While this year’s edition of the Over The Top Fest, kicking off tonight with shows around the city, isn’t likely to be as dramatic or – let’s face it – as all out awesome as the best Sylvester Stallone truck-driving, arm-wrestling flick of the 80s, it will still probably be pretty good.

While in past years, there were at least one or two shows featuring familiar and favoured bands, this year’s lineup didn’t have any “must-sees” for me. Which actually made picking shows harder, since arguments could be made for hitting up any number of shows scheduled against one another. It’s almost like… an ARM WRESTLE. However, this is where the sheer eclecticism of the acts playing over the next four days and nights comes in handy – I’ll surely be seeing stuff that’s new and foreign to me and my tastes, and while it’s improbable that I’ll like it all, it’ll definitely be interesting. Like arm wrestling.

But I think I’ve made my choices and expect the weekend to shake out as follows: start things off tonight with the vibraphone ecstasy of The Hylozoists, Athens, GA psych-poppers Casper & The Cookies and the retro girl-groupness of Grand Rapids’ The Icicles at the Tranzac. Tomorrow it’s back to the Tranzac for Casiotone For The Painfully Alone’s one-man synthery, Vague Angels (fronted by Chris Leo, brother of Ted) and Nick Krgovich of Vancouver’s P:ano. Then the weekend’s made for matinees with manic synth-pop duo Matt & Kim, twee-er than twee Page France, Philadelphia Television-samplers Yah Mos Def and locals The Fancy Claps and The Weathermaking Challenge at, get ready for it, The Tranzac. And Sunday, finally, is another matinee at Sneaky Dee’s (not the Tranzac!) featuring Phil Elverum’s Mt Eerie, Montreal singer-songwriter Darling Arms and Pilotram, who might play songs with such compelling titles as “Drone In D” and “Drone In E”.

Naturally, I reserve the right to change my mind at the drop of a hat or sleep in and miss an act or two. And there are other bands playing that I’m curious to see – Meligrove Band (who I’ve seen before but are always fun), Japanther, Peter & The Wolf – but one I’m not interested in seeing is de facto festival headliner Daniel Johnston. I respect the man’s songwriting (though I rather prefer them when someone’s covering them) but I saw him open for Yo La Tengo a few years ago and… well, he’s an interesting performer. I’ll certainly give him that much. But that show’s sold out anyways, so it’s a moot point.

Naturally the local media is happily covering the launch of the festival – eye chats up The Phonemes, looks at the Daniel Johnston doc playing as part of the film component and generally previews the fest (there’s also a handy-dandy cut-out guide in the print version of the paper), NOW and The Toronto Star talk to festival founder Eric Warner as well as Daniel Johnston while Chart interviews featured acts The Hylozoists and Japanther.

And for the first year, Over The Top expands its format to include film, theatre and dance components. While hitting the matinees on the weekend does allow me to catch, say, one of the performances of Giant Killer Shark: The Musical (which Chart reports on), it’s far more likely I’ll be geeking out at, say, Spider-Man 3. But for those who prefer their cinema little more rock’n’roll, check out FilmCAN – they’re selling films online including the legendary Bruce McDonald Rock’N’Road trilogy of Roadkill, Highway 61 and Hard Core Logo as well as some of the short films from New Pornographer Blaine Thurier, though they’re not pornography. I think. Also note that the McDonald films are all playing at the Royal tonight, back to back to back, with introductions from McDonald. More info at Stille Post.

And while I’m rounding up reasons to go outside this weekend, note that Friday Saturday is Free Comic Book Day – while most funny book shops around the city will be taking part in the event to some degree, your best bet will certainly be The Beguiling in Mirvish Village, who in addition to giving out free books, will have loads of local comic creators on-hand to sign stuff and just otherwise geek out (there’s that phrase again). And also note that in conjunction with the happenings, Scott McCloud, author of the excellent Understanding Comics and the decidedly less excellent Reinventing Comics will be in town Sunday evening for a lecture at the OISE Theatre at Bloor and St George station. Ticket info on the Beguiling’s website.

And to backtrack a bit to Spider-Man 3, PopMatters has a bluffers guide to all the principals in the new film while looking ahead to NEXT Summer’s comic book blockbuster, Entertainment Weekly has the first look at the final Iron Man armour… and it looks awesome. Even moreso knowing that it’s not Tom Cruise inside it. Via Newsarama.

Looking ahead to next month’s big Toronto music festival, NxNE has released the first official list of bands playing around town the weekend of June 7, 8 and 9. And in keeping with traditions laid out by big brother fest SxSW, the list is nigh unreadable. But a quick scan reveals some interesting names and a distinct international flavour to the lineup – just to name a few, we’ve got pop maven Jason Falkner, DC Leafblower faves Middle Distance Runner, North Carolinans Schooner (who I saw and enjoyed at Pop Montreal last year), Los Angeles’ Sea Wolf (who I saw and enjoyed at SxSW in March), ex-Swervedriver Adam Franklin and, rather out of left field, 90s Irish rockers Therapy?, whose song “Nowhere” I’ve had in my head since I saw their name. More names will probably be added when at a press conference thing next Tuesday evening.

Ooookay, what else we got? Under Byen return to Toronto for the third time in nine months for a show at Lee’s Palace on July 12. You’d think Denmark was right next door or something.

Said The Gramophone interviewed Okkervil River’s Will Sheff for The Believer. Things learned? Don’t mess with Sheff or he’ll knife you.

Uptown talks to Weakerthans guitarist Stephen Carroll about their new album, tentatively titled Reunion Tour and due out in October.

English glam/pop/folk singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf recently made a slew of headlines when he declared he was giving up live performance in November, an announcement perfectly timed to coincide with a storm of critical acclaim for his new album The Magic Position (out yesterday, also available at iTunes). His fans let out a sigh of release when he later backpedaled on that declaration via an interview with Pitchfork, though it still doesn’t sound as though he’s going to become a road warrior anytime soon.

So that’s why his local fans’ excitement became alarm when it was announced that his two upcoming Toronto shows would be as opener for the already completely sold-out Amy Winehouse shows at the Mod Club on May 12 and 13. If they didn’t already have tickets, there was simply no way they were getting them. Well that alarm can turn back into excitement because it’s been announced that Wolf will be playing a third Toronto show – a headlining gig, no less, with Bishi opening – next Friday May 11 at the El Mocambo. But there’s still a catch – besides being an early show (doors at 7, show at 8, over by 10), there are no advance tickets. Just $15 cash money at the door. If you want in, you had best camp out in front, and such a lovely part of town to do so, no less. But there is a Popeye’s Fried Chicken across the street, so there is an upside. Mmm, biscuits.

I haven’t spent much time with The Magic Position yet but the few listens I have given it are pretty intriguing. I can see where and why the “next Bowie” parallels are being drawn – though it’s unfair and absurd to compare him, however talented he is, with a legend whose career is longer than he is old, there’s parallels to be drawn between them both superficially and artistically. I’m looking forward to seeing how the album translates live and also, if Wolf keeps his word, how his creativity will express itself in the future without having to worry about reproducing it in front of an audience. But I will say that judging from the two extra tracks I have on my promo copy, live performances of songs from his first two albums – one solo on piano and one with orchestral backing – Wolf is a riveting live artist and if he does retire from the stage, it’s a damn shame.

MP3: Patrick Wolf – “The Magic Position”
Video: Patrick Wolf – “Accident And Emergency” (YouTube)
Video: Patrick Wolf – “The Magic Position” (YouTube)
Video: Patrick Wolf – “Bluebells” (YouTube)
Stream: Patrick Wolf / The Magic Position
MySpace: Patrick Wolf

The Chicago Sun-Times and Detroit Free Press talk to Ted Leo, who’s playing tonight at the Mod Club.

Dinosaur Jr officially returned yesterday – at least as recording artists – with the release of Beyond, which also garnered a coveted “Recommended” rating from Pitchfork and generally good reviews from most everyone. Stream the whole thing below – and yes, Spinner has fixed their player so the links will actually work this time.

Stream: Dinosaur Jr – Beyond

And lets not forget Dinosaur Jr Jr, aka Buffalo Tom, who are similarly back from extinction. Their first album in nine years, Three Easy Pieces, is out July 10 and Stereogum has the title track available to download. And EXCITEMENT they’re going to be in town on June 7 for a NxNE showcase at the Horseshoe, the night before Dinosaur Jr Sr play the Phoenix. I saw them at SxSW and while the boys weren’t exactly tight, they were sure as hell enthusiastic. This’ll be great.

Filter hangs out with Sonic Youth on the occasion of the band’s 25th anniversary.

One for the calendar – The Hidden Cameras are playing an all-ages show at the Phoenix on June 15 in celebration of, well who cares? It’s a Cameras show – it’s a celebration, period. Tickets will be $13.

The AV Club talks to Adam Schlesinger about his soundtrack work and Fountains Of Wayne while The Examiner talks mental health with his bandmate Chris Collingwood. FoW are at Lee’s Palace June 11 with The Broken West, for whom So Much Silence points to a free live track from eMusic, another live track courtesy of the band and a recent KCRW radio session for download. Yes, So Much Silence likes The Broken West. It’s true.

Torontonians with some time to kill this afternoon are invited to appear in a music video shoot – and it’d help if you were a Joel Plaskett fan because it’s his video. It’s happening this evening from 5 to 8PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic School near Queen E and Leslie, full details on his website. Plaskett is playing two shows at the Opera House – coincidentally not far from Queen E and Leslie – on May 25 and 26.

Oh yeah – check out this week’s edition of Blog Fresh Radio. I’m on there around the nine-minute mark talking about The Airfields and I realize now I totally mixed up which track they were going to run, as “Nowhere Left To Go” is not a demo but a proper recording from the Laneways EP. I got it mixed up with “Prisoners Of Our Love”, which was the other song they were maybe going to play. Whoops.

The Yellow Bird Project is a new organization who’re selling t-shirts designed by indie rock luminaries (Rilo Kiley, Devandra Banhart and Stars, among others) with proceeds going to charities of the artist’s choosing. Most of the designs do reflect the artists who submitted them, except that Wolfmother one. I’m not sure what that’s about.

Things I know about Mando Diao: They’re Swedish. They play rock music. They’re really loud. They think they’re really awesome. Radio Free Chicago has an interview with them. Their new album is called Ode to Ochrasy. They’re playing at the Horseshoe next Saturday night, May 12.

As to those last two points, courtesy of Filter, I have some stuff to give away. Namely a copy of the new album on CD, a picture disc vinyl single (45? LP? I’ve no idea to be honest) and a pair of passes to the show. To enter, email me at frank AT chromewaves.net with “I Want My Mando Diao” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the email body. That’s all. The contest will close at midnight, May 6 and for the sake of simplicity, I’m keeping this one local – Toronto residents only, please. Good luck and good night. Update: So it looks like the contests email is busted. Email me at my regular one if you want to enter.

Video: Mando Diao – “TV & Me” (YouTube)
Video: Mando Diao – “Good Morning, Herr Horst” (YouTube)
Video: Mando Diao – “Long Before Rock ‘N Roll” (YouTube)
MySpace: Mando Diao

Seeing Land Of Talk featured in the latest edition of this week’s Spinner Interface – they’ve got an interview and downloadable session, audio and video – reminded me that I had the session that the band recorded for WOXY’s Lounge Acts sitting on my desk.

Recorded in Austin on the Tuesday before SxSW officially began last month, the band sounds fantastic and the audio quality is also terrific – from a straight fidelity POV, even better than the Applause Cheer Boo Hiss mini album from whence five of the six tracks are taken (there’s one new song in the mix). I’d say that they sounded extra fresh since it was the first of seven shows the band would play over the next four days but their penultimate SxSW show at Hot Freaks on the Saturday sounded just as good. How do they do it? My guess is amphetamines. Lots of them.

But anyway – I went to the trouble of slicing up the MP3 of the session so as to be able to load it on the iPod and figured it was good enough that it deserved to be shared. The band are hopefully working on their proper full-length debut right now but are back on the road later this month, first for a handful of dates in the UK (they’re releasing a 7″ of “Speak To Me Bones” over there on May 21, b-sided by a live version of “Death By Fire”) and then on a cross-continent tour opening up for The Rosebuds (whom the The Independent Weekly has an interview with) starting May 28 at the Horseshoe here in Toronto.

MP3: Land Of Talk – “Breaxxbaxx” (WOXY Lounge Act)
MP3: Land Of Talk – “Magnetic Hill” (WOXY Lounge Act)
MP3: Land Of Talk – “Speak To Me Bones” (WOXY Lounge Act)
MP3: Land Of Talk – “Seafoam” (WOXY Lounge Act)
MP3: Land Of Talk – “Death By Fire” (WOXY Lounge Act)
MP3: Land Of Talk – “All My Friends” (WOXY Lounge Act)

And WOXY’s Futurist blog has got Yo La Tengo’s Lounge Act session up now – two tracks to download and/or the whole thing in a lump file.

The fact that it’s now May also means that Wilco are officially releasing Sky Blue Sky in two weeks and are now streaming the whole thing on demand. Jeff Tweedy graces the cover of the new Filter and the band is at Massey Hall on June 30.

The Age looks at how the first two salvos in the Neil Young archives project – Live At Massey Hall 1971 and Live At The Fillmore East. The 10-disc The Archives Vol. 1, 1963-1972 is out in September.

Feist’s The Reminder is in stores today and she talks to The Toronto Sun about the whirlwind of attention and anticipation surrounding said event (though Soundscapes put their copies on sale this weekend, making today somewhat less eventful). Yesterday it received a coveted “Best New Music” from Pitchfork and an 8.8 which has buoyed the aggregate score at Metacritic. All Things Feist has got a radio rip of live show from a couple weeks ago available to download and you can stream the whole album below courtesy of Spinner.com. She’s at Massey Hall on May 25 and 26 (and talks to The Toronto Sun about those gigs as well). Update: Streaming player appears to be busted right now – I notified an AOL person, hopefully they’ll get that sorted out soon. Update 2: But in the meantime, MuchMusic also has it streaming. Go get it (thanks Kat!).

Stream: Feist / The Reminder (Spinner)
Stream: Feist / The Reminder (MuchMusic)

The Toronto Star talks to Feist’s sometime bandmate Amy Millan about opening up for Ron Sexsmith this Friday night at… Massey Hall. The grand old lady of Shuter St is getting a lot of shout outs today.

And to not leave out the last of the ladies of Broken Social, Emily Haines and her Soft Skeleton have scheduled a show at Harbourfront Centre on July 25, Patrick Watson supports. Tickets for that will be $25.

Interpol is going to be at the Guvernment on June 7 to preview material from Our Love To Admire, out July 10 (tickets on sale Thursday). A rather undersized venue for them – didn’t they play the Docks, with double the capactiy (3000 vs 1600) last time? But if you don’t manage to get a ticket to witness Carlos D’s prono ‘stache in person, you can always catch them at day one of Virgin Fest in September.

Ladytron have scheduled a DJ gig at the Spin Gallery on May 19. I like how the tour dates page on their website lists the show as happening in Toronto, Nunavut. Who do they think they are, the White Stripes?

24: Can anyone tell me why I wasted time watching this instead of watching The Wire? “Help me Jack, don’t let them do this to me” is the new “Help me Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope”.

When I first discovered Fields at show at Revival last October, I was won over by their folk-tinged Brit-rock and proceeded to put their EP, 7 From The Village, on heavy rotation. Even then, however, I’d heard some complaining about how they’d been moving towards a glossier, more radio-friendly sound and what I saw was already some ways into… how do the kids put it? The sell-out.

Having not heard the earlier stuff to compare it to, I couldn’t comment on that but there was certainly no denying the arena-rock potential in their sound – there were some big choruses on the EP and their live show, even when playing to a sparsely filled room, certainly seemed intended for larger rooms or even arenas. So when I heard that their debut full-length would a) be on a major label (Atlantic) and b) be produced by someone with Korn and Marilyn Manson records on his resume, I began to fear that I had gotten onboard with a band about to become a cautionary tale. And when I got an advance of said record – Everything Last Winter, out domestically next Tuesday – it seemed my fears were justified.

I’m generally of the school of thought that re-recording old material to put on a new record is a bad idea. Especially if the impetus for re-recording said song is the fact you now have more studio tracks at your disposal. Sometimes it works (Arcade Fire’s “Keep The Car Running” “No Cars Go” a recent example), most times it doesn’t (hello Wheat’s “Don’t I Hold You”). For Fields, who opted to lead off Winter with a new version of “Song For The Fields”, the same song that opened 7 From The Village and which they’ve already recorded maybe a half-dozen versions of, it really doesn’t. On the “new and improved” version, everything that’s been added – more noodly electric guitar bits, extended outro, layers of more vocals – is superfluous and not only adds nothing but comes at the expense of the medieval-ish vibe that made the original so interesting. It actually made me sad.

But here’s the thing. Even though that song starts the record off in a hole – and even after a couple months it still bugs me – the rest of the album more than makes up for it. The overall production still has that distinctive major label shellac to it, but past that, their blend of arena rock, shoegaze and folk can be a potent brew and there’s enough really good songs here to reassure that Fields’ potential hasn’t been squelched, just dressed up a bit funny. The singles thus far (“Charming The Flames” and “If You Fail, We All Fail”) confirm that the band has a gift for the anthem and aren’t afraid to flaunt it, managing to make them sound huge while walking the fine line between affecting and melodramatic (and mostly managing to stay on the right side). While those who were already disappointed in the direction they were taking half a year ago will probably find much more to dislike than like on this record, an incredibly strong side B (if anyone still thinks in such terms) can’t help but cement the opinion that this is still an excellent debut album and Fields can and will continue to turn out some great music. But maybe find a different producer. And put “Song For The Fields” to bed, already.

Fields are in town next Friday, May 11, opening for Blonde Redhead and then play a show of their own May 14 at the Amp’d Mobile Studio (free tickets still available). They’re also doing a few North America festivals this Summer (Coachella this past weekend, Lollapalooza in August) and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them at V Fest in Toronto come September. Check out some A and V from the band below from both the EP and the full-length – that’s the EP version of “Song For The Fields”, hear the album version at their MySpace – and there’s a bit more to download at this fansite.

MP3: Fields – “If You Fail, We All Fail”
MP3: Fields – “Brittlesticks”
MP3: Fields – “Song For The Fields”
Video: Fields – “If You Fail, We All Fail” (MySpace)
Video: Fields – “Brittlesticks” (MySpace)
Video: Fields – “Song For The Fields” (MySpace)
Video: Fields – “Charming The Flames” (MySpace)
MySpace: Fields

Bjork talks to The Guardian about getting extroverted on Volta, out next Tuesday. NME is streaming the whole album this week – the link is under “media”.

Thanks to Mark for sending me this interview at The Syn Radio with Chris Olley of Six By Seven. It seems the band is no longer split up though they seem more interested in their side projects and there’s still no release date for the long-discussed best of/rarities comp. But hey, they’re answering email.

Aversion talks to the brothers White of the Electric Soft Parade, in town June 12 at Lee’s Palace with their alter egos Brakes Brakes Brakes.

The Scotsman talks to The Twilight Sad about their adventures in North America. Though I have to say, contrary to what guitarist Andy MacFarlane says, I don’t remember a single encore when they played Toronto last month.

Daytrotter got all Francophone last week, offering up a session and an interview with Malajube and today, they’re offering up same for Grizzly Bear (Session/Interview). And not to be outdone on the other side of the Atlantic, this week’s Take-Away Show features Alan Sparhawk of Low.

Bandega talks to Bubba Kadane of The New Year, who will begin recording their next album in August with an eye towards a mid-2008 release. Touring everywhere except Canada to follow. Via Bradley’s Almanac.

Spent much of the weekend watching season one of The Wire. When is season four out on DVD? I’ve a sick feeling I’m going to be caught up through the first three well before it’s released.