May 2011
1 post
announcing the unannounced hiatus.
hey gang. bit of a whirlwind over here. cool things are on the horizon, but as you may have noticed, my tumblr page is on the shelf for now. thanks for keeping tabs. stay rad.
March 2011
3 posts
Simon Joyner - "One For The Catholic Girls"...
Well, if I didn’t alienate my readers enough with my last post, this ought to do it. I thought I’d share a piece from Simon Joyner, a folksy Americana singer-songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska. His work seems relatively unknown, but it has definitely had an impact on modern alternative/folk music. Artists such as Beck, and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) credit Joyner as being among their...
2 tags
The Slackers - "Married Girl" (video)
Alright, enough goofing around. I owe you guys some content. I’m going to indulge my alternative/punk/ska beginnings, with a favourite track from a Brooklyn NY group called The Slackers.
Why am I digging this up? Well, It’s a great song for a sunny day. That, and I’ve seen a few Dave Hillyard posters downtown. He’s a California sax player known not only for his work...
quiet...
It’s been a long time since I’ve tumbled. Brace yourself, here come the excuses. I moved at the end of February, and enjoyed a lengthy 30th birthday celebration that extended from Los Angeles to Victoria and Vancouver (love you guys). I get my cable/internet hooked up today, so new stuff will come. And I have a lot of music stuff to talk about, as usual.
February 2011
5 posts
3 tags
Braids - "Native Speaker" album (video)
Check out Braids. The wonderful, artsy and dreamy shoegazers from Calgary (now Montreal, I guess) released their debut LP Native Tongues last month.
Special heads up to you folks in Seattle: Braids play @ Chop Suey on March 1.
I’ve included the video for “Plath Heart”. Also, below, I tacked on an embed of the debut single “Lemonade” (sorry, no video). ...
4 tags
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Saturday in Vancouver (2...
Vancouver - heads up. My buddy Chad “@Hillydilly” Hillard has a show lined up this Saturday night that you hiphop fans won’t want to miss. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are making the trip up from our lovely sister city of Seattle. Perhaps a relative unknown on our side of the line (at least for now, just you wait), Macklemore is becoming one of the frontrunners in...
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Radiohead - "The King of Limbs" album (video)
I’m too Busy for Tumblr right now, but this is an emergency. Biggest music news of the week = NEW RADIOHEAD.
England’s alt-rock institution has done it again. Yesterday, they digitally released their latest work, The King of Limbs LP. In case you haven’t been following, Radiohead has gone independent, and as was with In Rainbows in 2007, this album is self-released. ...
2 tags
Best Coast - "When I'm With You" (video)
Oh, hi Tumblr. Long time no see. Things have been busy. Thought I’d give you the heads up on Best Coast, a band from LA, fronted by the talented and lovely Bethany Cosentino. If you’re into floating summertime sounds of retro indie garage rock, you may like this single, “When I’m with You”, released as a 7” in 2009.
Best Coast has since received praise...
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Sasquatch 2011 lineup - my thoughts
Okay, okay, okay. I’ve been getting tweets, texts and emails asking about my thoughts on the announced lineup. I figured I’d get something up for all of you rabid Pacific Northwest music nerds. Sasquatch Launch Party went down in Seattle on Sunday night, and their big expanded 10th birthday bash is hurtling toward us at the speed of sound.
You get your tickets yet? Me neither....
3 tags
Tennis - "Cape Dory" (video)
If you’re in Vancouver, you should absolutely go see Tennis play tonight at the Media Club. @SalutAdam has his act together and he’s going. You should too.
Tennis is a trio (I think, sounds like a trio at least), though the focus of the group is husband and wife Patrick Riley and Alania Moore, at least from the interviews I’ve seen. They seem to be Tennis’ driving...
January 2011
18 posts
4 tags
Darwin Deez - self titled LP (3 videos)
This album is great. Darwin Deez (actually Darwin Smith, but hey) is the lead of a New York indie rock group that has started making waves on their West Coast tour. They recently played dates in both Vancouver and Seattle with Fol Chen. If you made it to the show, nice work. I wish I could have joined.
Darwin Deez reminds me of the folk side of Beck… the guitar/drums reminds me of the...
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Fol Chen - In Ruins (video)
This post is a little behind schedule (as is my upcoming Darwin Deez entry), as I was intending to get word out on these artists before they passed through Vancouver/Seattle last week. They were on tour together, and the shows would have been good to see - I’m sure of it.
Fol Chen is an LA group that debuted in 2009. This song, “In Ruins”, is found on their 2010 LP Part II:...
3 tags
Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill (video)... and Funkadelic...
I don’t know if you’ve heard of Sleigh Bells or not. They’re a distorted, loud pop duo from Brooklyn, who made late 2009 noise (literally) with their indie demotape single “Crown on the Ground.” Pitchfork and other major outlets gave it love, and they ended up getting signed by MIA’s label. I think I first caught wind of them on Twitter from...
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Future Islands - In Evening Air (album)
One of the many artists I’ve been meaning to get on here and talk about is a band from the Baltimore area called Future Islands. They released an LP last year called In Evening Air, and it is something I keep making my way back to. If you’ve never heard of these guys, check them out. If you’re anything like me, you’re going to be miffed by the vocals at first, especially...
5 tags
Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party - live in Victoria
Well, tomorrow’s Friday, and I’m doing the same thing all of you are probably doing - going to the Ukrainian Cultural Center for their world famous “Ukrainian Supper”, then heading down to Lucky Bar to see Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party.
First thing’s first… the dinner. What’s it all about, you ask? Well, it’s a beastly cafeteria-style pierogie...
5 tags
MNDR - Cut Me Out (free download)
Guys, here’s another free track you gotta get off your butt and go get. For real. Go.
MNDR, or Amanda Warner, is not only vocally amazing, she’s also a nerdy melodic synth jam party hero. If you haven’t heard this track of hers - “Bang Bang Bang” - found on the 2010 LP Record Collection by Mark Ronson & The Business International, and featuring Q-Tip…...
4 tags
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (video)
So, the Coachella 2011 lineup was announced. Unless this is your very first web experience since the weekend, you’re probably well aware of this. If not, go to Coachella.com and admire it. Pretty amazing roster. I’m not going to go into too much detail about how I feel about it, but feel free to read my tweets on the topic:
tweet - top 10 bands I’ve seen tweet - top 10...
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Made in Heights - Winter Pigeons EP (free...
Free EP. Go download this. Yes, free. Sabzi is the brains behind the production of the Blue Scholars and Common Market, and has done some collaboration with Cali/Philly vocalist Kelsey Bulkin. Together, they have put together the EP Winter Pigeons (songs to raise your dead spirits).
The lead track, titled “Skylark Interabang?!” samples the lovely piano piece that leads Sufjan...
2 tags
The Longcut - "Transition" (video)
British alt-rockers The Longcut are a pretty interesting listen. They spent most of their early work as instrumental band (as their singer had left early on), known around the UK for their melodic and experimental material, and the energy of their shows.
Their drummer eventually took over the vocals, and when they pressed their first EP in 2004, Transition, it blew up almost instantly. The...
4 tags
Beach Fossils - "Daydream" (video)
I know, the last thing we all need is more laid back, washed out indie music from Brooklyn NY. But hey, I’ve been giving this album a fairly regular rotation over the last month. I noticed it’s been getting some credit on a couple “Best of 2010” lists published over at Victoria’s Ditch Records, as well as on a “Most Overlooked LPs” list over at...
6 tags
John Legend & The Roots, Bill Withers - "I Can't...
Okay guys, this is serious. John Legend and The Roots got together and recorded the 2010 LP Wake Up!, in part of what was a busy year for the no-days-off Legendary Roots Crew, who also released their own LP How I Got Over, put in hundreds of days in Studio 6B on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the annual Roots Picnic in Philly, playing the Brooklyn Bowl, you name it. Especially Questlove,...
1 tag
January in Victoria (concert listing)
photo by stewart
Hey there, my fellow Victorians. I’m super late in getting this out, yes. Also, there’s not much to talk about. Shame. There are a few highlights though, and here they are.
Keep an eye on these posts by clicking the #Victoria tags when you see them, or using the nav menu on the left. This isn’t rocket science. Let me know if I’m overlooking...
1 tag
January in Vancouver (concert listing)
photo by kennymatic
Hey Vancouver. Looking forward to see ya later in the month. I was hoping to get there today to see Little Dragon in concert, but it wasn’t in the cards. Ah well, can’t make ‘em all.
Anyhow, here’s what’s on deck for the remainder of January. Some good stuff, for sure.
Stay tuned on Vancouver stuff by clicking on the #Vancouver tag.
Be...
1 tag
January in Seattle (concert listing)
photo by sidewalk flying
Hey Seattle, a very belated Happy New Year to you. Not a bad month in your neck of the woods, but I can’t say it’s super staggering either. Here are some concerts you’re gonna want to get out to this month.
Stay tuned on Seattle stuff by clicking on the #Seattle tag.
Be sure to check back for updates, and let me know if I missed anything.
...
6 tags
Wale - "100 Miles & Running" album (free download)
Wale has a decent heap of mixtapes out there that are all free, and all worth getting. XXL refers to Wale as “a thinking man’s Lil’ Wayne.”… pretty strong endorsement in terms of today’s hiphop. This album (released back in 2007) features Mark Ronson, who has produced much of Wale’s work - one of my favourite producers out there right now. It also...
1 tag
The Velvet Underground - "Rock and Roll" (video)
You. Yeah, you. Drop your popsicle and listen up. I’m kicking off the ohh-leven (ohh-leven, ohh-yeah-I-did) with another favourite. This time Lou Reed’s classic Velvet Underground jam, “Rock and Roll”. Find it on the 1970 LP Loaded.
I especially love the falsetto “fine, fine music” part. A lot. I almost wish it was a recurring bit… shame...
1 tag
back.... sorry kids!
Holy crap guys, I’ve been neglecting this. It’s been a heck of a holiday season. I spent a big chunk of time back in the interior of BC, and it was nuts. Surfing the indoor wave in Kelowna, snowboarding at Silver Star almost every day, playing hockey with a bunch of old friends, an alumni basketball tournament at my old highschool in Vernon, and a serious amount of hang time with...
December 2010
15 posts
2 tags
Devo - Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy (video)
Last post of 2010… figured I’d make it a good one. Devo, live in France, 1978.
If you’re a fan of new wave legends Devo (or if you’ve seen The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou recently), you may remember this full-steam-ahead, ready-to-burst, spastic piece. Mothersbaugh’s punky, haunting vocals don’t make an appearance until about the 2 minute mark, but...
1 tag
what's good?
Things are going to be low key around here until the new year. What’s out, or coming out that I should check out? Give me a heads up. See y’all soon.
4 tags
Surfer Blood - "Astro Coast" album (2 videos)
If you haven’t heard Surfer Blood’s 2009 LP Astro Coast, and you have any kind of tendency towards the warm summery Florida indie sound that has seemed to be getting a footing of late, change that right now. These kids have put together something good, that’s for sure.
I first heard them on a playlist my friend Adam had put together… I believe it was on the road trip to...
4 tags
The Antlers - "Hospice" album (2 videos)
Another 2009 piece, this time from Peter Silbermann and The Antlers of Brooklyn, NY. This song is from the LP Hospice, an album that was originally home made and self released early in the year, then remastered and re-released by Frenchkiss Recods in the summer. If you look at a “Best Album of 2009” list, this is probably on it. Overall, the album is sad stuff, but in a powerful...
1 tag
on the move?
Hey chums. I may be taking my song and dance to greener pastures. Friends and Twitter peeps have been hyping Wordpress, and I think they’ve won me over. Hopefully I’ll transition just after the new year. My buddy Joel has offered to host me at lhiver.com, which sounds to be way less restrictive than Tumblr. Eventually I’ll get a domain registered too.
I’ve been...
5 tags
Millionyoung - "Calrissian" (video)
Millionyoung is a solo indie chillwave cat named from Florida named Mike Diaz. This track is named “Calrissian”, a tag you fans of The Trilogy will appreciate (Star Wars of course… but you’re right, I could have been referring to Back to the Future or Problem Child). It can be found on the upcoming LP titled Atmospheric Beast, to be released early in 2011.
Sounds like...
4 tags
Lightning Dust - "Highway" (video)
I swear, I don’t work for Jagjaguwar Records. I really don’t.
Sit back and love the eery and beautiful vocals of Vancouver’s Amber Webber. She can also be heard with Black Mountain and Pink Mountaintops. What a talented group of musicians… everything they put out is great.
Anyway, this song is from the self-titled 2007 LP, Lightning Dust. She has since followed...
5 tags
Common Market - "Trouble Is" (video)
Hey gang. Figured I’d post some Pacific Northwest stuff, as I’m still kind of buzzing from a great weekend in Seattle. Common Market is the sum of emcee RA Scion and producer/deejay Sabzi (who is also half of Seattle’s Blue Scholars). This track, “Trouble Is”, can be found on their early 2008 EP Black Patch War and was also on their pressing of the LP Tobacco...
2 tags
Tame Impala - "Innerspeaker" album (2 videos)
Figured I should post a bit about Aussie rockers Tame Impala, as they’re passing through Vancouver and Seattle soon. They’ve been turning heads at home and in the UK with their throwback sound, totally reminiscient of the ’70s psychadelic pop rock movement. Maybe too much so in some respects, but I think it comes off well.
They’ve put out a couple of cool videos to...
1 tag
December in Victoria (concert listing)
photo by stewart
Hey neighbours! What’s up in our city music wise, you ask? Well, as usual, our lineup sorely lacks in comparison to the happenings across the water in Vancouver and especially Seattle, but there’s a few things I’ll give you the heads up on.
Keep an eye on these posts by clicking the #Victoria tags when you see them, or using the nav menu on the left. This...
1 tag
December in Vancouver (concert listing)
photo by kennymatic
Christmastime is coming in Vancouver, and here’s the lowdown on the stuff I’m aware of in Vancouver, that I’d check out. To keep an eye on posts like this, simply click on the#Vancouver tag, or use the links on the left side of the page.
As I said in the Seattle entry, it’s pretty quiet in December, with the holidays and all. Don’t expect...
1 tag
December in Seattle (concert listing)
photo by sidewalk flying
Here’s my take on December in Seattle, based on my knowledge of music and my take on what’s hip. Stay tuned on Seattle stuff by clicking on the #Seattle tag.
It’s pretty quiet in December, with the holidays and all.
As I mentioned previously, these may ultimately end up being weeky posts, but I’m taking baby steps here, so for now...
7 tags
The Roots - "How I Got Over" album (2 videos)
Straight up, The Roots are probably my favourite band in music. Not just my favourite hiphop group. My favourite band, period. The band is led by drummer/producer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the Soulquarian legend, music encyclopedia and web afficionado. The brains behind the trendsetting online community Okayplayer, QoolQuest’s YouTube channel, his Hypagogics journal of...
4 tags
Small Black - self titled EP (2 videos)
All kinds of cool stuff coming out of Brooklyn, and out of Jagjaguwar Records. These guys, who go by Small Black, first released this EP back in 2009. It has since been remastered and re-released via Jagjaguwar Records.
If you like dreamy indie pop jams, filled with weird samples and strange drum machine beats, this is your ticket. Their video for “Despicable Dogs” is an...
2 tags
Snowblink - "Ambergris" (video)
Okay, I’m back. Seattle, you’re as great as ever… what a weekend. Big ups to the Moore Theatre’s gaudy neighbour, Belltown’s Nite Lite, for being as campy and great as ever. And, to a new Capital Hill discovery, Linda’s Tavern. Any place that plays Joy Division cover to cover has my vote.
Anyhow, I think I should get things back on track with something...
November 2010
43 posts
2 tags
Seattle for the weekend
No updates for a few days, I’m off to Seattle for the weekend with a couple of car loads of friends. If you have any music suggestions (or Seattle suggestions), drop a comment in the box.
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Toro Y Moi - "Low Shoulder" (video)
Toro Y Moi (translated - Bull and I… not sure who the bull is). That’s what South Carolina’s Chazwick Bundick bills himself as nowadays. How awesome is the name Chazwick Bundick? Awesome.
He has a couple of EPs out, but back in January a full-legth LP dropped, called Causers of This. Good listen. That’s where this track, “Low Shoulder”, can be found. The...
2 tags
Little Dragon - "Twice" (video)
Wow, lots of Swedish stuff lately, with Junip and Lykke Li, now Little Dragon. Yukimi Nagano’s voice is amazing, and the relaxed layer of synth/piano groove on this track is perfect. Definitely worth a listen, and thanks to my buddy Koltre for introducing me. This song, “Twice”, is on the 2007 self-titled LP.
If you’ve never heard Little Dragon, but think this feels...
1 tag
a brief message from your host.
S’up nerds. Thanks for stopping by. Sorry things are limited to YouTube embeds right now, I’m in the process of re-jigging my theme to present mp3 posts in a way I’m more happy with.
If you happen to know of a way to embed code in a text post to call the standard Tumblr embedded mp3 player, and simply point it at a URL to the desired mp3, let a guy know. Otherwise, it’s going to be a bit...
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Blu & Exile - "Blue Collar Worker" (video)
There is a lot of really good hiphop under the covers, you just gotta know where to look. Not only has the genre not died, but it’s in good hands going forward. Check out this work from Blu, a great emcee coming out of Inglewood California.
This 2007 LP, Below the Heavens, is a excellent collaboration with producer Exile. The album leads with a gripping sample of Joni Mitchell’s...
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Brightblack Morning Light - self titled LP (video)
Rachael Hughes and Nathan Shineywater (yes, you read that correctly, Shineywater), are a pair of musicians originally of Alabama and later Northern California. Together, they give the world music under the name Brightblack Morning Light. At least now they do, the name has been modified/enhanced a few times now.
From what I’ve read about them, they seem a little bizarre… eccentric...
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Gil Scott-Heron - "Me And The Devil" (video)
You need to check out some recent work from spoken word and soul legend Gil Scott-Heron. Gil is 60 now, and still a game changer.
He’s probably best known for his poetic “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” (check it out here, immediately, if you don’t know what I’m talking about). Then, go here for some of Gil’s thoughts on what it was about. ...
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The Besnard Lakes - "The Besnard Lakes Are The...
I had the great pleasure of seeing The Besnard Lakes headline a show here in Victoria earlier this year, at Lucky Bar with Hollerado. What a show. I wasn’t overly familiar with the Besnard Lakes, but I managed to catch them as a guest on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, where I was mesmerized by how they slowly yet heavily laid out layer after layer of this eerie, psychadelic experience. ...
