"Bonfires burning bright, pumpkin faces in the night"

Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday of them all. I've always been a fan of costumes, and getting into character to be someone else for the whole day. Here's some Halloween songs to get you pumped. I'm draggin' it up tonight and going as Kelly. What's your costume going to be?

For your ears -
The Misfits: Halloween
Jonathan Coulton: Re: Your Brains
Marilyn Manson: This is Halloween
Sufjan Stevens: They Are Night Zombies! They Are Neighbors! They Have Come Back From The Dead! Ahhhh!
Panic! At The Disco: This is Halloween
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince: Nightmare on My Street
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes -
NAHPI's (The North American Halloween Prevention Initiative) video for "Do They Know It's Halloween?"

"I can't tell my elbow from my ass"

I have been lax lately on looking into new music. I've mostly been going back and listening to artists from my teenage years, mixed in with the new Kanye, Tegan & Sara, and Radiohead. Here's some songs I somehow slept on, and have been rocking especially hard as of late.

For your ears -
Amerie: Gotta Work (highly recommended)
Camera Obscura: Suspended From Class
AFI: Miss Murder
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes -
Another song I slept on, The Kaiser Chiefs' "Ruby" video

Nerd Explosion!

Guitar Hero III comes out today, and I am literally salivating at my chance to play it on my Wii. I have been counting down the release of this game since the official track listing came out, and I expect this will be the best edition of the series so far. Within hours, GH III will live in my house. YAY! For those about to rock, we salute you!

For your ears -
Tracks on Guitar Hero III I am stoked to play:
Weezer: My Name is Jonas
The Killers: When You Were Young
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes -
"My Name is Jonas" being played on expert mode


Guitar Hero III's official site

Saturday Throwback: The Beatles' Abbey Road

Today we're going way back to 1969 to The Beatles' 11th studio album, Abbey Road. My parents were more Rolling Stones fans, so I didn't get into The Beatles until my mid twenties. I love this album from start to finish. Though the band was barely hanging on at this point, this is one of their most solid recordings, as well as their best selling. Lennon and McCartney's lyrics are spot on as always, and Abbey Road is a great ride. Take a listen.

For your ears -
The Beatles: She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
The Beatles: Golden Slumbers
The Beatles: Carry That Weight
from the album Abbey Road (buy it)

For your eyes -
The Beatles' video for "Something"

The Beatles' Website

Friday Five - Undercover

I'm busy gearing up for the weekend and for Halloween, so here's five cover songs to get you going. Enjoy!

For your ears -
Ben Gibbard: Thriller (live) (Michael Jackson cover)
Camera Obscura: I Love How You Love Me (The Paris Sisters cover)
DJ Sammy: Heaven (Bryan Adams cover)
The Be Good Tanyas: When Doves Cry (Prince cover)
Hard Fi: Toxic (Britney Spears cover)
support these artists by purchasing their music

For your eyes -
Cat Power performing Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" at ACL '06

Dance Yourself to Death!

Want to get on board with "The Next Big Thing"? Well, look no further than Toronto's own Dance Yourself to Death. The queer indie-pop-rock band consisting of Jen M.(lead vocals, bass), Susan (drums and backing vocals), Johnny (keyboards), and newcomer Carmen (guitar), have the perfect combination of hooks, looks, and energy to take them all the way. The band is currently working on a full length album, due out sometime in 2008, and has songs available for download on their MySpace. I'd also highly recommend picking up their self-titled EP, it is a rocking good time.

For your ears -
DYTD: Living Funeral
DYTD: Chemical Reaction
DYTD: Teenage Romanticide
from the Dance Yourself to Death EP (buy it)

For your eyes -
Dance Yourself To Death performing at Lee's Palace

Dance Yourself To Death's MySpace

Saturday Throwback: Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

I'm a longtime Sarah McLachlan fan, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Sarah writes intensely personal and moving lyrics that her voice just flows through beautifully. No where does this shine through better than on her 1993 release, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. McLachlan had long been a hit in her native Canada, but this was the album that brought her international success. The album starts off with a bang with "Possession" (a song inspired by letters from a stalker)and ends with the hauntingly heart-wrenching title track. Still a favorite of mine, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy remains a timeless classic. Take a listen.

For your ears -
Sarah McLachlan: Possession (Version 2)
Sarah McLachlan: Elsewhere
Sarah McLachlan: Hold On
from the album Fumbling Toward Ecstasy (buy it)

For your eyes -
Sarah McLachlan performing "Fear" from the Afterglow Live DVD

Sarah McLachlan's Website

Friday Five - Cover Stories

It's that time of the week kids, so here's five cover songs to get you going for the weekend. Enjoy!

For your ears -
Ben Gibbard: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (live) (Cyndi Lauper cover)
Regina Spektor: Real Love (live) (John Lennon cover)
Rihanna: Is This Love? (Bob Marley cover)
Dixie Chicks: Landslide (Fleetwood Mac cover)
Hootie and the Blowfish: Hey Hey What Can I Do (Led Zepplin cover)
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes -
Melissa Ferrick covering David Gray's "Babylon"

Review: Melissa Ferrick w/ Dance Yourself to Death @ Lee's Palace 10/17/07

I had only caught Melissa Ferrick in concert once briefly during Toronto's Pride 2007. I was looking forward to seeing her last night at Lee's Palace because my girl has always spoken so highly of her live show. I was not disappointed in the least bit. Ferrick's live show is high energy, and her banter with the audience is superb. She played a good mix of older material, as well as some new songs she is working on. She played solo, just her and her guitar, and the crowd ate it up. She did a cover of Patty Griffin's "Moses" which was phenomenal, and opened up "Drive" with a snippet of Prince's "Darling Nikki" which personally tickled me to death. I picked up her new live CD at the show, Live at Union Hall, and it is most excellent. Check her show out if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.

Opening for Ferrick was Toronto's own Dance Yourself to Death. The group played a rockin' six song set, and I also picked up their self-titled EP at the show. Good stuff all around. I'll be doing a post on these kids tomorrow, as I think they are really going places.

For your eyes -
Melissa Ferrick performing with Lyndell Montgomery at Toronto's Pride 2007

Melissa Ferrick's Website

"Oh My God!"

Ida Maria is an up-and-coming artist from Norway whose voice and sound remind me a bit of Bjork when she was with The Sugarcubes (especially on the track "Louie"). Ida is currently doing a few dates in New York City, as well as shopping her demo around. Her music is not necessarily phenomenal, but it is fun. Take a listen.

For your ears -
Ida Maria: Louie (highly recommended)
Ida Maria: Going To Hell
Ida Maria: Oh My God
from her demo which you can buy here

For your eyes -
Ida Maria performing "Pleasure" live at Mono, Oslo 7/29/07

Ida Maria's Website, MySpace

Saturday Throwback: Jeff Buckley's Grace

1994's Grace was the only full-length studio album that Jeff Buckley made before his untimely death in 1997. Grace is, simply, a sonic masterpiece. From the title track, to his cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", Buckley's soulful voice soars on this album. The lyrics on this album can't be beat, especially on tracks such as "Lover, You Should've Come Over" and the college radio hit "Last Goodbye". Grace still holds it owns after thirteen years, and is the high spot in a career that was cut way too short. Take a listen.

For your ears -
Jeff Buckley: Lover, You Should've Come Over
Jeff Buckley: Last Goodbye
Jeff Buckley: So Real
from the album Grace (buy it)

For your eyes -
Jeff Buckley performing "Hallelujah" live

Jeff Buckley's Website

Review: Regina Spektor @ Kool Haus 10/11/07

Regina Spektor packed Toronto's Kool Haus last night, putting on an almost two hour show that had the crowd smiling from ear to ear. Spektor started off the show A Capella, then performed most of the set with her piano, occasionally throwing in a chair and a drumstick (see video below), and a number with her opener beat boxing for her while she performed "Hotel Song". Spektor's show is upbeat, quirky, and just plain fun. She performed all of her popular songs, and her four song encore was fabulous. Spektor also did a cover of John Lennon's "Real Love" which was absolutely beautiful and which I will be trying to get my hands on. If Regina Spektor blesses your town with a show, be sure to check her out.

For your eyes -
Regina Spektor performing "Poor Little Rich Boy" last night at the Kool Haus

Regina Spektor's Website

Friday Five: Cover Ups and Lies

Thank god it's Friday, as I am wore out from last night's Regina Spektor concert, and only have to offer up five cover songs for your enjoyment.

For your ears -
Sufjan Stevens: The One I Love (REM cover)
You Say Party! We Say Die!: Nightswimming (REM cover)
Anna Ternheim: China Girl (David Bowie cover)
Tegan and Sara: Umbrella (Rihanna cover)
Counting Crows: Borderline (Madonna cover)
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes -
Alanis' video for her cover of The Black Eye Peas' "My Humps"

In Rainbows well worth the wait.

Radiohead's latest release, In Rainbows, became available digitally yesterday. I've listened to the 10 new tracks, and have to say I really dig this album on the first listen through. I haven't felt this happy about a new Radiohead album since OK Computer, especially listening to such tracks as "Reckoner" and "Jigsaw Falling Into Place". Thom Yorke and the gang have really produced a solid, ethereal sounding record, and I will probably sink down the cash on December 3rd when In Rainbows is released as a "discbox" with a second CD of additional material. Five stars across the board here. Take a listen.

For your ears -
Radiohead: 15 Step
Radiohead: Reckoner
Radiohead: Jigsaw Falling Into Place
from the album In Rainbows (buy it)

For your eyes -
Radiohead performing "Nude" in Amsterdam

Radiohead's Website UPDATE: I fucking LOVE this album!

Review: A Fine Frenzy w/ Brandi Carlile @ The Phoenix Theatre 10/9/07

First off, I'm going to have to invest in a digital camera that is small enough to hide in my pocket, because my Razor's camera phone isn't cutting it. My lovely girl and I were a bit bamboozled when we first bought tickets to this event. We thought the show was going to be A Fine Frenzy with someone else opening. Much to our dismay, we found out that A Fine Frenzy was going to be opening for Brandi Carlile, an artist we knew nothing about. The show at The Phoenix was pretty sparsely attended when we arrived, most folks being there to get their drink on before Carlile took the stage. I would say by the end of her set, A Fine Frenzy had won over anyone in the crowd who wasn't familiar with her work. She started the set with "Come On, Come On", and ran through most of her debut album, One Cell in the Sea. Hearing "Almost Lover", "You Picked Me", and "Rangers" live was worth the twenty dollars we plunked down for the tickets. This was A Fine Frenzy's first time performing in Toronto, and I hope she comes 'round this way again. I can't say much about Brandi Carlile's performance, because after listening to the songs on her MySpace, we agreed that her music sucked and we didn't want to stand around for an hour or so listening to shite.

For your eyes -
A tiny snippet of A Fine Frenzy playing "The Minnow and The Trout" at the Phoenix Theater.

Review: Tegan and Sara @ Danforth Music Hall with Northern State 10/8/07

Tegan and Sara wrapped up a rockin' two show gig in Toronto last night at the Danforth Music Hall. Northern State opened the show for the sisters, and perhaps if their sound equipment had been properly set, I could give you an honest assessment of their performance. I can at least say that they appeared to be very energetic. My lovely girlfriend and I spent most of Northern State's set outside in the smoking corral.

Tegan and Sara took the stage shortly after, and embarked on playing a selection of songs from The Con, "Nineteen" and "Like O, Like H" being the highlights of the set. Between lengthy (but damn right entertaining) banter between the sisters, the band then played a handful of songs from older albums. "Walking With A Ghost" and "My Number" were definite stand outs. The sisters wrapped up their set with some more songs from The Con, and during the encore came out and did an excellent cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella". An excellent show from start to finish, I will be sure to catch Tegan and Sara the next time they roll into Toronto.

For your eyes -
Tegan and Sara performing "Dark Come Soon" at an in store promo they did in Toronto on October 4, 2007

Tegan and Sara's Website

Gobble, Gobble betches!

Today, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving, so in honor of stuffing yourself full of 12 pounds of turkey and mashed potatoes, I offer you a serving of mash ups I particularly enjoy.

For your ears -
Kelly vs Britney Spears: Gimme More Shoes
The Cure vs Jay-Z: Close to 99 Problems
Kanye West vs Kelly Rowland: Stronger Like This
Panic! at the Disco vs Rihanna: SOS at the Disco
Amy Winehouse vs Britney Spears: Toxic Rehab
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes-
"Glam Slam" - CB Shaw's video mash-up

Saturday Throwback: Counting Crow's August and Everything After

Released in the fall of 1993 and produced by T-bone Burnett, Counting Crows` debut album, August and Everything After is one of those records that is still as powerful to me today as it was when I first heard it. The album is still the band`s most commercially successful, and in my opinion is the best work they`ve put out. I think you`d be hard pressed not to find someone who can sing the chorus from ``Mr Jones``. August and Everything After is chock full of haunting lyrics and gorgeous melodies. ``Anna Begins`` is hands down one of the most emotionally powerful songs I`ve ever heard. Take a listen.

For your ears -
Counting Crows: Anna Begins
Counting Crows: A Murder of One
Counting Crows: Perfect Blue Buildings
from the album August and Everything After (buy it)

For your eyes -
Counting Crows' video for "Round Here"

Counting Crows' Website

Friday Five - Under the Cover of Night

It's Friday, churn, so here's five cover songs to start your weekend off with. Enjoy!

For your ears -
Rogue Wave: Debaser (Pixies cover)
Nirvana: The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie cover)
Cake: I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor cover)
Fergie: Barracuda (Heart cover)
Sarah McLachlan: Blackbird (Beatles cover)
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes -
Mandy Moore covering Rihanna's "Umbrella"

"I would have waited like a week or two"

I am a sucker for accents, and an even bigger sucker for ridiculous songs. I've hit the jackpot here with Soko. From Paris, Soko is starting to make some waves with the first single off of her EP, Not Sokute, called "I'll Kill Her". The EP came out in April and is available off of Itunes, check her out.

For your ears -
Soko: I'll Kill Her
Soko: My Enemy
Soko: Take My Heart
from the EP Not Sokute (buy it)

For your eyes -
Soko's video(?) for "I'll Kill Her"

Soko's MySpace

"A million stars reflecting in our eyes"

I've gotten into the habit of picking up new albums on a whim, and this has been pretty good to me so far. Today however, I picked up the recently released Love is Simple from Akron/Family. I've heard good things about their live show, so I was excited to listen. That excitement did not last very long after the first track. One track, "Cricket", grabbed me and I could listen to it again, but the rest of the album just sounds like poorly put together noise. I've put up the three tracks I could stomach, take a listen and let me know what you think.

For your ears -
Akron/Family: Crickets
Akron Family: Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead
Akron Family: Pony's OG
from the album Love Is Simple (buy it)

For your eyes -
Akron /Family performing "Love Is Simple" live


Akron/Family's Website

Guest Post: The Music of Relationships

(for more information about the artwork provided,
please click this link and learn about artist Robert Sherer's
thought-provoking work and see his latest installments.)
***
Ultimately, music is about relationships. Starting as the relationship between muse and artist, it is cast into the world. Once in the world, it spreads itself wantonly, forming relationships with thousands of listeners (if you are lucky, you are one), however, the relationship building is not over! If you are lucky... or extremely unlucky... the song forms a relationship with your memory banks and every time you hear it or are reminded of it, the relationship brings you, willingly or unwillingly, back to... well... someone.

In my first post (or awesomeness), I want to devote space to some songs I love that represents relationships I had/ve (since it's a present thing... memory makes everything present). In no way representative of every important relationship, it tracks relationships with people harder to forget than myself when young and (more) beautiful.

In an effort to spare you any emo-esque remembrances, I'll leave off the story and make due with the music. ... unless you wanna know... but you'll have to ask.

For your ears:
(Anthony Alford) Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians: Little Miss S.
(Brentley Stone) Tori Amos: Space Dog
(Hope Bates) Chopin: Nocturne in E-Flat Major
(Clint Spires) Laura Nyro: Tom Cat Goodbye
(Kevin McCrae) Madonna: La Isla Bonita
support these artists by buying their music

For your eyes:
Audra McDonald takes on "Tom Cat Goodbye" by Laura Nyro. Nearly faithful, I am astounded by her gorgeous voice.

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Now playing: Mark Lotz & Shango's Dance - Asoyi Track
via FoxyTunes