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Oh No, Forest Fires

When you socialize with a specific group of friends, you can often feel like the entire world is a part of your insular group. When I’m sitting in a bar with a bunch of music nerds, talking about Rural Alberta Advantage or Julie Doiron, it seems like everyone should and does know about these bands. I take it for granted that I can easily make conversation in my circle of friends and mention countless bands without any need for explanation or context. Yet, I was phased when I walked out of my apartment building, and overheard a couple talking about Oh No, Forest Fires.

$100

I just got home from The Horseshoe, where I saw $100, for the fourth time. I’ve seen them in many modes. When I first saw them at the Music Gallery, opening for Rick White, they were a two-piece of Ian Russell (Guitar) and Simone Schmidt (vocals). Since then, they’ve rounded out their numbers and now perform as a seven-piece. Apparently Rick White was so impressed by the band, that he asked to record their album. I was so impressed that after their set, I went to the back of the church and purchased their EP. I then later saw them opening for Eric’s Trip at the Mod Club, it seems… Read More »$100

Nice, Nice, Very Nice

I’ve been listening to Nice, Nice, Very Nice quite often over the past couple of weeks, and I cannot sing its praises enough. It’s absolutely fabulous. If you don’t own this record yet, I don’t want to know you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5RIHff3oas

Lyrics volume 2

For volume one, visit here. Years and years and years ago I made a friend online. A really pretty older woman, who sent me cassettes in the mail, and eventually would go record shopping with me. She showed me the wonder that is Rotate This (I later fell out of love with that place. <3 Criminal), and I showed her the wonders of The Vinyl Museum. One of those cassettes she sent this young boy had a live Velvet Underground record on one side which was enjoyed, but the other side was a masterpiece; If You’re Feeling Sinister. Those ten songs were incredible, and I couldn’t get enough. I bought… Read More »Lyrics volume 2

Rock a meme

Kate posted this meme and tagged me on The Facebook. I figured, I’d post it to my blog, as that’ll just aggregate to Facebook any way. Downside, no tagging, upside, the entire world sees how awesome my taste in music is. Shuffle your songs + share Once you’ve been tagged… (1) Turn on your MP3 player (no, seriously) (2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode. (3) Write down the first 15 songs that come up–song title and artist–NO editing/cheating, please. (4) Choose 25 (or so) people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you. Tag them first. If I tagged… Read More »Rock a meme

Lyrics volume 1

So, I thought I’d start an ongoing journey into why I like lyrics, and lyricists. We’re going to start with a gentleman named Stephin Merritt who fronts the band The Magnetic Fields. If you’ve known me for more than 15 minutes, you’ve surely heard me espouse the merits of Stephin Merritt. (har!) The Magnetic Fields are pretty fantastic, their music is smart, and funny. They gained much notoriety in 1999 when they released their triple album 69 Love Songs, which lives up perfectly to the name. Since then they’ve released i, an album in which every song starts with the letter ‘i’ and Distortion, a record covered from head to… Read More »Lyrics volume 1

Names

I’ve determined that the best way to judge romantic compatibility is how ridiculous a name combination can be. Just look at my best friends, the Misbies. They’re perfect for each other and the hilarious combination of Miller and Crosby works so well. Then there’s my ex, we had an ~8 year relationship, and when you combined Hood and Anklewicz, you got Hoodlewicz. You cannot deny that amazing power of such a ridiculous name combination. Obviously only powerful enough to last eight years, but that’s much better than my usual 30 minutes. It also works with other couples, I can look at my coworker and her husband to be, and we… Read More »Names

White Cowbell Oklahoma

On the 19th, I went to see White Cowbell Oklahoma’s anniversary show at Lee’s Palace. One of the best shows I’ve been to in a while. WCO always put on an amazing visual show, which can be seen in more details here.

Top 50 of the Aughts further explained

A list is a list, and it doesn’t really cover what I hope to let people know. If you don’t know me, you won’t know why I chose these records. I thought I’d further explain the top 10. 10) God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl (2009) God Help The Girl is the soundtrack to Stuart Murdoch’s unwritten film. The Belle & Sebastian frontman used the opportunity of a hiatus to record a new record using female vocalists who he wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to work within the stricter environment of a Belle & Sebastian album. The songs are damn good, and Stuart arranges for a wide… Read More »Top 50 of the Aughts further explained

Top 50 Albums of the Aughts

1) Sleater-Kinney – The Woods (2005) 2) The Magnetic Fields – i (2004) 3) Belle & Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003) 4) The Flashing Lights – Sweet Release (2001) 5) Neko Case & Her Boyfriends – Furnace Room Lullaby (2000) 6) The Joel Plaskett Emergency – Down At The Khyber (2001) 7) Julie Doiron – Woke Myself Up (2007) 8) Neil Young – Live At Massey Hall 1971 (2007) 9) Valery Gore – Avalanche To Wandering Bear (2008) 10) God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl (2009) 11) Wilco – A Ghost Is Born (2004) 12) Joel Plaskett – Three (2009) 13) Neko Case – Fox Confessor… Read More »Top 50 Albums of the Aughts