Black Cab Sessions

Fleet Foxes and Sunset Rubdown are just two of many bands to jump on the Black Cab Sessions bandwagon. The premise? Indie artists jump in the back of one of London's iconic black cabs and play a stripped down track while getting a ride around the city. Recent participants have included The National, Bon Iver, Spoon, The New Pornographers, Cave Singers and Lightspeed Champion.

Robin of Fleet Foxes contributing an excellent cover of 'Crayon Angels' while cruising around the streets of Holborn a few weeks ago:


3/5 of Sunset Rubdown performing an unreleased track called 'You Go On Ahead' before their gig at the Luminaire last month:


Lykke Li with 'I'm Good I'm Gone':


- a.m.p.m.

June Grab Bag

Hey, don't get the wrong message - despite the week-long hiatus BTA still loves you, faithful readers. As a reward for your patience we've got a selection of random shiz that we've been rocking over the past month or so:

Weezer - Pork and Beans
Magic Wands - Black Magic
Bo Diddley - We're Gonna Get Married
White Denim - Shake Shake Shake
Wolf Parade - Fine Young Cannibals
My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed
Beck - Chemtrails
Bowerbirds - Dark Horse

- a.m.p.m.

(thanks to tapedeck.org for the image)

Contest: Calexico, July 6th, Mod Club

On behalf of Canadians nation-wide, I want to thank Calexico for running the Canadian festivals gamut this summer with stops at fests in Quebec City, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Calgary on this, their bazillionth tour during a very lengthy and successful career. The band will be roadtesting material from their upcoming album Carried to Dust, due out in early September.

Apart from the festival frenzy, they'll be making a stop in Toronto at the Mod Club on July 6th, and Le National in Montreal the night after. And, thanks to ATG, we've got a pair of tickets to give away for the Toronto date. To enter, email us before 12 noon on July 5th with the subject line "Carried to Calexico".

Given their reputation as an eclectic and electric live performance, I suspect that this one just may sell out. So get your emails in, kiddies.

Calexico - Sunken Waltz (from 2003's Feast of Wire)

Calexico w/ Iron & Wine - Sixteen, Maybe Less (from 2005's collaborative EP In the Reins)

Calexico - Lucky Dime (from 2006's Garden Ruin)

- bbbykmbrly.

Full Animals

Anyone who knows anything about Girl Talk aka Gregg Gillis has no doubt gotten their hands on his latest release, Feed the Animals. We gave you the set up a week ago: Gillis is a mash-up mastermind and planned to release his newest mix "Radiohead-style" through the Illegal Art website within the coming week. While by no means a pioneer of the genre, Girl Talk has taken mash-ups to the next level.

Well, the album dropped electronically (like all good music should) and I can't get enough of it, nor can the rest of the blog world. There are literally hundreds of songs sampled through the 54-minute album. They range from the latest Weezy F Baby to The Band to Radiohead to Kanye to Jackson Five to Queen and on and on and on. You get the idea...he even mixes Avril Lavigne (read: annoying beyond belief) and it works. Girl Talk makes me like shitty pop and rap music that I don't usually pay any attention to. Plus, that album art is pretty badass in my opinion.

While this is definitely going to be the party starter for the summer, it is also an incredible mix to exercise with. I'm super lazy and it got me beyond pumped during my 7am run this morning.

Below are a couple of jams from the album, but you may as well do yourself a favor and download the album straight from the source. It'll be interesting to see how the artists sampled react to the album - could this be the future of pop music? Gillis has definitely taken a pile of poop and turned it into a pop masterpiece, now let those live shows pick back up.

Girl Talk - Play Your Part (Pt 1)
Girl Talk - Still Here

-Stay fly,
A.W.

Contest - Times New Viking, July 1st - Horseshoe Tavern

Times New Viking aren't everyone's cup o' tea. But if maintaining your ear drums isn't high on the list of this month's priorities, then I certainly suggest checking the lo-fi three-piece when they come celebrate Canada Day like only a group of Ohians (Ohio-ians?) can, July 1st at the Horseshoe. Their third album (and first with Matador), Rip it Off, came out at the beginning of the year and has a lot of people excited about the return to fuzz rock.

ATG has given us two pairs of tickets to dish out to the boys and girls who read our blog. So send us an email with the subject "Times New Viking are in my head". Do so before noon on June 29th.

I, for one, am particularly anxious to hear what they sound like when they're not recording music as though they're hanging out in cold basement apartment with a tape recorder from 1961.

I suspect it might sound something like these Daytrotter sessions, recorded in May.

Times New Viking - Mean God (Daytrotter Session)
Times New Viking - The Apartment (Daytrotter Session)

- bbbykmbrly.

Festival Season: The Kids are Alright - NXNE Wrap-Up

I can't even begin to count how many live shows i've seen in the past 10 days. Between the annual national campus events conference in Ottawa, COCA, and NXNE, my ear drums have taken a total shizz kickin', alongside my liver.

Now that I have a chance for both organs to rest periodically, I figured I would share with you the one key learning from my adventures: the future of the Canadian indie music scene is a bright one.

Evidence 1 - Obviously I could go on for weeks on how fantastic Aurora teens Ruby Coast are, but anyone who has crossed my path or read this blog in the past two months is already familiar. So instead, I will say only this - four RC shows in seven days, and I still cannot get these wonderfully crafted pop songs out of my head. Two in Ottawa (including a rad set in a living room), one in Montreal, and finally their NXNE showcase at the Drake, and every single one keeps getting better. Their next one is June 22nd at Sneaky Dee's as part of Wavelength, and you absolutely know who'll be front row.

Evidence 2 - Admittedly, I'm totally late on the praise for Toronto quirky indie pop quartet Spiral Beach, who hit the scene in 2005 with their debut EP which garnered a significant amount of attention. I'd never seen them until their NXNE showcase at the Horseshoe on Saturday night, I think it partly due to the fact that, at age 25, I thought I was somehow too old to really enjoy their youthful antics and bubblegum approach to surf rock. But after their incredible performance Saturday, I've trashed all preconceived notions of these young men and women, and decided to focus strictly on the fact that they create unorthodoxically catchy rhythms projected through endlessly infectious stage antics. And, with each member of the band listing influences such as Gogol Bordello, Syd Barrett, Frank Zappa, I'm confident that they're going to be interesting to watch for years to come.

Oh, and the Death Set fucking ruled. Again. But they're not really kids (though Johnny Sierra is pretty small and nimble), so they don't fit the theme.

Ruby Coast - Neighbourhood

Spiral Beach - Made of Stone

the Death Set - Had a Bird

- bbbykmbrly.

Festival Season: Foals, Rogue Wave, Enemy UK round out Osheaga Lineup

Earlier this week, Montreal's Osheaga Music and Arts Festival unveiled a few hidden gems to an already impressive lineup for their annual shindig, happening August 3rd and 4th this year.

The newbies to the lineup highlight the diversity of this festival, with Moncton hip hoppers Radio Radio, local francos La Patere Rose, as well as Rogue Wave, the Enemy UK, and others. From a BTA perspective, the most exciting of the new roster is Foals who, if their Lee's Palace show a couple months back was any indication, should prove to be a highlight of the weekend.

Already announced bands include everyone from Iggy and the Stooges to Cat Power, Plants and Animals, Chromeo, the Go Team, and a whack more. Full lineup is here.

Keep an eye glued to BTA in the coming weeks for chances to win a pair of passes to Osheaga 08.

Rogue Wave - 10:01
Foals - Hummer (Passions Remix)

- bbbykmbrly.

Remix Sunday

This one's tougher than Nigerian hair, as he says it. The original track is pretty vicious, but also with the Dubbel Dutch beat stuttering along for the remix. Can't really top Bangladesh's original beat, though this remix has its upside. Most notably the "A Milli" sample is gone (*or so I thought before hearing it with some phones, it's barely audible), with sounds of dying electronics and power loss throughout. The lyrics make both versions work, as Wayne goes on endless tangents: "Andre 3000 where is Erykah Badu at?" "ok you're a goon, but what's a goon to a GOBLIN" "tell the coppers HAHAHA", ha, that last making him sound like a 30's mobster. Have a listen to both.

Lil Wayne - A Milli
Lil Wayne - A Milli (Dubbel Dutch Remix)

- BA

Stellar lineup for Rogers Picnic in July

Tokyo Police Club, Cat Power, Dizzee Rascal, Vampire Weekend, City and Colour, Born Ruffians, Animal Collective, The Carps, and Chromeo all for under $50? Ummm, yes please.

The Rogers Picnic takes place in Toronto on July 20th and surprisingly, tickets are still available. Alternatively, if you're broke (or just really cheap) Exclaim! are giving away a pair of tickets here.

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird
Vampire Weekend - I Stand Corrected
Tokyo Police Club - Juno

- a.m.p.m.

MGMT featured on Late Late Show

MGMT played a somewhat sedated version of 'Weekend Wars' on Monday night's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Nice bandanas, boys.



Contrast the above with this rather lively version of 'Kids' from their SXSW performance:



I hope their performances at Glastonbury and Reading draw more from Figure B than Figure A.

MGMT - Pieces of What

- a.m.p.m.

Oceans Will Rise

The Stills surprised everybody with their sophomore album Without Feathers. The working man's rock was in stark contrast to the post-punkish appeal of Logic Will Break Your Heart. But you already know that story.....most were disappointed with the follow-up, as it flew in the face of what seemed trendy at the time. I for one didn't have any qualms with Feathers, in fact I loved it, as it contained some of the most cohesive songs the band's released, albeit in a more straightforward rock and roll package. Last night I had the pleasure of skipping downtown after work to catch everything but the first three songs of their set with Hollerado, a tour meant to give fans a glimpse into their debut for Arts & Crafts, entitled Oceans Will Rise. Overall, new material = promising. Hard to say if it will translate on record with the same force, but the new stuff in concert, sung primarily by original lead vocalist Tim Fletcher, was in the key of pissed-off. Understandable I guess, when a band starts out being touted by every publication as a champion of a new breed, only to be swallowed whole by a pseudo-genre aped by a hundred forgetful bands. The new songs still had the immediate rock and roll of Feathers, sung with the disapproving angst of Logic. I've since found a few of the songs floating around, including lead single "Being Here," and the heavy (even heavier live) "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drunkard." The new Stills will turn some heads when Oceans rise Aug. 19th.

The Stills - Being Here
The Stills - Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard

- BA

Feed the Animals

Well, maybe not animals per say, but Greg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, is certainly about to feed up 14 banging tracks to his hungry fans in the coming weeks, once again putting pop music back in our hearts. Following up on his 2006 album 'Night Ripper', 'Feed the Animals' boasts over 300 samples. Expect to hear everything from Vampire Weekend to Pachelbel, of course mashed with the best of hip-hop hooks both new and old. Gillis definatley dwells on some of his cuts a bit longer on this album, which is a relief to those that became somewhat frustrated by the last release. Some of the greatest mixes now linger around longer than a few seconds. The album is going to first pull a Radiohead by making it available online, followed by a hard copy release sometime later. Pitchfork has more on the album and release.

UPDATE - The tracks previously posted here were not actually from Girl Talk's upcoming release but instead from a fake release that Gillis had made his fans aware of. BTA apologizes for the confusion, and I personally had forgotten about the fake leak announcement. Thanks to our readers for keeping us on the ball.

-Matty B.

Remix Sthursday: Famous Players present: Entertainment Tonight

Toronto DJ duo Famous Players' parties make me want to lose my shit all over the floor, walls, and the faces of fellow dance partiers. The recipe for this latest mix, appropriately titled 'Entertainment Tonight', is something to the effect of Dance Mix 92-95 run through an electro-infused meat grinder, sprinkled with some Usher and ODB for seasoning.

On the topic of tonight, the FP madness is hitting the Virgins afterparty tonight, at 573 Queen West (enter through the back alley). It's open bar for you alcoholics. Bring your dancing shoes.

Here's a 16 minute chunk of their 80 minute mixtape. The whole thing is available nowhere, because they're so fucking indie.

Famous Players present Entertainment Tonight (snippet)

Famous Players DJ School Episode 1 -



- bbbykmbrly.

Frightened Rabbit release second single

Let’s face it – YouTube recordings of live shows are often of dubious video quality at best, and don’t even get me started on the sound. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I found a few good recordings from Frightened Rabbit’s sold out show at NYC’s Pianos last week.



The second single from new album The Midnight Organ Fight will be officially released in North America on June 10th through FatCat records. It’s called ‘Fast Blood’ and a live video is below.



The single's b-side ‘Soon Go’ would have fit cozily on the new album due to the galloping percussion and generous use of cuss words. Check it out:

Frightened Rabbit - Soon Go

- a.m.p.m.

thanks to jessimusic for videos

Festival Season: Lollapalooza's 'Band a Day'

I am pretty stoked to have bought my Lollapalooza tickets last week. I don't recall another three day festival (on my continent, anyhow) boasting such an incredible line-up of both gigantic headliners and a complete roster of most any other band that has built any kind of buzz in the past year or so.

In an effort to educate the public on the acts that aren't Rage Against the Machine or Kanye West, Lolla has launched 'Band a Day', a daily message board post on an artist that will be playing the festival. Launched in April with Nicole Atkins & the Sea, it has since informed us on the Gutter Twins, the Ting Tings, my new favourite experimental pop find the Octopus Project, and plenty of others.

What started out as two posts per-day has dwindled since, but mostly because the good ones are already written about.

The afforementioned Ting Tings are in Toronto a couple of weeks from now, June 16th at the Mod Club.

the Octopus Project - Truck

Nicole Atkins & the Sea - Brooklyn's on Fire!

the Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go

the Gutter Twins - All Misery Flowers

- bbbykmbrly.

Three Degrees of Separation

Speaking of Hood Internet mashups, check out their recent Islands/Bun B combo:
Islands versus Bun B - Draped Up and Creeped Out

And speaking of Bun B, the new album II Trill is fantastic.
Bun B - My Block (featuring Jazze Pha)
Bun B - Swang On 'Em (featuring Lupe Fiasco)

And finally, speaking of Lupe Fiasco, here's a classic cut:
Lupe Fiasco - Put You On Game

Enough.

- a.m.p.m.