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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Come To Where He's Playing Joseph Arthur is at The Red Room on October 11, and I only found out when I walked into Scratch today? Street teams and the interwebs, you dudes have let me down!
My favourite part about the Cat Power show on Sunday: Chan kept burping throughout the set -- and I mean loud, audible burps. Super hotness, super-skinny jeans, and super smoky vocals I expected. But not gas. "Names" was incredible, but could you imagine how awesome it would've been if she had burped them out?
4 days until Bumbershoot...
NP: Chantal Kreviazuk - Ghosts of You
posted by Hanson |
12:22 AM
Friday, August 25, 2006
She's Still My Little Girl 
During my post-work commute home, I flipped on the radio to one of the college stations -- CJSF or CiTR, I can't remember which one. The song they were playing took me completely off guard. In a good way. It was Jale! Ali! Those three-ish minutes of pure-sugar, east coast, mid-90s indie girl-pop represented one of my first forays into non-radio rock. In fact, I'm pretty sure So Wound was my first non-major-label record -- and it was definitely my first release from Sub Pop. (So no, I don't have /that/ record. You know which one.)
I remember seeing the video for "Ali" on MuchWest back in the day, and how I was completely floored by how infectiously good the song was. At one point, I knew the whole song backwards and forwards, every lyric etched into my oh-so-eager brain. Since this was before I had the internet at home, finding out more information about the band proved impossible. But I knew the band's name, so I was able to scour the record stores, looking for whatever record "Ali" was on. And man, was that record hard to track down. Vancouver's suburbs in the mid-90s were decidedly /not/ a hotbed of independent music! I eventually found it -- don't remember where -- thus triggering my slow descent into music geekdom. Ah, memories.
Download: Jale - Ali
NP: Jale - Ali
posted by Hanson |
12:25 AM
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Watching Theresa 
Tonight, I went to the PNE for the first time in over a decade. Sure, I've been to Playland multiple times during those years, but never when the fair was on. Tonight, I paid to get in just so I can see Theresa Sokyrka, my favourite reality show contestant ever. It was nice to see her sing live -- finally -- and it was cool when she smiled and waved at me when I got closer to the stage to grab a few pics. She's so adorable.
Backed by a full band, she played an interesting set, mostly culled from her new album, Something is Expected. The material -- pretty much all her own -- was basically straight-forward singer-songwriter pop, with bits of jazziness and rootsiness thrown in for good measure. Her vocal delivery was near-perfect, polished yet natural. That girl can sing some, there's no doubt about that. Her voice live is so much better than on record, which is why she wowed me on Canadian Idol, yet was only pretty good on her debut album. And she certainly looked comfortable on stage, though her banter still needs a bit of work. Introducing your band once is great, but anything more will be excessive. And the scatting: gotz to go. She toned it down, but even once was a bit too much. Next time I see her, I hope it'd be at a small club.
The Emmys are this Sunday. Do I care? Not really. Why? No Veronica Mars/Kristen Bell or Gilmore Girls/Lauren Graham love. Again. But yet, Two and a Half Men got, what, 6 or 7 noms? More ridiculous than Haley Joel Osment.
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
12:56 AM
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Somewhere Only He Knows If you could think of the 10 front-men in pop music today who would least likely end up in rehab, Tom "Babyface" Chaplin of Keane would at least make the shortlist, right? I mean, dude looks like he's 12! Alas, had you made a wager based on that assumption, you'd be out of luck. I guess this answers the question of whether I'd be seeing them in October.
You know that second New Pornographers show in October, openers previously unannounced? Remember how I had said that Young & Sexy might open? It seems my pretty-obvious prediction has been proven correct. My next prediction: Sam's Town won't sell as well as Hot Fuss did.
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
12:06 AM
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Theresa Watch: Two Years Later 
Two years ago, I was in the midst of a summerlong infatuation. The object of my mini-obsession was Theresa Sokyrka, then a contestant in season 2 of Canadian Idol. There was a quality in her voice that was wholly captivating -- that it turned me from an Idol-hater to a fervent voter was proof enough. Though I've watched the past couple of seasons of Canadian Idol, I have yet to cast a single vote since I last dialled the digits for Theresa. To me, she was something special.
But like all summer affairs, my feelings waned as the months went by. When her album These Old Charms came out, I picked it up a couple weeks after it was released. A few listens later, I filed it away. Her voice was still amazing, but the record didn't do it for me. For one thing, too much scatting. I've always hated her scatting, even though the Idol judges kept encouraging it. Seriously, Theresa. Drop that annoying scatting and just sing! And the songs on the record weren't great. Boring-cover-itis, I call it. Really, I don't need to hear her do Norah Jones and Jann Arden. Again. If the record -- which went gold in Canada -- were to fail, at least let it fail base on her own songs.
Two years later, my Theresa fire is once again showing sparks. Her new CD, Something is Expected, comes out in a few weeks (pre-ordered!), and she's supporting it by making a stop at the PNE on Wednesday, August 23rd, playing a set at 8pm on the main stage. I believe this is her first time performing in Vancouver, so you bet your sweet ass I'm going to be there.
What do I expect? I'm not quite sure myself. Well, I hope to be entertained, of course, but more than that, I think I want to see her progress from the singer I saw week in and week out in the summer of 2004, an artist-in-development if you will. I think the potential I saw wasn't just smoke and mirrors, and that if she were willing to grind it out, releasing a couple albums nobody buys and playing to 30 people in small clubs around the country, she might carve herself out a nice career after a few years -- you know, filling places like the Railway Club and opening for the likes of Sarah Harmer, kind of like the career that Carolyn Mark has. And of course, I'd like to see her stop scatting too. Yeah, that would be cool.
Download: Theresa Sokyrka - Change the World
Download: Theresa Sokyrka - Turned My Back
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
1:08 AM
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Shin Music Some details of the recording process for the Shins' much-anticipated third album has surfaced. Via keyboardist Marty Crandall's girlfriend, America's Third-To-Next Top Model Elyse Sewell, we get a glimpse into how working with producer Joe Chiccarelli has gotten the band's collective asses in gear, as well as introduced recording techniques that allowed the band to flesh out its vision without having to do a tonne of work.
According to the post, the album's almost at the mixing stage now, and it could be ready for store shelves around December, just in time for Christmas. This seems to contradict what Pitchfork had reported a couple weeks ago -- that the album has been pushed by to 2007. Who's right? Only time will tell. I certainly wouldn't complain if I got some new Shins in time for my year-end mix CD.
In other news, Quinn over at From Blown Speakers did a poll of Vancouver bloggers and music aficionados about their favourite local bands. Ladyhawk topped the top 20-ish list, with my numero uno the New Pornographers at #5. I'm a bit disappointed that Bella (6th on my list) didn't make the list, but it just goes to show the strength of the bands coming out of this city.
Download: Sarah Harmer and The Weakerthans - Gone for Good (Shins cover)
NP: The Decemberists - The Perfect Crime 2
posted by Hanson |
10:18 AM
Friday, August 18, 2006
Gushing Fan Gushing 
I know it's only August, but I'm pretty sure I know what my favourite record of this year will be. For something to top The Decemberists' The Crane Wife would be unfathomable; as it stands, it may be my favourite record from my favourite band. Simply put, it's stunning. If you think you liked the Decemberists before, wait until you here this.
Elements of all their LPs and EPs were incorporated to form this triumphant specimen of musical genius. It almost seems like everything the band has done up to this point have been building up to this. Gorgeous melodies blending in perfectly with the patentedly high-brow, lit-geek Meloy-esque lyrics, swirling in amongst a controlled musical chaos that some might call "prog" -- except that style /doesn't/ overshadow substance. To call it a masterpiece wouldn't be far off, as Stereogum has done.
I apologize for sounding too much like a fan-boy. But I can't help it -- I /am/ a fan boy. In the worst way. And there's no stopping a fan-boy when a jewel like this lands in his lap. That said, I'm only going to share one song off the record, a duet featuring Laura Veirs called "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)," since it won't be out for another month and a half. Enjoy it. And hotly anticipate Oct. 3rd, the day when you can legally get your hands on the sheer brilliance that is The Crane Wife.
Download: The Decemberists - Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
NP: The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 1 And 2
posted by Hanson |
1:14 AM
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Cascading Style Shits Straight out of Brazil
Oh, Cansei De Ser Sexy
You are hot hot sex
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
12:31 AM
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
The Start of Something The hype proven right
Awesomeness, thy name Voxtrot
I need an LP
NP: Theresa Sokyrka - Change the World
posted by Hanson |
12:36 AM
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Twin Cinema 
The New Pornographers are doing two shows, on Oct. 21st and 22nd, at The Plaza (!!) as part of the annual Exclaim-sponsored cross-country Canadian indie extravaganza. This year, the tour will also be celebrating the 15th anniversary of west cost stalwart Mint Records. As such, it's not surprising that Carl et al will be joined on stage (on the first night of the Vancouver shows) by Immaculate Machine and Novillero, two bands affiliated with Mint. Meanwhile, the openers for the second show have yet to be announced, but I'll bet anyone a shiny quarter that Mint-bands will be involved too. The Buttless Chaps, Young & Sexy, and/or P:ano, perhaps? Tickets for both gigs are on sale August 25th.
The Plaza? A 400-500 capacity club to see perhaps the best Vancouver band right now? You bet I'm down for both shows, shitty sound notwithstanding!
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
5:41 PM
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Meow! 
Matador is re-releasing Cat Power's latest record, The Greatest. And no no, we're not getting new tracks, but rather "three diffferent (sic) color-photo, gold-embossed slipcase sleeves." I kid you not -- check the news section of Chan's website. Sept. 12th, kiddies, is when you can get your hot little hands on this. Personally, I'll save my $20+ on something more worthwhile -- like a few spins on the roulette table.
Chartattack has posted the track listing of Paris Hilton's new album. Normally, I'd leave stuff like this for Stereogum, but I noticed a song on there called "Heartbeat." Man, I hope this isn't an Annie cover...
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
6:05 PM
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Living Proof Cat Power. Touring. Vancouver. August 27th. Richard's. Bitches! So says Pitchfork.
Yee-ah. I'm not giving up my ticket that easily this time!
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
2:01 PM
Friday, August 04, 2006
An Hour With Thumbelina 
8 bucks for an hour of live music is a fair exchange, no? I just came back from seeing the charming Melissa McClelland do a solo acoustic show at The Media Club, playing most of her rootsier new record, Thumbelina's One Night Stand. The crappiness of a short, hour-ish set was offset by the low ticket price. I mean, I can't remember the last time I paid less than 10 bucks to see a show. The last time was probably at the Pic, back when they booked bands that I actually wanted to see.
During the show, these two hoochily-dressed women kept going to the washroom together. I swear, in the hour that Melissa played, they must've gone in there at least 4 times. What, you two can't snort your coke at the bar? You paid 8 whole dollars to get in! That's enough to get you, um... well, I don't know how much coke that can get you. But my point is... damn, what's my point? Oh yeah. I wanted to use the word "hoochily."
Anyway, back to Melissa. During newer songs like "Go Down Matthew", she plucked her guitar so hard, I thought the strings might break. Vocally -- and even visually at some angles -- Melissa reminded me another Canadian chanteuse, Chantal Kreviazuk. That's the first time I've notice the similarity, which is odd. Hmmm. Maybe it was the lighting and the acoustics? Overall, the set was thoroughly enjoyable -- if you're into the much-maligned genre of "girls with guitars" -- though I would've liked to have heard more of her older songs. She didn't even play her "hit" single from the last album, "White Lies (Stranded In Suburbia)," which was a bit of a surprise.
For the 30 or so of us who stayed until the end, we were treated to a sweet rendition of "Taxi Ride." I shouted for "Picture Postcard" when she asked for requests, but she said she was pretty rusty when it comes to her older songs. Hey, at least I didn't try for an even older song like "Garden of Eden." Heh. Maybe next time.
Download: Melissa McClelland - Picture Postcard
Download: Melissa McClelland - Garden of Eden
(My copy of her new album is still at work, so no "Taxi Ride" for you!)
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
1:08 AM
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Question and Answer To all the people who know that Final Fantasy is more than just a video game, I pose this question: what do you say when people ask you what type of music you listen to?
My terse answer is indie and chick pop. My even terser answer is simply "pop", but then I'd usually have to go and explain the difference between Mariah and Mirah. Ironically, the terser answer usually requires a longer follow-up explanation.
So, how would you answer that question?
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
12:32 AM
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Pet Sounds Worthy buzz-band Be Your Own Pet is at Richard's on Oct. 27. Sez who, you ask? Why, their website, of course. Toronto gets them Sept. 25th while Montreal gets them the following day. For the rest of Canada: too bad, so sad, at least for now. Here's a video for "Adventure", a track off their punkishly infectious self-titled record, perhaps the best one released this year that could be described as "punkishly infectious." Anya, please don't watch it -- it's got a couple of people in giant bunny suits:
Tickets for The Decemberists' The Rout of the Patagons Tour 2006 will go on presale tomorrow -- August 1st -- at 1pm local time. Man, are Colin and co. the only ones who have over-the-top tour names nowadays? Mark your calendar for Nov. 18th /and/ 19th, Vancouver. (Guess who's going to both show?)
NP: Be Your Own Pet - Adventure
posted by Hanson |
12:40 AM
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