Vancouver hip hop group and BTA friends Okay City will be releasing their new Album Tocsin-B next week. In the meantime they have released a new Track featuring fellow Canadian rapper Shad, entitled 'Cities of the North'. The song can be listened to at their MySpace. Enjoy!
And also a reminder that the guys will be touring with Australian Hip-Hop legends Hilltop Hoods through February.
Feb. 7th Whistler BC - Garfinkel's Feb. .10th Vancouver BC - The Venue Feb. 12th Edmonton AB - The Pawn Shop Feb. 13th Calgary AB - The Gateway at SAIT Feb. 15th Banff AB - Wild Bill's
A few weeks back The Knife introduced us to their new project / full length album through the 11 minute track 'Colouring the Pigeon'. This was a collaboration between Mt. Sims and Planningtorock. This project was actually commissioned by Hotel Pro Forma to accompany an opera they had written entitled On The Origin Of The Species. The full album has been available to stream lately. It comes off in typical Knife fashion. Sometimes obscure, and always with a variety of sounds to interpret. Although familiar, it also goes in a bit of a different direction than past albums due to it being written for this opera in particular. The album will be available on digital release February 2nd.
So I've just sat down to the good old computer too see that the interweb is buzzing with new tracks from both Daft Punk AND Justice. Once you've re-cooperated from your head exploding like mine did, take a listen to these tracks. The Daft Punk track 'The Crash' spans 12 minutes and definitely sounds more along the lines of backing music for TRON, and not some douche pulling a fast one. Maybe a response to that song that leaked days ago that wasn't them? The Justice track 'The Beginning of the end' sounds...well, like a Justice track. Synthed out keys and a slappy bass. Maybe they dropped it because their big brothers told them to.
*Not so awesome Update: So apparently people are now saying that the Justice track is fake, and was sent by a hacker using a fake Ed Banger e-mail account. Sorry for getting everyone all excited. I will be spending my day tracking down this guy...and killing him. Sure, between these guys and Keedz, Ed Banger might as well sign some more acts to take all the stress out of Justice actually releasing anything.
* Another Update : Both are fake. I hate the internet sometimes
Well if you were listening to the hottest 100 countdown on Triple J yesterday during Australia day, you heard that the land down under voted the number one song of 2009 to be 'Little Lion Man' by Mumford and Sons. Great track but somewhat of a surprise for their number one spot. Obviously this top 100 list has a bit of bias towards some of the years homegrown acts like Hilltop Hoods and Art vs Science, but it's still a nice sum up of 2009 in music. If you're interested in checking out the full list head here.
Remember when that track came out like a year ago...and everyone thought it was new stuff from Justice? Well that was these guys Keedz, which nobody knows anything about or has heard anything from since. Their myspace isn't really helping me with this either, except it says they are from the states...but everything's in french. What?! Some people still think it is Justice just screwing with people. I've got to admit that the production of both the track and video have similarities. If anyone knows any more please feel free to chime in. Regardless, how dare they try to keep me intrigued. Whatever, I'm over it. It's still a pretty decent track, however preachy it may seem. Save me Jebus.
I'm a fan of Grizzly Bear. I'm also a fan of Hot Chip. So naturally I was smitten when Grizzly Bear played a set on Triple J yesterday covering...wait for it...Hot Chip. Have a listen to an acoustic version of 'While you wait for the others', as well as their rendition of the always great track 'Boy From School'. Head on over here to download the session.
This new video from Portland's Cars & Trains, Intimidated by Silence, has something of a low-budget Michael Gondy charm to it. Plus my grandfather had that very same cuckoo clock above his favourite chair, so I can't help but love this.
Animation by Raquel Aparicio, whose brilliant work is certainly worth a gander.
Okay City, which consists of Bill Maka and Ray Black, is the freshest thing hitting the Vancouver hip-hop scene. Quickly becoming known for their high-energy live performances and hard hitting sound. Any group that starts off with an introduction sampled from Back to the Future is just swell in my books. The guys originally started out in Ontario, connecting through the well known music industry arts program at Fanshawe College. Eventually making the move out west to broaden their horizons and touring with the likes of Sweatshop Union and opening for Swollen Members. Expect to see these guys starting a dance party on stage or spitting while walking on top of the bar. Their performance and ryhmes have already caught the attention of the crazy popular Australian hip-hop group, Hilltop Hoods, and Okay City will be accompanying them as their opening act for the majority of their west coast tour. This along with upcoming collaborations with Shad, means you will be hearing a lot more about Okay City in 2010. Check out the myspace for tour dates. Don't miss it.
The Whistler show with Hilltop Hoods is already sold out I'm pretty sure. The village being like 90% Australian and all... you may not realize how bananas this show will be. If you can find some tickets do it.
Okay City's track 'Potency', which the boys were so kind to contribute to BTA, is a laid back groove with a catchy string melody accompanied with a nice little Biggie Sample. Get it below.
It only took me until New Years eve…but I managed to compile what only seems to be a mere sample of the best tracks I heard in 2009.I also recommend everyone stream Aussie radio station Triple J, on Australia Day, January 26th, and catch the annual Hottest 100 countdown. Always full of the best tracks and you may catch a few that you missed out on this year. I didn’t bother linking my tracks seeing as a fair few of them are repeats from others at BTA.So in no particular order…
Here are my fav's for 2009, or at least my top 20, there were far too many songs that could've made this list. If I had to put an album at the top spot for the year it would be between Camera Obscura, Handsome Furs, Miike Snow, Andrew Bird, and Phoenix, all exceptional sorts of pop with very, very few boring bits.
1. The Big Pink - Dominoes 2. Handsome Furs - All We Want, Baby, Is Everything 3. Favours for Sailors - I Dreamt That I Dreamt That You Loved Me 4. The Lovely Feathers - Lowiza 5. The Cribs - We Share The Same Skies 6. Camera Obscura - Honey In The Sun 7. Andrew Bird - Take Courage 8. Phoenix - Lasso 9. Black Lips feat. GZA - The Drop I Hold 10. Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This 11. Delphic - This Momentary 12. Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars 13. Miike Snow - Burial (DJ Mehdi Remix) 14. La Roux - In For The Kill 15. Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van (Fred Falke Ultimate Beverly Remix) 16. Vega - No Reasons 17. BURNS - First Move (Fred Falke Remix) 18. Deadmau5 - Ghosts N Stuff (Sub Focus Remix) 19. Miike Snow - Animal 20. Sub Focus - Follow The Light
As with the aftermath of a traditional festive feast, 2009 yielded an impressive share of delicious leftovers. Here are some of the choice cuts that didn't make the main serving:
Like Marc, my initial 'best of' playlist for 2009 was big enough for two albums (and then some). After painstakingly cutting selections to narrow it down to a sub-80 minute collection, here's what I came up with. I think it works pretty well in the order presented, but that's just personal taste. Click on the artist for the MySpace page, the track name for the mp3.
I've been tracking my favourite songs all year and I literally had a enough to fit two albums worth. This got me thinking that next year I may produce a multi-volume "best of". As with everything in life, music is best in moderation. So, I forced myself to ration my servings of this year's best tracks.
I agree with G.R.O. that this year left no shortage of quality tracks and I hope that you enjoy some of my faves.
Does anyone remember the naysayers who boldly predicted that 2009 would be a thoroughly disappointing year in musical history? That theory collapsed in a heap after only a few steps into the year when "Merriweather Post Pavillon" dropped. This year it's felt like a Mensa sponsored compilation to arrive at my favourite albums and mix of songs to soundtrack the year. Here's my final entry:
1. Happy Up Here - Röyksopp 2. 1901 - Phoenix 3. Osaka Loop Line - Discovery 4. Lovesick Teenagers - Bear in Heaven 5. Blood Pt 2 - Buck 65 Remix ft Sufjan Stevens & Serengeti 6. Die Slow - Health 7. Shining - Islands 8. Only If You Run - Julian Plenty 9. Slow Life - Grizzly Bear ft Victoria Legrand 10. Winter Water - Harlem Shakes 11. Shelter - The xx 12. Revenge - Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse ft Wayne Coyne 13. Repeater Beater - Mew 14. Now We Can See - The Thermals 15. Come Saturday - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 16. Longform - The Dodos 17. 333 - Malajube 18. Feel.Love.Thinking.Of. - Faunts 19. Kettering - The Antlers 20. Sleep Alone - Bat For Lashes
Special mention to Fuck Button's album Tarot Sport, which would be represented on here had most of its best songs not been over 9 minutes long...
This live acoustic version of 'In the Summertime' was recorded at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco back in July. It's the closing cut from the fantastic albums Hometowns by Toronto's The Rural Alberta Advantage and one of my favourite songs of the past little while. These guys have been making tracks all over North America since mid-2009 but have yet to make an appearance in Europe. Here's hoping they plan to visit London soon.
I'm late on this post, but thanks to Bands Undone, I've been exposed to a couple really good acts. Last week featured Parlour Steps for the the third installment and Bonjay for the fourth.
I was fortunate enough to catch Parlour Steps' solid set at Canteen where the group played a couple tracks off their most recent release Hidden Names. Their sound is far from groundbreaking, but they're a good band. The track "Sleeping City" was a stand out for its yearning for simplicity, I think its a testament of strength when groups can strip-down their music to its strongest roots.
Now I'm truly bummed that I missed Bonjay's set, but for a glimpse into the duo's sound check out the track and the video of Bonjay's Feist cover. These guys are sure to make a dent in the party scene.
In honour of Movember, I present Andrew Wyatt's scraggly handlebar mustache. Delightful, although not necessarily philanthropic, since this video for Miike Snow's Animal was released in August. Plus this dude is always sporting some form of face fur, no? Regardless, everybody cares about men's health, especially BTA's own Brad, whose campaign (and mustache) is going strong.
Prostates and patchy facial hair aside, this ridiculously catchy song is now paired with an equally entertaining video. Not that the first effort wasn't good - this one is just better suited to the tune. Plus who doesn't applaud a band who creates two different videos for one single?
This fidgety eighties-style animation is the work of photographer and videographer Anthony Dickenson, who also created this great Groove Armada video . Enjoy!
Today I heard Cincinnati's, The Seedy Seeds. First getting together in 2006, they have put out a bunch of really solid tracks from what I have only just begun to dive into. The trio use everything from banjo riffs to synthed out melodies to create both pop dance tracks as well as some more mellow tunes. For myself at least I am reminded of Mates of State when I hear their harmonies. And for any of you that read BTA on a regular basis, you know how much I love motha f@%#ing harmonies. The group has a pretty decent tour scheduled for themselves for the remainder of 2009 and their album "Count the Days" may very well make it into some of our 'best of' lists for the year.
Simple-sounding song structures always impress me. I believe it's quite difficult to write a good "pop" song. A song that everyone likes without losing an element of credibility. The legends of surf-rock definitely had that ability and I'm glad to see surf making a resurgence. I've been listening to a lot of this surf-inspired garage/indie rock and here are some of my choice selections.
Girls have received a lot of press lately for their very-NSFW video for "Lust for Life", but this is a band I just can't get out of my head, pun intended.
Now, Surfer Blood is an "inbox gem", I got word about this group sifting through the many emails we receive daily. I'm not ashamed to admit that the name caught my attention. Think surf-rock meets BRMC.
I am embarrassed to admit that up until two weeks ago I was barely aware of The White Wires. They're based in Ottawa and run a label, Going Gaga Records, specializing in punk rock and all things non-commercial. Their brand of garage rock is dirty and simple. Most tracks have that familiarity that any good pop song should, not that these guys are in any way pop. I'm excited to have discovered another exciting band in the area. They're excellent 45 on Trouble in Mind Records called "Pretty Girl" is worth the six bucks, check 'em out.
