Week 07: Feb 19- Feb 26, 2013

+ Major Lazer has put off the release of their album AGAIN! They did however release a new track recently as a consolation prize; 'Watch Out For This (Bumbaye)'

+Wolfmothers' Andrew Stockdale tweeted saying that the bands 2013 album is now complete! He is just "jumping through the hoops" to get it released. Fingers crossed.

+Kanye West has a new album set to drop this year. Will be hear tidbits of baby daddy anxiety? Maybe a love ballad dedicated to Kim and their unborn?Probably not. It's still all about the bitches, and the money.

+ Canada's Japandroids perform on Conan!

+ More song releases: David Bowie - The Stars are Out Tonight, Frank Ocean - Eyes Like Sky

+ The National are hard at work. New album will be out in May. Iggy Pop & the Stooges will also be releasing a Spring album. Elton John has a new album that is said to be "brilliant" is will be released in September.

+ Prince Jackson, son of Michael Jackson (you may have heard of him) is not only a new member to Entertainment Tonight but will also be joining the 90210 cast (briefly). He is said to be Erin Silvers "interest".

+ After years of nay saying, Robert Plant has said he has become OK with a Led Zeppelin reunion tour! Was he bullied into it? Is he lacking creative juices and using it as an outlet? Who knows. Who cares. Zeppelin tour!

+ No Doubt is already working on a new album. The bands September realease, Push and Shove, was a bit of a flop. Let's hope the band takes a hint and returns to their old style. The world needs more club music like it needs more Kardashians.

+ JT news: Timberlake will be collaborating with Mumford and Sons on a Coen Brothers soundtrack. This collaboration sound weird and a little forced (they're both famous let's make them make music together). But it will no doubt be wonderful. JT and Jay-Z also announce a summer tour. Justin will be on Saturday Night Live (again) on March 9th.

+ In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jack White hints at new Raconteurs material as well as new goods with the Dead Weather! all his musical outfits are now living in Nashville, making jam time easier.

+ The Ottawa Bluesfest lineup was released and it's quite impressive. The Nations capital boasts a a continuously well rounded and growing festival. Big names like Wu-Tang Clan, Dixie Chicks, and Fun. will be hanging out at Lebreton. With a slew of returning favorites: RUSH, Weezer, B.B King, Skrillex.

+ Now watch this Avril Lavigne Taylor Swift video: here

The Road to 'Roo 2013 | Buying the tickets & finding what's good (JD McPherson)

It is official! I am going to Bonnaroo again this year! This will be my second time on the farm, the first being in 2011 (which still remains the best four days of my life). Greg and I bought our tickets today moments after them going on sale, and are now in full on preparation mode.

Deciding to go to Bonnaroo is not a light hearted choice. Especially when you are heading down from the great white north (even though in June, there is nothing cold about Ottawa, Canada). It shall be stated that Bonnaroo is not like the other (also awesome) music festivals out there. Bonnaroo kicks your ass, and somehow leaves you wanting more. Roo is the Christian Grey to your Anna Steele.

There are some things you should know about Bonnaroo.

1.) This is not some "vacation". OK, OK I guess yeah, it is a vacation but it's not going to be like a summertime concert on a beach under the stars. No no. There is heat. Scolding heat from that mean Tennessee sunshine, that will ruin your day if you do not take the proper precautions. Meaning, stay hydrated, find shade between shows, sunscreen up, and equip yourself with a hat and sunglasses. As explained on the website when thinking of Bonnaroo think "Survivorman rather than Sandals" (the resort).

2.) Bonnaroo is dirty. You are camping but no, it's not like your regular camping experience in the woods where you can go swimming and canoeing and make s'mores. No sir. If you are lucky you will get a spot under a tree (we were so happy to have that tree last time), but this is a long shot. Camping at Bonnaroo means you need to accept being sweaty, and covered in dust and dirt for four days. You will wake up with a spider crawling over your body, but you will be too exhausted to care. This is the level of acceptance you need to be on from day one. Bring baby wipes! They were my best friend (and water, my mistress). Don't try to stay perfectly clean because your efforts will be futile.

3.) It is the most fun you will ever have (probably). In the course of the four days on the farm you will feel uncomfortable, tired, dirty, and sore. To offset the bad, you will witness some of the best performances the musicians will ever perform. It is clear that every musician playing is honored to be at Roo, and wants to show you just how much. It is worth everything you are putting your body through and more. Bonnaroo is the best! Not to mention the very cool people you will meet there. Everyone is there for the music. Bonnaroo is just one massive love fest. People are too dehydrated and sun stroked to be mean.

Being that step one of Bonnaroo preparation is complete (buying the ticket) onto the next steps of prep. The first includes making a Bonnaroo playlist!

Sure, you have bought a ticket to Bonnaroo to see some of your favorite artists perform. But there are a lot (!!) of other fantastic musicians, comedians, and artists who show up on the Bonnaroo roster, who you might not know. It is worth checking them out. This is how I found out about the Head and the Heart, who are one of my favorites. You don't want to miss an opportunity to see someone great because you didn't feel like doing some research pre-Roo.

The first artist I have chosen to check out (under Greg's influence) is a musician named J.D McPherson. JD is a singer-songwriter, guitarist from Oaklahoma. The retro style, rockabilly blues boy released his first major album in 2012 titled, Signs and Signifiers. Listening to S&S makes you forget what year, what decade it is! JD rock n' rolls like it's the 1950's. No, not in the way musicians take inspiration from an era and use it in their music. He is actually playing like he was put in a time machine and is rockin' with Fats Domino and Chuck Berry. Johnny be great.

The artist claims the album is "not a time machine record" but I wholly beg to differ. It is. And it is fantastic! JD says he draws inspiration from a slew of varying genres though, including Wu-Tang Clan and Led Zeppelin making for an interesting mix.

JD McPherson seems not to want to pigeonhole himself to the "retro" identifier. S&S does portray his onslaught of stimuli and how he has made it his own. Given that the heat can handle JC McPherson, he is one act I so don't want to miss. What a great start to my Roolist (Bonnaroo playlist).

New band alert (Half Moon Run)

Half Moon Run, a Canadian trio is a musicially wise beyond their years indie rock/pop/folk outfit. Canada's Alt-J, if you will (I will). The band, with a median age of 23 years old, originally from Ottawa, ON and Comox, BC are now living and making music in Montreal. As the band describes, it seems as though making music together became a means to an end.

Their sound is indeed unique and quite mature for such a new band. The harmonies flow seemingly effortlessly and beautifully. Their sound is moody emulating a folkier, funkier Radiohead with a crooner, Devon, at the forefront.

HMR released their first album in 2012 called 'Dark Eyes'. The obvious first single off the album, Full Cirlce, is a somewhat psychedelic, beat oriented track. The song exerts the usage of an array of sounds ranging in beat and symmetry. It's very impressive, not just for a newer band, but for anyone.

Half Moon Run's most recent album, Dark Eyes is available for purchase through most Canadian music retailers.

Female role models

I know you were all wondering, and yes, I am a feminist. Not a particularly good one, I will try to eye flirt with a bartender to be served faster (and fail), I'm not above that. But, a feminist nonetheless. My second year politics professor said it best "a feminist is simply a person who believes women deserve equal rights to men. It doesn't mean women deserve more than men, it means equal. I'm a feminist!!". There is a chance he meant to say "feminine" because that he was, but you get the point. Equal rights y'all!

When I was growing up the female celebrities I looked up to were not exactly "idol" worthy. The fact that I was looking to celebrities for guidance was also all kinds of wrong, but hey, we're all teenagers once, it happens. I looked up to women like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Who, now, are badass awesome chicks. But at the time of my worshipping MK could be described as an anorexic drug fiend. That is not the kind of role model for an insecure fifteen year old girl. 

In a conversation with my dad, he asked who each of us would invite to dinner given the chance. The idea was to figure out which famous people you think you would mesh with. My dads answer was easy, as he had thought about this before, but mine took a bit more thinking. The majority of people I would want to invite are dead; Jimi Hendrix "so I hear aside from being the best guitar player of all time, you're actually a really cool dude, let's be friends", Jesus "are you real?", Hitler "what the fuck man?!" Our conversation ended with me being not completely sure. 

Our talk left me thinking about it for a little while after. I mean, if something like this were to materialize, I would need to be prepared. There were, of course, my obvious picks: Conan O'Brien, Jack White, Judd Apatow, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Johnny Depp (I apparently like J named people), Woody Allen and Donald Glover. But then I realized, despite worshipping, (oh and I mean worshipping) an onslaught of various male musicians (and females- I just gravitate towards men a little more), the rest of my dinner party consisted of females. 

The women I would love to sit down and chat with, or rather, listen to them chat while I sit creepily at the side and note their every word, giggling and guffawing when appropriate, would include: Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling, Kelly Oxford, and Tina Fey. If you'll notice they all have a few things in common. 

1. They are all writers. Mostly comedic writers. These girls are funny. They are witty, clever and well written. 

2. Smart. With funny comes intelligence. A lot of people don't make the link but it's a fact (I made it a fact). The smarter the person, the better chance they have at being funny. Note: the Situation (I don't know his real name, the annoying guy from Jersey Shore with the abs) at the roast for Donald Trump. Intelligence matches hilarity. This is clear here. 

3. They are all hardworking. Crazy hardworking. Kelly Oxford has three kids, and seems to be writing non-stop; for TV, movies (I think) and book that comes out in April! Not to mention her very funny twitter (that I promised myself I wouldn't mention because she is so much more than her twitter, but now I have, so, sorry). Tina Fey starred on SNL, wrote and directed a movie, started a TV show all while raising a daughter! Mindy Kaling completed school (where she kicked ass) went on to pursue her dreams and ended up interning with Conan, started writing for the Office, has a book and her own TV show! Lena Dunham is an all around all star: writer, producer, director. She writes movies, 'Girls', essays all while going through her 20's! These women are constantly busy creating and succeeding.

These are the type of women young girls should be looking up to. I wish I had when I was fifteen. I hate to use the term "real" women because it makes me sound like a Dove commercial, so I'll say "non-artificial" women. These ladies are non-artificial women! That sounds bad. Whatever. These awesome ladies are the type of take no crap from no one, get work done kind of people I find myself looking to now in my wiser years in my twenties. Good, smart, funny, hardworking women. And, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one.

For the first time (that I can think of) it seems as though women are finally getting the foreground they deserve. Girls CAN BE funny! Women ARE smart! At last there are actual female role models who are receiving the attention and praise that a good portion of sort of, male role models receive. 

What working in a record store has taught me

Next to surfer (though never having surfed a day in my life), music magazine editor, and late night television host, "record store employee" was an adolescent dream job of mine. Though having good and bad aspects it is clear that working at a CD/record/movie store is not how the movies portray it.

Here are some things that I have learned from working at a CD/record store.

THE CUSTOMERS
Chances are, in 2013, you may not even know where the local record store is in your town. You know where the Wal Mart is, and you sure know how to log onto your favorite downloading site. But, record store? Do those even exist anymore? Sure do. And a very distinct array of customers seem to shop there.

- Hipsters: Hipsters love record and CD stores. The store transports them back to a time when the hipster didn't even exist. It's hipster heaven. The hipsters buy records exclusively, and they buy in bulk. Chances are the hipster does not even own a record player. The point is to look like you have been a collector for years. A hipster rarely knows much about the artist or even the piece of work they are spending twenty odd dollars for. It's all in the facade. When you say to the hipster buying the latest Red Hot Chili Peppers on vinyl "great album, but it's too bad about Frusciante. The new guy is still pretty good though" and they look back at you wide eyed through perfectly shaggy bangs with downward tilted Buddy Hollys, you know you've encountered a true hipster. All in all they are harmless. And good for business.

- The older folk: They are a fickle bunch. You may encounter some truly fantastic older people. Old folks who have lived long, full lives. They relate their lives to the music they heard and how it made them feel at the time. It's a beautiful thing. If you're lucky (like me) you might have an older fellow croon to you in a mad search for an old Tony Bennett song that reminds him of his late wife. These are the people who take your day from good to unbelievable.

To my misfortune then there are the other kind of old folks. The grumpy ones. The ones who hate everything, even you. They are the know-it-all, partially racist, condescending bunch who you would like to punch right in the dentures. They might say things like "you're much too young to know a thing about the blues", or "I'm sure you don't even know who Canned Heat is" (you do), or they may go so far as to say "I'd like to speak with someone older, you won't know who this is and I would trust an older gentleman" and you will know who it is, despite being a young female, because it will be someone like Frank Zappa. And everyone knows who that is. The grumpy old ones suck. They are draining and make you wish there were more hipsters around to help. Or make fun of.

- The people who can't afford it but buy stuff anyways: CD stores have the power to attract a low income kind of crowd. CDs offer a lot of bang for your buck. $10 for something that will bring you joy for the rest of your life? Hells yeah! That's a steal. But, it probably isn't wise when you are living welfare cheque to welfare cheque to skip on rent for the $6.99 copy of Rushs' 'Fly By Night' if you "might already have it". It's cool that these people just want their tuneage but they get you to look up any CD they can think of from 1978- 1985 only to say that it's all "a bit pricey eh?" (it's really not). They will take your attention from other customers for what seems like an eternity only to turn to you to say "ahhh better not, can you hold this for me for a month? I'll be back!" and they don't come back. The best kind of low income CD purchaser is the kind who brings a friend. They have thought ahead and know they plan on buying a few CDs but have only brought enough cash for one. When you reveal the price, they nonchalantly turn to their buddy and say "hey man, can I borrow a few bucks", and this is before they even check their wallet. These people are usually the ones you see every few weeks, every time with a different friend. Crafty.

EXAGGERATION
When people enter a music store they must all of a sudden speak in hyperbole. It's an unwritten - now it's written - rule. It shows you mean business and know your shit. Or that you have a flair for the dramatic.

-"I absolutely NEED the latest One Direction or my daughter will DIE!"
-"Downton Abbey is the BEST show OF ALL TIME!"
-"When Ed Sheeran and Elton John played together at the Grammys, I DIED! It was PERFECT!" (people seem to "die" a lot).

PEERS AND OPINIONS
When you tell someone you work at a CD store they will likely think one of two things (or maybe both things): 1.) "That is awesome! You must have so much fun" or 2.) "You are a bum. Get a real job."

Both are valid. And probably correct.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE MOVIES
Working in a record store is not, I repeat, not like High Fidelity or Empire Records. Not in 2013. In those movies records and music was way of life, a way of breathing. It tied everything together. When Marie De Salle singing Framptons 'Baby I Love Your Way', is playing over the shop, you really get a sense of what Rob is feeling at that moment. In real life, it's not like that. What CD/record stores lack now is the feeling of comfort, so long are the days where a record store served as a sacred holy ground. How could it be when a store willingly will pump "we are never ever getting back together". In a CD store now, there will not be someone like Barry galavanting in with a mix tape who will shamelessly tell a father that what he is buying his daughter "sucks". People don't change the music based on your mood and current love life. It's just not like that OK.

CUSTOMERS ARE RIGHT. YOU ARE WRONG. THE END.
No matter what the customer says, they truly believe they are correct. Despite the fact that you are the employee, making you the expert. Despite the fact, that you needed to interview for this job, you didn't just waltz in one day and claim it. No, you had to earn it. Despite the fact that you are obviously passionate about music and know your shit. And despite the fact that you do this every single day, you are wrong and know nothing. When a customer says "Carly Rae Jepsens album should be in the folk section", you just smile, and remember this tidbit to laugh about with your coworkers later. When a person says "well, I already checked your rap section for Bieber and no luck" you try to explain that he is very much so a pop artist, they will then say "but he kind of raps in Boyfriend" you just make a mental image of Bieber next to Biggie*, Biz Markie and Black Star, you laugh in your head and reply with "huh mkay".

When it comes down to it, the customers generally don't care if you have a backstory to what you are selling them. Trust me. After my THIRD (yes it happened three times) attempt at getting a customer (wearing a RHCP t-shirt!) to check out Live at Slane Castle (because he was looking for DVDs) because it is probably the bands best live show to date and being brushed off with a "Uhhh... naw. I was looking for stuff from Stadium Arcadium on it mostly" I threw in the towel.

COWORKERS
The absolute best part (other than the discount- yep I said it) about working in a CD/record store are the wonderful people you get to work with. You are surrounded by somewhat likeminded creative, music lovers constantly. At my store I am constantly reminded of how uncool I am. I work with a graphic designer, a painter, a stand up comic, a slew of people in bands - really good bands, the future Angela Hewitt (actually she will likely be even bigger), a jazz singer... and the list goes on. I am working with a group of music geeks. Varying genres but all with the same obsessive nature. I am constantly in awe of how cool my coworkers are. It's great for company, bad for self esteem. The type of people who work at CD/record stores are usually pretty nice people, who just happen to make music a large part of their lives.

IT'S RAD!
The final thing I've learned is that it is a pretty sweet deal. Maybe not a life long gig for me, who knows though, but in the mean time it is nice to be employed somewhere I want to support, and am proud of. Oh and a place that pays me listen to some one my favorite music all day.

*Biggie is actually categorized under Notorious B.I.G, I just said that to make a point.
** the photo was not taken by me but by a coworker. The photo is not of the store that I work at, but another of our locations

Matt Costa (Self Titled album)

Matt Costa - {self titled}
Release date: February 12, 2013

Up until today I thought Matt Costa was Canadian. Maybe it's his small town feel, maybe it's because sometimes I make things up. Either way, he is not Canadian. He is from California. Glad I could clear that up for you.

I feel a little ridiculous thinking that Costa was Canadian now. Under the Brushfire Records umbrella Costas sound is so very Californian. Especially on his latest. When I heard that Belle and Sebastian were collaborating with Costa (I still don't know to what extent) I was expecting full on melancholy from the get go. That is not to say the album is melancholyless, though. On this more inventive album MC is seemingly trying to step outside his norm. To say this album is experimental would be an understatement. He sounds like - but constantly in his sweet, warm, Matt Costa-esque way- so many  musicians in the "indie" pop/rock/folk field.

'Loving You' starts the album off. The 50's pop sounding track is the perfect drop to a ten song score. It's a gradual slow down, starting with 'Early November' to follow 'Loving You'. The Phoenix, and Vampire Weekend parallels are clear. Costa sets himself apart with more of a vintage sound than the aforementioned bands. The song exudes happiness. I picture twinkling lights and wholesome lovers holding hands eating popsicles. That's how sweet this is. Matt Costa does James Blunt better than James Blunt on 'Eyes For you'. No, this is not a James Blunt song. But a good chunk of it sounds like a far less annoying 'You're Beautiful', mixed with Regina Spektor instrumentals. The tempo is brought back up on 'Good Times', the Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros jam band sound. Though, less hippieish. 'Shotgun' sounds like authentic Matt Costa. This track is the quintessential song of this album. It so perfectly ties all the songs, experiments into one exciting hand clapping and keys filled superjam. All the songs after 'Shotgun' sound much more rootsy. 'Ophelia' is the ultimate folk song of the album. Vocals resembling an early Dylan strung together with harmonica and lovelorn lyrics. It is the perfect near final act.

This album did not seem to receive a lot of hype, which is surprising because it is arguably Matt Costas most mature, best piece of work. This will be difficult for him to follow up.

Atoms For Peace (Amok)

Atoms For Peace - Amok

Release date: February 26, 2013

Just when you think Thom Yorke can't get any cooler (I know you were thinking it), in walks Atoms For Peace. Yorke collaborated with Flea, the man with the capability to shape shift himself to any creative effort he so pleases, to make Amok. 

Thom Yorke is cool like Call Me Maybe is catchy. It's one of those indisputable things. Despite his years of desperately trying to convey to us that he is a brooding artist, Yorke flips the switch. Granted his attitude on Amok is thanks to the ever cheerful Flea. 

Flea has a knack of spreading his groove around. This time, with Thom Yorke, it proves to be successful. It's very "sci-fi/indie rock". Amok comes off as sounding quite arty. The type of music you would hear in the basement art gallery in the meat packing district where tiny appetizers would be passed around but no one would take any, because everyone is way too damn cool. 

Atoms For Peace was not created on a whim. Like every of Yorke's projects AFP needed to be executed to perfection. Meaning, waiting about four years - yes, four years - for the world to hear anything by the collaboration was necessary. Atoms For Peace is not just made up of Thom Yorke and RHCP's Flea, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich (keyboards), Joey Waronker, and Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco are also hard hitters. Amok is clearly not just the Thom Yorke show (despite how I've described it so far). The artists carefully selected to work on Amok have thrown in as much guts as Yorke. 

The beats on Amok come off sounding Radioheady at times, but pick up where Radiohead leaves off with Flea's constant funkified bass. It all plays almost as though it is is one track, with quick breaths every five minutes or so. It's a hip, psychedelic trip. It becomes quite simple to look past the lyricism, which scream Thom Yorke by the way, with so many groovy rhythms going on. The sensation is almost hypnotizing. 

This "new" project is diverse straying from what you might expect from Yorke and Flea. The inventive quality, though, is what will make Amok a lasting piece of (art) work.