If this is her latest single then seriously, WILL YOU JUST REVEAL YOUR SELF ALREADY AND SHARE THE REST WITH US! Rumours are saying its Xtina Aguilara or however you spell that, and the obvious Fever Ray. Others are saying its Little Boots but ughh I don’t think so, my bet is on Joanna Lee (apparently MTV news agrees) from Sweden who is also going to be playing a show this week at SXSW (perfect timing if I do say so my self). Well who ever it is, I hope that the rest of their new stuff is similar because this gimmick has got me hooked.

(thanks to eineinmeier for this awesome remix
Iamamiwhoami remix

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As the weather gets warmer and the end of school draws nearer, I find myself waiting wistfully for summer. Enter Iration, a group from Santa Barbara, California whose reggae sound screams sun, sand, and surf. The band’s sophomore album, Time Bomb, is a beach-ready stoner soundtrack sure to please any and all reggae fans.

Iration isn’t doing anything original, but they make their well enough that it doesn’t really matter. The songs are all enjoyable and relaxing, which is all you can really ask for. Each song has it’s own distinct tune, but as is the problem with all reggae, the tunes still tend to blend together. Despite the seeming redundancy, I never really got bored with the album.

Perhaps that is because this isn’t music that commands your entire attention. None of the songs made me stop everything that I was doing to listen, but I still found myself humming them later. Time Bomb is not a stand alone album; it is the soundtrack to your life. Whatever you happen to be doing, this album can happily roll along in the background, lodging itself into your head and your heart without you even noticing. Iration has thus created an unassuming gem; the music doesn’t try to be anything bigger than what it is. It is, plain and simple, good reggae. Sleep to it. Drive to it. Hell, work out to it. Whatever you’re doing, Time Bomb can play along to it. This charming CD isn’t anything outstanding, but it is charming and refreshing in its simplicity.

Learn more about the band from their myspace or website.

Iration – Time Bomb
Iration – Get Back To Me
Iration – Falling

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It was a bittersweet show last Wednesday (March 10, 2010) at Toronto’s Opera House. Copeland fans gathered to watch them perform what may be the band’s last show in Toronto EVER. The band, hailing from Lakeland, Florida, has been active for about 9 years. Copeland announced of the band’s “move on from Copeland [to] follow other paths,” on October 29, 2009 on their MySpace blog. The show began shortly after 8PM with Deas Vail, Person L, and I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business opening.

Deas Vail got the show started. The band name is a combination of Latin and old French, roughly translating to “humble servant of God.” The vocals of Wes Blaylock jumped to and from his falsetto tones like nobody’s business. An enjoyable and fun band to watch.
Deas Vail – Birds
Deas Vail – The Things You Were

Person L, the only opener that stood out at the show amongst a sea of acoustic bands. The lead singer of Person L, Kenny Vasoli, happens to also be the vocalist for the pop punk band, The Starting Line. Person L, for Vasoli, is seen as outlet to explore other musical styles away from The Starting Line. Their song, “Goodness Gracious”, was such a great song mixing in sounds of old rock’n'roll.
Person L – Goodness Gracious
Person L – The Positives

I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business, were nothing too special. (SORRY!) The vocalist mentioned that he’s a recent new father and tours with his son. His objective is to show his son that although he struggled as a musician, he was doing something he loved. At this point in the show, I was just hoping that their set would end so that Copeland would have more stage time. The songs of I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business were very mellow and somber.

Finally, at around 10PM, Copeland, the band that everyone was there to see shows up and opens their set with “Take Care” from their debut full length album Beneath Medicine Tree (2003). The energy of the crowd sky-rocketed. They could not have picked a better song to start off their set with! They played a nice combination of songs from their four full length albums, but there was definitely a focus on promoting their latest album, You Are My Sunshine (2008). Songs that were included in their set list: “Pin Your Wings Down”, “Control Freak”, “California”, “No One Really Wins This Time”, “Coffee”, “Chin Up”, “The Grey Man”, “What Do I Know?”, “When Paula Sparks” and “The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)”. Throughout their set, I often found myself just closing my eyes and enjoying the music. Playing close to a two hour set, Copeland could have played all night and I would have stayed until the very last song was over. During “No One Really Wins This Time,” it seemed like every single audience member was singing along. Vocalist, Aaron Marsh, refrained from singing the chorus of the song. It was insane at the synchronicity of the audience singing the lyrics the band so brilliantly put together.

Copeland – Take Care
Copeland – Pin Your Wings
Copeland – Control Freak
Copeland – The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)

For their encore, they played “Brightest,” the opening track from Beneath Medicine Tree (2003) and “You Have My Attention” from In Motion (2005). It was a beautiful night for music in Toronto, but it was also a sad one. A couple of audience members shouted “DON’T BREAK UP! DON’T BREAK UP!” to the band in between songs, creating such unnecessary awkward tension in the venue — Especially since Copeland did not bother to respond to any of these audience members’ remarks. Nevertheless, I know I will not be the first or last person to say, “I’m so sad that this will be the last time I’ll ever see Copeland!”

Copeland – Brightest
Copeland – You Have My Attention

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Bryan Arcand is a singer/songwriter from Toronto, via the Southern U.S and New York, and wears his musical heroes on his sleeve – Neil Young, Dylan, Cohen, Lou Reed, Ben Harper, etc. Unfortunately, where these men wrote songs that came from something deeply honest within them, Arcand’s songs tend to be written from a shallower place. Where Young, Dylan, Cohen and others like them had a visceral approach to music, Arcand seems too concerned with trying to sound important and insightful that the reason he writes music gets lost. The songs sound like he is working hard at sounding perceptive instead of being perceptive. The one song that deviates from this self-consciousness is Ragpicker’s Wine. This song rings honest and true, the lyrics are straightforward without trying to make a profound statement and the vocal is performed without trying to sound passionate and emotive. This song shows just how talented Arcand can be when he drops the facade and just lets himself shine through. This could be a cautionary tale for all musicians – don’t try to write like your heroes, you’ll serve them much better by just being yourself.

The fist single, Cracked Bell, suffers from the same heavy-handed delivery as the first three songs on this EP. It also suffers from the same problems with the production, the worst being the drums which sound like something imported from Garage Band. At worst they are too busy and digital sounding, at best…well, I can’t think of an at best. The songs are better off without them or at least with a live drummer. The other problem I have is that the vocals are on top of the musical tracks which leaves the songs sounding thin and light instead of grounded and deep. The textures along with dynamics suffer. Wayside Inn suffers the most in this respect. There is a lovely organ track but it’s lost behind the vocals and the electronic drum beat. It also suffers from the overweening self-importance of the lyrics, a problem shared with the next song, Back In Your Arms. I sincerely hope that the other four songs included on the album are better than these five. Arcand does have talent and I do love the ending to Back In Your Arms, with the guitars being allowed to come up front and take centre stage but, unfortunately there are too few highlights to keep me interested for long.

You can find Bryan Arcand on MySpace, Facebook, and Last.FM. You can buy Folk and the At the Crossroads EP on iTunes and you can buy Folk at Amazon and other online retailers.

Bryan Arcand – Wayside Inn
Bryan Arcand – Ragpicker’s wine

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My initial reaction to hearing The Fly Girlz was mixed. At first I was confused to why this group, (whose rapping sounded a little immature,) even was. “Eh Yo, Girls- ‘Yeah?’ What’s up Y’all?” was the first thing that belted throughout my speakers, and blatantly, I just wanted to laugh. But then, the beat to their single Born to Be Fly hit, and my reaction was immediately thrown out the window.

The Fly Girlz are a group of spitters from New York City, ranging in the tween ages of twelve to fourteen. The group was first collaborated through an after school program where Indie artist (Sam Hilmer) gave these youngsters beats to MC to. The girls (who go by alter ego names Angel, Pinky, Lady Millz, Rose, Sophia and Princess) rap about regular old teenage plights; boys, school, haters, clothes- the works.

I would be lying if I were to say that The Fly Girlz were the Messiah of hip-hop who were going to reign in a new territory in music. But, the combination of their verses and the beats really make for some interesting music. Born to Be Fly itself is shockingly pretty captivating when you listen to it- I even went and downloaded more music from the group post listen. With enough experience, the girls biographical music could in the future allow them to create some of the most original music out there.

The Fly Girlz- Born to Be Fly

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Yah, that chick with the harp that pitchfork has been shitting them selves for. I’ll admit I came into this expecting to hate the album, everyone was all “ohhh it’ll change your life” so I wanted to be different and not like it. Unfortunately I wont be able to be the one person who doesn’t love this album.

Joanna Newsom in her previous albums was alot more screechy and had much less control in her voice. Yes, I did like her but I could only listen to her for so long. Her new album has a lot more control in her voice, for whatever reason she sounds a lot more mature, like a boy just about to go through puberty perhaps rather than one going through it. None the less her voice is amazing and her songs paint a real picture, you cant help but compare her to Regina Spektor because no other women in the anti-folk scene really have any attention at all, which is a real shame because what they have produced has been pretty amazing.

I prefer the slower songs on the album, the harp really adds an unique softness to her sound that really can’t be found anywhere else (that I know of at least). Does not suffice the opening song on the album is perfectly executed and really set the tone of the album for me. If you haven’t for whatever reason listened to the critcally acclaimed album get on it, its worth the listen.

Does Not Suffice-Joanna Newsom
Jackrabbits- Joanna Newsom

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Those of you who know what’s what – will know Tame Impala is the best psych rock band to emerge since the early 70’s. Simple chords… blissful vocals… enough said. Enjoy.

Tame Impala – Desire Be Desire Go
Tame Impala – Half Full Glass of Wine
Tame Impala – 41 Mosquitoes Flying In Formation
Tame Impala – Wander

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Nightcall, with Lovefoxxx of CSS lending her vocals (whom he is also dating) and production by half of Daft Punk has stolen the spot for top track of 2010 for me. The song is dark and really draws on the 70’s techno that I love, combined with echoey ninetendo villain vocals and the charming vocals of Lovefoxx. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

It’s really no secret that I think whatever breakbot touches is pretty much gold so seeing that one of his remixes was included on the EP was the cherry topping for me. His remix isn’t as strong as the original song for me but its still pretty fucking bomb. It’s a lighter take on the song making it a lot more 70’s.

The EP is due out in a couple of days do check it out, these three songs are pretty much the best thing to hit the internet since the beginning of 2k10.

Pacific Coast Highway- Kavinsky
Nightcall-Kavinsky
Nightcall (Breakbot remix)-Kavinsky

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Whether it’s historically or artistically accurate or not, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Hardcore, whatever you want to call it, used to be the realm of Satan. Well, clearly Jesus was having none of that, cause ever since Underoath’s 2004 They’re Only Chasing Safety brought they’re brand of Christian Hardcore to the masses,it has been some of the best heavy music going, and The Color Morale are a proud, flag waving member of the second wave of Christian Hardcore.

On they’re debut full length, We All Have Demons, released this past September; The Color Morale aren’t out to reinvent the wheel. Instead they’re going to prove that when you’re packing the kind of talent they are, you don’t need to innovate, you just need to take what’s already out there and do it better.

The Sage of Washington Oaks kicks off the proceedings with a hardcore breakdown as an introduction, and in a different twist on the formula, the melodious lyrics come into view before we’ve heard anyone attempt to shred their vocal chords in the name of the lord. Vocalist Garret Rapp walks a fine line between gentle and powerful, and helps to craft the bands sound.

Hopes Anchor sticks to this formula, of allowing Rapp to kick off the proceeds with soaring vocals, backed excellently with a heavy breakdown, solid backing vocals, a ripping scream. The songs message of perseverance and fighting for what you believe in epitomizes the Color Morale’s lyrical stance of packing as much meaning as possible into their hardcore sound. When Rapp sings the line, I’ve been used, I’ve been tried, I’ve been tested but I have yet to break, so share your fears with me, I won’t quit until I know that I truly tried, his emotion shines through, and gives the powerful lyric the meaning that it deserves.

TCM manage to use layered guitars in the backs of the songs to build songs that are textured, deep and lush, and don’t hit you over the head with one element, but instead give you a full on listening experience that builds each song brick by brick,

Hummaniquin is an excellent example of the way TCM build a lush soundscape with it’s gentle opening, that doesn’t rush it’s way to a breakdown, the way so many similar sounding bands do, it allows the breakdown to emerge organically from the song itself. But, make no mistake when the time comes the power is blistering in it’s intensity, and well worth the wait. The combination of the singing and screaming is less forced, and layering one scream on another gives more depth to the track.

On We All Have Demons, TCM have struck a balance between power and precision that seems to elude a lot of bands who tread in the same water, and allow them to stand out without creating an entirely new and unheard of sound. This album is worth a listen or ten and The Color Morale is a band that is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

The Color Morale – The Sage Of Washington Oaks
The Color Morale – Humannequin
The Color Morale – Hopes Anchor

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There is nothing more exciting than finding an unsigned band that’s making music that I enjoy. The guys of Bigger and Better Things hail from Montreal, Quebec. Their pop punk sound is a sound that I have grown to love throughout my high school years; a genre of music I still indulge in with no regrets. With the band’s growing fan-base – having close to 2,000 fans on Facebook and close to 48,000 friends on MySpace – Bigger and Better Things show no signs of stopping anytime soon. I was privileged enough to connect with Logan from the band via MySpace and email whom provided me with more information about the band.

What is the inspiration for the band’s sound and lyrics?
Logan: There’s a lot of inspiration for lyrics. Girls, hunger for success, elitism, social situations and observations of all kind, partying, movies, other bands/artists just to name a few exterior sources. A lot of inspiration comes within, such as self reflection, over-analyzing everything, moderate paranoia at times. The inspiration for the sound of our music comes from years and years of listening to punk rock. It’s embedded in us. Lately, that’s been changing a lot though.

Are there any plans for an EP and/or tour?
Logan: Our E.P. titled You Wouldn’t Get It is going to be out sometime mid-April, independently. It was actually planned to be released in November but due to many unavoidable factors, we had to postpone the release date a billion times. We’re throwing a release show around that time but no following tour will ensue.
** According to one of their blog posts from September 2009, their EP is recorded and produced by Paul Leavitt. Leavitt has done work for bands such as All Time Low, Moneen, The Bled, From Autumn to Ashes, Circa Survive, The Dangerous Summer and Senses Fail.

How long have you guys been a band? How did the band come together?
Logan: The band has been together for about two years. Ironically the way most of us came together is through a mutual friend that used to be in the band and then got kicked out. One day, I was hanging out with Andrew (ex-vocals) at a mall and from a distance he spotted Luc, pulled him over and said “this guy has to be in the band”. Also, Andrew called me and said “Oh my God! Angel’s Catching Bullets (ex-band) broke up! We need to take their drummer, Matt!”. Once we got Andrew out of the picture, mainly due to some unresolved issues he had going on in his head, he sent me a Facebook message. The message said, “I found your perfect singer, check the video”. Inside the message contained a short clip of Mike, our current vocalist, doing an acoustic rendition of a Boys like Girls song. The choice was made.

Are you guys in school?
Logan: We are all currently out of school, though some members are choosing to resume shortly.

To find out more about Bigger and Better Things, check out their MySpace.
You can also download the three songs from this post from their PureVolume.

Bigger and Better Things – Market the Fun I Have
Bigger and Better Things – Predicaments
Bigger and Better Things – The Excitement and Drama

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or BRMC as their legions of fans call them, have been around a while so know their way around a studio and a song. This new album, official release date Tuesday (March 9), is the culmination of their many years slogging it out on ProTools. I have to admit to having a passing familiarity with this band so did a lot of reading about them for this review. Seems these guys have four other albums out there that I am now going to have to check out, especially their instrumental album The Effects of 333. I love instrumentals and feel too many bands don’t explore this format. I would think that instrumentals would be a very freeing way to write because you are not bound by the constraints of the verse/chorus/verse/chorus structure. On the other hand doing an instrumental may just show up the lack of musicianship a band has. But I digress.

The one thing that BMRC does not lack is musicianship. These thirteen songs jump out of the speakers, grab you by the lapels, shake you like a rag doll, throw you to the floor and stomp on you. These are best played loud. There is a lot of noise that comes at you so be prepared to feel like someone took hob-nailed boots to you. Conscience Killer, the second song, is as example of this. It comes at you like a sonic boom. It is hard to believe there are just three musicians in the band. These songs are dense, noisy, dynamic, bluesy, dark and dirty. And no song shows this better than River Styx. I loved it. Where this album let me down was with the quieter, sweeter songs such as Sweet Feeling (although I loved the harmonica), The Toll (I do love the harmonies), and the Lennon-ish Long Way Down (although it got better as it rolled along).

The title track, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo is such a great song, by far my favourite and it somehow found it’s way in heavy rotation on my iTunes playlist. It’s really sets the tone for the whole album with it’s dire lyrics, “There is no peace here, war is never cheap dear/Love will never meet here, it just gets sold for parts/You cannot fight it, all the world denies it/Open up your eyelids, let your demons run”. You just know that this album isn’t for the faint of heart. And is that a resonator that I hear? If it is it’s really great to hear it outside it’s customary country genre. Certainly there is slide guitar going on in there. It’s kind of American folk on drugs. Funnily one of my favourites is also the one that I like the least. For me, Bad Blood, reminded me of U2, you know before they sucked, and that is never a good thing for me, what with never having been a big fan of U2 (with the exception of Zooropa and Pop). But be that as it may, it is also an incredibly catchy tune that I found myself humming throughout the day. Ah, the irony.

This album was largely influenced by Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories and the title, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, comes from an old phrase meaning the beat of a drum or the bleat of a bugle calling soldiers back to camp after dark. No other song on the album embodies this as much as Shadows Keeper, a shadowy, sexual trip into the abyss of wanting. “You feel the fire burnin’ sweet within your skin.” Half State is a pseudo-psychedelic tune where the layered vocals and guitars assault you like a bad drug habit. It’s a great song that I would think is amazing live. The whole album is filled with well-crafted songs that easily bring up comparisons to the Jesus and Mary Chain, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Depeche Mode. It’s moody. It’s calamitous. It’s sombre. It’s ruthless, and it’s really, really good.

The band consists of Peter Hayes (guitar, bass, vocals, harmonica, keys), Robert Levon Been (bass, guitar, vocals, piano), and Leah Shapiro, ex of the Ravonettes (drums, percussion). Shapiro is a new addition taking over from Nick Jago. You can find out everything you need to know about BRMC on their website (one of the most comprehensive I’ve come across). You can also hear the new songs and pre-order the CD on MySpace. You can pre-order Beat The Devil’s Tattoo as well as their other albums on iTunes, Amazon, and don’t forget to check out your local bricks and mortar retailer.

BRMC – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
BRMC – Conscience Killer

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Give me anything beat heavy and my attraction for the song will most likely be immediate. Said was the case for Leif’s track Timbs. I was first acquainted with Leif through a magazine which touted him as the next ‘it’ guy from New York. In their case, they were most correct.

Timbs is a play on electronic/rap music, and could not have been done any better. Not exactly new to the scene, the song has been around for a few years now. Nonetheless, it’s one of those songs that has an everlasting effect, and no matter your taste in music, this track is unceasingly pleasing and just plain necessary to  the music game.

Leif is also the producer of much of his music, and he also mixes as well. His most notorious songs are Electric Feel My Cool and Little Bit, his suave takes on Indie favorites MGMT (Electric Feel) and Lykke Li (Little Bit.)

Despite relative success, Leif has not really released much new material (to my knowledge). It’s a shame really because his talent is immense, and his ability to entrap with his haunting voice is one to revel at. Exposure for artists like this is necessary, for their genius must not go unnoticed.

Leif- Timbs (Neon Coyote Slow Jam)

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Well now that the sun has made an appearance for 6 solid days I can’t help but think about summer, sitting on the deck just letting the day pass by, drinking beers around the fire, kayaking and jumping off rocks. Canadian summers are the best, which makes the winter suck that much harder.

Little Joy formed in 2007 by Los Hermanos, Rodrigo Amarante, Fabrizio Moretti (drummer for the strokes), and Binki Shapiro. The Brazilian American band really captures the sound of Rio, it reminds me of this bar right in the middle of Ipanema where a great acoustic band would sing through the night, good music and 50 cent beers, really the best bar I have ever been too. The next time you have a day at the beach be sure to include this in your playlist. Call me an alcoholic but to me summer really is about relaxing with cold beers just hanging out, whether on a patio or on the beach. Summer music is supposed to be light, not too overwhelming perfect for the background to conversation.

The Next Time Around- Little Joy
Dead Beat Summer- Neon Indian
Yours to Keep- Teddy Bear Stockholm

Sitting around the fire at night is the staple of any Canadian summer, drinking cold beers just staring into the fire with friends, really the perfect ending to any day. One summer I went camping with friends and at night all you could hear was death metal and linkin park, clearly we didn’t go to the right camping ground. The guy next to us made me film him mosh by him self to linkin park then continued to ask me “you know that feeling when you just need to mosh, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW, its in meeeee” needless to say I didn’t fit in. For me the campfire is supposed to be relaxing I prefer softer music, something that no matter what kind of music you are into you know the lyrics and kept help but sing along. Oasis’ Wonderwall is exactly that, to me this is the perfect campfire song.
Wonderwall- Oasis

Well summer can’t come soon enough, I am sick of having to wear layers and pants. I am looking forward to going on road trips, sitting around the fire, staying out all night and not complaining about how cold it is.

Little Joy
Teddy Bears
Oasis
Neon Indian

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There are not many singer/songwriters out there who would start an album with a song about a kidnapping (She Had a Name), in this case the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard, but Tin Can Notes (aka Jack Matranga from Self Against City) does. It’s a brave choice really because it is such a dark song when he could easily have opened with the gorgeous Trails or the haunting California in the Ether. But he didn’t instead you hear “I saw her face on the wall in the shop when I was 6 years old, customers when they come, they would talk ‘Where could she’ve gone’”. This song isn’t totally bleak, however, because the narrative comes to a close with the message that she was found alive.

For those who are familiar with Self Against City, you might find Matranga’s foray into solo-hood a bit disappointing. There are some really great guitar lines and riffs, there is the familiar lushness and smart lyrics but there are really three good songs on this four song EP, She Had a Name, California in the Ether and Trails. For me, I kind of prefer Matranga as part of Self Against City as his voice isn’t the strongest and seems to need the help of a strong backing band. It doesn’t have the depth or colour to really carry these songs on it’s own which is probably why the first three songs work and the last one doesn’t. There is more going on in the first three and they benefit from the good backing vocals, the good melodies, and the great musicianship whereas Maples just tends to float around without any seeming purpose but that could be the intent since it is about a lazy summer day spent sitting on the porch. For me the breathy vocals and simple acoustic melody just fall flat.

You can find Tin Can Notes on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, or last.fm. The EP is offered as a free download here or you can buy it for five bucks in CD format there as well. You can also buy it, with the bonus track Rain For Sale on iTunes and Amazon.

Tin Can Notes – She Had A Name
Tin Can Notes – Maples

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Nosaj Thing out of LA is quickly becoming one of my favourites, I first heard of him when Kid Cudi sampled one of his tracks for background on his mixtape, the prayer was one of my faovurite on the album mainly cuz of the beat so Nosaj Thing caught my attention then and just recently reminded me why I was so excited about him. Nosaj Thing’s debut album Drift came out last year around this time and was pretty sick, really surprised that it didn’t get too much attention but somethings just take time.

1685/Bach is heavy and sounds like put together static to make one crazy tune, really like the echoey bass that comes in and adds an element to the song that makes it so complex and exciting to listen too, as I always just listen to it and you will totally get what I mean. Well Nosaj thing isn’t just a crazy producer he can also mix a pretty rad remix, his remix of one of my favourites the XX is some serious next level shit. He takes the cool soft vocals on one of the softer songs on the album and completely does it his way with heavy bass and outer space sounds that just works perfectly, really hope this dubstep trend continues and hope that bands like the xx work with dubstep producers because really music has been kinda lacking lately.
Islands (Nosaj Thing remix)- The XX
1685/Bach-Nosaj Thing

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