AHNA
Vancouver "two piece that combines elements of spazz inspired power violence, raw grindcore, doom/sludge metal, and drone." RIYL: NADJA or LULLABYE ARKESTRA. Additionally, I have a split 7-inch they did with a band a called Solars in my office if you'd rather roll that way.
ARMS AND SLEEPERS
"Evoking an eerie nostaligia" this band seems to draw influence from Kid A-era Radiohead, Portishead, Boards Of Canada, and others of the sort.
BLUE SKY ADDICTS
BEN FOLDS meets, I dunno, THE MOST SERENE REPUBLIC.
BRILLIANT COLORS
San Francisco trio will appeal to fans of VIVIAN GIRLS, THE SLITS, TY SEGALL, etc.
CASPA
"Amongst the most influential and widely recognized dubstep artists his native UK, Caspa made his name with a shockingly consistent streak of celebrated singles and high profile remixes (Depeche Mode, Miike Snow, Kid Sister, and Deadmau5), as well as running the essential Dub Police and Sub Soldiers labels.
EEKWOL
Hip-hop artist from Saskatoon who rhymes about underlying themes of Indigenous culture that are equally relevant in a more broad sense. If you like this, check out the collaborative album (called "The List) that she recorded with her brother Mils a couple years ago.
EFTERKLANG
Even if you don't think that you like classical music, I still seriously recommend this new album, as well as the new Sufjan Stevens and Osso records. "In September 2008, Efterklang's most significant performance to date took place at the brand new Koncerthuset in Copenhagen. Together with The Danish National Chamber Orchestra they performed the newly orchestrated Parades from start to finish. This special show was a breathtaking, majestic affair and was recorded for posterity in sound and pictures."
ERGO
"Combines jazz, electronica, avant-garde rock and ambience, performing music of stark melodic beauty, enveloping electro-acoustic texture and empathic imagination."
FLINDERS
This Dublin musician reminds me of PATRICK WATSON in terms of tone and mood.
GET BACK GUINOZZI!
A brilliantly playful, summery hit of outsider pop. Full of colour and character, it comprises a unique blossoming of hybrid sources infectiously poppy, quirky and breezy, with a strong French slant and a wide range of influences taking in the likes of Talking Heads, The Feelies, The Smiths, early B-52's, King Sunny Ade, Lee Perry, Rip Rig & Panic, Ariel Pink, The Slits, The Cure, Animal Collective, Jonathan Richman, and Serge Gainsbourg. Infused with the exoticism of reggae, dub, African music, Tropicalia, and Cambodian music from the '60s.
JOE GIDEON AND THE SHARK
"A brother and sister duo from London who rock out to their energetic tunes with thunderous percussion and grungy, heavy bass riffs. This duo, who recently returned from a UK tour with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, remind us of a cross between the White Stripes and LCD Soundsystem, with The Shark's occasional voice coming through like Alison Mosshart's of the Kills."
THE JOB
"Jittery, old-fashioned punk rock is The Job’s stock and trade. The arrogant, bastard love child of Joe Strummer and Andy Partridge; The Job snarl through songs of resentment, riot and rebellion."
JOOKABOX
Previously named Grampall Jookabox, the abbreviated name is a slight improvement toward getting people to take this band seriously. A lot of times I feel like Asthmatic Kitty should release significantly less albums, but I'm glad this one was released. "Dead Zone Boys" is love story meets psychedelic zombie-musical. Pulling influence from every imaginable place, I cannot find words to describe the sound of this album. Highly recommended to fit DEAD MAN'S BONES and JOOKABOX into the same set.
KITE OPERATIONS
Modern improv noise-jazz-rock. Like John Coltrane making rock music, or Melt Banana if they turned down the aggression.
LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS
I didn't have overly great expectations here, but the music is surprisingly enjoyable. Upbeat shoegaze pop with a little bit of indie-electro sheen popularized by THE POSTAL SERVICE/DNTEL.
THE LYTICS
Up-and-coming hip-hop group from Winnipeg with a little bit of an old school vibe and low on swearing too. A nice change.
MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER
"Wedding the pneumatic rock of the Strokes to the panoramic pop of Blur and the Killers, they don't actually reside anywhere near the middle. They sorta blow it up instead." – RCRD LBL. "MDR’s sound clearly draws on mid-’90s British rock — think pre-OK Computer Radiohead, Blur, Oasis — and exudes a confidence and professionalism that many young bands lack.” – Washington Post
MISSILES
They don't get much play these days, but FULL WHITE DRAG were an excellent local post-punk band inspired by groups like FUGAZI and GIRLS AGAINST BOYS. Guitarist (and then vocalist), Dave Mueller has one of my favourite guitar tones, and I'm happy to report that he's finally back in this new band. The fourth track feels tacked on, but will probably make more sense in the context of a full-length album whenever one is released. However, the other three songs are pretty good and I'm disappointed that I missed their show on October 30th.
NOTHINGTON
Better late than never, I believe this album is arriving more than a month after its release date. As with most BYO Records releases, punk influence is the main order of the day here, and I pick up a little bit of a MIKE NESS/SOCIAL DISTORTION vibe too. If anyone remembers them, Gabe and Jay were members of TSUNAMI BOMB
THE RACOON WEDDING
THE VERMICIOUS KNID were a pretty excellent band from Brantford, ON and some of the key members went on to form this band. For the sake of simple comparison, think multi-member indie pop groups like THE MOST SERENE REPUBLIC and/or THE BRUCE PENINSULA. Guests include Casey Mecija, Kat Burns, Neil Haverty, and more.
RED MASS
Took shape in 2008 following the inevitable implosion of the volatile and legendary CPC GANGBANGS. The line-up includes members of bands like HOT SPRINGS, BLACK FEELINGS (who also have a new album in on-air library that needs a lot more plays than it is geting). "Their psychedelic space rock 'n' roll and its elements of noise, folk, punk and electronic music is a culmination of 12 years of hard work. The dark poppy hooks, laced with other worldy sound effects, are at once an ode to the past, the music of today, and the shape of rock 'n' roll to come."
RISE ASHEN + STEPHANE LEFRANCOIS
"His record collection spans Rai, Ancient Music, Traditional and Popular African, South American and Asian music, with nu-jazz as is his primary focus. As a DJ, he blends it all in a worldy mash and is always the sweaty and dynamic life of the party." I could easily envision hearing this on a show like The Rhythm Gallery.
SACRIFICE
The perfect Canadian counterpoint to the new SLAYER album? I'd say so. You'll find thrash metal influence all over this album.
SHEARING PINX
"Vancouver all encompassing noise-punk trio. Spazzed out drumming, swirling, thrashing guitars, fast screeches, lo-fi epics, speed punk, free noise/jazz improvisations. Hectic jams that hit you hard." I purchased this 12-inch for my own collection, but I'll keep it in my office over the next couple weeks if you want to play it. Seriously good!
SUBCITY (DWELLERS)
Punk, ska, and pop mixture.
VARIETY LAB
"Spanning multiple genres and featuring collaborations from artists like DONOVAN, LILY FROST and David Bartholomé" the album has a little bit for everyone.
VARIOUS "Blood Klub"
Four way split 7-inch between TWIN CRYSTALS, SHEARING PINX, AHNA, and STAMINA MANTIS.
WE ALL HAVE HOOKS FOR HANDS
Seemingly inspired by bands like The Shins and The New Pornographers.
THE WILDERNESS OF MANITOBA
Hymns of Love and Spirits - is stark and powerful - the muted banjo picks and ominous cello work set the tone for the incredibly personal subject matter - but the journey is warmed with spot on, effortlessly controlled four piece harmonies." -- Herohill.com
ZEVIOUS
"Instrumental guitar trio are equally influenced by MESHUGGAH, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, downtown 'punk-jazz-harmolodic' school and IYER."
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR
Baby-voiced vocals over some nice soulful and static-y upbeat grooves. Definitely better than my initial expectations had in store, and I think I listened to most of the album during the review process.
BEAR IN HEAVEN
Incorporates influences from psychedelic music, electronic, synth pop, and krautrock.
BRYAN SCARY & THE SHREDDING TEARS
Like upbeat piano pop by artists like BEN FOLDS and WILL CURRIE & THE COUNTRY FRENCH? Check this out.
THE BULL NORTH
If QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE were from Regina, they would probably be The Bull North.
CANAILLE
Multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Strachan has made a lot of interesting music over the last 10+ years as a member of ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE SEA SNAKES, as a soloist, and as a collaborative partner. Here he is joined by members of FOND OF TIGERS, FEUERMUSIK, and WOODCHOPPERS ASSOCIATION. "In just over a year, Canaille has established itself as one of Toronto’s most creative and interesting jazz quintets. Their particular brand of bent-jazz might fall somewhere between the post-cool of The Lounge Lizards, the Sun Ra and Charles Mingus small groups, and what Jackie McLean interpreting Ornette Coleman interpreting Yma Sumac might sound like."
CHUCK PROPHET
Imagine if you mixed THE GOLDEN HANDS BEFORE GOD and TED LEO.
CURTIS HARVEY
Really good folk album that should appeal to fans of RICHARD BUCKNER,
EAST BAY RAY
Ex-DEAD KENNEDYS member has moved on to experimental music that is concerned more with modal harmonics and tape-manipulation, than it is with loud guitars and socio-political lyrics. This all-instrumental release isn't the weirdest album you'll hear this year, but it is kind of different than what you might expect.
ETAOIN SHRDLU
Instrumental math rock that reminds me of my early days at CJAM hosting a program dedicated to the genre. This band features current/ex-members of I CAN PUT MY ARM BACK ON YOU CAN'T, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, ROCKETS RED GLARE, TUSKS, and FEUERMUSIK.
FELIX
Like LILY ALLEN doing slightly experimental chamber pop.
FERRAL CHILDREN
"Interpolates the fluxes of psychedelic-pop brewing on the borders of electronic music."
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO LOVE
Yet another band featuring ex-members of THE DEARS whom I've never heard of.
GOLDEN GHOST
A couple members of DEER TICK helped Laura Goetz record her latest album. It's a pretty good modern folk album, and you should check out LAURA GIBSON if you like what you hear here.
JUNK CULTURE
"A gritty, loop-based dance party! Fractured pop hooks and samples run through a handheld recorder." From the same label that brought you GIRL TALK.
KAM MOYE
Better/equally known as SUPASTITION, this is one of the most lyrical hip-hop releases of 2009. If his talent alone won't convince you to play it, I should mention that local rappers like BUFF1 and ONE BE LO make guest appearances, along with PHONTE (of LITTLE BROTHER) and production by JAKE ONE, VITAMIN D, MARCO POLO, and more.
MATT EPP
You might appreciate the cameos from Brandy Zdan (of TWILIGHT HOTEL), AMELIA CURRAN, and Eliza Gilkyson, but otherwise this singer/songwriter made me contemplate if his music was a bit too pop-oriented for campus radio. You be the judge?
MAX RICHTER
Reissued debut album of modern classical piano music akin to STEVE REICH, PHILLIP GLASS, or contemporaries such as JOHAN JOHANSSON, ELUVIUM, and NICO MUHLY.
MUSKOX
"A Toronto-based post-minimalist band, was formed by Toronto multi-instrumentalist and composer Michael Smith in August of 2006 for the Bummer in the Summer music festival." John Fahey meets Frank Zappa??
NEAL MORGAN
"A drum and voice record, composed entirely of my own drumming and singing, made in between tours playing with JOANNA NEWSOM in support of Ys beginning in early 2007." Recommended listening on headphones.
NEON INDIAN
"Delivers equal parts synthetic nostalgia, summery dream-wave lullabies, and grinding guitar noise to create something eerier than the sum of its parts. Also, he just earned Best New Music distinction on Pitchfork!"
SAVOIR ADORE
This band sounds a lot like STARS. Shockingly similar.
SHAFIQ HUSAYN
"As one third of the stellar, groundbreaking production trio Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Shafiq has been using his prowess to assist some of the greatest musicians of our generation, from Herbie Hancock to J Dilla to Dr. Dre to Erykah Badu."
TALK NORMAL
Like the LITTLE CLAW album from a couple months ago, Talk Normal have a psych-garage rock sound that is heavily covered in feedback and noise so enjoyable that you might focus on it more than the lyrics, guitar, or drumming.
THOMAS FUNCTION
"The group from Alabama seems just like a scruffy rock and roll band that could have inspired any number of teeny-bopper dance crazes back in the golden era of the 60s as well as now - during this solemn era of non-participation. And that's really what it is - these swimming and buoyant songs of ear-bursting melody, these jangly guitar, smiley, old organ flourishes, sharp and faithful drumming and a perfectly athletic bass foundation."
TUNE-YARDS
Recorded using a digital voice recorder and assembled with shareware audio editing tools, the album was described by Stereogum as "a self-contained Sublime Frequencies compilation, jumping between blues, African tunes, shinny reggae-esque sprawls, and lo-fi folk."
VOILA
Some nice, haunting music from Montreal that might appeal to fans of THE BESNARD LAKES. The first three songs are long, but totally worth it.
Baby-voiced vocals over some nice soulful and static-y upbeat grooves. Definitely better than my initial expectations had in store, and I think I listened to most of the album during the review process.
BEAR IN HEAVEN
Incorporates influences from psychedelic music, electronic, synth pop, and krautrock.
BRYAN SCARY & THE SHREDDING TEARS
Like upbeat piano pop by artists like BEN FOLDS and WILL CURRIE & THE COUNTRY FRENCH? Check this out.
THE BULL NORTH
If QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE were from Regina, they would probably be The Bull North.
CANAILLE
Multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Strachan has made a lot of interesting music over the last 10+ years as a member of ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE SEA SNAKES, as a soloist, and as a collaborative partner. Here he is joined by members of FOND OF TIGERS, FEUERMUSIK, and WOODCHOPPERS ASSOCIATION. "In just over a year, Canaille has established itself as one of Toronto’s most creative and interesting jazz quintets. Their particular brand of bent-jazz might fall somewhere between the post-cool of The Lounge Lizards, the Sun Ra and Charles Mingus small groups, and what Jackie McLean interpreting Ornette Coleman interpreting Yma Sumac might sound like."
CHUCK PROPHET
Imagine if you mixed THE GOLDEN HANDS BEFORE GOD and TED LEO.
CURTIS HARVEY
Really good folk album that should appeal to fans of RICHARD BUCKNER,
EAST BAY RAY
Ex-DEAD KENNEDYS member has moved on to experimental music that is concerned more with modal harmonics and tape-manipulation, than it is with loud guitars and socio-political lyrics. This all-instrumental release isn't the weirdest album you'll hear this year, but it is kind of different than what you might expect.
ETAOIN SHRDLU
Instrumental math rock that reminds me of my early days at CJAM hosting a program dedicated to the genre. This band features current/ex-members of I CAN PUT MY ARM BACK ON YOU CAN'T, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, ROCKETS RED GLARE, TUSKS, and FEUERMUSIK.
FELIX
Like LILY ALLEN doing slightly experimental chamber pop.
FERRAL CHILDREN
"Interpolates the fluxes of psychedelic-pop brewing on the borders of electronic music."
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO LOVE
Yet another band featuring ex-members of THE DEARS whom I've never heard of.
GOLDEN GHOST
A couple members of DEER TICK helped Laura Goetz record her latest album. It's a pretty good modern folk album, and you should check out LAURA GIBSON if you like what you hear here.
JUNK CULTURE
"A gritty, loop-based dance party! Fractured pop hooks and samples run through a handheld recorder." From the same label that brought you GIRL TALK.
KAM MOYE
Better/equally known as SUPASTITION, this is one of the most lyrical hip-hop releases of 2009. If his talent alone won't convince you to play it, I should mention that local rappers like BUFF1 and ONE BE LO make guest appearances, along with PHONTE (of LITTLE BROTHER) and production by JAKE ONE, VITAMIN D, MARCO POLO, and more.
MATT EPP
You might appreciate the cameos from Brandy Zdan (of TWILIGHT HOTEL), AMELIA CURRAN, and Eliza Gilkyson, but otherwise this singer/songwriter made me contemplate if his music was a bit too pop-oriented for campus radio. You be the judge?
MAX RICHTER
Reissued debut album of modern classical piano music akin to STEVE REICH, PHILLIP GLASS, or contemporaries such as JOHAN JOHANSSON, ELUVIUM, and NICO MUHLY.
MUSKOX
"A Toronto-based post-minimalist band, was formed by Toronto multi-instrumentalist and composer Michael Smith in August of 2006 for the Bummer in the Summer music festival." John Fahey meets Frank Zappa??
NEAL MORGAN
"A drum and voice record, composed entirely of my own drumming and singing, made in between tours playing with JOANNA NEWSOM in support of Ys beginning in early 2007." Recommended listening on headphones.
NEON INDIAN
"Delivers equal parts synthetic nostalgia, summery dream-wave lullabies, and grinding guitar noise to create something eerier than the sum of its parts. Also, he just earned Best New Music distinction on Pitchfork!"
SAVOIR ADORE
This band sounds a lot like STARS. Shockingly similar.
SHAFIQ HUSAYN
"As one third of the stellar, groundbreaking production trio Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Shafiq has been using his prowess to assist some of the greatest musicians of our generation, from Herbie Hancock to J Dilla to Dr. Dre to Erykah Badu."
TALK NORMAL
Like the LITTLE CLAW album from a couple months ago, Talk Normal have a psych-garage rock sound that is heavily covered in feedback and noise so enjoyable that you might focus on it more than the lyrics, guitar, or drumming.
THOMAS FUNCTION
"The group from Alabama seems just like a scruffy rock and roll band that could have inspired any number of teeny-bopper dance crazes back in the golden era of the 60s as well as now - during this solemn era of non-participation. And that's really what it is - these swimming and buoyant songs of ear-bursting melody, these jangly guitar, smiley, old organ flourishes, sharp and faithful drumming and a perfectly athletic bass foundation."
TUNE-YARDS
Recorded using a digital voice recorder and assembled with shareware audio editing tools, the album was described by Stereogum as "a self-contained Sublime Frequencies compilation, jumping between blues, African tunes, shinny reggae-esque sprawls, and lo-fi folk."
VOILA
Some nice, haunting music from Montreal that might appeal to fans of THE BESNARD LAKES. The first three songs are long, but totally worth it.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
ALEC OUNSWORTH
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH singer has a solo album of "southern gothic" music "backed by an all star New Orleans cast." Gag. It's not as exciting as it sounds.
B.C.
Think MF DOOM meets DELTRON 3030. Guests include SAUL WILLIAMS.
BLACK FEELINGS
"Borrow quite heavily from pop music and traditional forms, with melodies emerging out of the din, but also manage to hit left of centre with some modern, driving psych mixed into their occasional noise squelch." Two of these guys used to be in an excellent post-punk band called LES ANGLES MORTS, and while the CJAM library doesn't have any of their albums, if you like Black Feelings, you'll want to check out their last band too. RIYL: Liars.
BK-ONE
Brother Ali's DJ brings a Brazilian sound to this new hip-hop album featuring blazing guest verses by SLUG, BROTHER ALI, ACEYALONE, ABSTRACT RUDE, MYKA 9, RAEKWON, PHONTE, BLACK THOUGHT, P.O.S., BLUEPRINT, MURS, SCARFACE, and many more.
COREY HARRIS
A bit of blues, but a bit more reggae influence than anything else, so we will file it under the later category.
CORPORATION
Ska-punk from Mississauga.
DARIUS JONES TRIO
"A phenomenal debut, Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) presents the singular artistry of Darius Jones; a new voice poised to receive widespread acclaim from the jazz underground." -- AllAboutJazz.com
DAWES
Los Angeles band has a folk/rock sound that might appeal to fans of SON VOLT, WILCO, and that sort. You might find something on this CD that goes well with a selection from the new AVETT BROTHERS album.
DEAD MAN'S BONES
"This was intended to be a soundtrack to a play about a monster-ghost-love-story. When Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling met in 2005 and discovered their mutual obsession with ghosts, they decided to write the afore-mentioned ghastly love story. Scrapping the stage show when costs became prohibitive, they already had songs written and decided to continue. The pair chose to play all the instruments on the record, even those they had never touched before. They also imposed rules on themselves during the recording process, like not playing with a click track, or trying to do no more than three takes on any song, letting any imperfections highlight the strengths of the music."
DEVIL EYES
You may have played the 7-inch they released a couple months ago, but if not, check out their new CD. "Their music is a raw and lean explosion of garage, no wave, klezmer, noise, blues, metal and Japanese punk."
DJ CHAMPION
Montreal DJ blends electro and big rock guitars on his latest album. Not a fan of the vocals, but otherwise there are some things to like here.
DUPLEX
Veda Hille and members of GREAT AUNT IDA, P:ANO, and THE NEINS, team up with some children for an album of maximum cute.
ENSEMBLE POLARIS
Scandinavian-inspired classical musicianship featuring original works and interpretations of Nino Rota ("La Rumba" is from Fellini's 8 1/2), Leonard Bernstein ("You Lovely Island" features melodies inspired by West Side Story), and more.
FIVE HOLE
Dave Bidini, Martin Tielli, Ford Pier and two others wrote some songs about hockey. So did D.O.A. and so did Stompin' Tom.
GITHEAD
Not overly impressive but many of you will be interested to know that this band features Colin Newman of WIRE, and Robin Rimbaud who normally makes groundbreaking experimental electronic music using the name SCANNER. Unfortunately, this is just a by-the-numbers post-punk lite album.
GROOMS
Death By Audio is a company that makes boutique guitar pedals used by bands ranging from A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS to U2, and it's also the name of a venue in Brooklyn, NY. "Grooms are three friends in Brooklyn who play a structurally mutilated brand of noise-pop featuring blissful interplay, sonic experimentation, and song destruction. Rejoicer showcases sounds from broken noise-surf to campfire-seance drone." Recommended headphone listening.
THE HEAVY
Rock-based record which leans toward '60s r & b and soul.
JAMES HUSBAND
Member of OF MONTREAL has a solo album.
JEAN-PAUL DE ROOVER
Incredibly nice, intelligent, and accomplished solo artist who relies on live looping to build up his songs in a live environment in the same way as a FINAL FANTASY or ANDREW BIRD, but acoustic guitar seems to be his main instrument of choice. Bonus tidbit: I had to cut it down to fit into our CD shelves, but this album normally folds open into the shape of a house.
JIMI TENOR / TONY ALLEN
"Tenor plays most of the melodic instruments (including tenor sax, keyboards, bass, kalimba, zither, koto and marimba) and sings on Selfish Gene and Darker Side of Night in a strangulated falsetto, vaguely suggestive of Sly Stone. His Berlin-based band Kabu Kabu includes Cuban trumpeter Daniel Allen Ortiz and percussionists Ekow Alabi Savage and Akinola Famson, from Ghana and Nigeria respectively. Their broken English banter on Mama England satirises the problems non-EU musicians face when trying to get into the UK, drawing on their own bitter experience."
JOE MORRIS QUARTET
"Morris is a master of mixing total improvisational freedom with a realization that swing can be just as liberating as skronk, that a clean tone can say as much as, if not more than, a coruscating flood-tide of noise. Indeed, this album is so pretty that its adventurousness may slip right by on the first few listens. In other words, it's worth spending time with and getting to know." -- AllMusic.com
LACKTHEREOF
Side project featuring Danny from MENOMENA and this album covers his best songs over the last 10 years. You're missing out if you haven't played anything from the other Menomena side-project called RAMONA FALLS (on-air library #234).
LANGUAGE ARTS
A definite recommendation for fans of MOTHER MOTHER. "Celebrating obscurities and word entanglements with poetic poise, paired with an alt-rock foundation yet fleshed out with classical instrumentation. Cudmore's classical guitar blends beautifully with the double bass and the occasional string quartet." Great lyrics on this album too.
LITTLE GIRLS
You might regard this Toronto band as sounding like a cross between BLACK LIPS, KING KHAN, and an instrumental version of JOY DIVISION. In other words, it's pretty great.
MILES BENJAMIN ANTHONY ROBINSON
Might it peak your interest to know that the album was co-produced by Kyp of TV On The Radio, and that TVOTR are pretty big supporters of Mile's music?
MOODSWING ORCHESTRA
"Imagine the sprawling orchestral work of Godspeed You! Black Emperor injected with innovative nuances of jazz and electronic components, and you'll be getting close."
MV & EE
"They combine Indian raga style composition with Appalachian folk and post-psychedelic electrical experimentalism. They use Western and Eastern acoustic instruments amplified and augmented with effects such as reverb, delay, and flange. Their compositions occasionally feature vocals, which are off-kilter and rambling, while seeming drugged."
NANCY ELIZABETH
English singer/songwriter "Nancy Elizabeth will gain immediate and widespread comparison to Joanna Newsom, because alongside her many other instruments (acoustic guitar, harmonium, dulcimer, etc.), she plays a small Celtic harp."
OI VA VOI
"Fused modern dance music, singer-songwriter sensitivity and their Jewish cultural heritage with global rhythms drawn from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond."
OLD CANES
Might appeal to fans of THE APPLESEED CAST or THE ANTLERS.
OX
I'm happy to report that the band's third album is just as excellent as their previous releases. "Burnout" is probably one of my favourite songs of the year, "Prom Queen" and "Ojibway Diner" are also quite excellent, as are the other four songs. To use a local example, like FIELD ASSEMBLY, Ox is pretty good at blurring the influences of college rock and folk music, and are quite tough to categorize. The CDDB had the genre of their latest album listed as "country," so we'll add it to our folk/roots section. If you're new to Ox and fall in love with this album, be sure to check out "American Lofi" and "Dustbowl Revival," and see them in November when they play at Phog with BARZIN.
RUSSIAN CIRCLES
More Mogwai-ian instrumental post-rock.
THE SECRETARIES
Edmonton band reminded me of THE GOSSIP quite a bit, but their MySpace page suggests influences like Neil Young and Deep Purple.
THE VIDEO DEAD
Hardcore punk band from Burlington should appeal to existing fans of THE HOSTAGE LIFE, THE SNIPS, THE FULLBLAST, etc., etc.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED
Fredericton metal band is yet another great addition to the Diminished Fifth label.
ZOOT WOMAN
"Things are What They Used to Be" is a huge development for Zoot Woman's dark, melodic electronic style. Keeping with elements of atmospheric style hooks and beautiful synth patterns, this record shows a more solidified and mature sound, with more of a euphoric twist. Check this if you like ROYKSOPP or a more powerful JUNIOR BOYS/THE NOTWIST." -- Brandon Webb
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH singer has a solo album of "southern gothic" music "backed by an all star New Orleans cast." Gag. It's not as exciting as it sounds.
B.C.
Think MF DOOM meets DELTRON 3030. Guests include SAUL WILLIAMS.
BLACK FEELINGS
"Borrow quite heavily from pop music and traditional forms, with melodies emerging out of the din, but also manage to hit left of centre with some modern, driving psych mixed into their occasional noise squelch." Two of these guys used to be in an excellent post-punk band called LES ANGLES MORTS, and while the CJAM library doesn't have any of their albums, if you like Black Feelings, you'll want to check out their last band too. RIYL: Liars.
BK-ONE
Brother Ali's DJ brings a Brazilian sound to this new hip-hop album featuring blazing guest verses by SLUG, BROTHER ALI, ACEYALONE, ABSTRACT RUDE, MYKA 9, RAEKWON, PHONTE, BLACK THOUGHT, P.O.S., BLUEPRINT, MURS, SCARFACE, and many more.
COREY HARRIS
A bit of blues, but a bit more reggae influence than anything else, so we will file it under the later category.
CORPORATION
Ska-punk from Mississauga.
DARIUS JONES TRIO
"A phenomenal debut, Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) presents the singular artistry of Darius Jones; a new voice poised to receive widespread acclaim from the jazz underground." -- AllAboutJazz.com
DAWES
Los Angeles band has a folk/rock sound that might appeal to fans of SON VOLT, WILCO, and that sort. You might find something on this CD that goes well with a selection from the new AVETT BROTHERS album.
DEAD MAN'S BONES
"This was intended to be a soundtrack to a play about a monster-ghost-love-story. When Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling met in 2005 and discovered their mutual obsession with ghosts, they decided to write the afore-mentioned ghastly love story. Scrapping the stage show when costs became prohibitive, they already had songs written and decided to continue. The pair chose to play all the instruments on the record, even those they had never touched before. They also imposed rules on themselves during the recording process, like not playing with a click track, or trying to do no more than three takes on any song, letting any imperfections highlight the strengths of the music."
DEVIL EYES
You may have played the 7-inch they released a couple months ago, but if not, check out their new CD. "Their music is a raw and lean explosion of garage, no wave, klezmer, noise, blues, metal and Japanese punk."
DJ CHAMPION
Montreal DJ blends electro and big rock guitars on his latest album. Not a fan of the vocals, but otherwise there are some things to like here.
DUPLEX
Veda Hille and members of GREAT AUNT IDA, P:ANO, and THE NEINS, team up with some children for an album of maximum cute.
ENSEMBLE POLARIS
Scandinavian-inspired classical musicianship featuring original works and interpretations of Nino Rota ("La Rumba" is from Fellini's 8 1/2), Leonard Bernstein ("You Lovely Island" features melodies inspired by West Side Story), and more.
FIVE HOLE
Dave Bidini, Martin Tielli, Ford Pier and two others wrote some songs about hockey. So did D.O.A. and so did Stompin' Tom.
GITHEAD
Not overly impressive but many of you will be interested to know that this band features Colin Newman of WIRE, and Robin Rimbaud who normally makes groundbreaking experimental electronic music using the name SCANNER. Unfortunately, this is just a by-the-numbers post-punk lite album.
GROOMS
Death By Audio is a company that makes boutique guitar pedals used by bands ranging from A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS to U2, and it's also the name of a venue in Brooklyn, NY. "Grooms are three friends in Brooklyn who play a structurally mutilated brand of noise-pop featuring blissful interplay, sonic experimentation, and song destruction. Rejoicer showcases sounds from broken noise-surf to campfire-seance drone." Recommended headphone listening.
THE HEAVY
Rock-based record which leans toward '60s r & b and soul.
JAMES HUSBAND
Member of OF MONTREAL has a solo album.
JEAN-PAUL DE ROOVER
Incredibly nice, intelligent, and accomplished solo artist who relies on live looping to build up his songs in a live environment in the same way as a FINAL FANTASY or ANDREW BIRD, but acoustic guitar seems to be his main instrument of choice. Bonus tidbit: I had to cut it down to fit into our CD shelves, but this album normally folds open into the shape of a house.
JIMI TENOR / TONY ALLEN
"Tenor plays most of the melodic instruments (including tenor sax, keyboards, bass, kalimba, zither, koto and marimba) and sings on Selfish Gene and Darker Side of Night in a strangulated falsetto, vaguely suggestive of Sly Stone. His Berlin-based band Kabu Kabu includes Cuban trumpeter Daniel Allen Ortiz and percussionists Ekow Alabi Savage and Akinola Famson, from Ghana and Nigeria respectively. Their broken English banter on Mama England satirises the problems non-EU musicians face when trying to get into the UK, drawing on their own bitter experience."
JOE MORRIS QUARTET
"Morris is a master of mixing total improvisational freedom with a realization that swing can be just as liberating as skronk, that a clean tone can say as much as, if not more than, a coruscating flood-tide of noise. Indeed, this album is so pretty that its adventurousness may slip right by on the first few listens. In other words, it's worth spending time with and getting to know." -- AllMusic.com
LACKTHEREOF
Side project featuring Danny from MENOMENA and this album covers his best songs over the last 10 years. You're missing out if you haven't played anything from the other Menomena side-project called RAMONA FALLS (on-air library #234).
LANGUAGE ARTS
A definite recommendation for fans of MOTHER MOTHER. "Celebrating obscurities and word entanglements with poetic poise, paired with an alt-rock foundation yet fleshed out with classical instrumentation. Cudmore's classical guitar blends beautifully with the double bass and the occasional string quartet." Great lyrics on this album too.
LITTLE GIRLS
You might regard this Toronto band as sounding like a cross between BLACK LIPS, KING KHAN, and an instrumental version of JOY DIVISION. In other words, it's pretty great.
MILES BENJAMIN ANTHONY ROBINSON
Might it peak your interest to know that the album was co-produced by Kyp of TV On The Radio, and that TVOTR are pretty big supporters of Mile's music?
MOODSWING ORCHESTRA
"Imagine the sprawling orchestral work of Godspeed You! Black Emperor injected with innovative nuances of jazz and electronic components, and you'll be getting close."
MV & EE
"They combine Indian raga style composition with Appalachian folk and post-psychedelic electrical experimentalism. They use Western and Eastern acoustic instruments amplified and augmented with effects such as reverb, delay, and flange. Their compositions occasionally feature vocals, which are off-kilter and rambling, while seeming drugged."
NANCY ELIZABETH
English singer/songwriter "Nancy Elizabeth will gain immediate and widespread comparison to Joanna Newsom, because alongside her many other instruments (acoustic guitar, harmonium, dulcimer, etc.), she plays a small Celtic harp."
OI VA VOI
"Fused modern dance music, singer-songwriter sensitivity and their Jewish cultural heritage with global rhythms drawn from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond."
OLD CANES
Might appeal to fans of THE APPLESEED CAST or THE ANTLERS.
OX
I'm happy to report that the band's third album is just as excellent as their previous releases. "Burnout" is probably one of my favourite songs of the year, "Prom Queen" and "Ojibway Diner" are also quite excellent, as are the other four songs. To use a local example, like FIELD ASSEMBLY, Ox is pretty good at blurring the influences of college rock and folk music, and are quite tough to categorize. The CDDB had the genre of their latest album listed as "country," so we'll add it to our folk/roots section. If you're new to Ox and fall in love with this album, be sure to check out "American Lofi" and "Dustbowl Revival," and see them in November when they play at Phog with BARZIN.
RUSSIAN CIRCLES
More Mogwai-ian instrumental post-rock.
THE SECRETARIES
Edmonton band reminded me of THE GOSSIP quite a bit, but their MySpace page suggests influences like Neil Young and Deep Purple.
THE VIDEO DEAD
Hardcore punk band from Burlington should appeal to existing fans of THE HOSTAGE LIFE, THE SNIPS, THE FULLBLAST, etc., etc.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED
Fredericton metal band is yet another great addition to the Diminished Fifth label.
ZOOT WOMAN
"Things are What They Used to Be" is a huge development for Zoot Woman's dark, melodic electronic style. Keeping with elements of atmospheric style hooks and beautiful synth patterns, this record shows a more solidified and mature sound, with more of a euphoric twist. Check this if you like ROYKSOPP or a more powerful JUNIOR BOYS/THE NOTWIST." -- Brandon Webb
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
131 new albums added to our on-air library this week. Here's a full list of them, followed by reviews/summaries of as many as we could find time for. Make a request on your favourite CJAM music program!
ARTIST ALBUM
7 Worlds Collide The Sun Came Out
A Fine Frenzy Bomb In A Birdcage
Acres And Acres All Nations
Air Love 2
Alert The Medic We, The Weapon
Assassinate The Following Massacre Of The North
Atlas Sound Logos
Baba Brinkman Apocalyptic Utopian Dreams In The Western Wilderness
Benny Reid Escaping Shadows
Bisso Na Bisso Africa
Black Heart Procession, The Six
Black Hollies, The Softly Towards The Light
Black Seeds, The Solid Ground
Boys Noize Power
Brand New Daisy
Breakestra Dusk Till Dawn
British Columbians, The The British Columbians
Brother Ali Us
Built To Spill There Is No Enemy
Califone All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Castanets Texas Rose, The Thaw & The Beasts
Children Of Bodom Skeletons In The Closet
Clientele, The Bonfires On The Heath
Cuff The Duke Way Down Here
Curtis Stigers Lost In Dreams
D. Black Ali'yah
Dead Letters, The The Dead Letters
Diableros, The Old Story, Fresh Road
Do Make Say Think Other Truths
Dragonette Fixin To Thrill
Dutchess And The Duke, The Sunset/Sunrise
Fall Of Troy, The In The Unlikely Event
Forro In The Dark Light A Candle
Fugitives, The Find Me
Gaslamp Killer, The All Killer. Finder's Keepers Record 1-20
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Gurrumul
Gogol Bordello Live From Axis Mundi
Golden Eagles, The The Golden Eagles
Gordon Gano & The Ryans Under The Sun
Grant-Lee Phillips Little Moon
Harris Eisenstadt Canada Day
Head Funk, The Creme De La Crème
Headlights Wildlife
Hockey Mind Chaos
Hudson Mohawke Butter
Ian Brown My Way
Imogen Heap Ellipse
In Defence Into The Sewer
Insomnium Across The Dark
Islands Vapours
Jamie T Kings & Queens
JD Souther If The World Was You
Joe Louis Walker Between A Rock And The Blues
John Wojciechowski Lexicon
Kae Sun Lion On A Leash
Karl Blau Zebra
Ken Aldcroft's Convergence Ensemble Our Hospitality
Kent McAlister & The Iron Choir How I'll Remain
Land Of Talk Fun And Laughter
Langhorne Slim Be Set Free
Little Foot Long Foot Harsh Words
Living Colour The Chair In The Doorway
Lost Fingers, The Lost In The 80s
Lou Barlow Goodnight Unknown
Louwop The Dirty General The Great Escape
M.E.M.O.R.Y. Lab, The Modern Expressing Machines of Revolutionary Youth
Magneta Lane Gambling With God
Manic Street Preachers Journal For Plague Lovers
Marcia Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy Good Time Music For Hard Times
Mark Takeshi McGregor Different Stones
Michael Yonkers With The Blind Shake Cold Town/Soft Zodiac
Modernboys Moderngirls I Might As Well Break It
Moneen The World I Want To Leave Behind
Monotonix Where Were You When It Happened?
Monsters Of Folk Monsters Of Folk
Music Go Music Expressions
Ninety Pounds Of Ugly Richmond Motel Room #3
No Age Losing Feeling
Noah And The Whale The First Days Of Spring
Noisettes Wild Young Hearts
Orenda Fink Ask The Night
Oromocto Diamond Le Choc Du Futua
Orphan Choir Orphan Choir
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Higher Than The Stars
Parlour Steps The Hidden Names
Pastels/Tenniscoats Two Sunsets
Paul Renz In My Own Hands
Peace Slow Children
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Break Up
Po' Girl Deer In The Night
Poncho Sanchez Psychedelic Blues
Rain Machine Rain Machine
Ramsey Lewis Songs From The Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey
Raveonettes, The In And Out Of Control
Revocation Existence Is Futile
Richard Hawley Truelove's Gutter
Rival Consoles IO
Rodrigo Y Gabriela 11:11
Rose Melberg Homemade Ship
Said The Whale Islands Disappear
Same Latitude As Rome The Faerie Queen & Other Stories
Satomi Saeki Japanese Koto Music
Sea Wolf White Water, White Bloom
Shaky Hands, The Let It Die
Silver Starling Silver Starling
Six Organs Of Admittance Luminous Night
Sole And The Skyrider Band Plastique
Solidarity Overcome
Soundtrack Where The Wild Things Are
Spencer Day Vagabond
Strung Out Agents Of The Underground
Taketron Slavic Soul Party
Tinsley Ellis Speak No Evil
Todor Kobakov Pop Music
Tony Wilson Sextet, The The People Look Like Flowers At Last
Turbo Fruits Echo Kid
Various Tumbele! Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds…
Various Things About Comin' My Way
Various The New Gold Standard 2
Various Everybody Dance Now 4: Songs From Hamilton
Via Tania Moon Sweet Moon
Viviane Houle Treize
Volcano Choir Unmap
Whale Tooth Whale Tooth
Wheat Pool, The Hauntario
White Wizzard High Speed G.T.O.
Will Hoge The Wreckage
You Say Party! We Say Die! XXXX
Yukon Blonde Everything In Everyway
Zero 7 Yeah Ghost
Zoe Trio For The Community
7 WORLDS COLLIDE
"Crowded House's Neil Finn leads a number of artists-- members of Radiohead and Wilco, Johnny Marr, and Lisa Germano-- on this ambitious 2xCD project."
ACRES AND ACRES
"Inspired by the feel of Neil Young's Harvest album, and guided by an approach not unlike the Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Sessions."
BENNY REID
"Sophomore album from alto saxophonist and bandleader."
THE BLACK HOLLIES
Mix of soul, British blues, and garage rock.
THE BLACK SEEDS
Reggae/soul from New Zealand with maybe a little funk and dub thrown in the mix.
BREAKESTRA
For 2009, Breakestra return with their long-awaited sophomore set, exploring all colours of the funk spectrum.
THE BRITISH COLUMBIANS
Most of the songs sound like they have a BLACK KEYS influence, but preview before playing because some are more folk than rock.
THE DEAD LETTERS
Shared love of Ennio Morricone led to this trio pay homage to the "Spaghetti Western" frontier.
FORRO IN THE DARK
"Hip-swiveling, dancefloor-filling, rural party music" by a "collective of four New York-based Brazilian ex-pats."
GASLAMP KILLER
Not a new album necessarily, but a DJ mix featuring selections from the B-Music/Finders Keepers catalog.
GORDON GANO & THE RYANS
Newest solo album by the singer/songwriter of The Violent Femmes.
HARRIS EISENSTADT
Definitely born a Canadian, "the Brooklyn-based drummer/composer's eighth recording as a bandleader, Canada Day documents Eisenstadt's book of originals for the band, developed at gigs around New York and beyond for the past two years."
HEADLIGHTS
Indie pop trio were probably influenced by bands like Yo La Tengo, and should appeal to current fans of The Rosebuds, Rilo Kiley, and/or The Submarines.
HUDSON MOHAWKE
"Glossy, hyper-real pop production." Quite enjoyable as to be expected by Warp Records.
IN DEFENCE
NY hardcore, pizza punk, and thrash influences are all here in this short but sweet album.
KAE SUN
Sometimes singing and sometimes rhyming (think K'nann) over top of sometimes soul-jazz and sometimes slow R&B music.
KENT MCALISTER
Spanish-flavoured tales of nautical slavery, witty beer-soaked laments, and the temptation of murderous revenge. Captures the grit and honesty of traditional country music, all the while intertwining his music with a progressive mix of rock and jazz."
LANGHORNE SLIM
"Be Set Free is Langhorne’s most cinematic and cohesive effort to date. Slim has truly reached a point of light where these songs come from wide-eyed maturity and mastered craft."
LITTLE FOOT LONG FOOT
Imagine a split gender version of The Pack A.D. from Toronto.
LIVING COLOUR
Second album since reuniting from the band that fused heavy metal, funk, hard rock, free jazz, and hardcore punk.
THE LOST FINGERS
A gypsy-jazz trio from Quebec City who cover pop songs, so I guess that makes them comparable to say, The Bad Plus. I'm not a fan of this but I'm sure someone will play it.
LOU BARLOW
Dinosaur Jr./Sebadoh/Folk Implosion master mind adds another solo album to his long and often underrated discography.
MICHAEL YONKERS WITH THE BLIND SHAKE
Some nice noisy garage rock here on somewhat of a split album. Really nice graphic design on the package too!
MONOTONIX
New full-length from the crazy Israeli garage rock band.
MONSTERS OF FOLK
Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, Jim James + M. Ward.
NINETY POUNDS OF UGLY
"Country-tinged, rockabilly-infused, obscenity-sprinkled tales of drinking, stinking and thinking. Patsy Clash leads the band with her fiery crooning and spit-in-your-face attitude. Raised on a diet of Teenage Head and Nick Cave, Patsy brings a saucy sex appeal to the band, putting a high-ball sheen on some low-brow topics."
ORENDA FINK
Half of Azure Ray releases her second solo album with her distinct voice. "Subtle genre hints emerge such as old-time waltz, country, folk and haunting bluegrass, while the instrumentation includes acoustic and slide guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion, violin, upright bass, pump organ."
OROMOCTO DIAMOND
Fans of YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE! and WET SECRETS will like this one. "After a pilgrimage in New Brunswick, Sam Murdock (Lesbo Vrouven) and Pascal Asselin (Millimetrik) had a revolutionary vision of a meteorite crashing into the small town of Oromocto, a revelation that will unfold on five recordings (3 cds & 2 vinyls) over 18 months."
PASTELS/TENNISCOATS
Scotland + Japan
THE PARLOUR STEPS
"Parlour Steps has at various times evoked comparisons to the brainy pop of XTC, the drama of Arcade Fire, the lyrical focus of Sufjan Stevens and the snappy rhythmic grip of the Pixies."
PEACE
Post-punk from Vancouver. Many of you will like this a lot.
PETE YORN & SCARLETT JOHANSSON
An album of duets recorded in 2006 inspired by late-1960s recordings of artists like Serge Gainsbourg, Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot. Better than Yorn's last album, but I still prefer Johansson's first solo album where her voice sounded a little more unique.
RAIN MACHINE
Kyp of TV On The Radio has a solo album. He likes to whistle.
RIVAL CONSOLES
"Clever and complex mix of hard-hitting beats with catchy acid melodies."
ROSE MELBERG
Gentle, finger-picked acoustic alt.folk/pop.
SEA WOLF
Alex Brown Church has a voice that sometimes reminds me of Win Butler, and it's pretty noticable on the first track. As is the case with the last two Sea Wolf albums, it's hard to find anything to fault or dislike about anything here.
SHAKY HANDS
"Drowning pop compositions in jittery poly-rhythms... indie rock's move du jour. but The Shaky Hands aren't trendy; they make fine-boned classic rock'n'roll."
SILVER STARLING
"Canadian supergroup including touring members of the great Arcade Fire and Stars. Debut record mixed by one of the band members who helped Arcade Fire on their Neon Bible record and Peter Katis (Interpol, The National)."
SPENCER DAY
Male jazz vocalist might appeal to those who like Harry Connick Jr.
TINSLEY ELLIS
Some really enjoyable electric blues here.
TODOR KOVAKOV
Remember when Gonzalez did that album of solo piano songs? If you liked it, you'll want to check out this. Oh yeah, Emily Haines and Tunde of TV On The Radio are on this.
VIA TANIA
RIYL: Laura Barrett, Joanna Newsom.
VOLCANO CHOIR
COllection Of Colines Of Bees + Bon Iver using his voice mostly as an instrument.
THE WHEAT POOL
"Hauntario is the sophomore recording by this western Canadian indie-alt-country band, an evolved collection of songs brimming with the layered tensions of their lives, played out between albums." Check out the album cover photo taken in Windsor.
ZOE TRIO
"Debut album is a dark, aggressive and intense instrumental trip through funk, fusion, surf and dub styles. If the Band of Gypsies did the soundtrack to a film noir about alien abduction, it might sound like this album."
ARTIST ALBUM
7 Worlds Collide The Sun Came Out
A Fine Frenzy Bomb In A Birdcage
Acres And Acres All Nations
Air Love 2
Alert The Medic We, The Weapon
Assassinate The Following Massacre Of The North
Atlas Sound Logos
Baba Brinkman Apocalyptic Utopian Dreams In The Western Wilderness
Benny Reid Escaping Shadows
Bisso Na Bisso Africa
Black Heart Procession, The Six
Black Hollies, The Softly Towards The Light
Black Seeds, The Solid Ground
Boys Noize Power
Brand New Daisy
Breakestra Dusk Till Dawn
British Columbians, The The British Columbians
Brother Ali Us
Built To Spill There Is No Enemy
Califone All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Castanets Texas Rose, The Thaw & The Beasts
Children Of Bodom Skeletons In The Closet
Clientele, The Bonfires On The Heath
Cuff The Duke Way Down Here
Curtis Stigers Lost In Dreams
D. Black Ali'yah
Dead Letters, The The Dead Letters
Diableros, The Old Story, Fresh Road
Do Make Say Think Other Truths
Dragonette Fixin To Thrill
Dutchess And The Duke, The Sunset/Sunrise
Fall Of Troy, The In The Unlikely Event
Forro In The Dark Light A Candle
Fugitives, The Find Me
Gaslamp Killer, The All Killer. Finder's Keepers Record 1-20
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Gurrumul
Gogol Bordello Live From Axis Mundi
Golden Eagles, The The Golden Eagles
Gordon Gano & The Ryans Under The Sun
Grant-Lee Phillips Little Moon
Harris Eisenstadt Canada Day
Head Funk, The Creme De La Crème
Headlights Wildlife
Hockey Mind Chaos
Hudson Mohawke Butter
Ian Brown My Way
Imogen Heap Ellipse
In Defence Into The Sewer
Insomnium Across The Dark
Islands Vapours
Jamie T Kings & Queens
JD Souther If The World Was You
Joe Louis Walker Between A Rock And The Blues
John Wojciechowski Lexicon
Kae Sun Lion On A Leash
Karl Blau Zebra
Ken Aldcroft's Convergence Ensemble Our Hospitality
Kent McAlister & The Iron Choir How I'll Remain
Land Of Talk Fun And Laughter
Langhorne Slim Be Set Free
Little Foot Long Foot Harsh Words
Living Colour The Chair In The Doorway
Lost Fingers, The Lost In The 80s
Lou Barlow Goodnight Unknown
Louwop The Dirty General The Great Escape
M.E.M.O.R.Y. Lab, The Modern Expressing Machines of Revolutionary Youth
Magneta Lane Gambling With God
Manic Street Preachers Journal For Plague Lovers
Marcia Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy Good Time Music For Hard Times
Mark Takeshi McGregor Different Stones
Michael Yonkers With The Blind Shake Cold Town/Soft Zodiac
Modernboys Moderngirls I Might As Well Break It
Moneen The World I Want To Leave Behind
Monotonix Where Were You When It Happened?
Monsters Of Folk Monsters Of Folk
Music Go Music Expressions
Ninety Pounds Of Ugly Richmond Motel Room #3
No Age Losing Feeling
Noah And The Whale The First Days Of Spring
Noisettes Wild Young Hearts
Orenda Fink Ask The Night
Oromocto Diamond Le Choc Du Futua
Orphan Choir Orphan Choir
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Higher Than The Stars
Parlour Steps The Hidden Names
Pastels/Tenniscoats Two Sunsets
Paul Renz In My Own Hands
Peace Slow Children
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Break Up
Po' Girl Deer In The Night
Poncho Sanchez Psychedelic Blues
Rain Machine Rain Machine
Ramsey Lewis Songs From The Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey
Raveonettes, The In And Out Of Control
Revocation Existence Is Futile
Richard Hawley Truelove's Gutter
Rival Consoles IO
Rodrigo Y Gabriela 11:11
Rose Melberg Homemade Ship
Said The Whale Islands Disappear
Same Latitude As Rome The Faerie Queen & Other Stories
Satomi Saeki Japanese Koto Music
Sea Wolf White Water, White Bloom
Shaky Hands, The Let It Die
Silver Starling Silver Starling
Six Organs Of Admittance Luminous Night
Sole And The Skyrider Band Plastique
Solidarity Overcome
Soundtrack Where The Wild Things Are
Spencer Day Vagabond
Strung Out Agents Of The Underground
Taketron Slavic Soul Party
Tinsley Ellis Speak No Evil
Todor Kobakov Pop Music
Tony Wilson Sextet, The The People Look Like Flowers At Last
Turbo Fruits Echo Kid
Various Tumbele! Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds…
Various Things About Comin' My Way
Various The New Gold Standard 2
Various Everybody Dance Now 4: Songs From Hamilton
Via Tania Moon Sweet Moon
Viviane Houle Treize
Volcano Choir Unmap
Whale Tooth Whale Tooth
Wheat Pool, The Hauntario
White Wizzard High Speed G.T.O.
Will Hoge The Wreckage
You Say Party! We Say Die! XXXX
Yukon Blonde Everything In Everyway
Zero 7 Yeah Ghost
Zoe Trio For The Community
7 WORLDS COLLIDE
"Crowded House's Neil Finn leads a number of artists-- members of Radiohead and Wilco, Johnny Marr, and Lisa Germano-- on this ambitious 2xCD project."
ACRES AND ACRES
"Inspired by the feel of Neil Young's Harvest album, and guided by an approach not unlike the Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Sessions."
BENNY REID
"Sophomore album from alto saxophonist and bandleader."
THE BLACK HOLLIES
Mix of soul, British blues, and garage rock.
THE BLACK SEEDS
Reggae/soul from New Zealand with maybe a little funk and dub thrown in the mix.
BREAKESTRA
For 2009, Breakestra return with their long-awaited sophomore set, exploring all colours of the funk spectrum.
THE BRITISH COLUMBIANS
Most of the songs sound like they have a BLACK KEYS influence, but preview before playing because some are more folk than rock.
THE DEAD LETTERS
Shared love of Ennio Morricone led to this trio pay homage to the "Spaghetti Western" frontier.
FORRO IN THE DARK
"Hip-swiveling, dancefloor-filling, rural party music" by a "collective of four New York-based Brazilian ex-pats."
GASLAMP KILLER
Not a new album necessarily, but a DJ mix featuring selections from the B-Music/Finders Keepers catalog.
GORDON GANO & THE RYANS
Newest solo album by the singer/songwriter of The Violent Femmes.
HARRIS EISENSTADT
Definitely born a Canadian, "the Brooklyn-based drummer/composer's eighth recording as a bandleader, Canada Day documents Eisenstadt's book of originals for the band, developed at gigs around New York and beyond for the past two years."
HEADLIGHTS
Indie pop trio were probably influenced by bands like Yo La Tengo, and should appeal to current fans of The Rosebuds, Rilo Kiley, and/or The Submarines.
HUDSON MOHAWKE
"Glossy, hyper-real pop production." Quite enjoyable as to be expected by Warp Records.
IN DEFENCE
NY hardcore, pizza punk, and thrash influences are all here in this short but sweet album.
KAE SUN
Sometimes singing and sometimes rhyming (think K'nann) over top of sometimes soul-jazz and sometimes slow R&B music.
KENT MCALISTER
Spanish-flavoured tales of nautical slavery, witty beer-soaked laments, and the temptation of murderous revenge. Captures the grit and honesty of traditional country music, all the while intertwining his music with a progressive mix of rock and jazz."
LANGHORNE SLIM
"Be Set Free is Langhorne’s most cinematic and cohesive effort to date. Slim has truly reached a point of light where these songs come from wide-eyed maturity and mastered craft."
LITTLE FOOT LONG FOOT
Imagine a split gender version of The Pack A.D. from Toronto.
LIVING COLOUR
Second album since reuniting from the band that fused heavy metal, funk, hard rock, free jazz, and hardcore punk.
THE LOST FINGERS
A gypsy-jazz trio from Quebec City who cover pop songs, so I guess that makes them comparable to say, The Bad Plus. I'm not a fan of this but I'm sure someone will play it.
LOU BARLOW
Dinosaur Jr./Sebadoh/Folk Implosion master mind adds another solo album to his long and often underrated discography.
MICHAEL YONKERS WITH THE BLIND SHAKE
Some nice noisy garage rock here on somewhat of a split album. Really nice graphic design on the package too!
MONOTONIX
New full-length from the crazy Israeli garage rock band.
MONSTERS OF FOLK
Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, Jim James + M. Ward.
NINETY POUNDS OF UGLY
"Country-tinged, rockabilly-infused, obscenity-sprinkled tales of drinking, stinking and thinking. Patsy Clash leads the band with her fiery crooning and spit-in-your-face attitude. Raised on a diet of Teenage Head and Nick Cave, Patsy brings a saucy sex appeal to the band, putting a high-ball sheen on some low-brow topics."
ORENDA FINK
Half of Azure Ray releases her second solo album with her distinct voice. "Subtle genre hints emerge such as old-time waltz, country, folk and haunting bluegrass, while the instrumentation includes acoustic and slide guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion, violin, upright bass, pump organ."
OROMOCTO DIAMOND
Fans of YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE! and WET SECRETS will like this one. "After a pilgrimage in New Brunswick, Sam Murdock (Lesbo Vrouven) and Pascal Asselin (Millimetrik) had a revolutionary vision of a meteorite crashing into the small town of Oromocto, a revelation that will unfold on five recordings (3 cds & 2 vinyls) over 18 months."
PASTELS/TENNISCOATS
Scotland + Japan
THE PARLOUR STEPS
"Parlour Steps has at various times evoked comparisons to the brainy pop of XTC, the drama of Arcade Fire, the lyrical focus of Sufjan Stevens and the snappy rhythmic grip of the Pixies."
PEACE
Post-punk from Vancouver. Many of you will like this a lot.
PETE YORN & SCARLETT JOHANSSON
An album of duets recorded in 2006 inspired by late-1960s recordings of artists like Serge Gainsbourg, Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot. Better than Yorn's last album, but I still prefer Johansson's first solo album where her voice sounded a little more unique.
RAIN MACHINE
Kyp of TV On The Radio has a solo album. He likes to whistle.
RIVAL CONSOLES
"Clever and complex mix of hard-hitting beats with catchy acid melodies."
ROSE MELBERG
Gentle, finger-picked acoustic alt.folk/pop.
SEA WOLF
Alex Brown Church has a voice that sometimes reminds me of Win Butler, and it's pretty noticable on the first track. As is the case with the last two Sea Wolf albums, it's hard to find anything to fault or dislike about anything here.
SHAKY HANDS
"Drowning pop compositions in jittery poly-rhythms... indie rock's move du jour. but The Shaky Hands aren't trendy; they make fine-boned classic rock'n'roll."
SILVER STARLING
"Canadian supergroup including touring members of the great Arcade Fire and Stars. Debut record mixed by one of the band members who helped Arcade Fire on their Neon Bible record and Peter Katis (Interpol, The National)."
SPENCER DAY
Male jazz vocalist might appeal to those who like Harry Connick Jr.
TINSLEY ELLIS
Some really enjoyable electric blues here.
TODOR KOVAKOV
Remember when Gonzalez did that album of solo piano songs? If you liked it, you'll want to check out this. Oh yeah, Emily Haines and Tunde of TV On The Radio are on this.
VIA TANIA
RIYL: Laura Barrett, Joanna Newsom.
VOLCANO CHOIR
COllection Of Colines Of Bees + Bon Iver using his voice mostly as an instrument.
THE WHEAT POOL
"Hauntario is the sophomore recording by this western Canadian indie-alt-country band, an evolved collection of songs brimming with the layered tensions of their lives, played out between albums." Check out the album cover photo taken in Windsor.
ZOE TRIO
"Debut album is a dark, aggressive and intense instrumental trip through funk, fusion, surf and dub styles. If the Band of Gypsies did the soundtrack to a film noir about alien abduction, it might sound like this album."
Monday, September 21, 2009
CJAM PLEDGE DRIVE 2009 LIST OF MUSICAL INCENTIVES!!!
Check out this fantastic list of music-based incentives that can be yours for contributing to during our 2009 funding drive!!!! To donate, tune into 91.5 FM, call 519-971-3630 (Windsor) or 313-963-6112 Ext 3630 (Detroit), or pledge online at www.CJAM.ca!
MAGIC BAG TICKET GIVEAWAYS
Our friends at The Magic Bag have provided us with tickets to some of their excellent upcoming concerts.
PORTUGAL. THE MAN performing October 13th -- $30 pledge earns one pair of tickets. (3 pairs available)
FIERY FURNACES performing November 11th -- $30 pledge earns one pair of tickets. (1 pair available)
VINYL PACK -- $30 (Note: due to the large size of this prize, it must be picked up at the station.)
Carbon Dating Service “Reliquiae”
High Watt Electrocutions “Desert Opuses”
Of Montreal “Skeletal Lamping”
Stardeath And White Dwarfs “Stardeath And White Dwarfs” (rare promo copy)
MINT RECORDS PRIZE PACK -- $40 (Note: due to the large size of this prize, it must be picked up at the station.)
Contains: Neko Case t-shirt, Mint Records t-shirt, tote bag, mug, sunglasses, pins, and CDs by Novillero, Hot Panda, and Immaculate Machine.
KILLBEAT PRIZE PACK #1 -- $30
KILLBEAT PRIZE PACK #2 -- $30
Each prize pack contains TEN CDs by Canadian bands promoted by the Killbeat Promotions company.
MYSTERY SURPRISE PACKS -- $20
Three great CDs for one low donation. What CDs will they be? Hey, that's the surprise!
* Alternative Pack #1
* Alternative Pack #2
* Alternative Pack #3
* Alternative Pack #4
* Folk/Roots/Blues Pack #1
* Folk/Roots/Blues Pack #2
* Loud Rock Pack #1
* Loud Rock Pack #2
* Electronic/Dance Pack #1
* Electronic/Dance Pack #2
* Jazz Pack #1
All of the following CDs are available for a minimum donation of $20!
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE:
A Place To Bury Strangers “In Your Heart” (RARE EP)
Anti-Flag "The People Or The Gun"
Chad VanGaalen "Soft Airplane"
The Cliks “Dirty King”
The Dead Weather "Horehound"
The Dears "Missiles"
Deerhunter "Microcastle"
The Donnas "Greatest Hits"
Final Fantasy "Spectrum 14th Century" (RARE PROMO COPY)
Grand Archives "Keep In Mind Frankenstein"
Grant-Lee Phillips "Little Moon"
Hidden Cameras “Origin: Orphan”
Jay Reatard "Watch Me Fall"
Kasabian "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"
Kiss "Sonic Boom" (3-disc set)
Le Loup “Family”
The Lovely Feathers "Fantasy Of The Lot"
Manic Street Preachers “Journal For Plague Lovers”
Mother Mother "Oh My Heart"
No Age "Losing Feeling" (RARE CD VERSION OF THIS VINYL-ONLY RELEASE)
Placebo "Battle For The Sun"
The Organ "Thieves"
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals "Cardinology"
Regina Spektor "Far"
Royal City "Greatest Hits"
Silversun Pickups "Swoon"
Spoon "Got Nuffin" (New 2009 EP)
The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary 2-disc reissue)
The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary 2-disc reissue)
The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary 2-disc reissue)
Spiral Beach “The Only Really Thing”
The Vaselines "Enter The Vaselines (Deluxe Edition)
Wet Secrets “Rock Fantasy”
Young Fresh Fellows "I Think This Is"
HIP-HOP/RAP/REGGAE:
Big Pun “The Legacy: Greatest Hits” (x2)
Classified "Self-Explanatory"
Common "Finding Forever"
Drake “So Far Gone”
God Made Me Funky "Welcome To Nu Funktonia"
Kid Cudi “Man On The Moon”
K'naan "Troubadour"
K-os "Yes!"
Nat King Cole "Re:Generations"
Raphael Saadiq "The Way I See It"
Reggae Pack #1
Reggae Pack #2
FOLK/ROOTS/BLUES:
Christina Courtin "Christina Courtin"
Duke Robillard "Stomp The Blues Tonight"
Jeff Healey "Songs From The Road"
Los Straitjackets "The Further Adventures Of"
Reverend Horton Heat "Laughin' & Cryin'"
Sara Watkins "Sara Watkins"
Timber Timbre "Timber Timbre"
Vic Chesnutt “At The Cut”
Willie Nelson "American Classic"
JAZZ/CLASSICAL/GOSPEL:
Allen Toussaint "The Bright Mississippi"
Bach "Keyboard Concertos"
The Blue Note 7 "Mosaic"
Classic Southern Gospel
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall "Anything Goes"
John Patitucci Trio "Remembrance"
Luciana Souza "Tide"
Mozart "Early Piano Concertos"
Mozart "Early Piano Concertos"
Robert Glasper "Double Booked"
Tchaikovksy "Piano Trio"
Terence Blanchard Group "Choices"
WORLD:
Amadou & Mariam "Welcome To Mali"
Black Rio 2: Original Samba Soul 1971-79
Calypsoul 70: Caribbean Soul & Calpyso Crossover 1969-79
Cissoko + Goetze "Sira"
Easy Star All Stars "Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band"
El Guincho "Alegranza"
The House Devils "Irish Folk"
Kailash Kher & Kailasa “Yatra (Nomadic Souls)”
Kimi Djabate "Karam"
Lhasa "Lhasa"
Orchestra Baobab "Made In Dakar"
Oumou Sangare "Seya"
Puerto Plata "Mujer De Cabaret"
Putumayo presents Italia
Sarazino “Ya Foy”
Rokia Traore "Tchamantche"
Tinashe Chidanyika "Sounds of The African Mbira"
ELECTRONIC:
Chromeo “DJ-Kicks”
The Crystal Method "Divided By Night"
Deadmau5 “At Play”
Junior Boys "Beyond Dull Care"
Justice "A Cross The Universe" (CD+DVD)
Major Lazer "Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do"
Moby "Wait For Me"
Nickodemus "Sun People"
Passion Pit "Manners"
The Prodigy "Invaders Must Die + Take Me To The Hospital remixes + Warrior’s Dance remixes (RARE!!!)"
Shout Out Out Out Out "Reintegration Time"
Tiga "Ciao!"
METAL:
Architects "Hollow Crown"
Bury Your Dead “It’s Nothing Personal”
Every Time I Die “New Junk Aesthetic”
Gallows "Grey Britain" (AUTOGRAPHED!!!)
Heaven & Hell "The Devil You Know"
High Watt Electrocutions "Desert Opuses"
Mastodon "Crack The Skye"
Pissed Jeans “King Of Jeans”
Saosin “In Search Of Solid Ground”
Stratovarius "Polaris"
LOCAL:
Explode When They Bloom "As The Animals Make Their Way..."
Fiftywatthead "Fogcutter"
The Golden Hands Before God
Johnny West “Creative Nightmares”
Measured In Angles "History Of The Engine"
Measured In Angles "History Of The Engine"
Measured In Angles "History Of The Engine"
Ten Indians "Havana" (reissue)
Ten Indians "Havana" (reissue)
Ten Indians "Havana" (reissue)
Check out this fantastic list of music-based incentives that can be yours for contributing to during our 2009 funding drive!!!! To donate, tune into 91.5 FM, call 519-971-3630 (Windsor) or 313-963-6112 Ext 3630 (Detroit), or pledge online at www.CJAM.ca!
MAGIC BAG TICKET GIVEAWAYS
Our friends at The Magic Bag have provided us with tickets to some of their excellent upcoming concerts.
PORTUGAL. THE MAN performing October 13th -- $30 pledge earns one pair of tickets. (3 pairs available)
FIERY FURNACES performing November 11th -- $30 pledge earns one pair of tickets. (1 pair available)
VINYL PACK -- $30 (Note: due to the large size of this prize, it must be picked up at the station.)
Carbon Dating Service “Reliquiae”
High Watt Electrocutions “Desert Opuses”
Of Montreal “Skeletal Lamping”
Stardeath And White Dwarfs “Stardeath And White Dwarfs” (rare promo copy)
MINT RECORDS PRIZE PACK -- $40 (Note: due to the large size of this prize, it must be picked up at the station.)
Contains: Neko Case t-shirt, Mint Records t-shirt, tote bag, mug, sunglasses, pins, and CDs by Novillero, Hot Panda, and Immaculate Machine.
KILLBEAT PRIZE PACK #1 -- $30
KILLBEAT PRIZE PACK #2 -- $30
Each prize pack contains TEN CDs by Canadian bands promoted by the Killbeat Promotions company.
MYSTERY SURPRISE PACKS -- $20
Three great CDs for one low donation. What CDs will they be? Hey, that's the surprise!
* Alternative Pack #1
* Alternative Pack #2
* Alternative Pack #3
* Alternative Pack #4
* Folk/Roots/Blues Pack #1
* Folk/Roots/Blues Pack #2
* Loud Rock Pack #1
* Loud Rock Pack #2
* Electronic/Dance Pack #1
* Electronic/Dance Pack #2
* Jazz Pack #1
All of the following CDs are available for a minimum donation of $20!
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE:
A Place To Bury Strangers “In Your Heart” (RARE EP)
Anti-Flag "The People Or The Gun"
Chad VanGaalen "Soft Airplane"
The Cliks “Dirty King”
The Dead Weather "Horehound"
The Dears "Missiles"
Deerhunter "Microcastle"
The Donnas "Greatest Hits"
Final Fantasy "Spectrum 14th Century" (RARE PROMO COPY)
Grand Archives "Keep In Mind Frankenstein"
Grant-Lee Phillips "Little Moon"
Hidden Cameras “Origin: Orphan”
Jay Reatard "Watch Me Fall"
Kasabian "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"
Kiss "Sonic Boom" (3-disc set)
Le Loup “Family”
The Lovely Feathers "Fantasy Of The Lot"
Manic Street Preachers “Journal For Plague Lovers”
Mother Mother "Oh My Heart"
No Age "Losing Feeling" (RARE CD VERSION OF THIS VINYL-ONLY RELEASE)
Placebo "Battle For The Sun"
The Organ "Thieves"
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals "Cardinology"
Regina Spektor "Far"
Royal City "Greatest Hits"
Silversun Pickups "Swoon"
Spoon "Got Nuffin" (New 2009 EP)
The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary 2-disc reissue)
The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary 2-disc reissue)
The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary 2-disc reissue)
Spiral Beach “The Only Really Thing”
The Vaselines "Enter The Vaselines (Deluxe Edition)
Wet Secrets “Rock Fantasy”
Young Fresh Fellows "I Think This Is"
HIP-HOP/RAP/REGGAE:
Big Pun “The Legacy: Greatest Hits” (x2)
Classified "Self-Explanatory"
Common "Finding Forever"
Drake “So Far Gone”
God Made Me Funky "Welcome To Nu Funktonia"
Kid Cudi “Man On The Moon”
K'naan "Troubadour"
K-os "Yes!"
Nat King Cole "Re:Generations"
Raphael Saadiq "The Way I See It"
Reggae Pack #1
Reggae Pack #2
FOLK/ROOTS/BLUES:
Christina Courtin "Christina Courtin"
Duke Robillard "Stomp The Blues Tonight"
Jeff Healey "Songs From The Road"
Los Straitjackets "The Further Adventures Of"
Reverend Horton Heat "Laughin' & Cryin'"
Sara Watkins "Sara Watkins"
Timber Timbre "Timber Timbre"
Vic Chesnutt “At The Cut”
Willie Nelson "American Classic"
JAZZ/CLASSICAL/GOSPEL:
Allen Toussaint "The Bright Mississippi"
Bach "Keyboard Concertos"
The Blue Note 7 "Mosaic"
Classic Southern Gospel
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall "Anything Goes"
John Patitucci Trio "Remembrance"
Luciana Souza "Tide"
Mozart "Early Piano Concertos"
Mozart "Early Piano Concertos"
Robert Glasper "Double Booked"
Tchaikovksy "Piano Trio"
Terence Blanchard Group "Choices"
WORLD:
Amadou & Mariam "Welcome To Mali"
Black Rio 2: Original Samba Soul 1971-79
Calypsoul 70: Caribbean Soul & Calpyso Crossover 1969-79
Cissoko + Goetze "Sira"
Easy Star All Stars "Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band"
El Guincho "Alegranza"
The House Devils "Irish Folk"
Kailash Kher & Kailasa “Yatra (Nomadic Souls)”
Kimi Djabate "Karam"
Lhasa "Lhasa"
Orchestra Baobab "Made In Dakar"
Oumou Sangare "Seya"
Puerto Plata "Mujer De Cabaret"
Putumayo presents Italia
Sarazino “Ya Foy”
Rokia Traore "Tchamantche"
Tinashe Chidanyika "Sounds of The African Mbira"
ELECTRONIC:
Chromeo “DJ-Kicks”
The Crystal Method "Divided By Night"
Deadmau5 “At Play”
Junior Boys "Beyond Dull Care"
Justice "A Cross The Universe" (CD+DVD)
Major Lazer "Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do"
Moby "Wait For Me"
Nickodemus "Sun People"
Passion Pit "Manners"
The Prodigy "Invaders Must Die + Take Me To The Hospital remixes + Warrior’s Dance remixes (RARE!!!)"
Shout Out Out Out Out "Reintegration Time"
Tiga "Ciao!"
METAL:
Architects "Hollow Crown"
Bury Your Dead “It’s Nothing Personal”
Every Time I Die “New Junk Aesthetic”
Gallows "Grey Britain" (AUTOGRAPHED!!!)
Heaven & Hell "The Devil You Know"
High Watt Electrocutions "Desert Opuses"
Mastodon "Crack The Skye"
Pissed Jeans “King Of Jeans”
Saosin “In Search Of Solid Ground”
Stratovarius "Polaris"
LOCAL:
Explode When They Bloom "As The Animals Make Their Way..."
Fiftywatthead "Fogcutter"
The Golden Hands Before God
Johnny West “Creative Nightmares”
Measured In Angles "History Of The Engine"
Measured In Angles "History Of The Engine"
Measured In Angles "History Of The Engine"
Ten Indians "Havana" (reissue)
Ten Indians "Havana" (reissue)
Ten Indians "Havana" (reissue)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Best:
BROWNOUT
While I'm no expert on the subject, this fun and upbeat album sounds like it combines latin jazz with afrobeat.
DARK MEAT
Imagine the Stooges meeting Crazy Horse with killer marching band horns, wailing gospel backing vocals, ripping Eddie Hazel guitar leads, and Albert Ayler free jazz freakouts. Athens' Dark Meat, a 17-piece hippie rock fest featuring double drums, boundless guitars, massive horns, strings, and ensemble voices, has been giving earth-shaking performances all over the south for the last three years.
LULLABYE ARKESTRA
Imagine HANDSOME FURS meets DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 as if they were both inspired by heavier metal influences. Kat Taylor-Small (she of DEEP DARK UNITED) and Justin Small (he of DO MAKE SAY THINK) have released their second album (their debut was one of my favourites of 2006) and it SHREDS! Don't ask questions or think twice -- just play it loud and often! P.S. This would sound good in a set featuring that new High Watt Electrocutions album too.
MORE OR LES & FRESH KILS
A "hyper-dense, super-compact collection of 7 dope songs (plus bonus) all produced by Fresh Kils. The EP features Backburner members Uncle Fester on the cuts, and Ghettosocks and Timbuktu on the kick-ass song "Pop N Chips" - and ode to Middle School Rap."
ØORN
What's this? Another new local artist who has provided CJAM with a CD copy of his album that is otherwise only available as a free download online! Yes, CJAM's Andrew Murphy (of Sonic North) has unleashed what his MySpace page describes as "minimalist experimental drone doom." In other words, it's full of songs that are going to scare your neighbours if played loud enough, mess with listener perception of CJAM, act as the soundtrack to the amateur horror film you've been working on for the last three years, and/or otherwise put a smile on your face. Play it often and support something other than the generic rock bands that seem to populate this city. http://www.myspace.com/oornmusic
RICK WHITE ALBUM
With hot sound of the moment bands like JAPANDROIDS blowing up, and Rick's long & legendary history with ERIC'S TRIP, JULIE DOIRON, THE SADIES, etc. I'm surprised that Rick White hasn't seen a deserved increase in fandom. We have 71 minutes of heavy psych rock with really great depth in the recording/production. While I recommend all 21 songs, "Perception" gave me chills.
TYONDAI BRAXTON
"On his second solo album, he takes a radically different course by composing for The Wordless Music Orchestra. Resulting in a mix of acoustic and electronic instrumentation; surprisingly pastoral moments give way to more clangorous passages that will immediately appeal to fans of Braxton’s other musical outfit, BATTLES. There are plenty of ominous, unsettling sounds but the sheer ambition of Central Market gives it an uplifting, almost joyful quality."
VARIOUS "Kind Of Bloop"
An 8-bit tribute album covering the Miles Davis classic "Kind Of Blue." This digital download cost me $5 (because I wanted it for my collection), but it's an interesting release/idea, so check it out.
The Rest:
ANDY MILNE and BENOIT DELBECQ
"A piano duo project like no other, Where is Pannonica? brings together two longtime friends for a 3-week composing/recording residency. A commission from Chamber Music America's French-America Jazz Exchange provided the impetus for this intensive exploration of the piano as a world of sound unto itself."
http://songlines.com/pannonicacontent.html
FOOL'S GOLD
New band with members of THE FALL, FOREIGN BORN, and WE ARE SCIENTISTS which supposedly makes "life-affirming afro-pop."
JEF AND THE HOLOGRAMS
Like KIDS ON TV? You'll probably like this too, but I can't recommend it.
JERRY GRANELLI
"It's easy to mention Jerry Granelli's accomplishments, but hard to really make clear his importance, or the way he's continuously, over forty years, been at the forefront of most of the innovations and new movements in jazz music - Granelli remains one of the best working drummers in any genre of music, but the band's just as fine - this is an electric-guitar quartet unlike any other."
http://songlines.com/vancouver08content.html
LET'S GO TO WAR
Ugh. Leave it to two wannabe hipsters from Toronto to borrow and dilute (to the fullest extent) influences ranging from dancehall to Southern hip-hop.
MEW
"Danish experimental dream-pop trio Mew return with No More Stories..., a towering masterpiece follow-up to their critically acclaimed breakthrough And The Glass Handed Kites. On their fifth album, Mew pushes their artfully weird and epic sound-labyrinthine arrangements of overlapping, unexpected harmonies and sugary heaven-bound vocals into a collection of songs with more catchy hooks than words in its extensive album title. The complete 23-word name comes from the lyrics of the middle record track "Hawaii Dream." Written and recorded in Brooklyn mostly (but also in Copenhagen and the south of France), No More Stories radiates warmth with the help of renowned producer Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Glasvegas)."
MIKKEL PLOUG, SISSEL VERA PETTERSEN AND JOACHIM BADENHORST
"A Danish guitarist, Norwegian vocalist/saxophonist, and Belgian reed player, in their late 20s/early 30s have pooled their talents, combining elements of jazz and classical chamber music/new music, Nordic folk music, western and non-western vocal traditions, free improvisation, and looped electronic voicescapes."
http://songlines.com/equilibriumcontent.html
MR. SCRUFF
"June 19th, 2009 marks the ten year anniversary of the release of Mr. Scruff's "Keep It Unreal". To celebrate this momentous occasion Ninja Tune and Scruff have enlisted the help of Kevin Metcalfe to remaster the whole album to make a very special anniversary edition. We've also thrown in six unreleased Scruff tunes as a birthday-type bonus!
PAT MCDONALD
Electric blues with covers of PJ Harvey and Iggy Pop.
SOLE & THE SKYRIDER BAND
"Their sound has evolved into a dark, tension filled sonic experience. Sole bounces from the ironic to the iconoclastic, from the worldly to the deeply personal. This is partly thanks to more immaculately composed music from multi-instrumentalist William Ryan Fritch, John Wagner(drummer) and Bud Berning(producer), and partly to Son Lux collaborator Doc Harril on the mixing boards. Featuring guest vocals from the Notwist’s Markus Archer and remixes by Tobacco and B. Fleischmenn."
STARTING TEETH
"It draws upon their unique beatscape universe, with their version of crazy glitch-hop, micro-house experimental loops and samples. With K.Flay, the bad-ass rap queen from Oakland, they deliver an awesome underground-hit “Weapons.” Also included are exclusives remixes off ST’s new album and a new track “Venom.” Over the past year, ST has performed with Mochipet, Larytta, Tim Exile, and Venetian Snares."
BROWNOUT
While I'm no expert on the subject, this fun and upbeat album sounds like it combines latin jazz with afrobeat.
DARK MEAT
Imagine the Stooges meeting Crazy Horse with killer marching band horns, wailing gospel backing vocals, ripping Eddie Hazel guitar leads, and Albert Ayler free jazz freakouts. Athens' Dark Meat, a 17-piece hippie rock fest featuring double drums, boundless guitars, massive horns, strings, and ensemble voices, has been giving earth-shaking performances all over the south for the last three years.
LULLABYE ARKESTRA
Imagine HANDSOME FURS meets DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 as if they were both inspired by heavier metal influences. Kat Taylor-Small (she of DEEP DARK UNITED) and Justin Small (he of DO MAKE SAY THINK) have released their second album (their debut was one of my favourites of 2006) and it SHREDS! Don't ask questions or think twice -- just play it loud and often! P.S. This would sound good in a set featuring that new High Watt Electrocutions album too.
MORE OR LES & FRESH KILS
A "hyper-dense, super-compact collection of 7 dope songs (plus bonus) all produced by Fresh Kils. The EP features Backburner members Uncle Fester on the cuts, and Ghettosocks and Timbuktu on the kick-ass song "Pop N Chips" - and ode to Middle School Rap."
ØORN
What's this? Another new local artist who has provided CJAM with a CD copy of his album that is otherwise only available as a free download online! Yes, CJAM's Andrew Murphy (of Sonic North) has unleashed what his MySpace page describes as "minimalist experimental drone doom." In other words, it's full of songs that are going to scare your neighbours if played loud enough, mess with listener perception of CJAM, act as the soundtrack to the amateur horror film you've been working on for the last three years, and/or otherwise put a smile on your face. Play it often and support something other than the generic rock bands that seem to populate this city. http://www.myspace.com/oornmusic
RICK WHITE ALBUM
With hot sound of the moment bands like JAPANDROIDS blowing up, and Rick's long & legendary history with ERIC'S TRIP, JULIE DOIRON, THE SADIES, etc. I'm surprised that Rick White hasn't seen a deserved increase in fandom. We have 71 minutes of heavy psych rock with really great depth in the recording/production. While I recommend all 21 songs, "Perception" gave me chills.
TYONDAI BRAXTON
"On his second solo album, he takes a radically different course by composing for The Wordless Music Orchestra. Resulting in a mix of acoustic and electronic instrumentation; surprisingly pastoral moments give way to more clangorous passages that will immediately appeal to fans of Braxton’s other musical outfit, BATTLES. There are plenty of ominous, unsettling sounds but the sheer ambition of Central Market gives it an uplifting, almost joyful quality."
VARIOUS "Kind Of Bloop"
An 8-bit tribute album covering the Miles Davis classic "Kind Of Blue." This digital download cost me $5 (because I wanted it for my collection), but it's an interesting release/idea, so check it out.
The Rest:
ANDY MILNE and BENOIT DELBECQ
"A piano duo project like no other, Where is Pannonica? brings together two longtime friends for a 3-week composing/recording residency. A commission from Chamber Music America's French-America Jazz Exchange provided the impetus for this intensive exploration of the piano as a world of sound unto itself."
http://songlines.com/pannonicacontent.html
FOOL'S GOLD
New band with members of THE FALL, FOREIGN BORN, and WE ARE SCIENTISTS which supposedly makes "life-affirming afro-pop."
JEF AND THE HOLOGRAMS
Like KIDS ON TV? You'll probably like this too, but I can't recommend it.
JERRY GRANELLI
"It's easy to mention Jerry Granelli's accomplishments, but hard to really make clear his importance, or the way he's continuously, over forty years, been at the forefront of most of the innovations and new movements in jazz music - Granelli remains one of the best working drummers in any genre of music, but the band's just as fine - this is an electric-guitar quartet unlike any other."
http://songlines.com/vancouver08content.html
LET'S GO TO WAR
Ugh. Leave it to two wannabe hipsters from Toronto to borrow and dilute (to the fullest extent) influences ranging from dancehall to Southern hip-hop.
MEW
"Danish experimental dream-pop trio Mew return with No More Stories..., a towering masterpiece follow-up to their critically acclaimed breakthrough And The Glass Handed Kites. On their fifth album, Mew pushes their artfully weird and epic sound-labyrinthine arrangements of overlapping, unexpected harmonies and sugary heaven-bound vocals into a collection of songs with more catchy hooks than words in its extensive album title. The complete 23-word name comes from the lyrics of the middle record track "Hawaii Dream." Written and recorded in Brooklyn mostly (but also in Copenhagen and the south of France), No More Stories radiates warmth with the help of renowned producer Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Glasvegas)."
MIKKEL PLOUG, SISSEL VERA PETTERSEN AND JOACHIM BADENHORST
"A Danish guitarist, Norwegian vocalist/saxophonist, and Belgian reed player, in their late 20s/early 30s have pooled their talents, combining elements of jazz and classical chamber music/new music, Nordic folk music, western and non-western vocal traditions, free improvisation, and looped electronic voicescapes."
http://songlines.com/equilibriumcontent.html
MR. SCRUFF
"June 19th, 2009 marks the ten year anniversary of the release of Mr. Scruff's "Keep It Unreal". To celebrate this momentous occasion Ninja Tune and Scruff have enlisted the help of Kevin Metcalfe to remaster the whole album to make a very special anniversary edition. We've also thrown in six unreleased Scruff tunes as a birthday-type bonus!
PAT MCDONALD
Electric blues with covers of PJ Harvey and Iggy Pop.
SOLE & THE SKYRIDER BAND
"Their sound has evolved into a dark, tension filled sonic experience. Sole bounces from the ironic to the iconoclastic, from the worldly to the deeply personal. This is partly thanks to more immaculately composed music from multi-instrumentalist William Ryan Fritch, John Wagner(drummer) and Bud Berning(producer), and partly to Son Lux collaborator Doc Harril on the mixing boards. Featuring guest vocals from the Notwist’s Markus Archer and remixes by Tobacco and B. Fleischmenn."
STARTING TEETH
"It draws upon their unique beatscape universe, with their version of crazy glitch-hop, micro-house experimental loops and samples. With K.Flay, the bad-ass rap queen from Oakland, they deliver an awesome underground-hit “Weapons.” Also included are exclusives remixes off ST’s new album and a new track “Venom.” Over the past year, ST has performed with Mochipet, Larytta, Tim Exile, and Venetian Snares."
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
BALCONIES, THE
"The Balconies are indeed a very cool outfit; the three-piece Ottawa group has a fairly distinct post-punk aesthtic that calls to mind such disparate influences as Joy Division, Portishead, Sleater-Kinney and the Smiths. Guitarist/Vocalist Jacquie Neville has a powerful, deeply ethereal voice that is matched every step by her precise, angular guitar work." Playing at Phog on October 8th with The Whitsundays.
BRONZED CHORUS
Instrumental post-rock that will appeal to fans of TORTOISE, ALOHA, BALMOREAH, and/or MASERATI.
CASUAL SAX
Another album of instrumental hip-hop for ya.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
For all the NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL worshippers around the station, I find it funny that albums by Circulatory System and Olivia Tremor Control never get played. Here's a chance to rectify that, and yes, Jeff Mangum and Julian Koster of NMH appear on this album.
THE CLEAN
"Mister Pop sees The Clean continue the great pop pastiche they began in 1978. Circus ragas (“Moonjumper”), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems (“In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”), and the sometimes-loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside “proper” lyrical forays, and a few Autobahn-referential instrumental moments to boot (“Tensile”). Robert Scott’s love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David Kilgour’s Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with—and still constitutes—the total basis of The Clean sound journey."
COLIN HAY
Solo album from the frontman of MEN AT WORK has done soundtrack work for the TV show Scrubs and the film Garden State. Unfortunately, this album is a relatively generic folk release. It's on Compass Records, so maybe someone out there will like it.
DAPPLED CITIES
"Five-piece indie rock band from Sydney, Australia. Their music has been described as art rock or experimental pop. Their guitar-based songs typically combine melodies with the complex time signatures and tempo changes associated with post rock. Occasional falsetto vocals and the use of effects pedals (delay in particular) are also characteristic of their sound.
DARLINGS
"Darlings are more than just a garage band with no garage. The band, made up of four friends whose gutters crossed in college, practice a brand of upbeat guitar-pop that’s equal parts sun-soaked ‘60s melodies and the noise of their hometown, New York City. Their debut LP, Yeah I Know, is a spit-polished document of the post-grad mindspiral: dressing down, making out and flirting with the idea of shaping up but still singing tunes of parties, girls, and tv over fuzzy lo-fi recordings. It’s a ramshackle ride that's uncomfortably comfortable."
DESOLATION WILDERNESS
RIYL: WAVVES, CRYSTAL STILTS, GALAXIE 500.
HC-B
Ambient music from Italy for fans of SIGUR ROS, RICEBOY SLEEPS, MUM, and/or THE ALBUM LEAF.
HERE IS WHAT IS
Possibly named after the Daniel Lanois album, these Vancouver-ites make indie pop/rock on the softer side of things.
HUNTER GATHERER
"Reverb-drenched art-pop that precariously teeters between dreamy sixties harmonies and cacophonous noise."
KEY TO THE CITY
Ex-members of VAILHALEN, THE DUDES and HOT LITTLE ROCKET
LIAM FINN & ELIZA JANE
Here's a guy that's been supported by bands/artists like Eddie Vedder, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Wilco, and Radiohead. Is that enough to finally get him on your playlists?
MADGESDIQ
Not overly flashy, but consistent rhyming skill and a positive message -- sounds worth your time if you play hip-hop.
MANVILS, THE
Vancouver band should appeal to fans of ARKELLS
MARK MALLMAN
"Invincible Man still holds on to some glam rock elements, at times channeling old spirits of T.Rex, Gary Glitter and Meatloaf, but this time he directs his sound to a more pop oriented vision. Some tracks evoke a haunting sense of anxiety through powerful piano and string juxposition, while others have a sense of a youthful hopefulness, all tracks keep up the same powerful and moving sound. Guest vocalists include The Hold Stready's Craig Finn and Cloud Cult's Shannon Frid."
MILES JONES
Key points of interest for you: one song produced by Black Milk, one produced by Slakah The Beatchild, guest appearances by Shad and Kae Sun.
OTTO
"Innovative Brazilian singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and producer Otto continues to charter new musical territory with his captivating new album Certa manha acordei de sonhos intranquilos. Mingling rhythms, textures, words and emotions on an album rich in lush orchestrations and new sonic creations."
POLVO
"Polvo formed in 1990 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their lineup consisted of vocalists/guitarists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, bassist Steve Popson, and drummer Eddie Watkins. The band released 2 full-length albums and 2 EPs on Merge Records, and 2 full-length albums for Touch and Go before disbanding in 1997. Polvo, joined by drummer Brian Quast (Cherry Valence), reformed in 2008 when asked to perform at ATP by Explosions in the Sky. Several festival shows followed, and new songs emerged. The Philadelphia Weekly said in a recent preview, “In the 1990s, no one used more hard angles, sharp turns and squirrelly tunings than the dos guitarra barrage of Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski.”
RAMONA FALLS
The first solo album by Brent Knopf of MENOMENA. "Intuit" was written and performed by Brent with guest appearances by 35 friends (including members of The Helio Sequence, Mirah, 31 Knots, Talkdemonic, etc.), and illustrated by the amazing Theo Ellsworth.
REIGNING SOUND
"American garage punk band originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee, now located in Asheville, North Carolina. The band's current lineup includes former Oblivians and Compulsive Gamblers frontman Greg Cartwright on lead vocals and guitar."
RICH HOPE
Alberta trio rip it up BLACK KEYS style with some hot riffs.
ROUGH SKELETONS
"Performing acid-infused psychedelia in PURPLE HILL, Toronto folkie Owen Marchildon (also of the late FROM FICTION) walks on the wild side for his latest side project Rough Skeletons, creating the best record Lou Reed has made in years."
SPEECH DEBELLE
"Mercury Prize nominated debut album is called Speech Therapy and that's because she speaks straight from the heart. Its sonic palette is informed by the intimacy of her thought and the fragility of her voice, moving back and forth between the personal and political, the mundane and the spiritual. It's a journey across London and a journey across her life thus far. With guests Micachu and Roots Manuva and a flow as silky and honest as ever heard from an MC, she is primed to become the UK's next first lady."
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS
Playing TONIGHT (August 26th) at The Coach & Horses
VALLEYS
"Lo-fi psych-folk duo from Montreal (a four piece live). Their sound is reminiscent of Yo La Tengo, Beach House, Damon & Naomi, Castanets, and they’ve already shared the stage with Fleet Foxes and Vetiver."
VARIOUS "Beatroute"
Eighteen songs by various Calgary bands. If you like what you hear here, many of these artists have albums in the on-air library too.
WHEAT AND WATER
Relatively cute folk album from some ladies and gents that call Calgary home.
ZOLAS, THE
The Zolas is Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski, who established their gifts for intricate songcraft three years ago under the name LOTUS CHILD. If you were at Phog for the most recent show by SAID THE WHALE, you probably were impressed by The Zolas when they opened up the night.
ZOOS OF BERLIN
Great exterior package design and even greater music contained on the CD. This Detroit band is "...a delicious blend of weird and pleasing pop, presented in sweeps of stately splendor..." - Tiny Mix Tapes. "Zoos of Berlin have been outclassing their Detroit peers for four years with a surreal, Krautrock-melted pop, and it has taken nearly that long for the rest of the country to notice." -Metro Times.
"The Balconies are indeed a very cool outfit; the three-piece Ottawa group has a fairly distinct post-punk aesthtic that calls to mind such disparate influences as Joy Division, Portishead, Sleater-Kinney and the Smiths. Guitarist/Vocalist Jacquie Neville has a powerful, deeply ethereal voice that is matched every step by her precise, angular guitar work." Playing at Phog on October 8th with The Whitsundays.
BRONZED CHORUS
Instrumental post-rock that will appeal to fans of TORTOISE, ALOHA, BALMOREAH, and/or MASERATI.
CASUAL SAX
Another album of instrumental hip-hop for ya.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
For all the NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL worshippers around the station, I find it funny that albums by Circulatory System and Olivia Tremor Control never get played. Here's a chance to rectify that, and yes, Jeff Mangum and Julian Koster of NMH appear on this album.
THE CLEAN
"Mister Pop sees The Clean continue the great pop pastiche they began in 1978. Circus ragas (“Moonjumper”), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems (“In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”), and the sometimes-loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside “proper” lyrical forays, and a few Autobahn-referential instrumental moments to boot (“Tensile”). Robert Scott’s love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David Kilgour’s Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with—and still constitutes—the total basis of The Clean sound journey."
COLIN HAY
Solo album from the frontman of MEN AT WORK has done soundtrack work for the TV show Scrubs and the film Garden State. Unfortunately, this album is a relatively generic folk release. It's on Compass Records, so maybe someone out there will like it.
DAPPLED CITIES
"Five-piece indie rock band from Sydney, Australia. Their music has been described as art rock or experimental pop. Their guitar-based songs typically combine melodies with the complex time signatures and tempo changes associated with post rock. Occasional falsetto vocals and the use of effects pedals (delay in particular) are also characteristic of their sound.
DARLINGS
"Darlings are more than just a garage band with no garage. The band, made up of four friends whose gutters crossed in college, practice a brand of upbeat guitar-pop that’s equal parts sun-soaked ‘60s melodies and the noise of their hometown, New York City. Their debut LP, Yeah I Know, is a spit-polished document of the post-grad mindspiral: dressing down, making out and flirting with the idea of shaping up but still singing tunes of parties, girls, and tv over fuzzy lo-fi recordings. It’s a ramshackle ride that's uncomfortably comfortable."
DESOLATION WILDERNESS
RIYL: WAVVES, CRYSTAL STILTS, GALAXIE 500.
HC-B
Ambient music from Italy for fans of SIGUR ROS, RICEBOY SLEEPS, MUM, and/or THE ALBUM LEAF.
HERE IS WHAT IS
Possibly named after the Daniel Lanois album, these Vancouver-ites make indie pop/rock on the softer side of things.
HUNTER GATHERER
"Reverb-drenched art-pop that precariously teeters between dreamy sixties harmonies and cacophonous noise."
KEY TO THE CITY
Ex-members of VAILHALEN, THE DUDES and HOT LITTLE ROCKET
LIAM FINN & ELIZA JANE
Here's a guy that's been supported by bands/artists like Eddie Vedder, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Wilco, and Radiohead. Is that enough to finally get him on your playlists?
MADGESDIQ
Not overly flashy, but consistent rhyming skill and a positive message -- sounds worth your time if you play hip-hop.
MANVILS, THE
Vancouver band should appeal to fans of ARKELLS
MARK MALLMAN
"Invincible Man still holds on to some glam rock elements, at times channeling old spirits of T.Rex, Gary Glitter and Meatloaf, but this time he directs his sound to a more pop oriented vision. Some tracks evoke a haunting sense of anxiety through powerful piano and string juxposition, while others have a sense of a youthful hopefulness, all tracks keep up the same powerful and moving sound. Guest vocalists include The Hold Stready's Craig Finn and Cloud Cult's Shannon Frid."
MILES JONES
Key points of interest for you: one song produced by Black Milk, one produced by Slakah The Beatchild, guest appearances by Shad and Kae Sun.
OTTO
"Innovative Brazilian singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and producer Otto continues to charter new musical territory with his captivating new album Certa manha acordei de sonhos intranquilos. Mingling rhythms, textures, words and emotions on an album rich in lush orchestrations and new sonic creations."
POLVO
"Polvo formed in 1990 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their lineup consisted of vocalists/guitarists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, bassist Steve Popson, and drummer Eddie Watkins. The band released 2 full-length albums and 2 EPs on Merge Records, and 2 full-length albums for Touch and Go before disbanding in 1997. Polvo, joined by drummer Brian Quast (Cherry Valence), reformed in 2008 when asked to perform at ATP by Explosions in the Sky. Several festival shows followed, and new songs emerged. The Philadelphia Weekly said in a recent preview, “In the 1990s, no one used more hard angles, sharp turns and squirrelly tunings than the dos guitarra barrage of Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski.”
RAMONA FALLS
The first solo album by Brent Knopf of MENOMENA. "Intuit" was written and performed by Brent with guest appearances by 35 friends (including members of The Helio Sequence, Mirah, 31 Knots, Talkdemonic, etc.), and illustrated by the amazing Theo Ellsworth.
REIGNING SOUND
"American garage punk band originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee, now located in Asheville, North Carolina. The band's current lineup includes former Oblivians and Compulsive Gamblers frontman Greg Cartwright on lead vocals and guitar."
RICH HOPE
Alberta trio rip it up BLACK KEYS style with some hot riffs.
ROUGH SKELETONS
"Performing acid-infused psychedelia in PURPLE HILL, Toronto folkie Owen Marchildon (also of the late FROM FICTION) walks on the wild side for his latest side project Rough Skeletons, creating the best record Lou Reed has made in years."
SPEECH DEBELLE
"Mercury Prize nominated debut album is called Speech Therapy and that's because she speaks straight from the heart. Its sonic palette is informed by the intimacy of her thought and the fragility of her voice, moving back and forth between the personal and political, the mundane and the spiritual. It's a journey across London and a journey across her life thus far. With guests Micachu and Roots Manuva and a flow as silky and honest as ever heard from an MC, she is primed to become the UK's next first lady."
UNLEASH THE ARCHERS
Playing TONIGHT (August 26th) at The Coach & Horses
VALLEYS
"Lo-fi psych-folk duo from Montreal (a four piece live). Their sound is reminiscent of Yo La Tengo, Beach House, Damon & Naomi, Castanets, and they’ve already shared the stage with Fleet Foxes and Vetiver."
VARIOUS "Beatroute"
Eighteen songs by various Calgary bands. If you like what you hear here, many of these artists have albums in the on-air library too.
WHEAT AND WATER
Relatively cute folk album from some ladies and gents that call Calgary home.
ZOLAS, THE
The Zolas is Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski, who established their gifts for intricate songcraft three years ago under the name LOTUS CHILD. If you were at Phog for the most recent show by SAID THE WHALE, you probably were impressed by The Zolas when they opened up the night.
ZOOS OF BERLIN
Great exterior package design and even greater music contained on the CD. This Detroit band is "...a delicious blend of weird and pleasing pop, presented in sweeps of stately splendor..." - Tiny Mix Tapes. "Zoos of Berlin have been outclassing their Detroit peers for four years with a surreal, Krautrock-melted pop, and it has taken nearly that long for the rest of the country to notice." -Metro Times.
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