Best Stuff Day 15: Albums 15 to 11
Telling you what you should be listening to, exactly 50 words at a time.
Best Stuff Day 7: Soundway compilations
I’m perfectly willing to admit that my appreciation of Afrobeat probably stems from some combination of Akron/Family, Paul Simon and the folk fest, all of which helped bring together the genre’s basics in a way that I could finally make sense of. Whatever did it, I’m glad for it, because it means I can appreciate … Continue reading
Best Stuff Day 4: Eye Spy zine
As if Flemish Eye records hadn’t already done enough to solidify a reputation as one of the most consistent labels in Canada (seriously — The Cape May, Chad VanGaalen, Women, Pale Air Singers and now Braids?). Now they go and put out a 36-page full-colour zine with illustrations by Clinton St. John of the Cape … Continue reading
Best Stuff Bonus: El Guincho (NSFW)
For your (NSFW) viewing pleasure, one of the year’s best music videos: El Guincho’s “Bombay.” Come for the Spanish Carl Sagan homage, stay for the hypnotic tropicalia and bizarre imagery. Also, a lot of breasts. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Previous best stuff: Dominion The Anthology Project
#MoNM The rest, and a new project for December
Oh, what the hell. Rounding off the #MoNM in a decidedly half-assed form: Day 27: Duffy and the Doubters’ Scriptural Supplies Tiny songs from the Ladyhawk frontman. With most of the tunes clocking in at less than 2 minutes, Duffy’s solo debut(?) is over practically before it starts, and the lo-fi production only adds to … Continue reading
#MoNM Days 21 through 26
Extremely brief #MoNM updates: I’m in Vancouver for the weekend (mostly to check out Grinderman tonight). Combine that with a week of spotty internet service and the piling up of ridiculous amounts of homework (hooray for grad school) and you have a half-decent excuse for not blogging. But no longer! In the interest of catch-up, … Continue reading
Saturday double-post: #MoNM: Kanye West and Juana Molina
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy It looks like I’m gonna be that guy who liked 808s and doesn’t get My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I swear I’m not just being contrarian here. Maybe I’m not giving it enough time. With all the five-star reviews, 100 per cents and “instant masterpiece” claims, I’m … Continue reading
#MoNM Day 18: Cave’s Pure Moods
Cave – Pure Moods (Drag City) A short one today – Pure Moods, a 12” single from Chicago’s Cave. If you saw them at Sled Island, you have a good sense what this is all about; if you missed out, it’s blissed-out Krautrock with a healthy dose of classic rock swagger. With only three tracks … Continue reading
#MoNM Day 17: Dexys Midnight Runners’ Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
The title of Dexys Midnight Runners’ debut says it all: this isn’t just an album, it’s a call to arms. Sweet and sour homemade soul, with excessively fussy vocals and punchy-but-never-quite-right horns, the album courts its rebels through sheer passion and sincerity – it’s not asking for political upheaval, just a bit of earnestness. Which … Continue reading
The Consumption 