Exclaim! has a short piece on Kathleen Edwards and her new album Back To Me, which came out this Tuesday. It’s a very short piece. The photo is actually bigger than the copy. Chart also has a piece, and it’s longer but the photo is smaller. Also – pieces from West Coast Music, and Metro, which asks her about her first job. Yeah, top-notch journalism. There’s also a nice feature on Edwards in the latest issue of Harp. And you can listen to clips of the new album online at here, courtesy of her label. She plays the Mod Club on April 7. Yeah, I mentioned that earlier this week but sometimes I like to repeat myself.

And for some more Canuck content – Popmatters interviews Amy Millan of Stars about a lot of the same stuff they talked about when they made the Canadian press rounds last Fall, but one tidbit revealed is that her solo album, Honey From The Tombs, will finally be getting a release in June. Or so they say. Umbrella Music also has an interview with Amy, though I’m not certain how old it is.

Being There has a chat with Ambrosia Parsley of Shivaree, the lucky bastards. From the looks of the photos, it would appear that they were sitting almost next to me at the Lula Lounge shows last month. From Largehearted Boy.

The video for the new Ambulance LTD single “Stay Where You Are” shows hip and beautiful New Yorkers doing hip and beautiful New York things.

Shows for this year’s Over The Top Fest, taking place May 5th through the 8th, are starting to be announced. Already I will be at Sneaky Dee’s on May 5 to see Matt Pond PA and By Divine Right. The OTTFest always has interesting and eclectic bills, so I can see my weekend filling up fairly quickly thanks to this.

The St Petersburg Times digs on Mogwai. Via LHB.

Metafilter loves them some shoegaze. Thanks to Consolation Champs for the link. Speaking of which, a reminder that the monthly Miasma shoegaze night goes down at SpaHa tonight. Great tunes, expensive drinks. If you go, get loaded at home first. I will probably stop by after seeing Steve Earle tonight.

Check out Tiny Showcase, an independent art showcase and store from the good folks behind Slatch and 75 Or Less.

np – Matt Pond PA / Emblems

There’s been a lot of chatter on the Big Takeover mailing list of late about The Chameleons (UK) and their influence on the current crop of early 80s-influenced bands and their general under-appreciatedness in the grand scheme of things. If they paid royalties for copping styles, then the biggest cheques would be coming from Interpol – there’s parts of Turn On The Bright Lights that are just uncanny and are probably why I prefer the debut to Antics. You can also hear their influence on obvious acts like hometown followers The Stone Roses and not-so-obvious ones like Pernice Brothers (Joe Pernice is an avowed fanatic of 80s UK indie stuff – they did an excellent cover of the Chameleons’ “Up The Down Escalator” which I posted a couple years ago). Anyway, since sometimes all you have to do is mention the name of a band to get me on a jag, I’ve been listening to a lot of Chameleons lately…

Coming out of Manchester in the early 1980s, it could be argued they laid the groundwork for almost every guitar band to come out of the UK for the next twenty years… but of course they never get the respect they deserve for it. The chiming, intertwined guitar lines of Dave Fielding and Reg Smithies still sound incredibly fresh and innovative today, and Mark Burgess’ vocals might sound a little over-dramatic in their earnestness, but they fit the huge, dreamy, anthemic sound of the Chameleons perfectly. The production on their first three studio albums is unforunately rather dated by today’s standards (hey, it was the Eighties), but the songs are still amazing. The band split in 1986 after releasing their major-label debut, Strange Times, though the releases kept coming post-mortem in the form of live records and sundry compilations.

Then, proving they were yet again ahead of the curve, they announced their reunion in January of 2000 for a handful of low-key gigs in England that drew fans from all around the world. Building on the enthusiastic response, they turned it into a full-on reunion and world tour, even releasing a new album – Why Call It Anything? – that featured their trademark sound and trademark awful cover artwork. While not their best work, it was far from an embaressment and showed that some of the old magic still remained. Unfortunately, so did some of the old acrimony and the band split again in 2003 after a few productive years. I wouldn’t say I was surprised to hear it – while their show at the Phoenix in October of 2002 was excellent, there was definitely some tension apparent onstage between the band members. While Burgess was obviously loving being the frontman again, Reg and Dave looked pretty grumpy. Since the second split, all have gone back to their solo projects and while saying they’re done for good is obviously overly final, the nastiness of the schism was pretty public (god bless the internet) and there’d have to be some pretty major reconciliations to get the boys back together again.

While their first two albums, Script Of The Bridge and What Does Anything Mean? Basically are technically out of print, they’re not impossible to find if you look. If any records were crying out for a deluxe reissue, it’s these. On the other hand, their third album, Strange Times, is incredibly easy to find – I think HMV sells it for like $6 or something. If you come across it and are at all curious, you won’t regret it, it’s a glorious record. The quality of the various live records varies. I have Tripping Dogs, which is basically a recording of a rehearsal, and while it’s interesting, it’s not especially revelatory or of exceptional sound quality. The Live In Toronto disc, recorded by Big Takeover editor Jack Rabid from a radio broadcast of a show at the old RPM club in 1987, sounds decent and I’m fond of it for obvious reasons. Ain’t many live albums recorded in our fair city. Here’s a track from that record:

MP3: The Chameleons – “Swamp Thing” (live in Toronto, 1987)

MTV lays slavish praise at the feet of some other legendary Mancunians, New Order. Via Whatevs.

And Torr reports that the current kings of Manchester, Doves, are releasing a live album on April 26. Live at Eden will present the same 2002 show that was featured on the Where We’re Calling From DVD… That’s the only portion of the DVD that I haven’t watched yet. Torr also points to this live acoustic performance video of the next single from Some Cities, “Snowden”.

A Girl Called Eddy is this week’s NOW cover story as they preview her show on Sunday at the Horseshoe with Keren Ann as well as her in-store at Soundscapes that afternoon at 4PM. And yes, there’s the requisite Joanie Loves Chachi joke. I’m sure she’s punched someone out for that before.

It’s Canadian Music Week. If you want to get out and partake in the festivities, NOW has their picks of all the showcases. eye is a little more expansive in their coverage, including a cover story on Great Lake Swimmers, but they would be – they’re a sponsor.

And anyone who can’t make it to see the A Northern Chorus/Raising The Fawn/Damon & Naomi showcase at the El Mocambo tonight will get another chance as the same bill will be touring together next month and will play The Drake on April 7.

Catbirdseat seems to think that the “Special guests” slot at the end of the Merge SxSW showcase (March 17 @ The Parish) will be going to a certain freshly-reformed Jurrasic-ally named band… I hadn’t even thought about that. Hmmmm. HOORAY FOR RUMOUR-MONGERING! Note – this is pure speculation and is based in no hard fact whatsoever.

Did a little archive-checking yesterday… I know that I had a pretty good consecutive-day posting streak going, but shee-it. Check it out – last time I missed a post was January 25 and 26 of last year, when I was in Vegas. Then before that, August 16 2003 which was the big-ass blackout. Then before that, May 10, 2003 (for no particular reason I can recall). But besides that, I’ve been rock-solid since around December 1, 2002. Four days out of twenty-seven months. I feel like I should have one of those workplace safety signs up proclaiming, “400 days without having anything better to do”. I think that’s worthy of equal parts awe and pity. No two ways about it, I have got to get a life.

np – Pernice Brothers / Nobody’s Listening

Gone for far too long, there is finally some good news from Teenage Fanclub – they are releasing their first album since 2000 (not counting the best-of comp), Man-Made, on May 2 in the UK (see cover art). Since this is coming out on their own PeMa label, there’s no info on a North American release but surely someone will arrange to distribute it in the colonies.

It might be a little much to hope for a tour as well, but considering they came over in 2001 for no particular reason (I don’t think Howdy! had been out in the US yet though it was available up here) and played a magnificent sold-out show at the Opera House, I know at least one city would make it worth their while. We loves the Fannies, oh yes we do. Very much looking forward to this one. And if you haven’t yet, check out the exclusive live and demo tracks available on their website.

Also coming out May 2 in the UK is the debut album from The Tears, aka Bernard and Brett from Suede (if you didn’t know). The record is called Here Come The Tears (which also answers the question of how the band name is pronounced – ‘tir or ‘tar). The first single is “Refugees” and there’s a streaming clip of it available here. Their label also has a big long writeup on the album.

The Shins are finally coming back to Toronto after almost three years. April 17 at the Kool Haus. That’s right, the Kool Haus. God I hate that place. Anyone else remember seeing them at the Rivoli in July 2002? That was a nice little show. I’m having some trouble envisioning their indie pop in a cavernous room like the Kool Haus… Man, I had no idea they were so big now. I blame Natalie Portman. She needs to be punished. Yes she does… Oh yeah, it appears support on this tour will be New Zealand’s The Brunettes. Tickets $21, on sale now.

Also coming back to town at Lee’s Palace on April 17, after a two month absence, is M Ward who kicked so much ass at the ElMo on Sunday. This time it’ll be with a full band, Norfolk & Western, who are also opening along with Devotchka.

And if you don’t want to see The Shins or M Ward, you can catch The Golden Republic and Aqueduct at the Horseshoe that same night, April 17, tickets $8. God, when was the last time so much was going on in town on a Sunday night? Oh yeah, this past Sunday.

Also at the ‘Shoe on April 29 will be Sweden’s Mando Diao and The Comas, admission $10.

Oh, and what was I saying about Joe Pernice yesterday? May 5 4, Horseshoe, $10. We love ya, Joe. Update: Hang on, just noticed that Adult is scheduled for the ‘Shoe on May 5. Maybe The Toronto Star had the date wrong? I’ll try to find out what’s what… Update 2: Thanks to Craig from Against The Grain for sorting things out for me. The show is May 4.

Pitchfork and XFM are reporting that J and Lou and Murph are together again as Dinosaur Jr and will play the Fuji Rock Festival and then some UK dates. J Mascis’ website confirms. I don’t know how I feel about this – I only got into Dino Jr when Lou was already gone, so he’s never been an integral part of the band from my perspective – hell, my favourite Dino Jr albums – Green Mind, Where You Been – are both post-Lou, though I will not argue that Bug is awesome. I would hope their hatchet can stay buried long enough to do some North American dates. I’ve never seen Dino in any incarnation, nor J on his own, so I’d be happy to get the opportunity – especially if they’re doing Dino tunes. But if they play “Poledo”, someone’s gonna get hurt. Lou Barlow recently talked to The Journal News about his new album Emoh and he also pretty much confirms the reunion plans.

Billboard introduces America to Stars. Set Yourself On Fire gets a release Stateside next Tuesday.

Sloan’s Twice Removed has been voted the greatest Canadian album of all time by Chart readers.

Why does “priceless” have a positive meaning while “worthless” has a negative meaning? Just wondering.

np – Arcade Fire / Funeral

Sometime in the wee hours of last night, at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, Luna played one last encore, said farewell and left the stage for the last time. They leave behind seven studio albums, one live album, several EPs and a sad spot in my heart as one of my favourite bands ever are no more.

Andy, who runs the Galaxie 500/Luna website Full Of Wishes, has started a groupblog – Luna’s Last Waltz – to document the final days of the band, collecting reviews, photos, testimonials and reminiscences from fans over the course of their final tour. There’s some really nice dispatches and photos from last night, including a pic of Dean loading his guitar into a cab to go home.

For my part, I bid the band farewell last Fall, first in Toronto and then Chicago (from where today’s photo was taken) even though that turned out to not be their final date in the Windy City – they stopped by once more last month on their way back home to New York City for their final four shows over three days.

Update: Photos from the last show.

As a parting gift, I present a farewell track – a Velvet Underground cover, natch – recorded June 3, 1993 at the Borderline in London.

MP3: Luna – “Ride Into The Sun” (live)

Goodbye.

One to put in your distant future pipe… Joe Pernice is trying to add a solo Toronto date onto “his very extensive 2-4 show tour of the world” (mailing list’s words, not mine) which currently includes London, New York and probably Boston. If it happens, it’ll probably do so around late April/early May. I admit, when Joe moved up here last Fall, I was hoping it would mean at least a couple local appearances, but the man’s been keeping a very low profile. But still, I’ll take what I can get.

The Times and The Guardian both run Manchester-angled interviews with Doves, whose Some Cities came out a couple weeks ago in the UK and is out today in North America. From Pop (All Love). And anyone who’s not rushing out today to buy the new record and needs a little more convincing, there’s a streaming audio sampler here. And if you like other people to tell you what to like, Pitchfork testifies.

You can preview a couple of tracks from The Carlton Chronicles, the new album from Centro-Matic side-project South San Gabriel. It’s out April 5.

David Bowie tells Rolling Stone why he likes Arcade Fire.

Wait for the punchline. Wait for it. From Golden Fiddle.

24: Well, I guess they decided that schizophrenic daughter storyline wasn’t going anywhere. So that’s the second major plotline wrapped up (kidnapping, meltdowns) by 6PM. Thirteen hours to go – what will they do next? Hopefully Jack will get a chance to have a sandwich or something, the boy hasn’t eaten all day. But really, I must once again applaud the producers for not dragging things out. Lots of believable (relatively speaking) mini crises are much more interesting than one drawn-out completely incredulous one. Of course, they’re also not going to convince anyone that the terrorists have yet another contingency plan in place… but they’ll try anyways. Let’s see what’s next. Maybe they’ll spend the next few hours in couple’s therapy where Audrey will confess that seeing Jack apply live electrical wires to her ex-husband’s nipples didn’t repulse her so much as excite her.

np – New Order / Power, Corruption & Lies

It’s always risky going to a show when the artist has a new record to push and you don’t have that record. If they draw heavily from the newer material, will hearing mostly unfamiliar songs diminish one’s enjoyment of the show? That did weigh on my mind a bit last night when I went to see M Ward at the ElMo. I had yet to pick up Transistor Radio and had only listened to the stream at Merge once. But cut me some slack – it only came out last week. I haven’t had time to make it to the record store. Anyway.

Taking the stage in an unassuming brown shirt and wool cap, and considerably younger looking than I’d expected, Ward immediately tore into a frenzied acoustic instrumental (sounded familiar but I couldn’t pick out the name), leaving most of the audience’s jaws on the floor – what a way to start things off. The next hour and fifteen minutes were spent with Ward’s warm, raspy voice and virtuoso fingerpicked acoustic guitar (as well as some piano) while playing material from both Transfiguration Of Vincent and the new Transistor Radio. Scattered amongst the originals were covers of Joanna Newsom, David Bowie, Daniel Johnston, and The Beach Boys, done so uniquely in Ward’s folk/country style that if you didn’t know better, you’d swear they were his own compositions (though he did fess up to which ones weren’t his before starting). With the assistance of a looper pedal, his single acoustic guitar became almost a full band as Ward layered the various parts needed to recreate the arrangements of the albums – the result was nothing short of spectacular.

This show turned out to be part of a warm-up mini tour – Ward promised to be back in the next couple months with a full band, likely Norfolk & Western, whom I’d actually expected to be opening this show up. I have to wonder if Ward with a full band would be as impressive as him solo? I guess there’s only one way to find out, and if the ensemble experience is anywhere near as good as the one-man act, it’ll definitely be worth seeing. Only downside to this show was no merch – I guess I’ll have to get my copy of Transistor Radio the old retail way. Oh yeah, photos.

Kathleen Edwards will be at the Mod Club on April 7 for Back To Me, out tomorrow. Jason Collett supports. Tickets are $17 and appear to only be available through Maple Music.

Trashcan Sinatras are at Lee’s Palace on April 28. Lee’s Palace has new doors. Just thought I’d mention that. Info on the show from For The Records. As for the new doors, I saw them myself.

The first new House Of Love album in twelve years is out today. North Americans who don’t want to pay the import prices (that’s $28 CDN at Amazon.ca, if you were wondering), I direct you to the good folks at cdwow.com. Ten pounds for the album, postpaid anywhere in the world – whatta deal. I’ve dealt with them before and they’ve always been terrific. I don’t expect Days Run Away to get a domestic release, so this is probably my – and your – best bet.

np – The Chameleons / Strange Times