Sunday, October 31, 2010

You Say Party! - Lonely's Lunch

This. Video. Is. Awesome.


I remember when I first heard their record XXXX - I had this song along with their entire record on repeat. This was one of my favourites. Great vocals, instrumentation.
I love the concept of this video, I love the setting, plot, what have you. Its brilliant.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Lights, Dance, Music - Sufjan Style

(Check out the Amazing outfit! Photo from Here From his show in Vancouver 2006)

Sufjan Stevens
Orpheum Theatre
October 26, 2010

I've been a casual Sufjan listener. I can't recite his tracklist off by heart. I can recognize songs, and its hooks. And that's about as much Sufjan knowledge I have.
To say the least I had no idea what to expect from the concert.

The show began at 8:30 - the opener played 4 songs. It was a lovely 25 minute musical interlude of vocals, guitars, claps, and snaps all looped into a massive sound. I though it was a little disorienting and found myself thinking of hallucinogenic dances around camp fires.... I don't know where this association came from. To say the least, the audience really responded to this opener and clapped, cheered for him between songs.

Just after 9:00 Sufjan Stevens came on stage. The applause was deafening.
During the entire show brilliant projections of Sufjan , his dancers, animated shorts were shown on the backdrop. I really enjoyed the visuals, it added a different dimension to the show.
The music was mixed perfectly, the 2 drumsets. 2 backup singers/dancer, 2 trombones, 1 pianist, 1 keys/sound effects man, 1 bass, 1 electric guitar and Sufjan and his multiple instruments all blended together, without one overpowering the other.

His voice --- His VOICE was on point.
In short, the show consisted of choreographed dance moves, impeccable vocals, projected visuals, great live band = one of the most visually and musically interesting shows I have ever been to. It was a pleasant surprise, for sure.

Check out this review of the show from The Georgia Straight

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago (He loves us all very much)

Gallows in the Willow Trees

CocoRosie - Gallows

COCOROSIE - GALLOWS (OFFICIAL VIDEO) from Emma Freeman on Vimeo.

From the album, 'Grey Oceans'.
cocorosieland.com
myspace.com/cocorosie
Director: Emma Freeman
Cinematographer: Mia Mala McDonald
US Cinematographer: Chris Dapkins
Editors: Emma Freeman & Rodrigo Balart
Hair/Make Up (AUS): Claire Leighton

emmafreeman.com.au

This is by the same director as their last video "Lemonade".
The story is tragic, it's delivered eerily, the concept is so creative.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Women in Rock?

I spent the last month and a half working on my women's studies group presentation.
Our topic of debate/discussion was "women in rock".
We decided on focusing on this statement. "While women in mainstream rock are still claiming less space, women in indie rock are making great strides."

Throughout the course of all our meetings, discussions, brainstorms we concluded that there just isn't enough music fronted by women out there.

As an avid music listener I honestly was a little shocked, but all together not that surprised that mainstream radio is completely dominated by men.

I suppose that's why indie rock, pop, dance, punk exists. It creates and allows an avenue for those female (and male) musicians out there to create music and not be completely marketed, enthralled and controlled to death by one of the 4 major record labels out there.

Its such an interesting debate and I've spent the majority of this month thinking about it.
I love that when I look at the albums that I buy, or listen to, that a lot of the artists are female.

I think its a matter of personal taste. It takes a specific person to search for music elsewhere. Mainstream radio just isn't providing enough of a variety in terms of role models. Listen to the peak 100.5 fm. It was my favourite radio station when it came out a few years ago. But now once I actually listen to the songs.... most of them are sung by men. An hours worth of the peak, maybe even two hours, and you'd be lucky to hear a female musician on the radio.

The songs all seem to blend together, the voices of men all in the same vocal range, it really creates a specific perspective on music to only provide such a small variety.... I think so, anyway.

Since we're on this topic.
Here is a list of female fronted/backed/supported musicians.
You may want to take a few listens.

30’s-50’s: Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carol King, Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner,
60’s: Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Nico, Grace Slick, Emmylou Harris, Susie Quattro, Marianne Faithful, Francoise Hardy, The Mama’s and the Papa’s, Jane Birkinm, Fleetwood Mac
70’s: Joni Mitchell, Chrissie Hynde, Blondie, The Runaways, Carol King, Kate Bush, Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, The Slits, Bjork, Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, Kira Roessler(Black Flag), Annie Lennox
80’s: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Annie Lennox, The Go Go’s, Heart, Aretha Franklin, Hole, Babes in Toyland, 4 Non Blondes, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), Kim Deal (The Pixies), The Gits, Charlotte Gainsborg, Beat Happening, Mazzy Star, Alanis Morissette,
90’s: Pat Benatar, Melissa Etheridge, Bikini Kill, Sleater Kinney, Gossip, Sinead O’Connor, Alanis Morissette, No Doubt, Garbage, Sonic Youth, Lauren Hill, Shania Twain, Spice Girls, The Sounds, Alison Mosshart, PJ Harvey, Neko Case, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Cat Power, Jenny Lewis, Feist, Camera Obscura, Belle and Sebastian, Broken Social Scene, Glass Candy, Veruca Salt, The White Stripes, Blonde Redhead, Peaches, Portishead, Mary Lou Lord
00’s: Dead Weather, Kills, Feist, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, CocoRosie, Cat Power, Css, Distillers, Beach House, Paramore, Metric, Ladyhawke, Crystal Castles, Serena Ryder, Be Your Own Pet, Tegan and Sara, Pretty Reckless, Gossip, Lykke Li, M.I.A, Ting Tings, You Say Party!, Beach House, Lady Gaga, Sleigh Bells, Joanna Newsom, Dirty Projectors, Fiery Furnaces, Bat for Lashes, Xx, Arcade Fire, Vivian Girls, Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls, Gang Gang Dance, Kimya Dawson
Go nuts.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Things to be Excited About.

Antony and the Johnsons - Thank You For Your Love (Letterman 10-08-2010)


Fences - Girls With Accents

Friday, October 8, 2010

Men In Love

Check it:
Men In Love - Gossip

Embedding Complete.

This is one of my favourite performances
Gossip - Yr Mangled Heart

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Not Ready to Cry Just Yet


Npr.org is now streaming Antony and the Johnsons new record 'Swanlights' in its entirety until October 12th!
I am so excited to listen to this.
LISTEN HERE