I finally got around to looking into some juicy tidbits I had discovered back in December of 2009. You know those little nuggets that you find while trolling the Internet, and then e-mail yourself to make sure that you look into them later? Well, more often than not, your life ends up flying by at break-neck speed and those e-mails remain unread in your inbox. Finally, this past Sunday, I went through my inbox and all of those unread e-mails. This is the result.

Fans of Tool will be a little misled by the title of this article; this first part is really about Maynard James Keenan and his winery Caduceus. There’s a documentary called ‘Blood Into Wine’ heading to living rooms everywhere later this coming year (it was supposed to be released in February). It looks very interesting (including the cameo by one of my favourite writers/comedians: Bob Odenkirk), but it begs the question: WHAT IS TOOL DOING RIGHT NOW!? (***UPDATE: TOOLBAND.com Update)

 
Moving on. Nine Inch Nails served up another point of interest…that I sat on for months for some reason. I suppose the timing is right in my life for this now. Yes, that’s it.

This is what kicked it all off. Apparently there was a new NIN dvd called ‘Another Version Of The Truth : The Gift’ being slowly leaked out by Trent Reznor and his team and its spread was being encouraged by the source. It was reported to be made up of “12 months, a core team of dozens (with a network of thousands), spanning 3 continents, 4 languages, 5 specialist teams, countless sleepless nights…”

Then there was this site straight from NIN. Fun to play with, but a little light on easy-to-find downloadable links.

Finally, check this site for a plethora of links and formats. This thing is out there!!! For a quick sample (and to stop your ISP from flagging your account), check out this YouTube playlist or the embedded video below. Happy viewing.

http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2010/04/13/gao-piracy-report-questions-entertainment-industry039s-data

What is interesting here is the point alluding to the “potential positive economic effects of counterfeiting and piracy.” I read this as: opportunity.

We have all whined at some point about the lack of response from the music industry to the new marketplace that got forced upon them by their consumers. Napster launched in 1998 and no one at the helm really did anything about it. Dire fiscal forecasts and gloomy outlooks were almost trumpeted in the face of this piracy, which amounted to no more than simply pissing into the wind. The iTunes Music Store was launched in 2003 and some light was poked through the veil of purported darkness in the form of increased digital sales. Now, those sales are tapering off. So, what now? Actually, that Bob Lefsetz article I just linked to brings me to my next point.

Many expected the same fate for the Film & Television industry once MP3s started ripping through the music industry. That doesn’t appear to be taking hold; after all, isn’t the source of all piracy simply a matter of content availability and distribution? Wouldn’t easing the consumption of digital music reduce piracy? If you doubt that, please take a moment to view what’s happening in the Film & Television industry on the subject, and then compare that with what’s available for music lovers (this is a good start):

Netflix Switches On Nintendo Wii Streaming
Studios, Cable Co.’s Launch $30M Movies on Demand Promotion
Mobile TV Demonstration to Launch in D.C. Next Month
Netflix, CBS, ABC to Offer iPad Streaming; Hulu Considering

The bottom line is that simple solutions need to be put in place for music fans. We need a select number of viable portals that we can visit — in a variety of formats and devices — to consume and enjoy music. Right now, we face a dwindling number of trusted sources, a lack of options and a lock-down on ingenuity and creativity — all in the name of monetary and content-control concerns. The real question is, when does it get easier for us? Sure, we have points of interest (Spotify, MOG, Rhapsody), but they are too far and few between and are taking too long to become commonplace.

It looks like Apple is going to attempt a streaming service with the purchase of Lala (after Warner’s failure to make it a success). The rumours have it that Apple is going to expand iTunes beyond the sale of individual tracks and digital albums. Could Apple revolutionize everything, all over again?

If you don’t know Erykah Badu’s music, you should enlighten yourself. This woman has been quietly at the forefront of R&B and Hip Hop culture for over a decade (quiet in the sense that she isn’t Lady Gaga or Britney Spears, nor has she aspired to be). She has released ground-breaking records (‘Baduizm’ & ‘Mama’s Gun’) and has constantly pushed the very meaning of the aforementioned musical genres. Her unique style of music, dress and even relationship with Andre 3000 of Outkast has always kept her present in our minds.

Now, the video that I just saw suggests that she isn’t done pushing boundaries. Please watch:

 
Aside from this being a great, chilled-out song with a fantastic melody, check that VIDEO. Apparently this was filmed in Dallas, Texas and the local authorities were none-too-pleased with her nudity. All controversy aside (since I don’t really care about surface-level controversy), the message of this video plays out on so many levels. This goes BEYOND nudity of the human body. She is obviously sending a message regarding the female form in society, but more importantly to me was Erykah’s spoken message at the end of the video:

“They play it safe…are quick to assassinate what they do not understand. They move in packs…ingesting more and more fear with every act of hate on one another. They feel most comfortable in groups, less guilt to swallow. They are us. This is what we have become: afraid to respect the individual. A single person within a circumstance can move one to change…to love herself…to evolve.”

That is a powerful message and you can take it any way you wish; personally, this made me think of Barack Obama’s struggle to bring change to the health care system in the United States. That being said, you can apply this message so many different ways.

I was thoroughly impressed with Erykah Badu today and I thought I would share this with you all. Here’s to evolution.

This is my second post on the band Fucked Up this week. I rather enjoy adding the band name to post titles!

Irrespective of my continued enjoyment of the band’s name, lead vocalist Pink Eyes is taking part in an interesting experiment: the “Do The Math” campaign challenges prominent local citizens to live off of the contents of a food bank hamper for as long as possible.

Initially, the press release appears rather harsh in highlighting the perceived inadequacies of Ontario’s social programs, but delving a little deeper it shows that the real point is to stress that food banks need to coexist with solid social programs.

Pink Eyes continues to impress me with his hightened social consciousness. You heard about his involvement with…Fox News…right?

The Do The Math Challenge

PRESS RELEASE

Ten prominent Torontonians have joined The Stop Community Food Centre to fight hunger,
raise social assistance rates and put food in the budget.

Toronto, April 6, 2010 – The Stop Community Food Centre today announced the second phase of
“Do the Math,” the anti-poverty organization’s campaign to highlight the failure of Ontario’s current
social assistance rates to support healthy, dignified lives.

The Stop’s Executive Director Nick Saul was joined by ten prominent Torontonians—including author
Naomi Klein, media executive and public policy advocate Michael MacMillan, Councillor Joe Mihevc,
musician Damian Abraham and Toronto Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David McKeown—to launch
this part of the campaign, during which these participants will live exclusively off the contents of a
food bank hamper. The group picked up hampers from The Stop’s food bank, with each containing a
three- to four-day supply of food.

“We’re not here to criticize food banks,” said Saul. “But rather to point out that food banks cannot be
a substitute for decent income support programs. We hope that this week’s challenge will draw
attention to the impossible choices faced by hundreds of thousands of people on social assistance in
this province every day.”

“Sometimes when I talk to my friends about issues of food access and poverty, I can see their eyes
glaze over,” said MacMillan, the co-founder of Samara and former head of Alliance Atlantis. “But this
campaign is capturing their attention, and I’m happy to help start a conversation about these issues.”
This phase of the campaign will run for one week, with a public Town Hall meeting at the Wychwood
Barns on April 13, at 7 pm. The Town Hall will include a discussion with the Do the Math participants
about both their experiences and how to continue to put pressure on the provincial government to
address the gross inadequacies of social assistance rates.

This is the second part of The Stop’s Do the Math campaign, initially launched in August, 2009. This
campaign features an interactive website where visitors are asked to add up the monthly expenses
they think necessary for a single person on social assistance. This budgetary exercise vividly
illustrates that, after housing, clothing and transportation, most people have no money left over for
food and must rely on food banks and drop-in meals to survive. More than 5,000 people have done
the math online and thousands of others have signed Do the Math postcards addressed to the
Premier of Ontario. These supporters joined The Stop in asking the provincial government to
immediately introduce a $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance
and to establish a clear and transparent process to set rates based on what it actually costs to live a
frugal, but healthy and dignified, life in Ontario.

Media Contacts:
Jonah Schein, Civic Engagement Coordinator, 416-652-7867 ext. 235,
civicengagement@thestop.org
Jason McBride, Communications Coordinator, 416-948-3493, jason@thestop.org

About The Stop: Located in Toronto’s west end, The Stop Community Food Centre works to
increase access to food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds health and community and
challenges inequality. From its origins as one of Canada’s first food banks, The Stop has blossomed
into a thriving community hub where neighbours participate in a broad range of programs that
provide healthy food, as well as foster social connections, build food skills and promote engagement
in civic issues. Underlying all of The Stop’s efforts is the view that food should be a basic human
right.

Hey y’all. If you’re not down with it already — follow us on Twitter. I also have my DJ Station @ Blip.fm patched into our Twitter feed. I’ve Blipped a lot of these lately, but if you’re looking to catch some fresh tunes, here are a bunch to spin. These tunes have been keeping new music interesting for me lately! I hope you enjoy. These tracks flow across many genres, but, that’s just how I do!

 
NEW DEFTONES. NEW DEFTONES. A new Deftones single dropped this week. BOOYA. Like a BOMB. I am so psyched to hear this new record. ‘Diamond Eyes’ comes out in May and you had better get ready for it! I heard an interview with Chino Moreno (lead vocals) this week, describing the entire record they had in the can vs. this new one that they recorded. As you may or may not know, ‘Eros’ was ready to go, but the traffic accident and subsequent coma of bass player Chi Cheng forced the band to refocus. Fresh with former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega locked-in on the low-end, the band recorded an entire additional record. Chino described ‘Eros’ as being more avant-garde as opposed to the straight-up, true-to-Deftones-form ‘Diamond Eyes’. To say that I’m interested to hear the new record is an understatement.

 
I’ve got this Zeus record coming to me next week (thanks Marcello!). I’m really looking forward to it! The long-time backing back for fellow Arts & Crafts label-mate Jason Collett has struck out on its own. This video is absolutely amazing. I’m glad to see such inspirational art coming out of Canada!

 
This is a really beautiful song from The Middle East. It really just takes on new life as it progresses, ending in brilliant fashion. I was at work when I first heard this song and it took me away to a really great place for a few minutes. It’s a really inspirational track. I’m on-board with this Australian act…interested to hear more!

 
The good ‘ol Cancer Bats are taking hold on the global music scene. Despite this video being shot in Toronto, the band has its sights set on global interest and respect. That being said, the *actual* Beastie Boys didn’t exactly get snagged for this video and cover of their tune (which would have been really quite funny to see at the end of the clip), but I think this is really clever. The idea? Take all the alter-egos The Beastie Boys have portrayed in their videos over the years, add the shots and angles from the B-Boys video for “Sabotage” and recreate it…all in a plot to try to get the B-Boys IN the video. Funny stuff.

 
Jay Malinowski from Bedouin Soundclash has just released a solo record. BSC is one of my favourite Canadian bands, so this obviously hit my radar. I got an advance copy from the band’s Manager and it really grabbed me in a way I hadn’t expected. Gone are the heavy reggae vibes found on the BSC records, and in that place is a really honest singer-songwriter record. Check it out. The first single though? A BSC song! “Santa Monica” first appeared on BSC’s first record ‘Root Fire’. That being said, the band hardly ever performed the song (if they even did *at all*) for reasons unknown. I was immediately struck when I saw this on the album’s track-listing. Very exciting. I can’t wait to see if performed live (hopefully next week at The Rivoli here in Toronto).

 
Okay okay, this isn’t *new* music. Weezer’s ‘Red Album’ came out in 2008…but, how many of you actually know this song? I don’t think that this track got the attention that it deserved. This is classic Weezer. My favourite part? The “arts and crafts” bit in the 2nd verse. I’m lovin’ this track right now!!!

 
This record came out late last year, but I don’t think a lot of people know it. The band is The Bronx — which I have been following since their first record. They’re a gritty punk/rock band (check the track “Knifeman”), but they decided to release an authentic, English-language Mariachi record entitled ‘Mariachi El Bronx’. I think it’s a phenomenal record, and is definitely worth your attention!

 
Out of Montreal, CFCF is really pushing some boundaries with regards to chilled out beats. If you’re into Junior Boys, check this track (and, if you don’t know Junior Boys…get on it!). When I first got this from Trevor @ Paper Bag Records, I was floored by this track. I just put it on loop. It’s BANGIN’!!! Bang it out.

 
Did you ever expect to hear Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” sampled? Sounds a little risky no? Well, I think that Toronto’s Shaun Boothe has done it quite well. I love this track. Very clever.

 
I have been hearing this Tinie Tempah track on BBC Radio 1 quite often and I always jack the volume when it hits my ears. This is just a crazy, crazy track. Only the Brits could make a Hip Hop track like this! Some have told me that they don’t like the swagger of the lyrics, but, I think the bragging is done in proper Hip Hop tradition, and, in a very smart way. Bumpin’ track with top-notch production.

 
Okay, last track. I’ll keep it rollin’ on the British tip. This M.J. Cole, Nero-remixed track is such a chill, chill track. I love how it’s just drenched in reverb. Chill beats to mellow you out and beat you up.

Everyone’s worst nightmare has been fully realized:

DOJ Approves Merger of Ticketmaster, Live Nation

Great. Just when you thought Ticketmaster should have LESS power, two of North America’s biggest live-music powerhouses have combined — creating an *even more* powerful industry conglomerate. Expect more service fees on your tickets! Really, who is going to keep this company in check? We all know that Ticketmaster lacks transparency, so why would they be allowed to get in bed with one of the biggest concert promotion companies? How is that going to benefit the consumer?

Then again, maybe Live Nation will turn the TM legacy around on its head, making it more of a fan-friendly ticketing agency. Imagine: going to buy $20 tickets and NOT having them end up $40 tickets at check-out time! That would be quite the day indeed…

Paul Murphy — guitarist and lead singer of one of my favourite bands: Wintersleep — has just released a side project with his brother:

 
Take a listen! Grab up this link to pick it up!

This post is fairly brainless; I just thought I would just pass the news along

This article was a big piece of news this past weekend:

Queen Street West to lose another music venue.

If you live in Toronto, have been here, or hold the city close to your heart…then this is big news. The Reverb, especially, has been a big fixture on the Toronto live music scene for many, many years. That being said, I have only been to this set of venues only a handful of times over the past few years. I haven’t been to The Reverb in well over two years. Having said that, I only found myself at The Kathedral out of duty or allegiance to friends. These were some of my least favourite venues in the city. The sound was always terrible, the lighting was virtually non-existant and the atmosphere was dreadful.

Thus, I really want to say “Good riddance!” to them, but perhaps the loss of a few of the city’s venues will have untold repercussions on the scene. Who knows what will happen. Either way, I’m sure our city will adapt.

Music Guru and trusted aficionado Alan Cross has written about a piece of hush-hush copyright legislation: Music Fans Be Very Afraid. I think that Alan is over-reacting a little, but please read this article.

The ACTA. Really, this type of thinking — whether or not the wheels are in fact in motion on this — is no surprise to me. There has been a lot of talk for a long time about getting ISPs (Internet Service Providers) on board with the copyright police. I even attended a forum on this very topic some time ago.

On one hand, the logic behind the  argument can be understood; if you can’t control the media then you can control the delivery of the media. On the other hand, one can’t help but shake his or her head at the purveyors of a broken business model. I would like to shake the latter of the two hands. Really, how long have the giants of the music industry tried seemingly *everything* except something that people really want? What *do* people want anyway?

People want MP3s.
People want a lot of MP3s.
People don’t want expensive CDs.
People want A LOT for A LITTLE.

Take me for an example: I have roughly 500 CDs, yet, these are completely cumbersome to me at this point. I used to organize them in alphabetical order (seriously!). Now? I have an extra 200-disc piece of furniture (really, it is) that is now serving as a dumping ground for ripped CDs. Sure, there are times whereby I find myself in a car with no AUX jack for my iPod and I need some CDs, but…that’s nothing concrete. They’re also good to lend to people, but that’s a rather minimal point of argument. Why? I take my iPod with me on the way to work in the morning, I plug it in at work, it’s a part of me on my trip back home and then it gets plugged in when I get home. CDs are expensive and annoying in comparison.

So why is a business model of purchasing little bundles of music still being pushed upon us? I will have no problem with an ISP-based method of copyright control IF, and it’s a big if, there is an alternative business model that gets thrust into the mainstream. We need a different way of consuming music AND paying for it if we’re going to have to answer to our ISPs.

In that vein, why Spotify doesn’t exist in North America COMPLETELY BAFFLES ME. The Major Labels have given it a go in Europe, but not here? What is wrong with them!?

We need a method of paying “x” amount of dollars to obtain “y” amount of music, on a monthly basis. Just think about it: there is already an ENTIRE system set up that works on this very same model. What is it called? TELEVISION! Can you imagine having to pay $9.99 every time you wanted to watch the show LOST? No! It’s ridiculous.

So, you have a “cable bill” every month and you get hundreds of hours worth of programming for what you pay. It enriches your life. Thus, why can’t you have a “music bill” every month? You pay a certain amount, and you can listen to whatever you want! If you opt in to the system, you get the benefits; if you opt out of the system, the ISPs crack down on your internet traffic.

You can decide whether or not this is a good analogy, but if we are to get scrutinized by our ISPs under the current music business model, we had better keep moving forward. The old way of consuming music cannot prevail; it doesn’t even exist any longer, and there is no way to get back to it.

I just discovered these two Canadian bands recently, and I simply had to share them! Canadian music continues to excite the hell out of me.

Reverie Sound Revue

I walked by a co-worker’s office the other day and heard music coming from his office that I had never heard. How is THAT possible!? Joking. The music had a bit of a Broken Social Scene type sound, but, also mixed with a little Mew and a little Silversun Pickups. I had to know who it was! I grabbed up their recent self-titled record and immediately loved it. The BSS influence became immediately evident: singing for this band is Lisa Lobsinger, a former vocalist in BSS. That being said, I still hold the remaining two comparisons to be quite prevalent in the music. This is definitely worth checking out.

Website: http://reveriesoundrevue.net/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/reveriesoundrevue

 
The Wooden Sky

A friend at Black Box Recordings recently turned me on to this band on their roster. I got my ears on the band’s most recent release — ‘If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone’ — and immediately took to it. This is an extremely vibey record; you can hear all kinds of moods weave in and out of each track. At times, you can pick out mellow alt-country influences yet at other moments you can detect folk-rock sensibilities. It’s difficult to pigeon-hole this record, so I think it’s simply worth a listen

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thewoodensky

There’s really no impetus for this post other than the fact that a lot of music has been charging me up lately. In the interest of not wasting time, let’s jump right into it!

First off, a local Toronto punk band named Hostage Life is offering up their new record as a free download. What!? Always a cool move on a band’s part. Check the link here: JuiceBoxDotCom. I’ve always liked this band, thus I was immensely excited when I heard that ‘Centre Of The Universe’ was being dropped for free.

How did I learn about the download? Why, AUX.TV of course! Ben Rispin from the band Saint Alvia gave the record a nod as a guest on Alan Cross’s talk show: ExploreMusic. If you don’t know Alan Cross, you MUST check out ExploreMusic, because this man, simply put, is a musical force in this country. I must commend Ben and Hostage Life for putting the record up for free with the mindset that we, the public, are going to get it for free if we really want to, so why not drive traffic to the source? I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS. Why not control eyeballs in relation to your own content? It just makes sense: drive fans to the source; push tickets and merch; promote other Artists/content; make Advertisers happy. Simple right?

Ok, aside from that…AUX is changing my life. This is now both an online entity as well as a cable-TV channel (it existed solely on the Internet for a considerable amount of time). I cannot tell you how happy I am to have PROPER music-television back in my life. MTV and MuchMusic died off years ago, in my mind (and I’m not alone, trust me). AUX is real; it is producing programs that encapsulate what truly inspires people to immerse themselves in music — not failing to mention that THEY ACTUALLY PLAY MUSIC VIDEOS. Remember when you used to flick to music-television during commercials? Remember when you just watched it for hours on end? Well, it’s back.

So…AUX. I saw the new Q-Tip video on AUX. Check it below. This man continues to push boundaries (as if his work in A Tribe Called Quest wasn’t enough!). Check that BASSLINE! This and the Jay-Z track — “Empire State Of Mind” — are re-inventing Hip Hop for me, still. It’s strange that these two rappers continue to carry the torch for an entire genre. Where are the leaders of the new school? Is anyone going to give a damn about Rick Ross or Lil Wayne in 10 years? Throw your chips on the table; I’ve got my bet.

The new Tegan & Sara. You NEED to check this record out. Listen to their MySpace. This new material has me all stirred up. Also, You Say Party! We Say Die!’s new record is very, very solid. A significant step-up for the band. The lead single is “Laura Palmer’s Prom” — a very positive, dreamy track with an epic ending. Take a listen:

There’s so much more getting me all rattled up right now, but I’ll stop there for now (it’s getting late). Happy listening.

Ok, so I have known about this punk band called SHARKS for quite some time now. I haven’t written about them here for one main reason: they are VERY under the radar at this point. They don’t even have a physical product on the street. They are unsigned (listen to the tunes…it is hard to believe!).

I found out about them on The BBC Radio 1 Punk Show. Now, I have been preaching the merits of this show FOR YEARS so if you haven’t been listening…you HAVE to get on it. The band was on Mike Davies’ show some time back with some rumblings that they might be getting signed to a label, but aside from that I hadn’t heard from them in a long time.

I decided to check back in on the band tonight. The band’s old MySpace page had moved, thus, I shuffled on over to SharksUK. The layout and tunes looked familiar, but it was one of the blog posts that caught my eye: the songs featured on the MySpace page could be downloaded for free! So…GO DOWNLOAD ‘EM ALREADY DAMMIT!

http://www.mediafire.com/?tzkym22idnh

Sacramento’s Deftones have announced a handful of tour dates with Slipknot in North America, leading up to the newly re-launched SmokeOut Festival at the end of October. Deftones have been playing a few festival gigs in Europe while bassist Chi Cheng is still in a coma from a car accident occuring last November. Filling in on bass duties is former Quicksand member Sergio Vega. The tour dates are as follows:

Follow Deftones.com for onsale information.

10/13/09 Portland, OR Memorial Coliseum
10/15/09 Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
10/16/09 Victoria, BC Save On Foods Centre
10/18/09 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Centre
10/20/09 Calgary, AB Calgary Corral
10/21/09 Spokane, WA Star Theatre
10/23/09 San Jose, CA San Jose Events Center

Listen to the record @ PureVolume

Wow, this sounds wild. Thrice keeps re-inventing themselves. I love this band. ‘Vheissu’ is my fav record, with “Water” from ‘The Alchemy Index’ not too far behind. Look out though…‘Beggars’ sounds absolutely SICK. It sounds like an amalgamation of all of their previous records — which is truly a mark of musical achievement in the course of a band’s history (in my opinion).

Wow. Take a listen.

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Big news! Despite seeing ads for the stream of the new Green Day record ’21st Century Breakdown’ on Rhapsody.com, I found myself unable to stream it there because I am not a United States resident. WHAT!?

No problem. I didn’t panic. I contacted my buddy at Warner Music Canada and got the Canadian streaming site. Holy hell. One day — one day we’ll all get this “Internet” thing right (it has only been 15 years in the making give or take…so be patient). I just laughed to my own sarcastic remark there by the way

This free preview, I am told, is only up until the record’s May 15th release so take a listen while you can; because, of course, we all know that we will be unable to stream the entire record after the 15th right? …Ok, I have to stop with the sarcasm! Seriously though, I don’t understand how some people operate in the online musical landscape anymore. My thinking is: why not leave the free preview up where it can draw traffic, capitalize on advertising and possibly tie-in other marketing streams (whichever are deemed necessary)? Why not do this ON THE WARNER SITE? Again, maybe we’ll all figure this out one day…

My recommendation is to skip the first 3, possibly 4 tracks. Jump right to “Before The Lobotomy.” In my opinion, the first few (including the first “single”) are ‘American Idiot’ castaways. I was honestly disappointed with the start of the record; it was the aforementioned track that perked my ears up and made me realize that this WAS a different record. Following in this regard are “Peacemaker” and “Restless Heart Syndrome” (and the rest of the record for that matter)…but I’ll let you be the judge!

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I feel like I should preface this post with “This update will self-destruct in 5 days.” Why? You can hear “Young Cardinals” — the title track off of AOF’s forthcoming record on Dine Alone Records — on the BBC Radio 1 Punk Show. That being said, the once-a-week show with Mike Davies is done every Monday (on UK time), and this week’s show is only up for a few more days. Listen while you can!!!

You’ll need RealPlayer installed to play the show. If the content doesn’t play immediately or you get an error message, choose “Use lower bandwidth version” on the bottom-left of the popup player. The track starts at the 41:32 mark of the show (but listen to the whole thing — check out that playlist!).

This track blew me away upon first listen. George Pettit’s vocals improve astoundingly with every AOF release — becoming crisper and clearer. The chromatic feel of the changes in the bridge also threw me off track, but this is a good thing when it comes to new material.

I remain completely psyched to hear the new record.

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I always get asked what my favourite band is. To me, this is like asking my parents who their favourite child is; there is no way they can answer that question. If I had to choose one — just ONE band — I would choose Pearl Jam.

There was some big news from Billboard on the band earlier this week. A MOVIE WITH CAMERON CROWE??? Holy hell! We have always known of the affinity existing between the two parties over the years — starting with the movie Singles (the soundtrack of which PJ twice-contributed to, not failing to mention the acting roles the band members landed in the film). Most recently, Mike McCready — PJ’s lead guitarist — laced the guitar solos for the fictional band Stillwater in Crowe’s rock-epic Almost Famous. I remember once leaving the DVD’s menu-screen on repeat (something I tend to do) for an extended period of time — letting that lead lick sink into my PJ consciousness. This announcement is DEFINITELY exciting news; make sure to clear a space between Single Video Theory and Live At The Garden on your DVD shelf!

Of course, the band is prepping a new record with…wait for it….Brendan O’Brien. I just went to town on the talents of O’Brien in my last post, so, I will spare you the litany of O’Brien affirmations once again. Needless to say, a reunited PJ/O’Brien effort is a monumental prospect.

The tour!? Forget about it! PJ is a perennial live powerhouse, so I trust that you’ll stay on top of this one. Alas, I live in Canada so…we’ll see…

Lastly, there was mention of more re-releases. If you have been living under a Rock-rock (I couldn’t pass that one up), then you missed the re-release of their seminal debut record TEN. More re-releases, of course, would be a welcomed blessing; hearing TEN remixed was an absolute TRIP. I didn’t always agree with the mix-changes, but it was certainly wild to hear such a familiar record put into a new context. As for the mention of including more outtakes on future releases…hey, only time will tell what is in store there — the band tends to have the habit of releasing material that rabid fans spent a lot of blood and sweat obtaining, but such is life! The only drawback to the re-release of TEN, in my opinion, is that the new version of “Brother” — a track long-fabled by PJ fans — is *definitely NOT* the version originally traded as bootlegs lo these many years. I assure you of that — I still have the original demos for TEN. This, however, is perhaps a topic for another day

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I am a BIG fan of Killswitch Engage. This band marries numerous elements that I enjoy about music and bands: technique, artistry, energy…humour. So, I would obviously be excited about a new record from KSE. Well, how about a new record produced by one of my favourite Record Producers? A few months back, KSE fans all over the world learned that one of the best Producers in the industry would take the helm for their next record. That Producer is Brendan O’Brien.

If you don’t know O’Brien’s work, then, I suppose that’s okay — but get on it dammit! When one speaks of some of the best records from Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, or Rage Against The Machine, that person would be remiss if they didn’t include O’Brien in the same breath. Hey, seasoned musicians like Duff McKagan and Velvet Revolver even give the guy his due credit.

What intrigues me most about O’Brien’s involvement with the record is exactly how it’s going to sound. Since Howard Jones joined KSE, the band’s sound has been locked-in — thanks to the production efforts of lead guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. These are brutally intense, yet majestic records that I have come to hold in the highest regard (‘The End Of Heartache’ gets top honour). That being said, there is always room — if not need — for change.

So what is possible? Well, I think Korn is an excellent example. All nostalgia for their early records aside, ‘Issues’ is arguably their most artistic effort to date. Albeit not their most intense record, this is in my opinion their most dynamic and experimental record. Korn was always a much-maligned band (and I could always understand why, even if I didn’t care), but I will continue to go to bat not for the band but for the aforementioned record; it’s merits are rock-solid — all thanks to Brendan O’Brien.

All fanboy ranting about O’Brien aside, this is going to be one of the most anticipated records this year in my books. I checked my Facebook Updates today and caught a glimpse of the recently-announced artwork for the upcoming release:

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BIG NEWS! Our good friend Serge @ Dine Alone Records has directed me to a news-blast recently posted on the Label’s site:

ALEXISONFIRE gets ready to unleash OLD CROWS / YOUNG CARDINALS!

Yes it’s true: AOF has signed with Dine Alone!!! This marks the band’s venture off of Distort Entertainment here in Canada. As noted in the release, the band will stay with Vagrant in the U.S.

What caught me off guard was the “Old Crows” addition to the title of the new record — crossing up the name of the record as discovered at the AOF/Cons show in December of last year.

Hey, call it what you want — the name isn’t going to detract from the excitement surrounding this new record. Expect it in the coming months!

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Ok, I enjoyed The Grammys last night! I admittedly made sure to tune in just to catch Radiohead, but I ended up being thoroughly impressed with the 3.5 hour showcase of diverse talent.

Sure, there were some “bad” acts in my books — which I will refrain from mentioning — but I found myself enjoying even the strangest of performances.

What was most surprising was just how few awards were given out last night! The lengthy program was comprised mostly of live performances.

Sure, you might not like Miley Cyrus…but others do (obviously). So, then you enjoyed Coldplay. Or, maybe you didn’t! So, Paul McCartney (with Dave Grohl on the drums) did it for you. Or, you liked John Mayer more. Hmm, perhaps you were down with M.I.A. and the all-star Rappers she performed with. I think you get the point. I mean, check the list of performances:

I’m not a huge Carrie Underwood fan, but I dug that female guitar player she had in her band!!! I’ve come to learn that her name is Orianthi. Check YouTube for videos of her. I’m telling you, this girl can play.

Speaking of playing, Dave Grohl on the drums makes ANYBODY 10x more exciting.

There was something for everyone last night. Or was there? I encountered quite a few people today that slagged the hell out of the show. I don’t get the negativity; if you didn’t like any part of last night, you might not like music.

…………..Oh ya, one last thing learned from last night: BLINK 182 IS BACK TOGETHER. Hey, if you’re not down with that, I offer a token of apology through laughter:

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Billboard article

Don’t get wrong, I think that this is a great thing; but I didn’t think that this was the musical climate that exists right now. I feel like this upcoming broadcast is more representative of the musical landscape that existed in the early 1990s — when every single genre had it’s time in the sun and The Grammys meant something. After all, there is one significant Grammy moment (besides SOY BOMB of course) that has stuck in my memory:

I think a lot people started to feel that way; we weren’t too sure what The Grammys meant anymore.

Maybe I’m alone on this one, but I’m just not used to Radiohead going along with such things as performing on the same bill as U2, Kid Rock, Rihanna, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West, Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Hudson, The Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry and Carrie Underwood.

I guess this is just me used to Radiohead bucking trends and going against the grain.

This definitely caught me off guard but I’m also glad that they’re playing the show — because I will actually have a reason to watch it now!!!

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I have been hearing about Josh Homme (again, pronounced like “Mommy” with an “H”) producing the next Biffy Clyro record for a few days now…from here and there. I finally took the time (and actually HAD the time) to sit down and read up on it.

It looks like it was just mentioned very, very casually.

This would be an interesting twist though; if you have ever caught Biffy live, you’ll know that THEY ARE RAW — very rough-around-the-edges…but in a great way. The album the band did with GGGarth — ‘Puzzle’ — is a really phenomenal, breakthrough record but a lot of people took aim at it due to its cleaned-up, more polished sound. Homme will no doubt put some grit back into their recorded-music.

The affirmation of Homme producing The Arctic Monkeys is wild though! I’m interested to hear how that turns out for sure. In honour of the band, here’s one of their vids that you’ve probably never seen! It’s a good little story if I can say so myself…

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Well if this isn’t the best news to come out of 2009: the new Propagandhi album has a name and a face! Their new baby — straight from their own studio womb: Illegal Combatant Studios — will be called ‘Supporting Caste’ and here’s the face they will use to present it:


I have to admit, when I heard the last song from ‘Potemkin City Limits,’
“Iteration,” it was so good that I said I could go on if this indeed turned out to be the band’s last album. Thankfully, I don’t have to face that situation. A couple of us at here at ATPOL were lucky enough to hear two songs from this record at their last Toronto show, and if those were signs of things to come then we should be ready for more of the same consistent and inventive songwriting we’ve been spoiled with over the years by the “three skids” from Winnipeg.

Here’s the track listing that will contain all the awesomeness:

1. Night Letters
2. Supporting Caste
3. Tertium Non Datur
4. Dear Coach’s Corner
5. This is your Life
6. Human(e) Meat (The Flensing of Sandor Katz)
7. Potemkin City Limits
8. The Funeral Procession
9. Without Love
10. Incalculable Effects
11. The Banger’s Embrace
12. Last Will And Testament

Call me preemptive, but this is my horse for best record of 2009. Prepare to be thrashed!

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Okay first off, we’ve got a new member! Our good friend “Bee” is on board — she’s all over the Toronto scene and a rad, rad girl

Secondly, I was at a party on the weekend and was told that Pat Pengelly — the drummer in Bedouin Soundclash — has left the band. WHAT!? I didn’t entirely believe it at first, but I confirmed it myself today. Bummer. This is one of my favourite Canadian bands so I hope they soldier on; although, Pat’s playing was a big part of the band’s sound.

Lastly, Chi Cheng. There are droves of Deftones fans out there in the world and I’m definitely one of them. There hasn’t been much in the way of an update since December, but I recently heard on BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show that his condition is STILL unchanged — and since Daniel P. Carter, the host, is the lead-singer for Hexes (and seriously connected through his radio show) I’ll take him on his word. The band is set to release ‘Eros’ this year — an anticipated effort with Terry Date returning behind the helm.

K, that’s it for now. Happy listening.

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