The problem the Coen Brothers have created for themselves is that they’ve set the bar for their work so high, that anything that fails to reach the same heights, even if it’s a perfectly good to very good film on its own merits, comes off feeling a little like a disappointment. Consider their last film, The Ladykillers. How could I not like a Coen comedy caper? That’s not a set-up, by the way, I really did enjoy it. Laugh-out loud in a number of places, the tale of Tom Hanks and a bumbling crew of would-be criminals trying to pull off a heist while dealing with a nosy old landlady is a perfectly solid comedy. The uncredited Eddie Murphy cameo as a super-enthusiastic church choir conductor is gravy. So why does it sound like there’s a but? Because there is a but.

But. The Ladykillers suffers from the same problem (though that is probably the wrong word) as the last Coen-credited film, Intolerable Cruelty – it’s not purely theirs. Intolerable Cruelty wasn’t originally intended to be directed by the brothers, so while perfectly enjoyable, it came off as watered down by their standards. The same goes for The Ladykillers. Maybe because it’s a remake of an old Alec Guinness film and they’re working with someone else’s source material (though I haven’t seen the original so I can’t say how faithful they stayed – I can’t imagine too much)? The film just seems slight somehow, like a toss-off. The character eccentricities, a Coen trademark, are a little forced, overplayed. It just didn’t feel like it had the full force of their inspiration behind it. If Fargo or Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? were oil paintings, then Ladykillers is a pencil and ink drawing. It’s not intended as a complaint but after two breezy comedies and one beautiful but somewhat turgid drama (The Man Who Wasn’t There), one gets a little impatient waiting for another masterpiece.

New blog alert – How Could This Movie Possibly Be Bad? gives you movie reviews with a (very) healthy dose of snark and wit. The picture captions alone are worth the price of admission. Which is free, by the way. But even if you had to pay, like, a nickel or something, it’d still be worth it.

Thanks to the wonder of bit torrent, I watched “season 3” of The Office this weekend, also known as the 2-part Christmas special. While I thought that the finale of the second series would have been a perfect way to wrap things up, the producers seemed to have felt that things deserved a firmer resolution, a happier ending. Thankfully, they do so without watering down the biting humour that made the show such a joy and the whole thing played out very naturally. And really, David Brent wasn’t really that big a prat, was he? Yeah, I guess he was. I nearly shat myself during the “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” video, though.

“At the end of the day I wonder what I’ve done. All I got is some crow’s feet. What’s the fucking prize?” In an interview with Rolling Stone last year, Beulah hinted that the end for the band was near – this coming August, to be exact. As others have pointed out, perhaps this is our punishment for taking such joy in the demises of Creed and Phish. It happens in threes, don’t it?

np – Beulah / Yoko

Feist’s show at the Mod Club last night may well have been one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in a long time. This wasn’t because it was a great show, which it was, but because Feist made the inspired move of including a visual artist (name: Shary Boyle) as part of her band. Her contribution was to create fascinating real-time art works on overheads projected onto the massive back screen using slides, silhouettes, inks, bits of foliage and even Leslie Feist herself. It was really a brilliant way of adding a whole new visual dimension to the show and really enhanced the experience. I often find that when bands incorporate slideshows or such into their shows it ends up being more distracting or anything, sometimes deliberately so for bands without stage presence oozing from every pore. While Feist required no help in the charisma department, the art show really put it over the top. Sorry to everyone catching the tour at later dates – apparently this was a one-time only deal, the production was assembled for last night’s performance only. Alas. I tried to capture some of the pieces in my photos from the show, but they can’t really do it justice.

As for the musical component, it was similarly unconventional and impressive. The show started with Feist expertly using a sampler/looper pedal to create layers of guitar and backing vocals while the band took their places – the looper was thusly utilized a few more times through the show with equal effectiveness. I was really impressed by how perfectly she timed the loops – speaking as someone who has tried in vain to get decent results from a looper, I can tell you it’s not easy. Her Gallic band also kept things interesting, musically, by playing a wide variety of instruments from trombones to keyboards to various curious percussion instruments. All of this helped recreate the warmth of Let It Die in a live setting, the main difference being Feist’s electric guitar work. This gave the material a rougher, rawer and bluesier edge than the album has. Live, it works really well. Her voice was in top form as well – jazzy, soulful, soaring, snarling and sexy in all the right places. From last night’s show, I don’t think it’s entirely inappropriate to call her Canada’s own blues-soaked Bjork.

If I have a complaint, it’s that for a homecoming show of sorts, there wasn’t a real love-in vibe. The sold-out crowd, though appreciative, seemed peculiarly restrained. Granted, this wasn’t a proper ‘rock’ show, but it definitely seemed overly polite. Maybe it was because it was an early show and people weren’t fully lubed up, but I put it more on the feeling of aloofness and haughtiness that Feist projected throughout the set, preventing her from really connecting with the audience. It’s something that Chart noticed at her Friday night show as well. Maybe she’s just been in France too long? I don’t know, but it was just a little off-putting. Didn’t ruin the show at all, though, just dampened the mood a bit.

Opener Gentleman Reg put on the best perfomance out of the several times I’ve seen him. I can’t put my finger on what was different, but for whatever reason last night it just clicked. A fine warm-up to be sure. I also want to comment that the Mod Club is a really nice venue – it reminds me of a smaller, more intimate Phoenix. Definitely more of a theatre than a bar or club. Great lights and sidelines – I’m looking forward to shooting some more shows there. Here’s my pics from last night.

Oh, and as a final note, rumour has it that Feist will be the “mystery” headliner at Wavelength tonight, making that three Toronto shows in three nights. It’s been kept on the down-low so as not to annoy NXNE organizers, but should be announced later today – I’ll confirm when it is (or let you know who the real mystery act is). She’d be scheduled to go on at 12 midnight, probably solo – I can’t imagine her band would set up all their equipment at Sneaky Dee’s. As (almost) always, it will be pay what you can.

Update: It’s confirmed, Feist is playing Wavelength tonight at midnight.

Hold the phone – Spoon have posted mp3s of two demos from The Beast And Dragon Are Adored (that can’t be the actual title!). Thanks to Catbirdseat for the tip.

People in Toronto who like buying other peoples’ old things, check this out – starting today, there will be a ‘vintage flea market’ at the 360 every Sunday from noon till 6. Since today’s is the first one, I can’t say if it’ll be cool or crap, but I plan on going down and seeing what they’ve got so I’ll let you know. Cause Lord knows what I need is more junk.

I got a new bed yesterday! No more with the foam-mattress euphemistically-named ‘twin’ bed on a frame older than I am, thanks. I got a grown-up queen-size bed with all sorts of crazy bed technology. Gotta say though, it’s big – didn’t seem quite so big in the store. Granted, it was in a giant department store and not in my little bedroom, but still. It takes up a lot of room in the bedroom and I take up not a lot of room in it. I could probably rent out half of it to a family of migrant workers and never even notice. Independently pocketed coils, dontcha know.

np – Rainer Maria / A Better Version Of Me

A lot of locals whinge about NXNE, how it’s a rip-off for the bands, how it doesn’t really do anything to promote artists who need exposure, how it’s not a patch on it’s Austin-based namesake (SXSW), and you know what? All fair points. But being out around the clubs last night I can say that the punters were out in full force, flashing wristbands and club-hopping between gigs and having a good time. There was a real energy everywhere and it was thanks to people going to see live music – never a bad thing.

For my part, I was hunkered down in Healey’s for the Rainbow Quartz showcase. Touting themselves as “your source for perfect guitar pop”, they actually run three labels – Rainbow Quartz handles the guitar pop and Turquoise Mountain is home to their roots/alt.country acts. I’m not sure what Amethyst’s deal is. Anyway, last night’s lineup drew from the first two imprints and was Detroit-heavy, featuring The Waxwings, Volebeats, and Denise James – all from the Motor City – and Myracle Brah from the DC area.

Denise James had been getting the bulk of the local press and after seeing her set, I’m not sure why. Her stuff was pleasant enough in a late 50s/early 60s female pop singer/songwriter sort of way (I keep thinking of Petula Clark as a reference point though I really don’t know what Petula Clark sounds like), but not really remarkable. Not much in the way of stage presence, either. But hey, I guess someone likes her stuff – much of the crowd left after her set.

From their name, you’d expect Myracle Brah to be a bunch of sophomoric jokesters playing Blink-182-esque punk pop. Well they’re actually more collegiate-looking (in a seventh year of an undergrad arts degree frat boy sort of way) but otherwise you’re in the right ballpark. Big loud fuzzy guitars, high energy, fairly high humour quotient. Not very standout, but enjoyable enough live.

I really enjoyed the Volebeats. Great country-esque tunes (including a fantastic rearrangement of Abba’s “Knowing Me Knowing You”) and spot-on harmonies and perfomances. Stage presence was a little low – the big lead singer guy barely moved the whole set – but Matthew Smith’s (also of Outrageous Cherry) guitar playing had my attention for most of the show. The man can play some sweet guit-box. I was impressed enough to get up right after and buy a copy of their last album, Country Favorites. Thumbs up.

The act I was most excited to see was headliners The Waxwings. I’ve only got their first record, but it’s a great collection of Byrds-ish jangle pop and amazing vocals, so I was a little curious when the more recent bios kept describing them as an all-out rock band in the vein of the Stones or such. I mean, I like the rock, but love the pop – I was curious to hear what they sounded like now. I got my answer when one of the guitarists plugged in his Gibson SG instead of the Rickenbacker (they were both playing SGs, actually, for the guitar geeks) – they brought the rock. I don’t think the blues-rock of the Rolling Stones is the best reference, but they were definitely all about the high-energy riffage though the pop sensibility and harmonies were still intact, if a little diminished. They put on a very satisfying set but the new material didn’t make me rush out to buy the new record. It struck me as the sort of stuff that was more enjoyable live than on record.

I hadn’t been in Healey’s before, but the sightlines are pretty good for taking photos. They’d have been better if there weren’t tables butted up right against the front of the stage, but the shots I got turned out pretty well.

The Magnetic Fields’ July 2 show at Trinity-St Paul’s is sold out, but if you waited too long for tickets or want to see them twice, you’ll be pleased to know a second show has been added, same venue, for July 3. Double the Merrit, double the fun.

Sadly, Beulah’s threats to split up after the release of their last album Yoko appear to have come true. Billboard reports that the band will call it quits after a show in New York City on August 5. They will be survived by four superb albums, a slew of EPs and a tour DVD, A Good Band Is Hard To Kill, coming out later this year.

Watched Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World last night, a film which easily takes the title of longest website URL in existance. I mean, look at it. It’s absurd. The film itself was alright – certainly looked great and was a decent enough adventure film. I just kept waiting for everyone to burst into song, a la Gilbert & Sullivan or The Pirate Movie. Which they actually did at a few points, but not in the way I’m talking about.

Oh, and if anyone is interested, Minneapolis’ The Honeydogs and locals Elliott Brood are doing an in-store at Sonic Boom at Bloor and Bathurst today at 2pm. I’d be going if I weren’t having to sit at home waiting for a bed to be delivered.

np – The House Of Love / 1986:88: The Creation Recordings

It’s “compilations giving props to bands from the late-80s and early-90s who never got their due” day! We’ve got t-shirts made up and everything.

Intended to tie in with the release of Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste: Galaxie 500 1987-1991 on June 29, Rykodisc will be releasing The Uncollected Galaxie 500 on August 3rd. This was originally the fourth bonus disc in the Galaxie 500 box set released in 1996 and contains b-sides and live tracks and alternate versions of the material on the three proper G500 studio albums. While the inidivdual album reissues are still readily available, the box set has gotten pretty tough to find of late – I’m thankful to have picked up my copy for under $50.

The perfect companion to The Creation Years, The House Of Love will release The Fontana Years in the UK on June 15. The double-disc set will contain 33 songs from 1989 through 1993 – full tracklisting here. I suspect that owning Fontana, Babe Rainbow and A Spy In The House Of Love will make the collection redundant for me, but it’s nice to see that the HOL are finally getting some props. And as far as I know, the reunion is still ongoing and a new album featuring both Chadwick and Bickers is still in the works.

The Independent talks to Wilco. He compares himself to Willy Wonka. Almost all of these interviews cover the same ground – if you’re getting tired of reading the same thing, imagine how tired the band is of saying the same thing.

RIP, Ray Charles. I will always remember him as the gun-toting music store owner in The Blues Brothers. Oh, and as one of the biggest names in soul music of the 20th century. That too. But mostly the gun-toting music store owner.

Oh, and it’s official – Franz Ferdinand is off the concert sched, Feist is on. Tickets have been bought and sold and everything. “My blogging duty”? Sheesh.

Sorry for the quick update today – things are busy at work.

np – The Waxwings / Low To The Ground

(ring ring)

“Hello?”

“Hello?”

“Can I speak to Jamal?”

“Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.”

“Wrong number?”

“Wrong number.”

“Are you Turkish?”

“Nope.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Oh, okay. Bye.”

NOW’s NXNE minisite has schedules, critics picks, artist profiles and daily updates for the music festival kicking off in earnest tonight. For everything that’s going on, I’m still only planning on going to the Rainbow Quartz showcase at Healey’s tomorrow night ($8 at the door). Maybe I’ll try to get into the Feist show at the Mod Club on Saturday. I dunno.

Speaking of Feist, she is this week’s eye cover girl as well as the main feature in The Toronto Star’s “What’s On” section.

To everyone who thought Ryan Adams was off his nut when he shut down his website in honour of Friends’ finale – there may have been a method to his madness. Freshly recovered from mourning Ross and Rachel and Joey and company, Adams has put an album’s worth of demos up on his website. The material has been circulating amongst traders as a bootleg entitled Exile On Franklin Street and comprises all-new material except for versions of “Come Pick Me Up” off of Heartbreaker and “Rescue Blues” from Gold. I’ve only listened to a few tracks but it sounds good – all very stripped-down and simple-like, sort of how Ryan sounded before he turned up the suck. It’s all in a Flash player so you can’t easily save it down, but it’s surely all available on your favourite P2P network as we speak. I’m not so much surprised that he’s done this, but that he did it without mouthing off about it to anyone within earshot. NME has some more info.

Franz Ferdinand will do an autograph session at the HMV on Queen W at 6pm on Monday June 14 before heading down to the Kool Haus for their sold-out show. For my part, I think I’ve just sold my ticket for the concert. The idea of getting my ass from rehearsal down to the venue and then back home afterwards all on a Monday night is not very appealing at all. And anyway, I saw them earlier this year at the Horseshoe and I doubt this show will better it. The Toronto Star has a piece on the band.

There will be no advance tickets for the Sea Ray show at the Rivoli June 21 – just $10 at the door. Just in case you were waiting for ticket info. Like I was. But aren’t anymore. Ahem.

Okay, so this Orkut thing – it’s different from Friendster how, exactly? Beats me, but I have a profile now. Actually I have two, accidentally. If you’re there too, hit me up.

I had been working a pretty good no-wedding streak since last Summer. Since about March of 1998, I’ve had at least one wedding on the calendar through till August 2003 when the last one came and went – I think there were in total nine or ten in that five year span. Now I don’t mind going to weddings – the food is usually quite good and it’s fun to celebrate the nuptials of friends and family, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved to not have to worry about the whole rigamarole of gifts, cards, travel, tying a tie, etc. I’m lazy, y’see. Anyway, that streak is now technically broken – I got an invitation yesterday for the wedding of a girl I knew in high school this August. I haven’t decided if I’m going yet – we weren’t especially close and while it’s reasonably local (ceremony in Hamilton, reception up by the airport), the logistics of it all don’t have me real excited. I’ll ponder it for a while. This wedding is noteworthy, however, for being the first one for any of my friends from high school. Ten years out from graduation and no one else is married yet. That’s kinda weird.

np – Calexico / Hot Rail