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As you know I usually write more information on the artist of the week – but this time I don’t know where to begin. You just need to listen and trust. Just trust.
Must listen to tracks:
Clementine – http://bit.ly/dAIRwg
Before You Go - http://bit.ly/9LW8rf
There is a reason why 26-year-old indie-folk singer-songwriter from Denton, Texas, Sarah Jaffe titled one of her 5 released EP and LP albums “The Way Sound Leaves a Room”. Simply put, that line encompasses
There’s no sitting still while listening to this song! Dare you to try.
Rising Harlem rapper Azealia Bank releases EP titled 1991 on May 29th.
“leave all my photos and pictures inside the fake candid cameras…”
J. Tillman (ex-drummer for Fleet Foxes) now performing under the moniker of Father John Misty, released his debut solo album, ‘Fear Fun’ last week.
“I can fend for myself
With what looks I have left
I’ll put away a few
And pretty soon I’ll be breaking things I have of you.”
| 05/14/12 | FATHER JOHN MISTY | HORSESHOE |
| 05/14/12 | STAR SLINGER | LEE’S |
| 5/14/12 | LEONARD COHEN | MASSEY HALL |
| 05/14/12 | WE ARE SERENADES | GARRISON |
| 05/15/12 | PS I LOVE YOU | GARRISON |
| 05/15/12 | ACTION BRONSON | WRONGBAR |
| 05/15/12 | ACTIVE CHILD / BALAM ACAB | LEE’S |
| 05/15/12 | JAZZ AVANT: MILES PERKIN TRIO | ST GEORGE THE MARTYR |
| 05/15/12 | MARK LANEGAN | MOD CLUB |
| 05/15/12 | SANTIGOLD | KOOL HAUS |
| 05/15/12 | JAMES MCCARTNEY | GREAT HALL |
| 05/16/12 | BELPHEGOR | ANNEX WRECKROOM |
| 05/16/12 | MAPS & ATLASES | HORSESHOE |
| 05/16/12 | R. STEVIE MOORE + BOBBY CONN1 | PARTS & LABOUR |
| 05/17/12 | CHEAP GIRLS | SNEAKY DEES |
| 05/17/12 | MESHUGGAH | SOUND ACADEMY |
| 05/17/12 | RAT SCABIES & BRYAN JAMES | LEE’S |
| 05/17/12 | TYLER HILTON | MOD CLUB |
| 05/18/12 | COME TOGETHER MUSIC FESTIVAL | GREY RD 12 |
| 05/18/12 | IGGY AZALEA | WRONGBAR |
| 05/18/12 | SHLOMO | 99 SUDBURY |
| 05/18/12 | NEXT MUSIC FROM TOKYO VOL 4 | RIVOLI |
| 05/19/12 | NEXT MUSIC FROM TOKYO VOL 4 | RIVOLI |
| 05/19/12 | MEATMEN | HARD LUCK |
| 05/19/12 | ROCKY VOTOLATO | DRAKE HOTEL |
| 05/19/12 | JUAN MACLEAN DJ SET | WRONGBAR |
| 05/20/12 | NASUM | ANNEX WRECKROOM |
| 05/20/12 | JARBOE | LULA LOUNGE |
Secretly Canadian & Outside Music are very fortunate to have such a gem signed to their label. Digging for the best way to describe Little Scream’s music, I thought I’d hit the main source and grab the record labels’ description as I feel no one else (including myself) can do justice. “It is at once familiar and completely distinct; effortlessly absorbing multiple genres into a sparkly and cohesive landscape.” I could not agree more.
If you are unaware of Little Scream (aka Laurel Sprengelmeyer) you may be more familiar with her than you think. For those fans of The National, I bet you didn’t know she contributed vocals to Continue reading
“and I was told, if I was to sing along, forget about myself.
We’re all the same.
Well maybe I should change my point of view…”
“No burden kept, in calling lies
This is our time to feel
Just hardened heads to realign
This is our time to kill”
I saw Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men perform last Thursday night at the Phoenix’s sold out show – they were amazing! Their new album ‘My Head is An Animal’ (just released on April 3rd) is a must listen! Shhh, listen. Just listen.
Of Monsters and Men – “Lakehouse”
“A fox that gains our trust but then breaks it as he walks…away from us, away from us.”
“By the waterside summer wading in sunder…”
“Choose what to be, take a side.
What if I don’t want to step out in the light?
Give it to others, just let it go now.
Give it to others, don’t you worry now.”
Saw her amazing CMW performance at The Hoxton on Friday, March 23rd, 2012
Her very recent release, “The Right Woman” appears on Proud to be Woman Vol. 3 (a compilation put together by Diane von Furstenberg in celebration of International Women’s Day)
Simply put: Justin Peroff of Broken Social Scene + Dave Hamelin and Liam O’Neil of The Stills = Eight and a Half. Having attended Arts & Crafts’ showcase at Horseshoe Tavern on Friday, March 23rd, 2012, it was pretty amazing to see the band’s ability to draw a huge crowd prior to releasing their debut album – an opportunity not many bands get to experience in today’s music industry.
Eight and a half came together when Continue reading
“Time’s up, sun’s down…stuck here without a sound…”
Check out their very recent music release for Wake to Sleep:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CkmoV-H_WEc
This week I want to combine the Artist of the Week with a brief concert review from Hey Ocean’s show in Toronto on Friday, March 16th, 2012 at Lee’s Palace. Hey Ocean, consisting of Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham and David Vertesi are currently one of Canada’s greatest and most talented up-and-coming bands. Not only is each individual an exceptionally talented musician, but together they stand a polished trio that “blend various musical styles into a brand of infectious pop that is uniquely their own.”
This Vancouver indie-pop band Continue reading
Alex Clare – Damn Your Eyes (Etta James Cover)
“I can do what I want, I’m in complete control…that’s what I tell myself…”
Tanlines…though it may not be sunny enough to get them, this band is a good substitute in the mean time. From Brooklyn, NY, Tanlines debut their first album on March 20th, 2012 entitled Mixed Emotions – which is sure to heighten the current buzz circulating these two. If you are a fan of Vampire Weekend, Animal Collective or Ra Ra Riot, Tanlines will certainly become your spring album of 2012.
Butterfly Boucher – “Not Fooling Around”
“… I thought my feelings could just die like flies.”
For those who have been patiently waiting since 2008 for Ladyhawke to release more musical magic, the wait is almost over!
Pip Brown (stage name Ladyhawke) is set to release her second album, entitled Anxiety on March 19, 2012. After taking some much needed downtime away from the spotlight, she relaxed at home in New Zealand to reflect on her first album and focus solely on what she was going to do for her second release. Continue reading
For this week’s Song of the Week I decided to slow things down a little. Every so often a song emerges and no matter where you are in your life; what stage, situations or emotions, etc., it affects you. A song you find you keep coming back to or one that you just cannot take off repeat. Whether you are thinking of something that has happened in the past or something you are currently dealing with, it’s just ‘one of those songs’ that I think strikes a chord in many. This lullaby type melody not only has wonderful lyrics, but a repetitive tune that captures your attention. The slow rhythmic lyric “slow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow ow it down” is a reminder that many of us today can truly benefit from.
Youth Lagoon. If you have not heard this name before, remember this moment as the beginning of something magical – the moment you came across Youth Lagoon. The first time I heard the harmonious sounds of Trevor Powers’ venture Youth Lagoon, I was instantly hooked. At first his music seems very dreamy and fluffy, but hidden in the depths of the lyrics lies the part of Powers that makes Youth Lagoon so vast. Continue reading
If you are a Weakerthans fan, you will definitely enjoy this week’s Artist of the Week: John K. Samson. Better known as the brilliant unique vocal frontman of the indie rock band The Weakerthans, Samson will release his first full length solo album entitled Provincials with Epitaph-Anti Records. He also happens to have ‘When I Write My Masters Thesis’ as this week’s free single of the week download on iTunes. Showcasing his great storytelling abilities through his lyrics, Provincials allows us to have a slighter intimate encounter with Samson as he takes you on a tour of his home province, Manitoba. If you can’t wait for the January 24th, 2012 album release or want to take a sneak peak, you can stream Provincials via Exclaim’s website (www.exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/john_k_samson-provincial_album_stream)
Samson will hit the road on a North American tour with many scheduled Canadian dates.
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, which I chalk up to being a positive thing in this situation. Taking a step away, I wanted to come back to Del Rey as my first article because I can’t help but question the following; is she highly overrated or is everyone being too harsh?
In September I posted an article on Del Rey as RMW’s ‘Artist of the Week’ as she had just released the music video for ‘Blue Jeans’ and her name was generating quite the buzz. Without having released her highly anticipated major label debut album Born To Die, Del Rey landed herself a very high profile gig as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on January 14, 2012 – a performance I’m confident she hoped would further her career. Unfortunately, the reviews have not been overly positive – to an extent that it may have prematurely hurt her career. I will admit, it was not her best performance. Everyone seemed to be on the Del Rey train for a long time and it’s disheartening to see so many got off so quickly.
I’m filing her disappointing national TV debut performance under ‘nervous’ and ‘lack of experience’. Landing such a coveted gig so early in her career, I really don’t think anyone could be prepared for that (Del Rey herself admitting she was not ready). Continue reading
If fans had never attended a concert at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre on Toronto’s Bloor St West before, feelings of disappointment were not evident for any hesitant concert-goer intrigued at the quality of sound the venue would produce. Warm lighting and brilliant sounds filled the air as fans contentedly sat in pews at the Ohbijou concert on September 30th with opening act Julie Doiron.
If you were unable to make Julie Doiron’s performance, you missed out on numerous gems in her short but stacked set list. With a single electric guitar, a small retro amp and a spotlight, Julie had the audience captivated by her sweet innocent voice that she hardly directed straight into the microphone. The acoustics in the venue allowed for her voice to carry with little effort as her tall tan boots acted as the percussion accompaniment throughout her set. She adorably chatted with the crowd in an almost ‘nervous’ fashion, taking time between songs to tell a quick story or let us in on details of what the next song was about. Continue reading
Missing Fiona Apple? Listen no further than the hauntingly melodic sounds of Lana Del Rey. This emerging singer songwriter from New York has yet to officially release any music but has captured the hearts of many with her debut song “Video Games”.
Amon Tobin: a modern day genius. Know the name, as he is increasingly getting bigger as each day passes. Tobin, a Brazilian musician, DJ and producer of electronic music is best known for his brilliant use of sampling (taking a portion or sample of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording in a song). This explanation of sampling still does Tobin no justice. If you look at Tobin’s Facebook page under the ‘about’ section, you will find two simple words; “just listen”. Until you follow that simple instruction, you cannot comprehend or define his unique style. “Amon has established a reputation for musical ingenuity that is unconfined by genre.”
He has released several major studio albums since 1996 under the London-based Ninja Tune record label and his latest album, ISAM, was released in April of this year. ISAM notables? ‘Wooden Toy’. It will paint you the most beautiful yet eerie picture of a child playing by the water’s edge or in a playground after dark. His clever literal song name choices actually do bring meaning and clarity to his songs. Listen to ‘Night Swim’ and you will know what I mean. Tobin kicked off a worldwide tour in June hitting The UK, Netherlands, Poland, Berlin, London and New York – with sold out shows across the board. The ISAM tour features not only a large sound, but a large set. A stunning 25′ x 14′ x 8′ multi-dimensional/ shape shifting 3-D art installation surrounds Tobin and envelopes him and the audience in a beyond 3-D experience. A fantastic visual journey to accompany the many sounds of ISAM. Still sceptical? Check out the video footage on his website that document fans being interviewed after the show ended. The responses were as follows:
“That was mindboggling.”
“It was the most amazing visual performance I’ve ever seen in my life…I can’t even fathom the technology behind it. It was insane.”
“The dynamics of everything…the imagery…I was really blown away.”
A friend of mine describes the numerous videos available to view on YouTube as one having a “mindgasm” (an opportunity I’m sure no one will want to turn down). You must check out the posted videos on his website of how the extraordinary sounds of ISAM were created. (http://www.amontobin.com/galleries)
For those lucky few who scored tickets in time to see him in Toronto on October 23rd at the Opera House: well done. Those not so lucky: road trip to Montreal on October 24th? For official tour dates click on this link: http://www.amontobin.com/tour
Justin Vernon is Bon Iver. To clear the air for those that are hearing either of these names more frequently, you are now ‘in the know’. Justin Vernon, the indie-folk singer/songwriter is the voice of beauty behind Bon Iver. A long, long time ago in a far-away cabin in the woods of North-east Wisconsin, Bon Iver’s debut album For Emma, Forever Ago was born. No words other than those found in a thesaurus search result for “genius”, “serene” and “delicate” still do the record no justice. The pain from a heartbreak and previous band breakup was our gain, and certainly no fan complained.
The self-titled Bon Iver (a.k.a. baby number 2) album was born this summer – a little less wounded but still emotionally remarkable. With a much more layered sound, Bon Iver takes their sound to new heights. Notable tracks: all of them. There are no winners on this album – from beginning to end this album takes you on a rollercoaster of faultlessness. If you have yet to take a stand in the love/hate relationship battle with “Beth/Rest”, I assure you, it too will find a place in your heart. Bon Iver pushes the bar not only lyrically, but also with their mastered use of the synthesizer.
For those lovers who wish for the fragile sound of For Emma, Forever Ago, do not agonize; “Holecene” and “Michicant” will undoubtedly be your new favourite songs. “Wash.” the clean and melodic loop of piano simplicity, will appease the stress of any music lover. On a previously released EP along with Bon Iver’s raw version of “I Can’t Make You Love Me/Nick of Time”, “Calgary” was a huge hit as the album’s first single. The next single to strike hesitant disbelievers: “Holecene”. I dare you not to fall in lust. This album is undeniable a classic. Need proof? Look no further than to the last lyric of this album; “This is axiom”.
Bon Iver lit up the Sound Academy with big lights and a big sound.
Somehow the words ‘Bon Iver’ and ‘9-piece band’ should not be seen together in the same concert review from Bon Iver’s performance on Monday night at the Sound Academy in Toronto. The layered sound of their latest self-titled album Bon Iver (which was released in June) had fans in amazement as their favourite songs came to life with a much heavier sound. Equipped with 2 drum kits, violins, trumpets, alto & tenor saxophones, French horns, trombones, synthesizers and copious instruments adding character to the performance, fans simply could not get enough.
While waiting for the doors to open at 8pm, fans sat for hours witnessing many last minute hopefuls begging for tickets to get in. Hot, humid and downright neighbourly, the venue was crammed with devoted followers that have waited years for Bon Iver’s return to Toronto. Undoubtedly the venue could have been bigger and certainly would have had the same sold-out results. Continue reading
Eric Victorino and Giovanni Giusti are the duo behind the deliriously catchy indietronica songs from the group’s debut album, Get Sharp. Continue reading