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"
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"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

Albums on Repeat?

I have a tendency to become attached to certain albums. Its like a cycle of rotating discs. Some weeks I feel emotionally unstable and confused. Other days I feel angst and frustration. At times like these, I turn to these albums I've had on repeat these past few months:

Antony and The Johnsons - The Crying Light (2009)
Listen

Port O'Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing (2007)
Listen

Lightning Dust - Infinite Light (2009)
Listen

The National - Cherry Tree EP (2004)
Listen




These albums are brilliant in their respected genres. From beginning to end, the songs have a certain cohesive blanket. Like a comfortable wrist watch, fitted perfectly on your lanky secondary wrist.

Sounds of London

The XX:
Consisted of 4 friends from London England who enjoyed making music together. Since their quick rise of success, the pressures may have caught one of them. Baria the former guitarist and keyboard player recently left the band.

I happened onto their Myspace profile and immediately decided that their mellow sounds and harmonized vocals were different.
Different to me = worth a listen.

They're vocals are shared between Jaime, the guitarist with the hipster hair and Oliver the bassist, whose voice can be compared to that of Matt Berninger (The National). Deep and sex-driven. Perfect. Contrasting Jaime's breathy mutters in a sense, its the kind of voice you use to whisper in someones ear. Romantic isn't it?
I've been listening to their self-titled album for the past few months.
Favourites include:
Heart Skipped A Beat
Shelter
Night Time
Stars

A friend informed me that they were playing an instore at Zulu Records at 5pm on Thursday November 26th. This i had to attend. They're in Vancouver supporting Holly Miranda and the Friendly Fires, playing at the Commodore at 8pm... If only I were 19.

By 3:45 I was at Zulu and sifting through records, I met another fan, Ed, a third year medical student at UBC. I was surprised, he didn't look like someone who would listen to two 20 year olds singing about their sexual desires. Music brings people together, doesn't it?
By 4:30 Zulu began filling up and we were standing arms length away from their microphones. I loved this already.
When The XX finally came out, cheers erupted, and then the music began.
The set was 35 minutes, spliced between each song a very British "thank you".
Songs played were:
Vcr
Shelter
Crystalised
Infinity
Night Time

The sound was surprisingly clear and the songs sound great live.
I loved their set and the energy in the room. They said between the songs that they were nervous and this was the first time they've ever played in front of a lit audience.
I think they were a little scared that they could see our faces and our every move.
I'd be a little nervous.

I can't wait to see this band in a concert setting.
http://www.myspace.com/thexx

Mr. November

I forgot how nostalgic The Nationals' lyrics made me feel.
I keep thinking to myself, "I need to see this band live."
One day, I'll hear Matt Berninger shout out these lyrics,

"I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November, I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over!"

I find myself screaming this, in my head and in my throat.
Berningers' distinctive baritone voice can swoon anyone to drop everything and listen.
He is the driving force of this band consisting of two pair of brothers accompanying him.
Their sound is full, broad, demanding and honest.
It punches you in the gut, the moment you hear that low romantic drone, you can't help but to stop and listen.
So listen:

Listen Here

How to be Saints

Photo by Pamela Littky
Tegan and Sara's 6th studio album came out on October 27th, entitled "Sainthood"
To be honest, I didn't quite know what the title meant, and I thought it referred to something religious. I didn't quite like it.

I discovered later, this religious idea was to be based on how to become a person who replicates saintly ideals only to win over someone else's affection.
This, I understood.

Having been a Tegan and Sara listener for the past few years I knew this album would be equally for even more impressive than their previous albums.

My favourite was their 2007 release, "The Con".

There was something so deep and resonating about the themes that underlined the songs off of The Con. Not only were they verging on rock indie tunes but lyrically, they were just so blatantly honest. Its unlike other musicians to write their loves on their sleeves. When I heard the album for the first time, it quickly and permanently became the record I unhealthily obsessed over. Admittedly, I did listen to other music.




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My first impressions of Sainthood amounted to my appreciation for their growth in sound and band mentality. There was a different mood in the songs off "Sainthood" compared to "The Con". The themes related to the acts of pursuing someone, finding out ways to become a better partner, and over-analysing interrelationships with past partners and parents. It was clear that the new Tegan and Sara sound came with their age and maturity.
It sounds developed instrumentally and raw vocally. I particularly love their use of synths on this record. They're heavy and prominent in Sara's songs, especially: Night watch, Paperback Head, and the 80's driven sounds from Alligator.
My current favourites are:
Arrow
On Directing
Sentimental Tune.
These songs are gold.

This is not to say the other songs are not equally brilliant, it goes without saying they do bring a different ingredient to the album's developed sound.

A more detailed analysis of the record in the next few weeks.

In the mean time listen here:

This is a test

Like most situations, sometimes the way things end isn't always how it should be. Or so it may seem, to us, everything revolves around what happens to ourselves. We can't help but to be selfish and critical. Our actions seem to shape who we are, what we become and how things around us should work out. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to live 10 years from now, where will I be?