video time

a couple of great videos... an old classic and something I just saw today.

actiekatten
by filiafloep

getting up to date (with visual aids)

So, since the last post I saw Dead Weather as the Horseshoe, went to Halifax where I found out about Spiderman's secret life and enjoyed the company of a cute climbing goat (as well as some family) and when I returned to Toronto I hosted a delicious Carlsberg* party which involved quite a large consumption of Carlsberg topped off with some scotch.
I also found out that Lou Ferrigno & Bruce Campbell will be coming to Fan Expo next month, and this fall Hauschka, The Butthole Surfers & Jesus Lizard are playing here (though not together). It's been a good time.

For the hell of it here's Malcolm Middleton & The Hold Steady together from a radio show. I love Malcolm Middleton but everytime the guy from the Hold Steady opens his mouth it makes me cringe... awful, just awful. Here it is anyway

* I have a fondness for Carlsberg partly based on when they used to sponsor all those great late night movies on Showcase...

FREE STUFF!

I know that in the days of the internet you can (and many do) find pretty much any album, movie or tv show they want for free. It's a bit nicer though when that artist actually wants you to have it for free rather than getting it by causing them a lost sale. (Insert moral dilemma here...) And while I do go the bad route myself I also love sites like the Free Music Archive where you can fill your mp3 player free of charge of some great stuff. Emusic is still cheaper than iTunes and without all the Apple-assimilating propaganda and hell you can even get my old album there.

As for some free music, there's some lovely piano tunes to download from the artist.
OCDC - Piano Suites For Ella & Piano Suites for Kristin

Not music at all but I figure if anyone want's a Carlsberg poker set you can get one for free HERE (provided you're in Ontario or Quebec).

And while not quite free Fanfarlo are offering their latest (and sigur ros approved) album Reservoir for free via their website. As seen below:

Dark Night Of The Soul

This is a great album, figured I'd provide another "means" to get the music...

“Danger Mouse’s new project Dark Night Of The Soul consists of an album length piece of music by Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and a host of guest vocalists, along with a collection of original David Lynch photography inspired by and based on the music.
The photographs, which provide a visual narrative for the music, are compiled in a limited edition, hand numbered 100+ page book which will now come with a blank, recordable CD-R. All copies will be clearly labeled: ‘For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.’
Due to an ongoing dispute with EMI, Danger Mouse is unable to release the recorded music for Dark Night Of The Soul without fear of being sued by EMI.
Danger Mouse remains hugely proud of Dark Night Of The Soul and hopes that people lucky enough to hear the music, by whatever means, are as excited by it as he is.”

Dangermouse & Sparklehorse – Dark Night Of The Soul (NEW LINK)

Much Worse Lieutenant

This just sounded like a mistake from the start...
Werner Herzog taking on Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant with Nicolas Cage in the lead.
The first footage is out now and this is just looking insane. It looks like a great comedy but a slap in the face to the original. Either way, I'll have to see it.

Behold the wackness that is, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

some new stuff

Saw The National last night, they were okay but the shows haven't been as good as the first time I saw them at the Horseshoe after Alligator came out... more chatty hipsters and less energy from teh band it seems. The show was awesome however for getting to see Colin Stetson, nto the best venue for his music but I've never seen anything quite like what he did with a saxophone or two... it was up there with seeing Nels Cline for just all out crazy musicianship. Check it out.
Colin Stetson - Nobu Take

And some other stuff...

Dangermouse & Sparklehorse – Dark Night Of The Soul - Jaykub (click HERE to buy the best CD-R ever)

Dinosaur Jr – I Want You To Know

An ex member of the Stills and some other folk making very Pavement sounding music:
Feathership - For Once

Tortoise – Monument Six One Thousand
and in that vein...
The Hylozoists - Bras d’Or Lakes

back to mine for some late night tales...

Was talking with a friend about good late night music, to play while you have the last drink at home or whatever you do before you figure out what you’re doing next...
These songs seem to work for me, maybe you’ll like them too...

It's Right HERE

1 Bat For Lashes - Glass
2 Contrived - Celebrate
3 Magnetic Morning - The Wrong Turning
4 My Jerusalem - Under Your Skin
5 Knight Bros. - Temptations 'Bout to Get Me
6 Intramural - Nights Are Long (with Josh Dawson of Slender Means)
7 Spain - Every Time I Try
8 Migala - La cancion de Gurb
9 Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Everytime I'm With You
10 Mogwai - 1% of Monster
11 Rodriguez - I Wonder

the ashes of an arab strap

Usual excuses for not posting... oh well, had to go fetch some stuff from the east coast.

The new Malcolm Middleton album, Waxing Gibbous, is coming out on June 1, here’s a tune now though.
Malcolm Middleton - Carry Me

And the other half of Arab Strap continuing to write his own brand unforgettable and romantic lyrics.
Aidan Moffat + The Best Ofs – Living With You Now

And for some reason after listening to that I though of this: Phoebe Snow - Two Fisted Love

The Story Of Anvil

Anvil have been around forever... They were once among the top metal bands in the early eighties and then just kind of slipped into obscurity only to be remembered for Metal On Metal.
Anvil: The Story Of Anvil screened last year at Hot Docs in Toronto and Sundance, I saw it at Canadian Music Week last month and now it's had premieres in New York and LA.

There's not much I can say that hasn't been in some of the other reviews out there... When you see it you really do feel for a band that has worked so hard and just haven't been able to break through and get back into the world scene again. Well, looking at the pictures from the L.A. premiere it looks like they'll definitely be getting lots of attention... hopefully it'll get them back into the metal world and give them a little more recognition for their contribution to that scene.

Either way, it's a great movie... unintentionally hilarious and surprisingly touching. Go see it.

great interviews...

You may have heard about the Billy Bob Thornton interview from yesterday, I just watched it and it is gold.



Reminds me of this... though Sigur Ros are at being pleasant, just not very good at elaborating.