Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
When Michael Reisenauer, head Pale Young Gentleman, sent out this M.I.A. cover at the start of the year, he said the band chose to cover it because, “it samples “Straight to Hell” by The Clash, which Mike and I have been singing since he bought Combat Rock in the 8th grade”. Which is all well and good but doesn’t really explain why they didn’t just cover “Straight To Hell” in the first place.
But I’m not complaining because if they had, I wouldn’t be able to toss this up in honour of Oscar night. M.I.A. is up for an Academy Award tonight, though not for this song, although it was excellently utilized in the heavily-favoured Slumdog Millionaire. Instead, she’s a co-nominee for “Best Original Song” for another Slumdog song, “O Saya”, which she’ll also be performing. Perhaps from a giant bed? I don’t understand that at all, personally, but okay.
I’m all in favour of Slumdog cleaning up tonight, for the record. Yes it’s (mostly) a feel-good fantasy story, but I thoroughly enjoyed it on pretty much every level, which is not something I can say about many/most films. And I really didn’t get the appeal of Pineapple Express, the film/trailer for which originally gave “Paper Planes” it’s second life after the release of Kala two years ago. But then again, I wasn’t stoned. And while I’m just babbling aimlessly, I’m just sick to death of Seth Rogen. Zack & Miri was an awful film. I will never, ever, ever be able to accept his as a romantic lead. Sorry.
Anyway back on point, the Pale Young Gentlemen cover does a nice job of reimagining M.I.A.’s hyper-kineticness as a downcast bit of folk-pop. Kind of entirely contrary to the spirit of the original song, but I think it works. And you can just hear the grin on the drummer’s face as he hit’s that snare in the chorus.
Built To Spill have also apparently been adding “Paper Planes” to their live repertoire.
MP3: Pale Young Gentlemen – “Paper Planes”
Video: M.I.A. – “Paper Planes”
Video: Built To Spill – “Paper Planes” (live)
Saturday, February 21st, 2009
The Twilight Sad kill their parents and hit the road
Javier VillegasI’m sure it was just coincidence that the routing for Mogwai’s just-announced Spring North American tour are bringing them to the Phoenix in Toronto on May 4 – the same night that fellow Scots Franz Ferdinand are going to dance it up at the Kool Haus, but any way you slice it, that’s still a lot of Scottishness in town in one evening. If your Caledonian loyalties are torn, however, perhaps this little bit of information will help your decision making – Mogwai’s support for the first leg of the tour, including the T.O. show, will be The Twilight Sad.
I’ve been waiting for The Twilight Sad to return since they destroyed the El Mocambo in April 2007, and though they’ve returned to the continent a couple times since then, they’ve not paid us a visit. Their 2007 debut Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters was one of my favourites of the year and while they’ve not yet followed it up – sessions for album two are underway and it’s targeted for a September release – they weren’t idle in releasing new music in the interim, either. They had two 2008 releases – the Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did EP, which recast a number of the full-lengths tracks by trading in some of the sonic fury of the originals for a more ambient, textured approach with surprisingly effective results, and the tour-only/digital-otherwise collection of this and that in Killed My Parents And Hit The Road, which cobbled together covers, live versions and unreleased tracks into a satisfying stop-gap.
Now I’m not suggesting that the young’ns will be able to top the headliners for sheer aural assault – Mogwai have been shredding eardrums for over a decade – but I have no doubt that The Twilight Sad will give them a run for their money. I’m most excited about finally getting to see them again, and will never complain about seeing Mogwai for the umpteenth time. See you at the Phoenix May 4?
Twilight Sad frontman James Graham dropped The Skinny a quick note at the end of last year, just before heading into the studio, to give an idea of what we might expect from album number two.
MP3: The Twilight Sad – “Cold Days From The Birdhouse”
MP3: The Twilight Sad – “That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy”
MySpace: The Twilight Sad
Click Music talks to Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison about their Liver! Lung! FR! live acoustic album, released in North America last Fall but only getting a UK release on March 30.
MP3: Frightened Rabbit – “Old Old Fashioned” (live)
Virgin Music interviews White Lies. Their debut To Lose My Life is out in North America on March 17 and they play Lee’s Palace on March 31.
Spin talks to Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan about what to expect from their Summer tour, which kicks off July 24 in Toronto (venue TBA). Their new album Sounds Of The Universe is out April 21.
Someone out there with a lot of juice must be a big House Of Love fan, because even though they were never much of a success their first time around and their 2005 reunion didn’t do much better, they continue to undergo one of the more thorough reissue programs around. Following reissues over the last few years of their first few album and two sets of John Peel sessions, yet another record is coming – Live At The BBC gathers together 19 tracks recorded at the Beeb between 1990 and 1992 and will be available for myself and the half-dozen other fans of the band to pick up as of March 2.
Friday, February 20th, 2009
Wheat return again
MySpaceSay what you will about Taunton, Massachusetts’ Wheat, but you can’t deny that they refuse to stay down. Once upon a time one of my favourite bands (circa Medeiros and Hope & Adams), they became a cautionary tale against the major label machine with 2003’s ill-fated Per Second Per Second Per Second Every Second (which I chronicled back in 2004 and 2005) and essentially disbanded in the aftermath.
They unexpectedly returned in 2007 with Everyday I Said A Prayer For Kathy And Made A One Inch Square, again independent and down a member, but even then they were beset with label problems and delays. And the record itself was free of the excessive gloss of Per Second, it was decent at best – unfocused and only evidencing glimpses of the rough magic that defined their earliest releases. It pretty much came and went and I figured that that was the end of the band, again. They’d returned in order to finish on their own terms.
Or not. There were rumblings of a new record late last year and though there’s no release date as of yet, it has a title – White Ink, Black Ink – and a sample of it has surfaced on the band’s profile for SxSW, where I fully intend to see them play. Obviously not enough to form an opinion on, though it sounds like they’re sticking to the sonic cut-and-paste aesthetic of Kathy. I find I remain curious and still a little excited about the prospect of new music from Wheat – this news prompted me to revisit those magical first two records and they still give me tingles.
And those first two records – Medeiros and Wheat – are being reissued together along with a bonus disc of rarities and whatnots from the era entitled 30 Minute Theatrik (thanks to Mark for the tip). It’s set for a March 10 release but you can pre-order it now and get all three records digitally immediately. If you’ve never heard either one, well, you should. And here’s your chance.
More Wheat info and downloads available at thiswheat.com.
MP3: Wheat – “El Sincero”
MP3: Wheat – “Move = Move”
Mp3: Wheat – “What Everyone Keeps Telling Me”
MP3: Wheat – “World United Already”
Video: Wheat – “Don’t I Hold You”
Video: Wheat – “I Met A Girl”
MySpace: Wheat
Drowned In Sound declared this week just ending “slowcore week” and followed that up with extensive features on personal favourites like Low, Galaxie 500, The New Year and Early Day Miners. They’ll have a new album out sometime this year entitled The Treatment.
The Democrat & Chronicle interviews Blitzen Trapper, playing a sold-out show at the Horseshoe tomorrow night.
CBC Radio 3 talks to Casey Mecija of Ohbijou, who will release their second album Beacons on April 14 and follow that up with a CD release show at the Opera House on April 18.
The Thermals are hitting the road in support of their new album Now We Can See, out April 7. Pitchfork has the full North American itinerary, which includes a May 3 date at the Horseshoe.
MP3: The Thermals – “Now We Can See”
Mogwai have announced a North American tour for this Spring which will make up their cancelled The Hawk Is Howling dates from last Fall when drummer Martin Bulloch’s pacemaker threatened to escape from his chest. The Toronto date will be May 4 at the Phoenix – those who won passes to the cancelled show, I’ll be in touch about the make-up date.
MP3: Mogwai – “The Sun Smells Too Loud”
With their new album What Is?! coming out domestically on April 12, King Khan & The Shrines will be at the Phoenix on May 12 to promote.
Vetiver have a date at the Horseshoe on May 15 in support of last year’s Tight Knit.
MP3: Vetiver – “Everyday”
Leonard Cohen has announced a North American tour – closest local date is May 19 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. Second closest is May 24 at John Labbat Centre in London. Tickets on sale March 2.
Neil Young’s Fork In The Road has a confirmed release date of March 31. Archives? Don’t ask.
Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, will release her sophomore album in Actor on May 5. Full details on the release at Pitchfork.
Also out May 5 is Outer South, the second solo record from Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band.
Viva Voce will release Rose City on May 26.
The Broken West have turned out a new video from last year’s Now Or Heaven.
Video: The Broken West – “Perfect Games”
CHUD interviews Scott Pligrim creator Bryan Lee-O’Malley.
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
The Morning Benders and The Submarines at The Drake Underground in Toronto
Frank YangAnyone who needs a case study in the effectiveness of avenues like commercials and soundtracks to boost a band’s fortunes need look no further than The Submarines. On their last visit to Toronto in May 2008, despite having an excellent debut in Declare A New State under their belt and another fine record in Honeysuckle Weeks just released, they drew a crowd of about 50 people to their show at the Drake Undeground (or so I was told – I wasn’t one of the 50). Seven months, one appearance on a hit soundtrack and one iPhone commercial later, they were back at the Drake and playing to a packed house.
But despite their being the main draw for most of those in attendance, the Submarines were technically on a co-headline tour with Berkeley, California’s Morning Benders and co-headline etiquette dictated that they alternate closing things out and on this night, The Submarines drew the undercard and were up first. Principals Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti seemed a bit of an odd pairing, she adorable and effervescent, he downcast and reserved, but there was no denying they made beautiful music together.
Though reliant on a laptop to map out their rich and shimmery pop as well as fill in the sonic spaces, The Submarines kept things feeling loose and organic thanks to the extra oomph contributed by drummer J Stare. Taking lead vocals on most songs, Hazard switched between glockenspiel, tambourine and guitar while Dragonetti stuck with the six-string, stepping up to the mic when needed. Their set was split fairly evenly between both records and punctuated by Hazard’s hilarious between-song ramblings, mostly centered around her delight with all things Canadian – props were given to our statutory holidays, our traffic signs and our squirrels. Though encore-less, they still played for a solid and eminently enjoyable hour wrapping, of course, with that song from that commercial and that other song from that soundtrack. Hey, they know what the people were there for.
The Morning Benders might have been justified in fearing their full house would empty out before they took the stage, but while a fair number of people did leave a healthy number remained and a good percentage of those seemed genuinely stoked to see them. For my part, I was mildly curious – what I’d heard of them and their latest album Talking Through Tin Cans sounded like decent but not outstanding jangle-pop, and I wanted to see if they brought anything else to the table. And while they did display a facility for getting noisier and more rhythmic than I’d expected, it was still largely better-than-average jangle pop, delivered entertainingly and engagingly. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Black Book lists off 25 random things about The Submarines.
Photos: The Morning Benders, The Submarines @ The Drake Underground – February 15, 2009
MP3: The Morning Benders – “Waiting For A War”
MP3: The Morning Benders – “1940”
MP3: The Submarines – “You, Me And The Bourgeoisie”
MP3: The Submarines – “Waiting For A War”
Video: The Morning Benders – “Waiting For A War”
Video: The Morning Benders – “Damnit Anna”
Video: The Morning Benders – “Boarded Doors”
Video: The Submarines – “You, Me And The Bourgeoisie”
MySpace: The Morning Benders
MySpace: The Submarines
In conversation with BBC, Bernard Butler pretty much dashes any hopes for a Suede reunion. Unconfirmed rumours have Richard Oakes hanging around the BBC offices offering his thoughts on a Suede reunion to an uninterested custodial staff.
This Is Fake DIY and Click Music interview Emmy The Great.
Prefix has an interview with Los Campesinos, in town at the Opera House on April 1.
Jason Isbell talks to Nashville City Paper about the touring life, which brings he and his 400 Unit to the Horseshoe on March 4. Their new album Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit came out this week.
MP3: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – “Seven Mile Island”
Clash converses with Frida Hyvonen.
Dig For Fire hangs out with Shearwater, video camera in hand.
The Quietus discusses London architecture with Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne.
Pitchfork reports that Superchunk will release their first new material in forever with the Leaves in the Gutter EP, out April 7. It’s unknown if this is a precursor to more new material or just a one-off, but new ‘Chunk is good ‘Chunk. Sloth love ‘Chunk.
Pitchfork talks to Patrick Wolf about his new album(s) formerly known as Battle. The first volume, The Bachelor, appears set for a June 1 release.
Alankomaat and Rolling Stone interview Bishop Allen, whose new record Grr… is out March 10.
CBC Radio 3, The Vancouver Courier and Corriere Tandem all talk to AC Newman. He plays Lee’s Palace on March 11.
The New York Times and Mother Jones have features on Neko Case, whose Middle Cyclone is out March 3. Both her shows at Trinity-St. Paul on April 17 and 18 are sold out.
Question – has anyone ever been to Primavera Sound in Barcelona? Because looking at the lineup so far, and looking at the prices for travel and lodging, I am seriously considering spending the last week of May on the Mediterranean coast… And you may recall that not long ago I exhorted Jarvis Cocker to play somewhere that I could plan a vacation around – well he’s kept his end of the bargain. It’s up to me now. So yes, any thoughts on the Primavera Festival or Barcelona in general are appreciated.
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
$100, Brides, Hooded Fang, The Luyas and The Element Choir at Wavelength 450
Frank YangSo yes I’m a bad Torontopian. I know it’d been a while since I’d been to Wavelength, but a little archive digging revealed that it’d been almost four years since I last darkened Sneaky Dee’s doorway on a Sunday night. That’s a long time. And so with the local institution not only celebrating its ninth anniversary but its upcoming final year this past weekend, I got off my butt and headed out.
Don’t get me wrong – I’ve always loved and supported the idea and mission of Wavelength, but I’m a pop guy and in recent years their programming has gotten more eclectic and less personally interesting to me. And late Sunday nights are hard. So anyways, of the four nights of anniversary shows I opted for the one the Saturday night soiree at the Polish Combatants Hall (a community centre now hosting shows), which featured a few bands I wanted to see and was (therefore) the most “conventional” lineup of all the Wavelength parties.
Or so I’d thought – any notions that this was going to be an evening of just guitar rock were dispelled with the very first act, The Element Choir. An improvisational choir featuring a couple dozen members, they gathered in the centre of the hall’s floor and proceeded to create a downright mesmerizing sound sculpture constructed of just their voices. The troupe utilized yelps, hums, moans, animal noises and random chatter to create an ever-morphing soundscape that was hypnotic to listen to and also fascinating to watch, as they took direction from conductor Christine Duncan. Certainly not something I’d ever seen before.
Next up were The Luyas, who despite having been around for a while sounded like a work in progress – not incomplete but more in the process of deconstructing what they were and seeking to become something new. There were vestiges of the pop leanings from Jessie Stein’s last band, the SS Cardiacs and from what I’d heard from the Luyas before, but it seemed like they were trying to become something more oblique or inscrutable. Not the most enthralling performance, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and check back in if/when they get where they’re going.
Faring much better were pop collective Hooded Fang. I had figured that since I saw them just a month ago that they’d deliver much the same set, but in fact they were much more assured and polished yet managed to not sacrifice any of the playful whimsy they’d demonstrated before. Considering how much better they’d gotten in just a month and factoring in the fact that they’ve only been in existence for a year, it seems like a mathematical certainty that they’ll be the best band on the planet in another two years. Okay, probably not, but if being the next Los Campesinos! is something that anyone would aspire to, it could well be in their grasp.
Though you could accurately describe Guelph’s Brides as atonal, skronky, and not at all pop – generally things I don’t look for in music – they more than surprised by turning out to be the highlight of the night. I’m at a bit of a loss to articulate exactly what it was about their performance that I found so engrossing. Perhaps it was the way that they managed to be all the things mentioned above without being deliberately difficult and sacrificing some structure or even melody for the sake of exploration, and deliver it all with intensity. I don’t really know what it was, but I liked it.
The last act of the night was $100, and after the stylistic smorgasborg of the night leading up to their finale, their decidedly traditional country songs seemed almost out of place. But straightforward isn’t a slight when you’re talking about hurtin’ songs and the directness of their approach, in particular the raw, honest rasp and twang of singer Simone Schmidt, conveyed that emotion quite effectively. I’ve gotten so used having country used in a hybrid sense with other styles that hearing it in such a pure, undiluted form was pretty eye- and ear-opening. There’s good reason that people are talking about $100.
Though the Polish Combatants Hall is certainly not Sneaky Dee’s – there’s no way I’d have sat on the floor at Sneaks – the evening was a terrific reminder of what makes Wavelength great. You may not like everything you see, but it’ll almost never be uninteresting. Happy birthday to a great Toronto institution and hopefully it won’t be a year before I see you again. But no promises.
BlogTO also has a review of $100’s set if not the rest of the evening.
Photos: $100, Brides, Hooded Fang, The Luyas, The Element Choir @ The Polish Combatants Hall – February 14, 2009
MP3: $100 – “No Great Leap”
MP3: $100 – “Forest Of Tears”
MP3: $100 – “Nothing’s Alright”
MP3: Hooded Fang – “Land Of Giants”
MP3: Hooded Fang – “The Pageant”
MP3: The Luyas – “Cats In A Bag”
MP3: The Luyas – “Tantamount”
MySpace: $100
MySpace: The Luyas
And speaking of the Polish Combatants Hall (a nice and large community centre-type building by the University, if you were wondering), if you didn’t have tickets for Bruce Peninsula’s record release show there next Sunday (still some left but not many) or just couldn’t make it, take heart because they’ve already announced another show for March 28 at Lee’s Palace, tickets $8. And I don’t recommend sitting on the floor there. The National Post has a video performance and interview with the band.
Making it a three-peat, the “Rolling Tundra Revue” featuring Constantines and Weakerthans has added a third and final show at the Phoenix for April 2. Tickets $25. If you manage to miss out on this one as well as the two previously announced ones for March 31 and April 1, then congratulations – you are the absolute worst procrastinator in the world.
Tricky, who was here for a show at the Phoenix last September, returns for a much more intimate performance at the Mod Club on April 2. Tickets $29.50.
It’ll be all about the UK dance-rock at the Kool Haus on April 10 when The Whip and Late Of The Pier roll into town. Both are touring behind their debut albums – X Marks The Spot (out March 3) and Fantasy Black Channel respectively. Please don’t ask me what the mash-up below is, I really don’t know. It’s just there.
MP3: The Whip – “Trash”
MP3: The Whip Vs. Britney Spears – “Trash Circus” (Ruben X Trashmash)
The polar opposite of the previous bill – Damien Jurado and Laura Gibson – will folk things up at the Drake Underground on April 14. Jurado released Caught In The Trees last year and Gibson’s Beasts Of Seasons is out next week, though you can stream it right now at NPR. The song below is an older one. The Daily Vanguard has an interview. Full dates at BrooklynVegan.
MP3: Damien Jurado – “Gillian Was A Horse”
MP3: Laura Gibson – “Hands In Pockets”
Stream: Laura Gibson / Beasts Of Season
The Dears have scheduled at date at the Mod Club for April 30, tickets $20. The Montreal Mirror talks to Murray Lightburn.
Students.ch and The News interviews White Lies, whose debut To Lose My Life is out Stateside March 17 and they play Lee’s Palace on March 31 with Friendly Fires and The Soft Pack.
MP3: White Lies – “Death”
Video: White Lies – “Farewell To The Fairground”
Paste declares Alela Diane their artists of the week. Her new record To Be Still came out yesterday and is streaming at Spinner. She plays an in-store at Soundscapes this Saturday at 6:30PM and at the Horseshoe that night with Blitzen Trapper. That’s sold out, if you were wondering. Billboard has an interview with Blitzen Trapper.
Stream: Alela Diane / To Be Still
Also new this week and streaming – M Ward’s Hold Time. He also gave a solo performance and interview you can stream at NPR.
Stream: M. Ward / Hold Time
And to wrap up this week’s other new release streams of interest – Asobi Seksu’s Hush – they’re at the ElMo on March 3 – and Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3’s Goodnight Oslo. They play the Mod Club on April 16.
Stream: Asobi Seksu / Hush
Stream: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 / Goodnight Oslo
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