Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Reviews:: $100 Forest of Tears
I’m not sure why more people aren’t smitten with the grim tales $100 writes. Honestly, if you sit down and soak in Simone Schmidt's gruff voice and embrace her penchant for narratives full of pain and suffering that are balanced by Ian Russell’s comfortable country arrangements, I find it baffling you could ignore Forest of Tears.
One listen to Stew Crookes’ pedal steel and the beautiful melancholy of Nothing's Alright will warm the heart of any true country fan and the slow meandering sounds of Paris is Burning shows how effortlessly the band can pen a heartbreaking ballad, but $100 is far from a one-note effort.
The powerful debut is a terrific example of a country band willing to fill their songs with the grit and grime of Toronto and emotions and scenarios unfamiliar to most country track protagonists. Thanks to a guiding hand from noise aficionado Rick White, the live on the floor recordings transform Schmidt’s twang into something more adventurous. Whether it’s the drone that dominates Tirade of a Shitty Mom or the chaos that slowly takes over the title track, the recording is infused with an energy you don’t find in country efforts. Instead of stomping a foot through the floor, you find your self soaking in the hazy psychedelics and straining to hear every note trapped in cloud.
But to be honest, it’s when the band sneaks in the heartache and pain of today’s world into the most classic sounds that the effort really sizzles. Opening with the powerful Careless Love, Schmidt transports you inside the mind of a women bored by her lover, his futile touch and wandering eye, but the words are cradled by a fairly traditional arrangement.
No Great Leap is a traditional tear-in-your-beer track that could have been written twenty years ago. Schmidt’s voice draws you in and the bended notes provide the support usually left for bar stools and supportive sentiments from the man serving the drinks, but when you really listen you get hit with a more tangible impact. The depressing recant of a women traveling the same subway line, year after year, fighting the depression and urge to jump (No Great Leap), and proves that even when the band pays tribute to classic sounds, they are never indebted to them.
Labels: Best-of '08, Canada, Music, polaris
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Polaris Prize:: Round 1
With the first cut-off date for Polaris Long-List nominations approaching, and this being our first time being involved, I thought it would be a lot easier to jot down thoughts and ideas before the deadline, instead of just scanning the list and writing down 5 records on due date. Obviously, we've covered a ton of Canadian releases this year - one or two a day, 5 days a week - but we've missed some quality ones as well.
I haven't decided my Top 5 or the order they fall in but right now these are the nine records leading the herohill Polaris charge (with a few fighting to grab that 10th spot):
Elliott Brood - Meadow Mountain (review) || MP3 || web site
What we said: "And that's probably the thing that grabs me on Mountain Meadow. Despite their previous critical successes (their debut LP - Ambassador - was nominated for a Juno), Elliott Brood is often described as a terrific live band that falls short on record. While I've never agreed with these sentiments, the trio has worked hard to make a record that has the spirit and swagger of a live show, but still allow for repeatable listens. Write it all Down For and Chuckwagon are sweaty stomps track that will fuel sets for years to come, but the band has learned how to transform energetic tracks destined for the stage into songs that reward the headphone listener as well."
For our Halifax readers, Elliott Brood is playing the new Paragon on Friday. Be there.
Joel Plaskett - Three (Review)|| MP3 || web site
What we said: "It’s not surprising that Joel seems to focus on "leaving" for the majority of the first record. He’s reached the point where his life – well, as best as it can when he has to constantly hit the road – is settled here in Nova Scotia, but he’s also reached the age where you can’t help but wonder why worked out the way it did. When you call a different city home for half the year, constantly see your friends leaving and have to say goodbye before piling into the van night after night, you can’t help but feel the grind, miss the smells of home or wonder why you still spend so many hours watching the odometer turn."
Timber Timbre - Self-titled (review) || MP3 || myspace
What we said: "So, to be honest, the change in sound he delivers on the new self-titled release was quite unexpected. Kirk still has the charisma to tell a compelling stories using little more than the muted, steady strums of his guitar, but the textures he adds accentuate the ominous tones of the record and really complete his songs. Organ, piano, percussion and beautiful string arrangements all add a density to Kirk’s compositions and fill some of the space once reserved for echoes and creaks."
Chad VanGaalen - The Soft Airplane (review) || MP3:: City of Electric Light
What we said: "He's obviously a unique man with social anxiety and an unquenchable thirst for creative expression and as a result Soft Airplane is incredibly spontaneous and challenging, but at the same time multiple listens show how well the record is thought out. Sound effects, textures and emotion are nestled into the folds and corners, and until you can listen to the complete song, you aren't really hearing Chad's visions."
This was also voted my favorite album of 2008....
Japandroids - Post-Nothing (review) || MP3 || myspace
What we said: "The band is a simple combination of huge drums, guitar and the sing/shouts of Brian King and David Prowse, but the end result is much, much more. The nine song album delivers anthem after anthem, with distorted guitar and crashing cymbals personify the rage of youth, but the melodies the guys deliver really show the emotion and reality we all face when it's time to grow up."
For those unlucky enough to not hear this record, let me just say the songs create the most melodic drone you will find, and this two-piece from Vancouver sounds huge as they manage to perfectly convey the emotions of growing up even when you don't want to, without seemingpathetic nostalgic.
D-sisive - The Book (review) || MP3 (not from The Book) || myspace
What we said: "Moving on, the hypnotic drums and keys of Kneecaps make up one of my favorite beats on the album, and D's mixing of his love for hip hop with the story of losing his parents is pretty captivating. Solid song all around. Church organ provides the backdrop for Laundry Room, likely one of the most depressing hip hop song you'll ever hear. Well I should clarify that, as the most intentionally depressing hip hop song, as anything currently in the top 10 from people like Young Jeezy or Plies will likely depress you for a different reason."
Admittedly, I would have never heard this record if Shane hadn't given it the huge Thumbs Up - coveted number 1 spot on his Canadian MC list - but the book is a fantastic LP. It's concise, powerful and he manages to hit with real emotion without seeming like he's crying or whining.
Portico - First Neighbours (review) || MP3 || myspace
What we said: "On first pass, there are so many things that stand out on First Neighbours; the way they balance heavy, distorted guitar with a surprisingly soft touch, melodies that bob along like the little white ball over top of the words on a karaoke machine, the classic “indie – when indie still meant something” rock feel of songs that talk about nothing more than love, awkward silences and f*cking and the way they can transform an instrument like a simple horn into a completely new sound, but it’s when you really dive in that the greatness of this record stand to surface."
Women - Self-titled (review) || MP3 || myspace
What we said: "The self-titled debut is only 29 minutes, and really is more a collection of truncated ideas surrounding five more structured tracks, but live the songs, much like the plethora of equipment the band uses, mesh together into a surging, morphing mass. The set was energy filled, driven by Matt's thick bass lines but it was fueled by front man Pat's spastic guitar and yelps, and Mike's crashing percussion. They were able to balance the experimental noise with tight interaction and sounds that made heads bob."
$100 - Forest of Tears.
Review and info coming tomorrow. Let me just say, I'm smitten with this release, and been listening non-stop the last week or so.
I haven't decided my Top 5 or the order they fall in but right now these are the nine records leading the herohill Polaris charge (with a few fighting to grab that 10th spot):
What we said: "And that's probably the thing that grabs me on Mountain Meadow. Despite their previous critical successes (their debut LP - Ambassador - was nominated for a Juno), Elliott Brood is often described as a terrific live band that falls short on record. While I've never agreed with these sentiments, the trio has worked hard to make a record that has the spirit and swagger of a live show, but still allow for repeatable listens. Write it all Down For and Chuckwagon are sweaty stomps track that will fuel sets for years to come, but the band has learned how to transform energetic tracks destined for the stage into songs that reward the headphone listener as well."
For our Halifax readers, Elliott Brood is playing the new Paragon on Friday. Be there.
What we said: "It’s not surprising that Joel seems to focus on "leaving" for the majority of the first record. He’s reached the point where his life – well, as best as it can when he has to constantly hit the road – is settled here in Nova Scotia, but he’s also reached the age where you can’t help but wonder why worked out the way it did. When you call a different city home for half the year, constantly see your friends leaving and have to say goodbye before piling into the van night after night, you can’t help but feel the grind, miss the smells of home or wonder why you still spend so many hours watching the odometer turn."
What we said: "So, to be honest, the change in sound he delivers on the new self-titled release was quite unexpected. Kirk still has the charisma to tell a compelling stories using little more than the muted, steady strums of his guitar, but the textures he adds accentuate the ominous tones of the record and really complete his songs. Organ, piano, percussion and beautiful string arrangements all add a density to Kirk’s compositions and fill some of the space once reserved for echoes and creaks."
What we said: "He's obviously a unique man with social anxiety and an unquenchable thirst for creative expression and as a result Soft Airplane is incredibly spontaneous and challenging, but at the same time multiple listens show how well the record is thought out. Sound effects, textures and emotion are nestled into the folds and corners, and until you can listen to the complete song, you aren't really hearing Chad's visions."
This was also voted my favorite album of 2008....
What we said: "The band is a simple combination of huge drums, guitar and the sing/shouts of Brian King and David Prowse, but the end result is much, much more. The nine song album delivers anthem after anthem, with distorted guitar and crashing cymbals personify the rage of youth, but the melodies the guys deliver really show the emotion and reality we all face when it's time to grow up."
For those unlucky enough to not hear this record, let me just say the songs create the most melodic drone you will find, and this two-piece from Vancouver sounds huge as they manage to perfectly convey the emotions of growing up even when you don't want to, without seeming
What we said: "Moving on, the hypnotic drums and keys of Kneecaps make up one of my favorite beats on the album, and D's mixing of his love for hip hop with the story of losing his parents is pretty captivating. Solid song all around. Church organ provides the backdrop for Laundry Room, likely one of the most depressing hip hop song you'll ever hear. Well I should clarify that, as the most intentionally depressing hip hop song, as anything currently in the top 10 from people like Young Jeezy or Plies will likely depress you for a different reason."
Admittedly, I would have never heard this record if Shane hadn't given it the huge Thumbs Up - coveted number 1 spot on his Canadian MC list - but the book is a fantastic LP. It's concise, powerful and he manages to hit with real emotion without seeming like he's crying or whining.
What we said: "On first pass, there are so many things that stand out on First Neighbours; the way they balance heavy, distorted guitar with a surprisingly soft touch, melodies that bob along like the little white ball over top of the words on a karaoke machine, the classic “indie – when indie still meant something” rock feel of songs that talk about nothing more than love, awkward silences and f*cking and the way they can transform an instrument like a simple horn into a completely new sound, but it’s when you really dive in that the greatness of this record stand to surface."
What we said: "The self-titled debut is only 29 minutes, and really is more a collection of truncated ideas surrounding five more structured tracks, but live the songs, much like the plethora of equipment the band uses, mesh together into a surging, morphing mass. The set was energy filled, driven by Matt's thick bass lines but it was fueled by front man Pat's spastic guitar and yelps, and Mike's crashing percussion. They were able to balance the experimental noise with tight interaction and sounds that made heads bob."
$100 - Forest of Tears.
Review and info coming tomorrow. Let me just say, I'm smitten with this release, and been listening non-stop the last week or so.
Labels: Best-of '08, Best-of '09, Canada, Music, polaris
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Reviews:: The Darling DeMaes A User’s Guide To Raising The Dead (Songs for Spring)
Right now you are probably sick of reading tweets like, "SXSW is amazing", "I just saw the Ting Tings 3X!!!!", "standing beside Yeezy and Frodo" or "hungover but breakfast tacos are mmmmm." It's pretty obvious that the wheels that turn the music blog world grind to a halt for the few days that Texas hosts 90% of the music nerds and indie rocking bands. But fear not my friend, this little Canadian outfit soldiers on, and what a treat we have for you today.
Montreal’s The Darling DeMaes are one of Canada’s best kept secrets; somehow equally playful and sinister, the band grabs your attention and never lets go. They take their name from former Czech high diver turned porn star Lea De Mae and the tragic life she led is the perfect symbol to describe the band. The gorgeous woman seemed to have it all before spinal injuries crushed her Olympic high dive dreams, and after turning to adult films for cash a brain tumor derailed her successful porn career and eventually ended her life. The darkness that lived inside and seemed to follow Lea also dominates the songs The Darling Demaes create.
The gentle strums of acoustics and girl/boy harmonies that dominate A User’s Guide To Raising The Dead (Songs for Spring), fool you into thinking this Montreal outfit is a 60’s inspired folk act, but when you actually sit and digest the tracks it’s the energy and darkness that permeates from the songs that fuels the listen. Erik Virtanen’s pen drives the band, but the way the musicians play off each other and move perfectly alongside each emotion are what really adds the punch the nourish themes deserve. Virtanen writes songs for the broken, the forgotten and the tragic, but the band effortlessly crafts melodies for that inspire you with joyful bliss.
Some of the most ear pleasing melodies host the saddest thoughts, making each listen multi-layered and more powerful. Teenage Mother is full of shimmering oohs and Tasha’s beautiful voice, and you almost feel bad singing along so happily to the sadness. Girl Soliders somehow seems restrained and soaring at the same time… the subtleties are still there and compliment the tale of women fighting a man’s war, but the melody floats beautifully and benefits from Erik's lovely falsetto.
For me though, Stomach Ghost is the perfect song to describe why this band is so powerful and promising. The 50’s feel and summery vocals might make you swoon, but Erik Virtanen’s words are about the pain of a couple getting an abortion and the explosion of horns and drums help mirror the torment he and Tasha sing about, and while that may seem a bit bleak, it’s exactly that dichotomy that makes this song work.
I wish I had heard about this record last year when it surfaced in November. It would have skyrocketed up my Best-of List and honestly, I’ve listened to nothing else since I picked it up. I’m not sure if being the next big thing from Montreal is quickly becoming the Canadian equivalent of being the next hot band on Stereogum, but The Darling DeMaes are talented and unique enough to take over the Canadian indie scene. This record is a must have.
Labels: Best-of '08, Canada, Music
