Indie / Alternative Music Blog

Lunchtime post today, as I will be spending my evening watching Jim Cuddy and the rest of Blue Rodeo play downtown Calgary.  I re-discovered today’s tune on a CD I found while searching through my desk at work this morning; It  is a really sick acoustic cover of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, done by the always soulful Ray LaMontagne.  I did some digging around to try and figure out if this tune was part of some kind of release-proper, but alas I found nothing.  So if anyone has any background information on this cover and when/why it was released, let me know.

I remember when
I remember, when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that face
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space
And when you’re out there
Without care
I was out of touch
It wasn’t because I didn’t know enough
I just knew too much
Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Probably
An I hope that you are having the time of your life
Oh but think twice
That’s my only advice
Come on now
Who do you
Who do you think you are
Woah Woah
Bless your soul
Do you really think that you’re in control
Well I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
I think you’re crazy
Just like me, yeah
My heroes had the heart
To lose their lives out on a limb
An all I remember
Is thinking I wanna be like them
Ever since I was little it looked like fun
It was no coincidence that I’ve come
I can die when I’m done
Maybe I’m crazy
Maybe you’re crazy
Maybe we’re crazy
Probably
A la la la la la la
a la la, a la la, a la la, a la la
yeah, yeah, yeah
wo-ah, woah, woah, woah, woah
lay lay lay lay
a la la, a la la, a la la, a la la

It feels like years since my last Why? post, so here it is.  I was perusing Pitchfork today, as I so often do when I should be working, and came across a post announcing an upcoming Why? album entitled Eskimo Snow, scheduled for release this fall; This pleased me greatly.  Today’s track comes from the Berkeley, California indie-rock/hip-hop ensemble’s third full-length album Alopecia,  released in 2008.  If you are digging what the band is laying down here, scroll down to the “Related Posts” section below to check out some more Why? tunes.

I’m not a ladies man, I’m a land mine
Filming my own fake death
Under an ‘88 Cavalier I go
But-but-but-but nothing but the rear bumper’s blown
But I’s born for this flight
United 955 on the fifth of July
Back to SFO
I-I join the dark side
In a thin disguise
On consumer grade video at night

Faking suicide for applause
In the food courts of malls
And cursing racing horses on church steps
Playing the wall at singles bingo
All-time gringo
Did anyone hear me cry there?
Through a toilet stall divider
I swear I care, raw

Am I an example of a calculated birth?
To a star chart for clowns, I’m not
Under robin eggs in a nest, you hit a manila envelope
With one last little robin’s egg in it
A hollow bullet yet spent
Subject to dismissal
I wish all my pitfalls
Could be caught by this call

Cheeri-a, cheeri-e, cheeri-i, cheeri-o, cheeri-u

Julie and I have been hitting Calgary’s Sled Island festival pretty hard this week, and I’ve got some information to report.  Said information will be presented in point form, as my head hurts too much to string together well-formed sentences:

• Final Fantasy, as mentioned in my last post, is a genius.
• Japandroids put on a great show Thursday night; I just wish it was longer as I’m really really digging these guys.
• Andrew W.K. is insane.
• The highlight of The Breeders show was their cover of Happiness Is a Warm Gun.
• Singing a Pixies tune at a Breeders show gets some interesting looks.
• The King Khan & BBQ Show was probably my favorite act of the festival so far.  Good music, really good music.
• The Monotonix show was the most amazing/terrifying/sweaty 60 minutes of my entire life.
• The hipster scene in Calgary is unreal.  We get it, your single-speed bike, ironic moustache, and fake glasses make you unique; unique like all the other hipsters rocking single-speed bikes, ironic moustaches, and fake glasses.

My tune for today is another track from the Japandroids debut album Post-Nothing, released digitally in April of this year.  Post-Nothing was one of the 40 albums included on the 2009 Polaris Prize long list.  After a successful prediction regarding this year’s long list, I have the confidence to predict that Post-Nothing will be one of the 10 albums added to this year’s short list.  On a side-note, does anyone else think the line from this song “I don’t wanna worry about dying, I just wanna worry about those sunshine girls” is one of the best lines of the year?

We finished our own lives (yeaaah)
Now we finished off the wine (yeaaah)
Now we’re used to staying up all night (yeaaah)
Two hearts beating OH YEAH! OH YEAH!

Well you can keep tomorrow
after tonight we’re not gonna need it
Be there! (be there)
Be down! (be down)
Background, we’re too drunk to feel it (x2)

OOOOHHH!!!
We used to dream
Now we worry about dying (x4)

I don’t wanna worry about dying
I just wanna worry about those sunshine girls (x2)

YOUNG HEARTS!
SPARK FIRE!
ALL NIGHT!
OH YEAH! OH YEAH!

Well you can keep tomorrow
after tonight we’re not gonna need it
Be there! (be there)
Be down! (be down)
Background, we’re too drunk to feel it (x2)

OOOOHHH!!!
We used to dream
Now we worry about dying (x4)

I don’t wanna worry about dying
I just wanna worry about sunshine girls (x4)

OOOOHHH!!! (x4)

I don’t wanna worry about dying
I just wanna worry about the sunshine girls

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My post for today is another fantastic piece from the Calgary indie/folk artist Michael Bernard Fitzgerald.  Reach You is off MBF’s most recent album The MBF Love LP, released earlier this month.  I have found that i’ve developed a significant crush on this song, mostly because I like to think that he is singing it to me.  Unfortunatly, due to our separate lives and careers, Michael and I will never be able to be together. And yet, with that sad reality, I hope you enjoy the song.  For more MBF tunes, head over to his MySpace here or check out some of our previous posts here, and here.

Once I met a girl at, at the super market
She said that she worked, worked so hard an
bagging groceries and fresh produce
I turned to her and said how can I help you?

I work my 9 to 5 and get paid nothing new
I work so hard to be rescued by you
I said baby, I mean lady pardon me miss
You can’t miss the mark if you’re not afraid to hit

I am trying to reach you baby, I am trying to reach you yeah
I am trying to reach you baby, I hope you understand
That I’m gonna be your man

Like the child I am, wanna be your friend
Wanna hold you tight, hold you through the night
Look inside to see, look inside of me
I hold you, yeah, I hold you, yeah

But you’re not here to stay, forced to be a slave
Hid out from my hand, here to be your man
Let yourself go, let yourself go, let yourself go, let yourself go

I am trying to reach you baby, I am trying to reach you yeah
I am trying to reach you baby, I hope you understand
I am trying to reach you baby, I am trying to reach you yeah
I am trying to reach you baby, I hope you understand
That I’m gonna be your man

This is my hand this is my heart of the full sky?
It could be great if you only tried
The good addition inhibtion trust your heart
And if a hurt you make a mark

This is my hand this is my heart of the full sky?
It could be great if you only tried
I am trying to reach you baby, I’m trying to reach you yeah
I am trying to reach you baby, I hope you understand

I am trying to reach you baby, I am trying to reach you yeah
I am trying to reach you baby, I hope you understand
That I’m gonna be your grocery card man
Your man, Your man, Your man.
I’m gonna be your man.

Julie and I were lucky enough to catch Final Fantasy last night, during the Sled Island festival here in Calgary (Thanks to Drew for setting us up with passes).  As it was my first time seeing him live, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the one-man band consisting of a violin, synthesizer, microphone, and loop box.  All I can say after the 90 minute performance is: If you EVER have a chance to see one of his shows, GO.  Call in sick, drive through the night, postpone the ceremony, do whatever it takes to get there; I promise you won’t regret it.  The music this man can layer together will absolutely floor you.

Anyways, tonight’s track comes from Final Fantasy’s 2006 Polaris Prize winning album He Poos Clouds.  The song in question, This Lamb Sells Condos, was the closing number last night (before the encore), and takes a scathing look at the Toronto real estate developer Brad J. Lamb.  If anyone is interested, I stumbled across an interview today where Lamb shares his opinion on the song, and the light it presents him in.  That interview can be found here.

No hope for the village, no hope for the village
There’s a merchant in our midst and with a barrel fist
He’s coloured every surface, he’s slapped up a portrait
And yes, it is his own! He’s gonna take your home!
Have you seen our visitor? Look! Over the treetops!
Newly conjured erections are making him a killing
And Richmond St. is illing, so the graduates are willing
To buy in to the pillage, now there is no hope for the village

Prisoners, be silent, be silent and be sharp

When he was a young man, he conjured up a firemare
And burnt off both his eyebrows and half a head of hair
And then as an apprentice, he took a Drowish mistress
Who bestowed upon his youthfulness a sense of Champagne Chic
Oh seduction, his seduction to the world of construction
Now his mind will start to wander when he’s not at his computer
Now his massive genitals refuse to co-operate
And no amount of therapy can hope to save his marriage

Prisoners, be silent, be silent and be sharp
Can you hear them talking? Listen through the wall:

Nothing to do, nothing to do
Living rent-free is boring me
Got no use for my PE Degree
Got no use for my pedigree

I feed you every morning and ask so little
Hedi Slimane
But you belittle all the work that I do
And Agnes B
When you take that walk without permission
I’m not content
I’m not defensive, I’m just saying this cause I love you
I’m not content
You know I hate it when your friends are in the pool
Donna Karan
Old money stinks, send those faggots back to Forest Hill
And Kara Saun
Contentment? What contentment? I am bald and impotent
I’m not content
Is that what it’s about? Oh honey, honey, shut your mouth
I’m not content

Tonight’s post comes from Tool/A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan’s solo side-project Puscifer.  The project has been behind 4 releases to date, including the debut full-length album “V” Is for Vagina, released in October of 2007.  The song in question, The Mission, was not released as a single-proper but instead through the Puscifer website earlier this year.  The track features vocals from musician Danny Lohner as well as The Fifth Element leading lady Milla Jovovich.  I know I’m a little late getting this song onto the site, but I wasn’t completely in love with this tune when I first heard it.  However, it has grown on me with the persistence of a Charlie Watts drum beat (yeah, I wrote that), and has me completely hooked at this point.

What do you know?

The birds and the bees they’re all wise to the lies
So they took to the trees and took to the skies
On top of the chain and safe from the rain
Whatcha’ know about the ways of the underside?

What do you know?

Bought a hot shot gat from a north end guinea
‘Cause they’re hip to the bull and hip to the lies
Ante up with your ass ’cause you ain’t got a penny
Whatcha’ know about the ways on the underside?

What do you know?

Bought a hot shot gat from a north end guinea
Ante up with your ass ’cause you ain’t got a penny
Droppin’ bombs from above cut ya all down to size
‘Cause they’re hip to the bull and they’re hip to the lies

What do you know?

Yeah, the streets rose in two perfect waves in the night
Crashes on my left, and one on my right
It’s all fire and brimstone baby, so let’s go outside
It’s all fire and brimstone baby, I got my brand new pistol baby

What do you know?

Bought a hot shot gat from a north end guinea
Ante up with your ass ’cause you ain’t got a penny
Droppin’ bombs from above cut you all down to size
‘Cause they’re hip to the bull and they’re hip to the lies
And they’re hip to the lies

Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies
Right in front of your eyes, it’s time to get up
Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies
Now answer the lies it’s time to get up
Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies
Whatcha’ know about the ways on the underside?

What do you know?

Bought a hot shot gat from a north end guinea
Now answer the lies, it’s time to get up
Ante up with your eyes ’cause you ain’t got a penny
Time to get up
Dropping bombs from above cut you all down to size
Now answer the lies, it’s time to get up
‘Cause they’re hip to the bull and they’re hip to the lies
And they’re hip to the lies

Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies
Now answer the lies it’s time to get up
Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies
Right in front of your eyes, it’s time to get up
Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies
Now answer the lies it’s time to get up
Our turn to decide, who lives and who dies

What do you know?

I need to send a big shout-out to Julie for spending today cleaning my condo; I didn’t realize how messy it actually was until I came home from work and saw it clean.  Today’s tune comes from CBC Radio 3’s featured artist this month Apostle of Hustle.  Cheap Like Sebastien can be found on the band’s second album National Anthem of Nowhere, released in February of 2007.  For the big Broken Social Scene fans reading this post,  you may already be aware that Apostle of Hustle frontman Andrew Whiteman is also the lead guitarist for Broken Social Scene.

The smallest truth is the brightest
A tiny undeniable fire
The smallest truth is found hiding
You?re scared but you?re not a liar

You cheat like Sebastien
You cheat like Sebastien
You cheat like Sebastien

My life is desperate and private
I?m reckless there?s one thing I can keep
I spent that weekend in Niagara Falls
It was new, it was love, it was cheap
It was new, it was love, it was cheap

Cheap like Sebastian
Cheap like Sebastian
Cheap Like Sebastian

La la la la la la la la etc.

Substitute strata for status equate
All those foolish things I (exclude?)
Awake we thought that was surreal
I stand still but I still don?t feel

Feel like Sebastien
I feel like Sebastien
I feel like Sebastien

A true professional is batting her eyes
Oh just do whatever they say
You know sometimes I just distract
The arrows of love in me
The arrows of love in me
The arrows of love in me

La la la la la la la la etc.

Coming to us from Seattle, Aqueduct is an indie-pop band that initially consisted of one member, David Terry, creating and producing music in his bedroom.  Currently consisting of four members, the band has played with several Seattle-based heavyweights including United State of Electronica, Modest Mouse, and Death Cab for Cutie.  Growing Up With GNR is a single off of the band’s debut album Power Ballads, self-released in 2003. The album contains several “diamonds in the rough” so to speak, and definitely deserves a listen.

Whenever, whenever, whenever you fall apart
forget her, forget her, forget her
she broke your heart
whenever, whenever, whenever your wrong or right
forget her, forget her, forget her, she’s torn apart

I’ve been walking these streets tonight
just trying to get it right, I’ve got to get it right
whenever you’re home you’re never really are
well I’ve been living in a fantasy
just trying to get it right, I’ve got to get it right
whenever you’re lonely you are not alone

whenever, whenever, whenever you fall apart
forget her, forget her, forget her, she’s torn aprt

O’ baby you were looking foxy tonight
is it the way you walk or just the way you talk
you’re playing the part
that’s gonna break my heart
well girl there’s something
about the way you act
you will be crushing my soul
and won’t be paying me back
why can’t you be the way you used to be
way back when…

I was only twelve, damning all to hell, I was feeling fine
Hearing Axl Rose, on the radio
singing sweet child of mine

whenever, whenever, whenever you fall apart
forget her, forget her, forget her she broke your heart

I was only twelve, damning all to hell, I was feeling fine alright
hearing Axl Rose, on the radio
singing sweet child of mine alright
welcome to the jungle
you’re much too much to handle
I wish I weren’t in love with you
hearing Axl Rose on the radio
remembering the good times with you

I’ve been living in a fantasy
Just trying to get it right, I’ve got to get it right
whenever you’re lonely you are not alone

So I was at the Coldplay concert in Calgary last night, and was positive that the band was opening their set with Kids by MGMT.  So positive in fact, that I started singing the first verse to Kids before getting glared at by a posse of 16 year old girls.  With all the controversy surrounding Joe Satriani’s copyright suit against the band, perhaps I’m just searching for familiar sounding riffs.  Either way, have a listen to both and let me know what you think.

MGMT - Kids:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIEOZCcaXzE
Coldplay - Life In Technicolor:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSovfzyx28

Today’s tune comes from the Calgary acoustic/folk/soul artist Michael Bernard Fitzgerald.  Brand New Spaces can be found on MBF’s most recent album The MBF Love LP, officially released on Tuesday of this week.  Apart from this track, I highly recommend checking out Maxine and I Got Days, the later of which received significant airplay last year after MBF’s win in the x92.9 exposure contest.

I’m leaving, I’m gone
Gotta go and get my move on
I’ve been hanging here for days

Accept my resignation, give me my cheque
Please understand this won’t be the last breath
On your lips

I check the weather forecast, not a cloud in the sky
My bags are all packed now you wonder why
We’re a roller-coaster, you’re a roller-coaster I swear

And we can’t afford the rent
And this love is all we spend
And I can barely sleep the night
Dream about brand new spaces and brand new faces

I say we go ahead and throw something, objects hard to find
Vase is still broken from last time
Have you lost your temper yet

Where’s the romance in watching TV
Where’s the future, still it will bring us ?
I’m better off with guitars and paper

And we can’t afford the rent
And this love is all we spend
And I can barely sleep the night
Dream about brand new spaces and brand new faces

You’re a roller-coaster baby I swear
I’m a roller-coaster too and it’s nice to meet you

What about Fredrick, he’s already in the truck
The dogs with me break on that you can go and get stuff?
We’re ditching these ? together

I say the dogs with me babe, we’re ditching these ? together

And we can’t afford the rent
And this love is all we spend
And I can barely sleep the night
Dream about brand new spaces and brand new faces

Keeping with the recent Canadian-themed posts, I thought I would bring out another fantastic piece done by Canada’s own Metric.  Live it out is the title track off Metric’s 2nd full-length album, released in 2005.  The album is a fine example of Metric’s use of simplicity meshed with a new wave sound, and was well received throughout North American.  In fact, the album was chosen as one of Amazon.com’s Top 100 Editor’s Picks of 2005, awarded the 38th best album of 2006 by NME, and was shortlisted for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize in 2006.

The song itself is extremely well written, with lyrics that evoke thoughts on how our lives are lived; There is definitely something everyone can take away from this song.

On the day we were supposed to leave
You changed your mind at the station
You had a nice apartment
There was a good bar downstairs
Your old friend worked there

I’ll go anyway, I’ll go anyway
They won’t refund the ticket
Well, It’s a good story

But I don’t want to live it alone
Crash to take a chance
I wanna live it out
I know I’m already dead
No concrete adversity
Only traps of our own actions
How we wanted it to be
Now I’m never gonna see you again
You turned off

Vertabrae by vertebrae
Roll your way out of a coma
Look up, the nurse is smiling
What luck, the nurse is me
Your old body is dead
Your body’s dead, you’re a word instead
In my sleep I repeat it
Well, It’s a good story

But I don’t want to live it alone
Crash to take a chance
We were gonna live it out
Look at you, you’re already dead
How will you remember me
Digging ditches out of boredom
Said you would never leave
Now you’re never gonna be here again
You checked out

Dum dum dum dum dum
Sha la la la la
Dum dum dum dum dum