Friday, August 18, 2006

Touring: Broken Social Scene with Do Make Say Think


I think it's quite obvious to anyone that we here at WHYH are quite the Broken Social Scene fans. We also have quite the soft spot for their instrumental relatives Do Make Say Think. If you haven't clued into that by now, then you have been living under a rock, therefore we do not wish to deal with you; good day.

Now for the rest you: the tour dates for Broken Social Scene's and Do Make Say Think's tour have been announced. The ending of this tour brings on a break for BSS (although, not an ending, they assure us), and is the first glimmer of life we've had from DMST in a while (well, that's not counting their announced then quickly cancelled tour, after Justin broke his collarbone).

However, among all this good happy music news, there is bad news. Horrible news. Tragic news. This tour, of two bloody brilliant Canadian bands, is only in the US.

...I suppose that isn't such bad news for the Americans, but, for us Canuks? Devistating. Which is why we must indulge ourselves in songs from these two bands. I've some BSS goodies for you all, and then some album tracks for DMST.

Broken Social Scene:
7/4 (Shorelines) [an early version of the song; some would call it the original. I think it stands on its own.]
Stars and Spit [a mashup of Stars and Sons and Lover's Spit from the 7/4 single]
Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day) [live on NPR's world cafe. Thanks to the kind folks at b(oot)log for this file!]

Do Make Say Think:
107 Reasons Why [from Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn]
End of Music [from & Yet & Yet]

Enjoy. And if you're going to be in the states while they're touring, do yourself a favour and check them out. I promise you won't regret it.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Covers: Beatles

Okay, this is just a quick post. A very quick post, but it must be done!

Lately I've been obsessing over Slow Runner. There will be a more indepth post on them in the near future (read: when I get my next paycheque and can afford their cd - yay massive overtime!), but this cover of the Beatles' song I've Just Seen a Face is... well, it's pulling at those ol' heartstrings.

Slow Runner - I've Just Seen a Face

This track is labelled as being taken from This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul. According to amazon.ca, it's not. However, I'm linking the cd anyways, as Rubber Soul is quite possibly my favourite record ever (although, that's blatently a lie, it's not, but it's way up there.) and just look at some of the artists on there... Sufjan Stevens, Ben Harper... definately worth checking out.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Live: Calgary Folk Fest, Part 2

Elliot Brood - picture taken by Mariella Villalobos (c) July 2006


Part Deux: Elliot Brood, and the arcane magical nature of "folk" music

Day two of Folk Fest was, basically, same procedural layout as the day before; things kicked off in the afternoon, though this time there were other acts in addition to the mainstage. For which, we all must thank whatever higher power is out there. O_o

This means, of course, that we tried to avoid the mainstage as much as possible, going out to watch Elliot Brood's show at the Sunterra Stage, far on the distant fringes of reality. No kidding. O_o You had to walk across half the park, and under a bridge, and perform many arcane ceremonies of unusual nature in order to reach it. >.>

The show itself, however, was definitely worth it. Even if we missed most of "Second Son" due to the ridiculous nature of reaching the stage, the rest of the songs were just as wonderful to hear live. Though you won't find any crazy stage antics here, the boys of Elliot Brood play with a sort of straightforward earnestness that's both charming and endearing. Less desperation than I've seen in other bands, and while desperation is definitely something incendiary to watch onstage, the fact remains that these guys really don't need it. The music itself is, while not exactly laid back, a kind of dusty, solid presence that just seems to want to jam out, labels be damned. Plus, their drummer plays suitcases. SUITCASES. COME ON!

The mainstage itself, however, was a bit of a letdown in the way that...well...to be fair, we had just watched Feist and Broken Social Scene create magic there the evening before. By comparison, having Bedouin Soundclash and Macy Gray to look forward to is akin to eating at the most amazing restaurant ever, then being hauled off to eat at Earls the next day.

There were unexpected surprises, of course, like the previous day. Robbie Fulks, for example, and Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards were actually quite enjoyable...though by far not the kind of music I usually listen to, I know when to surrender and admit that, yes, it doesn't have to be "rock" to kick ass. Though rock would kick my ass to hear me say that. >.>

Also a surprise were the in-betweeners: especially Kris Demeanor and Chantal Vitalis. It was only later, however, that we would learn of just how decent these guys were...but that, of course, is another story. In the mean time, we just figured that, yeah, they weren't that bad...better than that unfunny comedian from the day before, anyway.

At this point, however, Bedouin Soundclash took the stage; from our perch on the haunted/cursed picnic table near the gates (inside joke, don't ask), we listened and realized two things: one, DAMN they wish they were Bob Marley, and two, it's such a shame that they're the ones who wrote "When The Night Hears My Song". Though not a bad band...well...personally, I just have to say that I find myself, once again, on the outside of understanging indie tastes. Here is a band that many people, friends of mine who have introduced me to WONDERFUL bands or whose opinion I usually highly respect, are crazy about...and I just can't see the attraction. It's like the flurry of attention around Gnarls Barkley, or the 'Fork's obsession with the Pipettes, or Liars. Sure, I understand that people like it...a LOT of people like it...but it just doesn't make sense to me the HUGE deal that is made about these artists. Every time you read something written about them, or see the overwhelming numbers of people tuning in, you get the impression that somewhere, someone thinks that these bands will save music from the jaws of oblivion.

As if they were all Spencer Krug, or something. Keh. >.>

In any case, the band finished playing...and we then proceeded to run out the gates as fast as the gravel road would permit. See, our location was a strategic one. Regardless, we almost didn't make it; the strains of Macy Grey seemed to chase us down, across the bridge and down into Eau Claire Market like the plague of dark locusts. You know...those ones that eat your soul.

I'm kidding, of course. That was a close one, though.


Next: Part 3, in which we meet Feist and Elliot Brood, and discover the evils of wisdom tooth removal.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Teitur

I was going to hold off on this post until Ju finished her Folk Fest recap, however, somewhere along the way I decided not to. Impatience always wins, you see.

Teitur is from the Faroe Islands, which are somewhere between Norway and Iceland - the sheep islands, they're called. Now, I find this highly amusing, as the folk pop Teitur creates is so calming, it can calm you to the brink of sleep - just like counting sheep!

Har har, oh, the humour.

I have some songs for you from Teiturs first major album, Poetry & Airplanes, which was released in 2003. Since then he has dropped his old record label (Universal), and released Stay Under the Stars, but only in Scandinavia so far.

To me, Teitur is that warm cup of tea on a cold evening, or the cold drizzle of rain while the sun is still shining. He creates a soft sound, which just melts away everything hanging on your heart. Maybe this is why I can't drag myself away from his music long enough to listen to anything else. But that's enough from me, lets get to the music!

From Poetry & Airplanes (2003)
01. I Was Just Thinking
02. Sleeping With the Lights On
03. Poetry & Airplanes
[ buy the album from amazon.com]

Keep an eye out for Stay Under the Stars, which will be released in North America later this year. Until then, you can buy it here.