Sorry... Shooting in Progress

Wait! Nope, Still No Winter

2012-01-31T22:00:00.001-05:00

January and still no snow... might as well act as if it's Spring.

Where Did All The Love Go? - Kasabian - Listening to this in the morning is like a shot of adrenalin in the heart
My Body - Young the Giant
Lasso - Phoenix - booty shakin' in traffic
Drifting Along - Jamiroquai - I feel like I fit the stereotype, listening to this while driving a Black Jeep
1940 (AmpLive Remix) - The Submarines - Thanks to the folks at Poking Smot, I found this awesome remix
Snowed In, Cruisin' - Joel Plaskett Emergency - Because Joel Plaskett is perfect at anytime
Dead and Gone - The Black Keys - I got the new album not knowing what to expect and I got: Greatness as usual from the The Black Keys. Definitely one of the best of 2011
Take You Home - Luke Doucet And White Falcon - This one's quickly becoming one of my favourites
Lovesick - Hannah Georgas - Pretty much describes my pattern...
Run Right Back - The Black Keys
Art Of Almost - Wilco- Much different Wilco but still just as great!
Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (Final Fantasy) - Stars - Listen to "Do You Trust Your Friends?", which is "Set Yourself on Fire" remixed by artists whom are friends with the band. Amazing!
Thistle & Weed - Mumford and Sons - Makes me want to down 3/4 of a bottle of whisky and smash it against the wall, in drunken anger; like they do in the movies. But I won't... or would I?
Time Yet - New Epics - Just check it out. It's a friend of mine and I just love his stuff.
Between the Bars - The Civil Wars - This song made me giddy. "Between the Bars" is a personal favourite for years and hearing this cover... equals happiness every time!
After the Storm - Mumford and Sons - Brotherhood anthem
Outro (AKA: I'm a Fool to Want You) - M. Ward - Well it's M.Ward...

Strange Winter...

2012-01-31T21:43:00.000-05:00

Once again, this is what I've been listening to in repeat; somewhere between London - Toronto - Montreal - Drummondville.

Let England Shake - PJ Harvey - I dance to this when I'm stuck in traffic in my car.
Big Bird In A Small Cage - Patrick Watson - that's what you listen to when you're up and reading at 4am
A Girl Can Dream - Melissa McClelland
Old Tin Can - Catherine MacLellan
Dance Me to the End of Love - The Civil Wars
Man Like You - Patrick Watson
Sweetest Kill - Broken Social Scene
Roads - Portishead - A classic... no need to say more
Machinery Of The Heavens - Patrick Watson
Tenuousness - Andrew Bird - Ok, honestly this song is hilarious! just listen, no really (ignore the video)
God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise - Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs - can I marry you please? I know it's like the 37th time that I'm asking but you can't blame a girl for trying
To Whom It May Concern - The Civil Wars - It's just what every hopeless romantic (aka me) thinks about constantly but won't dare say outloud
Segovia - Melissa McClelland
The Violet Hour - The Civil Wars
Wash. - Bon Iver

Summer 2011 Playlist

2011-12-02T00:04:00.001-05:00

All I can say is this is what a whole lot of bbqs', beach days, camping, road trips and late night/early morning drives sounds like in this incredible summer that we just had. Oh yean and trying to figure out what life felt like again...

Calgary - Bon Iver
Brutal Hearts (feat. Coeur de Pirate) - Bedouin Soundclash
Sweet Nancy - Peter Elkas
We Dont Eat - James Vincent McMorrow
Sing My Lonesome Away - Matt Wertz
Come Back Home - Pete Yorn
Through & Through & Through - Joel Plaskett
Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
Push - Moist
Stone - Stereophonics
Tighten Up - The Black Keys
You've Got the Love (XX remix) - Florence + the Machine
Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club
Punching In A Dream - The Naked And Famous
Lisztomania - Phoenix
Howlin' For You - The Black Keys
The Valley - Okkervil River
1901 - Phoenix
We Need a Myth - Okkervil River
Wild Flowers - Ryan Adams
Cry On My Shoulder - Melissa McClelland
Switching Off - A Cast of Thousands
Up Go The Arms - Jason Bajada

Fall in time ....

2011-11-22T20:32:00.003-05:00

The past few months, I fell in love twice, with 2 great men. Dan and I met while I was browsing the 2009 Polaris' Finalists long list and it was love at first listen! With his 3rd album, he sounds older, wiser and maybe a little depressed but the natural and pure sounds that were combined in the album are majestic. And so I fell in love all over again and it only growing stronger!

Then there was Ryan but Mandy Moore apparently is married to him and he madly in love with her, according to his album so I decided to forget about it...

Since the city of Toronto has the best planner out there, I got stuck on a 1km stretch for 2hrs30, during which I rediscovered Wilco and I now, I can't stop listening to them.

Jeopardy - Dan Mangan
The Suburbs - Arcade Fire - Bagel St-Viateur, le Mile End et le plateau Mont Royal
Together True - For Those About to Love
Sway - Bic Runga
Starts With Them, Ends With Us - Dan Mangan
Leave Me (Like You Found Me) - Wilco
The Undiscovered First - Feist
How Darwinian - Dan Mangan - Toronto, cold yet charming, with its leaves floating all over
Do I Wait - Ryan Adams - Whisky and a bonfire
Please Be Patient With Me - Wilco
Come Home - Ryan Adams
Someone Like You - Adele - Adele's so hot right now! I couldn't just ignore her. And let's face it, we all wished, at some point in our life, that we had the guts to say and do everything she's talking about in this song. Plus, you have to admit, we all do it > Watch this...
On and On and On - Wilco
We Haven't Turned Around - Gomez
I Love You But I Don't Know What to Say - Ryan Adams - Perfection

Here's my rant about hipsters...

2011-09-26T18:08:00.000-04:00

Yes! I do not like hipsters! I have to say, they may even contribute to my repressed issues! It's not my fault! Society dictates that I shouldn't dropkick everybody that annoys me. I have a slight violent tendency so excuse me... But mostly, as my sister puts it, they just try too hard and really give me a lot of inner chuckling material. So really, they benefit my life.

Just think about it... 15 years ago, you would have been in a faceoff, skaters vs. hiphop enthusiasts; trying to figure out which one cared less about the latest big deal. Shrugs after shrugs.... Admit it, you were in that fight 15 years ago. You just don't want anyone to know... That's how you got those buff shoulders! Don't lie! It's unbecoming...

If you've just thought to yourself: "yeah, I'd dropkick them too! They're just sad at their attempts at being cool." Well, let me tell you something: you're a hipster too! If you're judging people on their sad attempt of looking fashionable with clothes that were obviously weren't bought at the thrift store and their lame sense of irony, you're a hipster. I'm lame for making jokes and not knowing the latest, coolest tweeter (because blogging isn't cool anymore. Bring on tumblr!)? Yeah, you're a hipster. You're always looking for the cheapest to look like a fashionable homeless man while paying 100 bucks for tshirt that you found at that really cool shop that just opened up on Queen street? yeah, you're a hipster. You own more than one loose knit hat and fedoras? yeah, you're a hipster...

Now, you're thinking: "Come on, that's all the underground fashionable trends right now from all the cool artists. Dude, I think I need a new skinny tie to go with my really tight skinny jeans... They're so perfect, I can't even feel the balls that I don't have"... now you're not thinking that... that's just my imagination... but truly you have...

If you've ever thought like any of the thoughts like those in http://stuffhipstershate.tumblr.com/... just even somewhere close... bad news! you need thick rimmed non-prescription glasses to complete your outfit...

"Sorrow"

2011-09-02T00:24:00.001-04:00

I'm driving home tonight and the air is so thick; I can practically taste every single particle in the air. Going through the Mount Pleasant ravine, the mist is surrounding the trees and I can't help but think that's exactly how my head's been feeling like for the past week. Just in a daze of confusion and ... nothing really. Just numbness... There's just so many thoughts in my head; it feels like that are none. All jambled up in confusion and insecurity. While I picture my possible move across the continent, I picture the 1000 ways it could go wrong. I look for better ways to get out of the numbness but I find more ways to self-sabotage and pull myself back in. Lush drinks with equally lush foods... Emotional eating was/is never the answer. I just resent myself

"Sorrow" by the National comes on. It doesn't matter how many times I listen to this song, there's always comforting feeling that turns into guilt. The words speak to me in unimaginable ways but I always wished it didn't after...

"Sorrow found me when I was young; Sorrow waited, sorrow won"

When you're 9 and you keep finding out that more family members that you've never met, the same ones that keep telling you that they love you and can't wait to see you again is either running for their life or got hacked away by some maniac who admire the same family but resents the fact that they belong to the wrong social class... Let's just say that you end up really not caring about the Backstreet Boys or whatever the trendy band/artist was in back then. Then you watch for the same event pick away at your family time after time after time for the next coming years. You can't help anything or do anything because you're a kid and kids don't have a say. It's not like I've been abused or traumatized. But feeling the way that I do because of the ever mounting pile of crap I went through makes me feel even worse than the way that I felt in the beginning, because it's trivial compared to a lot of things that experienced every day by a lot of people. So why should I feel like there's still a hole inside? Why do I still feel it if everything's said and done?

"Don't leave my hyper heart alone on the water
Cover me in rag and bone sympathy
'cause I don't wanna get over you
I don't wanna get over you"

Then there it comes... "I don't wanna get over you" Right there; all I thinking is: "Yeah, I don't. I really don't want to. Wait... Who am I even thinking about?" I've been having the romantic attention of a 14 year old hyped up on hormones and... there's nothing else to say. I feel like Jim Carrey in "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind" when he's sitting in the train when he's on way to Montauk and says "Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention? " (may the reader exerts discernment ;)) . It's ludicrous; yes and I like to think that I'm smarter than that but my treacherous heart seems to have its own mind.

"Sorrow's my body on the wavesSorrow's a girl inside my cakeI live in a city sorrow built"

My love for the National is a bittersweet one...

Freak Rain Storm

2011-08-21T18:07:00.008-04:00

I don't know what it is but there's a combination of the constant rain and hearing "England" from The National that just seems to be able to put me in complete and absolute.... state. What? I don't really know how to describe it. Isn't this what blog are for ? Write absolute non-sense to have a stranger psychoanalyse it or simply go: "Dude, you have issue!"?!

Anyway... rain + The National = something?! Apparently.

I strolled down to my neighboring LCBO to grab tasty red wine to try out and pick out "Munich" which one of my friend sent me for review and must I say that I am loving this song... Sidetracked... again (do I have avoidance issues? mehhhh, yeah) So I'm walking back home and I'm just hating everything my Blackberry has to offer until "England" from The National comes on.

Now there's something about walking in the rain without a care in the world that's absolutely freeing! Add to that, that I had to take my glasses off to be able to walk without slamming into poles... So I'm walking without a care in the world, unable to see or recognize a face around me and this song simply grabs me from under water and sinks me in.

Pictures of London after the rain, its gloomy smell and skies, "High Violet"'s album cover's colors, the light show at the National's concert Q and I went to last are floating one after the other in my head, the soft yet loud thumping of the drumming... I create a rush without any sort of envy to see it through... It's like being under water, surrounded by the blue sea, with the sun peaking through and.... you just want to look at it. You could swim up but don't want to. There's no distress or panic, just comfort. Then you just shoot up! Out and flying! Just to land comfortably under the sky full of star.

Yet, that leaves me realizing that there are days where I can't feel any sort of surprise with anything or anyone. Just disillusioned... I'm not depressed. Just not surprised...

I'm 26 and unimpressed or surprised. Shouldn't that happen much later in life?

I might just pick this up again...

2011-08-20T12:50:00.004-04:00

As the title says, I've been seriously flirting with the idea of picking this up again... but the question is always: "What am I gonna talk about?" My life is generally a bit boring... Wake up, gym, work, dinner and then bed... What's so great about that?

Maybe I could write about the thoughts that keeps me up at night but isn't that again a bit generic? Like lately, all I can think about is that I've worked through everything I came here to do, settle my accounts and reached my goals so I might want to move on to bigger things; which is settling down somewhere else for a while. The main picks right now are either Madrid or Northern California or maybe, maybe out West to be outside for endless times. All I know is I'm ready to take this thing that's apparently my life somewhere else. Toronto might slowly choke me into a numb sleep soon...

I keep maintaining that I'm not made for the city life but I'm not doing anything about it... I don't think I'm not as ready to settle down as I thought. Demons slayed, yet the big pictures isn't complete... Oh well....

So this is the end of the road...

2010-01-06T16:01:00.003-05:00

So I've been thinking about this for a while and I think this is the right thing to do. I don't have time to do this on schedule and regularly and frankly, I just have other priorities. Maybe I'll give it another try some day but right now, I need to focus my energy on other things such as my friends, family and spiritual matters.

I'm still gonna be at shows, snappin' away but I want to do this for fun, without any pressure.

So I want to thank those 3 readers out there... well mostly just everyone who read it at least once and encouraged me to give it a try. Writing is not enough of a passion for me to keep it up.

If you still want to let me know about anything good, music, shows or films; email me at gosselin.sophie@gmail.com.

You can find my pictures on Flick @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxsophiexx/ and you can find my favorites and music loves on MySpace @ http://www.myspace.com/sorryshootinginprogress.

November's Pick

2009-11-29T13:27:00.003-05:00

MySpace Artist - The Autumn Portrait

You could possibly say that I listen to way too much folk but to me, there's just not nearly enough of it. I love it! I could have it for breakfast (but I just have my breakfast listening to folk).

The Autumn Portrait should definitely appeal to you if you're a fan of either Bon Iver or City and Color as he does own up to their talent. This one-man band does excel in painting pictures of his life while his root/folk music style with keep his sound deeply grounded. If you're in the Vancouver area, he performs on a regular basis in the area. Though, I hope he'll come to Toronto sometime soon. I'd love to see him live. His first EP "The Light" is available on iTune and I, for one, do plan on getting it.

If you like City and Color, Bon Iver and good cup of hot coffee in front of a fire place

Local Artist you need to check out - Michael Bernard Fitzgerald

All I can think about saying about his sound is fresh, crisp and ground-breaking indie pop sound. I don't usually get easily impressed with anything that has any sort of pop connection ( I know... I'm mean) but seriously, this guy's music is addictive. His voice sounds a bit like Gavin De Graw but quirkier and mixed in a bit of pop, a little bit of funk and happiness, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald has got what you need to brighten up your day. He walks tall, sure and simple happy. But I think what is the most interesting with him is the marching band style drumming that seems to be popping up everywhere. It really add to his signature.

I think that if you only listen to "Reach You", that'll be enough to convince you that he's someone to keep an eye on. I'd give you something to compare him to but he's has a singular sound that you'll have sample to see what I mean.

My Guilty Pleasure - Twilight: New Moon's Soundtrack

Ok, so this is the part where I can guarantee you'll most likely point and laugh at me next time you see me but seriously, it's nothing infantile or any band that you'll find plastered on the wall of a 13 year old's wall, along with an inappropriate poster of either Rob Pattinson or Taylor Lauktner.

The reason I was drawn to it is because I had read an article on Bon Iver's involvment in the soundtrack and if you know me, you know I LOVE the man, like I have an affair with him behind Ray Lamontagne's back. Of course, without fail, his track "Rosyln" with St. Vincent was absolutely beautiful.

Other big indie names can be found such as Thom Yorke, Muse, Likke Li, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Editors.

With a storyline that was mostly centered on heartbreak, love, depression and passion, this soundtrack is right on the dot about the feelings they're looking for to picture. Hate teenage gushy love flicks? Understandable but you need to at least listen to it. It's quite surprising.

If you like Radiohead, Editors, Bon Iver and anything indie.... and does not require to like Twilight

August and September's Pick

2009-10-03T07:27:00.005-04:00

So, yeah,... August went by in a flash, so did September. In fact, I can barely remember what did the past 2 months. But nevermind, on with the highlights...

The Show that you missed - David Martel @ the Rivoli
In the spirit of the Quebec Folk International Festival, which is a world wide coordinated effort to make Quebecois Folk artists known. David Martel visited Toronto with Theresa Andersson, both absolutely incredible artists.

Surrounded by about a dozen of pedals and a multiple of instruments, Theresa Andersson stood alone on the stage and came a one-woman band with the help of looping pedals and numerous instruments. Andersson offers a prestine clear sound that by moment will remind you of the charm of warm rainy days or the outer joy of freely dancing carelessly. The experience was simply entrancing and just never seemed to be enough. A mash up of icelandic inspired folk and cajun sounds streamed through master hands, Theresa Andersson captured the audience immediately and should assuredly captured you too.

Theresa Andersson's MySpace Page

Following up was David Martel, an artist that I had been looking forward for months to see live after falling in loving with "Stay in" and "Yours and Mine" on his MySpace page. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed not to see a full band there, but fear not, it was not a disappointment. Accompanied by the lovely Natasha, David Martel delivered each songs with the pure intensity that acoustic music has to offer. Martel has nothing to prove in his abilities but it was remarkably impressive to see the emotions that transpired in each songs that were performed. Not only his lyrics are already carrying the loud and clear messages but the energy and feeling put into each songs really seized me. Definitely a great show! I look forward to eventually seeing him with a full band.

The TV Show that you should, like totally watch!

By now, you probably seen all the much flattering posters of Jane Lynch with that loser sign on her forehead. If you shrugged it off as another future Fox failed show, let me tell you... You're completely wrong!

This new comedy has dark bitting sense of humour, that I am guilty of enjoying, probably a little too much. William Schuster is a teacher in an public school in Ohio, you know your average "I'm gonna change the world today" type of teacher. He decides to take over the Glee club, a show-choir club, which is mostly made the worst of the school's losers.

Not only is there a constant chain of lies and deceipt (which always makes for great television) but most of the characters are just poor innocents people getting constantly manipulated, but in a very comical way and show tunes are included and FANTASTIC! In fact, I suspect that the Pilot version's "Don't Stop Believin'" from Journey has elicited the interest in CK Audio's remix.

If you haven't started watching this show yet, you need to. It is the one show to watch this TV Season.

Glee's official home page @ Fox

July's Pick

2009-07-23T13:25:00.004-04:00

Movie that you must watch: (500) Days of Summer.

"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know upfront... This is not a love story." Now why would anyone want to see this movie? Actually, it was the music in the trailer that grabbed my attention and the fact that I love both Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But this movie has so much more to offer that instantaneous chemistry between the two lead actors. Wrapped with quirky humor and genius direction, this very much realistic love story always keeps a charmingly light tone to the aspect of love that we all have visited but no one loves: We're definitely more than friends but someone's holding back.

The movie starts off with our young couple break up and we revisit their relationship through each numbered days from the moment that Tom (Gordon-Levitt) layed his eyes on Summer (Deschanel) and immediately fell for her to day 500, where he's over her. It may feel like an weak punch in the gut by moment, but it is what it is: Reality slightly sugarcoated.

Mark Webb has shown amazing talent with this movie with the use of different cinematic tricks such of constant colour theme of blue and yellow for Summer's eye and joy of love, 60s French movie reference, voice overs, dance breaks (yes, you read right) and alternate universes.

This is one movie that you can't afford to miss. I'm eagerly waiting on the DVD release of this movie to watch it over and over again.

Official Website and a lovely dance video Zooey and Joseph have made with their director Mark Webb to one of She & Him tunes.

Artist that I should have paid attention to a long time ago: Regina Spektor

How lame am I for not paying attention earlier? No, seriously! I deserve a medal for not listening more to Regina Spektor on the pretext that she's a little weird.

After listening to her 3rd release "Far", I'm convinced that Regina Spektor is one of the most talented female singer/songwriter of her generation. With classical piano training but Russian folk and New York's spirit as an influences allows this adorably quirky singer to turn any tales into a song to dance with joy in the rain.

As for "Far", it is a gem of sweetness, daydreaming mixed with sweet piano melodies. What I love most about Spektor in this album is the ridiculous of verses that will make laugh out, or at least if you're in public, hold back some serious laughter. It's sweet, luscious and charming.

If you like Tori Amos but happier, Fiona Apple's humour and 50s homemakers dresses.

MySpace Artist of the Month: The Jet Rodriguez

Mesh of a little bit of chamber pop, shoegaze and folk that makes what you could imagine what would sound Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and tiny touch of emo. Now this all sounds quite abstract but the best way of describing this is comparing it to Impressionist paintings. Reality but solely through the eyes of the painter.

Listening to the album feels like having the honest conversation with an old friend at a coffee shop or under stars. Nothing wrong can be said and no one can be offended. It's real, comfortable and it feels like home. Cameron Navetta accomplished a tour-de-force with this album. Impeccable sound and arrangements while harmonies that'll give you chills.

If you like Dashboard Confessional and folk music meshed together

June's Picks - Frenchie special!

2009-07-08T11:06:00.002-04:00

French artists special this month! No, it has nothing to do with St-Jean-Baptiste since I'm not really patriotic. Even if you don't understand French, I'm absolutely convinced that these artists can be throughly enjoyed without understanding the content. Don't worry, no hateful, derogatory messages. Just awesome music.

The International artist that you've probably never heard about: Ariane Moffatt

Ariane Moffatt is one of those artists that would be instant indie success if she ever were to release an English album. Already having gained a certain popularity among the French indie scene in France and with the general public in Quebec, Ariane Mofatt has once again shown incredible talent with her latest album "Tous Les Sens", released in April. Faithful to her initial love with electronic music and sampling, Moffatt seems to have taken a much more pop approach with her new album; flirting by moments with Pierre Lapointe's cabaresque (is that even a word?) style. Even if you don't understand a word of French, I strongly recommend it to you.

If you like Fiona Apple's lyrical style with a mix of electro/pop

New Discovery: Coeur de Pirate

Simple, stripped down and gentle is how I would define Coeur de Pirate. Béatrice Martin is a long time piano player who comes from a family of musicians and just up and decided to start writing songs and somehow, popped out an extremely adorable self-title album in a very short time. With quite the success trickling down from Quebec to Toronto, with a full house for NXNE on to the rest of Canada, Ms. Martin easily makes us remember of both the simplicity of youth and the confusion that accompanies growing up and learning what love is. Again, even if you don't understand a word of French, buy it. It's a 30-ish minutes long quiet piano lullaby.

If you like Belle and Sebastian and Regina Spektor

The Album that I should have listened to earlier: Labyrinthe by Malajube

Still chaotic and slightly cacophonic, Malajube released "Labyrinthe" March 31, 2009 and the same week had a full house show for Canadian Music week at El Mocambo, which I was totally hyper for since I hadn't seen them live since 2005 at Salla Rossa in Montreal, opening for the Dears. The guys certainly haven't lost their increbidly dark humour but they seem to have gained maturity and a little bit of seriousness in their lyrics and music, which can be easily seen when comparing with their first album " Le Compte Complet". This album has put Malajube on the map, almost internationally, since I believe it was Spin Magazine that qualified them as one of the best Indie rock band out there right now (please correct me if I'm wrong). Check them either on their website or on MySpace.

If you like Kaiser Chiefs but darker and louder

Much anticipated movie: Precious

If you're put off because you saw Mariah Carey, don't worry.... It's not of the Glitter kind. This actually seems like a very tough and intense movie. Illiterate and living in a terrible environment, Precious is trying to reach for a better life than the one ahead of her. It's not so easy though when you're pregnant with your 2nd child, living with an abussive mother who doesn't seem to miss an opportunity to put her down. Rough, raw and real, don't watch it if you're sensitive to the sadness of life.

The Soundtrack that you should own: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Let's all be honest right now and admit that we all have a secret crush on Michael Cera and his geeky looks. Beside the fact that this movie rocks my socks off every time I watch it, the soundtrack is just as fun. I honestly believe that this soundtrack could be one of those albums that could define the teenagers of '07-'10 years. Quirky and part of a certain late 80's-early 90's revival movement, all the bands on this soundtrack are the definitely of the indie trendy flavor like Vampire Weekend, Bishop Allen, The Submarines and Shout Out Louds. I just feel like busting out my Wayfarer (even if I don't even own a pair) everytime I listen to it.

May's Picks

2009-06-10T18:45:00.010-04:00

Ok so I said I would post around the beginning of the month but apparently, I got busy... or distracted... either would be good. Either way, here's what I loved in May. You might agree or not, it's all good to me.

Local band: Make Your Exit

Make Your Exit is another great emerging indie rock band in Toronto. Extremely talented is the best way to describe them but to get a little bit more into details, great lyrics, wicked arrangements, energy to resell and a great stage presence. Listening to their EP "Make always seems like hearing a slow rising explosion of bright colors, that are at the same time comforting. Great jam rock with tints of a jazz influence in there.

If you love Broken Social Scene and The Most Serene Republic

New Found indie Artist: David Martel

I found out about David Martel through Mark Berube's link on Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few's page, who, I later found out had opened for Adele on the April 29th show at Massey Hall.
Martel so wonderfully meshed prog rock, folk, pop and a sprinkle of jazz; resulting in a sound that reminds me of crazy drives around Mount Royal. Topped by a soft calming voice, David Martel will lift you up to another cloud, high above the city.

If you love Ray LaMontagne, Radiohead and folk music in general

Oldie: Crazy by Patsy Cline

Yeah, you read right. I absolutely love this song and you should too! You'll look really cool singing your head off to this song while driving downtown with the windows down. It'll look even more cool if something like Jimmy Eat World comes on right after...

New Release that I found too late: Maria Taylor's "Ladyluck"

I got Maria Taylor's single "Time Lapse Lifetime" through Last.Fm and didn't really pay attention to it for the longest time until I came across it through my iTunes playlist and totally fell in love with this song.

What I most appreciate is the candid feeling through either heavier topics, like the end of a life, or something much more lighter; like burgeoning love. Maria Taylor's calm openess and frankness is a moving element that'll get you addicted. It will move you to recall the lightness of your childhood memories with songs such as "Childhood and Forever Plans" and "Green Butterfly".

If you like : Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machines" or Ray LaMontagne or pop/folk

Just a little note...

2009-05-16T21:40:00.003-04:00

So I've been trying to get my thoughts focused to write something remotely interesting but could never figure what, when or how or any of the answers of the sort for these types of questions.

I decided that I'm gonna make a monthly blog entry of my picks of the month. Don't expect anything much organized for the categories. I'm just gonna write a few sum ups of what I liked this month.

So that's it... just a little note on that. Keep an eye out on June 1st or around that date for a post for my picks of the month.

See ya then.

TWM 32: Amos the Transparent w/ Whale Tooth and Bellewoods

2009-01-10T14:20:00.002-05:00

TWM 32 was a legendary kind of a year opening and by FAR one of the best shows Dan Wolowick and the Two Way Monologue team put together. It was quite the trip. It seems every band seems to take us at different places.

Opening the evening was my current heartthrob, Bellewoods. I've been listening to them almost none stop since I found them. With a realism that still seems to transport you into another world or in another time, their singer's voice carries a ghost of a sorrow-filled northern woodsmen who lives for the memory of his lost love. It goes without saying that there is a definite timeless essence in Bellewoods' sound that seems to grip you at the guts with their stretching guitars and dramatic violin arrangments (if they sadly did not have that night... the violins that is). Bellewoods has an authentic folk sound that I find incredibly surprising for a band located in the heart of Toronto. Now, none of that feel was lost on stage which totally blew me away. Even more when the lead singer's mic turned off and he finished the song, sung at the top of his lungs. Just plain amazing...

Bellewoods' MySpace page

Next up was the Whale Tooth, who I have to admit; I underestimated. They are a box of fun. A mix of ska, rock and crazy mad guitar picking that makes their music into a bundle of party dance rock. After the intensely heartfelt performance from Bellwood, Whale Tooth took the stage by storm and bombarded the audience with energy bombs thrown at us by all band members. Between the riduculous guitar playing, electrifying antics, shimmying bass lines and non-stop drumming and the added bonus of Elise Le Gros' swanky voice, it is was just incredibly fun. This band has convinced me that they are looking toward making the best that there is and to as far as they can. Another local band to keep your eye on for 2009. SYLSB

The Whale Tooth's Myspace Page

Finally, my love of 2008, Amos the Transparent came on the stage. I was looking forward to this particular set after the news that Amos would be performing in a 6-piece band that night. Usually, 4 men on stage, it always felt like something was missing with the absence of female vocals, since the album has them on almost every track. With the joining of Dan Hay on guitar and Kate Cooke on vocals, it just seemed like the perfect ensemble. Hay and Cooke have brought an edge to Amos, both bolder but without in any way, taking away from the soothing and quiet intensity. A week later, as I'm writing this, I really believe that this was another memorable night at Rancho for Amos, surrounded by a rapidly growing number of fans, such as myself. The new material is just as promising as their first release. Since last Friday, I can't seem to be able to stop to listen to it... again. (I think my iPod as memorized the location of Everything I've Forgotten To Forget) Let's all cross our fingers for a new album soon!

Amos the Transparent's Official website

Pictures of TWM 32: Amos the Transparent w/ Whale Tooth and Bellewoods

Compilation of quotes

2008-12-30T15:47:00.000-05:00

"While you keep browsin' for others, I'll keep on dreamin' of you and me. Just sittin' and waitin' "

"Really... I don't care about the rest. I want you. I can't picture it to change anytime soon."

"Choosing my words carefully
Has never been my strength.
I've been known to be
vague and often pointless"

"I wanna know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above"

"It's a choice
to stay
It's a dream
& I wanna wake"

"I'm not gonna live for you
or die for you
Won't do anything anymore for you
Cuz you leave me here on the other side
You leave me here on the other side"

Mark Berube - What the Boat Gave the River

2008-11-15T21:53:00.002-05:00

At the Toronto CD Release Party for What the Boat Gave the River, his 3rd release, Berube explained that the project of the What the River Gave the Boat/What the Boat Gave the River originated 3 years ago; which consisted in making sister albums. They indeed resulted being the answer to each other, as he says "either in shape, form, content or mood". Quite the concept but with the most remarkable results.

Continuing his fearless approach of social issues and real life story telling, Mark Berube released his 3rd album and let me tell you that this another wonder! He is not only a singer/songwriter. I honestly believe that this description doesn't nearly do him justice.

His poetry evokes of true compassion, incomparable understanding of the world and a keen eye for recognizing what reality is for everybody that he meets. Berube embarks you on another journey with enchanting lyrics and splendid arrangements, making this album one of my personal favorites of 2008. Most importantly, we finally get the answer to what the river gave the boat!

I think he'll soon be recognized to rank up along side with some of Canada's best Folk artists of the 00's decade.

A little plus for your own curiousity, check out his Thought section on his website. If you can't buy the album, this will give an insight into the beauty of his writing.

Ray Lamontagne @ The Danforth Music Hall

2008-10-15T16:49:00.002-04:00

Ok, so this is gonna be incredible biased simply because Ray Lamontagne is my favorite Folk artist of all time. Opening for Ray Lamontagne was the incredibly talented Leona Naess.

With sweetness and simplicity, Naess quickly left the audience speechless with her alluring soft voice. The slightest creaked through the auditorium. At the gentle picking of her guitar, Leona Naess quickly captured every single of our hearts. Not only that her music was absolutely enchanting but her lyrics demonstrated of a certain maturity while the youth still permeated through. A very surprising discovery for me and more CDs I HAVE to have. Leona Naess is a “Charm Attack”.

Now, Ray Lamontagne…. Sigh… If you know me, you’d probably understand what I mean when I say that Ray Lamontagne is probably the artist that I relate the most so far and probably ever. I personally, always see things with a lot more magic that the average person… Which leads to disappointment by moments. One way to describe Ray Lamontagne is by taking the bearded man that he is, dressed in plaid shirt, roaming the roads of America in search of an solace or epiphany. He seems one of those incredibly captivating persons that unfortunately we might not ever have the chance to understand.

With his deep raw voice, Lamontagne had his audience hanging at his every word and strum of his guitar. Artists have the ability of evoking feelings in us, which is the whole point of art, but he takes it on step further. With even more love tales and picturesque images, Ray transported us into his world and shared his vision of the world of childhood memories, heartaches and life mysteries. The talent, sincerity, honesty, rawness and beauty of Ray Lamontagne is simply soothing and heart warming. One thing for sure is that I lost count of how many times I had goosebumps during the concert.

Lamontagne has shown himself completely bare in the few new songs from his next upcoming album “Gossip in the Grain”, available next week, October 14 or with other classics, such as “Be Here Now” and “Burn”.

After 2 encores, the gently tortured troubadour closed to the over requested “Jolene”, making countless fans more than happy. Last night was, by far, one of the best performances I have ever seen in my short concert going experience. Now, I’m gonna say something that will get me hung by so much people but this trumps Radiohead… In MY opinion! The only thing missing was snow after the concert. Be on the look out for his new album.

You can listen to it on his MySpace page for the next week. I think that should prove to be one of my favorites of 2008.

My Folk Phase

2008-09-06T17:35:00.006-04:00

I've been hiding most of my life in shame but enough is enough! Sometimes, you got to stand up and face the music. I think that time as come for me. I'm ready to come out of the closet and say it out: I'M A FOLK FAN!

I guess growing up in a more woodsy area, spending my summer days busy playing in our treehouse, intrepidly riding my bike on the river bank or building forts with my brother in snow storms left quite the need for me to find music that helps me related to these memories absolutely stripped down, down-to-earth and back to the basics. So, recently, I gave up being a coward and fully embraced my folk/roots nature.

This all started with the nursing of teenage woes of bullying and stupid crushes with Jewel's first 2 albums mixed in with Duncan Sheik's self-titled album and moved on to an unsatisfied yearning for Elliott Smith since I first watched "Good Will Hunting". Plus, I've always preferred founding genre such as Blues and Jazz over Celine's screeching; even as a kid. Today, if you mix in the constant calling for a quite piece of land in the country and my ever strong love for guitar, Folk and Roots music just seems to fit like a glove.

Now, enough with the useless memories that no one will relate to and on with my recent list of wonderful Folk/Roots artist and groups that should have your attention.

Megan Hamilton & The Volunteer Canola - gentle, kind, quirky but honestly true. Vibrant and colorful, Megan Hamilton brings a refreshing soft breeze to the Toronto local music that cannot be replicated. A singular swaying sound.

Fleet Foxes - Not so much of a folk/roots band but a great baroque revival band. Delicate, refined, subtle, pratically magical.

Olenka and the Autumn Lovers - An absolutely gorgeous 6-pieces strings ensemble The Autumn Lovers are lead by the endearing Alexandra Krakus have who grew up to the sound of the Polish folk music and has multiple other references to their record. But, mostly I'd like to highlight the calculating precision this most unique sound they have created and the soft chamber voice that'll transport you in another world.

D avid Picco & Jetset Motel - Frank tales of a sensitive heart that'll warmly wrap you up in the comfort of dreamland by a lightly rugged voice while making you wish you were in an old Chevy pickup, going nowhere, looking for an adventure

Destroyer - Quirky entrancing happy going folk. Perfect for sun shinny day drives in the country while wild playful bickering is going on in the back seat.

Friday Night @ SummerWorks 2008

2008-08-01T14:13:00.010-04:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know it's been almost 2 months since my last entry and by now, you probably lost interest, which means you're not gonna read this whoever you are....

So I'm completely broke so I am looking for cheap entertainment and cheap and unexpectedly great entertainment I found. The SummerWorks fest a tiny festival of 17th years old and is a celebration of bold and risky theatrical artists from different backgrounds and style. They've also tied in a love for music. So if you're either a theatre or music lover, this would have proved to be interesting for you. Sadly, I've only been able to catch one of the lineups because of my stupid crazy stunt of drive through Ottawa, Montreal and back to Toronto in 24h and that killed me for an entire week.

Opening the Music Series was Bob Wiseman whom, frankly I was not looking forward to hear. But then again, I can be pretty judgmental by moment and that one of those cases. I didn't like the music on his page and when he walked in, well... his way of dressing didn't impress me. Again, judgmental. I just wanted to hear Mr. Barber, develop a little crush on him then go to bed.

Boy, was I wrong about this guy! True, Wiseman's voice is not his strongest suit but the man is pretty entertaining. His set is really a complete ensemble. The quiet rain drop-like on a still lake guitar picking of his songs, honest stories, comical background videos (I particularly liked the one with the one with Feist to prove he was on tour with her and the cancer-inflicted puppet one) and home movies wrapped together had me laughing whole heartedly by the end of his set. In one word, the man's a genius. Check him out if you have a chance. He'll surprise you.

Matthew Barber - This man actually amongst my Folk men list and before you ask, yes, he's Jill Barber's big brother. With the same incredible ability to play older style with the original flavours and feel, Matthew Barber's sweet guitar rhythms and wise-beyond-his-age voice will make you want to pack up your things and flee to the country for a picnic into high grass and blue skies.

I have to admit, I've been completely swept away. Matthew Barber will swoon you if you see him. I don't know if it has to do with the suit he was wearing (I'm just generally powerless to tall men in good suits) or his warm soothing voice but I was had at the first note. Listening to him makes me revert back to a time where cowboys would lay in front of a fire, sipping on JD's, playing the harmonica on a starry night. It's just that comfortable. Rugged and familiar will Matthew Barber be to you too.

Musical Wonder from Halifax

2008-07-04T12:41:00.007-04:00

Jill Barber is certainly gonna go on my top 10 of 2008. If I had to recommend only one Canadian artist this year, it would be her. Her music has all the ingredients for creating a memorable musical treat.

Alternating between folk, country and jazz, Jill Barber will capture your heart in a moment and without fail. Her stories of love and heartbreak have to ability of taking you back to a time when love was innocent, pure and hopeful. Barber can certainly take pride in beautifully simplifying the complex treads of love.

"He plays piano in a jazz band/I love him for the man that he could be/I asked "If I let you, would you play me a song that would play forever on?"/But I am just a dreamer wearing sensible shoes and I still dream in colors even though I sing in blue/I want to be like lovers in old romantic songs/where the music fades into candles" - "Measures and scales", "Oh Heart", 2004

"Our heads are hanging low and our hearts are half-massed. Ever since,the day they took you when it passed/Ashes to ashes/We let go because we must/"..."Days passes and I continue to fall. Time goes ahead with its life with nothing. But sometimes we reach the final page, wither we die too young of old age" - "Ashes to Ashes", "For All Time", 2006

"From the top of my head to my tippy toes, I am in love and it's starting show. I want you to know but don't know where to begin. I can outline my feelings but I can't feel them in."
"So easy to tell that there's an apple of my eye/I can't hide it so well/So I don't even try" - "Starting to Show", "For All Time", 2006

With a Piaf-like, soft and seductive voice, wonderfully simple folk/blues arrangements, this Nova Scotia siren will transport you from saloons in the Midwest in the end of the 1800s, to Halifax, Nova Scotia somewhere between 1933 and 1947 in some sailor bar and to Paris where soldiers are flirting away after WWII.

Even if you don't particularly like folk/blues or jazz, I strongly, STRONGLY, recommend you listen to either one of Jill Barber's albums anyway; "Oh Heart" or "For All Time". You can listen to both incessantly like I do on her website.

Pictures to her show at Harbourfront for Banff's Art Center's anniversary.

Day 3 of NXNE 2008

2008-06-18T10:29:00.002-04:00

I've been ubber busy so I haven't had the time to finish this but here it is.
My constant indecisiveness got the best of me on Saturday. But we'll talk about that later.

So Saturday, got downtown just in time for the beginning of the Two Koreas' set, which I was looking forward to but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting... Their description of their style on their NXNE profile was: "If you like 40 minutes of chords droning on you'll like us".... yeah that's about it...

Pictures of The Two Koreas at El Mocambo for NXNE '08

Skipping forward to the High Dials, now that was a pleasant surprise! A talented group of seasoned musicians took us on a wonderful journey of psychedelic rock. They took us all on a classic trippy rock plane with light transcending guitar riffs, wonderful build ups and a timeless sound. It's really surprise that they don't get more focus...

Pictures of The High Dials at El Mocambo for NXNE '08

A lot of buzz was made around We Are Wolves and understandably. They're part of the electro pop/rock revival trend that people have been hooked on lately. But I don't think I'm one of those people... It's bold and original without a doubt but I think their sound might be better on CD than live or it might just not be compatible with El Mocambo's sound system...

Pictures of We Are Wolves at El Mocambo for NXNE '08

Last but far from least, Black Diamond Bay. I cannot accentuate enough that everyone should rush to see these guys. The Thursday show did not nearly come close to this one. It. Was. Ama-zing. Those guys were on fire! I have to admit that words fail to help me describe their performance but all I can say is that it was crazy good and they had tons of fun, as the crowd did.

Black Diamond Bay is playing the Horseshoe tonight with Jason Bajada at 9PM

Day 2 of NXNE 2008

2008-06-17T19:16:00.008-04:00

So Friday morning was painful, still feeling sick and very much tired, I braved on to work with one thought in mind: The Horseshoe will be amazing! And it was. Unfortunately, I missed the beginning of Jo Krasevich's set but let me tell you that it was honestly the most precious thing to behold of this entire weekend. Jo Krasevich has a whisper of a voice that soothes in an instant. I wasn't in the best of mindsets that evening and the torrential rain was certainly not helping. But the grace and warmth of her melodies is something most impressive.

Pictures of Jo Krasevich at the Horseshoe for NXNE '08

In between sets, I let myself be swayed into seeing The Blood Lines. It was a pretty awesome set so, good for me! The Blood Lines put Saskatoon on the Canadian Indie rock map by touring with the Dears on their last Western Canada tour. Solid innovative indie rock with a bassist that has antics not at all anticipated for a bass player. Interesting sound if you like Junior Pantherz (but that's an obscure reference also)... Check them out here.

Pictures of Blood Lines at the Rivoli for NXNE '08

Closing the evening was the sock-rocking band named Fox Jaws. Let me tell you, they always surpasses themselves every time I see them. The place was PACKED only for them. They are one of the GTA's indie enthusiasts favorites. A lot of rock talent mixed with a little folk flavor and one of the most daring voices around makes up Fox Jaws. Keep an eye on them. They're getting big, fast!

Pictures of Fox Jaws at the Rivoli for NXNE '08

Day 1 of NXNE 2008

2008-06-13T10:32:00.004-04:00

As I believed, I barely got any sleep... Too much to see and hear this weekend, as it was the 13th edition of Toronto's North by North East Festival.

To kick off the evening on Thursday, we headed to Kensington's Supermarket, home to open mic nights for local talent. Sadly, we missed the Hots, one of my personal local talents, that I truly believe got chances of hitting it big on the Indie scene. New songs are available on their MySpace page. Do check it out, it's mighty good (http://www.myspace.com/thehotsmusic)

The second band was Cancel Winter. I had missed them 2 times before on one of the Two Way Monologue showcases at Rancho Relaxo, which I strongly recommend for discovering new bands. Solid, powerful pop rock band that deserves a lot more attention. Where's Much Music and the Edge when you need them?

Pictures of Cancel Winter @ Supermarket for NXNE '08

3rd up was Amos the Transparent. A beautiful surprise was promised last time they were in town and what a surprise it was! The full original Amos the Transparent band was present for the set. 4 other hidden members were on stage. The beautiful female voices we can hear finally had faces and we were able to hear the other songs on the album performed live. Their best performance I've seen so far.

Pictures of Amos The Transparent @ Supermarke for NXNE '08

Leaving Supermarket, we ran to Clinton's. One of my favourite Montreal band was performing, Black Diamond Bay. Now, it's not because 2 of the Dears' members are in the band that this will be a copy of the Dears. Black Diamond Bay is strictly a good ol' fashion rock band. Krief's madly impressive guitar licks, George's unpredictable rhythms, Roberto's subtle synths presence and Andre's domineering bass lines make for what I believe should be the next big Rock flavor in Canada. They just make you want to air guitar like you just don't care. They are just that good. By the end of the set, Krief has his faithful Strat wailing while they all fed off each other's energy, closing up the set extraordinarily.

Pictures of Black Diamond Bay at Clinton's for NXNE '08

We then ran to the Silver Dollar Room and seen some stuff we wish could erase from our minds and returned to Supermarket for Angel Pier, which was a great surprise. We walked in to a dancing crowd... yes, yes a Toronto crowd was dancing. Straight from Dublin, Angel Pier offered up some great post-punk entrancing riffs. If you like Joy Division and would like to hear something softer than Bloc Party, check them out.

Pictures of Angel Pier at Supermarket for NXNE '08

The Manchester messiahs?

2008-06-06T12:40:00.002-04:00

And so have been deemed the Counteeners on the cover of the NME magazine, issue of April 12, 2008. Though, after reading the article, I found out that this title was solely sarcastic. The Counteeners have been, apparently, relentlessly promoting their freshman album as the next big thing to come out of Manchester since "(What's the Story)Morning Glory?".

Now, I have to agree, I really wouldn't go that far. The Counteeners do bring a refreshing breeze to the indie scene and revamped the pop/ska sound of the 80's the Police and The Clash had popularized, mixed with Morrisey's voice... a bold combination but a very addictive sound.

If recently have taken a liking with Vampire Weekend or have been an unbreakable fan of The Police, The Clash or Morrisey, you will most definitely love the Counteeners. "St. Jude" is currently on my summer listen list.

Enjoy

Gonzalez, the mad scientist

2008-06-04T20:41:00.000-04:00

If you've been to a Feist concert in the last year, you may seen the self-acclaim mad musical scientist Gonzalez. Having reject Canada as his home and adopted France due to the cruel rejection of stupid music critics from somewhat snobbish magazines (not gonna name names but "N*W!" should tell you enough), he came back incognito with Feist. Dressed with a white lab coat with white coats, Gonzalez had a turn for getting the toughest crowd ever (aka Toronto) pretty hyped for the rest of the evening.

Anyway, that's beside the point. Having worked closely with Feist on her latest album and toured with her, he definitely proved his genius. Gonzales released his first album April 7th and I took a listen through his Myspace and I'm still deciding if I like his stuff or not.

Like Feist's first radio single, he adopted an late 70's-80's adult contemporary sound that honestly makes me think of someone mocking Barry Manilow (but the guy's a joke on his own, lol!) But there is no doubt of his talent and in the fact that he has a blast doing his stuff.

Happy piano playing, soft strings and some tacky stuff but bottom line is: he's really fun, his music's really fun and his album sounds like a fun relaxed sunny afternoon. Just put "Soft Power" on your outdoor music list for this summer! Don't argue! Just do it! lol

Playing Tourist

2008-05-20T22:25:00.007-04:00

I'll just come out and say it: I love playing tourist in my city! I use to do a lot through the summer in Montreal but ever since I moved to Toronto, I haven't gotten the time to indulge in that guilty pleasure. So today, I packed up my camera, my sunglasses and some water and walked down from Yonge and Eglinton to Spadina and St.Clair, at the Reservoir (which I'm still trying to see where the actual reservoir is because I didn't see a drop of water anywhere).

During the 5h spent walking around Midtown, a few thoughts came to mind...

1. I realized that I live in the the Upper East Side, Toronto version! I walked the streets, baffled at the ridiculous amount of luxury cars, private schools, consulates and incalculable number of nannies who either are replacement mommies or tend to the kids while mommy does whatever it is that rich people that don't work do during the day.

2. I discovered that red license plates are for vehicles for used for diplomatic purposes. Now, that may not be news to a lot of people but it is for me. So if you see a car with a red license plate, steer clear because they can play the diplomatic immunity card on you...

3. I don't like new houses built in older styles and can people stop renovating old houses with new materials?!? Don't fix what ain't broken. You can't fake old... sorry. History and time have stamped those houses with something we cannot replicate.

4. Explosions in the Sky will forever be the favorite band to listen while roaming the streets of Toronto. It's like when I walk in Montreal, I HAVE to listen to "No Cities Left" by The Dears... It's just the fitting soundtrack.

5. Being rich must be the worst thing on earth. Ok, you can laugh but truth is, when you really think about it, what is wealth?

A Nice house that you'd wouldn't enjoy because you're too busy working,

A Nice car filled with a bunch of gadgets that you will never use, only to be
constantly stuck in traffic on the way to/back from work;

Being able to buy things for your spouse that ends resenting you for never seeing you or for the kids that are completely alienated from the world due to the latest video game, laptop and MP3 player you just got them;

6. Comfort ain't nothing but a state of mind

7. The savagery of the city deeply saddens me... Seeing a squirrel eating garage is one of saddest things that I've seen in long time. I guess I'm not really cut out for this...

8. My new found obsession with "Friday New Lights" made me pick me a few funny expressions... I seem to keep slippin' Red Neck expressions everywhere (point at hand in this sentence).

9. I should really write a lot more than I do right now. It probably won't amount ever to anything but it helps sort thoughts out on paper.

My new notebook is now started with new incomprehensible ramblings of my day but I'll spare you the inner details of my inarticulate mind. Alot of pictures have been taken (Thanks Erin for pushing the idea!) and they will soon be on Flickr...

Now, go on, go outside... Play the tourist in your city!

Friday Night Lights

2008-05-19T12:07:00.005-04:00

For the past few months, I've been receiving newsletters from Very Short List, which brings daily suggestions of videos, music, websites, books and a bunch of other things that often goes under the radar. One of these was NBC's original series "Friday Night Lights". The story is situated in Dillon, TX, THE best high school for high school football in the US. The town lives, breathes and eats football. The kind of place where the local gossip is centered around the latest plays and decisions made by the coach.

You got the usual QB and head cheerleader perfect couple Jason and Lyla, aiming for college football, then NFL and marriage after high school; whose best friend is the notorious local screw up Riggins, who shows up for games and classes half-drunk/hung-over and known for sleeping around with the hot Applebee's waitress with low self-esteem Tyra. Of course, this series would be incomplete with the once star QB coach Coach Taylor who married his high school sweetheart Tami, who also works at the high school as the guidance councilor and the token black guy, acting as the loud-mouthed running back "Smash".

The pilot start with the local hero getting hurt in the beginning of the season, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and without a future in sight anymore. It is then left to the awkward backup quarterback Matt Saracen to pick up the team and continue the Dillon football tradition.

Now, don't be too quick to judge this as a show that belongs on ESPN or on CW (former WB). Jason Katim once again did it, taking an okay story and turn it into a great show. "Friday Night Lights" gives an incredibly realistic insight into the world of high school football, with performance pressure, angst, heartaches and all of that being a teenager pushed to grow too fast includes with the "glamour" of Texan culture (God, Guns and Football).

With beautifully harmonized music (Thank you, Explosions in the Sky!), impressive photography direction and a perfect balance between the sports, teenage hood, and emotional aspects, this show has the material to be one of the landmarks of Prime time television in the '00 decade.

Only the best Sesame Street video EVER!!!

2008-05-08T15:41:00.005-04:00

If you thought middle-life crisis were bad....

2008-04-28T15:59:00.002-04:00

so are the other 37 other crisis you can possibly have

http://www.avclub.com/content/hater/what_to_call_your_dull_trivial

Quick review of everything under my umbrella lately

2008-04-22T22:10:00.015-04:00

So... I've been listening to and saw a bunch of stuff lately and I haven't written anything about it, just because I haven't felt like it...

Instead of writing very lengthy paragraphs and failing at providing some sort of a description, I'll just give one or two sentences describing it...

CDs

Mark Berube - Soul and Folk mixed with passion for justice and life's beauty of a storyteller who prefers sitting around a campfire, during a cold Canadian winter.

Adele - It's the soul child in you that runs through the streets of the big city

Deromantic - The tales of that young lonesome city cowboy with a hand for slide guitar and whisky

Plants & Animals - What strolling on the Plateau Montreal on a hot dry should sound like if you have some what of an edge or aviator glasses and a beard

Karkwa - A simpler Broken Social Scene musically with the magic of Andrew Bird and a twist of darkness. Affiliated with Montreal's new collective Pawa Up Firt, they're definitely to look out for.

Shows

Magenta Lane - I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Magneta Lane that I can't explain except for that loud driving bass that unconsciously makes me dance everytime

Mark Berube - We should have all sitting around him while he sung tales and protest songs that warmed our bruised hearts

The Hots - Solid performance backed by extremely talented musicians and a front lady that took the teeny stage of Rancho by storm with energy and kickin' attitude. No pretension, just addictive rhythm and slick guitar licks, topped with mobilizing vocals .

Basia Bulat - We're gonna hear a lot more of her in the future. With a whole band with more talent in their pinkie than the entire Toronto music scene, Basia and co. embarked us in a ride that was really more fun than having your very own pony (totally stole that from her page)

Amos The Transparent - Deeply shaking emotional performance. I was frozen in place for "I'm On Trial" I'm not giving nearly enough credits to these guys but I can't describe it...

Les Handclaps - Vibrant happy pop that makes you dances and laughs like nobody else's business, either it's in French, English, Spanish or German... Ya!

"It wasn't planned. The goal was to hibernate"

2008-03-27T12:41:00.006-04:00

This is how Justin Vernon excuses his album "For Emma, Forever Ago", under the band name of Bon Iver. Wanting to recluse to a cottage in North Wisconsin for some winter reflection after the separation of his band DeYard Edison, Vernon produced this album "12-hours bursts" during his 3 months spent in his cabin, splitting wood and doing the other things you do when one is deep in the woods in winter... His album is combinations of warm scratchy clothes that you can't help but love, sleep-inducing warmth from fireplace lit rooms, invigorating cold and silent walks in the snow. And it does makes me think of endless white sceneries of winter.

My favourite song of his album Skinny Love is like sitting in front a fireplace, warming up with a big hot chocolate while watching my brother and sister fighting on the floor.

"I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines"

Lump Sum reminds me of my favorite drive so far this winter. Driving along the frozen Ottawa river, surrounded by tree; watching the fishing cabins pass by. Just upbeat enough to be associated with driving music but comforting enough to listen while trying to sleep.

Flume is calm walks in the snow while the wind plays a comforting song through the trees branches.

Delicately bare and honest, his voice has outdoor charms that fits this album perfectly, like the roughness of a tree bark on a beautiful bountiful pine tree.

Album was released on February 13 under the JagJaguwar label. You can sample the album on http://virb.com/boniver on a streaming player.

Finally! An original Quebecois band!

2008-03-24T16:21:00.007-04:00

Sadly, after the glory years of French music in Quebec, with "artists" such as Celine Dion, Roch Voisine and the likes (yucky!), the Quebec music scene has taken YEARS to recover from that overflow of screaming (commonly known as singing). The new generation finally has been resurfacing with much original artists like Ariane Moffatt, Dumas, Malajube, Pierre Lapointe, Le Husky... only to name a few...

But this is quite the combinaison: 1 French guy from France, 2 French Canadians and a young lady. And a pleaseant sound it is. Brooklyn is the tender indie ballad with a proper accent and understandable (maybe La Chicane could learn from this guy, lol) combined with the sound resembling the sweetness of the Concrete, the softness of the Postmarks, Rilo Kiley's "Capturing Moods" swinging with a gentleman's supplications to remember that Brooklyn has stolen their footsteps.... ?

Produced by Ryan Battistuzzi (who also produced Les BreastFeeders and Malajube), Bonjour Brumaire has this catchy single that you listen over and over again and still feel new and intriguing... Sounds promising and I'm definitely getting me some of that next weekend!

Album to be released on April 1st
Bonjour Brumaire's website - http://www.bonjourbrumaire.com/
Myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/bonjourbrumaire

Gently Whispered...

2008-03-11T08:45:00.005-04:00

are the lyrics of Joshua Radin, whom you've probably already heard about for his collaboration on the "Last Kiss" Soundtrack in 2006. Ever since, he's been pretty much under the radar...

Aside from that, Joshua Radin is definitely worth a listen. His voice could be perceived as weak but I find it incredibly charming that his songs are gently sang, as if singing a lullaby to a child. Radin is not shy in sharing his woes and pains on slightly tortured heartfelt ballads.

"what if you could wish me away/and what if you spoke those words today/i wonder if you'd miss me/when i'm gone/it's come to this release me/i'll leave before the dawn" - What If You

He's about one of the most soothing singers out there, and also has the lovely Penelope Ahn as a backup singer on his live performances.

After a day spent out in the outdoors or driving in mountains, it's best thing to listen sitting around the campfire. Though, be careful not to listen to him if you're feeling heartbroken.... You might just end up feeling worse... lol

Joshua Radin's MySpace :http://www.myspace.com/joshuaradin

"Stay for a while our leaves are still green"

2008-03-07T12:35:00.002-05:00

Basia Bulat - Little Waltz

You and I, we make a grand salute
Stare at each other like lost little birds
Across the room
And I remember the way you looked
I learned how to dance, but I'd never shown it to you

My love,
I know I was wrong, but you know that you'll always be
My love
Stay for a while while our leaves are still green
Please, for me

I know I tried, but it's hard sometimes
The roots don't take, it takes a while
And you pull at the strings
But they're broken, it seems
The dance isn't over for me, no

My love,
I know I was wrong, but you know that you'll always be
My love
Stay for a while while our leaves are still green
Please, for me

I fell in love with a song

2008-03-03T13:25:00.006-05:00

Yes, I did. So completely, ridiculously head over heels for a song. Like a coin from a very tall building. *Splat! Bang!* Can't get over it... I'm still debating if I should love or hate the person who suggested me to listen to this band... (I'm joking of course) Because now, I'm like a junkie constantly looking for a fix.

Pooma is a five piece band from Finland that shares neighboring turfs with Sigur Ros and Mogwai. Stretching guitars, dreamy synths and an enticing bass line... this is heaven. Their music sounds like a magical flight into a snowy night such as this one, where the snow flakes are big and the sky turns white. It makes me want to go back to those nights where I would lay in the snow with my brother, exhausted after hours of walking in the woods and around the house... Letting snowflakes slowing deposit themselves in my mouth.

Turine Lukka's voice slowly draws me in a world of beauty, rendering me powerless to the ensemble's alluring sound in the end of "Snow". They do slightly flirt with a trip hop dark side of Archive in "Through The Dark" but the siren's voice still evokes dreamy sceneries. Believe me, you HAVE to hear this band! It may just be necessary to your survival...

I still haven't got a listen to their CD but it's high on my priority list. I need to listen to this during every hour of the day.

Pooma will be performing during Canadian Music Week Friday March 8th @ Rancho Relaxo. Their album "Persuader" will be most likely available at your local indie music store or can be purchased on iTunes.

"Snow" video on Youtube

Little Waltz

2008-02-28T10:22:00.005-05:00

Even 13 years later, Jewel's "Pieces of Us" still has a way to leave completely shaken and with teary eyes at every listen. The problem is, I haven't been able to find another female singer with the same innocence and honesty, aside from Feist.

I've finally came across Basia Bulat about a month ago but didn't pay much attention to her then. I listened to her song on her MySpace page today and I've been won over. "In the Night" is about one of the happiest songs you'll hear, especially needed in this cold winter funk everybody seems to be stuck in (including me). Her voice in "Little Waltz" is as soothing as velvet softly brushing the skin, softly stroking that string inside your heart.

Truly, Basia has a touch of magic. She has to, after the wonderful cover of Somedays of the Strokes, that is originally performed with a trepidant rhythm and Julian Casablancas' distorded broken voice, with a majestically sweet voice and gentle strumming of her Autoharp. It's like an entire other song was written and shows the real romantic side of this indie ballad.

Basia is currently on an North American tour and will be in Toronto March 29th at Lee's Palace.

Basia Bulat's Homepage and her MySpace page where you can experience her music.

Random Thought 1 ...

2008-02-20T23:10:00.005-05:00

Truth is...
I don't know yet what's the next best thing
Next to this one
So I'll just keep on dreaming
Maybe cleared images will shape up
Probably, so impossibly
Turning into something
That could hesitantly
Point to a lighthouse
In the fog
To lead to a safe harbour
Through the night...
So blindedly guided
By the uncertain gut feelings
Only triggered by the touch
Of unknown invisible ghost

The opening band never gets an encore...

2008-02-18T19:37:00.014-05:00

As Jody and I wondered at the couple wearing the giant sunglasses in already dark place, a Russian duchess walked back and forth until a disaster left place to the very much promising "Diamond Teeth". Opening timidly but solidly, these young lads later on ignited the wee stage at Rancho Relaxo.

Much laughter could be heard through out the crowd due to the honestly funny lyrics. Please guys, keep having so much fun on stage! So little bands projects that kind of happiness they had. The Diamond Teeth may be very young (literally) but they have the musical skills that are often lacking in the crawling days of young band.

Coming from my darling Montreal, was After The Weather. Now if you're a fan of Muse or of the bass line of the new metal bands, you'll definitely enjoy After The Weather! The lead singer has nothing to envy to Muse's Matthew Bellamy. He sings with the same high but delicate pitch voice and is skilled with guitar picking abilities that certainly make more than one raises their head.

Pictures of A TWM Feast of Indie

But the real treat was Sunday night... Nicole Atkins and The Sea with Magenta Lane. Now, I'll have to admit, I walked in there not knowing what I was getting myself into. I didn't know how much it was, who was opening or even if it was worth my time. But Bob and Jody said it was, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. And right they were!

As soon as I stepped inside, I recognized the heavy bass, shimmy shaking rhythm of Magneta Lane, which made me quite happy since I've been wanting to see them but was planning only on seeing them on March 9th (planning since their show is at 1:00 AM, leaving much place to debating on if I should go or not). There has only been a handful of girls rock bands that was worth paying attention and this Toronto born and bred girl's band is definitely worth a listen

Nicole Atkins left me speechless... She is truly something different. Take a shot of Edith Piaf, another of Parisian romance, a zest of the essence of 40's teeny booper singer, a twist of alt-country and surfer music; all of that shaken, not stirred served in a Shirley Temple manner and you will get the idea of what Nicole Atkins is. She bellies out her ever so pretty songs (as pretty as her dress) with the tremolos that we don't hear anymore. Listening to her albums right now makes smiles as it remembers the one she had, in delight as she was "singing out just for" us.

Pictures of Nicole Atkins and The Sea and Magneta Lane

You know you've reached rock bottom when...

2008-02-15T19:03:00.004-05:00

For Alanis Morissette, it's when you're the openingto Matchbox Twenty, a second-rate rock band that you use to dominate.

Alanis Morissette took out the world stage of Pop music in the mid-nineties (just like Matchbox Twenty but they were no one), became some-what of a pop rock queen (Matchbox Twenty is still no one), evolved (without recognition) into a much more articulate artist with Supposed Infatuation Junkie (please note that Matchbox Twenty is still flying under the radar worldwide, but of course not in Canada), created a... I'll be nice and say, a flat album called Under Rug Swept (in the meantime Matchbox Twenty is gaining some popularity... Did I say Matchbox Twenty... sorry I meant Rob Thomas... Thanks to Santana); and crashed and burned with So-Called Chaos. But honestly, that album stank "I'm using my once upon a time fame to make ends meet" bad! I bought it because it's Alanis Morissette, and she basically defined my musical world from 10 to 14.

I still dream of her creating some good one day... *sigh*

Something a little happy...

2008-02-14T16:09:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Bob the Blogger, I discovered David Ford. Please do check him out! Damien Rice, Amos Lee and Iron & Wine concerted to create a new artist out of clay and he came to life...

Decimate

it’s a pity little price to pay
to make the hard times go away
but i love you as you are
i say the words and then i’m not so sure
exactly what we say them for
and this is my concern

but everybody needs a place to start
oh weightless be your heavy heart
and lean your thoughts on me
and aint it hard to live on smoke and dreams
when spirit crushers work in teams
to leave you where you are

you decimate my inhibitions
i can’t be saved
let’s take a walk out on the broken glass
come on come on come on
you decimate my inhibitions
i can’t be saved
so lay all your worries on my back
come on come on come on come on

it’s a pity little price to pay
to give a little self away
and lean your thoughts on me
it cannot be so hard to get along
though history may prove me wrong
and it wouldn’t be the first time

Long time, no see

2008-02-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

I know barely anyone reads this, aside from Suzie because she's my favorite Facebook stalker, but I've been wanting to express how things have been later but I just couldn't find the words aside from "Things have been just completely hectic around." Too much big events (like a funeral and a wedding 5 days apart) and overwhelming emotions... A incredible mix of realizations leading to disenchantment, misplaced pride, grief, joy, constant annoyance by everything, happiness of a long needed reunion, with a sprinkle of constant questioning; complete with the everlasting self undermining.

This is going to sound cheesy but I got to say it anyway. This morning, while I was driving into work and yelling my head of to Rancid's "Ruby Soho", (yeah... SOOO the music to have epiphanies to! lol) and it just clicked in my head that I keep forgetting that has much as this turbulence is destabilizing, it's just life these days. I just got to hang on tight and wait for this plane to land safely onto the tarmac. I guess I just hate being constantly out of breath and not sleeping (that is partly also has to do with the lumberjack sharing a room with me right now, but shhhh...) .

Later, Brother

2008-01-14T12:38:00.000-05:00

Poor little heart,
This world was too harsh
For you,
You wore its heart
On your sleeve
Until you couldn't anymore.

We'll remember your kind smile,
Your neatly disheleved hair,
That soothing voice you carried,
The tall guy with a big heart.

I'm only sorry,
I didn't get to see,
The inside of you,
A loving soul I hear,
But we'll meet again.

We'll remember your kind smile,
Your neatly disheleved hair,
That soothing voice you carried,
The tall guy with a big heart.

One day, Brother,
In a better world,
Where it will be forgotten,
We will meet again

"I'll Find A Way"

2007-12-25T19:39:00.000-05:00

My latest obsession... "I'll Find A Way" by Rachael Yamagata

I'll find a way to see you again
I'll find a way to see you again

I used to think that anything I'd do
Wouldn't matter at all anyway
But now I find that when it comes to you
I'm the winner of cards I can't play
Wait for me, wait for me
Darling, I need you desperately, desperately here

And I'll find a way to see you again
And I'll find a way to see you again

The rain is like an orchestra to me
Little gifts from above meant to say
Girl, you falling at his feet
Isn't lovely or stunning today
Wait with me, wait with me
I'm alive when you're here with me, here with me, stay

And I'll find a way to see you again
And I'll find a way to see you again

Why do the street lamps die
When you're passing by
Like a hand that won't stay on my shoulder tonight
If you held me close, would you laugh it away
Would you dare the glance that I steal to stay

And I'll find a way to see you again
Yes, I'll find a way to see you again
I'll find a way, a way, a way to see you again
I'll find a way, a way, a way to see you again
I'll find a way, a way, a way to see you again
The rain will bring, the rain will bring, the rain will bring, bring, bring me down
The rain will bring, the rain will bring, the rain will bring, bring, bring me down
The rain will bring, the rain will bring, the rain will bring, bring, bring me down

Shooting in Progress

2007-12-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

The one thought I've been struggling with lately is my inability to be able to reproduce the images that I see in my head. I've always been the kind that was very much introverted by moment but now, I want to share the visions that I see. Only the problem is I can't figure out how. I can't draw, even if my life depended on it... I'd stick to matchstick figures. I can sing but I can't write music. I can play music but I can't create anything remotely resembling to a song. I have a good eye but I can ever seem to be able to shoot a picture in the right frame or at the right moment, unlike some photographic magician. Videos take a lot of time and resources (aka money), which I don't have at the moment. I write but I always feel like not enough is said, leaving a big empty hole in everything I try to express... ARGGGGHHHH!!!

I'm basically just average... as usual!

Disney's Acceptance of Global Warming

2007-12-21T23:14:00.000-05:00

At the end of another extremely long shift and wayyy too much time on YouTube, I came across the trailer of the new Disney/Pixar movie "Wall.E" (which I think is a ripoff of Short Circuit design wise) and the thing that kind of struck me was the ending of the trailer, where the caption says: "After 700 years alone, things are about to change." Then, you see a space shuttle coming out of an asteroid belt of satellites surrounding the Earth...

What is THAT supposed to mean? Not only is that little robot the only thing left on earth, but Disney is now presenting kids movies (yes, kids, because honestly, what adults would pay to see a Disney animated feature, especially if the place is crowded with talking kids!, but that is another story... ) where it is a possibility that life on earth is then impossible and all humans HAD to leave the earth? I don't know about you, but that kind of scares me... Disney has now sunk onto the Dark Side!

THAT is movie material

2007-12-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

With the snow storm raging outside, I wanted nothing more than to simply lay in bed all morning. That I did, in my white linen bed, the blind closed and continuing this completely sappy book (being the lovefool that I am) I bought "Love Letters: 150 letters you were never meant to see".

With Broken Social Scene streaming in my headphones, one of those movie prefect moments came to be.

"Shampoo Suicide" followed by "Lover's Spit" on the "You Forgot In It People" album played and I got to this particular letter, made with Post-Its, that was just completely darling.

"Still,
Still,
Still,
Still,
I really missed you.
Still, I loved last night as much as any time I've spent with you.
Still, I'm suprised and spinning. I don't know what I want to say to you right now, but I did want to give you a post-it.
Still, On your Mind? There's only one place I'd rather be.
Still, I want to wake up with you.
Still,
Still"

Broken Social Scene - Lover's Spit

"Nothing good happens past 2 AM"

2007-12-12T02:10:00.000-05:00

It's now 2:10 and I can't sleep. I have been fighting a cold for a few days now but today, I also reached the breaking point. I then did the unforgiving mistake of taking daytime cold medicine. So, now, I'm in bed watching some movie trailers with a stuffy nose. May I just say that there is some sick movie people out there. It's like Hollywood has the "Bad-Movies" flu... no matter what comes out, it's just plain crap!! It's either another slasher movie, that has a plotline worse than the one that came out 2 weeks before that, a really, REALLY bad chick flick or another vampire, zombie or demon movie... I guess it's a good picture of today's world scene: Evil all around!!!!

Now doing a complete 180 on the topic here, I was at the "Broken Social Scene presents Kevin Drew's Spirit If..." concert and minus the kiddie factor (which I will explain later), IT WAS GREAT!!! Bob was right, the energy BSS projects on stage is absolute delight. Of course, many members were missing since Feist and Stars are on tours (and Emily Haine probably didn't show up due to the prima donna complex) but the rest of the team was heaven. The thing is, this is hard to describe since a lot of things go on a stage where there's an average of eleven people on stage. If you get a chance to see BSS, take it!

Now my rant on my annoyance with all ages show...

Ok, one question: do you seriously expect me to believe that you understand the genius behind the concept and influence of the BSS or Kevin Drew when you're dressed like Britney Spears at the concert of Canada's Indie Iconic figure? Leave the completely out of style Britney Spears hat, don't put body scented stuff that can be labeled as "baby prostitute" smell and you know what? Just go back home and get your father to tell you what to wear because when you have overly large breasts, it really is not a good ideas to wear cleavage. It just looks like a butt-crack that's trying to break out of its restrains.

I'm still laughing at the moment I noticed that hideous, hideous sight. I think the girl was thinking people around were checking her chest out. I had to hold myself back from saying: "No, no, don't be flattered. They're starring because it's gross... Geez! Cover up!"

One last question before I end this none sense: does someone know where BSS end and Kevin Drew begins?

Stars....

2007-11-30T10:10:00.000-05:00

Standing alone surrounded by hundreds,
As if drowning in a sea warmth and sweat,
Basking in the rosy colored lights and
Stripped white and yellow beams.
Where melodious stories on stage,
While the happy funeral of a loving and lovely ghost,
Is being celebrated to the stories
Of a sensitively, broken hearted crooner
Who has too much heart to play the game
and humanitarian tendencies.
The ghost, so longingly missed by his grieving bride,
sings to his bleeding heart with a voice of enchantment.

I saw Stars at the Phoenix yesterday but was unfortunately too far from the stage to take some decent pictures....

Felt the cold today....

2007-11-07T09:40:00.000-05:00

It snowed last night.... somewhere in the GTA. All afternoon yesterday, grey clouds haunted the skies, threatening us with a big storm. I guess the anger unleashed since I've seen a few cars covered in snow today. I don't know why but, at every snow fall, there's a mix of sadness and delight in me. Delight since winter is my favourite season and I cannot wait to go carving in some powder. The sadness comes from the fact that it seems like the winter brings on the end of an era, a change in scenery and events that always seems so unsure and without guarantee. Plus, listening to "Now That You're Here" on the "Gattaca" soundtrack really doesn't help. It reaches deep inside, striking this string inside my heart that demands for attention, warmth, comfort and a big cuddling session... Basically, this track will make you wish you were anywhere else in the world than where you were at the specific moment...

The cold and damp wind whips my hair around, chilling my skin and forcing me to go against my rebellious nature to not zip up my coat. As I pull up my collar up, put on my gloves and listen multiple times to this torturous track, it kind of dragged me down. Made me think of my self inflicted heartache and this came to mind:

"Every time a new infatuation ,
I burn up inside yet I still feel alone,
It's not enough,
I know something is missing,
You're not what I want or need,
Yet I still want you near"

Gosh I'm so depressing.....

Got to love a man in a suit

2007-10-31T23:44:00.000-04:00

I finally saw Josh Rouse for the first time last night. I've been wanting to see him live for years. Now is the time where I try to explain who Josh Rouse is.

Josh Rouse was born in Nebraska but lived all over the States, mostly the Southern part of the US. Therein lies his complete endorsement of the altern-country style. Basically, think of him as the cute funny guy, in whom we suddenly discover a sensitive side and after hours and hours of requesting songs, BAM! Sweet melodies of romance and college sweethearts stories had you bask in the warmth of the sun or of the camp fire, bundled up in the checkered wool blanket on cold Fall night, the stars shining bright and high in the sky. Should you wonder, yes, this is a trademark of a hopeless romantic, as I loudly claim to be. Listen to " 100m Backstroke" and try to tell me this isn't a clear expression of the absolute adoration of most simple things that means the world to you.

Just listen to him and you'll see. He may be old school but he can tell a darn good story and make you feel like home.

13.75$/night to pump your own water and gather your own firewood!

2007-10-27T21:53:00.000-04:00

So, yesterday I somehow celebrated my 1st year with IBM by doing overtime: number one sign of a true IBMers lol... Though, the only thing I think about is: What was the rush with wanting to be an adult?

I wake up every morning, with 22 years of age under my belt, a divorce child, a college degree, student loans, sleep deprived, stuck on the 401 aka the highway with the worst traffic in North America, still a few pound overweight, early signs of wrinkles and enough metal in my jaw and mouth to become the fascination of any dental orientated specialist.... and still I don't get what was the rush. Being a kid was and is THE greatest thing in life. I recall the long days spent in the forest in my backyard making silly movies on mini motorbikes, campfire every night for a week and its accompanying dry wood fire smell, the afternoons spent laying the grass looking at the clouds, playing car wash and mechanics with our bikes, looking at summer sunsets on the side of the river or the infamous 3 story high tree house my brother and his friend had built... Basically, the best childhood memories ever (according to me)

Today, it's all about job security, savings, car payments, insurance payments, payments, payments!!! WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO?!?! lol anyway, it's all about "All work and no playing makes Sophie a boring sleepy corporate monkey"

Hmmm....

2007-10-24T22:43:00.001-04:00

What has big black glasses, an overpriced poodle bag and BADLY drives a sorry excuse for an SUV? Crowned fashion princesses from Woodbridge on the prowl at Yorkdale! They come out at all time of the day for hours and hours, NOT eating (yes, not eating,... got to fit in my size 2 until I'm at least 30!), on the search for that piece of clothing that everybody has, but you paid for 300$ more for it at Holt & Renfrew instead 50$ at Mexx (so it has to have something more, right? ... RIGHT? Please tell me I'm original!!! PLEASE!!!!)

Anyway, my rant was more about the 1h30 that I spent looking for a simple black V-Neck sweater. ... I'm sorry, is that a little too picky? A fricking black sweater! I think I forgot to read the memo about it...

"FYI: Please note, WE, the Fashion Elite Society, declare that black sweater is no more a basic piece of clothing. Please remove from all major retail store.

Thank you,

The Evil Fashion Dictating Squad."

Johnny Cash + Western + Hardcore = What?

2007-10-22T13:26:00.000-04:00

So everybody's been hearing me complain about how tired I am, yadeyadeya.... (I'm a cry baby.... ) but it was for a great cause: Music! 24h after Architecture in Helsinki, I went to see Patrick Krief at Rancho Relaxo. May I just say this place is probably one of the most badly indicated business in Toronto... Took me forever to find it, though taxi drivers were being nice for some reason that night... (beats me,.... probably customer appreciation day "Today, instead of causing accident, we'll drive like Joe Smith"... lol)

Once there, to my surprise, Bob the Blogger was already there and the Obviously Five Believers had him rockin' a bit. If you're looking for a band with a true '60s vibe, look them up... No trying to give a new twist, just straight up Rock' n Roll. Picture yourself driving down dusty roads in Arizona at a suffocating heat on Highway 66. What music comes to mind?... Whatever, they should come to mind...

Anyway, the following band was just hilarious! Now I understand why people in Toronto say that King City is up North. I don't think it has anything to do with the distance, but more with the fact that the moment you past the Woodbridge-Vaughan, you fall in Country... country. The Schomberg Fair is the result of taking some Western, Roots Rock, Punk, Hardcore, a bit of Johnny Cash's voice and some Nickelback, put together in a bowl; shaken, not stirred . It sounds bad described like that (and believe me, I rolled my eyes at the band quite a few times before I got into it) and seriously cannot be get into it. With probably more drunk than energetic singer jumping all over the stage and Nathan's baritone's voice, which is borderline comical, it is impossible to stand frozen in place. Hips were moved, feets taped to the beat and some head shaking accured, I'll admit. But it was pretty great evening overall

Dreams

2007-10-19T17:32:00.001-04:00

Do you ever wake up completely blissful and happy and then, you realize that your dream, that you're convinced you just deliberately stretch out for your own pleasure, is OVER?

I hate! when that happens. I spend the rest of the day in a daze, trying to grasp the last bitter sweet feels of the dream and when I wake up the next morning, not only did not dream about the previous dream but I FORGOT ABOUT IT!!! I hate it!!!!

Stupid inaccurate and inefficient memory!!!

"I want your flowers like babies wants God's love"

2007-10-19T17:06:00.001-04:00

2 words for Iron & Wine's show: "Impeccably perfect". Not a lot of bands out there are willingly to take the time and efforts in perform songs with all the details, as recorded in studio. They went above and beyond last night. Every sound was so beautifully echoed and it was just perfect! Got chills and tears... just breath taking. His voice is the representation of a honest, kind, gentle, peaceful soul taking you on this journey. FANTASTIC! or has Holly says "TUBULAR!"

To make my evening even better, their new album came out! Iron & Wine has really stepped it up. Don't get me wrong, I am completely head over heels for the adolescent romance of the earlier Iron & Wine! But since his collaboration with Calexico, Iron & Wine tapped into something completely different. With a full band of 7 musicians and countlessly instruments used on stage, the Iron & Wine style has meshed with the forbidden rhythms of the southern States, classic Americana rock, Dub and the drumming of western Africa.

Granted, not everybody loves Folk like I do, but it is undeniable the talent and experience that transpires through the new stylings and members of Iron & Wine. This is going to be my strong listening recommendation for the next year!!!

Probably one of the most hilarious music news of the year

2007-10-19T16:53:00.000-04:00

Gerard Way, singer of My Chemical Romance, says and I quote:" I hate all Emo bands and think they all suck...." hmmm.... something's wrong here

Let's see... what is Emo: 1. Dashboard Confessional. 2.Dark Clothes, poorly mismatched weirdly colored hair with assorted black nails (doesn't matter if you're a girl or not), you feel compelled to wear mascara and eyeliner (the guy from Green Day and Gerard Way too, why shouldn't you? doesn't matter if you're a very much straight guy.... got to demonstrate the Emoness in you.)

somehow you always look like the opposite sex, wear girls pants if you're a guy and lumberjack shirt if you're a girl, you're at your 3rd trip at the hospital for AGAIN! for not slashing your wrist properly, you're somehow constantly depressed and unmotivated, and to top it all (of course..)

EVERYTHING SUCKS and your parents hate you...

Doesn't that sound like Gerard Way and everything My Chemimal Romance stands for and basically is?

Sooo true... the joys of being an IBMers according to Letterman

2007-10-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

10 signs you work for IBM by Letterman (even more hilarious that my boss emailed this to the team... lol)

10. You lecture the neighborhood kids selling lemonade on ways to improve their process.
9. You get all excited when it's Saturday so you can wear shorts to work (or jeans in my case)
8. You refer to the tomatoes grown in your garden as deliverables.
7. You find you really need Freelance to explain what you do for a living.
6. You normally eat out of vending machines and at the most expensive restaurant in town within the same week.
5. You think that "progressing an action plan" and "calendarizing a project" are acceptable English phrases.
4. You know the people at faraway hotels better than your next-door neighbors.
3. You ask your friends to "think outside the box" when making Friday night plans.
2. You think Einstein would have been more effective had he put his ideas into a matrix.
And, the number one sign you work for IBM...
1. You think a "half-day" means leaving at 5 o'clock..( an 8 h day!?!? REALLY!!! No... Am I getting fired? Should I be worried? If I'm not being asked to do overtime, there's got to be a problem....) lol

I declare Architecture in Helsinki "Most in need of Ritalin"

2007-10-19T12:19:00.000-04:00

Last night was Architecture in Helsinki at the Opera House. It was an hilarious night! After a few songs, I have to admit that the only thing I kept thinking of was "Ferris Buller's Day Off". I felt as if I had been dragged back to the 80's. It started with their music style but the trigger really was when they dedicated the whole show to "Degrassi High"... Appenrently, "Degrassi High" was a pretty big thing worldwide. The band was telling us that it was like THE show when they were teenagers and being a few corners away from the actual school was like, and I quote: "playing next to Jim Morrison's grave."

Architecture In Helsinkin is one of those bands that have mastered what I call the 80's revival style. It's all the good from the 80's but even better, making it accessible to youngsters like me, who don't necessarily have tolerance for the 80's or even disgust in certain.

In retrospect, it was short and sweet... but incredibly hyperactive. I don't think one of the musician stayed in the same spot or played the same instrument more than 2 songs in a row. They danced like kids with no apparent sense of coordination. But essentially, that's what Architecture in Helsinki is... the music that played in your head as you played outside as a child. I didn't know what it was that I liked about them but now I know. It's like 6 kids that on stage having the time of their life. Which why I declare "Architecture in Helsinki" "Most in need of Ritalin"....

Note to self:.... I really need to keep my notebook with me because this is not doing justice to the show...

Pictures to come