were supposed to click and go, "Oh this song. I haven't heard this song in forever. What a great track. It's Live, right, the band's called Live. And this was on Throwing Copper, which was an awesome album. I'm so glad this cool blog reminded me of this song. I really love that asexually-named Jordan person." 

Anyway, the song is "I Alone" and it's kind of an obsessive thing.

September 21, 2012

Twin Shadow Five Seconds

I'm not sure if this song is really good or if it's just repetitious.  It's "Five Seconds" by Twin Shadow.
I'm not sure if this song is really good or if it's just repetitious.  It's "Five Seconds" by Twin Shadow.
I'm not sure if this song is really good or if it's just repetitious.  It's "Five Seconds" by Twin Shadow.

September 20, 2012

Lyrical snippet of the moment: Guttering by Ron Hawkins

This song came up on my iPod and reminded me what a wonderful song writer Ron Hawkins is. One of Canada's best for sure.

The song is called "Guttering" from 2000's Crackstatic and it's a painfully beautiful song with lyrics to match. This post is not so much a snippet since I'm posting the full lyric.

Guttering

Oh I must be getting old
'Cause I can't hold a grudge like I used to
A sudden, patient virtue
Grace impromptu
And all this matchbox bitterness
Goes up in dancing flame, orange and mandarin
Arabesquing ashen glowing ember
Dead to the world, read like the stars
New to the moments we are
Oh and it's painful to be born when you're thirty-four
Kicking, screaming, bleeding and believing
Shallow breathing
Oh, I must be getting old 'cause I can't hold a grudge
Like I used to...

September 19, 2012

Great songs from Toy

Toy have a sound that seems to be popular these days. It's also a sound that's been around for a while and has come around in a few waves. It definitely rocks, it has a psychedelic quality with the swirling guitars and keyboards, and the term "shoegaze" definitely comes to mind. I'm sure it has a fantastic wall of sound quality in a live setting. No matter whether it's new to you or you say, "Oh yeah, this sounds like...", it sounds good.

"Motoring"

"Left Myself Behind"


You can check out their dĆ©but album on their site. It is out now.

September 18, 2012

The New Deal with Don't Blame Yourself

Cool, laid back tune from The New Deal.  It's called "Don't Blame Yourself".  It's from 2003!




September 17, 2012

Video for The Joy Formidable's new song Cholla


I posted the new Joy Formidable track "Cholla" from it's premiere on BBC radio. Now they've released this hot video for the song.


I love this band sooooo much! Can't wait for them to swing through Toronto again. They are an absolute treat to see live.


The new album, The Wolf's Law, is out in January 2013.

September 16, 2012

Favourites: Okkervil River

I discovered Okkervil River around the time of their album The Stage Names. The first two tracks from that album are blistering, unrelenting, energetic, passionate testimonials. They are definitely two of my all-time favourite songs.

"Unless It Kicks"


"Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe"

September 15, 2012

Favourites: Rain by Bishop Allen

I don't think Bishop Allen recorded any other songs like "Rain". It appeared on their 2007 album The Broken String. It's really a shame there aren't more songs like "Rain". That kind of beauty and energy should be more common. But if it was, would we appreciate it as much?



September 14, 2012

Favourites: Band of Horses (and new album)

Band of Horses get their own "favourites" post for their amazing song "Is There A Ghost" from Cease to Begin. It came out in 2007.


They have a new album coming out on September 18. It's called Mirage Rock and here is the video for "Knock Knock".




September 13, 2012

New Ladyhawk

There are two artists that are active at the same time with names that are phonically the same and differ by only one letter is spelling. Ladyhawk is a loud guitar rock band and Ladyhawke is an 80s inspired pop singer. Both are awesome in their own way, and I enjoy them both, but you probably wouldn't want to confuse them.

I posted about Ladyhawke's latest album Anxiety already, so now it's time to post about Ladyhawk's new album No Can Do which comes out October 9. They've put out a song for streaming called "You Read My Mind".

Enjoy both Ladyhawk(e)s.

September 12, 2012

Doused by Diiv, Diiv with Doused

Diiv have released a video for "Doused" from their album Oshin.

Love the insistent beat, swirling guitar lines and hypnotic vocal cadence.




September 11, 2012

New Sucioperro

Sucioperro have a new album called Fused that they just released. Here are the videos for the first two tracks, "A River of Blood" and "To Nothing". They're both blistering rockers that should have Sucioperro fans more than happy to pick up the new album. Possibly NSFW and the not safe for the kiddies due to the liberal use of the F-word.



Check out the whole album right now.




September 10, 2012

The Black Keys release Little Black Submarine video

Here's another great track from The Black Keys latest album El Camino. It's for the track "Little Black Submarine". I love the mellow intro followed by the full on blues-rock groove with Jimmy Page leads that follows.

September 9, 2012

Video for Muse's Madness

Muse have their new album The 2nd Law coming out October 2. I already posted the song "Madness" and now the official video is out. Just love Matt Bellamy's soaring vocals on this track. Check it out!



And I guess I missed this vid for "Unsustainable" a few weeks back.

September 8, 2012

Stream The xx's new album Coexist

The xx are releasing their new album Coexist on September 11 and are streaming the album now.

It sounds absolutely beautiful. I tend to lean towards more loud and insistent music in general. Perhaps that contrast is one of the things that draws me to The xx. They are masters of putting space into their music. That simplicity, combined with the beautiful melodies, makes for a wonderful listening experience.



September 7, 2012

New Joy Formidable track called Cholla

I love The Joy Formidable and I'm so looking forward to their new album The Wolf's Law coming in January 2013. They have let us hear another new track. It was dĆ©buted on BBC Radio 1 and it's called "Cholla". You can hear the song and learn how to pronounce the song name in the clip below.

I will ruin the suspense for you. It sounds like The Joy Formidable and that means it sounds AMAZING!



September 6, 2012

The prolific Paul Banks

Paul Banks has been rather prolific as of late. Even though we haven't seen an Interpol album since 2010's eponymous release, we have Julian Plenti Lives that was released at the end of June and now a new album called Banks coming out October 23. The first song is this most recent release is "The Base". You can grab yourself a free copy of the song from Matador.


Here's "Summertime is Coming" from Julian Plenti Lives. Download the song here.



In case you haven't heard it, here's "Games for Days" from the first Julian Plenti release Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper. Totally amazing song and fun video.



September 5, 2012

Bob Mould performs The Descent on Letterman

Bob Mould's new album Silver Age came out yesterday and he appeared on David Letterman last night to show off "The Descent" to a larger audience. Great song. Great album. Great performance!

September 4, 2012

New Pinback

I've enjoyed Pinback through 2004's Summer in Abaddon and 2007's Autumn of the Seraphs. They haven't updated their official site since 2010 but their Facebook page announces their new album will be called Information Retrieved and that it will be out October 16. Here's the first track from the album, "Proceed to Memory".




September 3, 2012

Last Dinosaurs

Here's a cool song from a band I know nothing about, besides the fact that they're from Australia. They're called Last Dinosaurs, the song is "Zoom" and their most recent album is called In A Million Years.

See what you think of the song.

September 2, 2012

Favourites: controller.controller

I really like the now-defunct Canadian band controller.controller.  Here are two great tracks from their 2005 album X-Amounts.

"Straight in the Head"


"PF"

September 1, 2012

Like Radiohead? Like The Darkness? Check this!

Pitchfork has posted The Darkness' recording of Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" from their album Hot Cakes. Check it out here.

Hot Cakes is out now. From what I've heard it's a fun, funny, rockin' good time!

Here's the video for "Everybody Have A Good Time". It's too much to "bear".


More from Hot Cakes here, and you can check out the entire album at Rolling Stone.