February 7, 2010
This is completely brilliant. I especially like the cameo from Chairry.
Three words - Selleck. Waterfall. Sandwich. One word – AMAZING.
Cazwell, you are fantasticly, ridiculously, glorious.
If you haven’t heard Julian Casablancas’s solo album yet, seriously, get on board. You won’t regret it.
February 6, 2010
I was really not into “Bittersweet Symphony”, but I’m alright with Ricky Ashcroft.
February 6, 2010
Advantage, The Rural Alberta Advantage. Canada! Yeah! (If you heard that in your head à la 1997 Chris Broach, you and I are friends.)
January 1, 2010
One of my favourite things about X-mas is getting to hear “Do They Know It’s Christmas”. The original version may very well be my favourite X-mas song. I love that when you watch the video, it’s so 80’s – the hair, clothes, and red-nosed coke addicts. I’ve always loved that Sting sings the line, “When the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears“. You know Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were sitting there writing the song and one of them said, “wouldn’t it be hilarious if we had Sting sing this line?” and then broke out into riotous laughter and did another line or something.
This year, Fucked Up did a cover of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” with the help of Andrew W.K., Bob Mould, David Cross, Ezra Koenig, GZA, Kevin Drew, Kyp Malone, Tegan & Sara, and Yo La Tengo. It’s not quite the star-studded line-up of the original, but is not too shabby. You can buy the single through iTunes and all proceeds go to three Canadian charities, one of which is in Vancouver.
Another of my favourite Xmas songs is the classic, “I Wish It Was Christmas Today” from SNL. Much like Band Aid, the original version is the best. Remember a while back when I mentioned Julian Casablancas covered it? Well, he did it on Late Night and, being that Jimmy was an original member, he and a much smaller Horatio Sanz reunited and did the first part of the song before Juilan and the Roots took over. Fantastic.
And just to throw something non-seasonal into the mix, Foreign Born’s video for ” Early Warnings” looks like it was pretty fun to make, and I don’t mean fun like Len had in “Steal My Sunshine“. This kind of fun involves white casual suits and driving planes. Classy.
January 1, 2010
In case you missed it, Jawbox got together and rocked shit out on Jimmy Fallon.
December 6, 2009
It’s less than three weeks until Xmas is upon us and I have been seeing lots of gift ideas on the interwebs. I am going to share them with you because I am not getting any of these things for any of my friends for various reasons, but they would be excellent gifts for people out there.
Kevin Smith is a funny guy, regardless of whether or not you like his movies. He wrote some books:
If you didn’t see Spike Jonze’s sweet-ass Where the Wild Things Are, you totally missed out. But I’m sure someone you know saw it and loved it, and maybe even cried at it. This book would be lovely for them.
I heart John Hodgeman. I probably hearted him before I even realized it. He’s funny and smart and plays songs like, “Tonight You Belong To Me,” on the ukulele. I haven’t read his books but would like to, as I think they would cause me to sit giggling in my pyjamas under a cozy blanket. I bet you know someone who could use a giggle in pyjamas under a cozy blanket too.
All three seasons of The Mighty Boosh, all together on seven discs, loaded with bonus features. Um, yes.
Another complete series, this time from the genius that is/was The State. I plan on picking this one up for myself, as I am one of the screaming, delirious masses that have been begging for this DVD for the last 15-ish years. Yeah, I was begging for this DVD before DVDs were even DVDs.
Brandon Bird is one talented mofo. You couldn’t go wrong with anything from his store. There is one thing in there that is too awesome for words, though.
Even if you didn’t see Up, you love Dug. No one can NOT love Dug.
Some classic games, and you can get them in some super-fun versions.
And how could anyone not want to cuddle up in a…
This pretty much speaks for itself.
For your office-worker buddy who thinks they’re a badass.
I am totally one of those people who can’t keep a plant alive. I don’t know about the plant-killers in your life, but I think these would make me feel better about my lack of a green thumb.
For the eco-conscious, clean-types.
I’m terrible at keeping journals, and I know I’m not alone.
If I had a landline, I would be all over this phone.
You don’t need to be artsy to appreciate this.
December 5, 2009
So it’s X-mas-time. I have mixed emotions about this time of year. Things I like include time off from work, large amounts of tasty food, Band Aid, Elf, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the hopes of catching the original version of “Christmas Coming to the USA”. I have scoured the internets and cannot find a video of the original version. There are lots of the follow-up versions, but no O.G. What’s up with that? Anyway, it turns out Julian Casablancas digs this SNL hit too and has covered it for a 7″ release. I’m pretty sure I don’t need to link to it since it’s all over the interwebs.
Weezer and Kenny G. Really.
A video for “Thunderbird” from the Golden Filter. I’m liking these guys a lot.
And another band I’m enjoying these days, Fan Death with their vid for “Cannibal”.
Chunklet has a most excellent 40-minute mp3 clip of nothing but witty banter from Fugazi shows. It is pretty hilarious. Love those guys.
Here’s a video from Fanfarlo. Check out their site. They have a fun advent calendar on it!
Shout Out Louds have been working on their new album in Seattle and the video for “Walls” chronicles a bit of it for us. The new song is promising.
Jónsi from Sigur Rós will be releasing a solo album soon by the title of Go. Go to his site and you can get a free mp3 in exchange for your email addy. This track has my all antsy-pansty to hear the full album.
November 11, 2009
I don’t want to mention that Death Cab is on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack, but they are. No judgement though! I haven’t read any of the books or seen any of the movies, (even though they were filmed here). Maybe if I actually saw the movie, the coupling with this soundtrack would make more sense. Or maybe it wouldn’t.
And Kick Ass looks pretty, well…
Just like in real life, Date Night could be really good or really terrible. It’s Tina Fey and Steve Carell so it has potential, but I’m skittish on this one. Pick your QT and you make the call.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is the documentary Until The Light Takes Us. All I have to say is, “the story of black metal”. I didn’t need to watch the trailer on the site to know I’m already fascinated.
Enough with the movies and on to the music! Drummer is a band made up of drummers. Appropriate, wouldn’t you say?
A cute video for poppy, catchy Weezer. I still have a soft spot for these guys.
On a rainy, grey Sunday, Low Anthem seems apt.
“Love Comes Close” from Cold Cave starts off sounding like “Goodbye Horses” and has a very Echo and the Bunnymen feel to it – no wonder I like it.
The video for Fan Death’s “Reunited” chronicles the best hitchhiking journey ever.
November 8, 2009
Some Days Are Better Than Others is a movie coming out which features Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney and James Mercer from the Shins. The thing is, it looks pretty darn good. Check out the trailer here.
Mew is straight-up awesome. And they, too, can act.
Fool’s Gold released a video for “Suprise Hotel” a while back, but have a newer version that is way more fun.
The Röyksopp video for “This Must Be It” is… well, you can pick your own adjective. But it features Karin Dreijer Andersson and despite the loincloths, is a pretty badass track.
If you haven’t picked up In And Out of Control by The Raveonettes yet, quit being a silly-billy and get on that.
Here’s a video from Asobi Seksu for “Transparence” from the Hush album released early this year.
November 8, 2009
Sally Shapiro’s “Miracle” has really got that 90’s shoegazing sound and I like it.
Clues features members from Arcade Fire and the Unicorns. They also have a video for “You Have My Eyes Now” starring Tim Heidecker of Tim & Eric fame. And it is grand.
Tim also directed Aimee Mann’s Christmas Carol last year and the video for “You Don’t Know Me” by Ben Folds. I hope he keeps it up because I have enjoyed his video work so far.
The modelling industry has been described as “cut-throat”, and is demonstrated in the Silversun Pickups‘ video for “Substitution”. Fierce.
Throw Me The Statue’s “Hi-Fi Goon” sounds like it could have easily been a Built To Spill song. I like Built To Spill though.
