Pregnant Without Intercourse

2006-07-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

2006-01-29T15:01:00.000-05:00

Hey! I've moved! Check out the brand new Pregnant Without Intercourse @ www.pwithouti.com

"Your call is important to us, please stay on the line..."

2006-01-28T18:15:00.000-05:00

Justaminit! We're fixin' things technically, like. The new site will likely be up next week. Keep an eye peeled for www.pwithouti.com Toodles F to tha C

Can you lend me a hand?

2006-01-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

I'm looking for (a) web and/or graphic designer(s) with an outsized love for music (particularly Canadian independent stuff) and a desire to give back to that community (i.e. ply his/her/their trade for below market rate). A non-profit organization of my acquaintance is looking to set up its corporate identity (logos, websites etc.) and, like all NGOs, there isn't much in the way of a budget. Compensation would be a mix of money (not much) and contra-adverts as well as - potentially - some time spent with some cool musicians, not to mention that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you feel you've done the right thing. Drop me a line in the comment box (or via e-mail: fatcitizen nospam (at) gmail (dot) com) . Speaking of web-type stuff, I'm reaching the end of my proverbial rope with bandwidth issues (despite the heroic efforts of my man Cammy, we're about to come up face to face with another incident of "30 days of bandwidth lasting only 25 days"). I'm wondering: A) If any of the 200-300 of you who visit me every day have an idea of where I might get solid web service (lots of storage, LOTS of bandwidth...) for relatively little cash; or, B) What you'd think of me reducing the podcasting archives to, say, the last five shows. I could offer archived shows on special arrangement, but I'd reduce the ongoing server demand of new subscribers digging through the vault. That said, I'd love for you to be able to access the vault too. Anyway...feedback sincerely appreciated! Pregnant Pause The nominations are in for the 2006 Bloggies. I'm definately voting for Frank, Sean/Jordan/Dan, and Rannie. So much else to say, but so little time...I'll try and catch up with y'all soon...

"...et le vote ethnique"

2006-01-22T11:53:00.000-05:00

Not sure why more people haven't noticed this little gem from Nicolas Van Praet's article in today's Gazette: (subscription only) "Nine of the 75 candidates the Bloc is running in this election were born outside Canada (including) Maka Kotto, a Camerooninan...When he was introducing some of those candidates and finally spotted Kotto...Duceppe joked that he couldn't see him in the dark. Everyone laughed." Not that there's enough time before les elections tomorrow, but maybe somone ought not to let Msr. Duceppe off the hook for this...

That Shit is DOPE

2006-01-21T18:29:00.000-05:00

Three things you need to know about this week's episode of The Podcast Without I...(to which you can subscribe by simply cutting and pasting http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your copy of iTunes or iPodder. Or, if you'd like, you can subscribe to it through the good folks at Odeo). 1) There are more songs about drugs then there are about the election on Monday. 2) That's a good thing 3) I'm on the lookout for any subscriber to the cast who might be having trouble with their xml files. I thought I'd ironed out all the kinks a while back but some people may be downloading shows (which should be about an hour each) coming in as less than 30 minutes worth of file. Pregnant Pause This page seems to have the text of a Citizen article on the closure of Record Runner. (Just don't get me started on my feelings toward the sport of Ultimate - or, as I like to call it, Fetch).

Condos kill another music landmark...

2006-01-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

No, not that one. On January 21st, Ottawa's Record Runner will close its doors after more than 30 years of slingin' some of the Capital's best vinyl, acetate and silicon-wrapped, laser-etched aluminum. The entire block of Rideau street where the store currently resides (a block which also includes The Capital Music Hall, Ottawa's largest non-stadium live venue) will soon be cleared to make way for a two-tower condo development. It's kinda sad and I'll tell you why. Turning people on to new music is one of my passions. There's nothing like the feeling you can get when you help a friend discover art that improves their life. Whenever someone in Ottawa confided in me with a "I really know nothing about music, where should I start?" My response was always the same: "Hit the back wall at Record Runner." That back wall was a compendium of solid advice delivered $11.99 at a time, the Rock and Roll equivalent of a tiny mom and pop hardware store. On it, hung a collection of pretty much everything you needed to build a sturdy record collection: old-school hammers (Zeppelin, Maiden, Sabbath); modern-rock nails (The Pixies, The Clash, The Replacements); song writing hardwood (Neil Young and Leonard Cohen); rock-hard foundation materials (Howlin' Wolf); bright swirls of the greatest instrumental paint (Miles Davis and Charles Mingus) and some of those doahickies that you never quite know how to use but wouldn't want to live without (like Tom Waits and Laurie Anderson). My girlfriend's first Tom Waits album was purchased off that wall. I gave it to her as a test. She passed. One of my best friends has a copy of London Calling from the back wall. I bought it for him to fill a glaring gap in his otherwise encyclopaedic record collection. Not only did he forgive me for being a patronizing prick (I think my exact words at the time may have been "Well, without London Calling it's not really a record collection then, is it?") he thanked me for adding Rudie Can't Fail, Lost in the Supermarket and Death or Glory to his life. Though Record Runner's owner says he'll try to lease a new location in the next while, I fear this closure is yet another sign of greater trends in technology and commerce. In fact, I'm pretty confident that in another decade or two what we know as a record store will probably pretty much cease to exist. Every week, we as listeners are more and more comfortable with music being an ephemeral thing; liner notes have been replaced by website bios, stores are closing to focus on websites and some of the record shops that have remained open are placing garbage cans outside their doors for iPodders to toss away their extraneous jewel cases and cover art on the way home to their computers. None of this is the end of the world; I'm ready for the change. But I sure am gonna miss that back wall.

So much to say, mais aucun temps pour le dire

2006-01-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

Hey y'all, sorry for the delay in checkin' in...I'm once again buried under accents circonflexes (and other - even more fun - stuff which will be revealed in due time) Faithful subscribers to the podcast will have noticed that Episode 14 went up on Sunday. You Johnny (and Janey) come latelys can get ahold of it here or join the cool crowd and subscribe by dropping http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your browsers. This weeks' episode features brand new stuff from Montréal's Islands as well as Belle and Sebastian, Cat Power and The Glass. It also includes a visit from two of my favourite songwriters NQ Arbuckle(who has a show at the Cadillac Lounge in Toronto on Saturday February 11th) Jason Colette, whose show at The Main Hall Saturday night was a great mix of solid songwriting, well-chosen arrangements (remember when everyone had a saxaphone player just like Colette's band? Now all the cool kids are playing violin) and (really) soft-separatist politics ("Now I'm from Toronto," Colette confessed, "but I've given it a lot of thought and I've decided to vote Bloc.") Overall the show was a great time. If anything, I got what I expected from Colette and was genuinely and pleasantly surprised by the work of opening act (and Colette backup group) Paso Mino which featured some swooningly-good Hammond organ bits and a well-burnished barritone singing lead (I'd tell you the lead singers name, if it was available ANYWHERE online...Dear Paso Mino, I rather like your band, please write a press kit!) Pregnant Pause 11 Great Reasons (OK, 13 if you include Radiohead and the Fugees, but I don't) to be excited about the music of 2006 (Via LHB)

Finally...

2006-01-13T13:02:00.000-05:00

The International Federation of Competative Eating (IFOCE) Research Division, in response to dozens of requests from eaters and fans, has announced that it will seek to determine the exact weight of David Hasselhoff’s head. In other scary Friday the 13th news: When chatrooms for "romantic older men" go bad: "He just came in slamming on me, saying all kinds of derogatory crap: that I was a fat, bald, broke old man who sits around in a rusted wheelchair," said Charpentier, who has a chronic back injury. "I don't even own a wheelchair." (Via Metafilter) Killer shrimp! Cat Power is streaming all of her new album on Myspace (actually, it's not scary at all, it's actually quite good).

My name is Fatcitizen and I am a "pro-user zealot"

2006-01-12T22:15:00.000-05:00

Ok folks, been really busy the last couple of days working on a new, exciting, super-secret radio-type project. Can't wait to tell you more about it, but until the wraps are off...there's more almost-musical news This just in: Sam Bulte (ibid) may well be officially losing her shit. Last night at an all-candidates meeting, Bulte, the MP for Parkdale/High Park, and lead author of Canada's last two pieces of draft copyright legislation, referred to people who disagree with her approach to copyright law and conflict of interest as "Michael Geist and his pro-user zealots." If it weren't so hilarious (I mean, shouldn't we all - particularly our elected officials - be in favour of consumers? What's the opposite? A "pro-record industry zealot"?) it would be kinda scary. Come to think of it, "Michael Geist and His Pro-User Zealots" sounds like it might be a decent - if somewhat clunky - name for an independent band. Think of a kind of 21st century techno-blues review. The Blues Explosion meets The Polyphonic Spree meets Kraftwerk... Anyway, Prof. Geist, and the rest of us, I guess, have become the target of Ms. Bulte's ire by suggesting that someone who writes copyright legislation (Sam, that'd be you) shouldn't take money from the industries who benefit most from restrictive copyright law (that'd be the folks like the Canadian Recording Industry Association and other entertainment industry types who are throwing Sam a $250/plate fundraiser next week). Sounds simple to me, but I'm not a Liberal MP. Anyhoo, Accordion Guy has the video evidence from last night and, from what I've heard, future all candidates meetings will also be recorded for posterity. More info to follow. On a non-political note, Montreal's late-winter concert calendar seems to be shaping up quite nicely. (Just check out how lucky the 27th of the month is in January AND February. There are worse dilemmas than those , I assure you). In the shorter term, I'm looking forward to Jason Collet's show at Main Hall this weekend and, if you like genuine songwriting and warm guitar sounds, you should be too. Photos and a review to come. I recommence my French education on Monday...wish me luck! Pregnant Pause Yo! Wanna wrestle? Patterson Hood on his future in the music business: "As long as you can't download a tee-shirt, I'm gonna be ok." (Via LHB) Oh, and LHB also has this cool link to a preview and track listing for the new DBT's album. (I've said it before, I'll say it again, I have NO idea how David does it. Every day, almost every story that matters. Keep up the good work, friend)

Two minutes for hook(er)ing

2006-01-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

<--- This may be the coolest looking hockey horror picture I've seen since this one. ----> The accompanying feature article in New York Magazine by Keith Gessen isn't too shabby either.

Free Acorn Album Online!

2006-01-10T08:56:00.000-05:00

Cool News! Kelp records heroes and PWI alt-folk/post rock faves The Acorn have made a special Christmas album available for free on their website. The album: Live in Royal Albert Hall was "recorded live" with "Jim O'Rourke" and features some kick-ass covers of Ottawa- valley favourites which normally I'd save for the podcast...but I can't. This wonderful version of The Fiftymen's For the Sake of My Pride has to be heard now, today, immediately... Listen to For the Sake of My Pride by The Acorn ...and perhaps again on the podcast this weekend. Pregnant Pause Repeat after me: PWI is not a political place, PWI is not a political place, PWI is not a political place...then again, the Tories still scare the hell outa me. It's not perfect, but this online singing machine is pretty cool and it still sounds better than most of the karaoke I've been forced to listen to.

"Smoove, that's how we do it..."

2006-01-09T18:12:00.000-05:00

Miami Vice, the Movie. Bad? Likely. So bad it's good? TBD.

It burns...it burrrrrrrns!!!

2006-01-09T12:07:00.000-05:00

I've said before that PWI isn't a political place, per-se, but: 1) This whole worsening Sam Bulte fiasco (check out my colleague David Fewer's interesting analysis of it) has me thinking (perhaps idly): When can Canadians expect to elect a Prime Minister who's the best choice instead of the better of two evils? (clarification courtesty of OC in the comments) 2) I've been wondering for much of the last few weeks what to do with my vote as an english speaking federalist in a riding where the once and future MP is the guy in the hat. 3) I really needed an excuse to run this picture of Martin boring the skin off a group of seven-year olds. Updated concert schedule to come later this week.

Guns! Canons!!!

2006-01-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

Yngwie Malmsteen's not dead! His spirit is alive and well and living in Japan if this video can be believed...(thanks Scott)

Can't Win for losing

2006-01-07T22:44:00.000-05:00

Can I think of anything less palatable than wearing my number 12 Mike Fisher jersey and an ill-fitting Ottawa Senators touque (either I bought a child's size or my noggin is officially larger than the holes in the Sen's current lineup) to this debacle? Yes, yes I can. How about hearing the Arcade Fire's Rebellion (Lies) in an ad on the Molson Centre big screen for Cold-fX (the faux-drug endorsed by Don Cherry and, surprisingly, Margaret Atwood)? Yup, the Arcade Fire in an ad, and not even a tasteful VW commercial either, but rather a glorified powerpoint presentation with pictures of the Canadien's trainer being quoted on the powers of "the Cold-fX system" or some such nonsense. The way I'm thinking, either somebody's made a commercial without consulting the band and that somebody's gonna get GOOOOD and sued, or Win and the gang have changed their minds about licensing their music in the strangest of ways... Anyway, I promise that there is no content about cold remedies or disappointing hockey results in this week's podcast, but there is a little bit on Win and Regine's tendency to stalk my girlfriend and I. (It's a true story, and not a surprising one, I mean, just LOOK at the guy, it's Cape Fear all over...am I right?) If you're just downloading this episode, please Right Click, Save As or better yet...plunk http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your iPodder or iTunes.

Letterman gets political?

2006-01-05T10:58:00.000-05:00

OK, now I know the world is going upside down. In case you haven't already seen it, here's the video (wmv) of David Letterman eschewing years of goofiness and neutrality to go after Bill O'Reilly (not a bad idea, mind you, but I still find it rather surprising). Quote of the day "I'm not smart enough to debate you point for point on this but I have a feeling that 60% of what you say is crap."

I leave you guys alone for ten minutes...

2006-01-04T23:39:00.000-05:00

...and while I'm gone the MP in charge of writing Canada's New Copyright Legislation ~~sits~~ gets ready to sit down to a $250/plate fundraiser sponsored by CRIA and the rest of the copyright lobby. Says here Sam Bulte is a "champion for artist's rights." I guess that means she left an extra tip for the working musicians waiting tables at her corporate fundraiser. HAPPY New Year!

Take us to your dance floor!

2006-01-03T12:25:00.000-05:00

Hey! Happy New Year! Still on the left coast (fatbrother set us up with some tickets to the big hockey game this afternoon so I won't be back in Montreal until tomorrow). Fear not, however, there's still a podcast this week featuring some of Ottawa's latest and greatest including Boycrusher, The Hi Lo Trons and a new demo from Jim Bryson. You can download it (Right Click, Save As...if you please) or, even better, subscribe to the show by plunking http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your iTunes or iPodder. Hold on tight! 2006 is going to be an amazing year!

All I want for X-mas...

2005-12-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

...is some bandwidth Another month, another premature end to the file-sharin' love here at PWI (and here I was thinking that my good friends at racknine.com took care of these problems LAST month). I'm hoping the site redesign that I'm working on over the holidays will mean a January without a case of the crashies. Merry Christmas, everyone. May 2005 be a happy, healthy and creative one for you and all whom you love. I'll be back in touch in about a week.

Gimmie Gimmie DBTs

2005-12-19T18:13:00.000-05:00

Do I really have to wait until April to hear the new Drive- By Truckers' record A Blessing and a Curse? Ever since reading the Q&A with New West Records honcho (and former Replacements label-meister) Peter Jesperson in Pulse of the Twin Cities this week (thanks, once again, to LHB for the hookup) I've been jonesin' for new Southern Rock 21st century style. If you have too, I have some methadone for you! It's not new, but rather a tracking of the acoustic set the DBTs did for Sirius satellite radio earlier this year. Some gems in here: 1) Putting People on the Moon 2) Carl Perkins' Cadillac 3) Goddamn Lonely Love 4) The Day John Henry Died 5) Tornadoes It's available through the fabulous New West Podcast which also features a great set from the late, great Slobberbone. Pregnant Pause If you haven't seen this amazing video yet you just don't like cupcakes...or google maps...or the funny. (Thanks for the updated link MF)

Reports of my death...

2005-12-18T13:51:00.000-05:00

OK, so usually I should do this sort of fact checking BEFORE I record the show, but a couple of disclaimers before you listen to Podcast Number 11, available for download right now. 1) It was not Guitar Wolf's lead guitarist but rather the bass player Hideaki (Billy) Sekiguchi who died of a heart attack this April; 2) Not only did I pick the wrong guy to be dead, I also indicated that the death killed the band...wrong! Guitar Wolf are still alive, well, and making eardrums bleed all over the Pacific Rim. Check out their tour schedule (presumably with a new bass player) here. As always, people who take pity on my bandwidth and subscribe to the podcast by plugging: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into their iTunes or iPodder are even MORE handsome/smart/friendly.

Seriously, I not Chewbacca. Dude.

2005-12-16T16:49:00.000-05:00

Quick Pregnant Pause From yesterday's Mirror: It may be true “if Bigfoot give stuff away like Santa I be everybody hero.” It does not, however, entirely follow that “Santa is fat, pandering bastard.” Also this cringe-worthy forward from Mike proves that, no matter what the language, high-talkin' is funny.

Top X Part II

2005-12-13T14:50:00.000-05:00

Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning Funny to see how critics shoved Conor Oberst from "the next Bob Dylan" status to "not on my top ten list, dude" this year. It's not his fault that the songs are only very good rather than downright classic, is it? Yes, some of the prose can be a little purple but when a young song writer has the good sense (and balls) to invite Emmylou Harris to do background vocals you have to give him some credit. And when he backs the invitation up with the singing, arranging and song writing chops to make her seem this perfectly placed you can't help but wonder if critics may have been better off wasting ink comparing Oberst to Gram Parsons. I'm Wide Awake it's morning is 45 minutes of solid, evocative song writing which suggests that Bright Eyes' best is yet to come. Kings of Leon: Aha Shake Heartbreak Prettyboys? Yes. Pretty frickin' great record? Also yes. Magnolia Electric Company: What Comes After the Blues Neil Young is a GOD and if he were alive today this is absolutely the kind of record he would make: fabulous country-inspired rock and roll full of swingblade country rock guitar peals and falsetto heartbreak. Wait, Neil Young is still alive? OK, nevermind. eels: Blinking Lights and Other Revelations The brain is a Pandora's box. There's too much in it, creativity, grief, confusion, knowledge; all spilling, sloshing and fighting for position. Blinking Lights and Other Revelations is the sound of an artist opening up the box and giving all the contents a good shake. Given that approach, not everything that falls out is going to be perfect (some of the instrumental tracks seem unnecessary) or tidy (a Tom Waits sample doesn't save Going Fetal) but the overall effect of being hit by 32 tracks of effusive, unbridled - and somewhat disorganized - creative power is hard to deny. It's also hard to deny that Blinking Lights is another one of those sad records I've seemed to surround myself with this year. Unlike the songs on The Mountain Goats' The Sunset Tree, eels tunes like Things the Children Should Know, Son of A Bitch and The Other Shoe bring a palpable, vivid type of world-weariness that may not be for the faint of heart (or the happy). This is the sound of real, fresh wounds celebrated and gently dressed with lush instrumentation and soaring vocals. Who knew bandages could sound so catchy? Fiona Apple: Extraordinary Machine Confession: I would never have heard this record if it weren't for all of the record company brouhaha surrounding its delay/release. Confession #2: The record company who wanted it remixed were probably dead right. This record is a mainstream career killer of the highest order, full of near-burlesque strings and horns, swirling piano roils, falsetto vocal trills and darkly comic musings on the price of fame and artistic credibility. Confession #3: I don't think killing a mainstream career is as horrible a thing as the people at the record company seem to.

Whoops, we did it again...

2005-12-13T14:39:00.000-05:00

Condi Rice as a possessed devil dog, Broken Social Scene as an example of the power of Montreal's music scene and contaminated beef panties (uh, that's patties)...there's definitely some questionable journalistic gold in Regret the Error's 2005 Crunk Awards. (Thanks, Mike)

Shine on, you crazy Diamond

2005-12-13T11:56:00.000-05:00

Having a blog doesn't only mean you can write your own laws, it sometimes means you can post stuff that you find funny that other people might not. This may be one of those times. My buddy's last name is Salley (that's not the real spelling, nor do you need to know his first name). Among his nicknames is the inevitable "Mustang." On one fair evening this spring, The Mustang lived up to his name in several minutes of "too drunk to stand but too sober not to dance solo in front of all the people at the wedding reception" glory. What's a guy to do when they're playin' his song? I humbly present you the video evidence. Rest of the top ten later today.

PWI Radio X

2005-12-12T14:41:00.001-05:00

I didn't realize until last night when I was putting the finishing touches on PWI Radio Episode X how much sad music I was listening to this year. My top ten records of the year (which, conveniently, occur right here in Episode 10) include only three or four real rockers and ass shakers. The rest (perhaps in reflection of the kind of year I've had, perhaps simply in reflection of the musical year that was) are more contemplative and slow moving if not downright sad. The records were (just in case you're keeping score at home...and in no particular order this year) Banditas: s/t This does not count as one of 2005's sad records. No, as I said back in May, Liz McDermott R-O-C-K-S. This record is a quickly delivered reminder that passionate indie music that packs an emotional wallop is often better off focusing on factory floor guitars and gruffly barked lyric gripes than wry urban storytelling, dance-able grooves or lush instrumentation. Banditas is like an emotional argument with a confidante; loud, close to the bone and over in a flash. Spoon: Gimmie Fiction Because sometimes wry urban storytelling and danceable grooves are a good thing. In fact, sometimes they're a very VERY good thing. To, in a roundabout way, quote the band, Gimme Fiction is the audio equivalent of St. Vitus' Dance. The Mountain Goats: The Sunset Tree If you've spent even a little bit of time in PWI land, you know by now that I have a borderline-irrational love for the art of John Darnielle. Many writers have focused on the emotional intensity of The Sunset Tree, often by falsely labeling it as an exercise in songwriting "catharthis" (a description Darnielle has repudiated in numerous interviews). Using the language of personal healing to describe this album doesn't only ignore Darnielle's distance from the events that he recounts in songs like Dance Music, This Year and Pale Green Things, but it also pays short shrift to the universal emotional currency and indeed, the beauty, of the songs themselves. No, it's not comfortable to empathise with Darnielle when he recounts drowning out a violent argument between his parents by "Lean(ing) in close to (his) little record player on the floor" but empathise we do if only because, as music lovers, we've all experienced the ability of a song to take us almost physically away from where we're stuck to a place where perspectives change. By sharing his long-sterile terrors in the Sunset Tree, Darnielle has, once again, created art that transforms and transports. Black Mountain: s/t Black Mountain could be the next Zeppelin. Except they'd be a "Canadian 21st Century Indie-rock collective" Zeppelin instead of the old-school "20th-century raping groupies with fish" Zeppelin. Yes, that is a good thing. Iron & Wine: Woman King EP While watching Iron & Wine Thursday night at the Spectrum I came up with a new case of Rock and Roll Math for Sam Beam. Check this out. Sam Beam = The Mountain Goats. The Mountain Goats = <------ The soothing, "everything's gonna be alright" nature of this guy. <--------------- Plus songwriting brilliance <-----Plus beard Nope, not enough beard. More beard! <------- Now thaaaats what I'm talkin' about Some find the records sleepy, though I can understand where that impression comes from, I've felt every Iron and Wine recording to date in the deepest part of my bones. The Woman King EP is no different. Six altogether too brief trips into true musical terroir. I can't wait for the next full length. I'll write about the other five tomorrow. Remember, as always, you can subscribe to the podcast by plunking this address: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your iTunes or iPodder.

Jeff Tweedy on File Sharing

2005-12-09T14:22:00.000-05:00

From today's AP Wire Interviewer: So the record industry's approach is driven by fear?

Tweedy: Do you remember home taping as killing music? It's the same thing. The sky is falling. Ultimately, I think it's an excuse for incompetence.

(via LHB)

On a completely unrelated issue, does anyone have an extra ticket to the Stars show at La Tulipe? I waited too long and now they're sold out...

Still wheezin'...

2005-12-08T13:30:00.000-05:00

...but I wanted to point you in the direction of this cool documentary about copyright and sampling. (Via LHB) I will be leaving bed to check out the - extremely cool! - Calexico and Iron and Wine show tonight at The Spectrum. Keep an eye on this space for a review and photos in the next few days. Until then, check out NPRs outstanding live recording of the same lineup's show at the 9:30 Club in D.C.

Kaff Kaff Kaff....

2005-12-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

Yup, it's that time of year again, the change of the seasons means that sick week is upon me PWI HQ is waist deep in tissues and Tylenol! Good times. That didn't stop the production of another Podcast Without Intercourse for your listenin' pleasure. Episode 9 is up and ready to tickle your earholes. It features an overview of some of the best records I heard this year that didn't make the Top Ten. Hope you enjoy! As always, please Right click, "Save As" or, even better, subscribe by slamming: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your copy of iTunes or iPodder. Pregnant Pause Some fun stuff here including a review of some of the web's best recommendation engines and some tips on how to make a Hipster Top Ten Records of the year list. (both via LHB FWIW, the PWI top ten list only adheres to about half of Bob's criteria) From Mike, here's a good example of why the democratizing power of the internet isn't always a good thing. One star reviews of Time magazine's 100 greatest books of all time, including this summary of The Grapes of Wrath: "While the story did have a great moral to go along with it, it was about dirt! Dirt and migrating. Dirt and migrating and more dirt." Riiiight! Five very scary, and very funny words: Cory Haim Video Diary Review.

Shhhhhhhhh!

2005-12-02T09:49:00.000-05:00

The Onion has an inside scoop on the next step in the RIAA's war against downloading.

Wolf Parade Video

2005-12-01T17:40:00.000-05:00

Four heads are better than one and Commodore Amigas are still tha shit, yo!

Oh, and I forgot this

2005-12-01T12:46:00.000-05:00

What is it about Finns and air guitar? Every year the city of Oulun holds the World Air Guitar Championship and now a bunch of Finnish geeks have come up with a fully interactive Air Guitar Program... (Link from Stereogum) Also, the Wall Street Journal is asking some interesting questions about the upcoming Napsterization of network television.

Aaaaaaand we're back...

2005-12-01T10:33:00.000-05:00

Sorry about that little bandwidth hiccup there folks, nothing the good folks at Racknine shouldn't have settled by now (and here's to hopin' I won't have to cancel that brand new upgraded subscription any time soon...yah-hear me server dudes!?!) Had the pleasure last night of checking out Ottawa's fun and friendly post pop'ers The Acorn at The Green Room last night. Keiko from People for Audio guested on keys and the results (though they claimed to have no rehearsal time) were very coherent for the most part. No pics (sorry!) but suffice it to say that the Acorn's recorded output (which is in a word "gentle") fails to impress upon the listener the emotional power and pure rock-outedness these four guys can bring forward when they get into a rhythmic groove. Not to say that the recorded output isn't good, on the contrary The Blankets EP (the Acorn's latest release on Ottawa's Kelp Records) is nothing short of wonderful. Rolf Klausener's mellifluous, almost whispered vocals and the band's densely organic instrumental underbrush (including Jeff Malecki's stand out drum patterns) subtly camouflage some intensely personal expressions of bitterness and frustration: "Wrestle with your confidence and hold it down with all my strength," Klausener murmurs on Sent (Awake the Kraken) "I never thought these promises would make it so hard to breathe." The silence breaks for a minute or so during the title track, but the lyrical content stays bleak: "The fruits of all your labour are slowly going rotten" Klausener sighs just as the guitars begin to crash and peal all around him. Blankets is a big, soft, puffy pop snowball with a sharp-edged emotional rock buried inside. It might be one of my top ten records of the year. Podcast Episode #8 The latest podcast is up. As always, you can get ahold of 'er by subscribin'. To do that, you go into yee olde iTunes or iPodder and plunking this address: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into the subscribe to podcast field. For those of you who just want a test drive, you can hear the latest episode here. (Right click, save as! Please!) Pregnant Pause Jane Siberry is COOL! Her online store is now offering "pay what you wish" pricing on the MP3s in her online store. Check out Jane's explanation of things. Go buy a copy of Hockey, Mimi on the Beach or Calling All Angels just to encourage Jane for her forward-thinking approach. Way to cut out the middle man, Ms. Siberry! (Thanks for the tip, Cammy) Steve Page of BNL is also in on the act. (Thanks for the head's up Russell)

"I want them to love me like they love 'Pac"

2005-11-29T16:59:00.000-05:00

Way way WAYYYYY too much information. New server is all but done. New podcast will be up tomorrow (I hopes). OUT!

I've hit the wall!

2005-11-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

Still trying to set up my new account, but the old one has hit its bandwidth limit. Everything should be back to normal but quick...promise! FC

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...paint the fence

2005-11-25T17:34:00.000-05:00

Mr. Miagi dies at 73. Listen to ~~Kung Fu~~ by The Dirtbombs (Hey! Go buy the Rekkid!) Kung Fu is available on The Dirtbombs' Ultraglide in Black

Happy Yanksgiving

2005-11-24T12:23:00.000-05:00

To all my Turkey-eatin' American pals please enjoy your day of tryptophan and football. Listen to ~~Thanksgiving~~ by Loudon Wainwright III Listen to ~~I Thank You~~ by Sam & Dave The latest podcast will be up tomorrow or Monday (the girl and I are going to enjoy a well-deserved - for her at least - weekend out in the country starting tomorrow afternoon). The live version of Thanksgiving is available on Loudo's Career Moves You do have some Sam and Dave in your record collection don't you?

Bandwidth Issues

2005-11-23T14:22:00.000-05:00

God Damn! You kids are diggin' that podcast. I'm getting' a wee bit hammered in the bandwidth department this month so I'm working with ye olde service provider to make sure you get the PWI you need without any interuptions. Until then...remember rightclick "Save As" on all those downloads, please! Thanks K

Two heads ARE better than one

2005-11-23T02:02:00.000-05:00

"Uncle Keith, on TV, they say that two heads are better than one, but I don't believe them...I like having one head." My nephew, Liam Serry, Aged 5 People say The Black Keys' singer/guitar player Dan Auerbach looks like Kurt Cobain. They're right, sorta, but I think Auerbach looks a lot more like my buddy Tom Pechloff of the Ottawa band Fourth (Tommy, you better learn to play guitar!) The Keys are the first of the famous trend of power two-somes* that I've actually had the chance to see in person and their blues-rock blizkreig of La Tulipe last weekend did not disappoint. One of the first thing you notice about the Akron duo is that these guys can freaking play the SNOT out of their instruments. It should be self-evident, but it bears mentioning mostly because whenever you hear people talking about duos the phrase "they sure make a whole lot of noise for only two people" tends to slip into the conversation quite quickly. Don't get me wrong, I've been as guilty of using it as anyone else, but there's an important subtlety that's lost in the "lots of noise" assessment. Namely that it also takes a lot of thought, musicianship and creatively (oh, and don't forget soul) to put compelling art into the blank spaces forced by a stripped down lineup. Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney fill the blank spaces with concussive, soul stirring rhythm. There's a call and response between the guitar and the kit that comes off as both aggressive and beautiful, like battling fireworks displays. In fact, the Keys' firm rhythmic foundation isn't built despite the lack of bass, but rather because there isn't a four-string in the middle of everything insistently announcing the debut of each measure. It's amped up porch music, rock and roll that answers the rhetorical question "What if Jimmy Hendrix had influenced Robert Johnson instead of the other way around?" If I had a beef with The Keys', it was that the set (which included choice selections from both of their Fat Possum releases and a cover of the Beatles She Said, She Said) seemed a little short. I could have watched Auerbach wring bright, hard, beautiful and dangerous melodies out of his guitar and throat all night. (*Can't we come up with some sort of rock writer shorthand to describe the two-person trend like we did with Power Trios? Call them Blisterin' Bivalves or Two-headed Rock Monsters or something? Anyone?)

Going for a double (Dap) dip!

2005-11-21T14:22:00.000-05:00

Friends, I have a confession to make. In so doing I may have to reinforce some stereotypes, but you'll believe me when I profess my desire not to offend. Ready? OK, here goes: I, Fat K Citizen, may well be the whitest human being on the planet. Clorox pale, vanilla pallid, raised in the basement beside the mushroom cellar W-H-I-T-E. Though this may not signify much, it does make one thing very certain. The FC, friends, does not dance. Not even a little bit. In fact, your correspondent's dancing moments can be charted quite clearly along with his other life-punctuating incidents of significant public embarrassment, like poorly delivered public speeches, sidewalk vomiting or cranium-cleaving hangovers. As a matter of fact, like many straight men my age, most of my dancing stories usually conclude with an incident of vomiting and/or hangover. I've concluded, therefore, that dancing may be dangerous to my health! Now, usually, this dancing aversion isn't an issue. I've already got a lovely girlfriend (no need to dance to impress the ladies) and rarely alter my mind on chemicals in public (reducing the "drunk-guy" dancing phenomenon considerably). I'm in the clear, I can continue to go to indie rock shows and stoically bob my head. On occasion I raise my stork-neck like arms several feet in the air and clap along with the drummer four times per measure. I'm comfortable in these habits. They have served me well. Leave it to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings to rip me out of my comfort zone. The rhythm that this band lays down is compulsive, insistent and funky as hell. Sharon Jones is just under five feet and just over 100 pounds of bass-and-horn-fueled jet propulsion. The groove she and the Kings build demands a commitment. It forces you to do things you wouldn't normally be caught dead doing...toe tappin becomes necessary, ass shakin', required. As a matter of fact, if you don't dance, you might want to stay out of the front row. If, for example, you're the self-proclaimed whitest man in Montreal, and if you're standing in the front row to, say, take pictures for your music blog, Sharon Jones may take your hand and pull you on stage. You may be forced to dance in front of 400 people. Oh, the humanity. Listen to What Have You Done for Me Lately? (Hey! Buy the Rekkid!) So, knowing all that, there are several other things you should be aware of before you attend a Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings show. First, this is a band that brings excitement to a room long before they hit the stage. Sala Rosa was nearly packed Wednesday night and it seemed every person in the room was well into smiling and grooving before the show even kicked off. I can't remember the last time I was a party to such a genuine feeling of anticipation. (Memo to Blue Skies Turn Black...who was that DJ you had warming up the crowd and would s/he mind if I stole his/her entire record collection?) Second, single indie rockers stuck at boys-only hard-rock shows take note: soul music=dancing=pretty girls. Third, and most importantly, the hard work and musicianship Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings bring audiences are a gift to a generation of music-lovers who never got to see Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin or James Brown in their primes. They are a group of artists who give of their boundless talent joyfully and with the best of intentions. So, if you are in need of a good time, and if Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are in your town, may I strongly suggest you spend your concert-going dollar and pay them a visit. Just remember to bring your dancing shoes. Pregnant Pause I'm not into starting rumours, pointing people in the direction of an interesting one, however...I'm down with that. Now that french classes are over, I guess I have to start looking for work again. Failing finding employment in the PR game (or the journalism one) I think I may just sit around on my couch drinking scotch and coming up with ideas for reality shows full time. God knows people are now stupid enough to participate in anything. ILB has come out with their latest annual listing of the Top 40 Bands in America Today. Coming soon, PWI's blatant Canadian ripoff. Looks like Jim Bryson and Hi Lo Trons have new tracks up on their Myspace pages (Jim's is excellent!) There's fandom, there's superfandom and then there's "cutting off your tackle when your team wins the big game". (best quote ever "I've always wanted kids, I guess I'll adopt.")

Podcast Without Intercourse: Episode 7

2005-11-20T18:12:00.000-05:00

At home you're likely asking yourself: "FC, what do Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson and the Ottawa Citizen's Peter Simpson have in common? I mean, besides commanding stage presence and impeccable tailoring?" Well, friends at home, allow me to let you know that all three of these fine folks are featured in this week's episode of ye-olde PWI Podcast. Joining Petey, Neil and the Redheaded Stranger are Immaculate Machine, MC Frontalot, The Hidden Cameras and BA Johnston. Interested? Just download'er right here or, better yet, plug: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your copy of iTunes or iPodder. Sharon Jones and Black Keys reviews are on the way.

C'est un frappe à la Dap

2005-11-16T19:47:00.000-05:00

Tonight, at Sala...there will be SOUL. Yes, Sharon Jones and all seven of her Dap Kings. I can barely contain the excitement! Photos and a review tomorrow, but, until then, have an audio-gander at this here chunk o' funk: Listen to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: Aint it Hard French classes end tomorrow too. That should result in more time for blog-writin'. You've been warned. Aint it Hard is available on Dap Dippin With Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings Pregnant Pause Mike sends this link which lets us score one point for sanity in the DRM debate. (Dear Sony, please do not punish your customers for trying to do the right thing. When we buy records, please just let us put them on our iPods!) Mr. T needs you to turn up your air conditioner. (Via ESPN dot com)

Awwwww, you shouldn't have.....

2005-11-14T23:09:00.000-05:00

Looks like someone has nominated The Other Fifty Tracks for the (I'm sure very prestigious) Canadian Blog Awards in the Category of "Best Blog Post Series." Thanks anonymous nominator, very kind of you! Voting starts November 24th, so be sure to support your favourites (like Chromewaves for Best Culture Blog!) "You really like me"

Halifax: Now a Fat City

2005-11-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

Hey kids! The home of Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, Jill Barber (oh yeah, and these guys) is now mine too (at least virtually). Yup, the good folks at Dalhousie's CKDU will now be broadcasting PWI radio every Tuesday at midnight starting this week. Listen to Love this Town by Joel Plaskett If you live in the Halifax area, give me a hollah! There is tonnes more to tell you, but due to upcoming french finals (souhaitez-moi "bonne chance") I have precious little time. More will follow next week after class is over...for reals. Pregnant Pause What track would you recommend to replace Nickelback on that new CBC National Playlist show? "Always sentimental remind me"? Call this guy the bastard son of the Numa Numa kid and the BackDorm Boys. (It's so painful I could barely watch...thanks for the link Mike).

A Penny For My Thoughts

2005-11-10T19:29:00.000-05:00

PWI Radio, The Podcast Without Intercourse Episode #6, featuring the wonderful and talented Black Keys has left the comfy confines of my office and is now available for a sojourn in your own personal earbuds. Download your very own personal copy here or (better yet) paste: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml in ye olde iTunes or iPodder. Ciao FC PS: Many thanks to Cammy for the smokin' hot track by Yellow #5: ICFCFBM

Gotta Run, Again...

2005-11-02T09:04:00.000-05:00

Folks, have to head east for another quick family hiatus. No concerts for me this week and probably no podcast this weekend. I'll catch up with you Monday. FC Listen to What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Pick up a copy of DCFC's Plans

ok Go!

2005-10-31T20:13:00.000-05:00

PWI Radio Episode Five is up, runnin' and ready for your listenin' pleasure. There's nothin' in the way of Halloween selections (if you're interested in alternatives to the monster mash just look here, here, here or here) but the 'cast does include visits from a few of the bands making up this weeks' concert calendar including The Go! Team who are asking people going to the show tonight to wear their halloween getup (pictures tomorrow, I hope). As always, if you feel like subscribing you need only fire up iTunes, open the "advanced" menu, hit "subscribe to podcast" and pop the following in to the window: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml Pregnant Pause Beautiful. Just, beautiful. As I've said before, I'm not sure what artists think of them (and it's the opnions of artists that matter) but it's stories like this that reaffirm my personal opinion that DRMs suck. (via Michael Geist.ca)

THIS is interesting news

2005-10-28T13:47:00.000-04:00

Looks like Canada's new copyright legislation is held up again. The law, which makes bypassing DRMs a crime (To my mind: Boo! Then again, I wonder what the artists think?) and makes it illegal to post files to Kazaa (not NECESSARILY a bad idea...as long as it doesn't result in crushing civil suits aimed at 12 year old girls downloading C is for Cookie). More time for people to get educated and get involved. Podcast tomorrow. Headed to Fatcity tonight. Happy birthday, Pete n' Jenn! Listen to Your Birthday Party by Lowest of the Low (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Buy a copy of Sordid Fiction Lowest of the Low's latest full-length

And don't think I'm not holding out for that last 98 cents...

2005-10-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

My blog is worth $20,887.98. How much is your blog worth?

Buried in work, but listening to good music, will get you new posts, soon, honest. Love and kisses. Keith Pregnant Pause Can't understand Steve Nash? Maybe it's because he's speaking Canada. (wmv, via ESPN.com) OK, THIS officially tears it, we have to pass a law that no-one older than 55 years old can claim to be a rock star. Except Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits when he becomes a grandfather. Yeee-haw!

Hello Time Bomb

2005-10-23T10:56:00.000-04:00

Episode 4 of PWI Radio (the Podcast Without Intercourse) is now up and ready for your listening pleasure. As always, you can subscribe to the show by plugging this url: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml into your iTunes. This week's cast includes a political riff which reads (approximately) as follows: For a while now, I've been trying to answer a simple question: If the Internet is going to keep changing the way we make, buy, share and experience music, why is it that the major labels -— the same people who have been mistreating artists for decades -— are the loudest voices in the heritage policy and copyright law debate? Don't these guys have a pretty lousy track record of sticking up for artists'’ well being? To put it another way, I wondered why the artists didn't speak for themselves. Luckily for me, the public-advocacy lawyers at the Ottawa-based Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) have been hearing similar concerns. Together, we're trying to form a coalition of Canadian music creators. We hope this group can ensure artists have a direct say in the laws and policies that change their lives. Now is the ideal time to take action on this issue. This fall, the government is trying to pass a copyright law (“Bill C-60) that will change the landscape for Canadian artists. One of the coalition's first tasks will be to write a position paper reflecting artists copyright concerns and making sure those concerns are heard in the upcoming debate. If you're an artist, manager, producer or related music creator, and you agree that your voice isn't being heard and if you want to do something about it, the coalition would love to hear from your. Contact me by e-mail at fatcitizen@gmail.com. I'd also be very appreciative if you forwarded this note to all of your music-creating friends, neighbours, colleagues and collaborators. Artist experience and input will be what makes this effort a success.

Testify!

2005-10-19T17:59:00.000-04:00

What is Rock and Roll for? I mean, I know what it IS, but what does it DO and why do we care? What, exactly, is this power it has over some of us? What's the point? All questions I asked myself last night while seated in another bar on another weeknight, alone and suffering through another tiresome opening act. "Aren't you getting a little old for this, Serry?" "Shouldn't you be in bed, catching up on the sleep debt, or helping the girlfriend through her mountain of work?" What is it about rock n' roll that keeps compelling us obsessives to hunt - often vainly and with no small amount of frustration - for a new way of breaking through the veil of the mundane? At it's core, I'd hazard that it's something communal, a continued search for that rare occasion where a band and an audience, a sound and a venue, can come together and create something extraordinary. Call it equal parts religion and collective hallucination; and call me overly dramatic if you want, but I'll tell you this, The BellRays have my back. "We have dedicated our lives to the art of rock and roll and take our chosen profession seriously," Lead singer Lisa Kekaula writes in the liner notes to the Riverside, California four-piece's most recent album, The Red White and Black. "Jazz is not the only great American art form, so is rock and roll. It has simply been neglected and abused by most of its practitioners until the masses expect the least from its beautiful enormous possibilities." "Music," she continues "is limitless with an open perspective." That is, what people in my elementary school used to so eloquently call, "a double-dog dare." When a band sets its standards that high, there is a long way to fall if they didn't practice what they preach. There is, however, no fear of hypocrisy at a BellRays show. Thirty seconds in, it's obvious that if rock's a religion, these people are the high acolytes of a church without borders. The BellRays live sound is battle-hardened, road-tested and tighter than a five-dollar face lift. "Be not afraid!" Kukula commanded while prowling the stage in four inch heels; equal parts revivalist preacher and punk rock drill sergeant. "Are you ready people? Be! Not! Afraid!" Come and join us! Drop your pretenses, forget your inhibitions! Shake, scream, clap your hands; for the love of Christ move your goddamn feet! Don't wait for the end of a song to scream; don't stop at the beginning of a new one; don't do what you've always been told to do; don't wait for permission. Feel good, feel this...For ninety minutes, feel alive! Forget your name. After the show had ended, but before the first bead of sweat on my brow had dried and long before my ears stopped ringing, I invited myself backstage to thank the band. I faced all four of them and, grinning ear to ear, my scream-ravaged voice and dance-drained body croaked "Thank you. Tonight, you made me happy." Kekaula smiled. With two self-assured strides, she crossed the room and embraced me. "That," she said, beaming "is what we came here to do." That is what this is for. The BellRays play Babylon in Ottawa tonight and Lee's Palace in Toronto tomorrow.

Quickly Now!

2005-10-18T16:46:00.000-04:00

Not a lot of time tonight (so much to do before to go to my 9pm eardrum assault appointment). The evening should be good, and relatively hipster-free (all the cool kids will be over doing this). The festivities will begin with Montreal five-piece Comme Un Homme Libre who I'm looking forward to checking out with my own eyes. Given what I've written about them before, I wonder if they're going to give me a a CD or throw vodka on me for something someone else wrote? You can listen to Comme Un Homme Libre's self titled EP here. Pregnant Pause Looks like the RSS feed on PWI Radio episode 3 is faulty (it gets two minutes in and stops feeding). My regular tech guy is unavailable, (Cammy! Get back from Edmonton soon!) Is there an RSS doctor in the house? The MP3 is fine, but it just doesn't want to get out to my subscribers! Help! (Thanks BTW to Sid for the heads up!)

We have the facts and we're voting "Maybe"

2005-10-17T15:26:00.000-04:00

I don't think I have the strength to post a proper "review" of last night's Death Cab for Cutie show at the Spectrum. Don't get me wrong, Gibbard, Walla and the boys did Yeoman's work; the show was professional and entertaining, but there's this: More and more I'm seeing that shows of a certain size (read "bigger than about 100 people") are congregations of the converted. It makes sense, I guess. Who has $25 to drop on a band they don't love? (besides obessive completists like me, of course). I had to laugh to myself, though, a few times as the gathered throngs of teenage hipsters roared their approval of tracks from the new record (which, admittedly, I hadn't heard until I iTunes'ed it this morning) while staring dumbly at the awesomeness of older songs like We Laugh Indoors from 2001's The Photo Album. The show was perfectly good, a ninety minute testament to the strength of an act that hasn't let a major label deal change their sound or musical approach. Unfortunately, it was also unlikely to make a fan of someone who had previously been on the fence. Good thing there wasn't anyone there that fit that description. So, in lieu of an extended gripe about feeling old enough to have fathered half the members of last night's audience I present: The FC's 5 Observations about Death Cab for Cutie Live 5) I know I Will Follow You Into the Dark is a pretty song and I know you could have heard a pin drop when Gibbard played a solo accoustic version of it last night. Fine. Does it make me a bad person to say it kinda reminded me of Dust in the Wind? 4) Speaking of things that I might feel guilty about observing: I think Death Cab bass player Nick Harmer may have Rock n' Roll's largest forehead. 3) What Sarah Said is a beautiful song. It may have even been the best song about someone dying I heard yesterday (which is a pretty strong endorsement considering I bought a used copy of Eels' Blinking Lights and Other Revelations yesterday afternoon) 2) It has nothing to do with Death Cab, but why isn't anyone talking about this Eel's record? I know it's a 33 track treatise on dying relatives, depression and relationship breakup, but on first listen it was absolutely breathtaking. Listening to Whatever Happened to Soy Bomb (an indictment of the futility that is indie-rocker materialism that should be heard and considered by every self-respecting toy collector, crate diver, sneaker pimp and, yes, music blogger within earshot) I couldn't help but hit the repeat button several times in succession. Great stuff! Listen to ~~Whatever Happened to Soy Bomb~~ (Hey! Buy the Rekkid!) Blinking Lights and Other Revelations just jumped into my top ten for 2005 (at least this week). 1) Separated at birth: Chris Walla and Macaulay Culkin? VERY impressive Ben Gibbard picture from Rannie at photojunkie.ca Pregnant Pause Need more Death Cab? Adam Radwanski has this insightful interview with Ben Gibbard. Have you ever thought of changing your mind? (thanks, Pete) The Mountain Goats are in Toronto tonight but won't be in Montreal this time through Canada. Crappy.

Rain Rain! Go Away!

2005-10-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

PWI Radio Episode Three: Singin' In the Rain is online and ready for your listening pleasure. It includes new tracks from Broken Social Scene, The Acorn and Fiona Apple. No interview with the BellRays (yet! Please Lisa Kekaula, e-mail me back!!) but there is a track in anticipation of what should be an amazing show on Tuesday. Those of you who've been e-mailing me asking how to subscribe to the 'cast...I now have answers: Go into iTunes and click on the "Advanced" tab. Click on "Subscribe to Podcast" Put the following URL into the box: http://www.pwi.racknine.net/podcast.xml Aaaaaaaand you're done. Happy listenin'

You heard it here second (or third)*

2005-10-14T11:40:00.000-04:00

No confirmation on the artists' sites yet, but Mo Cowbell has word and The Spectrum site confirms that Calexico and Iron and Wine will be in town December 8. Tickets are available at ticketpro and, likely, your local rekkid shop. (Via Chromewaves) *Or, it turns out, thirty-five thousandth. I just saw page 29 of yesterday's Hour. I will now go back to sleep (FC: 3:18 PM)

"We're lining up the light-loafered"

2005-10-13T20:15:00.000-04:00

My fantasy Colin Meloy stage banter goes like this: Decemberists audience member "Play the song about the ghost who used to be a prostitute!" Colin Meloy "Which one?" Decemberists fans (who, like the band, bear a distinct resemblance to the earnest, badly coiffed, poetry nerds who used to sit in the front row in English class) got a gentle, if technically off-putting set from the Portland act last night. Sound issues got festivities off to a late start (I think it took nearly half an hour to tune the bass). When finally things got settled, we were treated to mic feedback (at one point set off by Meloy's eyeglasses) monitor problems (which left violinist/background vocalist Petra Haden looking like she'd been sent to the principal's office) and a plea from Meloy to petition the Club Soda for a better sound system. Once again, Boo Club Soda*! Despite the troubles, Meloy and family brought forward a set that, while for the most part not rousing, was awkwardly charming, sincere and uplifting; like a handwritten letter from an elementary school friend. I even got to hear my favourite Decemberists track California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade which - at the request of an audience member - Meloy referred to as the Decemberists "Most Rockinist" song. Indeed. * That said, Club Soda bouncers were not out on the prowl last night looking for people with cameras. I COULD have taken pictures and would have if I hadn't left my camera at home. The lesson is, as always, I'm too dumb to be allowed out of the house. Pregnant Pause NPR has this live recording at a Decemberists show in May at the 9:30 Club in DC "We thought you was a toad" (Thanks Mike) I know they're just the latest British buzz band, but I kinda like what I've heard of the Arctic Monkeys "After his release from prison, Nelson Mandela thanked Darts for their 1978 single "Boy From New York City", a cassette of which was the only entertainment he was allowed during his incarceration." and several hundred other Interesting Pieces of Music Trivia that is 100% False Japanese labels aren't asking apple to raise its prices, they want a royalty on iPods (Something which we recently banned in Canada, though I still haven't seen my refund. Memo to Steve Jobs: "Gimmie back my $25") via LHB Meanwhile, in the UK, the Government has a pretty solid idea about how to keep a national music culture vital (Hint: It's doesn't involve subsidizing the majors) As Mike said, John Peel was a treasure. Turns out so is his record collection.

Concert Calendar

2005-10-11T21:21:00.000-04:00

Podcast W/out I (PWI Radio) Episode 2 is up and running with tunes from a bunch of the acts (Danko Jones, Death Cab, The Decemberists) visiting the M-T-L this week and a bunch of other acts (Bad Wizard, Hank Ballard and Superchunk) that aren't. Subscribe to the RSS feed here (don't ask me how it works, I simply don't know!) Don't Fret! I'm still trying to include some interviews to the show (if only so y'all don't get bored of me jabberin). Next week's show will, no doubt, include content from Lisa Kekula and the Bellrays who play Sala next Tuesday. Be there or live a life less rock-ed!

Fiddy shot yah!

2005-10-11T16:43:00.000-04:00

Everything I write lately seems to relate to the idea of trying to become fluent in French. I'm obsessed with concepts of "linguistic colour" and "intent." I'm trying desperately - with varying degrees of success - to move beyond the basic requirements of life and on to the meaning, and the nuance; all the while trying to keep the grammatical mangling to a minimum. The learning is, needless to say, kinda hard. There's a so much ground to cover between what we say and what we really mean. So many ways to move from the way we speak to the way we want to be perceived. In fact, I'm blown away that the Great Canadian Novel (tm) hasn't been written around the concept of a tête carré going through the experience of trying to learn to express himself all over again. The process requires more than simple pedagogy, it demands a sea change in the way you think. If you're like me and you haven't been graded in a classroom since the first Clinton administration, it also requires a sincere change in the way you work. So what has any of that got to do with Ottawa's best country band? Bear with me, because I think there's a parallel. Country music is like a language. Unfortunately, in some ways it's like Latin: dead. The base of everything, but truly spoken by almost no one. Just like the Oddessy, tropes like "the killin' song," "the drinkin' song" and the "somebody done somebody wrong song" have morphed into almost everything we know as rock and roll. As such, the concepts have boundless depth, but it's hard to believe that the best blood hasn't already been wrung out. (As Jay Farrar once wrote: "D'yah think Hank woulda done it this way?") This difficulty of trying to make new soup with old bones is compounded when city slickers use rural imagery and sound to try to add grit, meaning or authenticity to their song writing. The lack of veracity inherent in the urban cowboy means much alternative country loses something in the translation. The twang can force you back into debates about sincerity like those I've been having with myself for awhile. So, what's a talented band like the Fiftymen to do when they're faced with their (and everyone else's, for that matter) inherent inability to be better than Hank, or Willie or Johnny or Merle? Comment est-ce q'on dit: "If you can't beat em, join em?" Listen to Try to Hide Listen to Sick of Being Tired (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) The Fiftymen may call themselves an alt-country band, but I think the extra syllable does them some manner of disservice. Balances + Sums is a country record like they USED to make country records. Rather than trying to use the dead language of twang to try and write a post-modern novel, Balances + Sums uses the old language to pen simple oral histories; dark, foreboding and memorable. Balances + Sums is a living testiment to the strength of the old school. It's a retro record in the best sense, resonating with the spirit of a band that recognises its strengths and doesn't try to make excuses for its weaknesses. Try to Hide allows vocalist J.J. Hardill to channel the spirit of Howlin Wolf. Sick of Being Tired presents a dance hall reel that Bill Monroe would have been proud to teach Lester Flatt along with the occasional wry lyric ("This union," Hardill's narrator says of his marriage "sure makes you pay your dues") and the hidden track (a cover of an old Recoilers song recorded in a living room around a single mic) manages to turn indie rock into a camp fire singalong. Country, in short, aint dead. It's just that there are only a few young people left who speak the language. If you want to learn, gather up close. The Fiftymen are giving lessons. You can get a copy of Balances and Sums at the Fiftymen's CD Release Party at Barrymore's on Friday. If you're not in Ottawa contact the band by e-mail. Pregnant Pause Ok, I've been a little behind so you've probably read all of these: For the love of God, no. Next time you start beating up on yourself for making a mistake, take the time to repeat after me "Glad I'm not THAT guy." (Via ESPN.com) Podcast number two is on its way later this week. If you're interested, you can sign up for the RSS feed here.

Haiku Too

2005-10-03T20:57:00.000-04:00

OK, not sure if this Haiku thing has worn out its welcome, or if anyone actually wants to see the one (crappy) photo I was able to take before the bouncers threatened to take my camera (Boo Club Soda!) but here it is, the last installment in PWI's Pop Montreal Concert Review Haiku Kings of Leon Are there prettier rock stars? Nope. Glad the set was as tight as the pants "Is that Leo Dicaprio?" Naw, just (a really grainy) Caleb Followhill (left) and his Brother Jared Pregnant Pause Looking for a great date flick? How about Shining? (via Boing Boing) Looks like Canada's not the only country dealing with copyright laws written by the record industry. Check out this info from Finland. (via Boing)

Haiku Two

2005-10-02T11:28:00.000-04:00

Didn't get to see the Zoobombs, I'm reviewing The Winks after hearing only one song (got there late), and the digicam is back with it's owner but it is still time for... PopMontreal Concert Review Haiku, Volume 2 The Winks Sincere, confusing art school project. The drummer used two wooden spoons. Listen to Snakes Buy Slippers and Parasol from Scratch Photo from http://www.thewinks.net/pictures.html Tokyo Police Club The keyboard was marked in pen. Major: C-E-G. Wide-eyed pop= Goosebumps! Listen to Cheer It On TPC don't have a record. Contact them and they might sell you a copy of their demo. Ted Leo + Pharmacists Ted' s having trouble connecting, making us laugh Yet, the walls still throb Get a copy of Tell Balgeary Balgury is Dead Photo from www.tedleo.com

It's ALIIIIIVE!

2005-10-01T20:19:00.000-04:00

Check out the premiere of Podcast Without Intercourse here. RSS feed to come. Ted Leo (and maybe even Zoobombs and Tokyo Police Club) Haiku tomorrow.

Haiku You

2005-09-30T03:06:00.000-04:00

Pop Montreal Concert Review Haiku "At the count of five you will think I'm Chris Martin..." Dave Martel of Only Forward Only Forward Sadly, everything sounds like Coldplay now, except brash guitar solos. More balls than Only Forward, but still not too thrilling Cory Cyr (left) and Pete Frolander of Cyr Cyr So, Cyr is Pembroke's best? Perhaps Lumber King town needs more guitar shops Bandita Liz McDermott and her special-order, riotgrrl-only Marsha Stack Banditas Liz is still toughest rock chick in our Capital. Grumpy, gruff. So good.

F**k a duck

2005-09-27T21:11:00.000-04:00

Pregnant Pause Mayhem Bass Player Necro Butcher to Bergen concert goers: "I promise not to throw animal heads into the audience." Gene Simmons (passim.) on elementary school teachers: "They don't teach cool, I do." (via Stereogum) Bronfman to Apple: "If people using iTunes are only going to buy the songs they want - rather than paying for all the filler we've been force-feeding them - Apple better charge more." (See also, EFF to Bronfman: "You're a hypocrite") Chuck Klosterman to Bill Simmons: The only major problems with Pearl Jam's Vitalogy were that "(a) it had an oversized, environmentally -conscious jewel case, which makes it impossible to file, and (b) that it was titled 'Vitalogy,' which sounds like the name of a riboflavin supplement." Website to readers: "Please do not fuck the waterfowl." (vi(v)a ( le) Boing)

Hockey season...finally!

2005-09-26T22:07:00.000-04:00

Hey y'all, sorry for the delay. I've been meaning to tell you all about some interesting developments in the land shared by hockey and French Canadian rock n' roll ...unfortunately a 24 hour flu, my French classes, the ole job thing (such as it is) and the setup of a brand spankin' new PWI Podcast (coming soon to an RSS reader near you!) have set me a little bit behind on the ole writin' duties. No worries, dear reader, for I've boiled down all that is essential in French-Canadian puck rock to three simple words: Les Dales Hawerchuk! Yup, the essential, (eternal?) Winnipeg Jet has been paid the ultimate tribute (final indignity?) of having an irreverent, alcohol-fueled Saguenay four-piece named after him. Watch the video for Dale Hawerchuk (wmv) Les Dales are great - they fit into my preconceived notions of what makes for fun French rock n' roll (ie, they're loud and fast) and do so without ever using an accordion or washboard - but they're not the only Montreal-based, francophone rock act to have named themselves after a former Buffalo Sabre.* Nope, they have to share the stage with comic book robo-rockers Mogilny. Watch the video for Technotronique Pregnant Pause While we're discussing bands that've named themselves after hockey players...Were you aware that there's a St. Catherines metal act that has a name suspiciously similar to an old Ottawa Senators backup goalkeeper? In the "news you can actually use" department, it turns out that Kelp is no longer having a multi-band showcase at PopMontreal. Don't despair, fans of Fat City rock n' roll, Banditas are playing Le Swimming Friday night. Turns out Chuck Norris recently had the idea to sell his urine as a canned beverage. We know this beverage as Red Bull. This and nine other little known facts about the star of The Octagon.

Guts Are More Important Than Skill

2005-09-21T22:08:00.000-04:00

No music tonight, my brain is too full of French intransitive verbs. They're sharp and they make my head hurt. Pregnant Pause If my idle questions about the current state of metal got you thinking and if you're a do it yourself kind of gal or guy and if you just can't be satisfied with a copy of the (surely brilliant) Chainsaw Ass Massacre, then perhaps you might be able to use this do it yourself guide to becoming a black metal lord... (vi(v)a le boing) Ever wonder what would happen if Keith Primeau were a World War I trench sergeant? (Be sure you read all five or you'll miss Danny Markov's encounter with the popularizer of the steam engine...seriously) As funny as Chris Therrien as Frankenstein is (and it's pretty funny) I think this may be even funnier. (Via ESPN.com) Carl found this very interesting video for Final Fantasy's This is the Dream of Win and Regine. Unfortunately, the video uses a mix of the song I hadn't heard before (it's layered with plenty of what I'd consider unnecessary drum tracks).

Never the Douanes Shall Meet

2005-09-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

Artists, and others, visiting this great country have always run into problems with my buddies at Douanes Canada. So many problems, in fact, that some of us have personified the agency. You know, given him a name. I like to call him Dwayne. Unfortunately, Dwayne and the Zoobombs had some manner of falling out that put a stop to the show scheduled for Foufounes last night. Sad, yes, but fear not, I have a replacement Tokyo-type sensation. May I humbly present to you the fabulous Tokyo Police Club. Listen to Nature of the Experiment by Tokyo Police Club Beyond his/their name Tokyo Police Club is/are an absolute mystery to me. As far as I can tell he/they is/are from Newmarket, Ontario (home of Glass Tiger) and he/they is/are opening for Pony Up at L'Escogriffe on October 1. No telling if he's/they're actually Japanese. Not that it matters. Check him/them out at a venue near you. Pregnant Pause Tokyo Police Club come to me via the very interesting Pop Montreal podcast (now in it's third episode here). The casts are a great way to figure out which of the smaller bands attending the festival might be worth your dollars and time.

Drop the frickin' bomb!

2005-09-18T17:42:00.000-04:00

If you're not as energetic as you were at the age of 19, raise your hand. OK, that makes two of us. In fact, I'm looking at my brand spanking new PWI concert listing with equal measures of anticipation (would you just LOOK at all the great shows coming to town in the two months or so!) and fear (would you just look at the amount of SLEEP DEBT I'm going to be dealing with by the end of October). Those of you who reading in the Montreal area who like their Japanese blues-punk with a side order of funk (that'd be, what, five of you?) are in for a T-R-E-A-T tonight. Yup, Tokyo's masters of mayhem, The Zoobombs, are at Foufounes for the first of two shows in the next couple of weeks (the second is a Pop Montreal headlining slot October 1) . Though I haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing Zoobombs, I'm convinced this is going to be special. Why, you may ask? Well: 1) The Bombs 2001 live album (Bomb You - Live recorded at the El Mocombo in Toronto) shows a band that knows the impact of sloppy, rhythm-heavy power. Listen to Mo'Funky (live) (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) 2) Their 1999 album Let It Bomb includes a cover of Spinal Tap's Gimmie Some money. 3) See also #2, above. Pictures and a review tomorrow. Pregnant Pause Sign number 2861 that Montreal's economy has recovered just a titch too much...even this guy's found a new gig. Much respect to my hero John Darnielle but PWI saw em first. (As an aside, just when I thought my level of respect for Darnielle couldn't get any higher he starts showing love to the Ottawa Senators.) Have you ever wondered what happened to heavy metal? In high school, bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were considered really heavy, evil and scary. Today, I listen to a track like Number of the Beast and - though it's great - it certainly doesn't seem heavier than current radio-friendly pop-rock. The lines have moved. The concept of heavy has definately gotten, well heavier. So, where's a guy to go today for really scary, heavy and evil music? How about Swizerland for a dose of Chainsaw Ass Massacre? (via best week ever) It turns out black people aren't the only people that W doesn't care about. (Listen closely to the beginning of Rock's speil) NPR is streaming Neil Young's new album Prairie Wind along with an interview of the man himself. Watch your back, Dr. Phil. It looks like Mr. T has parlayed a career of fool-pittying into a position as a tv advice columnist. Note to guests: Go easy on the jibber-jabber. In Montreal fine-arts news, Colonel Moammar Qadhafi's son isn't much of a painter.

Blue(s) State

2005-09-16T09:02:00.000-04:00

The trip to Washington was valuable for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was a number of lucky finds in the used record racks of a number of The District's finer music establishments. In one well-appointed joint on the 18th Street Strip in Adams Morgan I managed to pick up two classics of the rhythm and the blues. One by some Hopkins guy (no not that one) and another by the remarkable, lightning in a bottle, rock supergroup moment that was the Hindu Love Gods. The story goes that the Hindu Love Gods' self-titled LP was recorded in one drunken session after a BBQ. The Gods were Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Bill Berry of R.E.M. and the late, great Warren Zevon. The album, in the words of Zevon, "took as long to record as it does to listen to." The results are a sloppy and drunken tribute to the power of spontaneity; full of and with a blazing version of Prince's Raspberry Beret thrown in for good measure (check out the crack of that snare drum). Listen to Raspberry Beret by The Hindu Love Gods (If it weren't out of print I'd tell you to Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Pregnant Pause You are the Eggman, I am the briefcase (via Kyle) Last night I dreamed that somebody commercialized another one of my memories. (via bedroom dancing)

Raise your hand if you're incompetent

2005-09-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

Who knew damage control had so many entrendres? For example, President Bush is dropping his plan for the rebuilding of the flood damaged parts of the Gulf Coast tonight at 9. Initial reports had the speech taking place in New Orleans, though it seems there is some debate about that now. Anyway, back to my continued attempts to stay to a non-political approach. Here's some more music. Listen to George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People by The Legendary KO. (thanks Arn)

"I've seen the future brother..."

2005-09-14T20:35:00.000-04:00

Brief thoughts after four days in the District: - Is it just me, or have the Washington Nationals performed a complete, and completely effective, Stalinist re-write of baseball history? No one in the city wants to talk about the Expos. There are no tricolor beanies available at RFK or anywhere else in the city. Nos Amours have been disappeared, it seems. Too bad. - If D.C. had had the kind of effect on music history that it has had on regular history would Minor Threat have been as well known as the Ramones or the Sex Pistols? Would Bad Brains have been bigger than Nirvana? - If you have the time, and if you're really interested in reading the whole of what happened at the very interesting Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit I attended, you really have to check out what Glenn (a really nice guy, btw) has written over at Coolfer. Not sure how he fueled that multi-thousand word blogathon, but I have to tip my hat to his exhaustive coverage. If you've read all of what he had to say and are STILL interested in more, the FMC is reportedly making all the panel discussions available as podcasts. Watch this space for more details. - My "coverage" of the conference was limited by beer and my underpowered (and completely unwireless) Lappy 486 (note to self, time for a new laptop). Some things I did take note of, though: - In case you weren't 100 per cent sure, my experience at this panel confirms one thing: The RIAA and the CEA really REALLY don't like each other very much. - Singer/songwriter/producer Joe Henry on working with Starbucks/Hear Music: "Your CD can either be up at the front beside the espresso machine or at the back with the Dave Matthews records and the coffee grinders...No one wants to be by the coffee grinders." - Charles Bissell of the Wrens used the time between panels to sing a few numbers including a very moving version of Sinead O'Conner's Black Boys on Mopeds. It's a tune written about Margaret Thatcher's England, but I was struck by how much it has to say about Louisiana in 2005: Young mother down at Smithfeild 5am, looking for food for her kids In her arms she holds three cold babies And the first word that they learned is "Please" These are dangerous days To say what you mean is to dig your own grave Remember what I told you If you were of the world, they would love you - Chris Amenita of ASCAP on why there's a history of artists being screwed by labels: "Sure business isn't fair, that's why they call it business." Uhhh, thanks. - Michael Geist v. Graham Henderson on the subject of Statutory Damages for copyright infringement (two quickies: One, I know it's kinda wonky and I'm sorry and two: full disclosure, I do public relations work for the Geist established Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic): Geist: These tariffs should be revisited. They were set with an eye to discouraging large-scale, commercial piracy, not downloading by individuals. Henderson: Wait, what's wrong with Statutory Damages? Geist: They were set at high levels to stop large scale commercial piracy and are now being used to intimidate individuals. That's wrong. Henderson: No, we need those. They're very effective at scaring the pants off private casual copiers. Geist, surprisingly, didn't thank Henderson for making his point for him.

Cross my heart

2005-09-08T16:23:00.000-04:00

OK, so I haven't been posting super-frequently and I've received enough complaints and concerns about my health in the last couple of days (not to mention the one or two "If you're not running your business in Ottawa full-time, and you're not working full-time in Montreal, why the hell AREN'T you posting seven times a week" e-mails) that I have to resolve to do SOMETHING. So, here goes. I'm gonna try like hell to get three posts a week in front of you all for the next eight weeks. This will be hard because: A) I'm lazy (it's true, ask anyone); B) I've been a little short of music to write about because I haven't been record shopping in several weeks (which is inexcusable, really); and, C) I'm headed to Washington D.C. tomorrow afternoon which will reduce - if not completely eliminate - my Net access until the middle of next week. (Then again, I'd love to figure out a way to liveblog THIS little bunfight) So, anyway, all of this leads me to talking about David Cross who ~~has directed~~ stars in* the very fun and exciting new video for A.C., Dan (oh yeah, and Neko)'s New Pornographers. Now**, I wouldn't normally mention The New Pornos, mostly because they already have gazillions and gazillions of fans and I'm not - strictly speaking - one of them. I don't dislike the band (the music is perfectly fun, catchy and good) it's just that I've seen Neko Case live at least twice solo and once with the band and every time she's seemed like kind of a dick. At The New Pornographers gig (they were touring behind their first record, Mass Romantic, with the excellent - and deceased - Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire) Neko went on at length (unprovoked as far as I could tell) asking someone (a bandmate, a member of the audience?) if they wanted to see her "Tight wet pussy." Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude, and had it actually been funny or sexy; had her tangent been in response to provocation (e.g. Moronic Fratboy: "Yo Neko! Show us your tits" Smart-mouthed Neko: "Why, wouldn't you rather see my tight wet pussy?") or the punchline to a joke (e.g. "So the rabbi says: 'Do you wanna see my...'") I could get behind it. However, as far as I could tell, Neko's between-song patter that night consisted of a half- hearted attempt to show that she had as foul a mouth as Flea***. Booooring! Anyway, I need the preamble to explain that, despite myself and all my biases, the video for Use It may well make me buy the new New Pornographers' record. The NPs not only have the good sense to include Vancouver's most beloved rock n roll oddball but they also throw a number of Vancouver Millionaires tee shirts in clip. Damn you ~~Cross~~ multi-talented New Pornographers keyboardist Blaine Thurier! You and your insidiously effective marketing! You're reeling me in! (Or maybe I just have a soft spot for the Famous People Players.) * Attentive reader, and NP's keyboardist Blaine Thurier, points out that I've got my facts wrong. David Cross did give up his only day off in Vancouver to take part in the video, but he didn't direct it. In fact, Blaine did! Sorry, Blaine! ** Warning: Multiple subordinate clause and ranting, rambling paragraph(s) alert. *** Who, the only time I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers, said goodnight by reminding us "I have a gigantic cock..." Hooray! Pregnant Pause Need another Narduwar vs. David Cross mashup? Stream The Human Serviette's radio interview with Cross here. Over at coolfer, Glenn has an interesting look at the questions of nationality regarding Antony and the Johnsons' Mercury Prize Win. Some of the debate is similar to our panel discussions this spring during The Other 50. My worst fears have come true, Everything Sounds like Coldplay Now (Via LHB) Black Eyed Peas? Come to think of it, given their aggressive form of mediocrity this might be a more accurate name for them... How do you cope with the stress of war, flood, and famine? Well, how about a big bowl of Smaller GovernMINT Speaking of the famine part...I'm not a great fan of their music, but Les Cowboys Fringant are doing a great thing holding a benefit September 20th for the millions currently starving in Niger (a tragedy that should be filed under "just because it's not on CNN doesn't mean it's not important"). Unlike many benefit shows, every cent of the gate is reportedly (subscription required) going to famine relief.

R.L. R.I.P.

2005-09-05T21:59:00.000-04:00

In some ways, bluesman R.L. Burnside was more a character in some southern gothic novel than a living, breathing human being. Born in Harmontown Mississippi in 1926, Burnside drank hard, fathered 11 children, participated in welfare fraud and spent time (though not much) in jail for murder. The story goes that Burnside was released from his murder sentence after a plantation owner convinced a judge that Burnside's help was urgently required in the cotton fields. Burnside served three months and didn't seem particularly remorseful about his victim. "I didn't mean to kill nobody," he told the New Yorker in 2002. "I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him and The Lord." RL had his own meeting with The Lord on Thursday. He died in a Memphis hospital at the age of 78. Burnside's life and death have me thinking a fair bit about concepts like "cred" and the importance of an artist's backstory. Musically there's no arguing Burnside's hill country blues are wonderful. These songs use the simplest of tools (a single guitar chord and a voice like a rusty door hinge) to evoke a distinctive time and place. They also roll with such insistent and incessant rhythm; it's nearly impossible to listen without tapping a toe or shaking a rump. It's a sound that millions of people around the world associate with the Deep South. Listen to Miss Maybelle Listen to Shake Em On Down (Go! Buy the Rekkids) And yet I can't help but wonder how MUCH of my interest in Burnside (or at least my initial interest, the interest that caused me and thousands of others to pick up his records in the first place) relies on the way we were first introduced to his music (for me, through his collaborations with the JSBX) and the "credibility" of his story as a bluesman. I wonder if, at first, I was more interested in the backstory sounding real than the music. Confused? No one could blame you. I feel like I'm writing in circles. Let's put it another way: Do you think you can actually hear Burnside's life experience - the poverty, violence and whiskey - in his music? If you can, does it follow that this music could NOT have been made by someone without those experiences? If someone - an actuary in the suburbs, say, or this guy - made a record in 1943 that sounded exactly like RL Burnside (or Robert Johnson, or Big Boy Crudup or Blind Lemon Jefferson) could it have been just as good? If it could, why are we still drawn to stories of bluesmen who did time, jazz players who did heroin and rappers who ran with gangs? In short, are we hung up on authenticity? How much does music being "real" matter? Is the actual music improved by authenticity? Is a lack of it fatal? Is Jay-Z more important a rapper because he used to hussle? Did Loretta Lynn's pipes improve because she grew up not being able to afford shoes? What is cred and how exactly do you earn it? Listen to Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues (Go1 Buy the Rekkids!) Your answer to those questions questions will, I think, go a long way towards dictating your reactions to popular music, if not all art, but they won't change the way I feel about RL Burnside. That man knew how to holler.

She's...so...POP-u-lar"

2005-08-31T23:43:00.000-04:00

Back in the day, I knew a guy. We called em Skitch (don't ask). He was a strange sort, wore a Peter Newman Greek fisherman's cap, had a pet rat named Ghengis and spent a lot of time listening to the Jazz Butcher. What's Skitch got to do with this year's Pop Montreal fest? (Or the proverbial price of tea in China?) not a ton, except for this. See, Skitch loved Peter Gabriel. In fact, the first time I heard Games Without Frontiers was when he played it for me. Funny thing, though, he thought the famous breathy, French background singer's chant (you know the one: "Jeux...sans...FRON-tee-airs") was actually in English. Specifically, he thought the sexy ladies were sing-chanting "She's...so...POP-u-lar." It's not my favourite misheard lyric (ask me some day about my summer camp roommate who'd made up entirely new verses to The Grape's of Wrath's Piece of Mind) but it does come close. Anyway, Pop Montreal is going to be very POP-u-lar this year. Organizers think there'll be an overflow of volunteers. The associated Film Pop film festival and Pop and Politics conferences seem to have interesting lineups and there's a new PucePop indie swap meet to check out over at Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. Just like last year, the schedule of music is full of tough choices. Wednesday night I'll likely be volunteering to work a door somewhere and I'll tell you about Thursday later. As for the rest of the week... If you're not at the Dirtbombs show Friday you're going to regret it...maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day soon and for the rest of your life...seriously. Saturday is Ted Leo and the Rx-er-cists and Sunday Exclaim! coverboys Cuff the Duke join Matt Mays in opening for The Kings of Leon. (Your scorecard of shows may, of course, vary). Now on Thursday, everyone's going to be heading out to the interpol show. I know I know I know: "I love them so much!!! They're so cool!!! I want Carlos D to give me herpes!!!" Blah, blah, blah. I'm going to be checking out the Kelp Records showcase at Les Minots and you should too. Get there early, though, 'cause if you show up late, you'll miss Ottawa's rock n' roll answer to Hagrid the Giant (right), Flecton's Michel (Meesh) Jette (uh, y'know, left). Meesh used to play guitar with Ottawa's legendary Werbo. The first Flecton full length (Never Took a Wife) is a solo-ish effort featuring members of Califone and the Grifters. Listen to Truce is Stranger than Fiction (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Truce is Stranger than Fiction is just a fine piece of art. The first time I heard it I got that "damn, how great is it that THIS guy's from Ottawa?" feeling. Then I remembered, I don't LIVE in Ottawa anymore. Look, a real tear. Pregnant Pause Forget Bear vs. Shark and get a ring side seat for "nancy boy" vs. "anti-intellectual" (FWIW, at least Carl's being a grown up...) Speaking of nasty spats, I've just recently started paying close (ok...SOME) attention to the CBC lockout. Turns out some of the folks of CBC Ottawa are keeping a blog, and posting daily podcasts featuring great music (Jim Bryson, Andrew Vincent, The Acorn) from the picket line. And WHAT a picket line. Check out the lovely and talented Ms. Julie Delaney as she tries to shame Robert Rabinovich into making an honest woman out of her. You may not be surprised to hear that Rick Mercer has a blog. What may surprise you is how funny it is. If I had a Word of the Year award, I think I'd give it Chuck D's most recent addition to our language: Dumbassification. (Thanks, Mike)

Voices in the Wilderness

2005-08-29T20:27:00.000-04:00

What do they call that feeling you get when you realize that the thing you knew abstractly is actually, concretely, tangibly, true? Oh yeah, CLARITY! Spent several hours today with the good people of McGill's CKUT radio and was impressed (really impressed) by how hard it must be to actually get a song on the air. There are something like 70,000 records in the CKUT library with dozens (if not hundreds) of records arriving weekly. Even with a large amount of original music programming (and CKUT has tonnes) the chances of an unknown artist having a DJ pull their record down from the boxes and boxes of promo copies have got to be pretty slim. With that in mind, it's not a surprise that commercial radio -- where voicetracking has eliminated much of the on air talent and DJs haven't picked their play lists since the Reagan administration -- has payola. I mean, why would a Clearchannel pick program director pick his or her own songs when s/he can pick a track that's equally appealing to his/her audience and get paid for it? In fact, I'm not really sure I object to the concept of payola on American commercial radio*. I mean, if we accept that the average top forty pop song is a carefully measured, packaged, tested and marketed product (like soap, soup or sasperilla) why don't we allow the corporations to pay for the shelf space? The people who like music will hunt it out where they can find it (on the internet and through independent radio and record stores) and the rest will continue to take what they're handed. It's with that in mind, that I give over just a bit of my small world of airplay to Saxson Shore one of the dozens of records I saw in that library today which may or may not actually get a home on the radio. Listen to April 14 (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) The music is gentle, atmospheric and currently also getting love from Music For Robots (looks like Mark has a copy of the new Saxon Shore full length, The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore). Though, like many post-rockers, they seem to have a levity problem. Check out this piece from the new album's press kit: The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore is...the story of (Saxon Shore's) own hypothetical death complete with a moment of silence to close the album... (it) exhibits the reincarnated, resurrected, resuscitated spirit of the band. Sigh! At least it isn't in recorded in a made-up language. You can buy Saxon Shore's records direct from their web site. * As Carl points out, it's just not the same North of 49. Pregnant Pause David Segal understands EXACTLY why people are drawn to writing about music. Lucky for us, he's written a memoir about it (Thanks, Mike). Did I miss something? Did I go insane on my vacation or did the President of the United States suggest that Intelligent Design get "equal time" in US classrooms? Jeebus! While he's workin on his "bright ideas" list, Dubbyah may want to nominate Pat Robertson for Secretary of State. All you Canadians repeat after me: "There's no place like home. There's no place like home." Then again maybe I've been to hasty on the whole intelligent design thing. With arguments this good, maybe I should just change my take on the subject. I mean, if Gus Frerotte giving himself a concussion by running into a wall isn't proof of a higher power...what is? (Thanks, Arn) People into being critical with their media and understanding the message behind the message (i.e. all you PR and media wonks) will probably be as fascinated with BagnewsNotes as I am. (Thanks again, Mike) Oh, and by the way, PWI is now officially a year old. Happy birthday to me/us/it.

Honouring John Peel

2005-08-24T19:29:00.000-04:00

Hey folks: I'm off on vacation, but while I'm away my old buddy Mike Forbes has a few words. See you next week. FC I hope FatCitizen doesn't mind, but I'm going to take him up on an age-old invite to guest edit PWI... I thought this would be something readers would be interested in (and it's far easier to post than my original concept - rock stars that looked like the dude on the tail of Air Alaska planes - I ran out of ideas after Don Ho and maybe Bob Marley). Anyways....you can put me squarely in the gigantic mob of countless folks that John Peel had a tremendous impact on. It's likely the same number were just as surprised when Peel passed away last year. Hatful of Hollow, largely based on Peel Sessions, pretty much never left my walkman or turntable during my early goofy teenage years. And it doesn't seem so long ago (18 years?!? Really?) that I picked up Billy Bragg's the Peel Sessions with it's intriguing version of route 66. So I was delighted when my wife e-mailed me a story from today's Guardian announcing that the BBC plans 'Peel Day' tribute to late DJ . As FC's invite didn't include password's for his ftp client, you'll have to settle for a sample of the Undertone's Teenage Kicks (apparently Peel's favourite song) which can be heard here . As FC likes to say, "you can buy the rekkids" here. I hope that the day of gigs planned for October 13 stretches across the Atlantic, it would only be fitting giving the reach of Peel's influence.

Hinterland, that's who

2005-08-18T11:08:00.000-04:00

I'm a big dummy for a number of reasons; ask anybody. One of the most recent examples of my dummy-ness is my snoozing (and losing) on tickets to the September 16 Sigur Ros show. Yup, those crazy, pretentious Icelanders that I love so much are sold out both here and in Ottawa. I'm consoling myself with a number of things. First, even if I HAD bought Sigur Ros tickets I might not have been able to make the show (because I'm going to Washington D.C. that week to do this) . Second, as much as I like what I've heard from the new Sigur Ros record (Scenestars are streaming a copy if you're interested) I've come to the conclusion that I don't need Icelandic post rockers as much when there are such good Canadian ones! That, of course, brings me to the subject of Vancouver's Hinterland. I've actually been meaning to write a little bit about them ever since they nominated themselves for a space in the Great Big Book of Onomatopoeic Band Names. Hinterland, they argued, sounds a lot like the hinterland. Now I grew up in the hinterland, and let me assure you, nothing as spacey and wonderful as Michaela Galloway's gently layered vocal tracks ever came out of the clear cuts near my home town. Listen to Portrait of My Invention (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Nope, this music sounds like those dreams you have when you're floating. Concert News Looks like Ted Leo is headed to Sala October 1. Blue Skies Turn Black have also announced a Death Cab For Cutie show at the Spectrum October 16 (if you're a fan, you better buy your ticket now. I get a feeling there will be radio play in the offing once Plans drops) . November's Blue Skies roster includes The Black Keys on the 17th at La Tulipe (just a few short blocks from Casa di PWI) and the super-mighty Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Sala on the 16. (Something tells me I'm going to be signing the September rent cheque over to the ticket guy). Pregnant Pause Forget the battle of the BBQ I spoke about earlier this week. Kevin's sent me this video which can only be called "Dueling Mullets." Kinky Friedman for Governor of Texas....it can't be THAT hard. Forget The Flying Spaghetti Monster Theory of Evolution, I'm campaigning for Intelligent Falling to be taught in Quebec schools. You can buy Hinterland's very entertaining first album Under the Waterline via Zunior.com. (it won "Best Record by a Vancouver artist" in a 2004 poll by the Georgia Straight)

I hate heart Winnipeg

2005-08-16T10:23:00.000-04:00

Ok, so maybe it's hard to ACTUALLY love Winnipeg. It's next to impossible to be down with their winters, or the Mosquitoes (yes, that is a capital M) or the whole "10,000 miles from anything except Fargo" vibe. That said, the people are boss (much love, Iris) and the music scene continues to impress. My latest fave is Novillero a four-piece who mix tasty chocolate chunks of soul into into their intelligently-written pop peanut butter. Seriously, who DOESN'T love big fat horn lines? Or lyrics that are adult without being faux-world-weary? Listen to The Hypothesist (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) As great as the track is, it's improved even further by the VERY funny video (itunes required) which takes place at an elementary school science fair. (my personal favourite is the construction paper diorama on The Sweet Science...Brilliant!) Novillero's Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives is available from itunes and Vancouver's mighty, mighty Mint Records. Pregnant Pause Speaking of Winnipeg, any idea where I can get this on a tee shirt? A number of authors, including Michael Chabon, Stephen King and David Eggers are auctioning off character names in their upcoming works. Proceeds go to the First Amendment Foundation. Chabon - who had a character in one of his novels have sex with a chaise lounge - has reserved the right to refuse a name if it's "offensive, mischievous, ill-intentioned or inappropriate." I'm not sure how bad your name would have to be to fit into one of those categories... As Keltie points out, I've mixed up John Franzen (an author I really like) and Michael Chabon (one whose written several books I've been unable to finish). In other book news, this piece offers a choice between "a weekend of sex and drugs in Edinburgh" and "talk(ing) about suicide with Nick Hornby" (link via Largehearted Boy)

Liberez-nous des spoon solos

2005-08-10T20:18:00.000-04:00

I've said it before, save some hard-rockin exceptions I'm still having trouble finding francophone music that I dig. I'm writing part of that off to my lack of command of the language (a difficulty I'm already hard at work trying to address), part of it to lack of knowledge of the scene (ditto) and part of it to the idea that much of Quebec pop music seems to equate "good times" with "crazy washboard/spoon breakdowns." Very little in rock, pop and hip-hop, it seems, is safe from morphing into a down-home jig and reel. Take "the Francophone Beastie Boys" Loco Locass. Liberez Nous des Libereaux ("Liberate us from the Liberals" for all you western-Canadians and 'mericans) is an angry and pretty tight three minutes and 40 seconds of humour and separatist politics with a healthy smidge of smart wordplay (Thanks to my good buddy Carl who explained the tough stuff to me over a lyric sheet). "But wait," you say. "The song is nearly four and a half minutes long. If it's tight as hell for three minutes forty, what happens to the last 45 seconds??" Well, why don't you check it out for yourself? Listen to Liberez Nous des Libereaux (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Yup, at the 3:40 point the Locos turn Liberez Nous des Libereaux into an episode of Don Messer's Jubilee. Sigh! Pregnant Pause Ever wonder what would happen if Billy Pilgrim were actually a homicidal space marine? The New Yorker knows. (subtitle "MMMMMmmmmm, them's good Martian") I'm not sure what's wrong with the people who own these pets, but the results sure are funny. (via Defamer) As if I needed another reason to hate the Leafs. OK, I know Brit-Brit covers are kinda tired, but Frank's pick of the week is Richard FREAKIN Thompson doing Ooops, I Did It Again. Wicked? Hell YES! Forget Supersize Me. This guy is a warrior. Oh, and I want his job. (Thanks, Mike)

What comes after les blues

2005-08-08T14:24:00.000-04:00

Pop quiz! What do the following acts have in common: 1) A two-man hip hop group from Pittsburgh who use beats by the Go Go's to rhyme about household cats, colouring contests and the birth of lemonade (invented by Jesus' disciples during the crucifixion...doncha know?) 2) Six rockers using lyrics which define melancholy (if not outright depression) to channel the spirits of Hank Mark I and Crazy Horse? The answer? Not much besides the stage at Sala Rosa last night (oh, and much-justified love for Van Halen). Yes, last night was my heavily-anticipated first opportunity to see Jason Molina and Magnolia Electric Co. Lucky for me, they brought along the surprisingly entertaining Grand Buffet. Despite a nearly complete lack of stage banter, there was a genuine warmth coming from Molina and his five piece backing ensemble. The most pleasant surprise of the evening was the amount of power Magnolia were able to pack into some of the more recent, Neil Young inspired material from the last two full length records (Magnolia Electric Co. and What Comes after the Blues). Listen to The Dark Don't Hide It from Magnolia Electric Co. (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) The full band sound (including a few incidents of concussive, single-note unison attacks) left me closed-eyed, smiling and swaying like a flower-lovin' hippy on more than one occasion. Thank you, gentlemen! As for the opener. Well! You know that wired dude in highschool who made you laugh and feel genuinely uncomfortable at the same time? The one voted "class clown" and "most likely to end up like Ted Kaczynski" Well, the good news is he hasn't hurt anyone. In fact, he's now fronting an underground hip hop act in Pittsburgh. Yes, while Jason Molina was reticent to share much talk with us beyond the occasional "Thank you kindly" Grand Buffet - the self-proclaimed "Kermit and Fozzy of underground Hip Hop" - left all good sense behind as they talked hockey (poorly) politics (embarrassingly) and fast food (surprisingly knowledgably) . Then again, when you're dropping rhymes as absurd as Nate Kulka's History of Lemonade good sense just has to take a back seat to good times. The weekend wasn't ALL about the strange conflict between jokey hiphop and near-retro indie rock. Nope, Saturday night Bell Orchestre (you might know them as The Side Project of a couple of these guys) performed a jazzy, melodic, modern set at Le Local. It was my first time at the industrial space near the Jean Talon Market, but I can say with confidence that Le Local has to go down as one of the hottest clubs ever. Seriously, it must have been 45 degrees in there. Memo to the owners of Le Local: Many people would be willing to pay another 50 cents for their tickets if you used the money to buy fans! All the sweating aside, the show was quite delightful. Openers - Ottawa's lovely and talented Wooden Stars - were a nice reminder of the ole home and Bell Orchestre turn something that could have easily slipped into improved, new-jazz wankery, into emotionally powerful and emotive music that makes you wanna dance. (Listen to Bell Orchestre MP3s here or here) and keep an eye out for their debut full-length on Rough Trade. What's on tonight? Well, Mark Sultan, the man behind Montreal's loudest one-man garage band, the mighty mighty BBQ is the best bet over at Toc Toc (6091 Parc). Until tonight have a taste of BBQ's Outa My Mind. Pregnant Pause I know this is Quebec. I know I've chosen to live in a strange part of the world and I know that the town I used to live in has been holding a Blues Festival for years featuring acts that wouldn't know Robert Johnson if they fell over his tombstone...but can someone please tell me how you can hold a "Blues Festival" and have more performers from Denmark than Chicago? This man claims to have "the most important collection of Mr. T dolls in existence." (I'm not going to object to his claim. Though it does, of course, demand that we ask the question: "Where is the world's SECOND most important collection of Mr. T dolls?") (vi(v)a (le) Boing) I'd be remiss if I didn't briefly mention Jason Molina's desperate need for a little electrolysis...I mean, I don't want to be cruel but that monobrow is pretty hard core.

Hartless Thursday

2005-08-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I promised a picture of former Husker, Grant Hart. As you can see, I've delivered. Now, to be honest, I had every intention of posting a picture that I myself had taken. Unfortunately, dear reader, you are I'm sure fully aware of what they say about the road to hell. Last night that self-same road was paved not only with good intentions but also with vodka tonic (DAMN you Moe and Maryn! All I wanted to do was share the rock with the people...and yet you buried me in the demon liquor!) If anyone DID make the show (and as far as I can tell, not many people did) please tell me about it in the comments. I'd love to hear more about where Grant is than what I already know (i.e. he's off smack. He still hates Bob Mould and they won't ever play together again unless someone else they know gets cancer). As I nurse my hangover, we can chat briefly about music I actually HAVE listened to lately. Leadwillaguthdylasteen revisited I've often wondered how hard it must be for acoustic-slinging singer songwriter types to find a new and true way of expressing themselves. When so much of the ground has already been covered by giants, how do you find your own voice? Justin Rutledge (his friends call him "Derek") stays himself by using a gentle hand in both production and guitar attack. Then he adds evocative lyrics about carnival performers and sculptors that are just a little more melancholy and fantastic than the average folkie. The results are pretty solid. Just listen to The Suffering of Pepe O'Malley (Part III) (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Justin's first record, No Never Alone, is available from Maple Music. Pregnant Pause Many of us have been caught saying "F**k Stephen Harper!" Just make sure you don't put it on a bumper sticker in Alberta or you might get arrested (it's the last item on the page) Did you hear? Michael Jackson is investing in a Swiss soccer club. (vi(v)a (le) boing) If you didn't read Bad News Richard Posner's analysis of the so-called American "Media Divide" in Sunday's NYT, you really ought to. He makes some pretty excellent points.

Not dead yet...

2005-08-03T09:49:00.000-04:00

Just a little slow in unpacking the boxes (and getting the site redesigned and getting the photoshop-capable computer hooked up to the internerd and, and, and...) The redesign is coming! More rock will also come! Is anyone headed to see Grant Hart tonight? If you are, check here for pictures tomorrow. Ciao! Groscitroyen

Vive le Fatcit Libre!

2005-07-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

Where to begin? First, allow me to apologize. Summer months is tough months to stay roped into the computer. There's been much to talk about, though. Second, let me announce that the Fatcitizen is officially leaving Fat City. Yes, after 16 years I'm packing up my game and heading to Montreal for good at the end of July. All the better to be with the girl. What does that mean? Good question. I think Montreal could use a Chromewaves, couldn't it? We shall see if I have the energy for something like that. (Frankly, I don't know if I can put in the work that Frank pulls together every week...dang!) At any rate, by the time the move to Montreal is complete, PWI may have a new name/look. Even if it doesn't, it will at the very least have a more frequent rate of posting, honest. Now that I've made the promises, there's more bad news... I'm about to head into another hardcore posting lull. Tomorrow begins a two week vacation break and anyone who knows where to get a good taco in Seattle is more than welcome to drop me a line. Ciao for now. See you in a few weeks.

Decisions Decisions

2005-06-25T11:49:00.000-04:00

John K Sampson is playing solo at the Black Sheep tonight opening for Christine Fellows. Meanwhile, over at Irene's, the Banditas are going to be bringing the serious Rock and Roll. Advantage, Banditas, if only because it will make an easier drunken stumble home after the house party I'm also attending tonight. Whew! Sorry to have spent so little time with you all this week. Between the NBA Finals (yes, admittedly, I'm a sports geek) and the rapidly changing personal/professional life (more on that later), it's been a little difficult to find the time and inspiration. That said, I'm back, and at least as good as ever (and Blogger has taught me how to set photos on the left margin without learning any more HTML, which is solid). I'll get to some music later (hint: Robbie Fulks' new record kicks ass, and I have a bone to pick with those people who failed to tell be about Justin Rutledge sooner...Seriously! Where WERE you guys). In the interim, I'll hit you with another.... Pregnant Pause Here's a sports geek/music geek mashup. (Scroll Down to "Knowledge Archive") Did you know that Gil Scott Heron's dad was a professional soccer player? And that he also played for the Canadian Air Force? (Thanks Toon Townie) Forget Intelligent Design, I'm signing the petition to have the Flying Spaghetti Monster Theory of Evolution taught in Kansas schools. (Via Boing Boing) I know I'm late it posting this, but there's a Masters student in England who's surveyed me and a bunch of the neighbours on the evolution of MP3 Bloggin'. The results are somewhat interesting but not surprising. Do you think Tom Cruise is actually a ~~Sith Lord?~~ Dang link's dead! Speaking of Scientology...did you know L-Ron (sounds kinda street if you give it the right inflection, don't it?) was also a rock n' roller...sorta. (via ESPN.com)

Who You Callin' Chicken?

2005-06-20T19:15:00.000-04:00

Rufus Thomas: The funkiest chicken Heard the most amazing track over at The Funky 16 Corners today. Check out the revelation that is The Radars' Finger Lickin' Chicken here. It's funny that The Radars should come to my attention this weekend as I've been listening to my Rufus Thomas albums a lot lately. Listen to Do the Funky Chicken (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Rufus, for those of you who may have missed out, is one of the funkiest mothers ever to come out of Cayce Mississippi. How funky? Well, in addition to the Funky Chicken, Rufus has recorded The Funky Robot, The Funky Mississippi, Get Up Offa That Funk, Funky Way and, Boogie Aint Nuttin' (But Gettin' Down)*. I'm not sure if it's indie rock fatigue but I've been very much on a soul and Rn'B kick lately. You indie kids out there really should visit O'Dub, Lee and the folks at ear fuzz. They'll make your rumps shake for realz. If you must have a little indie rock flavour, just check out Rufus' 1996 tag team with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Listen to Chicken Dog (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Need some more tracks to fill out your "all chicken" mixtape? Did someone say eleven herbs and spices? Southern Culture on the Skids Southern Culture on the Skids' Dirt Track Date is not only a great, if under-rated album (check out the legendary Camel Walk); it's also a great source of (musically) hot and greasy fried chicken goodness. The record includes not just one but two tracks about the dirty bird. Listen to Fried Chicken and Gasoline Listen to 8 Piece Box (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) They rarely tour north of the border, but if you get the chance, I'd highly recommend a SCOTS live experience (It will give you the chance to rock a trucker hat without irony). How many chickens have they stole? The Detroit Cobras Listen to Shout Bama Lama (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Now the chicken in Shout Bama Lama isn't fried, but it IS funky. In the hands of former butcher, former stripper, current Detroit Cobras vocalist Rachel Nagy this Otis Redding track transforms into something different; it's big and tough, but it still manages to sound feminine. The Cobras have kinda fallen off my radar recently but they did release a new album last year for Rough Trade in the UK. (Do YOU feel like paying $30 for the import? Me neither.) When you kill a chicken babe, save me the chicken head Listen to Chicken Head Man (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) As unappealing as The Colonel can be, there's something even more off-putting about T-Model Ford's poultry preference. Then again, when T-Model starts to sing "I love you babe/I'm a chicken head man" you wonder if he's hungry or if the object of his affection is just a little funny lookin'. Chicken Head man is available on T-Model's 200 Full Length She Ain't None of Your'n. Pregnant Pause Every time I try to ignore how much Coldplay bugs me I read something like this. You know how some people just avoid scary movies because they know they will be up at night with bad dreams? I should take a similar vow to avoid stories about religious nut jobs. But. I. Just. CAN'T. The New Yorker has a scary piece on the university being built to forward the political dreams of the home-schooled Christian Right. (To be more accurate, I should say the MEN of the home-schooled Christian Right. The women, it seems, will stay home and take care of the babies.) Boing Boing points us to the Romanian Catholic treatment for scizophreni a. On a lighter note, C Monks, the man responsible for one of the funniest sites I've read this year has a look at the fashion choices of the homophobes at the Westboro Baptist Church (also via the Boing). Just to prove Christians don't have strangle hold on detachment from reality, there's this. * That's just the funk Rufus brings to MYrecord collection! His discography also includes titles like Do The Funky Penguin and Do The Funky Somethin, Funky Hot Girls and the almost self-evident Funkiest Man Alive.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad.

2005-06-19T23:40:00.000-04:00

Say it's big enough for us both in this town Listen to A Father and A Son by Loudon Wainwright III Listen to Father and Son by Cat Stevens (Go! Buy the Rekkids!) My dad, as I've mentioned before, isn't much for the rock n' the roll (or weepy acoustic ballads, for that matter) but I don't know any reels or marches about fatherhood. Happy fathers day, anyway, Pop. On a completely different issue, did anyone catch that roundball game tonight? Finally a quality tilt (even though Tim Duncan seems to be studying at the famous Karl Malone School of Clutch Shooting).

We'll always have Paris

2005-06-19T20:44:00.000-04:00

Gentleman Reg gets his Hilton on Heartbroken over the oncoming cultural cataclysm that is Paris Hiltons' retirement? Fear not, her voice, it seems, is with us still. Just check out this video (NSFW, if you work for these folks) for Gentleman Reg's The Boyfriend Song. (Thanks to Carl for the tip). (You can supposedly buy a copy of Gentlemen Reg's record Darby and Joan from Arts & Crafts. If you can find out WHERE on their website...let me know) Pregnant Pause I promise THIS is the last Coldplay diss I'll post (until the next one) Then again, I didn't promise a ban on more Paris spoofs. (From Defamer)

PWI's gonna be the last blog on the internet to...

2005-06-15T23:23:00.000-04:00

Y'know, like, "not guilty" Pregnant Pause ...mention that if Jacko has friends like these...who needs enemies? ...wonder if the spectacle that is DFA 1979 covering the Bloc Party will result in some sort of hipster vortex that will claim the lives of thousands wearing ironic trucker hats ...worry if The Arcade Fire are going to come up with better tracks than this for their second full-length ...see if I can find two days in August to see the Pixies accoustic AND Richard Thompson at the Newport Folk Fest ...proclaim that saying "Coldplay are over" is, like, so over (even if Coldplay are, like totally over) ...be afraid that now that this is available I'll end up doing either this or this

This weekend wasn't workin'

2005-06-13T23:13:00.000-04:00

Scuze the visual non-sequitur, the heat has damaged my brain Hey y'all. I meant to get the weekend files up on, well, the weekend. However, The Girl's apartment in Montreal is AC free. This means I spent most of the weekend sweating my ARSE off (hard to type when your fingers are dripping). That said, I've got picks for the fun part of the week all settled and a great Pregnant Pause (my sources have been sending me all sorts of link-like goodness). So, let's begin! Friday I know you'd all love to hear Loverboy (if only for those great cowbell whacks that start the track), but I'm going with another "can't wait to get drunk" track from friends of PWI, The Dirtbombs. Listen to Livin For The Weekend (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Having trouble explaining why I'd pick this track so how about a brief radio play? (Ambient sound: A remote control is picked up off a pizza-box covered coffee table. We hear a television clicking on. The sound of aimless channel surfing is interrupted by a knock at the door) Fatcitizen: Hello! Who is it? The Dirtbombs' Livin for the Weekend: It's the rock! Fatcitizen: Rock? The rock? What are you doing at my door? (A muffled snicker is heard) The Dirtbombs Livin for the Weekend: Well, son, I'm here to kick your ASS! Said it before, will say it again: Dirtbombs rule. (Also considered Finally Friday by George Jones and Friday Night from Fame, The Musical*) Saturday Saturday is, unsurprisingly, one of the toughest nights of the week to round down to just one track so I have to rely on: FatcitizenÂs Incontrovertible Laws of Rock. Number 48: When in doubt, count on Tom Waits 1974's The Heart of Saturday Night has not one but two classic "Saturday" tunes and you can't go wrong with either one of them so try: The Heart of Saturday Night The Ghosts of Saturday Night (Also considered: The Saturday Boy by Billy Bragg, Saturday Night at the Movies by The Drifters, Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers**) Sunday And what would the night before be if not for the morning after? If you're not going to go with gospel (and I'd consider it, if I had a decentamountt of it in the ole collection) I think you have to go with Kris Kristofferson's version of Sunday Morning Coming Down. Listen To Sunday Morning Coming Down (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) This track was a hit for Johnny Cash and, of all people, Ray Stevens (yes, he of the "novelty" tracks including Ahab the Arab, Osama Yo Mamma and Spiders and Snakes). Stevens' version is surprisingly straight up though it played up the bass notes a great deal more than did Kristofferson to give it the old "funny hangover" effect. Pregnant Pause All this talk of Mike Reno has me thinking of Project Loverboy Squeegeeboy points out this page of some of the worst music ever recorded (no, it's not Up With People. Yes, it did make me cry...I'm sensitive like that) 50 Schekle, the worlds most kosher MC, has found Jesus? (Go down to the bottom of the page...Thanks Forbes) Gene Simmons brags to children about his sexual prowess. Children are not amused. (Thanks again, Mike) I think Willie Nelson might be back in trouble with the IRS. Don't believe me? How else could you explain this. (thanks S-gum) * OK, not really ** ibid

Thursday, in the afternoon

2005-06-09T17:42:00.000-04:00

Morphine get all blurry on your ass Listen to Thursday by Morphine (Go! Buy the Rekkid!) Every music addict has felt it: The Rush. The feeling you get when you hear something that, to your ears, sounds new. A different and exciting sound; something special you truly want to share with people. One of the most vivid cases of The Rush I've ever felt was upon hearing Morphine's Cure for Pain for the first time. It was a revelation; stripped down, sexy and funky. It turned the ideas of "lead instrument" and "melody" on their head. I wanted to tell EVERYONE about the primordial whump vocalist Mark Sandman could summon from his one-string bass, to try to make them understand how great pop music could be if it trusted the "lead" duties to a Dana Colley's saxophone instead of a guitar. Thursday doesn't feature enough sax to give you the full picture of where Cure for Pain was driving (when you buy the rekkid, check out All Wrong, Buena and Mary Won't You Call My Name) but it fits into this weeks' theme quite nicely! Pregnant Pause "Can you see Wayne Coyne now, out on a fun ship cruise..." (from LHB) No more updates to their world-beating web site, but Radio 3 does now have a Podcast. I wish I could stop reading about crazy creationists. (Vi[v]a le Boing) Before there was 'yac there were 40s. Who knew, however, that malt liquor could be so interesting?

Wednesday's child is full of whoa!

2005-06-08T17:28:00.000-04:00

No, not THAT Wednesday If you looked over the records in my home when I was growing up they wouldn't give any hint of the rock geek I'd one day become. In fact, my parent's taste in tunes was kinda strange. My father liked marches, studded with fat brass, booming drums and, if he was REALLY lucky, bagpipes. My mom was into cheesy seventies pop and, as such, I know every assonance on every Neil Diamond track ever written. Even the banter from Love at the Greek when Neil brings Henry Winkler on stage to perform Song Sung Blue using his "Fonz" voice. When Winkler finishes his - spastic and mercifully short - chorus, Diamond congratulates him with a sincere "Henry Winkleerrrrrrrrr! Thank you, boobie."* Good Times! For better or worse, my earliest musical education consisted of equal parts church choir, CKTK radio and the juke box at the local Dairy Queen. Now the Dairy Queen in Kitimat B.C. was not your average bastion of Hot Eats and Cool Treats. In the Aluminum City, flipping burgers and making Blizzards was a union job and a well-paid one at that. Rumour in our school was that the unionized folks at the DQ made $8/hr for wearing the paper hat and cleaning up after my friends and I wrote things like "Here's your tip" in ketchup on the cracked Formica tables. That jukebox was the source of dozens of childhood memories. My friend David and I once spent the better part of an afternoon enduring the 45 of Michael Jackson's Thriller as the juke spun it over, and over, and over and over again. To this day I'm unsure if it was a technical glitch or some other malicious teenager's idea of a sick joke. The DQ juke was also the source of some warm memories. My mom used to feed it quarters to play pop songs while my brother and I ate our sundaes after lacrosse practice. I remember Spaceship Superstar (ouch) and Seasons in The Sun (double ouch). I also remember Wednesday's cover of J. Frank Wilson And The Cavaliers' Last Kiss. A cover which was also available on my copy of the immortal K-Tel Presents Dynamic Sounds. (Listen to Last Kiss by Wednesday) To my elementary-school ear, that 70s version of Last Kiss was one of the saddest songs ever written. A Sunday school class and a lesson in romantic devotion all rolled up with the (is than an) organ (?) line which now seems directly lifted from ~~Donavan's~~ Del Shannon's Runaway. Today I listen and wonder why it was able to sell hundreds of thousands of copies. Pregnant Pause I love Sigur Ros! Their music is amazing and magical, but I'd advise people going to see them on their upcoming North American tour to make sure they're well caffinated. Last time I saw them, I was coming out of a multi-course, multi-bottle gourmet meal. I nearly fell asleep on the floor of Metropolis. (Link from Chromewaves) M4R has an unreleased Iron and Wine track here. Does anyone else think Jack White sounds like Prince on the new single? While you're at ifilm, check out Lou's live version of Venus in Furs. Someone has put together a list of Minnesota's all time 50 tracks. (Mats? Check! Husker? Check! Morris Day and the Time? Hella-Check!) David Byrne has written a reaction to the New Yorker piece on recording and technology that I linked to earlier this week. * Note: Diamond refers to his guests as "Boobuhla" "Boo-boo-buh" and "boobie" quite frequently throughout this live album. At no time did I ask my parents what he was babbling about. This oversight haunts me still.

Tuesday's Rubies

2005-06-07T18:40:00.000-04:00

Neutral Milk Hotel: ALSO in the Library...sensing a pattern here Listen to ~~Love You On A Tuesday~~ Indie rockers may cringe, but I don't own In The Aeroplane Over the Sea and my copy of On Avery Island has been gathering dust for several months (it sits waiting for my next "It's too quiet in here. I need a record that sounds like a bunch of smarty pants art school grads trying to sound like a traffic jam" mood). That said, I L-O-V-E Love You on a Tuesday. It's melodic, noisy and fast. A Rock n' Roll comic book from a band that's usually spinning off clattering grad theses. (Other songs considered: Voices Carry by Gang Green, Tuesday Morning by the Autumn Defense, Tuesday, October 24th by Clem Snide, Tuesday High by the Nils) Pregnant Pause "Bah-dee-dee, Bah-dee-dee, Bah-dee-dee, Bah-dee-dee-deedle-dee-dee-dee-dee" How many skin-bleachings do you think Jacko can get for the rights to Blackbird? (Thanks Mike) The comment box over at Zoilus is hosting an interesting conversation about the ubiqutious Coldplay diss in Sunday's NYT. Speaking of today's releases, Sasha Frere Jones has a pretty interesting review of the new White Stripes record. It includes no word on whether Jack White's considering a career as a Houngan wedding planner.

Try These for a Week

2005-06-06T16:52:00.000-04:00

Lowest of the Low: Reading is Fundemental I've been long on frustration and very short on inspiration the last week or so. This has, among other things, resulted in a reduced volume of activity here in PWI land. Mia culpa. There's no shortage of things to write about (including a great record from Andy Swan that you need to hear some of) just a shortage of time and stick-toitiveness. You know the drill. In hopes of waking myself up, and getting some more rock n' roll tongues a waggin' I'm going to with another theme mix: Welcome to PWI's Days of the Week y'all. (Listen to ~~Black Monday by Lowest of the Low~~) If regret has a theme song, this is it. Forget the adjectives, (plantive, soulful, heartfelt, blah blah blah) and just listen to Ron Hawkins as he pours his guts out and admits that today, he's just not man enough; that the woman he loves deserves better than the depressed, defeated mess he's become. Black Monday is an early entrant in the "LASH Hall of Fame." Plus, the harmonica solo's pretty boss. Pregnant Pause Pre-order a copy of Gary Benchley's book. Know pho? Noodlepie knows! My man Tom Waits is suing someone again. By now, you'd figure everyone knows not to play with this guy. (Thanks, Mike) "Who killed and ate those people?" Well Iron Mike of course (from espn.com) Black Monday was recorded on 1994's Hallucigenia.

Live 8 in Fat City: What? No Avril?

2005-06-02T16:41:00.000-04:00

Looks like Bob Geldoff's heart is in the right place. His band selection however... (BNL, Jan Arden and OLP) not so hot. Then again, it could be worse, we could live in Philly (Cummon down Bon Jovi!) At any rate, I'm with Aaron, let's bring back the Northern Lights! I'm pretty sure Mark Holmes and Larry Gowan would do it for meal money. Another question, WTF were Eugene Levy and John Candy doing in the original Northern Lights lineup? Was Canada REALLY that short of star power in 1985? Did no one call Zappacosta? (wait, they did? Ok, nevermind)

Quien tiene mas rock?

2005-05-31T20:46:00.000-04:00

~~(Listen to Fighting Girl)~~ Rock and Roll needs more women like Liz McDermott; women who aren't afraid to holler a little bit and kick up a fuss. Don't misunderstand, the Banditas' lead singer isn't impolite. Saturday night, she took the time to remind us how happy she was to be the only woman performer at Kelp's 11th birthday "sausage fest." Then she smirked and with a gruff "One, Two, Three, Four!" released the sonic hounds. McDermott and the two other Banditas - ~~bassist~~ guitar player (sue me, I was drinking!) Scott Terry and stand up (!) drummer Colin Vincent - play rock and roll with chutzpah (you'd call it "balls" at a sausage fest); it's muddy, aggressive and just a little angry. The Bandita's self titled debut will be available at their CD release at Irene's on June ~~22nd~~ 25th or get in contact with Last Drag Records. Pregnant Pause Bite bite bite bite bite...What you never seen a talking chimp before? Just when I hit a wall, running short of new ways to think about old songs, my buddy Mike Forbes sends me this thread which gives me a whole new look at one of my favourite Mats tracks. (Listen to I Will Dare) Just look for Paul Healy's quote about cigarettes and bacon in the middle of the page. Thanks, Mike. Looks like Gary Benchley has a book deal. Also from Mike, this interesting Project where average people (and also journalists) attempt to recreate their favourite album covers. Some of the attempts are successful and some have the models coming off like "waiters at a particularly low-rent transvestite bar." Good read. Also a good read is this piece which asks questions about how recording technology changes the way artists perform. It's something I've been interested in for awhile along with the death of the record. Don't know why I'm still obsessing over this but Newman has a hilarious line re: the lovely and talented Ms. Belinda: "The press label Stronach as the sexiest politician, kinda like saying Delta Burke was the best looking Designing Woman."

Somebody KELP me!

2005-05-27T16:45:00.000-04:00

(Listen to Gary Haché by Andrew Vincent and the Pirates) If one day an asteroid hits Montreal and New York and maybe even L.A. and London and - in the resulting catastrophe - Ottawa becomes "the next Montreal" (which would make it the Next Next Raleigh, or the Next Next Next NEXT Seattle) then Kelp records will be our Constellation/Merge/Sub Pop. It's true! Jon Bartlett - Kelp's founder, and the mastermind behind Greenfield Main and Rhume - is one of Fat City's original DIY'ers and this weekend he's got half the acts on his label getting together to paint the town green-ish. Good stuff. Looking forward to seeing old faves Andrew Vincent and the Pirates (with Rolf Klausener filling in for bass player Bryan Curry) and The Acorn along with new (to me at least) faces Camp Radio, The Flaps and The Banditas tomorrow night at Barrymore's. Pregnant Pause, later.

Happy Birthday Dad

2005-05-24T22:37:00.000-04:00

(Listen to ~~Outfit~~ by The Drive By Truckers) It's been a C-R-A-Z-E-E weekend and I haven't got a lot of time to chat with y'all. I just wanted to get a few things out: - It's my Pa's birthday today. Happy birthday Pa! The song - written by Jason Isbell for his dad - is for you (I'm not sure you'll like it, but I have no pipe music...sorry). - I know I promised a review of Thursday's Bright Eyes show but a combination lack of time (my buddy's wedding festivities this weekend were WAY too much fun...my apologies to anyone for anything insulting I may have said, it was the vodka's fault) and lack of inspiration (despite my repeated attempts to give Conor the benefit of the doubt, Digital Ash keeps striking me as musically muddled and emotionally distant; kinda Radiohead lite. Somehow there's enough data coming through the music for you to tell he's horny/sad/lonely or angry - remember LASH is GOOD - but the arrangements are so needlessly full of STUFF, that you're separated from the emotional impact.) the sound at Metropolis was great, though. Pregnant Pause: - "Daniel Larusso, is gonna fight" (warning: Sound) - Was Darwin wrong?...No.

The OTHER 50 on Here and Now

2005-05-20T15:15:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to Pregnant Without Intercourse (PWI, for short) I'm your host Keith (Fatcitizen) Serry. If you're here this afternoon it's probably because you heard Matt Galloway and I talking about things on CBC's Here and Now. Miss it? Not to worry, I've got you covered! I hope you enjoy your stay. Please feel free to leave a comment. In case you're curious, the best way to read through and listen to The OTHER 50 Tracks is to start at the very beginning. Those of you who like their dessert first may just be interested in reading the final list (Recounted in order of appearance -- we didn't rank any of our choices -- with the selector's name in parenthesis.)

Hockey: Jane Siberry (Mike)
Helpless: Neil Young (Keith)
I Go Blind: 54-40 (Peter)
Nothing at All: Maestro Fresh Wes (Aaron)
Tired of Waking Up Tired: The Diodes (Carol)
A Case of You: Joni Mitchell (Carl)
Have Not Been The Same: Slow (Mike)
Hallelujah ~~(Live)~~: Leonard Cohen (Keith)
Rags and Bones: Nomeansno (Carl)
One Great City!: The Weakerthans (Mike)
Deeper Than Beauty: Sloan (Pete)
Having an Average Weekend: Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (Aaron)
I've Been Everywhere: Hank Snow (Carol)
Illegal Bodies: Simply Saucer (Carl)
Secret Heart: Ron Sexsmith (Aaron)
Daylight: The Nils (Keith)
Static: Terrible Canyons of Static; Chart #3; World Police and Friendly: Godspeed You Black Emperor! (Carol)
Blues For Big Scotia: Oscar Peterson (Mike)
Sudbury Saturday Night: Stompin' Tom Conners (Keith)
Little Girl: Death From Above 1979 (Pete)
New York City: The Demics (Carol)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: Buffy Sainte Marie (Carl)
Blues for Pablo: Gil Evans with Miles Davis (Mike)
Marie: Daniel Lanois (Keith)
Can't You See: The Matt Minglewood Band (Pete)
Put the Blame On Me: Handsome Ned (Carol)
Time to Get a Gun: Fred Eaglesmith (Carl)
Log Driver's Waltz: Kate and Anna McGarrigle (Mike)
Curling: The Dik Van Dykes (Keith)
The Deep End: Swollen Members (Peter)
Theme to Hockey Night in Canada: Dolores Claman (Aaron)
Andy: Mike O'Neill (Carol)
Cool It: Wayne McGhie & The Sounds of Joy (Carl)
Rumours of Glory: Bruce Cockburn (Mike)
Wake Up: The Arcade Fire (Keith)
10lbs: The Super Friendz (Aaron)
Staying in on Weekends: The Grievous Angels (Carol)
Power: Plunderphonics (Carl)
Does your Mama Know About Me?: Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers (Mike)
Satellite: Jim Bryson (Keith)
Bums in the Park: Bob Snider (Peter)
Gaslight: The Ugly Ducklings (Carol)
Body's in Trouble: Mary Margaret O'Hara (Carl)
Proud to be Canadian: Dayglo Abortions (Keith)

Non-Veto Round

Son of a Bitch to the Core: The Headstones (Pete)
Ahead by a Century: Tragically Hip (Keith)
Aria from Bach's Goldberg Variations: Glenn Gould (Mike)
Edmonton: Carolyn Mark (Carol)
Anciens Combattants: Rhume (Aaron)
Gens du Pays: Gilles Vingeault (Carl)

Even if you know the final score, you might want to check things out from day on e. Thanks again for visiting. The F.C.

Quickly Now!

2005-05-19T19:16:00.000-04:00

First, many thanks to those of you who sent messages of condolence about my uncle. They are appreciated. No music tonight. I just got into Montreal for the Bright Eyes show. It's billed as "songs from Digital Ash in a Digital Urn" but here's to hoping Conor drops some Wide Awake stuff for us old guys. (Review tomorrow) What's left is today's "Quick Hits" section. Does anyone mind if from now on I call it Pregnant Pause? Nobody? OK! Pregnant Pause - Jonathan Franzen has an interesting short story on the New Yorker site today. (I'd sure love to see another novel from him as good as The Corrections) - The OTHER 50 Tracks is featured in this week's Georgia Straight and I'm confirmed on tomorrow's edition of Here and Now between 4:15 and 4:30. Stream it here, if you'd like. - Was anyone else spooked to hear The The on a Docker's commercial? - If you're headed out to see Bright Eyes tonight you might want to read this.

Song for Norman

2005-05-18T19:59:00.000-04:00

Something within fishermen tries to make fishing into a world perfect and apart - I don't know what it is or where, because sometimes it is in my arms and sometimes in my throat and sometimes nowhere in particular except somewhere deep. Many of us probably would be better fishermen if we did not spend so much time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect From Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It (Listen to The Mountain Goats ~~Pale Green Things~~) I’d imagine that my uncle Norman MacLean had close to nothing in common with the author who shares his name. Uncle Norman said little and, to my knowledge, wrote even less. He was a willow of a man; gentle, dependable, solid and uncomplicated. His voice, when he used it, was a curious instrument; by turns high-pitched and rumbling. It whispered and roiled like a big ship moving into dock. Then it slid, in bursts of humour; a wrenching metal hull on ancient, wet wood. Norman died Friday at the age of 83. Like the author, my Norman MacLean was a physical man who loved the things his hands and feet and arms and legs and heart and eyes could do when they worked together. He delivered mail for over 30 years; he loved softball and hockey, tennis and badminton. He loved to fish. When Norman said he and my aunt Jean - who was his life for fifty years - were “goin’ down th’Margaree” it was understood that at the end of the day there’d be trout; speckled and shining, peeking out a shallow bath of milk like something precious glinting through the murky soup of a prospector’s pan. To understand the importance of “goin’ down th’Margaree,” you’d have to do more than listen to my uncle. In a sense, you would have to feel the rhythms of the language he used. You’d have to know him, and Cape Breton, well enough to fill in the spaces between the words. For Cape Breton’s English is full of unexplained cues that an outsider might find strange, if he hears them at all. The accent is part of the mystery. It's as constant as the tide, eroding consonants and shrinking and rounding vowels as ceaselessly as salt water smoothes stones and salt air lifts the paint off clapboard houses. But history and world view are there too; nestled in the pauses, burnishing the words, adding weight. “Me’n th’boys used'teh play bahl there,” a 74-year-old Norman once murmured to me from behind the wheel of his old Grand Am. We were passing an empty playing field, quieted by the grey of late October. My aunt shook her head in the front seat as Norman's eyes filled with the twinkle of a reformed hellraiser. They caught mine in the rear view mirror and, without smiling or giving much away, he delivered his punchline: “Dat was b’fore I met your Aunt Jean, now." He allowed himself a chuckle, but not a smile, as he left me to imagine the days of his wreckless youth. “Yeh, b’fore I met Jean." Other stuff! - FunJunkie! has started its annual summer burn CD exchange. It looks like, well, fun. (From LHB) - I'm not particularly partizan...but is anyone in Parliament more transparent than Belinda Stronach? Or, for that matter, more vapid? - The OTHER 50 Tracks tracks will be staying up until THIS Sunday in recognition of the fact that I will be making another appearance on CBC Toronto's Here and Now. Look out for me on Friday between 4 and 5. You can stream it here. - Did any PWI readers in Fat City get to see Plaskett at the Tulip Fest Monday? How was it? - Comic book geek? Check THIS out (but only if you can afford to goof around for several hours)