closing out the year...

So, in no particular order here are some of this year's tunes that floated to the top of my playlists

Lee Fields & The Expressions - Do You Love Me Like You Say You Do
My Latest Novel - The Greatest Shakedown
Obits - Fake Kinkade
New Ruins - Lake
Priestess - Lady Killer
The Motorleague - Fossils
John Vanderslice - D.I.A.L.O.
I Was A King - Norman Bleik (can Teenage Fanclub sue for this?)
Hildur Gudnadottir - Erupting Light
Fanfarlo - Drowning Men (acoustic version)
Dead Man's Bones - Name In Stone (Live Version) (stuck in my head more than any other song this year)
Dark Night Of The Soul - Daddy's Gone
The Breeders - The Last Time (Best Mark Lanegan appearance of the year)
Black Moth Super Rainbow - American Face Dust
Benjy Ferree - Fear
Big Star - Life Is White (Demo) (Keep An Eye On The Sky is pretty much the perfect box set)
Bear In Heaven - Deafening Love
BEAK> - Blagdon Lake

For 2010 I'm looking forward to these:
Tindersticks - Black Smoke
Ted Leo - Even Heroes Have to Die

And hoping for something new/touring throught my town by the reunited Rival Schools - Accept The Compliment (and the reunited Soundgarden for that matter)

eve of destruction (or maybe christmas)

I'm drinking on the job and wanted ot post a few more songs before the day... also a picture of one of the best houses in downtown Toronto. Just down the street from the Gem.

Cracker - Merry Christmas Emily
Buffalo Killers - Xmas Time
Jimmy Witherspoon -How I Hate To See Christmas Come Around
Floyd Dixon - Empty Stocking Blues

holly jolly christmas

Well, a few tunes in the spirit of the season...

Big Star - Jesus Christ
Murder City Devils - 364 Days
Rocket From The Crypt - Cancel Christmas
Supersuckers - Christmastime
Junkyard Dogs - Brand New Bike
Bruce Cockburn - Joy To The World

I'll have some of my favorites from the year coming up soon.

scotch

well, I have to say that I am by no means a scotch connoisseur but I certainly enjoy them from time to time. the right ones anyway... I usually just ask the right people
I little while ago I was lucky enough to attend a couple of scotch tastings hosted by Glenfiddich & Macallan repectively. Likely the two most popular widely available brands and both certainly have their strong points... Glenfiddich is affordable, quite easy to drink and is perfect to pour in the flask for some sipping to spice up/make bearable an event or a family gathering. Macallan is a much nicer scotch and the price reflects it, putting it out of my usual bargain bin/airmile point buying range for sure. The 12 year old isn't too bad at $90 but the much tastier 18 year old is deathly at $290 (especially when it sells for $100 less in Nova Scotia) and makes it a bit hard to swallow... if I could afford it I'd keep it stocked regularly.
My only issue was with Macallan pushing their ice maker to put ice in the scotch. It would create a ball that would melt slower than a cube but would still dilute the scotch and the cold would trap in the flavour, maybe a good idea for some cheap booze, but not if you've got the good stuff. Glenfiddich was also pushing a mixed drink using their single malt, I guess it's in trying to bring new people to scotch who find it a bit harsh. I say just give everyone a rusty nail (made with a blend, not a single malt) and take them from there. Regardless, it's always good to encourage people to drink the good stuff. Go check out a tasting of some sort if you can (go HERE and maybe you'll get lucky) or just talk to a bartender with a good stock... it's definitely nice to have a bottle at home when you need it though. What do you think?

the line up...


the aforementioned ball of ice maker... and some Balls Of Ice (courtesy of 3 Inches Of Blood)

a new moon rising...

Just got a bit older.... so here's a couple tunes.
Heartless Bastards - Done Got Old
Furnaceface - I'm Getting Fat

Also, New Moon opens tonight and while getting panned critically here's what a co-worker said about it.

"OMG!!!! Loved it..
Although they could have lengthened more shots with the werewolves and the Volturri.
The script was way better, as well as the overall color of the film.. More reddish brown this time compared to the blue/gray of Twilight.
The music is great too!!
Edward was just dreamy!!
I think 2 hrs 10 mins was just not enough.. Although there were some scenes they could have shortened.. like Bella pining over Edward when he left her.
Its gonna be a sure hit for the teen agers and twi-moms!! :)"

So yeah.... this one is critic proof.

But not satire proof:

Devil's Night

One of my favorite holidays since it involves alcohol and stupidity (for me at least), here are some tunes in tune with the theme.

Elvis Perkins - Stay Zombie Stay
Migala - WWW (Searching for the Wicked Witch of the West)
American Music Club - I Know That's Not Really You
Wax Fang - Halloween (Misfits cover)
Dead Man's Bones - My Body's A Zombie For You
Heartless_Bastards - Witchy Poo
Afghan Whigs - Big Top Halloween
Grandpaboy - Vampires And Failures
Holly Golightly - Devil Do
Turbonegro - I Walked With A Zombie
Venom - Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil)

this made me smile...

Here's a new Dog Day track from a limited edition 12" they've got coming out....
Dog Day - Synastry

And here's a couple of bands I saw in Montreal on the weekend, I was very excited for Woven Hand, they were the reason for the trip after all. It lived up to expectations and somewhat made up for never being able to see 16 Horsepower. I caught Treasure Hunt as well, knowing some of the guys in teh band it was worth checking out, two drums & two bass make a heavy band. I hope they play more and do some touring/recording... this video doesn't do the show justice, but it's all I could find.

2 months...

Funny how time slips away... Oh well, I've been keeping busy.

Got to see Beyonce, Obits, Rural Alberta Advantage, The Breeders, Elvis Costello, Irma Thomas (still sounded amazing) and more... went to Niagara and drank lots of wine, generally enojyed myself and neglected this poor little page once again. Way to build the excitment and momentum I know...

Anyway, I've got some other stuff I've been meaning to post, will get some of it up soon. Also the film festival is starting up again so hope to see and report lots about that but for now here's some lovely little tunes to get you on your way.

Soulsavers - Some Misunderstanding

Dead Man's Bones - My Body's A Zombie For You

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Gold Splatter

video time

a couple of great videos... an old classic and something I just saw today.

actiekatten
by filiafloep

getting up to date (with visual aids)

So, since the last post I saw Dead Weather as the Horseshoe, went to Halifax where I found out about Spiderman's secret life and enjoyed the company of a cute climbing goat (as well as some family) and when I returned to Toronto I hosted a delicious Carlsberg* party which involved quite a large consumption of Carlsberg topped off with some scotch.
I also found out that Lou Ferrigno & Bruce Campbell will be coming to Fan Expo next month, and this fall Hauschka, The Butthole Surfers & Jesus Lizard are playing here (though not together). It's been a good time.

For the hell of it here's Malcolm Middleton & The Hold Steady together from a radio show. I love Malcolm Middleton but everytime the guy from the Hold Steady opens his mouth it makes me cringe... awful, just awful. Here it is anyway

* I have a fondness for Carlsberg partly based on when they used to sponsor all those great late night movies on Showcase...