Fenced in with Horses

Fences - My Girl the Horse


Fences, from Seattle Washington remind me of hardcore/punkcore.
Just replace the heavy guitar riffs, double drum kicks, vocals, and bass with an acoustic guitar.

You'll be left with Fences, simple guitars with emotionally tormented but lovely lyrics, that taste like sugar

CBC Radio 3 - Achieving Great Heights

They've done it again!

#226 - Sleeper Hits – The Sleepy Time Podcast

One of my new favourites. Funny, mellow and completely Canadian.
Lulls me to sleep on a perfectly spent Friday.
My feet hurt and thighs ache. The soles of my feet arched and flexed.
This podcast is perfect for when after you've spent the majority of your day on your feet.

Sleep Tight. Dream Love. Think Nothing.

It's A Heart Attack That You Feel.

Listen

Remove us from the scene of the crime
I can't help myself, details fill my mind
They roll their eyes, pull our elbows
I forget our love was so hopeful

I promise I won't linger long
I promise I won't push my face
Up against your clothes
Or your stupid sheets

It's a heart attack that you feel

Maybe I Have Sinned

Love this.

The Xx - Shelter


The Xx - Crystalised

Art in Photographs

I've always wanted to be a photographer.... but lacking a camera and all the necessary skills, I just admired from a distance.

Pamela Littky

Her photographs are shot in a way that makes the artist, musician, sell-out pop idols, mega rappers. All of them in a way are seen to be more human.
I love her use of lighting, backdrops, props and settings.

Her catalog of Photos include:
Karen O - YYY's, Tegan and Sara, MGMT
M.I.A., Green Day, Lil Wayne, Cystal Castles
Snoop Dog, Brody Dalle, Common, Sigur Ros
Tom Petty

Cherry Tree in Straps

I recently discovered The National's 2004 EP entitled "Cherry Tree". It immediately became an honourable favourite. In the post before I mentioned how Matt Berninger's voice is like a bass line foundation. Did I mention that when I listen to him, I have to withdraw my breath, in case I miss the wonderful depth and soothing sounds of his voice? I do.
I sometimes make an effort to walk a little lighter, breathe a little less. Move more subtly, even speak more softly. His voice can do that.

When I feel particularly melancholy, but want to exude a light-hearted and somewhat mellow calm, I listen to:
Cherry Trees' "loose lips, sink ships..." on repeat.
Or
All Dolled-up In Straps' "Now, love, where have you been?Where have you been?".
This on repeat and suddenly things are a little brighter.

Listen Here or Here

YSP!WSD!

You Say Party! We Say Die!
are playing a free benefit fundraiser show at CBC in downtown Vancouver on Friday December 4th @ 5pm.

I'm excited for this.
They are not vocally perfect. But they make up for that with quirks and instrumentals.

To learn more about them, Click Here!

Lightning Meets Dust

When I want to be reminded of walks at night Downtown, Vancouver Lightning Dust aspire to bring quirky pop ballads to bask in the Vancouverness of us all. I discovered this band through various Myspace accounts. Former members of Black Mountain, I found a liking to this new sound. Mellow and light, like a freshly squeezed lemon. Zestful.

Amber's voice reminds me of Neko Cases' Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. Imagine "Hold On, Hold On's" power vocals, with a gentler guitar melody and overlapped vocals. Lightning Dust.



In "Antonia Jane" Amber Webber sings:

"Did you ever come close to home
Riding the tide of the super one
Did you just want the ribbon and goals
Never fall back to the one you love"

"But I declare a war on you
Someday soon"

Romantic. Isn't it?

Chorus Full of Voices

Photo Credit to Lindsey Byrnes
Sometimes when I feel quirky and creative, I put on Port O'Brien, and have secret dance parties in my mind. I imagine myself shouting these lyrics,

"I woke up today in a very simple way
in the morning all i could do was sing
was thinking of things the blue ocean brings
the way it glows, the way it always knows
that when you lose something like a golden diamond ring
you will know that it will show the way the ocean always knows!"

We then join hands, stomp our feet and join in the chorus with gut-driven "Ohhhs"

I discovered this band, shortly after their album release. I love their energy and overall instrumentals. They are like a fistful of excitement, spliced with sentimental ballads. The band consists of four members. Three fairly average looking men and one very attractive guitarist. Where did she come from? She seems a little out of place… Perhaps it’s just in my head. They produce a sound much bigger than expected. Anticipate clashes of voices coming together to harmonize a tune that will be running through your head for the rest of the day.

Listen Here

Stories of the American Life

This American Life

Stories became important to me when I realized that they are all we are. We as people accumulate stories through our everyday interactions. And these hopefully one day will entice someone to find interest in us. Our stories are what give us depth, meaning and purpose.
Without Stories what would we have? But empty minds and routined actions.

I was on a book adventure, reading all the books I thought should be read. Mostly Augusten Burroughs, David Sedaris, and Joan Didion novels. I soon became tired of reading and wanted to hear the stories.

I began listening to this podcast a little over 2 years ago, I happened upon it one day and without knowing what to expect I heard the voice of Ira Glass, the host of the Chicago Public Radio Station. He began with a story about two people on the search for happiness. My first and soon to be favourite podcast to listen to.

The stories are first-person short fiction pieces that are touching, funny and surprising.
Each week, Ira Glass never fails to point out and reveal something hidden or so blateantly obvious about the human condition and the humanity we all seek and try to preserve.

Listen here: or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Favourite podcast stories include: #75 Kindness of Strangers, #374 Somewhere Out There, #347 Matchmaker

The Crying Lights of Antony

When I feel particularly emotional, Antony Hegarty can pull on my heart strings. His voice is lavish, rich and unwavering. Imagine yourself standing in a room full of empty chairs. This music is playing and suddenly it doesn't matter that no one is there.

When I try to describe his sound, I can't seem to place it in a specific genre. It doesn't sound indie, rock or pop.
Perhaps soul? His voice sounds like a chorus full of ambience and body. Movement in body, soul and emotion.
He is one of those artists that makes music that appears and sound flawless.

I admire his bravery to redefine the gender roles and blur the lines of commonality.

In his lyrics we find a reoccurring image, a theme that revolves around searching for something beyond sorrow. There is a positivity that emerges in situations of sadness and conflict.

These lyrics especially:
"Epilepsy is dancing
She’s the Christ now departing
And I’m finding my rhythm
As I twist in the snow"
----
"Cut me in quadrants
Leave me in the corner
Oh now it’s passing
Oh now I’m dancing"

I happened across his music a few years back and immediately thought: Passionate, Sincere and Raw.

His lateset Record is entitle The Crying Light.

http://www.myspace.com/antonyandthejohnsons