Broken Social Scene x Meet me in the basement
// July 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // History, Music
This video was made in response to the G20 meetings in Toronto.
The mechanical flower never dies.
Archive for Music
Converse x Summer Tunes
// July 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Clothing, Music
In the world of ever confusing dollars for musicians is this the wave of the future? Sponsored fresh collabs in support of popular brands? I’m cool with it if the artists are. Anything where I can get glimpses of Bethany Cosentino is right on in my opinion.
Just so that we arnt one in a million blogs posting this today, here is last year’s Converse project with Julian Casablancas, Santogold and Pharrel. This appeared as the bonus track on NERD’s last album.
This Movie Is Broken
// May 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
The future’s got soul.
// May 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
Grade Scool’s sonic discoverer Nomi Malik aka DJ Slim Pickens of The Poors aka The Half Mayor of Harbord Street aka MersheyMellow is on a neosoul kick and we’ve got a pair of videos you gotta check out. First, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. You better not be sitting at your desk or your dancing shoes might break something in a minute.
Second up, the equally amazing named Fitz and the Tantrums holding it down. If this is the dawn of the sound of summer 2010, we are all going to have a lovetastic heatwave.
I just made up Mershey Mellow by the way; but Nomi is mad chill so it works.
Bradley x Monster
// April 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
Brad Ferguson is Canadian artist Bradley. With the release of his sophomore album Mountain Tiger Bear, Bradley has set himself up nicely in our ears for one of the albums of the year. Reminding us of Belle and Sebastien and the Flaming Lips it is a beautifully Canadian genre mashup of Folk, Rock & Electronica with great repeat listening quality. Check out Bradley’s Radio 3 artist page at http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Bradley and below for you to enjoy is what we think to be one of the best tracks on a full album of goods called MONSTER.
Rest In Power Guru
// April 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
The Soft Pack
// April 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
Sure, they played Answer to Yourself on MTV just the other night. But this kind of video is why we love A Whale Vagina’s, The Soft Pack. errrr, San Diego rather. TAKE A JOKE PADRE!
Aloe Blacc x I Need a Dollar
// April 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
The show that took this song over as their own could easily be called “How to Make it In Toronto”. Here is the first music video of what is no doubt going to be some summer fire from Stonesthrow’s Aloe Blacc.
Neon Indian
// March 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
I often walk to the places I go. I gave up a car last year and now find great piece of mind as I move through the city by feet and public transit. Some days I find myself walking slower than usual. When those days come about and I really have to get somewhere I find myself turning to music to pick up my pace. I learned last night that my ephemeral artery is in my leg. It now makes a lot of sense as to why Neon Indian makes me strut swiftly through the day.
Neon Indian – Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – 2-11-10 from Sam May on Vimeo.
Styrofoam Ones x Canadian Music Week
// March 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Events, Music
Our favourite Toronto pop punk noir trio hits the stage Wednesday night to kick off Toronto’s Canadian Music Week. This will be the dawn of a big year for Josh McGuirk and Alexander The, the two founding members of the group. Rumour has it that Daniel Lee of Hooded Fang will be holding down the set on drums and guest performances by Sarah Shafey and Tanika Charles will make this a must see of the entire festival. Don’t miss out. 9pm tomorrow at The Roosevelt Room.
This is best live dance party on the market today. You hear that Woodhands! I said it. You guys are good too though.
You Say Party! We Say Die! x There is XXXX (Within My Heart)
// February 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
From Aux.tv
Broken Bells = Danger Mouse x James Mercer
// February 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
A new project from these two is well worth a share, this sound is hype.
TONIGHT x HORSESHOE TAVERN x STYROFOAM ONES
// February 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Events, Music
Be here tonight. Or you probably don’t like music or kittens. Don’t be caught getting called a kitten hater and we will see you on the dance floor.
Simon says get the fuck up.
That Perfect Valentine’s Gift
// February 11th, 2010 // No Comments » // Art, Events, Issue, Music
Toronto’s The REMIX Project has put together an awesome Valentine’s Day fundraising campaign that you should jump on for that last minute gift idea. Drake’s DJ, Future The Prince and Styrofoam Ones’ Josh McGuirk (aka J Charles) have donated exclusive mixtapes and paired up with photographer Yasmine James to offer donors an awesome package to tell someone you care. For a $20 donation to REMIX you can have a mixtape and photo card of your choice delivered by email to your sweetheart Sunday morning. Visit the site, be a digital hero/romantic & jump on this very cool project for a very cool cause.
Hooded Fang x Southern Souls
// February 10th, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
By now, everyone has seen France’s Blogotheque. Well you gotta love when easily duplicated inspirations are applied to the talent in your own backyard. Southern Souls is taking inspiration from France’s on the fly musical content farm and creating some very enjoyable film from southern ontario artists.
Putting it out there; Daniel Lee of Hooded Fang has one of the best male voices in Canada. Have a look at this video for Sleep Song and keep following Southern Souls, I double dare you. If you are having trouble watching the video make sure the HD button is turned off in the video player
HOODED FANG – Sleep Song from Mitch Fillion on Vimeo.
Pitchfork Diss Track by Woodhands
// February 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Music
Check out this hilarious diss track to Pitchfork from the lovely Woodhands
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Five & Dime presents photographs by Hermann & Audrey
// January 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Art, Clothing, Music
World’s keep colliding as the massively popular Five & Dime booking show will feature work by Hermann and Audrey next weekend. Be sure to check out the Five & Dime site to learn more about the program including a show at Sound Academy from some original WU; GZA will be in the house!
The New Royales x Bite The Bullet x Hermann & Audrey
// January 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Art, Music
Its a pretty cool thing when world’s collide and this video is a good representation of our newest friends working together. We are fortunate to be working a bunch with directors Hermann and Audrey in 2010 on projects like Life Cycles and the CONTACT photography festival and while on a recent run out to Vancouver with Toronto’s Styrofoam Ones we were able to catch Vancity’s The New Royales at GE Plaza at Robson Square and get to know one of the mastermind’s behind the group, Chin Injeti. Very talented cat with great visions. Putting him and Alexander The in a room together has explosive properties.
So a video that pairs up two of our favourite camps is obviously something we should share with you. Cheers to Chin and the New Royales crew and aesthetic love goes out to Steve, Jalani, Javier and the whole team at Hermann and Audrey that worked to put Bite The Bullet together. Dope track folks.
Tetralogy x StyleByDrew
// December 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music
‘TETRALOGY’ – StyleByDrew from style.by.drew on Vimeo.
YSP! WSD! x Laura Palmer’s Prom x Q TV
// December 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music
Sure are a lot of single letters in that title. I find lead singer of You Say Party We Say Die, Becky Ninkovic, to be absolutely sultry sweet. Like a dark chocolate almond, she could sing me the phonebook ya know?
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind x Lauren Hill
// December 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // History, Music
A talented friend posted this to her facebook today. It brought me back to appreciate what I think was one of the defining events for what crafted my particular love of music. Couldn’t help but want to share it with you today.
Oh it’s definitely the holiday season with this track…
// December 8th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // History, Music
“The Legion Sessions” by Great Lake Swimmers
// December 7th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Music
Great Lake Swimmers – Palmistry (Legion Sessions) from nettwerkmusic on Vimeo.
The Great Lake Swimmers have most recently released nine live-performance videos to accompany their digital-only Legion Sessions recording that was released in September. Visit their website and attempt to uncover all nine secret videos and your hard earned snooping will earn you a free download of an unreleased track.
Phoenix x 1901 x A Takeaway Show
// December 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Music
“When he was singing, I thought to myself, he must be a great artist”.
The Art of Fresh x Campfire Music
// November 27th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music
Video brought to our attention from big Will.
Little Dragon x Blinking Pigs Video
// November 16th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Events, Music
I am in love with her; who needs a budget when you have cutie fans. Wednesday night at Wrongbar Toronto, close your eyes to the track live and picture this video! Maylee Todd playing with Little Dragon at Wrongbar Wednesday. Yep!
To be fair, here is an actual video for Little Dragon’s Twice.
Maylee Todd x Supermarket x Tonight
// November 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music
As cute as they come, as best they can sound.
Left Coast Noise: No Age
// November 11th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Music
Another primer on a pivotal left coast noise-pop band: Los Angeles’ No Age.
One response to the simultaneous collapse of both the financial and record industries would be to retreat inward: foster a local scene, maybe even a single venue [The Smell], carve out your niche, make iconic [tshirts], keep a primitive [blog], play all ages shows, depend on dedicated fans. Focus.
In other words, work strategically.
Another avenue might seem the very opposite: do whatever you can. Vote early and vote often. Play a vegan grocery store or a library, do a [video] from the POV of a mouse, design shoes for Emerica [pic], play a Spike Jonze retrospective at the MoMA [video], remix Fucked Up’s ‘No Epiphany’ [mp3], go on a bitchin tour with Dan Deacon and Deerhunter (No Deachunter tour, naturally, with a poster [pic] by CSS’s Lovefoxxx), release a split 7″ with Times New Viking and Los Campesinos. And always give away mp3s. Like the elegiac You’re a Target [mp3], with a guitar drone that whines and bends like a more immediate Kevin Shields. Or Brain Burner [stream], as epic an album closer as there is in this young century.
Hell, if you’re gonna go for it, go for broke: perform a live score of The Bear [videothing]. Fuck, that’s awesome. In this scatter shot approach, throw everything you have at the wall of your garage and see what sticks.
In other words, just WORK.
photo courtesy of the get up kid
Couple months back here in Vancouver, No Age demonstrated just how well they combine these two approaches. Ostensibly the band was here for Emerica’s Wild in the Streets/Go Skateboarding Day after party, but that was on Saturday, and they were playing a minimally publicized show on Friday. A cheap beer and testosterone soaked Biltmore packed with skaters (and ex-faux-skaters, such as myself) greeted the somewhat taken aback LA lads. There was a certain energy in the room. It was almost as if a few thousand punks were planning to storm downtown Vancouver on planks with wheels… go to 1:30 for the insanity [youtube]. Oh, and Andrew Reynolds front side flipped this legen–wait for it–dary double set called Black Ice [youtube]. I digress: No Age countered that simmering energy with their own: fine-tuned but faulty fingering, noise but pop, tight but loose. A shotgun and a laser.
Their moniker might suggest a concern for time over space, No Age’s hazy LA scrawl merely an ephemeral loop of feedback that is as fleeting as it is forceful. But in volatile times such as these, anchors cease to exist, and spatial concerns dominate. The expansive texture of Randy’s pedal loops and a brute sound that travels across basements or fields alike, the constant creative activity taking them from art gallery to flickr photo gallery.
In transcendental space, No Age can hear you scream.
Saidah Baba Talibah presents The Phone Demos
// October 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music
The very talented and soulful Toronto artist Saidah Baba Talibah is set to release her newest collection of work entitled “The Phone Demos” tomorrow via iTunes.
The Phone Demos started after Saidah used her cell phone to record a song she and her guitarist were working on. After sharing the recordings, the singer noticed that people not only loved the music but the grainy texture of the sound which reminded them of early vinyl recordings. Bolstered by reaction, Saidah decided to share these songs for fans so they could follow her current journey of recording her debut, (S)Cream. “The Phone Demos are a way for me to share the raw beginnings, the vulnerabilities, the flaws in the sound and, simply, the rough sketches of these songs. I think it’s a cool way to build relationships with people who are getting to know me, the artist, by being invited into getting to know me in all stages of creation.”
Be sure to get your digital paws on this truly unique collection of music. And in the meantime, check out Saidah’s sultry performance of her new single (S)Cream at Honey Jam 2009 below. WARNING: Video may give viewers the grease face.
Styrofoam Ones
// October 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Music
Some of our city’s favourite sons dropped a much anticipated debut EP on Tuesday and its already getting rave reviews. What a week for these guys, first they are invited to perform a short set for MTV live that you can now watch online by going to http://www.mtv.ca/mtv-live/music.jhtml. Then NOW Magazine gives the self titled release a four NNNN review (loosely translated as some damn good music) and then TONIGHT were all having a party at the Horseshoe tavern at Queen and Spadina to officially launch the EP. Their set is relatively early (9:00) so be sure to come on time. Needless to say these guys are the move and big things are anticipated from this power synth trio.
Check the band out at www.styrofoamones.com and be sure to buy the EP today on ITUNES, your dancing feet will thank you.
