Before I started hitting the keys in front of me this morning, I had planned on talking about the benefits of consistency and how Justin Rutledge plays off of that comfort I feel when I hear his voice and guitar. I'll still venture down that path closer to the release of his new record, but today searching for consistency felt more like complacency and I wanted to write about something that stood out.

Standing out from the crowd isn't what you'd probably associate from Vancouver's Christopher Smith, a hushed bed/bathroom (and beyond) artist that prefers emotions and echoed whispers to energy, burst and tempo. His songs sound like isolation. Introspective glimpses into his soul that eventually get carried by subtle, but his tasteful arrangements would be just as powerful if Smith never sung a word.

It's almost fitting that we all probably know a Christopher Smith, not only by name but by the stories he tells. The Beckon Call is full of pain; Smith, like so many of us, has been run over by love and can't get past some of the most most hurt filled days. The sad clown is a common personality for song writers, but Christopher refuses to close himself off or lose hope. The optimism and desire to find love again that keeps him going also keeps the record moving and helps Smiths chords turn heartbreak into something heart warming. At just the right time Smith uses airy falsettos that soar over the melancholy and force you to smile through the darkest moments.

Check out his great snowglobe video for the lead single, Gently, Gently:

Christopher Smith - Gently Gently from Boompa Records on Vimeo.

His previous two EPs (Gently, Gently and Keepsake) are available now (a track from each are on The Beckon Call) and offer a perfect introduction to this talented songwriter while you wait for his debut full length to hit the streets on May 11th.

MP3:: Christopher Smith - Gently, Gently

MP3:: Christopher Smith - Piece by Piece
WEB:: http://thebeckoncall.com/
LABEL:: BOOMPA

Labels: Boompa, Christopher Smith, Music, Reviews, Vancouver

I'm not sure what I was searching for the other day, but I came across a random link to a post of ours posted somewhere with this description of our little outfit: "HeroHill.com is one of Canada's reputable hip-hop blogs." Well it's pretty debatable how reputable we are, and calling us a hip hop blog is kind of a Shawn Bradley-esque stretch. I guess it's not completely outlandish, as I do try and post plenty of good Canadian hip hop content on the site, but I'm far from consistent in that posting. A big reason why I try and get Canadian hip hop up on the hill is simply because there aren't a lot of outlets for the folks making that music here in Canada to get something written about them.

So lets write about them! It's Thursday, and that means videos here on the hill, so a hip hop edition of the Video Hits seemed like the opposite of milk on a sweltering San Diego day. If you've been here before, it should be no surprise that the Grand Wizard Ghettosocks is our MC of choice as far as Halifax hip hop goes. Socks has a fresh new video for Out For Treats, which was one of my favorite tracks on the album, thanks to nonsensically delicious lyrics like ""me & my peeps got hot eats in the grotto, fresh meat in the taco, extra cheese on the nacho". The video is a perfect compliment to the track, with Socks & crew chowing down on plenty of treats, and Haltown legend Jorun manning the decks in a chef outfit, which is enjoyable.

Toronto's Muneshine is currently working Ghettosocks on a collaborative side project called Twin Peaks, and I'm certainly looking forward to hearing some of it. For now, I'm content with Muneshine's latest effort, the video for Gotta Feeling which is featured on Urbnet's recently released hip hop compilation. It's a solid song that features D-Sisive and Shad, and the video continues Urbnet's tradition of some really well done videos. To finish, we've got Glad from Moka Only alias Ron Contour, a song from Mr. Contour's latest album with Prairie producer Factor which is delightfully entitled Saffron. This is actually a great album that I plan to write more about, but for now, you can enjoy Moka only and his very realistic fake mustache as he hangs with Sasquatch. Pretty average day for Moka no doubt. Enjoy.

Ghettosocks - Out For Treats

MP3:: Ghettosocks - Don't Turn Around f. Edgar Allen Floe
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/ghettosocks

Muneshine - Gotta Feeling f. D-Sisive & Shad

MP3:: Muneshine - Gotta Feeling f. D-Sisive & Shad
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/muneshine

Ron Contour - Glad

MP3:: Ron Contour & Factor - Glad
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/mokaonly
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/factorg

Labels: Canadian Hip Hop, D-Sisve, Ghettosocks, Hip Hop, Moka Only, Muneshine, Shad, Video hits

I know it goes against most people's overwhelming desire to have the inspiration for each and every song to have traveled from war-torn and impoverished African nations, but truth be told Ottawa's Souljazz Orchestra have shown more courage and talent on Rising Sun than they achieved on either of their previous efforts.

In the past, Souljazz came across like an Afrobeat machine - which left the "educated and current" white music lover (infatuated with the recent Fela revival) very happy - but the Ottawa band revealed more influences and talent on Rising Sun and have grown well past a singular sound. Rising Sun uses its nine songs to prove that; going fully acoustic, excellent pacing, arrangements and above all, variety all make this smoothed out record a must hear.

Instead of booming drums and tight horns and political uprising, Rising Sun is a more spiritual experience, which provides the necessary comedowns and change of emotion from the booming horns of Agbara, the pure funk of Mamaya and the Ethiopian vibe heavy Negus Negast. The trumpet work the band delivers on Lotus Flower transports you to the most relaxed of states and the surprisingly minimal combination of percussion and traditional jazz you hear on Serenity is soothing and sensual.

The band is up to the challenge of grabbing your ear without relying on the crutch of frantic pace and the mid-tempo work is outstanding. Rising Sun might not offer boomer after boomer in an attempt to grab you on the most casual of listen, but what the band has created here is more magical and timeless. The 45 minutes take you to countless regions and emotional states, and honestly, if you think this sounds like elevator music, I want to live or work in the buildings you do, because both are super heady space with a soundtrack that would inspire me each and every day.

MP3:: Souljazz Orchestra - Agbara
MYSPACE:: http://myspace.com/souljazzorchestra
WEB:: http://souljazzorchestra.com/

Labels: afrobeat, Canada, Music, ottawa, Reviews, Souljazz Orchestra

It's hard to jump into a review of Vancouver's Kick Evrything without being tempted to lead with an easy and obvious sounds like. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I constantly bitch when critics get lazy and take the obvious route (see how I did that?), but truth be told I don't like the band that is constantly throw around when describing the unique and unsettling sounds Casey and Paul are creating and relying on that descriptor would mean I didn't like Kick Evrything either.

And on paper, maybe I shouldn't, but the more I soak in This I is Demented and Possibly Deceased the more I enjoy it. The whole record sounds like it was recorded on Radio Raheem's boom box (note: this would be awesome and some band needs to make this happen), almost as if the sounds were bursting from the duo and not even time or money could stop KE from getting their music out. Stomping through lo-fi blues, swirling hippie freak folk, banged out synth driven tracks and fuzz filled ambiance, the thirty minutes has just enough sex appeal, grit, snot and washed out sun to keep you as interested as you are uncomfortable.

Casey has the presence you need in a front woman, and the band shows they can move freely across countless genres without sounding lost or unfocused. Even as they float from stomped out blues to a pseudo 90's/alterna-pop number (Dusty -> Tail End) or crank the noise and energy back up for the heavy tail end of the record (Buck and Fun certainly find the LP concluding on a spirited high), they keep it together nicely, which helps you stay with the band when they drift farther away from anyone's comfort zone.

MP3:: Kick Evrything - Dusty
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/kickevrything

Labels: Kick Evrything, Music, Quick Hitters, Vancouver

Last year we fell in love with the Daniel, Fred & Julie record and asked Daniel Romano to give us a bit more information about the songs, the recordings and the nonsense and hilarity that ensued. IT was a pretty cool piece and people seemed to love the idea, so we thought why not reach out to one of our new favorites, Apollo Ghosts, and how the glory that is Mount Benson (a lock for my Polaris ballot for those keeping score at home) come to be.

Last fall we got together at the space and decided to record another album. A new Taco restaurant had opened up on Hastings street and we ate a lot of them while recording. Dave manned the boards and Loki the cat scratched the couch. We drank whiskey for courage. I think it took about a week. When we got our test pressings back--Dave played it on the studio player, tilted his ear to the spinning disc and summed up the whole project quite nicely: "Delightfully ragged."

01 Wakesiah
Adrian gives himself about two songs per record where he's allowed mega-overdubs. Amanda and Jay don't let Adrian use his loop pedal live so it was his only chance to get frisky. The opening lyric connects to the previous record, Hastings Sunrise. "This is about the time I said I'd choose to live." We recorded this song once before but the key was way too high. Adrian can barely hit it as is. Jay and Adrian did the mmmmm's and tried to make them sound like BC Ferry horns. This is about someone getting into a bathtub, sailing across the Strait of Georgia to find someone he lost. Seems pre-teen tragic.

02 Charms of Cars
Sometimes Adrian goes to the washroom during practice and Jay and I do bass/drum jamz. There usually pretty funky. A lot times he'll come back and scream: "Keep it going, we got a song here!!!" I think he told me Charms of Cars is about the illusion of teen car ownership. Or Capitalism.

03 Coka-Cola Admen
My friend Ken (from the band 'Madonna Bangers') asked me what this song was about on our little tour last summer. We were six beers deep in our sleeping bags somewhere in a Washington State campground. I think I mumbled something about the real-estate bubble and former eccentric mayor of Nanaimo, Frank Ney. I think the Coka-Cola Admen invented the modern day Santa-Claus.

04 To: A Friend Who Has Been Through A War
We play this as power-pop song live but I recorded the demo as an acoustic version and it stuck for the LP.

05 Witchcraft Lake
There is a lake at the foot of Mount Benson called 'Witchcraft Lake.' It's black and red and filled with eerie tree stumps. After you climb Benson it's really tempting to jump in and cool yourself off. The only problem is the lake tries to pull you in. Seriously. The banks of the lake give way and and it feels like a spirit dragging you under. There's been a plane crash and multiple alien sightings on Mount Benson.

06 Brown To Grey
Our friend Rose Melberg came in and sang the duet on this one. Kim Koch plays the violin.

07 Samurai Chatter
My friend Brent hunts Sasquatch down on the Nanaimo river. He has a big beard and amazing gold panning skills. I think this is the biggest cryptozoology song on the record. Dave gave us a disco-wah pedal for some overdubs. He also added these crazy alien sounds when he was alone in the studio, which both shocked and delighted. Like any island kid, I grew up hunting frogs and playing war games with my sister near lakes and rivers.

08 Sons Of Norway
There was one out in the last inning of the Nanaimo little league championship. Amber hadn't hit the ball all year. Bases were loaded. She bit her lip and smacked a single through the first baseman's glove. And the Sons of Norway hoisted to the trophy.

09 Hub City
Frank Ney, former eccentric mayor, created a bathtub race between Nanaimo and Vancouver. There is even an entire pirate themed island located in the Nanaimo harbour called 'Protection Island.' Nanaimo is the heart of Vancouver island.

10 Salmon Capital
Definitely about Capitalism.

11 Attaquez! Attaquez! Attaquez!
Ferdinand Foch, French Supreme Commander of the Allied Armies , had a strategy---forget defense, just attack! Attack with everything you've got!

12 Things You go Through
I think this is our sad attempt to write a Subterranean Homesick Blues'esque song. When we finished recording it, Dave said: "It needs something." Using a big piece of sheet metal, several tamborines and two sound barrier walls, we created the Frankle: an improvised garbage thunder drum. You can hear it thrashing around in the background.

13 Snow on Mount Benson
Adrian is a sucker for piano ballads even though he can't play. Our friend Chris-a-riffic came down and recorded the piano part in a few takes. You should really check out his music, not our crud!!!

MP3:: Apollo Ghost - Things You Go Through
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/adrianteacher

Labels: Apollo Ghosts, Best-of '10, Deeper into Music, Music, polaris

Last year, Rae Spoon surprised everyone with an unexpected project that melded his guitar, vocals and new found love of electronics with the atmospheric textures of soundman/artist Alex Decoupigny (review). The shift in sound was yet another away from the standard country tinged sounds Rae had used in the past and it worked so well that it's not surprising that this time around Rae continued that progression.

Working with CPI, the duo transforms the soaring anthem Come On Forest Fire, Burn the Disco Down into a - ironically - more club ready jam. Remarkably, this latest shift seems completely natural as they manage to keep the heart of the song in tact. The song is still built on the hand claps and melody, but by adding some echo-y reverb and energy Rae and CPI get us to shake our asses instead of our raised fists.

The second track, There Is A Light, But It's Not For Everyone, is a show only gem, that the duo gives new life. Benefiting form a deep bass kick and subtle quick moving blips and bleeps this song seems intimate even with the all the programming. Hearing Rae sing about visiting the homelands of some of the biggest music legends (Leonard Cohen, Kraftwerk, Morrissey) and taking the position of a fan feels like Rae is reaching out his hand to the fans, moving amongst them instead of singing to them. I'm not sure it would work for everyone, but for someone that probably spent a lot of his life on the outside, that desire to include everyone in his love of music fits perfectly.

I know it's only two songs, but once again Rae exposes a trust in his musical growth. You could give the credit to touring non stop or a change in location, but really it seems like Rae has found peace in not only where he is, but who he is. The result is a confidence that has been growing since the the release of superioryouareinferior, and pushes Rae into new musical territory that works very well for him. He can crank out a heavy riff, show restraint with an intimate arrangement or move around intricate programming and tempo changes nicely. Basically, in just over a year, Rae Spoon has proven that he's able to hook you with any emotion or sound. Hopefully that means the next album will find the balance between all the new styles he's experimenting with and result in a record even better.

MP3:: Rae Spoon - Come On Forest Fire Burn The Disco Down (CPI Remix)

MP3:: Rae Spoon - There is a light, but it's not for everyone

WEB:: http://raespoon.com/
WEB:: http://thetastates.com/

Labels: Canada, CPI, Quick Hitters, Rae Spoon, Remix

Throughout its existence, hip hop has seen a ton of seemingly random and unlikely people play various roles in its evolution. Perhaps none were more unlikely than Malcolm McLaren, who died late last week of cancer. After all, a pasty, carrot-topped British dude who made his name as the outlandish manager of The Sex Pistols isn't the first person that comes to mind when you're thinking hip hop, but it's true.

Like many a NY Scenester before and after him in the late 70's and early 80's, McLaren because infatuated with the energy and potential of hip hop, and felt the need to inject himself into in some manner. The main manner he chose was to errr, team-up with NY radio DJ's The World Famous Supreme Team to release a number of records in the early 80's (what did he actually do on these records? I have no idea). McLaren was kind of a shameless self-promoter, but his foray into hip hop had to have some benefits for both McLaren and hip hop, as someone with his music-scene creds actually attempting to make a hip hop record would certainly brought some attention to what was still a fledgling, NY-centric culture.

And the songs they produced managed to make an impact too, as not only have they been sampled quite frequently, but I recall knowing that Malcolm McLaren was connected to hip hop in some way, even when I really had no idea who he was. Anyway, if you have no idea who he was, I'd give his wiki a perusal, as the guy led a rather interesting life, to say the least. We'll wrap things up by saying a final R.I.P. to Mr. McLaren and post a couple of his songs, along with a few great songs that sampled them. Enjoy.

MP3:: Malcolm McLaren - Dya Like Scratchin'

MP3:: Malcolm Mclaren - Buffalo Gals

MP3:: Das EFX - They Want EFX

MP3:: The Beatnuts - World's Famous (Feat. V.I.C.)

MP3:: A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour

VIDEO:: Malcolm Mclaren - Buffalo Gals

Labels: ATCQ, Das EFX, Hip Hop, Malcolm McLaren, Old School Mondays, R.I.P.

Without question, the stark contrast Vancouver offers the artists that call the city home helps them form sounds that can't blossom in any other Canadian city. The beauty of mountain filled skies and hint of salt that filters up from the ocean are diametrically opposed to the homelessness (people with two steady incomes can barely afford to own) and substance abuse that city officials keep trying to push further and further from the downtown core, the cuts to the arts program and the harsh reality that venues close all the time.

That's why even when Vancouver's Collapsing Opposites hits on some ear pleasing psych-pop melodies on their new LP (In Time), the results never degrade to hippie love, flowers and drug induced hazes. There are no moments of free love and by no means does the band see the current world through rose coloured glasses. No, Collapsing Opposites uses those psych backdrops get your interest before getting to the heart of some real world issues.

Over the last two years, the ever changing lineup has been solidified and from what I've heard so far, they discarded the friendly guitar picks, plinky synths and saxophone we've come to expect and in their place front man Ryan McCormick delivers tangible streams of consciousness that get darker the deeper you get. Picture BARR playing with a swirling, looping band instead of over a drum machine and you get the idea.

They also seem much more focused. Don't Worry starts as a simple track about ruining a dude's high but McCormick starts probing into real problems (in this case, the downside of the all-inclusive tropical retreat) that people all too often sweep under the rug. Diamond Mind drives forward aggressively, using swirls and a heavy beat before the band changes pace to a more syncopated, up beat sound on the "chorus." Throughout it all, McCormick must be given credit for making a completely inaccessible style - rapid fire lyrics delivered from a completely unique sounding vocalist - and making the songs surprisingly accessible.

How does the rest of In Time play out? To be honest, I have no idea but the improved collaboration between McCormick and his band and a focus that helps keep the tracks from spiraling into chaos has me very excited.

MP3:: Collapsing Opposites - Diamond Mind

MP3:: Collapsing Opposites - Don't Worry
WEB:: http://collapsingopposites.com
BUY:: http://geographing.bigcartel.com/

Labels: Black Hen music, Collapsing Opposites, Quick Hitters, Vancouver

Honestly, last night the music we heard couldn't have been much better. Starting with a set from Baby Eagle (apologies to Laura Peek for missing the set), the tiny, North End church was packed with fans of the talented musicians, no one sure how a set from three friends playing classic songs would unfold.

What we heard was memorable. Daniel Romano, Fred Squire and Julie Doiron played with smiles on their faces and a relaxed demeanor. Honest harmonies and guitar work more than overshadowed the slight laughs when the odd lyric was missed or chord progression was forgotten. Daniel, Julie and Fred also took their turn playing songs from their other projects - including new songs from Julie and Daniel harmonizing with band mate Spencer Burton.

For me though, the highlight was Fred - side note: points to Mr. Squire for style, as his blazer, glasses and homemade kerchief (that said Duck Hunting) combination was top shelf - pulling Julie onstage with him to sing Frankie & Albert. This song is on his new EP, available only in a CD-R format at shows, and until last night I had no idea the touching love song was actually Fred's reply to the powerful The Gambler And His Bride from the trio's folk album. The song was made even more poignant when Julie sang Frankie's part as she rests in the gallows, about to die for killing her man. The love that runs through this song is amazing, and it marked the high point in a set that constantly cleared the highest of expectations.

I'll be posting more video later, but enjoy this heartbreaking performance:
Fred Squire (ft. Julie Doiron) - Frankie & Albert


Daniel, Fred & Julie - The Gambler and His Bride

Labels: Best-of '10, Daniel Fred and Julie, Fred Squire, Julie Doiron