..."And They All Died in a Car Crash"

It's been quite some time since I've been able to update this but I have been busy lately; and by busy, I mean busy being entertained. Since I last wrote on here, I have seen Conan O'Brien, Band of Skulls, Stars, David Gray and Eddie Izzard. I don't want to bore anyone to death but I'll give a brief overview of each show starting with Conan.

What can I say about the guy? He's a class act. Funny show, shitty venue...that is all.

Band of Skulls was a show that I had been looking forward to for quite a while. There was quite the turnout for their show, but I still feel like they're an extremely underrated band that a lot of people still don't know. The show that night cemented my opinion of them as they displayed great showmanship and musicianship. This is something you rarely see these days with new young bands. Please support them if they're in your town, you won't be disappointed.

Stars was in town last week to promote their upcoming release The Five Ghosts. The first half of their set consisted only of the new songs and they all sounded great. I'm looking forward to the June 22nd release and hope that they come back sooner rather than later. I don't know what it is about Stars that makes them so special to me, but when I think of the songs that stand out the most in my mind, I think of storytelling. Most of their songs tell stories that I can relate to. When I think of the lyrics used in their songs, I can re-live moments of my life that happened in a distant past. Stars have always evoked nostalgia in my heart and that to me makes them dear to my heart.

Another artist that tugs at my nostalgia heart-strings is David Gray. My life as an adult has always included David Gray in one form or another. From the moment in 1996 when I saw him open for Radiohead I've followed his career. However, I had a falling out with him a few years later due to the end of a long relationship in my life and subsequently, I forgot about his music out of association. To my delight, I rediscovered David Gray four years ago when he headlined the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. As I sat outside on this hill watching David Gray perform, I felt a rush of emotions come back to me and remembered the happiness that his music brought me. Fast forward to 2010, David Gray is still in fine form and sounds even more sophisticated than ever. The new songs translate very well live and his old songs have new meaning to me. That night, I left the show feeling quite elated and for that, I thank you David.

Finally, last night I saw a comedian that I have been dying to see for quite some time. Since watching Cake or Death at my neighbour's house many years ago, I've always admired the comedy stylings of Eddie Izzard. His brand of comedy isn't like most comedians out there. Eddie is an intelligent and witty comedian much like Monty Python. His sketches always include something insightful about the human condition and makes you see life in a different angle. It's hard to explain, so I hope the DVD of this tour comes out so you can see what I mean. I laughed so hard last night that I could barely go on my run this morning because I was so sore.

My point in giving you a brief review of these shows actually tie into something that a co-worker and dear friend said to me the other day: "There are few things in life more life altering than discovering a song that stays with you for the rest of your life". This statement really hits home to me in relation to how entertainment can impact your life on an emotional level. Lately, these moments have become rare for me, but if I think hard enough, I might be pleasantly surprised with what I find.

Myself with Band of Skulls...Pretty fucking cool if you ask me.

In the Sun

It's been a few days since I've updated anything because it's been so busy around here. New tours are flooding in (Lady Gaga being one of them) and they're sucking the life out of me. However, a couple of things have remained constant these last few weeks: my love for She & Him Volume Two and Zooey Deschanel (Don't get me wrong; Lindsay is ace, but she knows at the end of the day that Zooey is my ultimate dream-girl haha). Since its release date of March 17, She & Him's sophomore release entitled (wait for it...) Volume Two has been in heavy rotation at our house. I would not be exaggerating if I told you that I have played this record at least twice a day since March 17, in fact I’m listening to it as I type this.

So you’re probably wondering what it is about this record that I love so much. Let’s rewind and talk briefly about 2008’s Volume One. There was something very fresh and fun about this record. When I listen to it, I hear elements of Motown and the Beach Boys with a twist of Patsy Cline. The lyrics are fun yet extremely revealing; for example, the opening song Sentimental Heart begins with the lyric “Cried all night until there was nothing more. What use am I as a heap on the floor? Human Devotion but it’s just no good, taking it hard just like you know I would”. To top that off, Zooey then proceeds with these fantastic harmonies that even Brian Wilson would be jealous of.

Lyrics aside, the music itself is absolutely top notch. M. Ward (album producer and musical director) is an absolute genius because he’s able to capture the warm colourful moods of these songs and blend them to Zooey’s lyrics and voice. On a side-note, after listening to this record, I started looking at the guitar in a different way and approaching it with the "less is more" mantra. I have been playing less and less with a pick and playing on subtleties rather than the obvious (I digress). Ultimately, Volume One takes the listener on a wild ride of country ballads, folk movers and pop jumpers. Usually I am not a big fan of albums that lack focus but there’s something about M. Ward’s production value and Zooey’s quirky voice that makes me fall in love with Volume One every time I listen to it.

Fast forward to Volume Two. There’s a reason why that old saying “the sophomore jinx” exists and unfortunately most bands succumb to this cliché. Fortunately, She & Him have been able to release something that (in my mind) eclipses their debut. Volume Two has more focus, better production, music, lyrics and songs in general. As cheesy as it sounds, Matt and Zooey have grown as a music duo and it shows.

Not unlike Volume One, Volume Two’s opening track Thieves is another heart-on-my-sleeve song that evokes strong feelings of vulnerability. This is the raw beauty behind She & Him and is most prominent in Volume Two. All of the songs on their latest release have so much to offer and are not veiled in pretention but simply exist as an open book. It’s a rarity these days for artists to write such intimate records that just make you LISTEN and here are a few reasons why this is so. Songs like In the Sun explain relationships in such a simple manner, yet it makes me want to dance. Don’t Look Back has an amazing feel with equally amazing harmonies. Ridin’ in My Car has a young Lennon-McCartney vibe to it with some vocals by M.Ward. With its complex harmonies and in depth lyrics, Lingering Still is Zooey’s most dynamic song. There’s a sense of longing that I get in this song on top of the fact that our protagonist is misunderstood but doing her best to become accepted. Me and You leaves you with a wonderful message that needs to be universally adopted - “You got to be kind to yourself”. Gonna Get Along Without You Now will have you humming along in no time as it’s arguably the catchiest tune on Volume Two.

I could go on and tell you more tidbits for the remaining songs, but I wouldn’t do Volume Two any justice. I suggest that you get the album yourself but will leave you with this: everything about this record is honest and genuine. This is an extremely rare trait in popular music today but She & Him make me optimistic that a change is on the horizon. There’s a real “sleeper” quality behind She & Him. On the outside, they may look and sound like a fun band, but listen closely and you’ll see that they are extremely dynamic and much more than they lead on to be.


Zooey Deschanel - Pretty much the coolest gal alive. Ben Gibbard, you're one lucky son of a bitch.

Sing for Absolution

I have mixed emotions about the MUSE show at Rexall on Monday. Don't get me wrong, the show was absolutely amazing and to this day, the best rock show I have ever seen. However, I couldn't help but think about the little band I saw 6 years ago while I was in University during a time in my life where I felt invincible (no pun intended) and on top of my musical game.

What I saw 6 years ago at the Edmonton Event Centre was this young band that I had been following for maybe a year or two prior on the cusp of breaking North America. Listening to MUSE was one thing, but seeing them perform live was just mind-blowing. I can't even begin to explain the performance but from that night on, MUSE became one of my favourite bands. Maybe it's the complexity of their music or the Svengali-like approach to their instruments, but all I can say is that MUSE were the most exciting band to see back then and still are today. Say what you will about MUSE but they have come a long ways from playing little shit clubs in North America to large arenas all over (never mind the stadiums that they are filling in Europe).

Now to the part where I sound like an old-music-snob-git: I felt embarrassed for the band on Monday and felt intruded that other people have discovered this fantastic band that I have been supporting for so many years.

It's definitely the music-snob in me speaking but I want to preface all of this by saying that I am extremely proud for MUSE and that they have definitely paid their dues and deserve every bit of success because they ARE one of those bands that have it all; the talent, the songs, the poise and the rock n' roll attitudes. Yet Monday night's show left me feeling a bit nostalgic for the band that I once knew - I guess I just hate sharing THAT much!

It pains me to see people in Ed Hardy clothes reaking of "eau de douche" coming down to the venue because they want to hear "Knights of Cydonia" because they once played it in Guitar Hero. On one hand I applaud MUSE for expanding their audience, but on the other hand, I know that those types of "fans" will eventually fade away and latch onto the next big thing.

Being a music snob is definitely an emotional and hard job. It's difficult to explain but you feel proud when you discover something that nobody cares about and yet you feel betrayed by the band and loathe the people who listen to them when they become successful. I know that what I have been saying will rub people the wrong way, but I take my music VERY seriously. It's one of few things in my life that I care about only because it's given me so much in my life. Music comforts my soul and calms my mind, can you think of anything that has THAT powerful of an effect on your life (maybe other than Love)? I'm fortunate to be where I am right now with music. I drown myself in it all day, work with fellow music elitists and feel that people count on me for being their musical guide (I love this), so I don't know if I will ever make peace with this aspect in my music journey. One thing I know for sure is that I will always have music as my mistress; as much as she may abuse and elate me, I could never leave her.

On a lighter note, being a music snob is not all about discovering new music but it's about being educated about music - all forms of it. Here's a music snob survival guide for you to follow:

- Know your music history. If someone is trying to justify liking a band that you hate, embarrass your foe with past knowledge of their artists' faux-pas or list off "better" bands that they have ripped off.

- The latter eventually leads to what I call "Listen to Heritage Acts". Don't just listen to your standard Beatles, Zep and Sabbath but be mindful of the bands that predate the current era of music you are listening to. For example, if you're into Interpol, know that Joy Division is their heritage act because let's face it people, being a musician is like being a thief; you will always nick shit from your favourite artists to forge your own identity.

- Broaden your scope. Everyone has a niche that they are most comfortable with, but oftentimes you will discover great music in genres you never thought you would listen to.

- LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN! Give every band a chance before you form an opinion. Don't base your opinion off of reviews or music blogs, but listen to the band and formulate your own arguments.

- Lastly, have fun! Music is a manic-romantic language. Let it seduce you, be passionate about it and everything else will come into place.

Currently Listening to: Papillon - Editors

April Fool

This week has been okay to me, I was at the MUSE show on Monday (more about MUSE later) and witnessed the best rock show in Edmonton history. Tuesday was also great because there's nothing in life that I like more than having a great and deep conversation and that's what I did at lunch with a friend - Thanks Brent.

Wednesday was a day that can fuck right off. I felt like I was dealing with people who were visually and hearing impaired (no offense to those who are, but you obviously wouldn't be reading this if you were blind - so I only partially mean this). It just seemed like everyone I spoke to had some sort of impediment that prevented them from understanding the english language, thus things needed to be explained again and again and again.

Anyways, "yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future but today is a gift". I can't remember who said that to me, but I wanted to punch them in the face because they were so right. April will be a good month, I have a good feeling about it. So as a parting gift to March, I leave you with this:

Love is our Resistance

I'm really debating on closing my old blog and just focusing on this one. It's good to go back to the old one, but lately it seems as though the heavy vibes are getting to me. Who knows, I guess it's the different phases of your life transferring into your creative stream. Sometimes you feel so connected to ideas and other days, you couldn't be further removed - if you know what I mean.

Anyways, the upcoming Podcast seems to be working out quite well. I basically woke up on Saturday and started working on it until about noon. The tracks are organized and recorded. However, I ended up getting a bit distracted and started working on some drum loops and eventually a melody / guitar part that sounded promising. I just need to find the time to refine the song and start actually writing something for it.

Yesterday I finally got around to watching 500 Days of Summer starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and my all-time favourite Zooey Deschanel. The movie was amazing and I ended up connecting with it with a strange verve. I don't know how to explain it, but I was able to relate with the characters in such a way that the movie made me extremely elated, angry and sad all at the same time. I still don't know what to make of it today, but one thing I do know is that you should see it.

Taking inspiration from that film and its soundtrack, I think the next episode will involve something along the lines of relationships (unless I can come up with a better idea) - the highs and lows of love.

That's all for now, time to get energized for Muse tonight.

Currently Listening to: Conditions - The Temper Trap

April's Theme

The theme that I have chosen for April is: The 80's. I figure that for my inaugural episode, I would go all out! I have mentally chosen a bunch of songs from this era and figured that I might have a two-part series on my hands. I guess we will see what happens...

Currently Listening to: Dead Souls - Joy Division

Welcome to My Music Memoirs

This is the first step towards creating my own personal music journal. My intention with this project is to create monthly themes where I can document some of my favourite songs in a podcast format. Each theme will involve a bit of storytelling between the songs and ultimately give you some insight as to how these songs made the cut. I would love to keep the format fresh with each one hour (give or take) episode; so from time to time, I will call upon my hopeful audience to contribute themes to my show.

I am very excited about this project, so hopefully my disc jockey skills and ramblings provide you with some sort of entertainment. I will keep you posted with my progress, so please stay tuned.