From the ashes of the dusty basement, repaired with the most emergency of surgeries, it lives, it spins, it woos. Its still a little tinny, lacking a healthy low end that I feel should be there. Maybe I need some sort of preamp. Or a better output than crummy RCAs running into my computer. Either way, it still sounds lovely. I've christened it with the these:
"We are happily moving on after 6 good years. Our lives and our wives have called us in different directions. Thanks to anyone who has come out to a show, had words to say, or bought a cd to help us fill the tank."
I was just starting to love this band. Harsh. Pirate Blues and Errand Rum are below. Two great tracks off the new record.
Captured Tracks is killing it right now. Besides thrusting Woods and Dum Dum Girls from the alleys of New York lo-fi to the lower echelons of national indie rock attention, they're keeping it DIY as you know what with a huge emphasis on vinyl and cassette production and distribution. Its a no brainer that they would team up with Woodsist for a Woodsist/Captured Tracks festival, since Woodsist is the only label doing the same thing better than they are. Who? Woodsist. Ganglians, Woods, Wavves, Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, Blank Dogs...yeah. I get the feeling that the two labels are basically intertwined. Confirm? Deny?
What was the point of this post. OH! The Mayfair Set. Go listen to the Mayfair Set or forever hold your peace. They can be found HERE, and will make your summer better. Also order some de-vinyl from Captured Tracks, and Woodsist. Most of my favourite cover art ATM is coming from Woodsist. Amore.
Part 1 in our ongoing search for signs of life in Saskatoon.
Art, life, culture, food, character, espresso, local colour and love. This town aint so bad.
Proof. The new Souleio Foods on 3rd Ave S. Birthed by the pwners of (arguably) Saskatoon's best restaurant, Calories (once named one of Canada's 100 best).
Yet to eat here, but hear the food is delizzle. Fresh atmosphere, small local organic market, really good espresso w nice crema (see below), and a possible huge shot of culture botox to what could easily become a decrepit block of downtown.
"Knock knock/who's there/the party album of summer '09/oh okay come on in then/sure thanks can you take my coat?/for sure make yourself at home/word" @ 5:02 AM
Image is nothing, except everything. Obey your thirst. And your passion. PASSION PIT! My new jam uh-tha summa "Secret Things" lies directly below your eyes under this trendy azz faux-to Seriously though, this ess is effing dope. Get all up ons yesternow btchz.
I was delayed in writing about the Polaris Shortlist announcement, primarily because of its unsurprising nature. Except of course for the snubbing of Women and the inclusion of Elliot Brood. Heresy. I remember being hella undawhelmed by Elliot Brood when they opened for Wilco in Edmonton. Someone said "yeah, but who else in Canada would be better at it?" Good point I guess, if you've never heard Blue Rodeo, Sarah Harmer, Great Lake Swimmers, Joel Plaskett, the Acorn, Luke Doucet, the Deep Dark Woods, Two Hours Traffic, Kathleen Edwards, the Weakerthans, Patrick Watson, Andy Shauf, Hey Rosetta, the Besnard Lakes, Julie Doiron, Sloan, Cuff the Duke, Sam Roberts, Arkells, the Tragically Hip, Wintersleep, Hayden, Jason Collett, the Meligrove Band, Ohbijou, Attack In Black, Corb Lund, the Stills, Paper Moon, Malajube, Stars.....sigh....and so on.
Metric did step up on Fantasies, but by no means deserves this. Their victory would be anti climatic to say the least. Hey Rosetta are growing on me like fungus, but are a little green to take it just yet. Realistically its down to Chad Vangaalen and Joel Plaskett. Soft Airplane is a brilliant record, but if you scroll down even at all you'll see which way I lean.
Also Patrick Watson totally deserves it again. Wooden Arms is incredible. But I don't want to live in a country where he wins two in three years (one of which edged out Neon fuggin' Bible), whilst Plaskett, arguably the country's best songwriter, misses out again. Anything else, despite its quality, would be a pretty big upset.
It doesn't seem to take a lot to become a Canadian indie buzz band. If you make a beautiful, unassuming retro pop record and hang out with Chad VanGaalen. Referred to as "sunny Beach Boys pop dragged into a dark alley and gleefully mutilated", as well as "the hardest band to Google", Women cap off a great year by quietly thrashing their way onto the Polaris longlist. A likely shortlister, and possible dark horse winner, but probably not.
A bottomless pool of prolific East coast folk-rock alt-country talent. Able to win over 40 awards this decade, sell out clubs around the country, and still remain under the greater public radar. His new three disc record (!) "Three" is cohesive and ambitious and effortless. One of indie rock's best lyricists. A definite Polaris shortlister, and possible winner.
