So one of the things causing a bit of an uproar in the indie rock eddys of Lake Blogosphere is this from the ladies of Sleater-Kinney asking folks to not download their new album, The Woods, before it’s officially released on May 24 (the full text of the letter is no longer on their website. Intrepid interneters can no doubt find it, though). Of course, this is like asking a dog not to lick its nuts – simply not going to happen. But still, it raises some interesting questions.

Opinions are like blogs – everyone’s got one, and they’re usually poorly spelled and not updated frequently enough. My personal take on it is that if the artist asks you not to download it, then that should be the final word on the matter. No one is going to die from having to wait a couple months to hear a record. I don’t care how big a fan you are, you are not going to die. Your organs will not be harvested without your consent in the middle of the night. Nothing bad will happen to you. You can wait till it comes out and buy it – because you were intending to pay for it, right? – and there you go. And if you’re eager to get it for “be the first kid on your block” bragging rights… come on. No one cares. Anyway, it seems pretty simple to me, but then I’m one of those folks who still likes the tactile experience of physical media and believes in the album as an artistic entity greater than just the sum of the tracklisting. You know, a freak.

Naturally, there’s been a lot of debate on this – I’ll link to the discussion on the Donewaiting message board which I think is a pretty good micorcosm of the debate. Some think the fanbase should respect the band’s wishes, others are of the mind that once its out of their hands, even unofficially via advance promos, then nature (such as it is) will take its course and the band should appreciate the fact that their fans are so rabid. And then, of course, there are those who have the whole “Music should be free!” angle and are not only about downloading the record, but in distributing it as widely as possible. Don’t ge me started on those people. I want to punch those people in the kidneys.

And from here, I segue into leaks in general. I don’t do leaks. Not because of any particular high moral ground, though that is a consideration, but because I’m too lazy to go looking for them (yes I know how easy it is – I’m THAT lazy) and because I never listen to them. I have a copy of the new Decemberists album on my desktop. Total plays? Zero. Generally speaking I don’t listen to music on my computer – an mp3 or two here and there if I’m too lazy (that again!) to get up and change the CD in my stereo, but the occasions on which I’m willing to listen to a full record on my computer? Very few. My stereo sounds better and I’ve usually got craploads of stuff I’ve actually bought to get through, to say nothing of the promo stuff that’s been showing up in my mailbox with increasing regularity. Usually, stuff that I haven’t made the effort of actually going out and buying, I forget I even have it. This isn’t to say that if I come across a leaked track or two I won’t grab those to whet my appetite, but entire albums? Nah. I like going to the record store on new release days, buying the record, tearing off the cellophane and listening to it proper-like, not piecemeal. Which brings me full circle to the “I’m a freak” observation from earlier.

It’s like they say – you don’t value that which costs you nothing. And if I were to start listening to records that aren’t due out till, say, May (hello Sleater-Kinney, Spoon), when would I find the time to listen to stuff that’s come out in January and February? There’s a never-ending backlog as is, last thing I need is to jump the queue. That would disrupt the natural order of things and I truly believe that if that happened, reality as we know it would cease to exist. I don’t download leaks because it safeguards the universe.

The preceding was probably more meandering than I’d intended. It was profound in my head, really. But then, my grocery lists are profound in my head as well. I thought I had another topic I was going to explore tangential to this one, which is the whole matter of distributing leaked materials over, oh let’s say blogs, but this post is long enough as is. Maybe I’ll get to that another day.

Update: Here’s Colin Meloy of the Decemberists’ letter to folks who had leaked copies of Picaresque last month, courtesy of Brooklynvegan. And this thread on Last Plane To Jakarta is also a very good read on the topic, thanks to Largehearted Boy for the pointer.

On a related note, Prefuse 73 is a little less diplomatic about people downloading his work.

Will Johnson of Centro-Matic keeps a tour diary of their recent stop in Athens for for Flagpole. This would be the same tour that once again, doesn’t cross the 49th parallel (well, technically Toronto is well south of the 49th, but you know what I mean), only coming as close as Buffalo on March 3. Even after I went to Chicago to plead our case… But that’s okay, if the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, then Mohammed will come to the mountain. Centro-Matic is on my must-see list for SxSW.

Lacunae lists off 100 things he loves about comics. Cheers for #9, the “wuffa wuffa wuffa” issue of Cerebus.

A little late, but still cute – Rachael Yamagata offers up some advice on how to survive Valentine’s Day. She forgot #11 – “wuffa wuffa wuffa”. Hmm, okay, that probably came out wrong. From Achtung Baby.

Behold – my photos from Wednesday’s Comas show. Please, no comments on how Andy Herrod’s skin is the same colour as his coat. Blame the lights.

So my streetcar hits a car on the way to work this morning, making me 30 minutes late. Newsflash lady – the streetcar couldn’t turn even if it wanted to.

np – Doves / The Last Broadcast

I have no idea where it was, but I was reading a piece on The Comas wherein they reveal that a lot of the material from their debut album Conductor was written whilst front-Coma Andy Herrod was dating Dawson’s Creek starlet Michelle Williams (the blonde one who apparently died after I stopped watching. Yes, I watched Dawson’s Creek. Shut up.) and that relationship informs a lot of the material (like the not-so-subtle song title that makes up this post title). What’s the point of that? No idea. But it was hard to completely put that little bit of trivia out of my head at their show at Lee’s Palace last night.

Openers and tourmates VietNam looked like they hadn’t bathed in weeks but used the time saved effectively by smoking up as much as possible. Dirty hippies would probably look at these guys and say, “hey, dirty hippies”. They played a set of drawn-out noodly jams that occasionally got interesting but for the most part would have benefitted if the band had decided to pass the bong around instead of keeping it for themselves.

I knew very little of The Comas before last night – I’d downloaded a couple tracks, listened to some clips, read some good reviews (they made Magnet’s year-end list for 2004) and read the aforementioned little bit of gossip. Just enough to know that I liked their sound and a free show would be worth my time. In the live setting, they were considerably less sonically quirky and more straight up earnest indie rock than I was expecting, but they still put on a good show. Andy Herrod was fairly restrained for most of the night but his bandmates were pretty bopping through the set. I got a copy of the CD at the show and it’s remarkable how different the songs are presented on it – there’s a lot more delicacy and detail, attributes which were traded for a fuller live rock attack.

Full batch of photos tomorrow. In the meantime, there’s a crapload of media available on the Yep Roc website as well as the band’s site.

And, uh, out of curiosity – how did Dawson’s Creek girl die? Was it something dull and melodramatic like cancer? Or something cool and interesting like her losing control of her mutant powers?

Though their new album There’s A Fire won’t be out for another month, New York’s Longwave will be back in town at Lee’s Palace on March 16, tickets $10.50. Hmm, is it very smart to plan on going to a show the night before I have to get up at 5:30 AM the next morning to fly down to Texas and spend the next three days going to twelve hours of concerts each day? Probably not, but like Bon Jovi says – “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”. Which at this pace should be about early June. Well, I’ll keep it on my calendar for now but I wouldn’t be surprised if I totally wimped out. And they’ll be back.

Also – Adam Green is at Lee’s on May 3.

And back to the topic of SxSW, it’s not the schedule but they’ve posted a much more useful band list, some with MP3s. The official sched should be out soon, though. Thanks to Joyce for the link.

Prefix talks to Rogue Wave, whose Out Of The Shadow was beloved by many though only moderately liked by me. Hey, you can’t please everyone.

The Magnolia Electric Co finally has an offical website, and they’ve got goodies galore – namely a new video and three complete live shows available for download. Their proper full-length studio debut What Comes After The Blues is due out in April.

Billboard finds out why Gary Louris and Marc Olsen’s tour together isn’t actually a Jayhawks reunion.

Shivaree (finally) gets some local media love. Check out pieces from The Varsity (bugmenot: pissoff@ijustwanttoread.com) and The Toronto Star (bugmenot: jimbojones@mailinator.com / password) . Again, I advise you to see their final show at the Lula Lounge tonight, but get there early – it’s damn close to sold out if it isn’t already.

The trailer for Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is online… and Amazon.com has it? It looks good – interesting approach to Zaphod’s two heads, I’m sure the purists will be crying foul, but who cares about purists? Movie is out April 29. Why that’s practically tomorrow. Or sixty tomorrows.

Okay everyone, once more with feeling – “Fuck you, NHL and NHLPA!”. Dickwads.

np – The Comas / Conductor

The Lula Lounge is a weird place. When I saw Jonathan Richman there last year, the dinner club vibe was evident, but they had the center part of the room in front of the stage cleared out, so the concert-goers could just stand around without being in anyone’s way. Last night for Shivaree, however, the place was filled with dinner tables and diners. The maitre d’ (yeah, maitre d’!) directed me to a table at the back of the club since I was a little late getting there. I managed to work my way up closer before the main act came on, though, as diners finished up and left.

Anyway, opening things up were a duo on guitar and ukelele who played old tin pan alley songs from the early part of the 20th century (and one Nico song from like 1980). They were excellent and entertaining – I didn’t catch their names but they said it was their first time performing together in about 20 years. You couldn’t tell.

First thing I’ll say about Shivaree to get it out of the way is that Ambrosia Parsley (her real name) is ridiculously hot. My pics from last night (which didn’t turn out as well as I’d have liked since I couldn’t really move around…) don’t do her justice. Seriously. Which is why when I say that her voice was the most mesmerizing thing about her, that’s no mean feat. Backed by a superb band (they’re touring as a five-piece), Parsley’s sultry, sexy coo was front and centre and sounded even better than it does on record. As odd as it was, the dinner theatre atmosphere was actually well-suited to Shivaree’s torchy, jazzy material. The sound was excellent and I wonder if it would have come across as well in a bar setting.

And almost better than the music was the between-song banter. Ambrosia Parsley is a very good and very funny banterer – she’s got it down to an art, friendly and conversational with the audience, seemingly unflappable. Almost every song was prefaced with a story, either about doing hash off a CD case in Paris, exorcising ghosts from her house, or her grandmother sticking a knife in her grandfather’s neck, all delivered in the most innocent voice. Sometimes the stories were longer than the songs, but you didn’t mind one bit.

So my official recommendation is for everyone to go to their second show at the Lula Lounge this Thursday. I’m quite tempted to go again, to be honest. I won’t, cause I’m lazy, but this show was just that good. And anyone else who has the opportunity to see them on any of the upcoming tour dates, do so. You won’t regret it. And if you do, well shit – that’s not my problem. Oh, and buy Who’s Got Trouble?, while you’re at it. It takes a little while, but it’s excellent.

I’d also like to check out her Ambrosia Sings The News segments on Air America, wherein she sings the week’s events in a 30-second spot – article here. That sounds too cool. The Montreal Gazette also has an interview.

Thanks to Joyce for pointing out that the new House Of Love album, Days Run Away, is available to stream on their label’s website (click on “audio”). My impressions – it’s pretty good, though it lacks the edge and urgency that made the first two eponymous albums so excellent. But that’s probably to be expected since they are older and (presumably) calmer now. But apparently they still kick ass live. The Guardian takes a look at how this unlikeliest of reunions came about.

Stream M Ward’s newest, Transistor Radio, at Merge. The album is out next Tuesday and he’s at the El Mocambo on the 27th. From Catbirdseat.

And while we’re on the streaming kick, NME has the whole of the new Doves album available to preview. Listen to Some Cities now, buy it on March 1. From Brooklynvegan.

As predicted, Take Fountain was nowhere to be found in stores yesterday, but Bradley eases the pain with some live Wedding Present mp3s from a live show in 1992. I also consoled myself with the Asobi Seksu album and the new Radio Dept EP.

Don’t forget – The Comas are playing a free show at Lee’s tonight! All the cool kids will be there and if we wait around outside afterwards, we can jump them and steal their shoes.

np – The Mountain Goats / We Shall All Be Healed

Shows! Shows! Shows!

Newly reunited UK post-punk legends Gang Of Four are coming to town to play the Phoenix on May 14. Tickets are on sale February 24 and run a steep $27.50, but what are you gonna do? They’re doing it for the money and by God, they’ll have their money.

On a more contemporary tip, France’s Phoenix make their Toronto debut on April 8 at the Opera House, ably supported by Dogs Die In Hot Cars and Joy Zipper. Tickets for this one run $17.50. Phoenix made quite the impression on some of the music bloggers down south during their last US tour. This may not be one to miss.

The Decemberists bring Picaresque to Lee’s Palace on May 21. Their show at the Horseshoe last year was fantastic. I missed the second show at Lee’s in June, but will definitely be in attendance this time around. Willy Mason supports. Thanks to Donewaiting for the info.

Finally, Prefuse 73 and Battles are at Lee’s Palace May 8, tickets $15.

The Wedding Present’s new one Take Fountain is in stores today! Or it is in theory, anyway. I don’t expect it to actually be in stores today. Maybe this week, but today? Not likely. Pitchfork thinks it’s just okay. Spoilt Victorian Child celebrates the occasion with a tribute and some MP3s. If you don’t know the Weddoes, that’s a good place to start. From Indie MP3.

Death Cab For Cutie’s last release on Barsuk, The John Byrd live mini-album, is out March 1. Details here, from LHB.

Tandem and The Baltimore Sun (bugmenot:johnq@mailinator.com/bugmenot) talk to Shivaree’s Ambrosia Parsley. Shivaree are doing two shows at the Lula Lounge tonight and Thursday. I’m going tonight, so if it’s good I’ll report it Wednesday and the rest of you can scurry down for Thursday.

I am listening to Emm Gryner’s Songs Of Love & Death. Hearing Therapy?’s “Nowhere” done as a folky campfire song is just… strange. I used to have a copy of Troublegum on tape. No, that’s all I have to say about that.

Zoilus contemplates the “two solitudes” of Canadian Music. Celine Dion vs Arcade Fire, the Junos vs Wavelength. That sort of thing. A good read.

And speaking of Arcade Fire, Pitchfork interviews em.

24: God, it was like the Behruz says stupid things hour. “My father is a terrorist! We’re all terrorists!” What was more amazing is that no one in the hospital reacted to this one bit. “I hate you! I’ve always hated you!” That’s great, kid. Did you forget your dad has been trying to kill you for the past four hours? He doesn’t want to bond. Otherwise, not the most engaging episode so far. The plot moved along and it’s always nice to see parallel story threads converge (ie – the Araz family, Jack & Tony’s travelling roadshow). The bit with Edgar and his mom? Not as moving as they’d probably hoped. Or maybe I’m just a cold sonofabitch.

np – Chapterhouse / Whirlpool

Thrasher’s Wheat has started a petition to get Neil Young’s “lost” album Time Fades Away rereleased. The third part of the so-called “Ditch” trilogy, it’s companion records On The Beach and Tonight’s The Night are for my money Neil’s absolute best works and I’d love to hear Time Fades Away in any form. But while I’ll certainly sign the petition, I’m not sure how much good it’ll do. It’s my understanding that it’s Neil, and not Reprise, who doesn’t want the album released, and if there’s one thing that’s certain about Neil Young, it’s that no one – and no one – is going to make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. But still, it’s worth a shot.

Just last night, I was commenting to a friend that it’s been well over a year since I’ve been to the Opera House (October 2003, to be precise), my least favourite venue in the city. Well, that little streak is coming to an end on June 4th when Low come to town for the first time since October 2002. If you want an idea of what to expect from the Low live experience, Bradley’s Almanac has some mp3s recorded at their show last week in Somerville, MA.

icWales profiles Doves. Some Cities out March 1. From Largehearted Boy.

I have nothing to say about the Grammies. Yes, I know Wilco won a couple. I still don’t care. The only thing about the Grammies that could possibly have interested me was if a giant lizard rose up out of the Pacific and destroyed the venue where they were holding the ceremonies. THAT would have interested me. But did it happen? No. So there.

Dear NHL and NHLPA – Go fuck yourselves. Both of you. I’ve been a hockey fan for as long as I can remember. I was buying hockey cards before a third of the players in the league were even born. I have lost copious amounts of money in hockey pools (hey – I said I was a hockey fan, not a SMART hockey fan). But you know what? I don’t miss the season one bit. Anytime I think I MIGHT start getting a little wistful that there’s no hockey this year, I read any of the news stories about your so-called labour negotiations, and I’m disgusted. Nothing makes me happier than the fact that you – and I mean ALL of you – are losing money. You swear you’ll never play under a salary cap and yet, you have no problem going to the European and minor leagues and playing for far less money, all the while taking jobs away from other players – but I bed you’d all cry bloody murder if the owners tried to bring scabs into the NHL, right? And to the owners – it’s your own goddamn fault. No one forced you to pay $12-trillion dollars for Bobby Holik or Darius Kasparitus. Salaries are where they are because you’re idiots. So to the players and the owners, I give you a hearty YOU ALL SUCK. I hope your children go hungry. I hope your dogs pee on your carpets. I don’t care if you ever come back. Seriously. It’s actually nice to not have to be disappointed by the Leafs in the playoffs for a change.

And the Raptors suck, too. We traded Vince Carter for what? An opportunity to buy out Alonzo Mourning for $10M? NICE DEAL. God, is it baseball season yet?

And while I’m ranting, damn do I hate computers sometimes. Without getting into details, one of my IDE ports decided to take a little vacation last night for about an hour, and then inexplicably return just as I was about to tear my hair out. That, I did not need. Update: Now my computer at work will no longer play CD-Rs. I HATE COMPUTERS.

Ahh, piss and vinegar. Happy Valentine’s Day… Bah, humbug. Heavy Black Frames is somewhat less cynical about the occasion, offering a rather nice MP3 mix that covers many facets of that many-faceted thing that is love. Of course, I don’t see anything to represent my favourite facet: seething, festering bitterness.

Oh, I’m kidding. My bitterness doesn’t seethe. It just sort of… I dunno, percolates? Do you think that if I made dinner reservations for tonight for two at a fancy restaurant, showed up all dressed up and sat there for an hour looking progrssively more dejected and stood up, I’d get a free pity meal? Because I’m not above that.

np – My Bloody Valentine / Isn’t Anything