Natalie Prass - The Fire

It has been a bit of time since Natalie Prass's last album, around 6 years. Glad she made a follow-up ... she has a very distinctive voice. I listened to an hour long podcast featuring her during one of those daily interminable car commutes (jk it's manageable atm). Did you know that she has known the producer on this and the previous album since high school and that they still live a short distance from each other? Cool, alright. The podcast was pretty much a Q&A session between her and the producer highlighting her musical influences, her struggles and successes, her quirks, etc. It was a pleasant listen and I somehow appreciate her more now. Ok, here's "The Fire", which coincidentally just had a music video released last week. Lucky us.

"The Fire" by Natalie Prass from her 2018 album  

DIANA - Moment Of Silence

Ok, I have a soft spot for Toronto artists, guilty as charged. I was really elated to have found DIANA had made another album in 2016. I was a giant fan of "Strange Attraction" from their previous album. "Moment Of Silence" is really able to convey a palpable feeling of tension and anticipation through a hazy weave of subtle retro instrumentals. Also, saxophones are always a welcome addition for me, baha.

"Moment Of Silence" by DIANA from their 2016 album Familiar Touch.

Because I'm such a fanboy, here's a live version too. There's a bit of audience partcipation captured in this version.

Mitski - Nobody

Mitski released another album a month ago or so and this one seems to have garnered a lot more attention than her previous releases. This album still features her meandering vocal style with an improved production quality (at least compared to Bury Me At Makeout Creek, this could be comparable to Puberty 2). I think one of the reasons that Mitski is able me to draw repeatedly into her music is the sense of longing she expresses in a lot of her lyrics and expression. The music video is very fun watch too.

"Nobody" by Mitski from her 2018 album Be The Cowboy

Theo Katzman - Plain Jane Heroin

Another 6 month hiatus, yikes. Um, some stuff's happened since then. Left the continent for the first time in at least 10 years. Got engaged. Um, actually, I guess that's it. Been listening to some tunes since then. Finally have a little time to myself today so I've decided to wander around downtown for a bit and settle into a comfortable coffeeshop and post some of these from the backlog. I think it is fitting for the first post to be a song that I heard from another coffeeshop. "Plain Jane Heroin" features beautiful vocal styles of Theo Katzman (of Vulfpeck) accentuated by thoughtful lyrics asl well as good instrumentals and topped off with a cathartic crescendo.

"Plain Jane Heroin" by Theo Katzman from his 2017 album Heartbreak Hits

George Maple - Hero

I've actually been listening to this song pretty regularly for a while now ... surprised it wasn't on here already. Well, let's set the record straight.

See the world in colour, tell me everything's ok.

"Hero" by George Maple from her 2017 album Lover

U.S. Girls - Rosebud

I don't know what I like more: the song or the birbs. That's ok, both are great.

A cage holds you
We've all got one we call home
In the event of a 9-1-1
Who holds the key is what you need to know

...

You and you alone

...

(What is your Rosebud, you've got to know)

"Rosebud" by U.S. Girls from the 2018 album In A Poem Unlimited

Sloan - The Day Will Be Mine

After over 25 years, Sloan releases their twelfth album 12. I'm always excited to hear new stuff from them. I don't think it's just for nostalgia's sake. I can always count on them to produce something to pick me out of the rut. Thanks guys. Really appreciate all you do.

One day I'll wake up new and knowing. The sun will shine. And the day will be mine.
...
Just some time is all I need to turn it around.
...
Put me on a postcard, mail me back home.

"The Day Will Be Mind" by Sloan from their 2018 album 12.

Alvvays - Not My Baby

It just dawned on me that ... I have a lot of break-up music. No, I don't think it's some subtle expression of some suppressed desire. I think the appeal stems from something a bit broader: the notions of loss and acceptance. I think I ultimately relate to these emotional states more than anything. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not trying to make any general declarations of my psychological well-being. But sometimes I do find an all-too-familiar void wrapping around me with its icy, paralyzing grip. Maybe these songs remind me that these feelings are ultimately facets of the human experience and help propel me a little from my stand-still. Or, whatever.

"Not My Baby" by Alvvays from their 2017 album Antisocialite (live version from Adult Swim)

Lucy Dacus - Night Shift

You know, I have a pretty stable life now, routine seems to prevail consistently. But, still, I find myself still drawn the cathartic songs. And this is a beautiful one. The lyrical build-up to the refrain and then the vocal/instrumental explosion during the refrain was truly a moving experience the first time I listened to this. I don't have relational issues right now but I guess the message of longing is universal enough such that I can appreciate it even from my current vantage point.



"Night Shift" by Lucy Dacus from her 2018 album Historian

Siddhartha - Ecos de Miel

Placid pleasantness followed with a bittersweet end. There are a few non-English songs for which I make an effort to learn how to sing. I think I'll make this one of them. Song starts at 4:02. 

"Ecos de Miel" by Siddhartha from the 2014 album El Vuelo de Pez

Snail Mail - Pristine

The instrumentals appeal to the late-90s side of me. The latter half of the chorus appeals to the late-20s of me.

"Pristine" by Snail Mail from the upcoming 2018 album Lush

Hatchie - Sure

Simple clean nostalgic dream pop. Works for sure.

"Sure" by Hatchie, single from 2018

Vivian Leva - Time Is Everything

Spring is here. The sun's warmth has returned. Feels like I'm waking up from a long slumber. I don't know how they can stare into each other's eyes when singing like this. 3close5me.

"Time Is Everything" by Vivian Leva from her 2018 album Time Is Everything

Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness

It's ok, we'll just get through it, we've got to keep 🐄ving.

"Motion Sickness" by Phoebe Bridgers from her 2017 album Stranger In The Alps

Japanese Breakfast - The Body Is A Blade

The body is a blade that cuts a path to day to day
The body is a blade that moves while your brain is writhing

"The Body Is A Blade" by Japanese Breakfast from their 2017 album Soft Sounds From Another Planet

Our Lady Peace - In Repair

OLP and Matthew Good are playing at Massey Hall. Of course, I cannot attend. That's ok. Was listening to a bunch of older OLP stuff the other day.

Lately, I've been wanting to slow down and reconnect with some part of me outside of work and people routines, reconnect with some part of my imagination or creativity. But I wonder, what purpose would that serve? I work, pay my bills, give attention to my social entanglements. Who seriously gives a fuck if I do anything beyond paying attention to these socially valued tasks? I'm fully functional cog, why mess with that? Obviously, there is value but ... beyond it's ideological value ... sometimes I wonder.

"In Repair" by Our Lady Peace from their 2000 album Spiritual Machines

MGMT - Me And Michael

MGMT's had an interesting journey up until here (really well summarized here). I mean I'll always appreciate when artists value their creativity over their profitability so they automatically get massive cred from me (like that meant a damned thing though lol). About this actual album ... first off, I have to say that I really love their music videos, best described as creative irreverence ... that's a possible descriptor of some of their lyrics too ... bahaha. Rest of the album has a really good retro vibe. 4/5 digs!!

"Me And Michael" by MGMT from their 2018 album Little Dark Age

Rich Brian (featuring JojI) - Introvert

I was really excited that Rich Brian (formerly Rich Chigga) was finally releasing a full album instead of the onslaught of singles that he had been doing for the last two years. I really enjoyed the album and not even just for the music. I think a large part of my appreciation is for the narrative of Brian himself. 

He went from being a home-schooled dude learning a lot of colloquial Western English from YouTube to being featured on the Late Late Show with James Corden. And when you see interviews with Brian, you see that he's very well grounded and well-intentioned. The cynic in me does want to focus on what seems to be an element of naivete. But, as I think about it, I realize that's less important. People will experience a plethora of things as they develop as humans ... I'm sure he has many ups and downs to experience in his relatively short life/career so far. 

I think I appreciate Rich Brian for the same reason I had appreciated Alessia Cara when she first had "Here" out as a single: a young person pursuing an interest wholeheartedly and being able to make something out of it. Honestly, I think these types are people are just very good role models for teenagers and it feels like we can never have too many of those in this day and age of media saturation.

Anyway, that's the rant. Here's a link to one of the songs I really liked:

"Introvert" by Rich Brian (featuring Joji) from his debut 2018 album Amen

The LYNNeS - Recipe For Disaster

"Recipe for Disaster" somehow popped in my feed. The LYNNeS are Lynne Hanson and Lynn Miles, both of whom are well-known in the Canadian folk scene (I was really surprised they were based in the Ottawa-area). Coco thinks that this song fits us very well ... I think so too (in the most endearing way of course). Anyway, great song! Oh and they're playing in Toronto and Barrie ... very nice.

"Recipe For Disaster" by The LYNNeS from their 2018 album Heartbreak Song For The Radio

Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life

Oh, this song ... it came out ... a bit over 20 years ago ... Third Eye Blind just had a 20th anniversary re-release of their 1997 album. Well, I guess I saw Sloan's 20 anniversary of One Chord To Another a year and a bit ago. Yikes. Time's just ... passing by, innit. Also, lol at the censor of "crystal meth", 90's as hell.

"Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind from their 1997 album Third Eye Blind