A Review of Life and CD's of course.....

Once again.... I did not finish my Death Cab Retrospective

2009-11-06T11:51:00.002-07:00

Got all caught up in my personal "Notes" on that damn FaceBook thing and totally forgot to post on this. To tell you the truth I've been thinking of shutting this guy down for awhile. For a couple reasons actually
1) I haven't bought a CD since i moved back to the 'PEG in April
2) CD's themselves have sort of become the new cassette (in my opinion)
3) reviewing all of my CD's would take a lifetime that i don't necessarily care to do at the moment and haven't for some time now.

So I give you this fellow reader. I may be back to blogger at some point and time. But not in this forum. Meanwhile the few people that actually care to hear my reviews on music can read, said "Notes" on FB. And if you aren't my friend on "the Book" Just shoot me a line and i'll respond.

Thanks for your loyal readership.

I need a little osmosis here

2009-05-31T22:39:00.004-06:00

Personally this is not my favorite Hold Steady album. Boys and Girls in America is. Yet this one I pop in during times of feeling a bit low. Which i hope hasn't become redundant lately, but am not in the greatest state of mind recently. Not; belt around a door knob unhappy (I love using that reference these days). But just a funk that i'd rather get out of and I know that I'm the only one that can fix it. So here goes...step 1 in my road to being less shitty.

Band Name: The Hold Steady

Album Name: Stay Positive

Richard Release Date: Spring of 2008

I really enjoyed walking to "Big Fish" (My old working diggs) and listening to this album. Making the trek up Cresent Drive Ridge, overlooking the city. Feeling that i could just scoop up the Calgary skyline with a quick movement of my hand. The sun always seemed to shine when i listened to the title track. Although that's probably my delusions. Yet very good delusions. The Hold Steady, if you're not farmiliar are kinda a "gang singing" kinda band. They like their all nite parties. The thing that I really enjoy about this album is there are downer songs like "Sequestered in Memphis(or Winnipeg)" and "Lord I'm Discouraged" but then later in the album they seem to break out of their sludgy funk. Enjoy

PS the 2nd of that DCFC retrospective is coming...i promise this time.

Not too much has changed

2009-05-15T12:39:00.004-06:00

Well its been awhile folks...guess i don't have to state that every time I post now, cause the people that actually follow my music writings know: that sometimes you have to wait some great lengths just to get anything out of me.
As some of you know, I've made a move back to Winnipeg, from a six year hiatus (or so i thought) out in Calgary. Didn't think much of the move at the time: ie. there were some points at which i truly despised that place, and i let it be known . But when push came to shove, and I'd been back in the Peg for a couple weeks, I realized that I really missed many of the people and the lifestyle that i had been living.
Now saying all that I have had a rough couple of weeks readjusting, check out this FB status (May 8th 5:04 am CDT) if you haven't already seen it. Yet things are slowly getting a bit better, as I'm really trying to put a positive spin on things.
So hanging out at my parents house alone, on a +1 degree day in WPG during May Long Weekend i figured i review a couple of CD's that reminded me of such a weekend (really only the Ben Folds LP, the other kinda deals with hope).

Artist Name: Ben Folds Five
Album Name: Whatever and Ever Amen
Richard Release Date: May Long 1998

Its funny that i'm reviewing this album. Seeing as this time 12 years ago I believe i was dragged to the Austin Healy retreat in Wasagaming that my parents are on as i write this. Reason i was dragged was because my parents were miffed/forced to bring me with them as they didn't want their house running rampant with unruly teenagers for probably the third time. Completely understandable. Funny thing is i doubt i could even get 5 people to a party here if i tried now.
The Ben Folds album comes into play, because at the time i dont believe i had a portable discman (haha discman), So i had dubbed this album to a blank tape: Side A (Ben Folds), Side B
(Matchbox 20). Hey cut me some slack on the Matchbox 20 i was discovering my musical taste at that time. I really enjoyed the high tempo jankey energy of "1 Angry Dwarf and 200 solemn faces" or still my ultimate breakup song "Kate" but i was mainly drawn to the piano ballads of "Smoke", "Brick" and especially the albums closer "Evaporated". I just kinda liked that someone had worse problems than myself and could express it better than me moping around a lonely central Manitoban vacation town. I also thought that a piano, stand up Bass and drums combo was about the most interesting sound i had yet to lay my ears upon at that point.

Artist Name: Sigur Ros
Album Name: ( )
Richard Release Date: sometime in '05

Don't think I've really ever gotten too many people into this band. That's kinda something i pride myself on. Opening people up to different albums and even types of music. Just to mention Sigur Ros is right there at #2 on bands i would donate a body part (after death of course) to see live, Weezer being A top that list. Many people at first listen think its mood music that you listen to when "down in the dumps" or somewhat depressed. But i listen to it when i want to be inspired. It just seems really uplifting in a sense. I guess i shouldn't be surprised as its lyrics are written in Vonlenska or Hopelandic.
Definition of said language: a constructed language of nonsense syllables which resembles the phonology of the Icelandic language.
It has also been said that the listener is supposed to interpret their own meanings of the lyrics which can then be written in the blank pages in the album booklet.
Never did that "write the lyrics in the booklet thing" but I've always thought that was a great concept.
Track one is my favorite BTW. I was also convinced i had lost this CD until one of my roommates Nephi moved away and was cleaning out his CD collection and found this unrecognizable white disc. It was my Sigur Ros disc that i had "hope"lessly lost months earlier.

Let out my inner Cusak

2009-03-04T01:08:00.004-07:00

So the winds of change have been blowing in Calgary (literally! its been freezing here) Wednesday should bring some relief. And tommorow I will be most likely be making a phone call that will alter my summer, my life for some time. So when this happens I refer back to my one basic philosophy: look back at yesterday, take stock in today, plan for tommorow. Those really are the 3 things that keep me sane on a day to day basis. But when there's bigger change i tend to ponder a little more. The following Blog Post is a bit of a myth that i have been perpetuating for awhile with a few people in my inner/outter circle/ anyone that'll listen to me blather about my personal taste in music. I Have a Top 101 songs. Just never really wanted to put it out there for a couple reasons. 1) Its Epic Long. 2) Who wants to read that much? 3) Really its my personal opinion and i know that i might get a couple "wow i can't believe you didn't put like 17 Radiohead songs on the list?" Anyways here goes all in one shot. Here's to "Looking back at yesterday" , cause by tommorow my opinions will have changed. I already excluded Stars "Set Yourself on Fire". I'm so dumb

101. Rave & Drool - The KillJoys (My Muchmusic Days)
100. Sugar We're Going Down - FallOut Boy (Great for singing in the shower/ Vienna Days)
99. Galaxie - Blind Melon (was into this album heavily when i found out he died in Mr. P's 12th grdae Math class)
98. Michelle -The Beatles (the french lyrics are endearing)
97. Needle in the Hay - Elliot Smith (Luke Wilson's, not so suttle shave in "the Tennenbaums")
96. They're a Comin' - The Dudes (What you dream every weekend could be like when you're 23/24?)
95. Back to School - Deftones (packed like sardines cranked to 12 on the way to PJ in Fargo)
94. Seether - Veruca Salt (Pure unadulturated guilty pleasure from the mid 90's)
93. I'm on Fire for you Baby - April Wine (Ricky pulling the big dirty)
92. Groovy Dead - Rusty (Hail to the Canadian Kings of Grunge)
91. Magic Position - Patrick Wolf (Pearl Sach's)
90. Somewhere Only We Know - Keane (walk to it in the bitter of winter, with no touque on for like 5 minutes. Wear headphones that cover your whole ear like earmuffs)
89. Anything to Say You're Mine - Etta James (Yes I can listen to "makeout music")
88. The Seed (2.0) - The Roots ( My generations "Sexual Healing")
87. Scared - the Tragically Hip (10th grade phone conversation)
86. babylon - David Gray (Mom)
85. Electrobank - Chemical Brothers (Sofia Coppola as a gymnast / Who is this, doing this?)
84. Hold the Line - Toto (Fez rocking the Keytar)
83. I bet you look good on the dance floor - Arctic Monkeys (Rock'n'Roll dance music)
82. Love Song - The Cure (best liked song to cover)
81. Run to the Hills - Iron Maiden (Being car chased in Lethbridge with Harvey)
80. This Modern Love - Bloc Party (Morning after)
79. Find a Way - A Tribe Called Quest (Grand Beach top down sheldon Cameron's JEEP)
78. Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi (Bahamas cruise, a little tipsy)
77. Brothers on a Hotel Bed - Death Cab for Cutie (Tucson on a Hotel Bed)
76. Beetlebum - Blur (The Jangly Guitar at the start)
75. Harvest Moon - Neil Young (Phil Jukes Karaoke)
74. Always Where I Need to be - The Kooks (Do da-do da-do da-do do do da-do)
73. Stand by my Woman - Lenny Kravitz (The Ultimate plea to take me back)
72. Shadowplay - Joy Division (Synth Bliss)
71. Rico -Matthew Good Band (My Fight Club Music)
70. Billy Liar - The Decembrists (what a foxtrot should be danced to)
69. I Like What You say - Nada Surf (Acoustic Please!)
68. Oslo in the Summertime - Of Montreal (Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
67. These Eyes - the Guess Who (Bill @ Boo at the Zoo Juke Box! he pre dated that chump Cera by at least a decade)
66. She Drives me Crazy - Fine Young Canninbals (Sue & Troy's Collection)
65. Stay Together for the Kids - Blink 182 (LOUD, quiet, LOUD, quiet)
64. Cannonball - the Breeders (the Pixies were lost upon me in 10th grade. I like Kim Deal's other "deal")
63. Closer - Nine Inch Nails (rebellious)
62. Around the World - Daft Punk (Convertable 12th grade chachiness/ Suzanne Smilek)
61. So Fresh & So Clean - OutKast (very tightly woven)
60. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks (Nikki used to make fun of me for liking this song)
59. Strange Currencies - R.E.M (waiting for Kendyl drinking Orange Crush on a +35 day)
58. Get it Together - Beastie Boys (Lando word for word)
57. Brass Bonanza - Jack Say (Hartford Whalers fight song)
56. Swing, Swing - All-American Rejects (Blue Bug Blonde Hottie Remember Smile)
55. Lost Art of Keeping a Secret - Queens of the Stone Age (On the Balcony in Lethbridge)
54. Take you on a Trip - Interpol (DejaVu scary)
53. My Best Friends Girl - The Cars (From Vinyl to Casette)
52. Mad World - Micheal Andrews (When movies opened the mind)
51. O Canada - The Blow (Low Fi Fuzz)
50. O Canada - Calixa Lavallee (Yes the National Anthem)
49. Its Oh so Quiet - Bjork (Musicals on lots of uppers)
48. D.A.N.C.E. - Justice (Remix Please)
47. Oh La la - The Faces (I saved Latin! What did you ever do?)
46. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger (My huge pre- Tom Cruise crush on Katie Holmes fueled my love for this song)
45. Winter - Dodos (Survival)
44. Bull in the Heather - Sonic Youth (Late night FM radio french programming while babysitting and watching ER)
43. Surprised - Gnarles Barkley (coreogrphed dance please)
42. Untitled 2 - Sigur Ros (best backround music of 2006)
41. One Armed Scissor - At the Drive-In (A song wished to have seen live)
40. Building a Stream with a Grain of Salt - Dj Shadow (As the title suggests)
39. 3rd Planet - Modest Mouse (An Ashley Roch influence)
38. Pardon Me - Weezer (Sincere lyrical rejuvination)
37. Wet Sand - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Larissa)
36. Drinking in L.A. - Bran Van 3000 (Ring a ding a dinghy)
35. At the Back of the Shell - the Kills (ridng the NorthWest train)
34. Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam (the Wiebe boys in a boat with the only tape for miles)
33. Sylvia's Mother - Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (Paul's ultimate mix tape)
32. Draw Us Lines - the Constatines (best song ive ever seen in the Hail. Best song I've seen at Sled Island)
31. Weighty Ghost - Wintersleep (misunderstood lyrics/ which a good smelling redhead set me straight upon, while we waited for many lights...... thank you)
30. You're Pretty Good Looking for a Girl (!st and favorite)
29. O Ye Coffee Tables - BOATS! (Kazoo MAGIK!)
28. Pure Morning - Placebo (Dude wears makeup, for real?)
27. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots (Dubbed 100 times in a bedroom lined with football players)
26. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads (more endearing french lyrics)
25. Over Retired Explorer - the Weakerthans ( the final installment of "endearing french lyrics")
24. Paper Planes - M.I.A. (the gunshot hook)
23. Do You Realize - Flaming Lips (that everyone you know, will someday die.)
22. Float On - Modest Mouse (jumping in the streets)
21. Where is my Mind? - the Pixies (I came around to an extent)
20. Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel (Oh the lovely horns, with dishes clanging and Micah singing)
19. Miss Misery - Elliot Smith (How do you like them Apples!?)
18. Just - Radiohead (Guitar madness to a frenzied silence)
17. Just Like Starting Over - John Lennon (#1 on my Birthday)
16. Poison Oak -Bright Eyes (Crying in a song)
15. Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra (Back of Jeff's Sedan balling my eyes out)
14. Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson (Karaoke/ Ipod classic)
13. Coffee Stain - Sarah Harmer (Only listen left vs. Baja)
12. Motorcycle Drive-By -Third Eye Blind (everlasting independance)
11. Murder of One - Counting Crows (Packing up junior High)
10. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zepplin (Christmas morning tradition)
9. Rock This Bitch - Ben Folds (Live Please)
8. Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Raw)
7. No Cars Go - Arcade Fire (HEY!)
6. Wolf Like Me -TV on the Radio (I know you have a dance as well?)
5. Betterman - Pearl Jam (lets all sing along)
4. Debra - Beck (I must make out to this song in my life, just once)
3. Across the Sea - Weezer (my favorite LOVE song)
2. Wouldn't it be Nice - the Beach Boys (the best peaks and valleys in the Biz)

and the winner is: #1. Run Around Sue - Dion ( Its got finger snaps harmony breakdowns and enough "hum da liddle liddle hey's" to satify someone for a lifetime.)

PS I'd love to hear your top whatevers.

I do like me a little funk?

2009-01-18T07:08:00.007-07:00

I am in utter amazement that checking prior post the only mention of the Red Hot Chili Peppers was a faint promise that i may review "Stadium Arcadium" at some point. Which lets be honest at the pace that i write, that promise is as slim as they come. I also noticed the lack of hip hop or rap or R&B okay well I don't ever listen to R&B unless its Jamie Lidell or somehow I get trapped listening nostalgically back to 1994 and Boyz II Men?!!! PS I added the Roots as just start point and is not by any means my definitive or favorite album of its genre although its up there. Here's a quick Fix !

Band Name: The Roots
Album Name: Phrenology
Richard Release Date: Summer of 2003

I had finally gotten off my butt after a long winter spent on my parents couch wallowing from defeat at the hands of the Baja peninsula. Or so it has been documented. Owing my girlfriend money and in no hurry to get a job, said ex got me an interview with her aunt/cousins boyfriend doing some landscaping. Chris was his name. Tall lumbering fellow. Really nice guy, although later i found out he had apprehensions about keeping me on at 1st because i was constantly running my mouth and was kinda on the small side for hard labour. I guess my work ethic won out cause he kept me on and even offered me on of three winter maintenance jobs that he cut to from the 8 guys he employed in the summer. alas i was making my way to Calgary but did take this album as a reminder. Once employed with Chris i met about half a dozen pretty good guys even was able to attain a job for my ol' friend Scott Paper which he later squandered by sticking pens in the company trucks ventilator and being in the same truck during a collision with a guard rail on Bishop during a slick August morning.
Shaun Miller introduced me to this album one "skip day". Well we did do some work that day but we got a job in a suburban development construction jungle where there where only a few houses around. The residents of said house hadn't even moved in yet, but they had full flower beds already and we were sent to do the dirty work. Skip Day referred to the way work was done. With no boss and no people around Shaun put on the Roots and cranked it with " Rock You", "Sacrifice", "The Seed", "Break You Off" on repeat/shuffle. Later listening to the album i understand the connection with those songs as they are the most structurally solid as later in the disc it goes off into some spacejam/ jazz bull hooie. Ahhh "Skip Days"

Band Name: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album Name: Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic
Richard Release Date: 1996

I just opened my case. Uhhhh its not there. Its not on my Itunes either. I swear Ive lost this disc a half dozen times. People just take it like a used book?
Breaking the Girl is twisting and turning
Suck My Kiss Aggressive drug abused sex with a glint
I could have lied i'm such a fool.......
Give it Away is overplayed
Blood Sugar Suckerfish Blood Sugar Baby Sex Magic She Moves me
Under the Bridge reminds me of driving to soccer games?
This album reminds me musical enlightenment, as i was once at a party whilst living in Lethbridge and this album played in the background, this was around 2000. I asked off the cuff who this was ?to a couple of scragglers. They laughed as I was ignorant to the guitar genius of John Fuscainte (Later finding out that it was the obscure Sir Psycho Sexy playing. I mean not too obscure but i had never listened past track 11 before, ill be honest). Since then this album has been in one hand and out the other. Thanks to Chris Sommers who introduced me to RHCP way back in '96. And yes i do hate One Hot Minute!

Late Addition: Please view My love for this band goes this deep! http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Ddd1AaOQKwm0%26feature%3Dchannel_page&h=29e8c9e2d5072840848980f56fdc9e6e

Death Cab...... my retrospect, in parts

2009-01-13T08:58:00.003-07:00

So this could be a four part blog or I may just stop with this one. We'll see how I feel after I lay down a couple things about one of my favorite love/hate musical relationships. I've seen Death Cab live 3 times. Twice at Sasquatch. Once co-headlining with Franz Ferdinand. And dammit I missed them opening for Neil Young this past Fall, here in Calgary. Needless to say they only wowed me once with their live performance. And their one stellar performance may have only been enhanced by a lackluster 3 hour performance by "the Cure" whom they had played before at last year's Sasquatch (can you tell its that time again, I've mentioned Sasquatch twice already in this blog post?) These two albums basically represent what I first liked about the band.

Band Name: Death Cab For Cutie
Album Name: The Photo album
Richard Release Date: Fall '05

I'm going to go backwards here. This was the 2nd DCFC album i ever purchased. This was like a new age Weezer/Blue Album for me. Now I know its not as good as Weezer's masterpiece and in retrospect to their careers this was DCFC 3rd full length LP. I'm referring to the impact it had on my musical tastes. I really had still been listening to a lot of mainstream rock at this point. trying to get into the Decembrists and The Willowz, yet this album solidified my love for all things upper NorthWest. I loved that Washington/Seattle area had somehow produced a great band that sounded nothing like Pavement or Soundgarden. With sweeping piano that was way harder than anything that tool Chris Martin was putting out at the time (and yes i like Coldplay).
This album came out at the end 2001. I didn't start paying any attention to DCFC until the summer of '05, a little over 3 and a half years after the fact. When in the pages of Rolling Stone some punk kid from "the O.C." was wearing this magical Tshirt. Said Tshirt did the trick I guess, cause on Tshirt merit alone I went and purchased this album.
I'm more a fan of some of the organ songs on the album. "Blacking Out the Friction" and "Coney Island" are solid listens. And anyone that can include long-johns in their lyrics wins me over hands down.

Band Name: Death Cab For Cutie
Album Name: we have the facts and we're voting yes
Richard Release Date: Winter '05

So by this time I was full force into "Transatlantacism". It was the DCFC album which had just come out. I thought i was so all over the indie scene at that time. Thinking i was really with it and ahead of things. Not until I heard this album did I realize I was so behind it, it hurt just a little. Listening to this album a couple times, I remember thinking how terrible the production on it was. How amateur the song writing was.................. then i took a couple of months, read a couple hundreds of things on the band and realized, that in fact this was something that they produced to build upon. This album holds some of their most classic live songs in "Lowell, Ma" and "405". This album has shown me to be patient with bands and their progression, look deeper, look for the potential. Not all albums will be a home run. That prior statement is what has kept "THE ALBUM" alive for so long, but i fear that same statement in 2009 could be the death of "THE ALBUM". That and ITunes.

I bid you adieu.

2008 Top Albums in Review

2009-01-02T00:00:00.011-07:00

So seeing as I didn't do one of these last year, I figured i'd appease myself by at least documenting my music tastes at the time. Once again i've been procrastinating all day to do this thing already. So I'm not promising anything earth shattering. Let it be known that the following albums are once again my opinion, mostly because they were the ones with a frequent rotation at some point this fiscal year. I've obviously missed the Bon Iver train? And contrary to what you have read in various other "Top Album" postings of the year, "Dear Science" by TV on the Radio does not merrit the praise its been getting.

Number 10: Elephant Shell / Tokyo Police Club

NOTES: - I saw versions of these songs live while they tourd though Calgary in late 2007.

Standout Track: Graves (Lots of Energy and Manic Guitars)

Number 9: Narrow Stairs / Death Cab For Cutie

NOTES: - I folded more pairs of socks to this album than any other this past year

- Saw them at Sasquatch Before the Cure and they actually didn't suck this time

Standout Track: - You Can Do Better Than Me ( Lyrically it makes me smile, sounds like Pet Sounds :)

Number 8: JIM / Jamie Lidell

NOTES: - The Male version of Amy Winehouse without all that nasty crack addiction

- Uh yeah I'm the fool with the short hair. Not my video so sorry for the sound

Standout Track: Wait For Me (Backing gospel singers outstanding)

Number 7: love is where the smoke is/ Jane Vain and the Dark Matter

NOTES: -I have a secret crusks on mrs. Fooks....ssshhh, don't tell anyone

- This came out in January. Props to lasting Power

Standout Track: Last Chance for Romance (Eerie Fleetwood Mac guitar with some ProTools mixed in I believe?)

Number 6 Vampire Weekend / Vampire Weekend

NOTES: -I tried to Hate this Album. I really did. I even went as far as calling it the poor man's Bedouin Soundclash

- I often picture people doing the Carlton dance to songs from this album

Standout Track: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (The guitar picking kicks Jack Johnson's,... enough said. Oh and there some name dropping of Peter Gabriel)

Number 5: Weezer(Red Album) / Weezer

NOTES: -Uhh its WEEZER ?!

-Not gonna lie.......Its Weezer

Standout Track: The Graetest Man Who Ever Lived (Rivers and Valleys)

Number 4: Lucky / Nada Surf

NOTES: - Pick up the Deluxe edition with the Live EP you will not regret
Standout Track: I Like What You Say (Girls grab your tissues...okay guys too)

Number 3: Skeletal Lamping / Of Montreal
NOTES: -In 20 years every band will sound like this band, GUARANTEED.
- Best Live show I saw this year besides NIN
Standout Track: Triphallus, To Punctuate! (A song of just being there for friends, and them not returning the favor)

Number 2: NOUNS / NO AGE
NOTES: - Here's some Footage my roomate Phil Jukes put together of our Sled Island '08 escapdes
-This album fit right into the "Greatness" as it plays under 40 minutes!
Standout Track: Teen Creeps (an Anthem)

Number 1: Visiter / The Dodos

NOTES:- Also saw them at Sled Island '08
- Epic Tunes
Standout Track: - Winter (Haunting, best song Magnetic Fields never made)

So there you go folks although to leave you with a little extra, the best tracks I heard this year are as follows. If anyone can help me with links to MP3's that' be swell.

5. Gnarles Barkley - Surprise
4. Lady Gaga - Just Dance
3. Beck - Gamma Ray
2. Black Keys - Remember When (Side A &B)
1. Oldfolkshome - I Hate Dell
1. BOATS!- Chrome Eyelids

Have a musical 2009.

Jen NaGooGoo and the rest of the Crooo.

2008-11-07T00:23:00.008-07:00

Well to keep the friends trend going, I figured I might give some love to the people that have to put up with my procrastinatory tendencies. And my somewhat Bullish nature. But with all the Bad there is some good, and this post is just a little thanks to those people that I get to share my passion for music, even if my musical taste are sometimes questionable?

Band Name: MGMT or (Management)

Album Name:Oracle Spectacular

Richard Release Date: Early 2008

So despite the fact that I didn't post a best of 2007 this album will get its proper due. And to be fair I wasn't even aware of this album til May of 2008. When I picked the album up it was in sort of the same ideology that I used to pick up albums for several years: Go into the music store and find the most obscure LP that i could find in the indie rock section. Sidenote: I rarely shop at HMV anymore as they have nothing I ever want. I hit up Disc traders, PLAY or MegaTunes on 17th Ave. So MGMT was purchased with a couple other disc that took higher precedence at the time. So It had to sit tight. I think I was listening to Beirut at the time. Anyways one evening I was watching the local music video channel late at night and saw their video for "time to pretend" and was sold. I believe I saw it with my fellow roommate Phil Jukes and both were befuzzeled and overcome with bewilderment on the sheer genius and psychedelia of what we had just witnessed? For the next 2 months it remained in the CD player downstairs for listening pleasure during long chats. At one point my friend Nicole and I had verbal sparring matches over which lyrics kick more ass. But this album did not come to fruition until I heard a cover track of "Kids" by the Kooks who just happened to be my friend Jen NaGoGoo's favorite. The 1st time I played it for her she melted. Memory Accomplished!

Band Name: Panic! At The Disco

Album Name: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

Richard Release Date: Winter 2005 Jan or Feb?

So this is one of those that I have wavered back and forth on doing for awhile seeing as I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I thoroughly enjoy this album. This album full on exemplifies my madness in buying CD's. Anything that I can/could get my hands on. When I purchased Panic's rookie album it was before it blew up teeny bopper style. And I proceeded to play it to death and had my roommate Craig on board full throttle. The lyrics just lend to getting pounded in your head like a Levi's rivet. But by the time we were full on over it, (or at least we thought) Mainstream radio got wind of these boys. I know I put my other roommates ie: Al and Andrea through some painful repeat listens to this album but when I play this still, I can never get enough of "Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her cloths off" Lets get these teens Hearts beating Faster, Faster!

Me and My Home(mies)? Yeah that's not gramatically correct, so what?

2008-11-05T23:57:00.005-07:00

The following posting is a total hoaring out of my friends that have recently been out and about touring this great land of ours. A couple weeks ago (Thanksgiving weekend to be exact) my old High School friend Jody Glenham came through Calgary, on her way to Winnipeg then back the day after next. Then it was up to Edmonton for the WCMA (Western Canadian Music Awards). Needless to say i made the 26 hour round trip car ride to Winnipeg for one day. Yeah crazy insane, I know this?! Anyways she has a new disc hopefully coming out soon. I think there might be 1 or 2 new tracks on her MySpace.

Funny thing happened that next weekend. Ricardo Lopez of OldFolksHome Fame. Some Ghetto Folktronica if your into that sorta thing. I am and most of my friends are so if your not, there's is a possibility your reading the wrong blog? Well Ricardo stopped by on his Western Canada tour a momentous 3 times. Despite being forced to watch Heroes with his Wingman for the tour Dan DeJager, both these men were old highschool comrades that were/are a tad younger than I so we were more of passing acquaintances back in the day. But since Ricardo also plays guitar in my friend Ashley Roch's many projects Boats, Ricardo has become what I'll proudly deem as a friend and a scholar. Ricardo is out East right now so if anyone that actually reads this that lives out there check out Ricardo's MySpace for dates.

So for the issue at hand. I figured I give you a review of One of my favorite Hometown Artists. And one from a band from the city that i've called home for the last five plus years. Hope you can enjoy.

Artists Name: The Weakerthans

Album Name: Reconstruction Site

Richard Release Date: 2004 Early

Just in case you have never heard this album before. Here's a little background. The Album is a cycle of songs about grief, regret and loss, the album is thematically framed by three tracks, "(Manifest)", "(Hospital Vespers)" and "(Past-Due)", which set three different sonnets about a terminally ill hospital patient to the same melody. Sounds kinda depressing but really its not. It makes me feel good about where and how I grew up. This album is really anthematic for me. It also has songs that seem like there have been thoughts of it picked from my brain. And when push comes to shove lots of the song structure almost reminds me of the 2nd album that is to be reviewed still in this post. If you think you may have seen the art before? Its the same guy that did the cover for Beck's "Guero" Album. There are many standout Tracks on this album for me. Lets start from the start shall we:

Track 2: The Reason: The Video was the bands first foray into Transit uniforms. It had a very musical feel to it. The chorus reminds me of a good Evan Dando/ Mike Watt tune.

Track 3: Reconstruction Site: Title Track, The one song i'm sure Wilco wish they would have written (That's if they even know who the Weakerthans are?)

Track 4: Psalm for the Elks Lodge Last Call: This reminds me of cold drives home on even colder seats in Laidlaw or Richie Mo's Car from the Pembi on Thursdays in the dead of Winter.
Track 5: Plea from A Cat Named Virtue: My Brother in Law Shane. I believe he made his grade 12 English class dissect the song structure of this track. Rock On Mr. Larratt.

Track 6: Well I already did this one back in the day. #11

Track 11: One Great City: wow this explains the love/hate with WPG so well.

Track 12: Benediction: It has Sarah Harmer's vocal accompaniment. Enough Said.

Enough gushing just give it a try already?

Artist Name :The Dudes

Album Name: Brain Heart Guitar

Richard Release Date: Summer '06

So when I got to Calgary, I had heard lots of good things about these local "Fellas". But just never seemed to be able to either a) get my hands on a copy of their Beepuncher EP or b) catch them live. So when they appeared on the cover of the local FFWD news paper exclaiming that they would be releasing a full length LP I was enticed again to say the least. What is on this disc lyrically might not be everyone seeing as again its Boy croons about Girl, but that's what I think is so genius about it. Sorry Dan if you actually read this just being honest . And I think the honesty on the disc is what makes it hold up as a classic in my collection.

"Do the Right Thing" Makes me sing at the top of my lungs.

"Mendoza Line (Whoa Caroline)" The last line on this track makes me think it'll be alright.

"Dropkick Queen of the Weekend" Is an ode' to all the girls that are way beyond any guys realm. But then take that guy for granted, and the sweet revenge of loneliness in the end.

"Love is Dangerous" Once again Just listen.

Have a greeeeeeeeatttttt week. Only 3 more weeks till new G'n'R!

Work & Song Part 1

2008-10-28T07:48:00.002-06:00

So i'd probably been meaning to do this post for awhile and the title is just to suggest that there'll probably be more post along the same structure. I know an Eminem album fits in there somewhere? Oh and i guess I semi had already done one? The idea just kinda came back to mind on the eve of starting a new job. Enjoy.

Band Name: Sublime
Album Name: Sublime
Richard Release Date: Sometime in 1997?

This album also kinda falls into the Classics for me although over time and as musical taste have changed I've realized that Sublime just wasn't that great of a band instrumentally speaking. It was pretty terrible Dub/Frat Boy/Reggae but because of the middle moniker they somehow were elevated to Punk status. Not Punk rock, they were just Punk. Oh and the fact that lead singer Brad Knowles OD'd on Heroin just weeks prior to the release. I think that's how the story goes? Which made this album achieve cult status at least among me and my cook buddies @ Earls Main Street. Little back story here. When your young and dumb Earls is where its at to work. I remember many a days one Mr. Colin Laidlaw would pick me late as per usual but the way that Colin drove his new Honda Prelude we weren't late he assured me. Often Colin would put on a Pearl Jam or Soundgarden album but Sublime's self titled was always the CD of choice. This might be an exaggeration but we most likely went through 3-4 copies as it would just get scratched and tossed around so much. And as we pulled up with maybe seconds to spare in a Leaders parking spot Colin assured me that this was "okay" and that the shift leader would like it and maybe even thank him later for taking his parking spot. We would continue to recite lyrics with Murray in a Hurry, Brad, Scotch and Geezer, all through the lunch hour as we got our asses handed to us from downtown Winnipeg Suits. Those were the great rookie days of cooking, when its like your a kid again and your not so bitter and jaded of all the realities of the business.
A couple of things that I would actually like to mention about the tracks on the album. The first 5 tracks on the album have a coherence that rivals some of my favorite albums. Seed and Jailhouse aren't even that bad of tracks, and the next 2 are half decent, I can even dig the smooth flow of Pawn Shop but Paddle Out is where it kinda just goes off course from the terrific melodies and hooky guitars. Caress Me Down almost sounds like a Shaggy reject (I really can't believe that i just referenced Shaggy). And the cleaner produced radio version of What I Got was not really needed. Obviously the Stand=out track on the Album is Doin' Time. Its just the greatest way to end an album that you may have thought have gone a bit wayward. The song brings you back in.

SASQUATCH '08 Days 4&5

2008-08-22T01:51:00.008-06:00

This Shit is Epic. I knew this would take me awhile but???

So basically this ones gonna be a straight up post. "Hollywood Minute" Style a la David Spade, why? Cause I'm a tired guy and want some sleep. But vowed I was going to finish this yesterday. So here goes everything!

Day 4: Monday

The Hives @ 2.10, In the Pit with Shane, finally he took his panties off. Wow the Lead singer is pretty full of himself. How bout take a time machine back to 2003 when you guys had hype and that was it. But at least its better than what you got now.

Built to Spill @3.30. Climbing back up the hill with Shane. Man these guys are supposed to be the influential sound of indie rock in the 2000's. They are so mundane that they influence me to get a $6.00 burger

Rodrigo y Gabriela @ 4.40. Spanish guitar rock to sleep on the hill to. for 25 minutes. then hop over to 2nd stage to see Cave Singers

Cave Singers for 3 songs. I fell in love with them right then and there. Then they ripped my heart out by cancelling @ Sled Island:(

Flight of the Concords @ 6.05- Funny but to small to play such a big venue. I kept running back over to the 2nd stage cause "Battles" was banging out the craziest noises you'd ever heard.

Now Alexis and Bonnie decided to stay and see Mars Volta on MainStage which was a struggle for me, Cause they said it was such a kicking set. I just couldn't do it. Reasons After the break...

So this would be the reason I missed Mars Volta. I'm the fool jumping around in front of the camera. Bad sound but apparently I was right in front of this person?

Jamie Lidell 2nd Stage @ 7.00- Amazing, Guy playing 2 saxaphones at once while wearing a lounging robe. I don't think I need to say anymore.

Ghostland Observatory 2nd Stage: Crazy Light and smoke show. Played both albums front to back. Mad scientist on keyboards and Native American on slamming guitar and Vocals.

Me and Ashley let GHostland halfway through for th Flaming Lips. Simply the best way to end a great festival. Naked Girls, UFO`s, Aliens, Teletubbies and Singing " Do You Realize?" at the top of my lungs.

Day 5: Its Over

Someone needs a Bath?

P.S. Happy:)

SASQUATCH '08 Days 3

2008-08-22T00:39:00.009-06:00

Well this one's gonna come a bit quicker than the last (Lets Hope!)

I guess other than talking about Micheal Stipe dancing barefoot in the rain in the previous post. I really hadn't elaborated on what the weather was like after the wind we had the 1st night we got there. Well day 2 kinda was sunny in the morning then around New Pornos kinda got mucky looking. Modest Mouse played in a slight drizzle by the time REM took the stage it was full downpour. But that was yesterday. Day 3 we awoke to georgous weather.

Again the Day started a little late because we needed to get our drink on, and a far as I was concerned other than "What Made Milwakee Famous" I needn't see anybody 'till "Cold War Kids" @3.10. Good thing was 3rd stage was earshot from the campground so i got to hear most of WMMF`s set.

When the gang finally made it to the grounds we sttled in around 2.00 to catch the Blue Scholars who are a hip-hop duo from Pacific NW. They used the Sound System at Sasquatch to their advantage and got the crowd going during their relatively early set. Cold War Kids came on and were actually quite a dissapointment and kinda sounded lost at times?

Bonnie and I agreed to go into the pit for Tegan and Sarah whom I think we both really enjoy but would never admit to seeing as we deem are selves to be a bit more je ne sais quoi? in the realm of music or at least i do. Anyways Those girls killed it. There sound was great and they just play off each other really well.

Now is the most guilty pleasure I have ever had musically. PUSA: The presidents of the united states of america. After T&S these hometown favorites made a most triumphant comeback playing all the hits: Lump, Peaches, Kitty, Little Dune Buggy. It was insanity at its best after 4 songs hacking it out in a 'as crazy as it got all weekend' mosh pit. Bonnie and I watched the rest of the set with the rest of the gang then all headed over to the 2nd stage to get a good spot for the Kooks.

After watching an okay set from 'Mates of State' only okay seeing as they hadn't played a show in almost a year together????
The wait for the Kooks was excruciating to the point that Ashley considered drinking the drubs of a squished water bottle cause it was so hot and crazy. The sound techs were absolute knobs. But once those crazy British kids got on stage all was well. It was just so right. The sun starting to set. The crowd at up every word.

After The Kooks Alexis' Bonnie and me headed back to mainstage camp to get settled in for Death Cab and the Cure. While Ashley Stay and checked out Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. She said they kick asses.

BTW we were in the pit for about a quarter of REM's set but tonight we just decided to chillax after a hard day of drinking and walking and listening to music. A general good partying day!

I guess things got a little hazy cause there was no really good pics of DCFC or The Cure. But alas Death Cab Kicked it up a notch. They were very interactive with the huge crowd. I'd seen them here 2 years prior and left extremely dissapointed. But they played a good mix from their new album which rockes and a lot of old! Loved Tranatlantacism!

The Cure was way past my listening period. Love Cats was good. I remeber cause its what they played as I piggybacked Bonnie up the Hill. Happy:)

SASQUATCH 08 Days 1&2

2008-05-30T00:17:00.010-06:00

Well Sasquatch '08

What to say what to say. Par for the course i'm 3 months behind in posting. Yet it seems that I've taken better stock in the whole experience and have most likely weeded all the bad and forgettable memories out of my subconcious or maybe just buried them deep down.

To actually sum up what "The Gorge Ampitheater" is actually like check this out.

Sasquatch Music Festival takes place during Memorial Day long weekend. That's the one after May-Long up here in Canada. What I'm going to try and do is sum up my weekend day by day. And give up some pictures (most of which were not taken by me) for a little eye candy.

Day 1: Friday, The Drive, The Camp set up, Long weekend and no Hard Liquor.

Shane (Friend from Earls days), Ashley (old High School Friend), Bonnie (Girlfriend at the time), and Alexis (Roomate of Bonnies and mutual friend) all joined me on the journey down to Sasquatch '08. The drive down, not gonna lie, took for eva! With many stops from buying food to eating food to taking pees to getting JubJubs at the boarder. Needless to say it was pretty comfortable in Bonnie's Caravan. We tried for about 45 minutes to find the Hard Liquor store in Quincy only to discover it was closed at 8.45 on a Friday??? We set up camp in the dark which wasn't that bad except fo the fact that there were Gail Force winds.

Day 2: Saturday, 1st Day of Festival, REM, ELO covers

The gang awoke to nice sunny skies. I was the only non newbie of the group so everybody was nice and wide eyed over the scenery. We decided we were most likely going to start the day off a little late seeing as there wasn't really anything to see before 2.10 when Beirut was playing on the mainstage. Although Ashley did want to catch Fleet Foxes from the Pacific NW. They kinda have this Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young sound. Needless to say we didn't get into the grounds until around 1 so we missed Fleet Foxes the 1st time around (more on that later).

We wandered around a little and ended up at Yeti Stage (3rd stage) to catch the end of "The Shaky Hands" who were completely forgettable but not enough for me not to remember that they have a bit of Weakerthans in them. In retrospect I should have stuck around to see "Throw me the Statue" who played next but knew nothing of them at the time. It was off to Mainstage to catch "Beirut" who didn't really catch my fancy listening to their albums but their set, mostly taken from "The Flying Cup Club" was bang on for the mid afternoon crowd.

(Pic on Right is Beirut)

After all the horns of Zach Condon , it was off to the Wookie Stage (2nd Stage) with the ladies (Shane decided to chill on the hill, and watch mainstage most of the day) to check out Kathleen Edwards a solo songstress from Canada. After about half a song we all decided that food was in order. As much as people discourage you from buying food in the festival, as cost are always ridiculous I'm just a sucker for a spicy noodle bowl on a nice sunny day. While in line for food by the Yeti stage we checked out some of Joshua Morrison who is this really soft spoken solo artist. As soon as are bellies were full we headed back to the main stage to catch "The National". This is when things got completely derailed in the way of having no conflicts between bands.

Although "Destroyer" was playing Wookie at the same time I decided to skip him as I know I'd get a chance to see him in Canada at a later date. Now at the Main Stage and having missed "Ozomatli" (Which is a good thing) I was excited to see the New York 7 piece.

Just a sidenote here, there was a comedy tent, but the lineups were always so ridiculously long that I never even attempted to get in. Although I did see one comedian in Raine Wilson from "the Office" fame. He was there shamelessly plugging his new movie coming out entitled "The Rocker". He came out to what I thought was announce "The National" on the Main Stage.?

(Raine Wilson on the Big Screen)

Instead he announced that "the National" had been held up at the boarder, as they had played opening slot for REM the night before in Vancouver for the opening date of REM's North American Tour. and that they would be Headlining 2nd Stage later that night. ARRRGGGHH!!!! Raine Wilson started scrolling through his Blackberry looking up facts to announce the next band.

"Hailing from Calgary, Canada This band's hit singles, particularly "Turn Me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend" have become arena rock staples. With 4 Multi Platinum Albums............Loverboy!??????"

He had me going for a second. Raine eventually ended up announcing that Fleet Foxes would be doing an encore preformance. All I'll say about Fleet Foxes is that I needed a nap and promptly took a quick 25 minute power nap till Ashley woke me with vision of Dan Bejar and his "Destroyer" outfit playing 2nd stage. I totally forgot with The Raine Wilson/The National Change/ Shitty Fleet Foxes/ Needing a Nap and a new game plan till Modest Mouse/REM finale situation.

(To Left: Destroyer)

And what a set it was. I'm glad I caught some of Dan seeing as I did end up missing him on his trip to Calgary. He was in fine form, looking his desheveled best and singing his lungs dry. In a great lumberjack red button up. I quickly glanced at my itinerary and Me and Ash decided to go back to main stage up front and check out "The New Pornographers". Hoping and wishing that Dan Bejar would join his comrades in his other band. Just our Luck. 'bout 4 songs from the end of the set out Dan Strolls Hair a-Mop with Beer intow. He didn't miss a beat. Oh and Neko Case made the trip, broken foot and all. She's a soldier and loves the Gorge so. I've seen her all three years. I guess you could say she's my Joan Baez. Okay,.... without the political mumboJumbo.

Next up was M.I.A. here`s a recap as she has grown a bit tired, in my eyes. She`s got a show and some talent. Just sing something I understand i guess??

-She came out in a wig with 2 dancers

-She rapped

-She danced

-She Rapped and Danced

-She invited a bunch of people on stage to Dance as she rapped

-She left and so did I to see if I could get up close for a bit of the National before Modest Mouse

No Such Luck as `The National` took an hour and 15 minutes to set up so I said screw that and went back to the main stage and got a good spot on the blanket for Modest Mouse/REM.

( pic 1&2 are MM
below is REM)

Not gonna Lie. The Openers on both Saturday and Sunday blew the Headliners away. I guess cause maybe its more fun to listen to Micheal Stipe on Disc than to see him dancing around onstage with no shoes on in the rain. Anywhere else he`d be considered a crazy person. SO really i guess that part was kinda fun. REM didn`t sing "Strange Currencies" an semi-buried radio hit from MONSTER that I would have like to hear. While in a personal argument Modest Mouse played obscure non radio hits (not like they have too many radio hits to begin with) such as "Dark Center of the Universe". Oh and the REM stage show was kinda blazé with only two Big Screens on either side of the stage taking wierd video of the band. It was no Beck or Bjork or Flaming Lips for that matter. Still all was good as Bonnie and I walked arm and arm up the steep hill. That I thought was kinda our thing all three nights. Happy:)

(Hanging on the Hill)

A Month to the Day

2008-04-30T23:06:00.004-06:00

Well I never said I was dependable for these things. Je suis tres desole mes amis. So to get on with it I guess I have quite a bit of exciting nouvelles de musique pour vous!

First off I guess I have to say that my sister helped me a bit with this link thing and a bit more of the ins and outs of the Blog world so I'll give it a whirl.

If you have not seen this I suggest you check it out and laugh your ass off a bit. Be warned that it does contain obscene lyrics and if you're not a fan of the artist "Peaches" I also suggest to stay away. To continue on with my little journey of my favorite YouTube Clips of the last little while. The Video is directed by Chad VanGaalen who is a former Alberta College of Art and Design graduate and is a solo Artist in his own right. He throws some moving Artwork down for a canadian Band named Holy Fuck.

Upcoming Shows for this summer:

May 3rd: Queens of the Stone Age

May 24th-26th: Sasquatch Music Festival (Headliners: The Cure, Flaming Lips and REM)

June 25th-28th: Sled Island Music Festival (Headliners: Mogwai, Wire, Of Montreal, The Rza)

August 30th: Oasis with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals

These are for sure dates that I have tickets for. I might go to some more shows but none that tickets have been purchased them.

Artist that I have been listening to lately:

Nada Surf

Tokyo Police Club

Vampire Weekend

MGMT

Boats

Andrew Bird

REM

Gnarles Barkley

The Cool Kids

Jain Vain and The Dark Matter

Please check this blog Daily its my absolute favorite. Their message boards are quite heated!

As for the review this time I give you one.

Artist Name: Ben Folds

Album Name: Songs For Silverman

Richard Release Date: 2005? is that even right?

So the 1st thing that comes to mind was that I had to tell my sister (possibly one of the biggest BF fans out there) that this album had actually been released. Mind you I did do some research and it was a bit of a rush album job if you can believe that? The final recording and printing process. I guess Ben Folds had done all this pre planning. He brought all these finished ideas to the table and his record company bought in so the whole album actually came together in 2 months. When some albums get hyped for that long??? or longer.

Nothing really sticks out. I know my sister has a lot of favorites of his. This for sure I know that. She also likes The Luckiest. But I'm more of an up tempo Ben Folds guy. But I still like the stories. "Landed" is a stand out on this album and I absolute love "Prison Food". "Gracie's" cute. The track that's really well done that I thought always gets overlooked is "Late" the tribute to Elliott Smith. Its just does an friend justice.

Got it in under the deadline: Big Ups to me

2008-03-31T22:11:00.005-06:00

Well I guess here's where I put the disclaimer. Please read this 3 part post in its planned form and go back two post please or 3 if you include this one. If you don't want to do that the choice is yours and there will most likely be consequences!

Just to let everyone know that 'Oasis' just confirmed a Calgary Date at the end of August. So I'm almost positive i'll now be in the city until then. That and I'm still bound by a lease till then. Oh and 'Ryan Adams and The Cardinals' are playing. So I pretty much need floor seats.

Here is said post I had previously promised.
Band Name: Boats, Boats!!, The Boats
Album Name: Intercontinental Champion
Richard Release Date: Late Summer 2007

So to be fair i'm compeletly bias towards the album and have mentioned it in previous posts. My friend Ashley Roch from highschool is Keyboardists/Multi instrumentalist on the album. To be even more honest the 1st time i heard it in our mutual friend Kevin's car driving down Bishop Grandin in Winnipeg. I quickly became annoyed by Mat's voice. But like many other vocalist such as Geddy Lee, Aaron Freeman from Ween. His voice grew on me just as quick as my initial hesitation. I came back to Calgary determind to give it another chance. I might have been annoyed that I was a big fan of Ashley's vocals that I think I was a bit taken aback by the fact that she wasn't fronting such a band. My inibitions left when I realized that back vocals and harmonies were very distinctive. If Ashley reads this she might not like this but I enjoy how honestly canadian folk it sounds. I attended a 'Boats' show in late 2007? i think? It was a blast that my roomies thouroughly enjoyed as much as I did. Can't wait to see them again. Fingers crossed for Sled Island 2008.
If I can suggest anything a slow ease into the album would goes as follow:
Breakfast Combo
Two of Every Animal
O Ye Coffee Tables
Classic Rock Weekend

After that Let loose. Hope you all enjoyed.

Part Deux: Anyway you look at it

2008-03-31T21:35:00.004-06:00

So I guess I briefly discussed in the previous post as to why I'm doing these post separately. But really there's only one explanation. Its that there are different reason as to why I started listening to them. And even if it was all within a relatively same period of time they were all from different factions of my life.
Band Name: Wolf Parade
Album Name: Apologies to the Queen Mary
Richard Release Date: Winter 2006 so like Jan-Feb-Mar

Wow didn't really figure this but there's some serious CanCon in these post. So Wolf Parade is a band that originally from Victoria but have since relocated to Montreal. And it feels like I've been listening to this album for eons. I bought it one random day at HMV downtown Calgary at the end of my stint with Earls. I remember I had bought it the previous day a Saturday and then arrived early on a Sunday just to Prep by myself. Nothing like Solitary prep sometimes. You get so much more done. I think altogether I played this album 4 times through and have yet to stop playing it. Wolf Parade has spwaned two main side projects in 'the Handsome Furs' and 'Sunset Rubdown' both a worthwhile listen to. But this album just makes me swoon. Just the Keys get me everytime. The Synth in 'Fancy Claps' makes me giddy. The lyrics are mostly gibba jabba.
' Dear Sons and Daugther of Hungry Ghosts' and 'I'll Believe in Anything' are just such athem songs. Its something that hasn't been around for awhile in Indie rock? all this long winding bullshite gets me sometimes. Lalalalalala I've got Water and Holes so! or Cause Nobody knows you and nobody gives a damn!

Can't wait for the new album.

A 3 Piece As the Ides of March Leave...

2008-03-31T20:23:00.006-06:00

Well I Know these are going to post backwards so you'll most likely read the last one first, which doesn't bother me that much. Maybe I'll just put a disclaimer. So to any of you have read the disclaimer in the first message congratulations, You are decent humans. To those of you who did not follow said instruction, FOR SHAME. You are rebels in your own skin.

So as to explain the reasons for said posts I just felt I hadn't done too proper or epic proportion sized posts as of late. To tell you the truth most of these albums mostly just remind me of one miscellaneous thing or another. Nothing too particular. So the post can be quite sublime at moments. I apologize. Yet the following Three albums have quite shaped my listening over the last 2 years. So here goes something.
Band Name: Neutral Milk Hotel
Album Name: In Your Aeroplane Over The Sea
Richard Release Date: When I Started @ Diner Deluxe

So as per the release date I think that was around May2006? Anyways, Not really that important other than the fact that I started working at a little mom and pop diner, (owned infact by a mom and pop named Dwayne and Alberta Ennest, not so mom and pop in respect to the fact that their in their mid 30's to early 40's. So their not old fuddy duddies.) the diner has this old 50's diner feel without trying too hard. Needless to say the hipsters of the city congregate at this joint. With lineups around the building and Chad VanGaalen and Matt Masters as clients you kinda get the feel for the place. If you don't know said artists above I suggest visiting MySpace and giving them a listen. Irregardless I met a Man amongst men. A man that has introduced me to a handful of discs, without being too pretentious or snobbish of his selections. His name you ask, Micah Stone. A man from Kansas. He, with one swift finger movement one Sunday afternoon released this manic jamble of messery upon my ears. Needless to say I've been researching most artist on Wikipedia before I go into a post nowadays. Just to confirm I have my sources straight. Apparently Jeff Mangum the brains behind NMH has become somewhat of a recluse since 1998 after subsequent release of said album and then a year of constant touring.
Micah is quite a character I might add, as he holds an open mike/improve/general Artistic open Jam Thursday from 5-7 @ Broken City. I hear its phenomenal as I'm always working I've never attended.
What I have to say about the album is that I very much enjoy the acoustic guitar combined with many banging horn combos. Mangum Lyrics are apparently symbolic of a family in Germany during the 2nd WW? Just seems really catchy to me. "King of Carrot Flowers Part I leads right into part II and III" The Fuzz and Feedback on "Holland, 1945" is so pleasant by the end of the song you don't realize how much punishment your ears have just taken. Its Weird. " Oh Comely" is really the only track that wears thin in parts. And always a sign of a great album is a great closer. And "Two-Headed Boy Part II" fits the bill. Its such a storyteller. Its to the point of exhaustion. That someone could write that many lyrics for one song? It Boggles minds. I've since gotten mutually addicted to this album with my Roommate Phil Jukes. And hopefully now some others. I will admit it took a couple listens. But its now in forever rotation on my play list.

Thanks Micah Stone.

So Get This...

2008-03-25T18:35:00.005-06:00

My dad sent me the following email:

Bobby:I have read your musical reviews on your blog and wish to ask you for a review of the following band "The Trashmen" in particular their wonderful mega hit "Surfin Bird" of the album by the same name.Thanks for your input, much appreciated. A Fan

So As an obliging blog writer I am true to my word and will review an album which My sister will debate is her's. Its more of a family heirloom. Kinda like the X-Mas Nativity Scene, which is currently in my sisters possesion or the giant brown Kool-Aid Jug, which is sitting in my fridge with none other than orange flavour, at the present moment..

Artist Name: Various
Album Name: K-Tel Looney Tunes
Richard Release Date: My Birth

To be fair I'm not actually doing a review of "The Trashmen's" album "Surfin' Bird". "Surfin Bird" was originally written by "The Rivington's". "The Trashmen's" version was the 1st to be popularized. The album that is in said possesion: Caron Manor @ 43 Brixton Bay. Was purchased most likely before I was born seeing as it was released in '76. But The "Looney Tunes" K-Tel Album of which was a staplehold growing up had not one but two "Rivinington's" cuts. The Aformentioned "Surfin' Bird" and "Papa Oww Mow Mow".

I think I even remember trying to do some sort of english report about this album in 6th grade english? My personal fave on the album was "the Coasters" "Along came Jones". Track listing is as follows:
1. Napoleon XIV - They're Coming To Take Me Away
2. The Coasters - Along Came Jones
3. Alan Sherman - Hello Mudduh Hello Faddah
4. The Rivingtons - Birds The Word
5. Ed Byrnes - Kookie Lend Me Your Comb
6. David Seville - Witch Doctor
7. Buzz Clifford - Baby Sittin Boogie
8. Nervous Norvus - Transfusion
9. Joe Perkins - Little Effin Annie
10. Lonnie Donegan - My Old Mans A Dustman
11. Charlie Drake - My Boomerang Won't Come Back
12. Ray Stevens - The Streak
13. Harv Norman - Rubber Duckie
14. Tiny Tim - Tiptoe Thru The Tulips
15. The Coasters - Charlie Brown
16. Nervous Norvus - Ape Call
17. The Hustlers - Shaving Cream
18. The Rivingtons - Papa Oom Mow Mow
19. Jumpin Gene Simmons - Haunted House
20. Sam the Sham And the Pharoahs - Little Red Riding Hood
21. Zacherle - Dinner With Drac
22. Susan Christie - I Love Onions
23. Ernie K. Doe - Mother In Law
24. The Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song

If you had this album or have any recolection of these songs i'd love to hear them.

Now to get some "cred" back, well maybe not that much

2008-03-23T09:23:00.008-06:00

Man I am hungry on this Sunday morning. Living in a yuppie neighbourhood has its disadvantages as there are no fast food joints anywhere near by. BooEarns. So I figured I would Give you two Albums that I started listening to in 9th grade but just sorta stuck around until the end of 10th grade? I loved when albums had legs like that. People talk about an album for about 6 months now and then it gets archived. I remember going to my local CD store in the mid 90's and have an albums cover art engrained in my retna's. The other album is sort of another guilty pleasure of mine. So Superstar DJ's Here We Go!

Band Name: The New Radicals(Gregg Alexander)
Album Name: Maybe You've Been Brainwashed too?
Richard Release Date: Lethbridge Era

So this is the guilty pleasure. Sure it was a one hit wonder. kinda like Nada Surf in respect to the record industry swallowing a huge talent and spiting them out when they weren't making the records that they wanted. Nada Surf survived. Gregg Alexander or "The New Radicals" as everyone knows him as, did not. Alexander released 2 albums under his own name. They had their highlights and lowlights. kinda reminds me of a poor man's Jeff Buckley. No Joke folks. The albums are really obscure and hard to find out of print. So if you can get your hands on an original copy your lucky. I kinda keep my love for this guy under wraps. Cause its like I have to explain myself eveytime that someone sees this in my music collection. Rivers Cuomo did a cover of one of his solo cuts on his recently released solo disc titled "Alone: the rivers cuomo solo recordings. So hope that's some justification? Got this album in Lethbridge when I was living there.

Band Name: Bush

Album Name: Sixteen Stone

Richard Release Date: 9th Grade

I Saw the video for "Everything Zen" on MuchMusic and was entrigued. Now I see they are and were such ripoff artists, but you live and learn. Without bands like this to enjoy I may have never realized how bad Nickleback are. Once again Nikki was there for one of my musical firsts. As Bush was my first real concert when I was 14 or 15? Veruca Salt opened for Bush at Winnipeg Arena. It was truely memorable. My ears rang for days after. I hate the song "Glycerine". hate.

Artists Name: The Notorious BIG

Album Name: Ready to Die

Richard Release Date: 9th grade/summer

So this Album really reminds me of 9th grade camping trip to Souix Lookout, at least thats where we docked. I hated Rap music in Junior High and was kinda ostracized for this. As the cool kids/Guys all listen to Montell Jordan, Rae-Kwon, Wu-Tang, Rza/Gza, Dogg Pound, Warren G. Me I was listening to Counting Crows, Our Lady Peace, Green Day, Offspring, Pearl Jam, Bush, Black Crowes. So I got some attention from girls in that respect but the guys bugged me for the "SHIT" Rock that I was listning too. Yet for some reason when I heard this album, things changed a little. Don't get me wrong it takes a good Gangster Rapper to get me to buy their album nowadays. I think the last one was Young Jeezy 2 years ago. Thats how bad the rap game is right now. Although lil' Wayne is decent. But Biggie with his flow just got me hooked. I can't count the times I've recited these last lines of wisdom that I impart on you via Biggie Smalls

" Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this!"

This One's for the Big Sis. Better Appreciate!

2008-03-23T08:34:00.004-06:00

So my big sister/mother/wife/career woman/daughter what have you. Has this great blog which I wish I could put these cool little links to, in the middle of the posts, if I were that tech savy, but i'm not. So just check out the link on the side. Point being a couple of posts ago, I recieved a request to review a couple of "Wilson Philips" Discs. Now I have made a point of trying to accomidate any request within my power, if is in my vast collection. I did a NIN post for my cousin Jer (yet another place for a link). And my last post was kinda a shoutout to my Friend Colin Being the huge PJ Fan That he is. I'll review "Binaural" soon I promise Laidlaw.

Now not trying to get completly off topic but I must admit that these 2 cassettes are no longer in my possesion but they most likely in some box or cabinet at Mom and Dads somewhere? So as the title suggest Nikki, at the expense of any music cred that I might have had before this, and your enjoyment of mocking me for ever loving "The best adult contemporary artist of the late 80's/early 90's". I figure i liked them cause i had a crush on them but looking back i can't remember actually having a crush? Weird. These will probably short and sweet.

Band Name: Wilson Phillips

Album Name: Self Titled

Richard Release Date: I was 9

So I can't really remember if I actually purchased this with my own money or not? I do remember that I got it when we went to visit that girl Wendy and her british parents in Saskatoon? Why are the names escaping me right now?and maybe it wasn't even Saskatoon? Anyhow I do remember playing the cassette over the houses intercom system after I got it. There were so many singles off this album like 5 or 6. But obvious favorites were "HoldOn" and "Release Me". Always thought that was funny. Such contradicting titles? Oh yeah and what the hell is Carnie Wilson wearing on the album cover, Bizaar?????????

Band Name: Wilson Phillips

Album Name: Shadow & Light

Richard Release Date: I was 11

So I went to the mall the day this came out. But I remember thinking that it was stupid that I had bought this cause my musical taste were canging and this was just crap. I had heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" just weeks earlier on a school ski trip. As cornball as that sounds, buying this album was the moment when I knew I had to stop listening to dumb bubble Pop.

Oh if anyone wants to know Cathrine Nicole Caron use to listen to the following bands:

"Tiffany"

"ABC"

" The Party"

"Jem And The Holigrams" because said album did not include lyrics, Nikki would start and stop the record and write them down on a piece of paper most likely to recite back in singsong form.

One that I'd been meaning to do for awhile. Sorry.

2008-03-19T01:14:00.006-06:00

Album Name: The Weight is a Gift
Band Name: Nada Surf
Richard Release Date: Spring 2005

So pretty much the only thing that I knew about Nada Surf before this disc came out, was that Ric Ocasek from "The Cars" had produced their first album, with the MTV Buzz Bin Worthy single "Popular". Back in the mid-ninties. Un-beknownst to me and i'm sure many others they released a few LP's after they were dropped by their major label. They did the Jerry Lewis thing and got big in France. Honed their sound and relesed this little gem. Said disc has gotten me through times of ethical questions and just how hard life can be throw at you. Surf says to take it all in stride. My favorite tune is " Do It Again".

A little bit of a challange.

2008-03-18T23:58:00.002-06:00

So my sister gave me a bit of a challange on her blog. Kinda just a fun type thing. I figured I'd change the context of the blog a bit just to peak my interests until such idea goes stale in my mind. Meaning I might just review an album that I purchased or comment on anything music related. Such as my friend Micah put on an Andrew Bird Disc a couple of months ago and wanted to mention to somebody how much I enjoyed the disc but just figured I didn't have a medium. Well I'm breaking the tradition. Oh and also, I've purchased passes to Sasquatch and havepasses in Limbo for Sled Island, They just haven't officially gone on sale. Also I'm going to Queens of the Stone Age when they come to calgary in April. And if I'm really lucky I'm going to try and get passes to Pemberton Music Festival in B.C. So maybe I'll put some pics up of those. Sounds like I might actually might not be working like a dog for once. So for starters I'll answer the challange, It Being the Following: The rules are simple: Hit shuffle on your iPod then answer each question by hitting next.

P.S. Went to see Juno in a little theater in my neck of the woods that basically plays watever. The Soundtrack that everyone raves about........Meh???

1. What does next year have in store for you? A: Big Bang Baby (Stone Temple Pilots) Would have been a better answer number two.
2. What does your love life look like next year? A: Writing to Reach You (Travis)Kinda a song about longing and not quite resching good communications, kinda sad :(
3. What do you say when life gets hard? A: I Think I'm In Love (Beck) Song about apprehensive natures, kinda suits me, The King of Procrastination.
4. Song that reminds you of good times? A: Perfect (Smashing Pumpkins) You know when people say "the origonal is better" well this songs video was supposed to be a continuation of the "1979" video off "Infinite Sadness" Well I like the latter better. It does bring back good memories
5. What do you think when you get up in the morning? A: Torture Me (Red Hot Chili Peppers) HaHa! I run up the hill in Kensington to work almost everyday. The Horns get me pumped and Keidis just slurs his way into perfect harmonies. John and Flea kinda take a back seat to Chad on drums till the end of the song then Fuschante kicks it up a notch.
6. What song will you dance to at your wedding? A: Rock 'n' Roll Star (Oasis) I hope not. Mark this down as one song that isn't allowed to be played at my wedding!
.7. Song that reminds you of your first kiss? A: Narcolepsy (Ben Folds) Kinda a rejection song?
8. Your favorite saying? A: El Scorcho (Weezer) Nikki you had this but you couldn't find the connection. I love this for one line and one lie only: "Goddamn you half Japanese Girls, you do it to me everytime."
9. Favorite place? A: Hey, Johnny Park (Foo Fighters) The song mentions nothing about an actual Park but I do enjoy the odd frisbee toss or game of catch in the Park. The song's about adoration for the female sex, and being unable to express feelings on the basis of not being macho anymore.
10. Most Missed Memory? A: Top of The World (All-American Rejects) A song of " I'm glad your miserable" Not really good memories attached to that feeling.
11. What song describes your best friend? A: Over Retired Explorer (Dines With Michel Foucault In Paris, 1961) (The Weakerthans) Reminds me of Paul. He used to sing this cause he thought the french was so hilarious! No Joke. "Come on Tallez-vous ce soir je suis come si come ca" He always loved english songs with french in them like "Psycho Killer".
12. What song describes your ex? A: D is for Dangerous (Arctic Monkeys) Listen to it if you knoe me it applies perfectly.
13. Where would you go on a first date? A: There Is (Boxcar Racer) Don't mock me Ipod/Blog game.
14. Drug of choice? A: Keep The Car Running (Arcade Fire) Sure is the drug of choice of cold motorists in the winter.
15. What song describes you? A: Doin' Time (Sublime) Wow so laid back. Totally my vibe.
16. What is the thing you like doing most? A: Do The Evolution (Pearl Jam) It is what I do. All too well!
17. The song that best describes the Prime Minister of Canada? A: What is Your Secret? (Nada Surf) What is your secret Harper? Nothing special?
18. Where will you be in 10 years? A: Dashboard (Modest Mouse) I read nothing into this. I can't even understand Brock Isaac in this song?
19. Your love life right now? A: Easily (Red Hot Chili Peppers) It is going along pretty easily!
20. What is your state of mind like at the moment? A: Don't Panic (Coldplay) One of my many personal mantras at the present moment.
21. How will you die? A: The Swiss Army Romance (Dashboard Confessional) This song makes me sad about relationships of any variety.

That quite surprised me?

2007-11-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

So yes I'm posting for th 2nd time in less than a day. Reason being I have some time and I feel like sharing. So I hope none of you are complaining? The post title mainly refers to those discs that I was really surprised by the person listning to it and finding it a bit odd that said person was a fan of the music. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, just keep reading.

Artist Name: Patrick Wolf
Album Name: Magic Position
Richard release Date: May 2007

So to all who have not expierienced the eccentric genius of Patrick Wolf. Dare I say music has passed you by. When I was travelling down to Sasquatch this past year. With two upstanding citizens and now friends Vanessa Horne and Robbie Huebner. Robbie kept on insisting on the way down that one of his must sees was Mr. Wolf. Now I had never heard of the guy and he had been a late addition to the lineup. So I figured he was a filler artist.
Robbie filled my head with grandios urban ledgens of Patrick Wolf threatning to retire at shows. Firering of drummers on stage. So I ready myself for the absolute insanity of it all.
Wow was I surprised. Not quite sure why, but at the time I would have never been able to picture Robbie sitting in his room listening to Patrick Wolf. I could sit here for ten paragraphs listing you the reasons why Patrick Wolf's live preformance is mind blowing. And how this album excluding the 1st 3 tracks does not justify his live show.
Yet no matter how much one can be prepared. You will only surprise me if you tell me that you're a Patrick Wolf Fan. He's that eccentric.

Any male that has a tattoo of a Unicorn on his cheast is bizaare. 'nuff said.

Band Name: Bright eyes
Album Name: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Richard Release Date: A month before my sister wedding

First off gotta say that I love the track Poison Oak!

But this album was purchased in a flurry Hype. I bought it at the same time as Connor Oberst released Digital Ash, in a Digital Urn. Lots of press in lots of magazine got me buying these 2 albums without a listen. Regardless I didn't even give them a full listen. To be honest I hated both these albums right off the bat. Hated. I hated the vocals the lazy drawling instrumentation. The fact that I bought the hype made me sick.
Stashing both disc to the nether regions of my Cd collection. I made my way to my Sister and soon to be brother in laws wedding. (Still sorry for ditching early to go to an Earls staff party. But hey that night was the foundation that was laid for a long relationship with Larissa. But thats a whole different story.) Anyways. Great wedding, lots of fun, especially being in the wedding party. I was very honored to stand on my sisters side.
One of the highlites was the didgital picture montage of my sister and Shane. Now I remember there being a Foo Fighters song played. But the song that actually caught my ear was "The first day of my Life". Didn't know who it was at the time then I asked Shane. It blew my mind that not only had he chose this fantastic song but that he actually enjoyed Bright Eyes.
Had I made a mistake? You see when it comes to music Shanes knowledge is up there with the best of them.
So yes I was wrong. Gave it another listen and have grown to love Connor Obersts shaky Vocals and morbid lyrics. With a little hiccup here and their.

'until we meet agian folks.

Oh Yeah I haven't done that one yet.

2007-11-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

So its been about a month of working 60-65 hour weeks so "bear" with me folks. All I had time was for my own personal listening and a little eating, sleeping, breathing, and fantasy football mixed in. But in that time my roomate Phil finally slowed down on dowloading his and my personal catelog of music on to his laptop. Needless to say many games of Power Pros Baseball between Craig and I. And at least a couple dozen trips to "The Dirty Bird" Phil Ripped around 8200 songs which comes out to 55.7 days of music, or 29.71 GB for all you tekkies.
I'd been listening to lots of old stuff that I remember playing the teets out of. And I could have swore that I had written something on them. Nope. Nada, Nothing. SO here goes a three pack.

P.S. If you can pick up the band Boats!! CD Intercontinental Champion. I Urge you to Do so.

Band Name: Everclear
Album Name: Sparkle
& Fade
Richard Release Date:
All Highschool '95-'98

This album was one of those that the 1st track was so loud you just had to turn it down, no matter how quite you had your stereo volume it just seemed as a kick to the side of an eardrum. I especially had to turn it down in a certain purple sunfire on many occassions. Thanks for all the rides mr. Kevin Buckner. I think we both played out a couple of copies of this disc.
Anyone that has actually ever embraced this album will admit that the 2nd half of the album trails off.
Yet from track 2 Heroin Girl slowly slipping into an equally as vulgarially charming You Make Me Feel Like A Whore It just works on some level that was most certainly not their between these guys ever again.
Summerland gets played everytime I pass through the Okanagen, which isn`t that often.
Strawberry is a sweet song! As in ``Awwwww that`s sweet``!

Band Name: Oasis
Album Name: Definitely Maybe
Richard Release Date: June 30th 1995

The Release date is so exact because I remember the exact moment I saw the video for ``Supersonic``. It was the day before July 1st and I was at my friend Mike Tan`s place playing Ken Griffey Jr. Homerun Derby. For some odd reason the game was turned off and Much Music was turned on. On came this yellow grainy video of these english dorks playing the maddest guitar riff I think I may have heard maybe to that point.
Cigarettes & Alcohol is a Karaoke staplehold. Its a Butte!

Oh yeah always thought it was funny that Live Forever was on the Interview for the Vampire Soundtrack.

Band Name: Snow Patrol

Album Name: Final Straw
Richard Release Date: Winter 2005

Sitting against the long lounge benches 25 minutes before lunch service at Earls BankersHall. Trying to grab a moment of clairity before utter maddnees of plates sloshing and bodies moshing to the sounds of barks and yelps of line

cooks. My ears perk up as I look at the astute bartender Fane. I asked in an underenthusiastic voice. Ànd this is who Fane.

Snow Patrol he replied.

I as soon darted across the street to something I haven`t put down since. Thanks Fane.

`till we meet again.

NIN Retrospective. Small Yet On Point.

2007-10-09T14:22:00.000-06:00

Its not as if I wouldn't have gotten around to these albums sooner or later. Its kinda weird to look back at my musical taste over time and always have to revert back to the fact that one of the first bands to Change my mind with sound, was NIN. Weird I say because in my fairly liberal yet strick about swears, drinking, drugs, murder, demoralizing police household. NIN was definitly not something I was allowed to listen to at home as a kid/teen. So here are the following stories and reviews of these LP's as once again relate to my life.

Band Name: Nine Inch Nails

Album Name: The Downward Spiral

Richard Release Date: '94

I remember being about 13 or 14 and my buddy Scott Richardson wanted to show me some CD's he had bought. We went to the closet Cd player. And he put on this terrible Mr Bungle album. Which i think i just agreed was good but thought it was shit. Then he put on this album that had a "Parental Advisory Sticker". Now I know I had listen to albums with this sticker on it before this. But never really understood them. My cousin Jason lived with my family for a short stint when I was younger and I remember him listening to Metallica's Black Album. Yet I never had the same peaked interest the first time I heard March of the Pigs. It was three and a half minutes of pure anger and injustice and then there was this little 20 second plea of Trent Reznors with a little piano added in for self pitty, added in at the end. Genious.

Closer was a '80's dance pop song dressed up as mean industrial badguy.

The album has this broken cohesivness. I know I just used a unconnectable cliche but it just flows with such organization in a heap of noises and bleeps to make your ears jerk for more.

Band Name: Nine Inch Nails

Album Name: Year Zero

Richard Release Date: Early '07

So I jumped a couple albums. I do have with teeth but I figured I give the short blurb in the middle. Seeing as I only purchased this album earlier this year not too many fond memories or things to comment on the album.

My roomate said that once I took the plastic of the CD it would change color. It didn't. Not really that dissapointed.

There was a telephone number that was givin to each purchaser of this CD on a insert in the cd. Supposedly had some weird cryptic message when the line picked up. I never called it.

Capital G is a good commentary on Bush. Although I'm pretty sick of anything related to Bush's. Take what you will from that.

I will mention one thing. I'm glad it didn't take another 4 year for a new album or 10 for that matter.

Band Name: Nine Inch Nails

Album Name: With Teeth

Richard Release Date:'04

Went to this concert tour twice and the light show was revolutionary. Trent Reznor destroyed my idea of a big stage show up to that point although Beck has since dethrowned Mr. Reznor.

his was just a pleasent surprise back in the right direction.

Sorry Jer if there's not too much content. Never have listened to Pretty Hate Machine. Which I have been told fills voids in otherwise empty musical lives.

Just a Quickie (Like All The Songs on This Album)

2007-10-04T10:36:00.000-06:00

So quite an unlikely Disc to rant over, but this one reminds me of more than one past instance, and I associate with more than one person.

Band Name: Blink 182

Album Name: Enema of the State

Richard Release Date: Summer 2000

Well, pretty sure I purchased this album either before I left for Lethbridge in '99 or while I was living there. I know at that point in time I didn't really pick up on the "double entendre" with the name of the album and the subtext of the photo on the front cover. I did however know who the pornstar was on the front cover (Janine is her name) and the fact that she only at that point and time only did Girl on Girl scenes. Oh the things that were important when I was 18. Not that knowing what an Enema was important to my vast knowledge at that point in my life but looking back I can't really believe that I didn't know what it was?

Not gonna lie to you, this album is totally a Dan Liberatore album. Him driving my lazy ass over the Westside bridge listening to this over and over. Declaring our new favorite tracks because of this lyric or that crunchy/stuttury guitar riff. Just nonsense.

The album doesn't really hit it stride until song 3. Going away to college always reminds whats great about those girls that actually "get" what i'm about. And how I always over compensate to keep their attention. No real situation in particular just a general feeling.

"What's My Age Again" can be categorized as one of the biggest joke songs taken seriously.

"Dysentry Gary" is kinda the opposite of "going away to college". Its all about whats wrong with girls and how they always make and say the wrong things after a relationship is over.

"The Party Song" reminds me of Larissa. She always said that it was a song that her and her BFF Joanna used to listen to before partying. I guess that means she probably still listens to this 7 years later? Kinda confussed me because the exact birds that Blink slags on are kinda the type of girls that Larissa and Joanna mimmic?

"Took the seat off his own bike because he liked the way that it felt"

Is single handedly the best line on the album. It's from the song Mutt. Which was also during a pivotal scene in the 1st American Pie movie, where Jim is going to try to sleep with Nadia. Sheer teen sex romp classic.

"Miss you" off Blink182's self-titled last album is still better than "Adam's Song" in my opinion. Some might dissagree and they played the turd out of the "AS" video on MuchMusic.

This is something i really never divulged to anybody till now but when I picture myself coming into a boxing ring, (yes I've always kinda had a far-fetched dream of being a professional boxer) that I would enter the ring to either DJ Shadow's "Bulding Steam With a Grain of Salt" or the instrumentation from "Anthem" the last track from This Blink album. Those songs just have that intimidation factor to me???????

Oh big thanks to my cousin Jer for the immediate encouragement the day after I posted for the 1st time in months. My summer as I suggested in my previous post involved no PC so I wasn't too motivated to mosey to the local Internet cafe to blog. Just for that Jer the next post will be a request that was made quite awhile ago. I have "the Downward Spiral" "With Teeth" and "Year Zero" in my collection. You will be hearing from me soon.

I Guess I Owe You The Reader? This is A Little Heavy.

2007-10-03T20:26:00.000-06:00

I am very apologetic to all 4 of you that I left in peril way back in April.

Due to circumstances beyond my control or money, I did not have access to a PC, hence no blog updates. To let you all know I had a very busy summer with work and........ well work. I did go to a couple music festivals. Of course I ventured to the state of Washington again to Sasquatch. Arcade Fire and the Beasties did not dissapoint. I also checked out a local festival called "Sled Island". Les Savy Fav, The Walkman, The Constantines, and The Dudes kicked asses. Cat Power was a huge let down. Another event that had an impact on my life, was my friend and old roomate Josh Jackman passed away at the end of the summer. This was the 2nd consecutive summer that I had a very good friend pass away. After I got the news(text) about Josh. It disgusts me that I recieved the news by text by the way. Anyways this is kind of my tribute of music, to these two MEN who shaped my life in that good and not so good way. I`ll take èm both.

Band Name: The Magnetic Fields

Album Name: 69 Love Songs (3 Dics)

Richard Release Date: Spring 2002

Well this album I remember picking up at Music Trader in Osborne Village for some astronomical price, especially on a cooks salary. Something like $99 and my left pinky. I remember thinking there would be a lot of mooching too party the next 2 weeks but I didn`t care. Cause I knew when I showed Josh this 3 CD collection of some indie band from New York City he would think I knew my shiate. Don`t remember if I actually got that affirmation from him. In the end I don`t think he really cared. He just enjoyed sharing his knowledge of music with me from Waits to his stirring rendition of Maidens ``Run to the Hills``. I kinda figured out after hanging with Josh that to just enjoy things don`t try and make a point of everything just to point it out. Oh yeah about the album, check out Reno, Dakota and Epitaph for my Heart. And yes for all you that research the album actual release date was the fall of `99. Sorry I discovered it a little late.

NB: sidenote if you want to hear a fun song that makes me smile. Blink 182`s ``Please take me Home``. In Josh`s last email to me he mentioned how I hadn`t blogged in awhile and he was very dissapointed that he was not mentioned at all either. He mentioned that he would listen to this song and laugh cause i mentioned that this was his theme song once. I have no recolection of ever saying that. Memories kick asses.

Band Name: Electric Light Orchestra

Album Name: Greatest Hits

Richard Release Date: August 2006

So I know this album was released in the late `70s oh and apparently the vinyl copy came with an actual ELO medallion on the front cover! Little know fact from a former coworker. Thanks JT. When I went down to Paul`s funeral last summer his step brother Jeff drove me around basically for 4 straight days. Don`t know what could be more comforting than driving in a 4 door north american sedan for 4 days being horribly sad listening to ELO on repeat. I know there were other CD`s Jeff but in but all I remember is listning to Evil Woman, Livin Thing, Strange Magic, and Mr. Blue Sky over and over always thinking Paul had always told me this was Bowie. why would he have led me in this lie all this time. You see Paul never had track listings for any of his CD`s he just always had these compilations and when I would ask who the artist that would be playing he would just give the most convenient answer, not always the right one. I slowly have found this out but the greatest one was related to ELO being Bowie. Thanks for the memories Paul and Jeff for setting the record straight.

Back with a little Vengance!

2007-04-12T05:16:00.000-06:00

Hope I didn't surprise you too much, just really haven't been in the mood for writing so I figured go with a couple new ones to get the ball rolling again.

Band Name: Coldplay
Album Name: X&Y
Richard Release Date: November 2005

When this came out I constantly sang the chorus to the title track. "Birds came flying at the speed of sound" Still can't pin point exactly what it means but its a damn catchy tune. Larissa and I went to see Coldplay March 2006. The show was pretty good with Fiona Apple opening. which we only caught the end but she was touring her last album which was pretty amazing in itself. Coldplay did a greta cover version of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" but to tell you the truth Coldplay made me fell like only one band has ever made me feel before about a live song. The first was Pearl Jam's "Better Man". Hearing that song live gave me such chills , just showing me how much one can enjoy such a simple pleasure. well Coldplay did this with "Fix You". I dare myself everytime I listen to that song not to crank it too the max volume and just giver'.
The album is defintly a huge step in Coldplays evolution. Must say its not better than their debut "Parachutes" and doesn't have that inexplicable sincerity of "Rush of Blood to the Head" (love the track "Green Eyes"). But it'll always do the trick. Who'd of thought that you could release a concept album in which nobody actually understood the "concept".

Band Name: The Shins
Album Name: Wincing the Night Away
Richard Release Date: January 2007

I got this album as a Valentines Day Present. Haven't stopped listening to it since. I saw these guys last year @ Sasquatch. They didn't blow me away but this album did. The first song has this bubbly organ sound that I continuosly mimick at work, which gets (I'm sure) extremly annoying. The greatest thing though that I love about this album is about 2 weeks after getting it I was working @ the Diner and me obviously listen to customers conversations as I always do, overheard a girl say to her friend; "Have you heard 'Sea Legs' by The Shins? I listen to it like 20 times in a row yesterday!" Fuckin' Eh! Love that passion for one song!

Sorry folks thats it

Christmas Break. My Best of 2006. In no particular order

2007-01-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well just let it be known that 2005 was in my opinion a better year for releases. As I went through my vast collection of compact discs, everything I had been listening to in 2006 had been released in '05. Oh well here goes.

P.S.- I loved Stadium Arcadium. There just too much about that album to speak of.

Artists Name: Dirty Pretty Things
Album Name: Waterloo to Anywhere
Richard Release Date: Unseasonably Warm October Day

Bought this album on total hype. If you (the reader) is farmiliar with "Libertines" fame. Carl Barat, Pete Doherty's right-hand-man when they were both in the Libertines, Is fronting this band. The album seems a little put together than Doherty's Babyshambles project, see below. Yet it lacks that interest other than the anti-Doherty songs like "Bang Bang you're dead" and "Deadwood". Then again its British Ronk'n'Roll and it kicks regular North American Bands Release. I also bought this album to see what my roomate Craig Ramsey thought of it. Anything or anyone with a Pete Doherty Connection seems to fascinate one's mind?

Band Name: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Album Name: Show your Bones
Richard Release Date: March 2006 F'n Cold

This band was for shiate before they signed on a major label. I know I've beaten that comment to death but its true. Andrea Duckett a former roomate listened to this for about 2 weeks before some dumb "Thievery Corperation" album came out. I much prefered this album. I can never get "Gold Lion" out of my head. Another roomate Nephi Bisgaard then caught wind of the album and proceeded to have a 2 and a half month obsession with it. He even played "Cheated Hearts" at some Highschool show in the summer. I heard them practice that song a million times. I don't remeber who sung in that band that Nephi was drumming for, but she was Chyrissie Hynde sexy.
Little sidenote that deserves its own paragraph. Shane Larrett, If any of you are unfarmiliar with this name he is my brother-in-law. Emphasis on the brother. Cause if things keep on going the way they are with Larissa, your it Shane. I recommended this album to Shane. He had serious doubts? But with left over birthday gift certificate money to my sis, he purchased the album. To much shagrin he confessed the kickassedness of the album. It feels good to give that gift to someone.

Band Name: Babyshambles
Album Name: Down in Albion
Richard Release Date: 2006????

Pure unadulturated mess of an album that Pulp should have made 8 years ago. (THE GENIOUS OF IT ALL)???Oh and did I mention Kate Moss sings on the album. Pete Doherty what will you think of next?

Artists Name: Beck
Album Name: The Information
Richard Release Date: Late Dog Days of Summer

What the hell was this? A new Beck album? But he just released "Guero" last year, not to mention a remix album of "Guero" Guerolito" which came out X-mas 2005? Well he did it again folks. And it has stickers to boot. Also an Extra Disc featuring Videos for each song on the album. Besides the packaging the album is a past 5 year retrospective. "Think I'm in Love" is so catchy. Its catchier than "Girl" from Guero. "Nausea" the single is a seasaw battle of instruments and synth". "Movie Theme" sounds pure sugar pop 80's love ballad.

Artist Name: Cat Power (Chan Marshall)
Album Name: The Greatest
Richard Release Date: February 2006

There is a tremendous background about Ms. Marshall. Suicide and drinking other such devious acts. But I did not know any of that when I originally purchased the CD. Someone I believe told my roomate Craig that the disc was good. after a listen or two I tucked it away for a good 4-5 months before Craig pulled it out once again, told me to give it one more chance. It has been in constant rotation ever since. Very Caring and loving disc.
Band Name: Aric Monkeys
Album Name: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Richard Release Date: January 1st 2006 (Not Really)

-Seeing them at Sasquatch! They could not grasp the concept that, that many people were there to listen to them
-Driving home from Sasquatch! listen to this album about 4 times back to front, And the skies were black and mean and angrier than piss.
-Getting shivers the first time I heard "i bet you look good on the dance floor" that guitar is so crazy . Its straight ear fellaccio.
-So many good lines "I've seen him with girls of the night, he asked roxanne to turn on that red light, there all infected but he'll be all right cus he's a scumbag don't you know"?
-" Riot Van" a sweet tender apology song from punk kids.

Artist Name: Richard Ashcroft
Album Name: Keys to the World
Richard Release Date: 2006

Mail this one in "ol' Ashy boy". This is my guilty pleasure album of the year.

Let me know If you think I'm seriously missing an album that you think is worthy of buying that I missed out on. By the way, I don't like Dylan so don't even mention "Times" and yes I have the new PJ album....meh. I did however leave out the Strokes, and that is a travisty.

The Other One

2006-12-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

So my last posting I think may have been misinterpreted as me going crazy. Which is definitly not the case. If you've heard any Modest Mouse album the themes are elaborate on the pitfalls of life. That is why I enjoy the album so. Yes I have some angst toward my base city right now but that is why i can relate to the album on its depressing themes. But that was my last post. Hope you enjoy this one. This album could be top three of my alltime favorites.

Band Name: Third Eye Blind
Album Name: Self-Titled
Richard Release Date: 1997. Grade 12

So I can't really tell you how this album reminds me of so many people at so many times in my life. To start the cover art is really weird because I've heard rumours that its a picture taken by
Christine Alicino of a woman Climaxing? I doubt thats true but it is a weird still to put on the cover

"losing a whole year" Wow this is an ultimate ex-girlfriend song. The title of the song kinda is a summary of how you feel after that relationship is over. The lyric "I remember you and me use to spend the whole goddamn day in bed" I lost a whole year with the following:

Ambar Debari
Skyler Friesen
Julie Fraser

"Narcolepsy" So I've read that Stephen Jenkins wrote this song after he was having these weird narcoleptic fits that I used to get. Its this feeling of your mind being concious but your body being in a state of sleep. Its this feeling of being trapped in your own body. You have these feelings that your screaming for someone to wake you up but you can't. Its a really hopeless feeling. Scary as well. Larissa has these episodes. The song in general is really crunchy. And I enjoy Arion Salaazar's Falsetto.

"Semi-Charmed Life" This song emits the following memories

-Kevin Buckner not knowing the words
-Enjoyment that its a catchy song that is totally sugar pop but deals with drug addiction and
sex
-Grand Beach
-"Those little red panties pass the test"

"Jumper" Everybody loves this song. You know what, I don't in fact its the weekest song on the album. It was a total radio hit. maybe that's why I dislike it so. Also the verses give a sense that the songs building to this big breaking point. It just never delivers. This song could turn the suck down a little.

"Graduate" This was on the "can't hardly wait sountrack" but a different version. I remeber going to see that movie with My sister, and her talking about how cute Ethan Embry was for the next 4 1/2 years. Also this song was a choice of Ashley Roch's to be reworked as a highschool graduation song for the GCI class of '98. I was always baffled by the selection as the lyrics are "Can I Graduate" almost asking for permission to. I think it was nixed at the last second although maybe I remember that wrong?

"How's it gonna be" another sappy radio single. I really didn't like the record execs decision on most of 3EB albums. This being one of them. its sweet but too slow. I like the empty guitar sound at the intro. I do however enjoy the lyric " I want to taste the salt on your skin"

"Thanks a Lot" There's so much contempt in this songs lyrics. like Stephen Jenkins minds made up and there's no changing it. Also Arions Vocals kick in this song.

"burning Man" Living life to the fullest thats it. the Gang vocals rival that any punk athem.

"Good for You" A little up and down with tempo. The day to day struggles of a relationsionship in good and bad terms.

"London" I guess its an ode to the city. The drums in this song are great. Hargreaves bangs it out. The guitars are really dirty and sloppy in this song. But its like a out of control train this song. Just to let you know Stephen Jenkins and Fred Durst refer to this song on the answering machine audio clips on Chocalte starfish and the hotdog flavored water?

"I want you" Its sounds like Neil Young wrote the music for this track.

"The Background" I always think of people that have meant so much to me in my life that are no longer a part of it, when I listen to this song. The sad part of missing those people. how happy they made me in various situations.

"Motorcycle Drive-By" This is my favorite and the best track on the Disc. I have put this on multiple mix tapes for many people. The build up so dilivers in this song. It gives me those feel good shivers when I hear it. " The cigarette ash fly's in your eyes and you don't mind" what a perfect line.

"God of wine" Listen to this song done on an acoustic guitar is awe inspiring. Not sure what the lyrics mean? Jenkins sings them so on cue it makes me sic.

So I've probaly listen to this album more than any in my lifetime. You can dismiss this band as a bubble pop act but, actually gives this album a try and you won't believe what you've been missing for almost ten years.

I Hate Calgary. Oh yeah, "the music" I almost forgot.

2006-12-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

Well here's another indepth analysis of a couple of albums that really made an impact on my life somehow, someway or somewhere. Oh did I mention I HATE CALGARY. Man I have to start a blog dedicated to how much this city actually blows donkeys. It took me 13 years to Hate Winnipeg and only 3 1/2 to hate Calgary. There really is a BOOM?

Band Name: Modest Mouse
Album Name: Good News for People who Love Bad News
Richard Release Date: Early 2005

Well 1st I'd just like to say that I enjoy the sheer cynasism that Isaac Brock and the rest of the band bring to this album. The album cover with arrows puncturing a green puke colored surface, and the pink blood. It makes me think of no matter how stupid and vicious the world is the stupid people will still sugarcoat it with pink colored blood; as not to offened anyone. And the title suits me just fine.
I remember picking up this album way after the fact of its public release date. I also recall my friend Ashley Roch lending me "Antartic and the Moon" and it being absolutly dreadful except for the first 3 songs. So naturally I was a skeptic. But Brock's take on how shitty life actually is when you sit down and analyze all the enormous stupidity. Bang on.

"Horn Intro" adds a story book feeling.

"The World at Large" Ice Age Heat wave I can't complain. But then the lyrics proceed to do nothing but complain for the rest of the song. The menottiny of it all is so catchy.

"Float on" This is one of the few inspirational songs on the entire album I used to play it on my IPOD at max volume on the C-Train for one single purpose to piss off the suits. Man do I hate money-grubbing suits.

"Oceans Breathes Salty" This song has the airyest guitar ever. It has no specific patterns. Brock vocalizes about all the people that would like to say there helping him in the journey that is life, but in actuality he sits back and sees all the fraudulence and lies that people put on him.

"Dig your Grave" Some ukele for yall

"Bury Me With It" I song dedicted to the stubborness of the babyboomers. Just die or retire already. Give some Gen Xers your jobs. God knows were not Dinasaurs like the simple minded 50-65 year olds.

"Dance Hall" I think this is some ode to the Clash. This is one weak song. Too much yelling not enough insight.

"Bukowski" I love the Banjo in this song. The fact that it dictates that everybody has this God complex. and wants to control everyone. Welcome to the shitty world of narcassism.

"This Devil's Workday" A bit of Tom waits is this song. be born go to college get a job find a girl or boy get married make money die. what a perfect sounding life. What a bunch of Mindless Zombies.

"The View" Wow everybody's so smart, just listen to people that are older then you there obviously smarter and wiser. Well not even close but if you want to take advice from a fat old oil tycoon that molestes children thats fine. I mean hes got a lot of money so why would you listen to his worldly advice?

"Satin in a Coffin" More Banjo I love it. There's got to be more behind all the zombie people than just being a lemming?

"Interlude(Milo)" the organ is entrancing

"Blame it on the Tetons" Hey this guy thats lower than me can take the blame. I mean Im not big enough a person to take the blame so i'll just pawn it off on somebody else. typical human that is so devoured by the rat race.

"Black Cadillacs" I'm so smart I know everthing about that person that just died and I am so knowledgeble on how that person should have lived their life. People are such pyschophantes.

"One Chance" The only song everyone on this planet should listen to. Take a step back and take a look how self absorbed 99.9% of the population is so wraped up on being the best and knowing more than the next person.

"The Good Times are Killing Me" 'Nuff said! So much to be thankful for in this life why do all the morons ruin it.

So I was gonna do one more album but I'm just beat by exuding my displeasure with humankind, mainly the business population of Calgary. WHO EATS DINNER @ 830 in the PM? Get a watch and eat dinner at the same time of the rest of the human population.

The only thing that I don't like about this Modest Mouse album is that I for some reason asscociate it with Evan Sherwin. This is not a good thing.

A Few I've Met

2006-12-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

So these albums are mainly remindful of people I have met in my ins and outs with the Earls Restaurants.
Artist Name: KID ROCK
Album Name: Devil Without A Cause
Richard Release Date: Winter 1998

Going to Castle Mountain with Ryan Visser. Listen to this and a bunch of other albums I punished myself with at the time. Probably some Bizkit. and I know there was some Lenny Kravitz. I still sing "Only God knows why" at work to this day. Oh and the Kold's me and Visser drunk the night before while we tried to get into "Nexen". Oh one last thing who makes an album proclaiming they're the next big thing, when they're nothing? Only KID ROCK!

Band Name: All American Rejects
Album Name: All American Rejects
Richard Release Date: Summer 2002

Me and Amee Klassen driving in her blue Bug. I love that girl. She is such a constant reminder of good people that come along the way; that you don't quite deserve. I can sing " Swing, Swing" from start to finish without any music, perfectly. But " The Last Song" is a belt it out by yourself song.

Bands Name: Sum 41
Album Name: Chuck
Richard Release Date: Winter 2004

I was @ a Store opening in Edmonton. At West ED Mall to be exact. Doug Ricketts was his name. And Hip-Hop Rap was his game. Eminem's Encore was coming out and thats mainly what we listened to. But for some reason when we were driving around looking for Diamonds (Strip Club) Where all we actually saw was a naked guy, up on stage by accident. Thats after some girl on stage ordered a Vodka/ Coke. What a Hillbilly. Ricketts would just crank this album. " All To Blame", "The Bitter End" and "Welcome to Hell" all rock the socks.

Oh and to all who keep emailing me cause they googled their name and are emailing me leave some thoughts on the albums please.

BONES Pt.2

2006-12-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

Didn't think I'd leave this out

Bands Name: The Killers
Album Name: Sam's Town
Richard Release Date: 3 Months now

And so what if its a ode to every early 80's Springsteen or early "the Edge". I've never listened to that so this is great. Brandon Flowers can't sing a lick but for some reason the Chords on the song " Bones" will not leave me head. Please grab a listen to this album its worth it no matter what RollingStone says.

BONES

2006-12-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

So its been awhile about two weeks but I'm gonna give you two postings in one day hopefully if this computer doesn't zonk. I think last blog I said I was gonna give you a roadtrip blog posting but that'll have to wait as I was uninspired by all the shitty Rap I had to endure to and from my Calgary/Winnipeg trip. Just too much. I did however break my nose. So the title of the blog has some just dues.

Band Name: Chemical Brothers
AlbumName: Surrender
Richard Release Date: 2000

So this album doesn't really signify too much in my life. I guess It just kind of reminds everybody what happens when no one cares about what importance electronica has in music. This album is the start of death of The Daft Clan. I do however have "let forever be" as I track that brought the Brit music scene to a halt for a couple moments. How could a Gallagher do a track with an electronic act. Bloody Bollocks!! But I do love the video for "Hey Boy!Hey Girl" In case you haven't seen it, it is a bunch of skeletons at a club. Its pretty freaky.

Band Name: The Tragically Hip
Album Name: Road Apples
Richard Release Date: Early '97

Yes I do know this album came out in or around '91. But I'm sure as some people go through phases you think one album of a bands is great that they all are. Well we all know that All the Hip discs are not that great. Many would dispute that this is one of their best. Me not so much I'm more of a "Day for Night" or " Trouble at the Henhouse" fan. I do enjoy "Long Time Coming" What a Jim Cuddy rip off. Or maybe vice versa? "Little Bones" though is the first hip song I ever heard. It was at the old Safeway in St. Vital mall. The one that was attached to the food court?

A Little solo Canadiana with some obscurities mixed in.

2006-11-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm going on a road trip back home to the old Peg this weekend. Yes for Grey Cup but i'm still not sure about actually bearing the weather or not. I was debating a roadtrip type blog but I figured I'd wait 'till I got back for that one.
And if you're fortunate to have my music opinion in your life constantly, many people know I'm not the hugest Canadian music supporter. Here are a couple of solo artists that I have dug over the past couple of years.

Artists Name: Sarah Harmer
Album Name: You Were Here
Richard Release Date: Winter of 2001

If you've never heard of SH I don't really blame anybody. She's really got a lot of bad people that have tried to promote her music in her career. Lots of weird descions. Trying to hit up the Country music market with folk-rock tunes from her 2nd album.
Despite all that this album is pure syrup. On said mentioned Mexico trip before I at one point had all but 2 CD's taken from me by Federales as they searched our bus. This was one of them. I don't really remember the other? The mind works in funny ways.
"Coffee Stain" has to be one of my favorite breakup songs. I'm not really a " I like breakup songs" kind of person. Beck does it well. I'm searching other than that right now. And I thourghly enjoy the drum loop on "Basement APT." SH voice fits snugly around every song.

Artists Name: City & Colour (Dallas Green)
Album Name: Sometimes
Richard Release date: Summer 2006

This is a Larissa album. We went and saw C&C play at Jack Singer in Calgary this summer. He opened for Dashboard Confessional. To be honest we only caught his last 3 songs but they were unreal. Larissa and I were sold from then on. We both don't like Alexis on Fire too much although there latest effort "Crisis" is worth a listen. A little less screamy than there previous stuff. "Coming Home" is a new Canadian Anthem.

Artists Name: Emm Gryner
Albumn Name: Public
Richard Release Date: Hells I don't know '97?

Really don't have too many memories of this album. I know she's relesed some stuff recently. Nothing that I've actually heard. I always loved the song "Summerlong". It's like Belinda Carlise with some angst. She also relly reminds me of an old girlfriend Ashley Roch. Who in actuality one of my only girlfriends that has actually stayed somewhat of a lifelong friend.

Artists Name: Beneath These Idle Tides (Myke Atkinson)
Album Name: This Night Is For You
Richard Release Date: Winter 2005

Really dark moody album with no lyrics. Kinda like a Sigur Ros type sound. Myke's from Calgary and he used to work @ the downtown location and bought many CD's from him based on many of his opinions. Mainly Brit-Hop such as Dizzy Rascal and M.I A. and weird stuff like Antony and the Johnsons or the Decembrists. He never actually mentioned he was a musician at any point and time though. I found out after the fact when I inqured about his absence at the store. They said he had gone touring????????? Its Mainly a backround chill type sound. I like though.

A Quick terrible one for the Ages

2006-11-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

Band Name:LFO
Album Name:LFO
Richard Release Date: summer 2000

Yes I bought this album, at a store from an actual clerck. Wow the balls. I can't really remember the actual purchase but i'm sure I was high on methanphetamines of some kind? Oh and I forgot to mention that I was breathing in Lethbridge air.

the band's name is an acronym meaning: Lyte Funky Ones

Our household uses this as a coaster now. 'Nuff said. It also reminds me of Steph Lomanski

A little more in depth.

2006-11-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

So I've made a personal pact with myself that I would write on a couple of albums that I have really enjoyed over time and that have the most amount of memories to them. Mostly though these are the albums that every song makes me wanna say something about it. Be the composition, or little nuances in the singers voice, or a dirty kick ass bass line. Superstar Dj's, Here we go.

Band Name: Counting Crows
Album Name: August and Everthing After
Richard Release Date: Entire 8th and 9th grade

So to get it out of the way first the album title is lead singer Adam Durtz take on the beginning of his life until the point that he created this album. Pretty straight foward when you think of it, but it kind of suggests more. If anything, the words can be kind of pretty to me. Yes I said "Pretty".

The 1st time I heard the Counting Crows was in a KFC parking lot in WPG. on my way to a picnic with my parents and their friends Chris and Maria Kroeker. For some reason I was riding with my dad and Chris in Chris' vehicle. He put this Album on. I know I remember liking the songs then but I think it just blew my mind that someone of roughly my fathers age could listen to a recnt album and enjoy it. It was kind of like my revalation with the Weezer Blue album. Thinking that people in all facets of life will enjoy the same things that I liked???? These were new concepts to a small mind. You must keep in mind that my dad listen to nothing but Zepplin, Iron Butterfly, and Elvis. Truth be told I'm pretty sure he only liked 4 tracks from those 3 artists. And Mom she listened to a bit of Country and a select few light hits in Roberta Flack, the Bee Gees and John Denver. And for some reason lots of Oldies.

This album really entered my psych during the end of 9th Grade. I remember packing my stuff up in the last week at Samuel Burland Elementary and Jr. High and singing "Round Here" and "Mr. Jones" with my locker partner Vince Howie.

"Round Here" is one of those drag 'em out and knock 'em down songs. It has its hills and valleys. the silence intro of about 12 seconds never made much sense to me because of the long organ intro at the start.

"Omaha" is like a John Cougar Mellencamp song with the "Suck" turned down. It kind of marches along with the mandolin and accordion that weird sound. Almost too folksy for my liking, but the lyrics just roll.

"Mr. Jones" From the very first "Sha la la la la la yeah" I'm hooked. I've sung this song going down Paddington Rd. more than any other song in my entire exsistance. Oh and i've always thought that maria was a vixens name.

"Perfect Blue Buildings" lots of moaning and groaning. This song is one long drawl.

"Anna Begins" This songs chorus makes me smile. I adore the line "Snap her up in a butterfly net, pin her down on a photograph album." In general the song always seemed to need some more passion somewhere in the middle but overall one of the best songs on the album.

"Time and Time Again" Just listen to the song you'll get it.

"Rain King" The guitar is just so happy. Its a total story for story sake song. I never see any such personnal connection just a fun song to sing along. This is a great live track if anyone gets a chance to pick up a live disc.

"Sullivan Street" I think I heard this song on a Party of 5 episode. At least that what it reminds me of. Oh Julia y could you never do what Charlie wanted? And Bailey whats with all that drinking near the end of the series? Oh Sallinger Family how you kept me entertained for many a Wednesday night.

"Ghost Train" This was a Guady piece to show off Durtz Piano skills. Only weak track on this masterpiece.

"Raining in Baltimore" its one of those " gets you in the pit of your stomach" songs. If you're sad I dare you not to cry. I DARE YOU.

I need a phone call
I need a plane ride
I need a sunburn
I need a raincoat

'nuff said

"A murder of One" Just to let you know behind Dion's "Runaround Sue" The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" and the Zombies "Time of the Season", this is a top 5 all time favorite song.

" I walk along these hillsides

In the summer 'neath the sunshine

I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me

Change"

It lifts me up when i'm down on my luck.

Artist Name: Beck
Album Name: Midnight Vultures
Richard Release Date: Fall 2000

I know everyone that actually listens to Beck saying, " He has so many better albums. Odeley, SeaChange, even the new one Information?"

For some reason this album just reminds me of Lethbridge. The end of my tenure there to be specific. I remember I told pretty much everyone I knew to buy this album. And for some reason everyone did. This album is a hip-hop country album no jokes.

"Sexx Laws" The trumpets are crazy nuts on this song. its just a get down a boogie song.

"Nicotine and Gravy" "We're all going crazy, her left eye is lazy, she looks so isrealy, nicotine and gravy." Now that is a busted ryhme if I've ever heard. The break beat in this song is risiculous. and Beck singing "I don't want to die tonite" in falsetto is so fitting. Lots of bleeps and bloops

"Mixed Business" What a Jimble Jamble of of sonic ray guns, and Funk guitar. Sounds like a James Brown Remake. At the end of this song there's some electronic boinking going on?

"Get Real Paid" Is generally this weird Techno beat with simple but futuristic lyrics layered like crazy.

" Hollywood Freaks" This a total Bling Bling song. All super cheese rappers like Chammillionaire and Chingy have been stealing this beat for the last 3 years.

"Peaches and Cream" Hey its a country break beat song made with some Rasberry Beret. Oozing with all its sexual glory. weird song. Who could make a garbage man scream?

"Broken Train" Glockenspiel and Xzylophones have not sounded this cool since 5th grade music class. You know the time after all those shitty recorders. It also sounds like a Halloween western.

"Milk and Honey" I'm stating now and have many times before, this song will pump you up more than Queens "We will rock you/ We are the Champions" or Survivors "Eye of the Tiger" The Miami Vice /Beverly Hills Cop rip off beats are amazing.

"Beautiful Way" Its a cowboys breakup song with a great pedal steel sound. Beth Orton appears on this track.

"Pressure Zone" Anytime you can encorperate the sound of a sword being unsheathed into a song is a winner. And remember kids "its only a phase"?

"Debra" I will croon this son to anyone anytime on demand. " I want to get with you, and your sister. I think her names Debra"

Hope all enjoyed a long winded yet indepth look on a couple of fantastic albums

So It worked? Wo'd have thunk?

2006-11-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

Not gonna lie to ya, the fact that at least two to three people actually have an opinion like I do in this world thank you. And to those people who keep emailing me their comments at my email address just post your comments on this forum for all to enjoy.

So here's another monster hope you enjoy, I'll try to not run on insignifigant stuff not to do with the actual connection of the Album.

Band Name: Live
Album Name: Throwing Copper
Richard Release Date: GRADE 8

How much did this Cover Art strike you as unique the first time you saw it? I guess could look into the bands website and figure out what artist it comes from. Frankly I just like looking at the scene. At this point and time when I was listning to "Throwing Copper" I was best friends with this girl Kate Lintott. She was my best friend, at the time, among other things including as mom and dad would put it headlock partner. We made out more than our fair share. Needless to say she got me into some pretty cool music. Even though I look back now and think she was such a hippie.

The album itself holds many hidden classics that just seem like they might be released now in what is now "the ugly music biz", I think it would hold up quite nicely. Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk loses me on a couple songs with his intense vocals . The message of being lost and then finding your way ring true on this album. Not many vocalists on albums nowadays can sell it, maybe Connor Oberst? For some reason I still sing All Over You to myself at work?????

"Selling the Drama" Reminds me of sitting in the car waiting for dad at Canadian Tire. So does "Big Bang Baby" by STP

" I alone" makes my skin tingle, literally?

"lightning Crashes" reminds me of Hana Axelrod?

"White Discussion" should have bee recorded by Pearl Jam

Band Name: R.E.M.
Album Name: Monster
Richard Release Date: Grade 9

I've known or had some knowledge of R.E.M since I think the age of around 12? Without really realizing it until about 3 weeks ago when I listen to "Green" way back when one time my cousin Jeremy and I were sitting in my Grandparents basement in Niverville MB, and I think he was listening to this tape or someting in that facet. Listening to the album a couple weeks ago I realized that I had heard these songs before. !st thinking it was this crazy Deja Vu. Quick sidenote I think I tried to impress Jer by sprewing my knowledge of Rick Astley and Paula Abdul and maybe a Billy Joel Album. Wow was I a geek.

This album is my only of R.E.M in my collection other than a Greastest Hits Disc. Damn you Greastest Hits discs. I always really liked Automatic For the People but this is the disc for me. Whats the Frequency, Kenneth? is the hardest rockin' song REM has ever laid down. "Crush with Eyeliner" and"Bang and Blame" just kind of drawl on as they stick in your head. But Strang Currencies is where the money is. I could listen to that song on repeat forever. Its MY choice equivalent to U2's "ONE".

Band Name: Seven Mary Three
Album Name: Rock Crown
Richard Release Date: end of Grade 9

This was another end of the year presnt for my dad. But I think I got it at Music World St. Vital Mall WPG.? My sister also got a disc I think it was a soundtrack but I could be wrong?

Yes these guys are the "Cumbersome" guys. But this is not that disc. 7M3 are just your run of the mill southern rockers. and believe me I have two other of their albums in my collection and tend to download any new stuff. And might I say this was it. For some reason unbeknowst to myself they just put together a solid 15 tracks. With a lot of thumping and hooting envoled during the album with a Beatles reference to boot. The Title track and Make Up your Mind are the stanouts.
If your into Southern Blues Rock for like 5 mins check this out.

Band Name: The Bravery
Album Name: Self Titled
Richard Relaese Date: Banff trip 2005

Yes they are a ripoff of every Nu-New Wave band. Yes he has a kick-ass Mohawk. No they will never release another disc again. Why during a Three day trip to Banff with Larissa in Fall 2005 did every shop but three had this playing in their store at one point and time or another when we were shopping??????????????? WEIRD. Fearless has the exact same ear dancing Guitar Riff as the Hives "Hate to say I Told you so".

Nobody said that was a bad thing.

Generally this is a terrible disc.

Band Name: Veruca Salt
Album Name: American Thighs
Richard Release Date: Grade 9

Speaking of "generally terrible Albums".............burn

I loved this band to death when they first came out? Power chords with whimpy girl vocals that at sometime produce the "angst" emotion in me. How this album did that is beyond me. I think I was listening to 92 citi FM in WPG. There was a DJ that had compared this quartet of two lovely ladies and two guy nobodies, to NIRVANA? saying they were the next coming. But little me realizing that this was just the music industries way of creating another Seattle. Chicago just wasn't it. After the Pumpkins, you had squat. Urge Overkill, the Jesus Lizard weaksauce.

I can still get down to "Seether" if I'm in the right mood. NOT. thanks again Wayne and Garth.

3 sidenotes

- White Noise at the end of an Album for like 4 and a half mins is never "COOL"
-Stacey Jones the lead singer of American Hi-Fi, is an EX- Veruca Salt Drummer
-Nina Gorden left the band in '99 to presue a non exsistant solo career. Good for her

So Its been Awhile but here's a monster

2006-11-07T10:17:00.004-07:00

I know I said I was going to do this on my days off from work. Well frankly work has been really busy and the music in my life hasn't really been wanting to spill into a blog. So I figured if I did a review of one of my all-time favorite bands I might have something (Big) to say. So here goes.

Band Name: Weezer
Album Name: Pinkerton
Richard's Release Date: sometime in '97 although I didn't really
listen to this album until 2000
or sometime there after?

I can't really associate this album with any one person or time. I remember in 2003, when this album started popping up in other bands interviews, as an album that influenced them. All the up and coming emo bands. Ugh. i cringe when I utter those three demonic letters.
My most recent memory of this album is sitting on the plane ride home from Florida with Larissa last year. Somewhere between taking off in Memphis and landing in Detroit. Stretching out across three seats(Larissa was the only benefactor of the stretch) in the last aisle of the plane. I sang "El Scorcho" at a whisper in her ear and sort of put her to sleep with it.
I always liked the opening line to "El Scorcho". "Goddamn you half Japanese girls, you do it to me every time." There was a heart-breaking half Japanese girl that I went to Junior High with, Like a Winnie Cooper type. Suspect she was in my High School as well, but I had most likely moved on by then.

There are some really great tracks on this album, but I find that the second half of the album had more legs to it. "Pink Triangle"; As I interpret, is a song about longing to be in a relationship with a lesbian. I don't think I actually figured that out until just recently. The best track on the whole album though has to be "Across the Sea". Its just kind of sums up, what I see, as Rivers longing heartache, that he seems never to rid.

So I guess to wind it up, this album is less about specific instances and more about my appreciation for an album that I thought totally sucked because it wasn't the blue album.

Band Name: Weezer
Album Title: Weezer (Green Album)
Richard's Release Date: Summer of '99

So that release date suggests that this album came out when I lived in Lethbridge? Which totally doesn't make sense to me, because I really only remember listening to it, incessantly in my buddy Kevin Buckner's 90's something Pontiac Sunfire. This albums runs @ just over 30 minutes. Kevin use to put it on 5 times in a row sometimes if we were going to Grand Beach. Eegads, can you say Hash Pipe overload.
The Weezer history behind this album, was it was widely considered their comeback album. They took a long hiatus after the mis-reception of Pinkerton. Rivers had, had surgery on one of his legs. One was shorter than the other? He went to Harvard? Alas the return was immanent. It was the bands first album without original bassist/ songwriter Matt Sharp. As a twist of fate, new bassist Mikey Walsh, was canned half way through touring this album, cuz of alcoholism. You'll notice he's not there in that cute and cuddly animal video for Island in the Sun.

Truth be told I look at this album as one of Weezers weakest. If you asked me the best last song on any Weezer album it would be this one."Oh Girlfriend" is a tune I love belting out in the shower. Only when no ones home.

Band Name: Weezer
Album Title: Make Believe
Richard's Release Date: summer 2004

Wow this album reminds me of one thing. Working at Earls BankersHall walking home from work. Up Mt.Makemylifehell, south of the Red Mile, on 14th St. in Calgary. To this tiny little apartment that had the best view of the Calgary skyline. Listening to "Beverly Hills" and "We are all on Drugs". I used to sing "Otherway" at the top of my lungs, head down with my headphones on. Yeah I was "that guy" with this album. Stand out track is the Power ballad, that is "Pardon Me".

Band Name: Weezer
Album Title: Maladroit
Richard's Release Date: Winter of 2002

This album reminds me of winter. Out of all the Weezer albums, this seems like his saddest/ angriest one. "Keep Fishin' " is really catchy, and I never really understood "Dope Nose". There is however, one song on this album that I can loosely associate with. "Slob" is a song that explains a little how I think people have viewed me in the past how. I'm not usually a feel sorry for myself kind of guy (yeah right?) But when I'm in that mood I throw "Slob" on.

Band Name: Weezer
Album Title: Weezer (Blue Album)
Richard Release Date: Summer of 1994 or 1995

So for many reason this album is why I listen to most of the music that I listen to now. Many memories associated with it.
Summer Cabin with Paul, Listening to a tape(haha) that I had recorded Alanis Morrisettes "You Outta Know", Foo Fighters "This is a Call", and Weezer's "Say it Ain't So". That song I also memorized standing in line at the old CIBC bank branch in St. Vital mall in Winnipeg. The one next to Sabbaros Pizza. I also sung it @ Karaoke at the Ship and Anchor. I "killed" as the nites MC said. I remember listening to this album in grade 9 at this girl Shannon's place. I was in amazement. to think a girl would like Weezer? Up until this point and time in my life I just thought girls listen to Mariah Carey, The Party, Boyz to Men, A couple Aerosmith songs (only the slow ones), and anything by any boy band. The fact that a girl would listen to Weezer blew my mind.
Mom got mad at me when I was playing this album the same night we find out my Dad's mom had died. How disrespectful was I. I just knew I loved this album.

I challenge anybody to have a sing-a-long contest to this album with me. I WILL DESTROY ANY CHALLANGE!

The Second Helping

2006-10-12T12:29:00.000-06:00

So I guess this thing is gonna start out slow and steady? So just to let everyone that's reading further that my promise to myself with this Blog is to @ least post twice a week. With 3 reviews a Blog I should be done this epic writen piece on all my CD's in about 4 years. That is if I stop buying CD's as of today. Which will probably not happen. Hope y'all enjoy.

Artist: The Refreshments
Album: Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy
Richard's Release Date: Beginning summer going into
Grade 9

Well believe it or not this album has tons of memories attached to it. The songs are all kind of Rock-a-billy pop. Yes this is the same band that does the theme song for "King of the Hill". This album predates the show by 3 years though. And yes this is the album with that one hit wonder "Banditos" you know how it goes!

"So just how far down do you wanna go? or we could talk it out over a cup of joe, and I could look deep into your eyes and not want to talk about it?.....un huh."

This album was actually a gift from my dad for graduating whatever grade (8 or 9) I had passed that year. He took us to this music store in downtown WPG. I believe it was called MUSICWORKS? it had this motif that I was in a metalshop. I think that later on the CBC had a afternoon concert series in the late 90's like '97 that I swear bought all the stores old aluminum siding from inside the store put it up in there studio's and called the show "MusicWorks". I always made this corralation in my head but could never convince anybody of my theory. Oh and a little sidenote. Obviously this music store is not there any longer, but even in 8th or 9th grade I still thought that Downtown WPG was this huge Laberynth that if you went deep into its depths u would never find your way back home. How that has changed. Now I realize that WPG downtown is just a small meaningless 12 blocks of nothing, with basically two main streets and about 2 skyrises. WHAT A SHITHOLE?

Getting this album I think was kinda like the last present for graduating a grade until 12th grade. Which I got $100 from my mom and a class ring, which was also from my mother. (I promptly lost the class ring I think about a week or so after I got it. In a soccer field in Fort Richmond area. I proceeded to lie to mom that I still had it. I don't think I had ever told her that I actually lost it to this day?)

So this is kind of like "The Jean Caron Album" in my collection. Dad hasn't liked many of my musical choices over time. He's set in his ways with Led Zepplin, Iron Butterfly and Elvis. Which actually makes me think. Zepplin's awesome. But Iron Butterfly had one hit, "Ina-Gadda- Da-vida". They were a Classic rock washout. And Elvis never wrote a lick of music except for "Love me Tender". Dads taste in music is disastorous especially when now the albums that are in high rotation in his CD collection now are "Sounds of car engines"? Guess thats one of the many reasons why I love him. Tried and True. I just hope my musical taste doesn't age and wither as I do.

To talk about the album its a little jangly in parts now that I listen to it years later but "Down Together" still hasn't lost its whimsy. And I swear my short venture later on in life to Baja, Mexico, had something to do with the track "Mexico".

When my dad purchased this album for me it was between this and Porno for Pyros "Good God's Urge" With "Tahitian Moon". A bit of a fuzzy memory but either my dad said no to that album 'cause of the words Ponro and Pyro in the bands name. Or I understood the way my dad thought at even that young age that he would have said no even if I had broughten it up to him asking if he could purchase it for me. I also vaguely remember him Looking at the Refreshments cover and having tis wierd look on his face. Maybe he was happy there was a half clothed Cowgirl as the cover art, thinking well at least he's straight, for cartoon chicks.

My dad purchased my sister The Barenaked Ladies "Born on a Pirate Ship" how the Ladies have fallen? That was their sophmore album. My first CD that I ever owned was their debut, along with 3.5 million other Canadians.

Artist: The Subways
Album: Young for Eternity
Richard's Release Date: Fall of 2005

So there's not as big of a story to this album. This Trio is from the U.K. where you will notice a majority of my review are english bands. Why that is I'm not sure. I guess I like that they talk funny.

This album was purchased during my rampid CD buying binge of late 2005- early 2006. I was going into the music store and just picking up random albums. I guess most of it was just to broaden my musical horizons but also impress upon my new roomates that I had the best and widest range of music taste in the household. Kinda marking my territory in a matter of sorts. When I purchased this album it was right before either my trip to my sisters friend Bethany's wedding, to as late as my trip with Larissa to go see Coldplay in the 'couv? The Coldplay concert was in Jan 2006 which seems a little late but oh well. When we came back, I don't even think my roomate Craig even asked me how my trip was or how I was doing. He promptly told me the second I walked in the door, "That Subways disc you bought, kicks fucking asses."

Ever since then It has continually kicked me in the ass. The Band consists of a girlfriend/boyfriend, combo with the lead singers brother as the drummer. " I got to hear what you have to say" the opening track is probably my fav, but " Oh yeah" comes in a close second.

Just last August me and my roomies went to see them at Mac Hall. They played a furious hour and a half set. Craig fell in love with the female bassist. She was givin' er basically the whole set. Banging her head for each song in its entirity. Then at a drop of a hat the song would stop and her coiff would go back to as if she had just primped it for a tea party.

Kick Fuckin' Ass to say the least!

Artist: Ben Folds Five (He still had the reg band)
Album: The Unathorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
Richard's Release Date: Grade 12 sometime or maybe after?

This is a non concept album that is a concept album: based on trying to survive life. " Magic" makes me tear up everytime I hear it. I love the whole Ben Folds collection. Piano nevr really sounded good to me. I just associated Piano, with my sister endlessly practicing for most of my adolesants and a few of my teen years. The piano she played was oh so boring. Scales are for stupid old senior citizens that hang out at the Devonian Gardens, who need to die already.

Except this album has one memory attached to it: Taking the 22 hour Greyhound from WPG to Saskatoon to see Becky. Dead of night on the Praries. Middle of a -30 celcius cold snap. The Album on repeat, Not knowing anything, about how to survive life. Boy, how that would change?

So I'm gonna leave you on that note. Alls well that ends well.

2006-10-11T13:54:00.000-06:00

So I'm Going to try a Concept Blog. Whereas I Take Compact Disc that I've purchased over the last eleven or so odd years of my being, and review, and rehash memories associated with each album. I'm not setting any restrictions on how often I post or how many albums may be blogged upon. Just remember that these are not just any old Albums.

Artist: Queens Of the Stone Age
Album: Rated R
Richard's Release date: Sometime between the Fall of 1999 - Summer of 2000

So to tell you the truth I'm not the hugest QotSA fan. There last 2 albums have been pretty much the same boring rehashed stuff that I think I hear a lot of other bands playing. Actually I just think the song writing has gone down the CRAPPER. Don't get me wrong, "Go with the Flow" was pretty kitchy in a good way. Video was awesome to say the least. And off Lullyby's to Paralyze "Everybody knows that your insane", was a tune that's on a personal all-time sountrack of mine somewhere. The Chorus is a frantic headwhirl. Beside those two highlights there hasn't been much to praise.

This album however is a bright spot in my collection. I believe the reason I picked was because I had seen a review of the album in RollingStone, as the feature review of that issue. The memory still eludes me as to whether or not I did in fact purchase the album based on reading said review. Or the other scenerio that plays in my head that I went into my local merchant and purchased the album on a whim 'cause I liked the album design and name. The outcome of Y I purchased the album doesn't really matter I'm just giving you my personal history on the album so if you don't like inconsiquential details, please do not read on.

I remeber I was living in Lethbridge, AB at the time. Living with just my sis, in a 2 bedroom Apt. I'm sure I had listen to harder rock before but I think because it sounded like Black Sabbath with comprehensable lyrics, and a bit catchier melodies. "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" the albumns first track has Rob Halford from Judas Priest contributing on Vocals. All he says is "C-C-C-C-C-Cocaine". Rob Halford is Gay. Just thought I let everyone know in case you didn't? The songs a total drug anthem, which I guess is why kids love them. That's kinda lame to me now. Although this is probably Y I got in to QotSA in the first place. "The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret" is really the only other standout song on this disc. all the others are great but it seems like the album is really just on long winding marathon that's ended with a bunch or ravenous horn chaos. "Lost Art" has this dirty Guitar rif that you can almost sing.

I saw QotSA this summer when I attended Sasquatch festival this past summer and also saw them fall of 2002 while in living in Winterpeg and made the 8 hour trip down to Minneapolis to see them in a small club. That was the Dave Grohl tour. He wasn't there though. They sucked huge DONK DINKS both times.

Really the clearest memory of listening to this album, was on the balcony in North Lethbridge. Summer sun beating on the right side of my body. Me half asleep sitting on a milk crete, blaring my stereo out the window that faced on to the balcony @ like 10:30 am. It was always on my days off from work @ Earls Lethbridge. I would watch the kids in the elementry yard, jumping on the steel sprinkler pipes at the back edge of the school yard. I think onced they asked me "how I was not in school at that time of day?" I don't think I replied. I just sat back and watched how much fun it could be jumping up and down on steel sprikler pipes for 15 straight minutes. and that was recess and that's why it was fun. Everytime I put on this album that memory come to mind.

Arist: Pearl Jam
Album: Vitology
Richard's Release Date: Grade 8

I saw Pearl Jam Summer of 2002 in Fargo ND. they wew awesome. Idlewild opened for them but didn't see them. Went down with a bunch of buddies mainly from Earls and Kelsey's. I remember my buddy Colin scoring weed in a styrofoam cup of a cook via a server in TGIFridays for some astronomical price. Same colin stole a whole cooler full of beer outside a hotel room in a hotel that was on the other side of town from our hotel so we had to call a cab. By the time we had gotten back to our hotel our Front Desk clerk was inquiring if we had "possibly stolen the beer from outside a room of another hotel in the city?" I'm pretty sure we kept the beer?

Yes the concert was great they did a cover of the Who's "Baba O'rielly". The highpoint was when PJ performed "Betterman" which is off this disc. "Spin the Black Circle" reminds me of listening to 92 Citi FM listening to the "top 7 @7", doing homework, or at least pretending to be. And the stereo that I used to listen to the radio on was this bohemoth unit with an 8 track player and a record player. It was silver and black. The best thing was you could pile tons of shit on it. it was like an extra shelf. I remeber the Black Crowes "Conspiracy" was on the "7" at that time as well as G'n'R's cover of The Stones "Sympathy for the Devil". I love all the songs on this album. To me it is definatly the most singalongable album PJ has put out. "Immortality" is such a drubsy song, While "Not for you" always makes me think of (I'm gonna go like this) [swinging windmill arm motion](and if you get in the way its your own fault). Ther are some headscratchers here like "bugs" but after you've listen to the album a few hundred times it becomes endearing. "Nothingman" pure ear enjoyment, 'nuff said.

But in the end this album is forever linked to Michelle Godin- Childhood neighbor, Quasi-friend by way of when you were a kid you had to hang out with kids in your neighborhood because your parents needed to know all the gossip about their parents. Anyways Michelle was a bit of a bookworm and goody goody to say the least. One day she pulled out this album totally side swiping me with her musical selection and the fact that her mom had lots of salt and vinegar chips and imitation soda to feed and army. Ahh Misses Godin, you always reminded me of a "My Little Pony", with that golden horse mane of hair. You could say it was qiute frightning. She would have given Nancy Grace a run for her money.

Artist: AIR (French Band)
Album: Moon Safari
Richard Release Date: winter 2000

Put this album on a pair of headsets when you have to drown out the sound of a 3 month old pure bread Husky howling and winning at an ungodly decibal level. This is only recomended if you're a professional couch surfer as I was between 1999- 2002. Thanks goes out to Colin, Jamie, Dan, Darryl, Scott, Dave, Josh, Gavin and the two crazy bastards that Liberatore and Scott and Darryl used to live with.

" Sexy Boy" is a standout track. where there are laser beam sounds the way laser beam sounds are supposed to be incorporated into a song. the Clash you can take notes on how to play music anytime you'd like. to whomever likes the Clash, you will not like me. I Dispise the Clash.

Thats enough incoherant babbling for one day.