([-_-])

2008-11-30T10:21:00.001-05:00

Losing My Edge - Althea & Donna

2008-11-12T10:33:00.004-05:00

Young Jamaican singers Althea Forrest (17), and Donna Reid (18), were are worldwide sensation in 1978 with their classic, "Uptown Top Ranking". It was produced by Joe Gibbs using a re-recording of the riddim of the 1967 Alton Ellis' song "I'm Still In Love", which had already been re-popularised in the 1970s by Marcia Aitken's cover "I'm Still In Love With You Boy" and the deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity.

The original Losing My Edge Post is here

LISTEN

Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna

Bonus Folk Version - Uptown Top Ranking - Scout Niblett

2008-11-04T22:58:00.000-05:00

African Scream Contest

2008-11-01T19:57:00.000-04:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Clearly I have won this round. The first round however went squarely to Gabo Brown & Orchestra with their fucking great track 'It's a Vanity'.

I had to mail away to Dusty Groove to get it. Totally worth it. It's also on LP which I also bought.

Samy who put this record out has a great blog

LISTEN

It's a Vanity

Leki Santchi

2008-10-31T17:06:00.001-04:00

Rock - The Black Keys

2008-10-20T11:43:00.005-04:00

It's nice to find a good rock record that's not The White Stripes. Hailing from Akron OH, this LP was produced strangely by Danger Mouse. I like it. You like it.

LISTEN

Oceans and Streams

I Got Mine

Indian Classical - Ustad Kamal Sabri

2008-10-08T20:37:00.003-04:00

I shot this footage of Kamal the night before he left. For those of you who saw his concert, you know how powerful it is to see this instrument (the Sarangi [Sa-run-gi]) live in person. The audio is very high quality. It is formatted for iPhone.

Subscribe to my Sabri Academy podcast for the iPhone/iPod

Oliver Schroer - R.I.P.

2008-10-07T17:51:00.006-04:00

Now I don't really listen to Classical music much, though from time to time I really enjoy it. And you know what, I'm not even comfortable calling this music classical since it is really quite experimental. When I first heard Schroer's music on the CBC in early June 08, I immediately tried to get tickets for the show that turned out to be his last, but to no avail.

Schroer's Camino was recorded in various churches during a 1,000 km journey Schroer made along the pilgrims trail 'Camino de Santiago' that runs between France and Spain. Google it if you want to know more...

Please buy this record and help support Schroer's family.

LISTEN

Field of Stars

buy

2008-09-30T09:13:00.000-04:00

Dirty Blues

2008-09-19T23:25:00.005-04:00

I love the 50s and 60s euphemisms for fucking. Here's two dirty dirty tracks for you. (Now a 'back door man' isn't necessarily what you might think. It IS the 60s, not the 90s remember...)

LISTEN

I'm a King Bee - Slim Harpo

Back Door Man - Howin' Wolf

Some Slim Harpo notes from a web site:
As cool rocking names go, Slim Harpo is in the freezer. His sonic stylings are just as frigid. A narrow minded man would say he sounds too much like Jimmy Reed. An eloquent man would talk about his lazy-sounding vocal style, the sinewy guitar, the backbeat you can drive a Cadillac through, how less is most deliciously more. But I’m neither of those.
Instead I’ll mention some titles: ‘I Need Money’, ‘Shake Your Hips’, ‘Baby Scratch My Back’….What economy and directness. The lyrics are just as straightforward, stories of simple pleasure that often contain well-observed truth.
Did he make this up right before the tape rolled? --
Ohhh, I dig those crazy clothes Let me feel those fishnet hose Cut low at the top And high at the bottom In fact, I don't see How we ever did without 'em
Slim is from Louisiana. Maybe that explains his magic.

VFest 2008

2008-09-10T08:43:00.002-04:00

I had another great year playing at Toronto's Virgin Festival. Got the 'thumbs up' on my set from Paul Weller and Oasis and no, it was not me that shoved Noel. Stop asking.

My set list is here

2008-08-31T16:40:00.001-04:00

Pop - Electronic - butchersomething

2008-08-28T19:21:00.002-04:00

This is a great pop-electronica record. It’s nice to hear actual songs, rather than just building a song around a loop. I like this record because its influences are such a great combination of familiar and obscure.

LISTEN

Solitary Architects of Heaven

His Only

Folk ~ Rock - Bon Iver

2008-08-10T10:20:00.003-04:00

Sounding like Bon Hiver (good winter), this is a solo effort of Justin Vernon. Recorded in a cabin in remote Wisconsin over the winter of 06-07. Its a very nice quiet acoustic record.

LISTEN

Flume

Lump Sum

buy

Happy Anniversary!

2008-08-02T16:35:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe that it's been two years already. I think I've made it past the milestone that seems to stop most weblogs. Hopefully this year I will be adding a couple of new contributors and we can bring you even more of the music we love.

Cheers,

Eric

2008-07-31T16:25:00.000-04:00

Are you up for the challenge? Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti

2008-07-22T15:47:00.002-04:00

If I worked in a coffee shop, I would probably play this record over and over. Separates the men from the boys it does.

Sounds like: Wham!, Guided by Voices, Ween, Beefheart, Hall & Oats, Mantler

LISTEN

Howling at the Moon

buy at iTunes

I Love This Song...

2008-07-10T17:06:00.002-04:00

My Morning Jacket - Golden

buy

Echo Rock - Beach House

2008-07-09T08:06:00.004-04:00

I'm totally in love with this record. A mix of Yo La Tengo and Nico with lots of great echo-y guitars, organ and drum machine. It's beautiful. Victoria Legrand's vocals take you on a trip to far-off fairy tale lands.

LISTEN

Wedding Bells

Gila

buy it at iTunes store

California Post-Rock - Fleet Foxes

2008-07-02T12:14:00.007-04:00

Actually, they're from Seattle. Riding the seemingly unending wave of bands sounding like The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Zombies etc.., Fleet Foxes have made a record that is really really interesting to listen to. Especially the first half of the record. You hear all of the influences, but are still pleasantly surprised at each new turn of melody. Interesting arrangement. Produced by Seattle's Phil Ek (The Shins, Built To Spill, Mudhoney LP's) It's a really good record.

It also got me to go back and listen to Bundy K Browns 'Directions In Music' - a classic. Thanks to Kev for tipping me to the FF record.

UPDATE

wtf, FF cancel Toronto show July 16th to drive to Chicago to do pre-Pitchfork party. Bummer.

LISTEN

Ragged Wood

edited - please buy it

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

edited - please buy it

Oliver James

buy it at iTunes or go to your local record store for fucks sake.

2008-06-30T19:18:00.000-04:00

Montreal Rock - The Besnards Lakes

2008-06-15T14:24:00.002-04:00

Running in the same circles as fellow Montreal bands like Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade, this BL record came out last year but I only just heard it on CBC late night radio and went right out and bought it.

Falling right smack dab in the middle of my current Beach Boys/Cali Rock obsession, this is a beautiful and quite experimental record. Reminds me also of The Flaming Lips, and at times Yo La Tengo.

LISTEN

For Agent 13

also listen to Rides The Rails

buy on iTunes

Rock - Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains

2008-06-09T11:02:00.008-04:00

Sebastien is former of Death From Above 1979. His EP came out yesterday. Only $3.99! Looks like the album will have quite a few treats on it. I love this Way To Come Home track. Once you dig it, you should buy it, then listen to the demo which is fucking great too.

LISTEN

Ways To Come Home

buy on iTunes

I also liked the hot little funk track SG released last year "When You Go Out"

On The Way To Come Home (demo)

Also, go buy this lovely track on a record dedicated to Bellwoods Park. Young Mothers

If you like the heavy sounds of DFA 1979 more, try this one: Let's Make Out

Bootleg - Zakir Hussain show feat Niladri Kumar on Sitar

2008-06-06T13:31:00.007-04:00

I told a few of you about Zakir Hussain coming to town. I managed to catch up with his tour in Vancouver when I was out there shooting. I was really taken by his sitar player. Here is a clip taken from my stills camera. It's poor quality but really worth a listen. Reminds me of 'Brothers' from the Paris, Texas soundtrack by Ry Coode r.

LISTEN

bootleg

READ

nice review by the Toronto Show

More Beach Rock - Grizzly Bear

2008-06-04T19:28:00.004-04:00

I'm still liking this Beach Boys influenced post-rock, done very nicely by indie darlings Grizzly Bear.

UPDATE: See them on Letterman July 23rd.

LISTEN

Knife

buy @ iTunes