Sun In An Empty Room

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!

I Can’t Wait To Michou

So, my mom and I were searching around checking out more bands that are playing at Hillside. There were all the usual suspects, but than a huge surprise. It turns out I missed a great band when making my Hillside playlist. I completely looked over Michou, mainly because I thought it was just another sensitive women (maybe with a harp), but than I realized (well my mom realized), no they are this awesome, pop indie rock band. They’re this cute little band, that seems like a combination of early Hedley, Owl City, and Mumford & Sons. I’ve only heard two songs, Growing Younger and Eavesdropping, but they’re both fantastic. I’m excited to discover even more at their show.

They’re a small indie band from Windsor, Ontario but I can feel they’re going to get big. They have the standard pop sound, but incorporated with folk, and a hint of rock. It’s a combination that will be loved by a lot of people. They also have the right nerdy band boy look. On last.fm they’re tagged under “I shouldn’t like this but I do” and that’s kind of the way I feel too. This is the kind of music I usually reject but somehow this band makes it work.

That’s all I’m going to say of them for now, after Hillside I’m sure more will follow. Below is their video for Growing Younger — it seems like a baby version of Mumford & Sons The Cave but I like that. Oh, and the challenge is to decide what instrument each band member plays. My mom and I got it right, right away, see if you can.

P.S. the bass player is my favourite of course, that’s what I aspire to be like one day.

This is quickly becoming one of my favourite videos. It’s really raw and simple, but I still love it. That’s what makes it so great. They fall off their bikes and do funny hand movements, but that’s what makes it great. Oh, and the synchronized bike dancing is the best part. Enjoy, and see you after Hillside, or possibly see you there!

P.S. I’m really hoping the weather turns around, it’s not looking good right now.

Start A War

It’s Friday and I haven’t posted once this week, bad littlethumbup. Of course blame it on school since I’ve had about zero free writing time (I even missed Random Playlist Monday, bad, bad me!). But I’m not going to spend my whole time complaing and get right into music. I’ve been so busy I haven’t even gotten to discussing The National concert I went to see on Tuesday so I’m doing now, now is better than never, right? So without further ado, The National.

Here’s a quick equation to sum up the show. Great music (The National) + great venue (Massey Hall) + awesome crowd = a super-duper amazing show. But I’ll go into more detail because that’s the kind of music nerd I am. So when I first heard The National was playing near me I was uber excited but than I wondered, how is the show really going to be. Will there music translate as well live as it does on their CD’s and the answer is yes. They made the show a little more upbeat but that suited me fine. Although our seats were a bit of a bummer and I never actually found out what the drummer looked like I still had an amazing time. Matt Berningers voice insanely awesome. It’s deep and low, but not devil Tom Waits gravely (not that there is a thing wrong with that), just right. I’d even describe it as “liquid magic” (of course it’s not actually a liquid but it sounds like it could be. And if it was a liquid I’d say it’s chocolate milk. Deep, chocolately, smooth, yummy). Anyway the show was very fantastic. If you ever get the chance to see The National live, I highly recommend it.

The CD Boxer is my favourite by The National, although High Violet their newest is really growing on me. I think Boxer is probably most National fans favourite. It’s also what seemed to make them popular. I mean they’ve been a band for 12 years and now just starting to really hit the big-time indie scene. Which is great for them but I don’t really like when my music gets popular. Every song on Boxer is incredibly beautiful and easy to listen to. I’m particulairly in love with Start a War (which I think is my favourite of all time National song, it’s fantastic live too), Fake Empire (there most popular song, and also one of my tops), Apartment Story, and Slow Show. I think I love Boxer the most becuase it’s a little on the quiet side and well I’m a sucker for quiet. The songs on Boxer also have really awesome lyrics. I used to think that Fake Empire said “we’re half awake in a thinking pie” instead of “we’re half awake in a fake empire” which I guess makes more sense but isn’t quite as funny. What’s really weird is pies are actually mentioned earlier in the song. On there new CD High Violet I’m really falling in love with the songs Bloodbuzz Ohio. Lemonworld, and Sorrow. As an aside have you noticed that most American bands have a song about Ohio? Why is that? Because it’s easy to say I guess or it’s just a really cool place. Who knows…

So below is the video for Apartment Story. The National has a ton of videos but I liked this one the most. Enjoy and check out more National and more videos.

I like the way the video kind of seemed like it took place at a highschool reunion, but I guess it could have been a wedding. Man The National would make a good wedding band. I’ll have to look into that (in a couple years of course, don’t freak mom). Enjoy, The National and the song, look up more and see them live if you can.

Overall Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Comments: Buy tickets earlier.

Rain, Rain Please Stay

So, a good ol’ rainy day, where it just rains and all you want to do is curl up on the couch with a good book, some tea and the perfect music. Well this is a mood I’m often in and have made many a Rainy Day playlist, but there not all great, so here’s another try of mine. The problem with the rainy day playlist is it’s hard to know what the perfect rainy day song is. I’m sitting at my aunts house curled up on the couch awaiting the rain and couldn’t be happier. These are songs that seem pretty good to me at this exact time on this exact rainy day, let me know your perfect rain song.

1. Ticket Taker – Low Anthem (my dad introduced me to this, and I really love it, GO DAD!)

2. Passion Play – William Fitzsimmons

3. City Song – Emmy The Great

4. Low Rising – The Swell Season

5. World Spins Madly On – Weepies (my favourite morning song, or grumpy, bad mood song totally captures the mood)

6. Road Regrets – Dan Mangan

7. All The Way Down – Glen Hansard

8. Song For Your – Alexi Murdoch (pretty little song for any mood)

9. Shore to Shore – Johnny Flynn (just a perfect song)

10. Bright Future – Bowerbirds

11. Insects – Brasstronaut (a creepy title for a pretty, rainy song. Don’t get turned off by the name like I did at first)

12. Safe and Sound – Hawksley Workman (the most perfect song EVER, for anything)

13. Song For The Road – David Ford

14. Eyes Full Of Rose – Horse Feathers

15. Julie Blue – Joe Purdy

16. Weighty Ghost – Wintersleep (another fantastic song that I’ll never get sick of)

17. Beautiful – Danny Michel (because it captures the mood perfectly and who doesn’t love Danny?)

18. Blue Skies – Noah and the Whale (the title may have blue in it but it’s “a song for anyone who can’t get out of bed”, perfect)

19. Dreamer – Jenn Grant

20. Skeletons (Acoustic Version) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (one of my favourite songs by them)

21. Drinking Games – Library Voices (saw them at Hillside, FANTASTIC)

22. In The Battle of Sun VS. Curtains, Sun Loses and We Sleep Until Noon – Woodpigeon (greatest song title ever and perfect for a rainy day)

22. Lay Me Down – The Frames

23. The Dress Looks Nice On You – Sufjan Stevens

24. Summer Day – Coconut Records (don’t let the name decieve you, it’s all about rain)

I’d say that’s pretty awesome for a rainy day, or any day for that matter. A day you need some good quiet music, which is a lot of days for me. Below is the video for Weighty Ghost, which I’ve been meaning to play for awhile so it’s perfect. This is one of my favourite video’s even though there’s nothing spectacular about it. Maybe it’s just the great song, or the sing-along chorus which I’m a HUGE sucker for. Either way, enjoy.

I hope that put you in the rainy, sleepy mood if you weren’t already.

Mood Music

Alright all you eyetuners, I’ve done something fantastic. For the first time since I got my music listography book, I’ve been brave enough to open it and start a playlist. Now ironically the first playlist I opened up to was Songs That Completely Transform Your Mood (A.K.A. Therapist in a Song). This is the perfect playlist for me at the moment and I’m happily filling it out. Now the book gives 22 spots to put songs (which is  a strange number), but I’m not going to fill it all out right now. I’m assuming it means the songs transform a mood in a good way (I think I have more than 22 bad songs). As I’m recording the playlist I’m noticing that most of the songs are new ones. I think that may be because all my old therapy songs have bad moments associated with them (which is ironic, considering their supposed to be happy songs, associated with good things), so I’m starting fresh (well except for a few).

1. Orange Sky – Alexi Murdoch (I know very predictable)

2. Claire Fontaine – Hawksley Workman (I have both a Christmas thing and a Hawksley thing, which makes this the perfect therapy song)

3. When I Look At You – Miley Cyrus (I’m afriad I can’t explain this one, sorry. I really wish I could)

4. Road Regrets – Dan Mangan

5. One (Blake’s Got A New Face) – Vampire Weekend (as I’ve told you before, this song makes me think of someone who always makes me smile)

6. Low Rising – The Swell Season (this song just has that, ahhh, everything is okay effect)

7. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues (as you can tell, I really have a Christmas thing, this whole playlist should just be Christmas Songs. There’s something about this song I really love, although it’s not really very nice)

8. Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

9. Safe and Sound – Hawksley (this whole playlist could also be Hawksley)

10. San Diego Serenade – Tom Waits (my sleepy song, enough said)

11. All Is Love – Karen O and the Kids

12. Ain’t No Reason – Brett Dennen

13. Sweater Song – Hedley (once again, hard to explain)

14. The Cave – Mumford & Sons

That’s all I can think of for now. I’m going to post this playlist on my Music Listography Page, where you can find this and soon to be, other ones. Check for updates, I’ll keep adding songs as I think of them. Of course, now that I’m actually doing the playlist I can’t think of many, hopefully more come. I’m thinking that I’m going to start filling out more of the book, not that I’ve christened it. Probably expect one, every week or so.

So, I was having trouble finding a song to play because I’ve talked about most of them already, so below is Sweater Song by Hedley. When I was really little I was really in love with Hedley especially the song On My Own (I still no all the words), I even got to see them once. As a got older I decided that I actually wasn’t so crazy about them, it got to the point where I couldn’t stand it. It may be because all of a sudden my friends started to really like it as well, which made it no longer my little secret. And than one day I heard my aunt playing the Sweater Song. I didn’t even realize it was Hedley at first, but I really love it even though it’s uber cheesy, trust me I know. The week I discovered the song was during, you got it, CHRISTMAS! So it always makes me really happy. Enjoy the song, or atleast try to. I know, Miley, Hedley same playlist, YIKES. But Hawksley and Tom are there too.

I still have my autograph from Jacob Hoggard my cousin got me, although it doesn’t have the same appeal it used to, it was still my first autograph. It will be an embarrassing music thing to tell my kids, although by than Hedley will probably be non-existent.

One Tongue (which is mine)

Okay, so today is a good day. Today my wonderful cyber friends is Friday, yes Friday the most glorious day off all days. The day that let’s everyone know they can finally take a break and relax for awhile. For me it really will be relaxing. I have plans to do nothing this weekend, and although that’s usually my plan it never happens, this time it really will! To kick off my relaxing weekend I have some very good news. I have a new music love and that love is The Swell Season, especially Glen Hansard. It took me a very long time to get The Swell Season, and it may for you too but don’t give up.

I’m sure most of you have now heard of Once and hopefully Falling Slowly (sadly I think due to American Idol, I wonder how Glen and Marketa feel about that…), but if not well, do something about it. Falling Slowly may be the prettiest song in the world and although I’m not completely in love with pretty this song is a different matter. But The Swell Season really isn’t pretty (I mean it is, but in a gruff way). Two Tongues, Low Rising and Feeling the Pull are my favourite songs, of course not to mention Falling Slowly. Something about Glen Hansards really gruff voice mixed with Marketa Irglovas really pretty voice, well it’s “magic”. I can’t quite pinpont what it reminds me of, but defientley something. I’m thinking The Talking Heads meets Alexi Murdoch which in my mind is a magical music baby. I find it well, I don’t know, moving. I found their video for Low Rising and it pretty much captures what I feel.

At first you think, well this is a sad video, but in the end I realized that I don’t think it is, not that it’s happy just once again moving. I highlyrecommend checking them out, you won’t be disappointed. Watch the movie too. Please just listen to the music and watch the video, I wanted to share it with you because I love it but as you can tell I don’t know how to explain my connection with it.

P.S. and it’s Friday and I’m exhausted…

P.P.S. I forgot to mention that you should also check out The Frames especially the song Lay Me Down, it will amaze you even more if you can believe it.

Fink Is The Thing

I’m not in the mood for a lot of writing today, but I hate to miss a post, so I’m just going to show a video. And a really pretty song and voice.

This was a band I found on one of iTunes song of the weeks. Their called Fink and at first I wasn’t so sure about them or the song, but the more I listened to it the more it grew on me. You may ask why I got it in the first place but it was free and I couldn’t resist. He’s actually pretty good, he has this great folky Coldplay thing going on and once again he’s from the UK. Something about the song I’m featuring (This Is The Thing) is really pretty and kind of gives me this shivering thing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It may take a few times for you to enjoy it. You could also try another song like Pretty Little Thing or If I Had A Million. Anyways, hope you enjoy, talk to you later.

The videos nothing spectacular although I find it interesting to see what someone looks like and he looks pretty normal to me. I think he’ssitting in his home and maybe the woman is his wife? She isn’t a great actor, her movements are strange and she has alot of outfit changes. Anyways, just listen to his voice.

Warning: Top Secret

Okay, so we’ve been together awhile and because our relationship is going so well, and you’ve been treating me nicely (by actually readng my blog). I’m finally prepared to share my most secret music secret. My one music indulgence that I know I shouldn’t like but do. Are you ready, okay here it goes (I hope you know this is  a big deal that I’m actually going to share this, please don’t count it against me, everyone has their own dirty music secrets). I don’t even tell my friends this but but I feel we’re ready. Alright, it’s Miley Cyrus. Yes, teen pop sensation Miley Cyrus (and no, not Hannah Montanna, MILEY CYRUS! Don’t get them confused). Anyways, I’ve admitted this but I don’t think it’s really that bad…right? I mean I could of confessed to loving something much worse … like her father.

In my opinion Miley Cyrus seems really down-to-earth, well for a seventeen yearold superstar anyways. I’m not crazy about all her stuff I mean Party in the U.S.A. was a mega disaster and her poll dancing on the teen choice awards wasn’t great but I thought she was actually really good in The Last Song (yes I’m a Nicholas Sparks fan, but to clarify it’s my grandma who first got me hooked on him. And I liked him before everyone else, that’s important to me, I hate being a follower of trends if you haven’t already noticed). Anyways, I think she’s pretty cool, she’s certainly made it far for her age, I guess her dad is (or was) a huge country star (not a good one) which may have helped but either way I like her. I find that she actually can’t sing that well which may be why I like her so much. I don’t like really pretty voices and hers has a certain edge that I really like, it’s a little gruff and edgy. She’s not the normal disney princess like Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato. I’ve always wondered if she would still be so popular without Hannah Montanna, luckily she seems to breaking out and doing her thing apart from Hannah Montanna (the movie was also a disaster). I think a lot of people don’t like her because of the whole disney, Hannah Montanna thing.

She is also my thunderstorm music. I have this huge fear of thunderstorms and a few weeks ago I was on my own during one, so I sat in the bathtub and listened to her song The Climb on repeat really loud and it helped (this may be more embarassing than the fact that I like her). If you’re having trouble liking her try listening to her music through headphones instead of speakers, for some reason it seems to help or so I’ve found.

I don’t know, you may be wondering why liking her is so weird, but if you know me you know I don’t like anything popular so I’m really having to fight with myself to admit it because it goes against all my musical bones. But I did it and I’m proud to say I’m a Miley Cyrus fan (funny as I’m writing this Hannah Montanna came on the disney channel, which I must admit I have  a bit of a weakness for). Their is about 5 songs I actaully like by her, these are: The Climb, When I Look at You, Breakout and well I guess that’s it.

So, I’m actually going to post a video by her. Hope you enjoy, or atleast somewhat tolerate it. Actually I just hope you don’t stop reading my blog because of this. Please ignore the awful picture and just listen. Don’t think about whose singing, just listen to the music it may help.

I can’t believe I’m actually going to show this. Please continue reading after this post.

Fly Away

Today I’m making a new old discovery. For a very long time I listened to Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly all the time and then all of a sudden I just stopped. Then when I switched my music libraries I lost it completely. A little while ago I watched the movie Bandslam (which was not awful, great music references which is unusual for that kind of movie) and the main guy refers to Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (which may be one of the greatest band names, EVER) and then I remembered. So today I decided could there be a better time for Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. ? It seems really perfect for the day. His voice is like “magic” in my opinion, something about it just really awesome. Today I went and re-purchased his CD The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager and I realized he had a new CD, Searching for the Whys and Hows (another great name). I loved his first CD but I have to admit I wasn’t so crazy about his last CD. It didn’t have that same “thing” (I don’t know how to explain the “thing”, but it’s important in music and well anything I guess) except for one song, Let The Journey Begin. That one has the “thing”. I think the thing about his new CD is the fact that it’s not as listenable as his first. I could easily listen to The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager as a whole CD, but not so much his new one. It’s unusual to love every song on a CD but for The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager I really do. It may have been unfair of me to ask two great full CD’s of him. Don’t get me wron,g there seems to be some great songs but it’s not so great as a whole CD. Listen to it anyway, maybe you’ll have a different opinion.

My favourite songs of his have to be: The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager, The Lighthouse Keeper, and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly. Something about his voice and the music in general makes me think of the East Coast, being in Newfoundland or something. I’ve always wanted to live there and that may be why I love it so much. He’s actually from the UK which has the same feel as the East Coast so that must be where the vibe comes from. Everything seems right when this is on. I certainly won’t forget him another time!

Once again this proves my point that most great music comes from Great Britain (The Beatles, Mumford & Sons, Alexi Murdoch etc…). He’s pretty great to watch too, not what you’d expect him to look like at first and then you see him and of course it makes sense. I may have a small crush not that he seems “crush worthy” he just has something about him. When you go and look him up (which you better do) you’ll see what I mean. Anyways if you don’t know about him than check it out it’s pretty great and if you do than well, you rock and obviously have awesome music taste!

I was having trouble finding a Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly video (I guess not that many people know of him) but I found this. Not quite what I wanted to show you, definitely look him up to get a better version.

Bright Lights

So, I started this post that included a swearing playlist, but I was having a total brain freeze and couldn’t think of any songs (good ones) so I deleted the whole thing (okay I just deleted another post, I’m having a bad post day. Lets try one more time).

I was really stumped on what to talk about today and then it came to me. LIGHTS. Perfect, but then what about Lights and then I remembered this awesome video I found quite a while back just before I went to see her in Ottawa in November (the show was awesome, except for the fact that the fire alarm went off and we had to leave early, BUMMER). Anyways, I’m a fan of her on facebook and this video came up. I really love Lights, everything about her is pretty awesome from her look to her music. My favourites of hers are Saviour from both her CD’s. February Air and Drive My Soul from her self titled EP Lights. I was never a fan of her song Ice until I saw the ska video, then I had a new appreciation for the song. It’s a cool video, it doesn’t seem “put-on” it seems natural. I especially like the awkward person sitting beside her the whole time. A lot of her music videos are great. Click here for the link to her YouTube channel. I think her music video for Saviour is a lot like Owl Cities Fireflies (although I think Lights came first, so other way around). Actually Lights and Owl City have a lot of similarities, one of them being there both awesome. Anyway’s check out her other videos and watch the attached one. I think it’s really cool. I love her ska version, even though it’s not really ska more acoustic. Either way it’s great.