Delta Spirit - Patriarch [rock]

Delta Spirit released a new album a while ago and it's been sitting on my iPod somewhat forgotten since then. After maybe 3 months, I think two or three of the songs have grown on me. I really like "Patriarch"; it has the same cathartic vibe that "Bushwick Blues" and "California" had (two other songs that I still like rocking out to). This album is generally more piano heavy than their other stuff, or maybe I'm just remembering the album art.

"Patriarch" by Delta Spirit from their 2015 album Into The WIde

(...rip in peace Juliet)

Chairlift - Romeo [indie pop]

New Chairlift video, featuring no other than the Kurt Feldman (Depreciation Guild, Ice Choir), of whom I've unwittingly become an enormous fanboy. No guest vocals though, q_q. I wonder when I'll hear new stuff from good ol' Kurt. Not to say anything against Chairlift, who're great. Definitely looking forward to their album in January. And ... I guess he won ... right?

"Romeo" by Chairlift from their upcoming 2016 album MOTH

Lola Marsh - You're Mine [indie pop]

Heard at Quantum Coffee while waiting for that slow pour machine to squirt water cyclically into the cup. This is Israeli indie folk band Lola Marsh ... though I don't really hear any folk in this. Err. Well anyway ... good instrumentals in the back. What a strange time to be posting this, wouldn't you agree?

"You're Mine" by Lola Marsh, a 2015 single

Alessia Cara - I'm Yours [pop]

I think first heard Alessia Cara's "Here" on Metro Morning during one of those bittersweet Monday morning drives back to Midland. I really liked it and looked forward to her eventual release, which wasn't for a while. I enjoyed her performance of it in Bestival too. So finally I got a copy of her album and I've gotta say that it's certainly lived up to my expectations. Lot of good tracks ... liike ...

"I'm Yours" by Alessia Cara from her debut LP Know-It-All

Petal - Heaven [rock]

Oh, I meant to post this weeks ago. Been a bit of a drought for the past bit. Haven't really tried looking for much and nothing I've heard has really stuck. Oh well...

This is Petal. She's on the same label as Adventures (that's how I found her). This is "Heaven" from her debut album Shame. The song features laid back steadily growing vocals and an ever-ebbing electric rhythm, a feel good (eventually cathartic) wash. It's nice.

"Heaven" by Petal from her debut 2015 album Shame

Grimes - Flesh Without Blood/Life In The Vivid Dream

New Grimes video!! Also, new Grimes album!! From her upcoming Art Angels album available on November 6th. Digging the song, the vid, and the outfits!!

"Flesh Without Blood/Life In The Vivd Dream" by Grimes from her upcoming album Art Angels

M83 - Kim & Jessie (Montag Remix)

Now that I look into it ... M83 also released a remix/B-side collection for their Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts album in 2003, the same year the original album was released. Not too sure why they decided to release a remix/B-side for this one 7 years after the fact. Coincidentally, they also announced future reissues of older stuff. Well, here's my fav remix on the latest M83 release. (N.B. there was also a Maps remix there but I've opted not to post it despite it's fitting nature ... I just ... didn't find it too interesting.)

"Kim & Jessie (Montag Remix)" by M83 from their 2015 release Saturdays = Youth: Remixes and B-Sides

Maps - You Will Find A Way [synth stuff]

I got Vicissitude from the clearance section from Sonic. I never really got into this CD but I did get into this track at one point. I most associate this song with that trip to Peterborough (i.e. the only trip to Peterborough because ... who even visits Peterborough, let's be real).

"You Will Find A Way" by Maps from his 2013 album Vicissitude

...here's the newer video featuring a box-man (fast forward 2 minutes for the actual song)

M83 - We Own The Sky [nu-gaze ??]

M83 recently released a remix/B-side CD for their 2008 album Saturdays = Youth. Despite the countless times I've listened to both Before The Dawn Heals Us and Hurry Up We're Dreaming, I've never actually listened to the Saturdays = Youth album. So let's celebrate the new album with ... a song from the old album, yeehaw.

"We Own The Sky" by M83 from the 2008 album Saturdays = Youth

Camilla Sparksss - I'll Teach You To Hunt [art whatever]

This was on a related video of "I'll Teach You" by PROM (for which youtube only has some amateur concert-rip right now, zzz). Stayed for the video (it's very ...conceptual). And, I guess I'm now staying for the lessons on how to hunt. Camilla Sparksss is Barbara Lehnoff from Swiss-Canadian band Peter Kernel (I'm guessing Barb is the Canadian half). Anyway...

"I'll Teach You To Hunt" by Camilla Sparksss from her 2014 album For You The Wild

Adventures - Your Sweetness [rock]

I think I would've really liked this song back in high school (well, I like it right now too). Fun energetic rock with harmonic (female) vocals and cathartic but not melodramatic lyrics (with a memorable chorus). I think it falls under ... emo? Iunno.

"Your Sweetness" by Adventures from their 2015 album Supersonic

Siamese Twins - Submission [dream pop]

Something light. "Submission" by Siamese Twins. Very washy dream pop. Veh nise. I once showed Coco this song and said she could learn a thing or two. She wasn't very impressed.

By the way, new video size! applied retrospectively to all October posts. The original size was 540x360 because YouTube used to refuse to play higher quality videos unless the embed had a minimum width. Oh, how times have changed.

"Submission" by Siamese Twins from their debut 2014 album Still Corner

Big Wreck - "Wolves" "A Million Days" "Time" [rock]

"That Song" was a great song, I'd listen to it over and over again all throughout middle school and university. Imagine my surprise when I found out that they released a new album in 2012. I listened the shit out of that album. I remember driving to and from Cobourg with mostly that CD, lots of good songs on that thing. Here're three from that 2012 album, Albatross: "Wolves" "A Million Days" and "Time".

xoc - Forest Of Illusion [game music, rock cover]

Been watching a lot of Mario Maker on Twitch lately (the oh so vaunted past time of watching others play video games ... which actually stretches back to my childhood, the days of Doom, Duke Nukem, and Corridor 7). What would be more fitting than listening to rock covers of Mario music? Nothing, that is the answer. Here's a tried and true favourite from an xoc (Jason Cox) album I've had for a while.

"Forest Of Illusion" by xoc from his 2005 album SMW

10+15=5^2=25 (or "What's Up" "Chocolate" and "first love / late spring")

This isn't some deep post about aging ... though I do feel age creeping on me recently ... Well, anyway, I present to you three songs that mention the age of 25. None of them feature that age as the song's topic, merely referencing passingly. Let's put them in order of when I first heard each (which is coincidentally the order in which they were released anyway).

"What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes from their 1992 album Bigger, Better, Faster, More!

"Chocolate" by Snow Patrol from their 2004 album Final Straw

"first love / late spring" by Mitski from her 2015 album bury me at makeout creek

惘闻 - "2012" and "Rain Watcher" [post-rock]

Tonight I have chosen to not do shit and spend some time with some familiar post-rock in the background. Here're two songs by 惘闻 (Wang Wen) from their 2012 album 0.7. I remember when this band was a more frequent sound on my playlists. I haven't delved into post-rock as deeply as I had a years ago, so this is nice nostalgic toddle.

"2012"

"Rain Watcher" (for something more mellow)

Ducktails - Headbanging In The Mirror

When I first heard "Headbanging In The Mirror" by Ducktails, the initial guitar rift immediately reminded of Real Estate. Laid back but purposeful, distinctive but careful not to be too in one's face about it. Well, part of me felt a little presumptuous thinking that ... it's not like I really have a very comprehensive understanding of Real Estate's catalogue.

After a while of listening to the song, I finally decided to go look up more info about Ducktails. And.. it's.. apparently.. the recording project of the guitarist for Real Estate ... lol. Well, since I use "related artist" features at websites, I suppose it's not inconceivable that I would be unwittingly listening to interconnected bands.

Anyway, without further ado, here're the "woozy, horizontal" and "hypnagogic" sounds that we've all been waiting for! Matt Mondanile looks incredibly relaxed in this video and makes a very compelling case for walking amidst palm trees and driving the dessert while sporting a spiffy suit while staring far into the yonder.

"Headbanging In The Mirror" by Ducktails from their 2015 album St. Catherine

The Jam - English Rose

The Jam, yet another band that my coworkers (well maybe only the former UK one) listened to back in the day but by whom I'd be lucky just to know a few songs. The only reason I know this song is because of a very fitting scene featuring Robert Carlyle in Stargate Universe, from the 14th episode of the first season: "Human". The scene includes a dream sequence, a lost love, and a ship hurdling through space in a distant galaxy. I can't imagine the lyrics had ever been more relevant: "I've been to ancient worlds // Scoured the whole universe // Caught the first train home // To be at her side", especially given Robert Carlyle's Scottish background (well, The Jam's English but ... close enough ... right?).

"English Rose" by The Jam from their 1978 album All Mod Cons

Tired Pony - That Silver Necklace [alt country]

Raiding CD sections at Value Villages and Salvation Army Thrift Stores has become quite an enjoyable past time. What on earth an unwrapped copy of That Place We Ran From by Tired Pony (supergroup featuring members from Snow Patrol and R.E.M., as well as Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) is doing there I'm not quite sure. But certainly an interesting listen. Here's a nice one.

"That Silver Necklace" by Tired Pony from their 2010 album That Place We Ran From

Lily & Madeleine - Spirited Away [folk, acoustic]

This song is fantastic for the slow introspective day. After listening to it a few times, it's easy to see the parts that make me like it so much: a relaxed tempo with layered but still relatively simple instrumentals, harmonic female vocals that don't try too hard to stand out, subtle lyrics, and a steel guitar for gooood measure. Fuck yes; you get a 5 out of 5 all day son.

Oh, the album version isn't available on YouTube for some reason ... still, a nice acoustic version, just without a few parts that made it extra nice.

"Spirited Away" by Lily & Madeleine from their eponymous 2013 debut Lily & Madeleine

Aero Flynn - Pk/Di [indie stuff~]

Of course I waited until after summer to listen to this year's Summer Sampler by Dine Alone Records. Its laid back synth melodies drew me in the second I hit the chorus. The video was also something (it's intended to be a dark ending, right?). That snowmobiling was pretty goddamn Canadian, well non-metropolitan Canadian anyway.

"Dk/Pi" by Aero Flynn from their debut 2015 LP Aero Flynn

The Colourist - Romancing [indie rock]

What anarchic fun. Well, it's all fun & games until someone gets the shit danced out of them (second video in a row with an excellent solo dance sequence). The Colourist are an indie rock band from Orange County.

"Romancing" by The Colourist from their 2015 EP Will You Wait For Me

AaRON - Blouson Noir

I definitely, absolutely, most certainly, unquestionably did NOT get this album because the band shares my name. That would lunacy, pure narcissistic applesauce. And I am beyond such ego-centric behaviours.

I wonder how the John Malkovich cameo came to be. Also, that's some fancy moves there Mr. Sunglasses Rollerskates Man. Keep on dancin' in the free world.

"Blouson Noir" by AaRON from their 2015 album We Cut The Night

Cubesato - Le Petit Prince [melodic glitch]

I first saw this video a long time ago and the song has stuck with me ever since. I've sat on it for a long time but I've finally added it to my collection (*ahem* iPod). A great combination of glitch and melody. Actually, I think the artist, Cubesato, is also White Crest (previous post), the album cover for the HELLO? album is on the Cubesato website. Maybe that's why I liked Hello? in the first place. Anyway, this is "Le Petit Prince" by Cubesato, released as a single in 2010. A shame it's less than 2 minutes long.

"Le Petit Prince" by Cubesato, released in 2010

Sun Airway - Putting The Days Away [synthey indie whatever]

Being able to forget is important. I'm surprised this has never been posted here before, it's been a regular on my playlist for years.

"Putting The Days Away" by Sun Airway from their 2010 album Nocturne Of Exploded Crystal Chandelier

(btw, my feels)

White Crest - Hello? [glitch, dance]

Part of me misses being consistently immersed into music, the way that I was back when all I had to do was study all day long. Nowadays, I find my attention divided by the time I get home, well I guess maybe that's a normal aspect of work-life balance. Whateverr..

Anyway, I appreciate having had been able to check out more stuff recently. I guess it does help that I have very few social activities in Midland. Oh, good fortune, sure does your light illuminate my path. 

Here's a song I checked a while ago. It's a unique mix of glitch and melody with a faint but noticeable Japanese influence. Finally got a copy of it off of the Google Play Store, which has been a surprisingly good medium for music.

"Hello?" by White Crest from their (only?) album HELLO?, 2009

Jose Suicidio - Holy Guacamole! [comedy]

She hates my self-deprecating humour. So, it's one of my attributes that I've slowly moved away from... maybe she just hates the perceived self-destruction that arises from it. Maybe that small aspect is an acceptable concession for the greater good. I still likes it though ... I find it a therapeutic way to acknowledge our woes and limitations, collectively.

I've been following the Henry's Kitchen series on YouTube since the beginning (link). He doesn't upload as much nowadays but I always get a huge grin on my face whenever I watch his stuff. I finally got off my butt and got his 2013 album, Let's Get Suicidal released under the pseudonym Jose Suicidio. I actually like a fair number of the songs. They're good as standalones but they also carry a nostalgic element of the laughs I've had from his past videos. I've been showing off this one the most recently: "Holy Guacamole!"

mutual benefit - C. L. Rosarian [folk]

For some reason, I have the "Love's Crushing Diamond" album by mutual benefit sorted to my electronica playlist. Don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I mistook the chimes for synth and thought that the varied instrumentals were all samples. Well, I guess I was wrong wrong wrong. I guess this is folky? It'd be a very fitting soundtrack for an adventure into the American heartland.

"C. L. Rosarian" by mutual benefit from Love's Crushing Diamond, 2013

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Bye Bye, Big Ocean (The End) - Ice Choir Remix

Ice Choir remix of a A Sunny Day In Glasgow song?! Where have I been...? It's starting to dawn on me that burying my head in the proverbial sand and letting the days wash over me while hunched over in a perpetual fetal position is a less than optimal use of my time...

Anyway ... where were we? Oh yes, fuck yeahhh.

"Bye Bye, Big Ocean (The End) - Ice Choir Remix" by A Sunny Day In Glasgow from their 2015 EP No Death

Beach House - Sparks

I forgot about this room. Look at all the dust and cobwebs that've overtaken this once semi-occupied space. No matter...

"Sparks" is the single off of Beach House's upcoming (and highly anticipated) album Depression Cherry. Really, really digging the shoegazey guitars. Holy. Shit. ...I'm excited.

Yes, this was released July 1st and it's already August 15th, I've been off my game, clearly. Well, no matter, less time I have to wait agonizedly (that's a more appropriate word than agonizingly right?). Yeehaw.

"Sparks" by Beach House from their upcoming album Depression Cherry

Ramona Lisa - Dominic

I always get a quaint feeling whenever I see connections in the music that I listen to. Take just now for example. I'm a Twitter subscriber to Kurt Feldman (frontman of the now-defunct The Depreciation Guild, ex-drummer of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, and vocalist for The Ice Choir) and Twitter recently informed me of Kurt's various followings. One of these was Ramona Lisa, stage name for Caroline Polachek, who's also the vocalist for Chairlift. After listening to "Dominic", I was immediately reminded of "Unhold" by Delorean, one of my favourites off of their Apar album. For me, that vocal style is a real imaginative way to use autotune (it's definitely a stylistic choice given that she sings wonderfully without it in other videos). Anyway, I didn't for a second actually think it was the same person but I was certainly tickled when I saw Caroline Polachek in the title of the "Unhold" music video. **EDIT** Oh and of course "Everything Is Spoilt By Use" by Ice Choir features her too ... and I totally unwittingly linked that song above originally too.

So, clearly, I must, for the sake of destiny, listen to all of Caroline's things. Below is "Dominic" released under her stage name Ramona Lisa from her 2014 release Arcadia. An absolutely fresh and relaxing song and video.

Bran Van 3000 - Couch Surfer [alternative]

The other day I heard a bird whisper in my ear that I had a blog where I post music stuff. Ludicrous! Since the last post here, a lot of things have changed. I'm in a new town, started two new jobs, started seeing a beautiful lady. Music hasn't been as huge a part of my life as it used to be when I would seek (desperately) for something to distract me from the frenzied thoughts in my head so that I could actually study with some semblance focus.

Well, musings like that really belong to my other blog so maybe I'll just stop here.

I have two albums from the Montreal collective Bran Van 3000 and I really got them just to listen to two singles: "Drinking In LA" and "Love Cliche". I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked the rest of the albums a lot. It consists of simple late-90s guitar, electronic samples, laid back spoken word, and gentle female background vocals. All very relaxing and done in way that's not repetitive as one goes through the album (though, to be honest, I haven't really sat through the whole album yet). It doesn't help that I tend to have a soft spot for Canadian music.

"Couch Surfer" by Bran Van 3000 from their 1998 album Glee