Currently rocking tha pod this week:

Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
Wolf Parade - 2nd EP
DFA1979 - Luno (Block Party cover)
Depeche Mode - Black Celebration

Do you have an iPod? Need an amazing case for it? Check out this site. The girls at Lime hand sew their cases, cleverly named "iPod Peels". Check them out, they're totally awesome indie girls with amazing style. They have also just launched a line of iPod Slips, that come in wicked cool colours. They also make purses for girls, and neat buttons for everyone Buy away all.

www.limelimelime.com

The Mountain Goats have confirmed a short North American tour, stopping in Toronto on October 17 at Lee's Palace. If you haven't heard their lastest disc The Sunset Tree, pick it up, it's quite good.

Xiu Xiu's tour has also be confirmed and revamped. Check out the listing here (courtesy of Tiny Mix Tapes). The Toronto show at X-Space has been added, but no ticket details are available as of yet.

More concert news:

Interpol are finally returning to Toronto, they play Kool Haus (yeah! no Docks!!) on Septemeber 28, 2005, tickets on sale saturday here. I missed them last time they came through for Antics, as it was the night after the Morrissey show, and I was concerted out!! Here is a list of all their new North American dates via the bands site. Ps. There will probably be tickets released early via the bands site this week, so keep checking back!

Arcade Fire have announced a Canadian date out west. They will be playing MacEwan Hall in Calgary on October 5th. Tickets here. Could this mean a full-scale Canadian tour??

UPDATE!! The Arcade Fire have confirmed two more dates on the west coast. Here they are:

09/30/05 Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
10/02/05 The Odeon Event Centre - Saskatoon, Sask.

Both these shows also go on sale this saturday at 10am here.

The Stellastarr* show at the Shoe on the 10th of Septemeber is back on according to promoters Emerge.

The Hillside Festival this past weekend seemed to be a hit. According to the Toronto Star, the Toronto hipster elite were out in full force, partying it up along side the cowboy-hat wearing hicks. Stars and The Arcade Fire drew the largest crowds (...who knew that capacity was only 5000 people??)> Check out the Star's review here (reg. req'd).

There is also a review of Lollapalooza (the reason I missed Hillside...but had to cancel at the last minute). From what I heard, it was incredibly HOT, the two main stages were too close together, and Weezer were horrible (and were overshadowed by the sweet sweet Pixies). Here's the review. The article was written by my favourite Toronto music critic, Ben Rayner. Check out more of his work here.

M.I.A. has announced a short fall tour of North America, with a stop in Toronto on Septemeber 26th at the Phoenix. Here are the dates:

Aug. 7: New York (Central Park Summerstage)
Sept. 19: Athens, Ga. (40 Watt Club)
Sept. 21: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Sept. 23: Boston (Paradise)
Sept. 24: Montreal (Spectrum)
Sept. 26: Toronto (Phoenix Concert Theatre)
Sept. 27: Detroit (St. Andrews)
Sept. 28: Chicago (Metro)
Sept. 29: Minneapolis (Fine Line)
Oct. 1: Denver (Gothic Theatre)
Oct. 4: Los Angeles (Henry Fonda Theater)
Oct. 5: San Francisco (Grand Ballroom)

DCFC have announced two dates in Vancouver (lucky west coasters!!!)

Oct. 3, 2005 - Commodore Ballroom
Oct. 4, 2005 - Commodore Ballroom

Tickets for both shows are already on sale. Check this link.

Warner Bros. have launched the official Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire website.

Went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last night and it was incredible. Tim Burton did an amazing job (he had more than 50 squirrels trained to shell nuts!!!) with the Wonka factory, and as always, Johnny Depp's performace was hilarious. The only problem I had with the re-make was the flying glass elevator. The Oompa Loompas musical numbers were pure genuis, at one point, there were over 165 of them singing and dancing. If I was a kid, I think they would have totally freaked me out.

Now Magazine has a great cover piece on the incredible Loretta Lynn, just in time for her show this weekand at Massey Hall. Also check out the glowing review of last sunday's Dinosaur Jr. show at the Phoenix.

Franz Ferdinand.org has many great live MP3's including their new single and a cover of my favourite Pulp song "Mis-Shapes". Click on the audio tab. In other FF related news, Cut Copy are also on the bill for the Toronto show.

The Dirtbombs play Lee's again on September 22, tickets only $10.50 at the usual outlets.

Guelph's Hillside Festival (aka. Hipster Heaven) is getting a lot of press this week, due to the fact that all advance tickets for the entire weekand have sold out in advance (a first for the festival). Jam has an article here. Since I was suppose to be in Chicago this weekand for Lolllapalooza, I didn't get tickets, and now an KICKING myself. If anyone has extra tickets for saturday OR sunday, let me know...

According to Chromewaves, Bloc Pary are playing The Docks Sept. 12, 2005. Yet another great show in this horrible venue!!! Tickets are $21.50 and go on sale through the regular ticket outlets on this saturday (07/23/05)...

Word has it that J.K. Rowling, in a live televised interview on a major U.S. network yesterday said that Aunt Petunia supports and helps out Harry more in the new book, and in later installments, we will find out why. Does this mean that she's a witch??? I think so!!

Have you heard the new Stellastarr* album, Harmonies For The Haunted yet? I got an advance copy today, and it's quite good. A lot less Joy Division sounding, they seem to have grown into their own skin. Street date is August 23, 2005.

J.K. Rowling's sixth installment of the Harry Potter series sold 8.9 million copies in the first 24 hours. Read all about it here. Rowling is also said to be "dreading" the end of the series (Myabe it has something to do with the money that's rolling in from sales...

The Pixies are recording their first new album in fourteen years!!!

According to tons of sources, Eminem is set to retire at the end of the summer. The story was first reported by The Detroit Free Press, and can also be seen on NME...but according to Scott Stereogum, it's all a rumor.

Check out the new Maximo Park video (link from Ultragrrl).

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FinaL Fantasy aka Owen Pallett, July 16, 2005, The Blue Room, Peterborough, Ontario.

See what happens when you turn 26!!!

You go to a small show, in a small town, and stay up too late, then sleep the entire day after. I feel like I sometimes live in an old age home, all I ever do is sleep and eat. The Final Fantasy show last night in The Blue Room at the Trasheteria in P-Town was incredible, except for the the extremely late start time (doors at 10pm?) with the first band (a guy with an acoustic guitar, that sung like Mr. Cobain, and a turntablist) starting at midnight. I felt like I was at Lee's, minus the Toronto hipster crew. Final Fantasy finally hit the stage at a little after 1am. His set consisted of tons of new material, none of which he played at the Danforth Music Hall show and tons of older favourites. The new songs were amazing, with Owen layering more and more violin and percussion (knocking on the back of the violin to create drum-machine like rhythm) to create a visceal wall of sound. His vocals were strong as ever and the show pinnacled with an audience request (...it was me) of Mariah Carey's "Fantasy", which had two incredibly drug neanderthals disco dancing at the food of the stage, and the crowd all singing along. Owen started the cover by saying he didn't think he could do it without someone singing back up, but he was wrong because it sounded better than ever. He also covered a tune by Joan Of Arc (but I have no idea what's it's called) and it too was equally brilliant. I also want to say thanks to the idiot that decided to walk right in front of me during "This Is The Dream Of Win And Regine"...I was using my digital to take video of the song, in an attempt to post it here, but alas, the jackass' head filled my entire screen for the last 45 seconds of the show. Oh, by chance if the guy who taping the show via digital camcorder reads this, can you contact me, I'd love a copy. At last, here the the pictures from last night:

I absolutely HATE that work gets in the way of updating, I think I need to just start doing it while I'm at work. So here's what happened in the last week:

Stream DCFC's new single "Soul Meets Body" from their upcoming album Plans, here (or download it from various torrent sources).

Tons of shows have been confirmed for Toronto:

September 10, 2005 - Stellastarr* - The Horseshoe (according to this site, this show has been postponed, and a new date is TBA)

September 16-18, 2005 - Ear To The Ground Festival - Already Confirmed: DFA1979, The Hidden Cameras, RJD2, Kid Koala, The Frontier Index, Tricky Woo, LAL, Holy Fuck, Saul Williams and The Old Soul - Early Bird tickets for the entire fest on sale now for only $40!!

September 18, 2005 - The National w Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Horseshoe Tavern

October 1, 2005 - Antony and the Johnsons w CocoRosie - St. Pauls Trinity (Tickets On Sale Now)

October 9, 2005 -The New Pornographers - The Docks (WTF!!)

October 18, 2005 - Franz Ferdinand w TV On The Radio - Ricoh Colisseum (On-Sale August 20th $36-$42)

Not to mention the DCFC are planning an North American tour for October (lets hope for a small to mid-sized Toronto venue and no Docks!!!)

Pitchfork has news on the Xiu Xiu/Devandra Banhartsplit 7".

Tonight I'm heading out to the boons aka. Hickville aka. Peterborough to see Final Fantasy at the Trash. I'll post pics when I'm back.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers joined New Order onstage at T In The Park!!! Mr. Flowers must have been in idol heaven!!!

New Order's setlist:

’Regret’
’Krafty’
’Crystal’
’Transmission’
’Atmosphere’
'Waiting For The Sirens' Call'
‘True Faith’
‘Bizarre Love Triangle’
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’
‘Temptation’
‘She’s Lost Control’
‘Blue Monday’

WS confirm that "My Doorbell" from Get Behind Me Satan will be their next single, and it will include live tracks recorded on their South American tour.

The Decemberists announce massive US tour, including amazing supporting bands (Sons And Daughters!!!). The Toronto date is slated for October 13 at the Phoenix.

Missed your favourite artist's performance at LIVE AID 8? Check them out here(in Quicktime) here.

Lauren Hill reveals the real reasons she left the Fugees here. I think she's a little jaded.

TinyMixTapes has new dates for the New Pornographers tour in support of their new disc Twin Cinema.

Anyone know where to download torrents of Being Bobby Brown?
Email me.

Stream the first episode of season five of the Surreal Life here. This year's cast is amazing, I can't WAIT to see Janice Dickinson and Omorosa go at it.

Babyshambles has been pulled as support for Oasis' UK tour. Seems that Mr. Doherty was a no show for his first show, so the Gallaghers have replaced him with the Zutons. Ms. Moss must be keeping him very busy.

DCFC have posted the tracklisting for their new album, Plans, due out August 30, 2005. Seth Cohen wannabes the world over hold their breath in anticipation.

Now Magazine talks to Ian Parton, ringleader of The Go! Team about their sampling problems. About two weeks ago, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) was their coverboy, and discussed Rufus Wainwright, videogames, and his fear of going solo. Check it out here.

Here's a picture of the cottage that we stayed at while away on vacation. I needed to get away from the city, and in terms of music and literature, I had a very productive time. I read two books while away, Love Monkey by Kyle Smith, and A Million Pieces by James Frey. Love Monkey was the perfect cottage read, light, easy and it didn't really make me think. It's in the same vein as High Fidelity and follows the love life, or lack there of..., Tom Farrell, a 32 year old writer for a tabloid, cleverly titled, Tabloid. Farrell is your typical manboy, too into his music and himself to hold down a steady girlfriend, and when he finally finds the one he wants, she's taken. Smith has been described as the boy verison of the girl who wrote the Bridget Jones series, books for men about relationships.
A Million Pieces in a dramatic memoir of a 23 year old in rehab trying to concur his drug and alchohol addiction. I've been obsessively into memoirs this past year (I have inhaled all of Auguesten Burroughs and David Sedaris' books), and this one is by far my favourite. Unlike Burrough's Dry, Frey's A Million Pieces put me in Frey's fucked up shoes, I felt like an addict trying to kick my vices. His storytellying is suberb.

Rocking the iPod for the last four days:
Xiu Xiu - La Forest (Chromewaves has news about another show in Toronto in September!!!)
Wolf Parade - Wolf Parade EP (Pitchfork finally reviewed it today)
Sufjan Stevens - Illionois (9.2!!!)

Back from the cottage.
I was boling some corn on the stove and watching the one channel the television there could receive. The news was on, and they were covering the London transit bombing. I can't believe they struck again.

Photo By Shauna Patterson
Time For A Road Trip!

I'm off to the cottage for four days of chelaxing on the dock. My two week vacation is winding down, and honestly, I'm loathing going back to work.

Upcoming Shows:
July 16, 2005 - Final Fantasy @ The Trasheteria in Peterborough, Ontario
September 10, 2005 - Sufjan Stevens @ St. Pauls Trinity, Toronto, Ontario
Semptember 16, 2005 - White Stripes w The Greenhornes @ The Molson Ampitheatre, Toronto, Ontario

Top 10 Albums of 2005 (Thus Far)
Part One
I've jumped on the mid-year top 10 list bandwagon (as seen on Chromewaves et. all). Here is the first five of my favourite 10 albums that have been released this year. I'm going to do them in alphabetical order, which I feel is easiest, because I honestly can't rank them in terms of my favourite to least favourite.

01. Amusement Parks On Fire - Self-Titled
I first read about these guys on Stereogum, where they were describred as emo-gaze (as in emo and shoegaze), and decided to check out their my space (click to sample a few of their songs). They blew me away upon first listen. Sad, emo-like vocals, over waves of distorted, My Bloody Valentine guitars. This is what Mogwai would sound like if Stuart could actually sing and write lyrics. They remind me of a louder, more aggressive Wrens, which may seem like a werid comparison. The Wrens always felt like emo for adults, emotional music with mature themes, instead of your typical "she left me and broke my heart" pop-punk type. This album is in the same vein but takes its inspiration more from shoegaze than indie rock (the Wrens).


02. Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
I'm not going to bash Pitchfork like tons of people do, because they turn me onto tons of great music. This album was reviewed by them at the beginning of the year, and they added it to their best new music section. The first time I listened to it, I pretty much hated it. But after a couple listens, I fell in love with it. Antony's vocals are strong yet fragile. His lyrics make me smile and want to cry at the same time. I don't think that any album has effected me emotionally like this has since I first heard Elliott Smith back in high school (and The Smiths/Morrissey for that matter). There are many guest appearances on the album by notible musicans such as Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright and Devandra Banhart.


03. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
The release Silent Alarm marks the end of the nu-wave 80's revival. Even though there are still tons of bands releasing albums within this genre (for example, the Kasier Chiefs, The Bravery, Maximo Park) the scene is offically over. The shit that's coming out this year is so derivative, and these newer bands are re-hashing the sound of 2001-2002 a la the Strokes. Bloc Party stand out because they kids can really play their instruments, their rhythm sections is incredible, and Kele is a great frontman that isn't afraid to look like he's having a good time. I caught them for their debut show in Toronto at the Opera House and they were just as impressive live as they are on disc.



04. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Here's another guy that tons of people like to talk shit about. Bright Eyes aka Connor Obest's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, shows once again what an incredibly brilliant songwriter he is. Every track on this album is great, Connor weaves touching narratives in his lyrics that deal with everything that is important in our lives. Standout tracks include Land Locked Blues, The First Day Of My Life and Poison Oak. The one thing that surprised me about this album is the fact that he left "When The President Talks To God" off the album. Follow the link to download the track for free from iTunes or his live performance on the Tonight Show.


05. The Decemberists - Picaresque
The Decemberists third album reminds me of reading literature from the past. The songs are all narrative-based, with a slew of interesting characters. Colin Meloy is not only a songwriter, but a writer of fiction. The Decemberists remind me a lot of Belle And Sebastian, but with much more mature songwriting. This album translates very well live, Meloy and company are excellent live musicians. Check out Chromewaves for some great pictures from the show I attended at the Phoenix in Toronto.

Photo By Mark Balson
Picture for Blog Profile.

New Missy Elliott Video for "Lose Control"
In the words of little Gwen, THIS SHIT IS BANANAS!! Just click on the videos tab on the bottom of the screen, and select the video. It's insane that Missy keeps pumping out the hits. Every single she releases is pure genius.

Free Broken Social Scene Show This Friday (July 8th)
BSS are playing a free show in Toronto this friday night at Dundas Square for Celebrate Toronto(Yonge and Dundas Sts) at 10pm. This show starts at 8pm, and unfortunately, those who show up early will sit through horrendous sets by Great Big Sea, Holly Cole and Jully Black.

Free Out Hud Show This Saturday (July 9th)
Out Hud are playing a free show at Harbourfront Centre for Beats, Breaks and Culture: Electronic Music Festival. They're playing the CIBC Stage at 8pm.

Shauna and I, July 2, 2004
Taken the night of my birthday dinner.

Youth Group...The New Coldplay?
Youth Group are a Death Cab endorsed, Austrialian band that have recently released their second album on Epitaph records here in North America. First off, don't be put off by the fact that they're signed to a punk label. They sound like Death Cab meets Coldplay, amazing ballads. Formed in Sydney, by Toby Martin (guitar/vox) and Danny Allen, the band recruited another guitarist (Cameron Emmerson) and a bassist (Patrick Matthews) to fill out the band. Skeleton Jar is emotional indie rock, but with better production. I want to love this band, but the fact that they sometimes tred so close to the other Martin's band, makes me want to throw things at my stereo (I really can't handle Coldplay anymore. Chris Martin has turned into the most annoying, cheesy man in music, and their sound is so derivative and bland, like eating unsalted soda crackers by the fistful). I am happy to see a band like Youth Group come out of Austrailia, instead of all the other shit (The Vines, Jet, Silverchair) that has been exported in the last decade. So in conclusion, are Youth Group the next Coldplay? Unless Toby marries a hollywood blonde and spawns a piece of fruit, I think it's safe to say the the boys in Youth Group will end up alright, and not annoying.

Related Links:
http://www.youthgroup.com.au/

Has Chuck Palahnuik lost it?

I just finished reading his new collection of short stories titled "Haunted" and was incredibly disappointed. The plot is based around a group of people that sign up to go on a writer's retreat for three months. The retreat location ends up to be an abandoned movie theatre, where the group is locked and held against their will. Each person is forced to write a poem, and short "dark" story based on their life. I liked the basis of the book, but I feel that Palahniuk dropped the ball in terms of character development and emotional attachement to the said characters (which is prevalent in his past work). I could care less that characters were cutting off limbs and committing suicide, because I didnt really have a feel for who they were. Overall, it's not terrible (I'd rather read this than some shit Oprah book club book), but it's not the classic Palahnuik I expected.
Related Links:http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/