September 29, 2011

New We Were Promised Jetpacks

I had the pleasure of seeing We Were Promised Jetpacks live with Brakes and The Twilight Sad at a Fat Cat Records tour stop at the Elmo here in Toronto.  I was duly impressed.  They've got a new album called In the Pit of the Stomach coming out on October 4.  Here's the video for the first single, "Medicine".  Love it!

Looks like you can also trade your email address for a download of "Act on Impulse" at their web site.

September 27, 2011

The Big Pink

It seems to be new release season after a slow summer season.  The Big Pink can be added to the list of cool bands with a new album on the way.  They've recently released a video for "Stay Gold".  Apparently, the new album is due out in January.  Which is quite a ways away, now that I think about it.  By then, Thanksgiving will be over, Christmas will be over, New Year's Eve will have come and gone and I'll have shovelled a lot of snow.  Well, now that I'm thoroughly depressed, I can enjoy this new tune.

September 25, 2011

Telekinesis' music can bend my spoon

Telekinesis are a great power pop band.  I thoroughly enjoy the tunes and would love to see these guys live.  They could really get a venue like The Mod Club bouncing.  I hear bits of all kinds of bands, but you can listen for yourself.  Then pick up great albums like 12 Desperate Straight Lines, Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP, and Telekinesis!

They were on Jimmy Fallon a few nights ago - here they are doing "Please Ask For Help".



And here's the video for the same tune, "Please Ask for Help"


"Look to the East" Why have they never released this tune as a single? It's the best!


"Tokyo"


"Dirty Thing"


"Awkward Kisser"

September 22, 2011

Kasabian's new album Velociraptor! on the way

I've been listening to Kasabian since their first album came out in 2004.  Their sound nicely oscilates between rock and dancey beats.  The first vid from the new album, Velociraptor!, is called "Days are Forgotten".  Nice one!

September 21, 2011

R.E.M. Break Up

After 31 years, R.E.M. have decided to call it a day.

Thanks for all the great tunes!

September 20, 2011

Kooks have a new album out - Junk of the Heart

The Kooks are a great pop rock band from the UK.  Their first album, Inside In Inside Out, was awesome, their second album, Konk,  was really good and they've just released a new album, Junk of the Heart, that I haven't spent much time with yet.  Here's the video for the first single, oddly titled "Junk of the Heart".  It sounds cool and laid back.  Easy sounds for the end of summer.

September 18, 2011

Foos with Bob Mould on Conan

Last week, Foo Fighters appeared on Conan with special guest Bob Mould.  Awesome performance of "Dear Rosemary" from the Foos latest, Wasting Light.  Love the front line of 4, count 'em, 4 freaking guitar players!



And if you haven't done so, I recommend reading Bob Mould's autobiography, See a Little Light.  It's a cool read.  Very insightful into the life of one of modern rock's most influential artists.

September 15, 2011

Take Drugs release EP

So what if their name is up there with "Free Beer" on the top 20 list of cheesy/jokey band names? They're a great, relatively new band from Toronto called Take Drugs. They've got a solid rock/punk sound on their four-song EP Got Destruction. Check it out and if you like it, buy it. If you have the urge to check out their live show, you can get show dates, etc. from their Facebook page.




September 13, 2011

Summer, Grouplove wants you back, and so do I

I don't know what the weather's like where you are, but here in Toronto all the signs are pointing to the end of the summer. With this tune, "Naked Kids", by Grouplove, you can pretend it's still a hot, hot, day in June. Their new album, Never Trust a Happy Song, is out now.

 

September 11, 2011

Patience, young Jedi, one day you will love these songs

I wrote before about how I'm sometimes late to the party, either in hearing about an artist entirely, or in hearing a band, rejecting them and then re-discovering them later. Now that I know this about myself, I will often give a band that's hyped a second or even a third chance.

Now sometimes this just doesn't work out and I never really see the brilliance in a band that everyone else falls head over heels in love with. Like Arcade Fire. They're okay, but I don't see them as the most brilliant artist to come along in the last 20 years.

And sometimes I hear a band and I think, they have a cool sound, but the songs aren't grabbing me. And after a number of listens, the brilliance starts to show through. This is what happened to me in a big way with The National and Interpol. They have taught me that patience is a virtue, and reminded me of the fact that songs don't always show their brilliance with one listen. Sometimes songs take a while to show you their wonder. Their melodies unravel, layered musical parts show their beauty and lyrics reveal their imagery and meaning.

Here's a video from The National for "Conversation 16". I had previously posted a clip of them doing this song on Letterman. I love the song. And I really like the show Mad Men. Great TV show. And this video has the guy who plays Roger Sterling in it. So why do I hate this video? Who knows. Maybe it's brilliance will shine through after a number of listens.



I haven't been shy about my love of the song "Games for Days" from Paul Bank's solo project Julian Plenti. "This is how we learn."

September 8, 2011

Husker Du and Dead or Alive: Combinations of the iPod

I posted previously about some odd combinations that my randomized smart playlists will serve up on my iPod. Here's an intersting one:

It went from "Hardly Getting Over It" by Husker Du from their major label debut Candy Apple Grey


To Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)"


Wow!

September 6, 2011

Favourites: Von Bondies

I just LOVE these two tracks from The Von Bondies.

"Pale Bride"


"C'mon C'mon"


(So it looks like I'll continue doing "favourites" posts. Just not on a regular schedule. Whatevs)

September 4, 2011

Video from The Black Keys - Next Girl

I just happened to be surfing around and found this video from The Black Keys. It's for the song "Next Girl" from their most recent album Brothers.

September 1, 2011

The Whigs are one of my favourite bands

Several years ago, a friend of mine recommended that I check out Kings of Leon. At first, I couldn't get past the singer's drawl, but after some time, I really liked what I heard from their first few albums. Then I saw an announcement for a show they were playing in Toronto with We Are Scientists and The Whigs. Well I thought that We Are Scientist's dƩbut album was absolutely awesome. But I hadn't heard of The Whigs, so I set off to investigate. While investigating, I hesitated in ordering tickets and the show sold out on me, but at least I ended up discovering The Whigs.

This seems to be their latest release. "So Lonely" from their 2010 album In the Dark.



And Here's "Kill Me Carolyne", also from In the Dark.



Here's "Right Hand on My Heart" from their 2008 album, Mission Control



I can't find any good videos to post, but their first album, Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip, has some great tunes as well.

And so I'm not accused of being a tease, here are some vids from We Are Scientists. I absolutely loved their first album, 2006's With Love and Squalor. I've been disappointed that their other albums have not had the same level of energy and consistency.

"Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt"


"The Great Escape"


and "It's a Hit".


And one from Kings of Leon. Do you think that they got a stylist at some point after this?