Happy Holidays everyone! It’s that time of year again. A time filled with holiday laughter, family, music and cheer. It’s also the time of year when all the music magazines release their “Best of 2011″ lists, something only a true music geek (like myself) actually gets excited about. This year I’ve decided to compile my own “Best of” list. Although I’m going to break the rules a bit. Rather then just lists things that came out this year, I’m going to list things that I discovered and played this year, until it was totally worn out (well, it would have been if I still used CD’s). So, I guess in that case it’s not really a “Best of 2011″ list, but rather, a “Best of Emma’s 2011″ list (okay, so the name needs a little work…). None the less, it’s a list of things that I’ve really, really enjoyed this year and thought I should share since I’ve been such a bad blogger and have not been updating frequently (maybe that will be my New Years resolution. One I’ll actually try to keep).
The Civil Wars – Barton Hallow
The Heartbroken – Tonight Tonight
Peter Katz – First of the Last to Know
Modern Field Recordings – We Got Ur Back
The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
Adele – 21
The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site
Paul Simon – Graceland
Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Old Crow Medicine Show – Troubles Up and Down the Road
Alright all you eyetuners, it’s Monday, and you know what that means, RANDOM PLAYLIST MONDAY. And, I’m back (just like James Brown). Now, I realize its been awhile, but I’ve returned. And hopefully, that means there will be a good random playlist.
Watching the Wheels – John Lennon
Halo – Beyonce
I Am An Excellent Steel Horse – Rock Plaza Central (don’t we all wish we were excellent steel horses)
Ol’ 55 – Tom Waits (possibly my favourite song)
Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard – Paul Simon (another of my favourites)
Harmonic Necklace – Penguin Cafe Orchestra
When I See an Elephant Fly – Plain White T’s
Vince the Loveable Stoner – Fratellis (One of the greatest song titles)
Over My Head (Cable Car) – The Fray
Dancing On Our Graves – The Cave Singers
Okay, so it really was an awesome playlist. Some of my all time favourites on the list. And, a great song that I haven’t even talked about yet. I’ve been meaning to talk about them forever. So, here’s my chance. I hope most of you have heard of The Cave Singers, and if not, well you’re in for quite the treat.
Like always, The Cave Singers were a fantastic discovery of my Dad’s. They take a little while to get used to, because their sound defientley isn’t typical, but it’s awesome. Their an indie folk band, and according to last.fm, even freak folk, whatever that is (which I’ve added as a tag on my blog, because it’s that awesome). If I were to start a band I would for sure want to make freak folk music. What’s so interesting about the band is Pete Quirk, the lead singers voice which really is QUIRK-y (and I’m sure he’s heard that joke a million times before). I have to admit, at first I had a bit of a hard time discerning from male and female. Especially when you see him, he defientley doesn’t look like his voice, but those people are the best, because they leave us with a huge surprise. When you finally see him sing, it makes complete and utter sense. Now, I’ll stop writing and let you enjoy The Cave Singers and their surprises all for yourself.
Hope you enjoyed their music. In my opinion it’s hard not to. For now I’m out, and so so so so so happy to be back. Get ready for lots and lots of new (and old) Eyetunes discoveries. Goodnight!
Okay, so I have been MIA for far too long. Things have been so incredibly crazy, and I have been missing writing for a very long time. So, I am back, in full force. And, since it is the eve of December, I think it calls for some super fantastic Christmas music. Now, I’m sure I’ve told you of my love for Christmas, and especially the music that goes along with it. I know, I know, how can you truly respect my music taste when I dearly love classics like Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? It’s cheesy, it’s sappy, it’s overly cheery, but I love it. We all have our guilty pleasures and Christmas music is mine. Now, usually I am into the very traditional Christmas songs, but I’ve found a new love this year, Andrew Allen’s song I Wanna Be Your Christmas. The very epitome of sappy, cheesy, over the top Christmas spirit. But it is also pretty darn adorable. See for yourself.
Cute right? Even all you grinches out there have to admit it’s pretty cute. I mean that smile alone is enought to melt your heart into a little puddle of Christmas cheer. It’s cheesy, but who said cheesy is a bad thing (actually, it can be, but NOT in this case). So, hope this little post was the partridge in your pear tree, and for now I am out. Glad to be back.
P.S. He hails from Vernon, BC. Canadian Christmas music – so much better! Check out the rest of his music, a little pop never hurt anyone.
P.P.S. I’ve decided that when I grow up I want to be Mrs. Claus. Coolest job!
P.P.P.S Very happy Movember is over. Charities are great, moustaches are so very very bad. Truly, they should be illegal.
So, it’s Monday, and quite a good one at that. I really didn’t it was possible for such a thing as a good Monday. So, to top off a good Monday, let’s cross our fingers and hope for a good Random Monday Playlist.
Summer Wind – Michael Buble
Blow Away – A Fine Frenzy
Move Pen Move – Shane Koyczan (every time this comes on shuffle, it always gets me)
Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Greg Laswell (this is one of the funniest covers, I didn’t even realize what it was at first)
In These Arms – Swell Season
So What – Pink (I have to admit, I really do like this song)
Working Poor – David Francey
When Lost At Sea – The Wooden Sky (oh, this song, I do love it)
Take Me To The Riot – Stars
Two Headed Boy – Neutral Milk Hotel
So, maybe our fingers weren’t crossed tight enough, but it isn’t terrible. And there’s a topic on there that I’ve been wanting to talk about for quite some time. Any guesses? No? Okay than, David Francey it is. David Francey has been with me through my whole life. Through birthdays, parties, gatherings, everything. He was always there. And always reliable with his folky soothing voice. We had his CD Torn Screen Door, and I think I know all the words to each and every song. My favourites have to be Border Line, Working Poor, Torn Screen Door (reminds me of a house around here with a similar story), and Red-Winged Blackbird (we always played this when the red-winged blackbirds first showed up in the spring, every year). For now though, sit back, relax, and let the soothing voice of David Francey just wash right over you.
Oh David, I do like you. What I really like about him is how reliable he is. He never really changes, he’s always the same. When I saw him live, he was exactly the same as always. But for him, it works. It really does. And I don’t think I’m ever going to grow past my David Francey stage, and I hope you don’t either. Anyways, for now I’m out until next time. Hope you have a good night.
So, it’s Friday, and not a great one at that. The only great part of the day was when the bell rang at 2:30 and I got to go home. But, I have a way to make this day much better. And that my friends, is a great topic. Now todays is a little old school, they go all the way back to 1997, but I think we can handle it. Now, if that wasn’t enough of a hint for you, todays topic is the Weakerthans. The fantastic indie rock, alternative band that in my opinion should make Canada more proud than say Celine Dion or Jim Carrey (who isn’t even Canadian anymore). But sadly that’s not how the world works, so we’ll just have to pretend in our own little worlds thats how it is.
Now I first discoverd the Weakerthans a few months ago (I know, I should have found them much earlier, but I didn’t), and it was immediately love. Although it was only love for their song One Great City! (which is actually about hate, especially for Winnipeg). But as time progressed my love for the Weakerthans progressed too. I discovered their song Reconstruction Site, and than more and more. Now, I’m a pretty full fledged fan. They have such a cool blend of indie rock and pop. I’m an especially big fan of their CD Fallow. If you’re looking for an introduction though I would try checking out Recontruction Site (one of my favs, the lyrics are amazing. This totally makes me think of car rides when I was little, “and his father laughed and talked on the long ride home and his mother laughed and talked on the long ride home”), One Great City! (another great one), and Sun in an Empty Room. For now though, here’s the video for Sun In An Empty Room. It’s pretty interesting.
I really like this video. I like how incorporated there hometown is. Although It is a little sad. It’s pretty cool. What I find so great about the Weakerthans, is how many emotions they can bring up. Their lyrics are really evocative and what I love most is just listening to their lyrics because I always here something new that convinces me just how great they really are. And they do all of that in the most happy and go-lucky way, no matter the topic. For now though, I’m out until next time. Hope you have a good Friday night, and talk to you soon!
So, it’s Monday, and a kind of crappy one at that. But, what Monday is good, except for the ones that land on holidays and PA days? So, we’ll make the best of it with a hopefully fantasic Random Playlist Monday.
Desert Sunrise – Brett Dennen (good start)
Oh My God – Jasper Sloan Yip
March into the Sea – Modest Mouse
Good People – Jack Johnson
Leap – The Cave Singers
Romance Is – Lights
Free Nelson Mandela – Special AKA (please don’t ask)
Goodmorning Sunshine – Serena Ryder (gotta love Serena Ryder)
Twilight Omens – Franz Ferdinand
Rumors – Josh Ritter
Alright, so maybe not the greatest one, but Free Nelson Mandela, you don’t get much better than that. But I think Light’s is good for today, but what day is Lights not good, really? Anyways, Lights is the topic for today. I don’t have much more to say since I’ve already talked about her a thousand times. So how about I got easy on your eyes this Monday, and just sit back, relax and enjoy a pretty cute video.
Alright, so Romance Is, is one of her more obscure songs, so I’m glad I found a version of her doing it. It’s actually one of my favourites, I especially like her acoustic version on her Acoustic EP. I’m also a huge fan of her acoustic videos. I think they’re really great, almost better than her music videos because they seem more natural, and as you know I’m a huge sucker for acoustic anything. Anyways, enjoy the video, and I will talk to you later, for now it is waaaaaay past my bedtime (sad I know).
P.S. for all of you who don’t know who Lights is, go find another blog, we’re over. Kidding. But do go look her up. NOW!
It’s Saturday, hooray! I spent my day preparing platters and platters of ham and cheese skewers (a vegetarian’s dream) and many, many squares (actually a dream). And now to top off this great day, I have a great topic. We even share part of the same name. Any guesses? No? Kay then, ever heard of Emmy the Great (all Emmy’s truly are great). She’s a fantastic quirky, indie, singer-songwriter with just a tad bit of country thrown into the pot.
I first discovered her on last.fm and it was true love ever since. She’s not like anything else I’ve ever listened to, but maybe that’s what makes her so great, how unique she is. If you’re looking for an intro to her music I’d try checking out MIA, City Song, and Edward is Dedward (can you not love someone with song titles like that). She’s originally from Hong Kong, but now lives in London. The thing I really like about her though, is how likeable she is. She just seems like someone you want to be friends with. Like someone you want to go and have a latte with or go shopping with.
She also has this really great ability to make really depressing, and sad topics seem like light and easy songs. Much like in MIA, which I assumed to be about a car crash, but just sounds like a really sweet love song. It actually took me a really long time to realize it was about a car crash. She also talks about M.I.A. in the song which proves just how fantastic her taste is. Truly impressive. See for yourself though. Sit back, relax and enjoy a seemingly cute song with a really depressing undertone. Enjoy.
I really love this song. It’s really interesting, and her voice is really something else. The problem is, I can’t get past the hair in her mouth. I don’t know why the person taking the video didn’t do something about it though. So please, go and check out more of her stuff, I promise you won’t be disappointed. For now though this Emmy is off until next time. Hope you enjoy the rest of night.
It’s Monday, well actually it’s Tuesday because I forgot to post this yesterday, so just pretend it’s Monday again (even though Monday’s suck). And it is a truly perfect November Monday at that, although I could do with a little more cloud coverage and rain, I’ll take the cold.
Ain’t No Reason – Brett Dennen (one of my favourite songs, kinda perfect for today too)
Vanilla Twilight – Owl City
Winter – Nurses
Guyamas Sonora – Beirut (such a fantastic voice)
Heaven – Talking Heads
Tired Eyes – Hey Rosetta!
In Love With a Girl – Gavin DeGraw
When the Night Came and Took Us – Hayden
Inside the Molecules – Chad VanGaalen
Summersong – Decemebrists
So, that one was a little weird, but there are some keepers (as my grandma would say). Especially Owl City, I think that’s the perfect topic for this fake Monday. I know I’m not usually into popular music, but I really have a thing for Owl City, in a cute pop kinda way. A lot like Lights in that way. Although mainstream, he has this really awesome, quirky air about him. And it really comes out in his video for Vanilla Twilight. Brace yourselves for some super cuteness.
Although he’s super poppy, he is also super duper quirky (I have no idea why I feel I must defend myself against popular music, but I do, sorry). This video doesn’t have much to it, but it’s interesting, and a really interesting idea, plus the song lyrics of really sweet. I love the idea of all these different kinds of people coming together. Plus the sky shots are quite crazy. And is the one guy Shaquille O’Neal (don’t ask why I even know who that is)? Anyways, I best be off, talk to you soon. Hope your fake Monday was grrrrrreat!
So, it’s a very spoooooky Halloween night (although extremely quiet, maybe because it’s a Sunday. It is weird to have the day of the dead on the day of God and the church, but what can you do). For this spooky night, I have a, wel,l not so spooky topic. This one I debated over and over again in my head because I’ve already talked about him so many times, but I saw him last night, and I think I have even more to add. So, as some of you may know, I went to see Dan Mangan last night, and as some of you may also know I have made an insane claim. A claim that doesn’t come easily. Are you ready for it? I think his show last night may have been one of my favourite shows EVER, if not my favourite live show. Although I’m going to try, I’m not sure I can even begin to explain the impact it had on me, and how truly great it was, but I’ll give it my best shot.
First of all, it was snowing on our way into the show (and as we left). And for all of you who do not know me, there is nothing I love more than snow. Especially big, Christmas-like flakes of snow. I really don’t understand how people don’t like it? It makes things a hundred times prettier. So we’re standing in line, with the pretty snow falling, and than we enter one of the prettiest churches. Seemed really old school. There were two opening bands. First was a band called The Crackling, part of Dan Mangan’s band. They were pretty awesome. And than came the Harbourcoats, a single man, singer-songwriter, thing. It was also very good, although slightly sleepy at times. But, just when you were getting slightly bored, out came Dan looking completely adorable in his stripy hoodie (and Burning Hell t-shirt, kinda funny for a church but, Peterborough represent!). They started the whole show with Sold, one of my very favourite songs. The whole thing was really pumped up, and fantastic. After that, they did song, after song, after song that I really liked and I got worried that all my favourites were going to go, and I was going to end up doing the classic “watch watching” thing I find myself doing at some shows. But, it just got better and better and better.
Usually at a live show, if you’re lucky you get what I call a “moment”. A song that seems to change everything. In this show, there seemed to be quite a few moments, from the very first song. Highlights for me were Sold, of course, Tina’s Glorious Comeback (another of my faves, love the Tom Waits reference), Robots, and an unknown song as his encore at the very end. For Tina’s Glorious Comeback, they went completely acoustic and just clapped and stomped, a perfect, perfect moment. Because it was the Halloween weekend a lot of people came in their costumes, my very favourite were the two robot guys. I’m assuming robots because of Dan’s song Robots. So half way through the song (his last song of the night before the encore) he called them up to the stage to strut their stuff. Following those guys all the people in costumes came up. Everyone started to sing along and clap, and viola, a moment. The greatest part of the night though, was his final encore song. I’m sad to admit I don’t even know what it was, but man was it good. He ditched his guitar and mic and walked right into the crowd to sing. The acoustics were so great you could here him perfectly. The song he sang was really sad, everyone just kind of clapped and sang along. It was really perfect, this scruffy guy in a Burning Hell tshirt standing on a pew singing this song about death, with dead zombie brides, robots, bee’s, cupcakes, and everyone singing together. It was really something, and very hard to describe. All I can say, is I don’t think one person wanted to leave that church, I think everyone would have stayed for the rest of the night, I know I would have. But sadly it had to come to an end, and a happy end it was. For now though, I’m going to give your eyes, and brain a break, and let you sit back and relax to his great video for Robots. Picture home-made robots dancing around while watching it, it really enhances the experience.
I love this video, in all its crazy 80′s robots glory. It’s pretty cool. Even the cheesy happily-ever-after ending works. Once again thank you for indulging me, and allowing, or at least tolerating, another Dan Mangan post, I hope you weren’t too disappointed. It’s pretty hard to capture the same moment I felt while there. All I can say is go see him live, trust me you won’t be disappointed, and remember “Robots need love too”.
Overall Rating: 5++++
Comments: There has never been a more likable guy, I wanted to go right up and give him a huge hug. He seemed to have such passion for what he does, it made him really endearing and likeable.
P.S. hope you had a great Halloween, I did
P.P.S. since it snowed, you have to listen to Hawksley’s First Snow of the Year, it’s a tradition in my family.
So it’s Monday, and a great one because it’s a PA day. But it’s even greater because it’s Random Playlist Monday.
Sleigh Ride – KT Tunstall (we’re starting off in a Christmasy way today, works for me )
Painting By Chagall – The Weepies
Black Bird – The Beatles
All The Way Down – Glen Hansard (this is quite the quiet playlist so far)
Mick’s Blessings – The Style Council
I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You – Tom Waits
Shout Bama Lama – The Detroit Cobras (quiets over, but that’s okay ’cause it’s a great song)
Rain – Hawksley Workman
Bongo Bong – Manu Chao
I am an Excellent Steal Horse – Rock Plaza Central
So, that may have been one of my favourite playlists so far. Even with the Christmas song. Of all these great songs I think I’m going to have to go for Rock Plaza Central. You know the saying. When in doubt go for the crazy shouty, indie rock band.
So before going any further I need to say – although I am a huge fan now – I wasn’t always. All discovery credit goes to my dad. Although, even though I can’t quite believe it, I didn’t always appreciate the…specialness (?) of them. It is a bit of an aquired taste. Once you get past the initial phase and enter into the realm of their true greatness your world is opened up and there is so many more options. I think I really fell in love with them after I saw them at Hillside. The lead singer brought his daughter on stage, and it was love from there on in.
My dad discovered them after they released their first CD Are We Not Horses, a crazy mix of songs all related to..you guessed it, horses. I must say I’m not as well aquanted with their newer CD’s, especially their newest At The Moment of our Most Needing. If you’re looking for an intro to them I’d try checking out Anthem for the Already Defeated (love it’s name), and I am an Excellent Steel Horse. Below is the video for I am an Excellent Steel Horse in all it’s horsey glory.
I think it’s an interesting video, with a really simple idea. But somehow it works, maybe because the song isn’t simple. Either way it’s a great video and a fantastic song. For now though, I must be off, enjoy the rest of your rainy gloomy night.
Aidan Knight, Dan Mangan, Tom Waits, Hawksley Workman, Thao, The Wooden Sky, Acres and Acres, Danny Michel, and Kate LeDeuce
Books I’m Reading or Have Recently Read
Jude The Obscure by Thomas Hardy (this is for school, and man is it a doosy), Loswside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits by Barney Hoskyns (this is really interesting), Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, and King Dork by Frank Portman
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