the triumphant return of...
Silverchair. Yes, silverchair.
And they're no longer the boys you remember (grungy & whiney).
Actually, they haven't been those boys for a long time.
Anyway, as stated in the clip below, the threesome is releasing their first album in 5 years. 2002s Diorama was actually pretty good (not brilliant though, like it's previous release, Neon Ballroom).
But this little clip has me jumping for joy (on the inside, of course.)
see for yourself and tell me what you think.
I like it. I really do. First response: "whoa. weird."
But it's piqued my interest and I can't wait for camp Silverchair to unleash the rest of the track/video on us this Friday. It's not as dark as their previous work and definitely has a little bounce to it. Yeah, it makes me want to tap my feet a little bit - a far cry from their debut album Frogstomp, which just made me want to headbang a little bit. Yeah, I went there.
And yes, Silverchair still has fans, believe it or not. My boss didn't believe it, but when I forwarded her a few emails I had received from their fan club, her assumptions were probably laid to rest. I can't wait to see them at the Kool Haus in Toronto because I'm pretty curious to see what Silverchair fans in 2007 look like (never mind what Silverchair in 2007 sound like). I sure remember what we looked like in 1997, but let's not revisit that dark, scary time right now, ok?
I’m pretty hopeful their forth-coming record will please my ears. My expectations aren't exactly high for the time being, despite enjoying the little sample, because I know that I'm a different music-lover than when I was when I was a super-fan in the late 90s.
Expect a vague album review from yours truly when the album hits shelves later this year. And if you're a fan, expect not to see it on our station, but rather on MuchAXS in perhaps a few weeks or so. No promises though.
Until next tuesday...
Posted by anto+nella at 04:13 PM | Comments (1)
January 30, 2007Required Beach Listening
There’s nothing quite like an awesome beach song… you know, those songs that just evoke the feeling and memory of sitting on a sunny beach, relaxed and totally at ease. I did a f**k-load of sitting on the beach while on vacation the last week or so and a few new songs and artists nuzzled their way into my heart and sandy ears.
Beirut – Postcards from Italy (from Gulag Orkestar)
this is one of those songs that totally floored me from first listen. calming and beautiful, as soon as its over you want to hear it again. if you’re a sucker for a killer trumpet solo (like me), this track has one that’s guaranteed to crush you and give you chills on even the hottest and sweatiest of sandy strips. don’t believe me(?), download this song right now, close your eyes and dream…
Beirut – Postcards from Italy.mp3
Of Montreal – Everyday Feels Like Sunday (from the Sunlandic Twins bonus ep)
breezy, summery pop at its absolute best! this somehow became the default alarm clock/wake-up song (b/c I couldn’t really get my ipod to play anything else) and me and my brotha had no problem with that. everyday DID feel like sunday, it was amazing! ps – check out Of Montreal’s wicked new album Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Lily Allen – Smile (from Alright, Still)
one of big pop singles from ’06 - i was a little reluctant to embrace L.A. on initial listens, but oh what a difference 30 or so degrees centigrade can make. Lily’s music - and Smile especially could not be more at home in the warm climate. its such a confident and care-free song, being on vacation makes you empathize with liberated Lily’s vibe 10 fold.
and three new full-lengths that are just about as essential as sun-screen when it comes to packing for your beach vacation… Peter Bjorn & John – Writer’s Block, Albert Hammond Jr. – Yours to Keep and of course, the new Shins album – Wincing the Night Away. are you guys as floored by the new Shins as me??? i simply cannot stop listening to it!
Posted by Geoff M at 11:01 AM | Comments (1)
January 30, 2007No Nelson
hey folks, just got back from vacation the other day (if you care to know, it was pretty damn awesome... more on that later) and saw that the hard working team in the unit here has been updating the blog quite frequently - good on us. i feel it only necessary though to take to this forum to offer a counterpoint to the recent post by my kind and esteemed colleague anto+nella about the Oscars + the movie Half Nelson.
just as she feels it worthy to encourage you to see Half Nelson, i implore you to skip this boring piece of drivel! sure, it wasn't terrible... no wait, it kind of was. i personally have trouble watching films with protagonists that do nothing to make you interested in or care for them. for maybe 2 of the film's 100+ minutes did i actually give a sh*t about what happened to mr. gosling's character. his performance, though decent - is not nearly enough to make this film worth watching.
re: the music. i'm about as big a bss fan as you can find, but really, i found the use of their music to be quite spotty and often out of place. some of the more ambient spacier stuff off Feel Good Lost was right at home and used effectively, but generally... not so good.
but hey, your call. now you have two opinions… choose your side! (sorry anto, no offence intended)
Posted by Geoff M at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2007LaLa Land = Good
Greetings weblings.
Been a while. So I recently got back from a little vacay in lalaland and I have to say I have changed my tune. I was a complete HATER of all things Los Angeles but 2007 served up a surprise. I met some very cool people on my little trip and flipped my opinion. Here are my top three reasons why I now am a fan of L.A.:
Through six degrees of separation (sans Bacon) I managed to connect with the boys and girls of Good. They are based out of LA and run a magazine that is empowered and witty. And has great stickers. The founder came into a fair bit of money and decided to start a company with his friends that will effect positive change. It is 20 bucks for an annual subscription and all the money goes to charity. They provide you with a list of charities that cover the spectrum of issues and you choose where your money should go. Brilliant.
One good thing leads to another. The peeps at Good introduced me to this little LA band called The Deadly Syndrome. All their inspiration comes from Canadian bands so you know they are going to be worth listening to. And they are.
3. After The Wedding.
I have been raving about this film since I saw it at the Scandinavian Film Festival in L.A. two weeks ago and what do you know? Oscar nomination! Fantastic film with heart wrenching performances. Love love LOVE this film. I hope it wins.
Movie. Music. Magazine. All the necessities filled.
Till next time
Cheerio
hx
Posted by Hannah Simone at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2007What's the name of that song?
We get at least 10 emails weekly about our theme song. The NewMusic opening theme song (which has been used since the inception over 25 yrs ago) is called Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag by Pigbag.
Thank god for youtube and check out the video.
Posted by Manny at 03:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2007and the award goes to...
well, we're not quite sure at this point in time, but as of this morning, we know who the nominees are for the academy awards.
up for best actor is the one and only ryan gosling for his role in half nelson. gosling plays a drug-addicted teacher who's goal is to inspire his under-privledged students. conflict arises when a student becomes aware of his situation. shareeka epps also blew me away in her role as drey, the student.
original music for the film was performed by none other than canada's own broken social scene. how cool is that? their music fit the film like that pair of gloves you wish you never lost. so well that it's never a distraction while you're watching.
if you haven't seen this film, i encourage you to do so.
it may be gosling's best performance to date - an amazing accomplishment considering his previous work (the united states of leland, the notebook...).
if gosling wins, he'll be the youngest person to get the honour in his catagory. also the first canadian.
he probably won't, but he sure deserves it.
he's only 25, so he's got some time to pick up other trophies.
Posted by anto+nella at 03:36 PM | Comments (1)
January 21, 2007Assembly Time
Remember going to all those boring school assemblies in high school. Well a bunch of teachers from Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School totally f-ed with these kids.
HAHA-I would kill to see one of my old high school teachers doing the chicken noodle soup. Amazing.
Oh and Jose, Bionic Woman>The Six Million Dollar Man.
Manny.
PS. Expect a bit of a teaser this week for some upcoming NewMusic episodes for Feb.
Posted by Manny at 08:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2007Talkin' Greasy About The iPhone
A few months ago, Manny, Geoff, Robert and I had a discussion about the gadget of our geek-dreams, and we came to the consensus that it'd be a sort of modern tricorder - phone, music, movies, camera, pictures, video games, maps, internet, chat, etc., all compiled into one handheld device.
(Full disclosure: Manny initially said that the gadget of his geek-dreams was a robot girlfriend that looked like Lindsay Wagner and Geoff said he'd be interested in a yoga mat with human emotions. But they eventually came around.)
So of course all the kids here at The NewMusic are pretty excited about the iPhone Apple unveiled at Macworld last week. It has everything we wanted!
Note, however, I just wrote the past-tense of "want" - "wanted" - because after seeing the iPhone's device-real-estate-dominating screen, I now have a new dream feature in mind, a true innovation, something even more spectacular and exciting than anything Steve Jobs has ever presented:
I want a function that auto-cleans face grease off the iPhone.
If you currently use a cell phone that features a screen, you know what I'm talking about. That tiny patch of pixels meant for displaying a picture of your girl, (or puppy, or girl playing with puppy), is rendered unsightly by an opaque smear of face-film after only a few presses against your ear/hair/rear jaw. It's sick and gross.
I can handle it, though, because save for short texting bursts and the occasional round of Bejeweled, I don't spend that much time staring at my cell phone's screen. The iPhone, however, is meant to be stared at.
Whether it's the flip-through-all-the-album-covers iTunes interface, or the crazy-cute look and feel of the chat function, or the widescreen on which we will watch Pirates of the Caribbean, I feel like the iPhone is going to be an eye-maintenance gadget, the kind of thing that demands we spend a little more quality time with it and a little less time roaming the streets with our loser friends.
But who wants to spend all that time with something that can’t keep itself looking lovely? If you're watching Entourage on your TV at home, it'd be annoying to have to interrupt one of Ari's rants to spritz the screen with Windex.
Manny agrees: "It's still a cool thing, but once your face starts rubbing up on it, it's gonna be a little gross."
(I'm 80% sure Manny wasn't talking about my face, specifically.)
Dave Lembke, friend to The NewMusic and a producer with Star! Daily, is more optimistic about the face-grease situation, thanks to a Gizmodo article about the iPhone: "You don't actually have to touch it. As you learn the phone, the phone learns you."
This, if true, will make me very happy. I mean, I'm still not going to replace the video iPod I upgraded to last month with an iPhone until at least a few iPhone generations have grown up and passed away - but if, when I do go after one of the little guys, it could learn that I want it to constantly wash its own face? Shoot, that's worth the US$599 price tag right there.
Oh, and, um...the iPhone plays music. We talk about music on this blog. Specifically, the "New" variety.
A promise, then: I'll get into my most anticipated record of 2007 next time.
Posted by Jose L at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2007blow the roof off 2007
2007 is shaping up to be a hot year in music. And while I can’t wait to get my tiny little hands on music from some of my favourite artists, I refuse to listen to advance copies of albums, unlike my eager co-worker, Geoff. Not to throw any disses your way, dude. Is anyone else like that? There’s just something about getting a new album, violently ripping off the plastic and putting into your cd player (computer) for the first time and listening to it in its entirety – the way the artist intended. I’ll listen to advance copies of albums from artists that I am unfamiliar with, or don’t particularly have an affinity for, but never artists that I dig. This doesn’t make any sense, I realize this.
Anyway, here’s a mini-list of albums that I’m stoked for, that maybe you are too. (In no particular order, of course)
Modest Mouse: We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Now here’s a band that I could NEVER get behind. Maybe it was the fact that they were over-hyped (and I don’t really fall for that). Maybe it's just that their last record, Good News For People Who Love Bad News, was pure rubbish (is that acceptable?). Either way, ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has joined the band, and now I’m intrigued. Actually, I heard a track from their forthcoming disc (I broke my rule because I never liked them, remember?) off their MySpace site and I LOVED IT. That's enough to get on my list.
Poison The Well - Versions
I just want to love this band again. Their last album bummed me out.
Fall Out Boy – Infinity On High
After having an amazing year, Fall Out Boy are quick to give power-pop lovers a taste of some new medicine. And I’m certain it’s going to taste different. Isn’t Baby Face producing some of the tracks? Weird isn’t it? Especially for a bunch of hardcore kids from the Chicago ‘burbs. Ok, this isn’t my chance to slam the band. I do love their music but if their first single “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” is any indication of the remaining tracks, label me unimpressed. But I'm not going to count them out because of one song, not yet anyway. After all, they do get better with age.
Apparently there’s a bonus track if you pick up your disc at Wal-Mart, but I don’t think I’ll be doing that. Besides, we’re not in Kansas, are we? Anyway, I’m marking February 6th on my calendar, and I know a lot of 16 year olds are too. AND THAT’S OK.
Glassjaw - TBA
I thought we would never see the return of Glassjaw, once the much dancier Head Automatica picked up momentum, but they’re hitting us with another record. Well, according to rumours and a very vague Daryl Palumbo, they are. Who really knows with this band, right? Either way the band has reconvened in the studio and presuming all goes well, we should be getting a follow up to Worship and Tribute. As Morrissey says, please, please, please let me get what I want…
Boys Night Out – TBA
I can’t keep track of what these guys are doing, because they seem to be in and out of the studio or on tour. They’re releasing a digital EP called Fifty Million People Can’t Be Wrong on February 6th, but I’m a little more stoked for the LP which should be coming out later this year. Trainwreck blew my mind, and I’m hoping they can do it again for me. Lord knows they have it in them.
I'm also stoked for the forthcoming Saves The Day Record.
They'll always make me feel 17.
Posted by anto+nella at 06:08 PM | Comments (1)
January 08, 20075 reasons why music will still be great in 2007 (guaranteed) PART 2
as promised, 3 more records that prove that music will still be great in 2007.
3. Menomena – Friend and Foe (barsuk/outside)
Sometime early in October, the Barsuk records roadshow arrived in Toronto with the Long Winters, What Made Milwaukee Famous and Menomena. That same day, Friend and Foe landed on my desk at work. Curious and anticipating the night’s show, I popped in the record... and totally didn’t get it. But – I didn’t give up and the next day listened again and again and again until finally… breakthrough. I think it was on the fourth or fifth listen and about 90 seconds into the mind-blowing single Wet and Rustling. I had another massive breakthrough a few weeks later listening to the record while walking the streets of Chelsea in New York – it was like a revelation – everything that I found so complex in the record suddenly became simple. One of the most dense pop albums i've ever heard AND one of the best relationships I’ve had with a record in forever. Essential. January 23rd.
Download: Menomena - Wet and Rustling.mp3
4. Loney, Dear – Loney, Noir (subpop/outside)
Ive been pretty out of the bedroom pop vibe for a while now, but what do you know – I find myself over the holidays throwing on this new record by a Swedish multi-instrumentalist how calls himself Loney, Dear – and blamo, bedroom pop. But Loney, Noir manages to avoid a lot of clichés associated with the often maligned genre. The album is littered with soaring melodies and warm head-bobbing beats. Happy, triumphant and not too wussie-ass. Dig it. February 6th.
5. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are a Dark Horse (outside)
For my money, the city of Montreal birthed more great records last year than in both 2004 and 2005 when the Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade topped year-end lists. Records from the Dears, Land of Talk and Malajube needed no wave of hype to find an audience and unlike many of the other bands that were hyped alongside Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade, these bands actually made great records. Enter The Besnard Lakes. The band’s brand new record The Besnard Lakes Are a Dark Horse is a dark and epic trip packed with massive woozy guitars, deep brooding harmonies and crushing heart-felt moments. Totally killer. The second track For Agent 13 is already one of my favorites of the year. Do it, February 20th.
Posted by Geoff M at 03:46 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 20075 reasons why music will still be great in 2007 (guaranteed)
lately it seems like new year prediction lists are as ubiquitous as annual year end lists – but this list is different – these aren't predictions, they’re full-on declarations of greatness. 5 records due for release imminently, that I’ve already had the opportunity to listen to and fall in love with… (hence, the guarantee… of sorts).
1. Apostle of Hustle – National Anthem of Nowhere
I’d kind of been anticipating this since last January when I heard Andrew (Apostle of Hustle) Whiteman debut the title track for the album at a solo performance. This record is one of the most incredibly focused musical collages I’ve heard in ages. I personally find it miles more accessible than ‘Folkloric Feel’ – with songs like Cheap Like Sebastian and Chances Are proving that Whiteman knows how to write exceptional and challenging alternative pop songs without the help of his other band. I guarantee that this record will turn heads and ears when it drops February 6th.
2. The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
For reals. This record is everything I’d hoped it’d be. Yes(!), the wicked pop melodies are still all over the album, but Wincing offers so much more – with songs like Sleeping Lessions and the 56 second ditty Pam Berry showing that the band’s musical palate has grown considerably. Somehow, The Shins seem to mature just enough with each release – exploring new musical territory, while still remaining true to the classic idiosyncratic songcraft that they built their reputation on. In stores, Janurary 23rd.
…wait, that’s only 2 reasons!?! – don’t worry more reasons are on the way real soon (i promise). I just have to go home now :)
Posted by Geoff M at 04:37 PM | Comments (1)
