(I’d like to see Ülo record webstreams and post mp3s of them on a website. What a little shit.)

Doves / Firesuite / Lost Souls (2000)
The Cinematic Orchestra / All That You Give / Every Day (2002)
+/- / Let’s Build A Fire / Let’s Build A Fire (2006)
-
Nits / The Eiffel tower / Les Nuits (2005)
Shearwater / Hail Mary / Palo Santo (2006)
The Radio Dept. / Lost And Found / Lesser Matters (2003)
-
Feist / La Même Histoire / Paris Je T’aime OST (2006)
Yo La Tengo / Black Flowers / I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass (2006)
Menomena / Evil Bee / Friend and Foe (2007)
Beach House / Master of None / Beach House (2006)
-
Rachel’s / An Evening Of Long Goodbyes / Selenography (1999)
Pantha du Prince / Saturn Strobe / This Bliss (2007)
-
Sally Shapiro / I Know / Disco Romance (2006)
Junior Boys / Double Shadow / So This Is Goodbye (2006)
Champion / No Heaven / Chill’em all (2004)
-
Ladytron / Destroy Everything You Touch / Witching Hour (2005)
Kelley Polar / Here in the Night / Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens (2005)
The Knife / We Share Our Mother’s Health / Silent Shout (2006)
-
Radiohead / Idioteque / Kid A (2000)
The Prodigy / Climbatize / The Fat of the Land (1997)
Coldcut / Timber / Let Us Play (1997)
-
Various / Fly / The World is Gone (2006)

here for you for first time for only time… mp3 of show for you for listening

-midnight:05-
Tim Hecker / Chimeras / Harmony In Ultraviolet (2006)
Massive Attack / Future Proof / 100th Window (2003)
-
The Essex Green / Don’t Know Why (You Stay) / Cannibal Sea (2006)
Peter Bjorn & John / Amsterdam / Writer’s Block (2006)
The Stranglers / Golden Brown / La Folie (1981)
-12:30-
Britta Persson / You Are Not My Boyfriend / Top Quality Bones and a Little Terrorist (2006)
Nellie McKay / Columbia Is Bleeding / Pretty Little Head (2006)
Planningtorock / Bolton Wanderer / Have It All (2006)
Roisin Murphy / Ruby Blue / Ruby Blue (2005)
-
McLusky / She Will Only Bring You Happiness / The Difference Between You And Me Is That I’m Not On Fire (2004)
Deerhoof / Cast Off Crown / Friend Opportunity (2007)
Dappled Cities Fly / Holy Chord / Granddance (2006)
-12:57-
The Thermals / A Pillar Of Salt / The Body, The Blood, The Machine (2006)
The Hold Steady / Stevie Nix / Separation Sunday (2005)
Jarvis Cocker / Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time / Jarvis (2006)
-1:12-
Charlotte Gainsbourg / The Operation / 5 55 (2006)
Notwist / Consequence / Neon Golden (2002)
CunninLynguists / Nothing to Give / A Piece of Strange (2005)
-
Talk Talk / Wealth / Spirit Of Eden (1988)
Sigur Ros / Ny Batteri / Ágætis byrjun (1999)
-1:45-
World’s End Girlfriend / We Are the Massacre / The Lie Lay Land (2005)
The Wrens / She Sends Kisses / The Meadowlands (2003)
Radiohead / Fake Plastic Trees / The Bends (1995)
-2:03-
The Decemberists / Red Right Ankle / Her Majesty (2003)

(surprise! (WARNING!!! ACHTUNG! SURPRISE MAY OR MAY NOT BE MP3 OF LAST NIGHT’S SHOW. THE OWNERS OF THIS WEBSITE ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR COMPUTER AS A RESULT OF DOWNLOADING OR LISTENING TO WHATEVER HAPPENS TO BE AT THE END OF THE PRECEDING LINK, OR FOR THE 2×4 THAT’S ABOUT TO HIT YOU IN THE.. OWW. OH. … WOW.))

-midnight-
Anders Ilar / Clouds Are Made In Factories / Nightwidth (2006)
Amon Tobin / Big Furry Head / Foley Room (2007)
-
Squarepusher / Tommib / Lost in Translation (2003)
Man / 17H05 / Main Gauche (2002)
Xela / Linseed / The Dead Sea (2006)
Tied & Tickled Trio / Like Armstrong + Laika / Observing Systems (2003)
-0:27-
Busdriver / Sun Shower / Roadkillovercoat (2007)
American Watercolor Movement / C’est La Vie Gueule De Fuch / It Takes Fifteen To Tango In My Book, What Book Do You Read? (2006)
Mahogany / Tesselation, Formerly Plateau One / Connectivity! (2006)
-0:40-
My Morning Jacket / The Way That He Sings / At Dawn (2001)
Hot Chip / Colours / The Warning (2006)
Death Cab For Cutie / Soul Meets Body / Plans (2005)
-0:57-
Hello Saferide / The Quiz / Would You Let Me Play This EP 10 Times a Day? (2006)
Lou Rhodes / Each Moment New / Beloved One (2006)
The Mountain Goats / Woke Up New / Get Lonely (2006)
-
Josh Ritter / Thin Blue Flame / The Animal Years (2006)
Neutral Milk Hotel / Oh Comely / In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
-1:29-
Rock Plaza Central / Our Pasts, Like Lighthouses / Are We Not Horses (2006)
Jolie Holland / Springtime Can Kill You / Springtime Can Kill You (2006)
Patricia Barber / The Moon / Mythologies (2006)
-
Stars / My Radio (AM Mix) / Nightsongs (2000)
Love Unlimited Orchestra / Love’s Theme / Rhapsody in White (1974)
Europe / The Final Countdown / The Final Countdown (1986)
-1:59-
Ohbijou / Misty Eyes / Swift Feet For Troubling Times (2006)

This disc sort of has a theme, but definitely has a flow. It starts off gentle, ramps up in intensity, gets rather forceful, eases off with a bit of dance-club frivolity, and then enters into a sweepic streak of cinematic epicosity where you get self-actualized and have suns exploding in your heart.
I also found that a lot of the songtitles seem to go together… having to do with time and loss and new beginnings. but that is almost purely coincidental.

MP3 - 56 kbps

1. Shearwater - Nobody
2. Califone - The Orchids
3. Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Strange Form of Life
4. Augie March - One Crowded Hour
5. Baby Eagle - Some Things We Lose
6. The Decemberists - Culling of the Fold
7. Band of Horses - The Funeral
8. TV on the Radio - Hours
9. Killer Mike - That’s Life
10. Saul Williams - Act III Scene 2 (Shakesphere)
11. Herbert - Something Isn’t Right
12. Busdriver - Sun Shower
13. Junior Boys - In the Morning
14. Alex Smoke - 6am
15. Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Hawa Dolo
16. Underworld and Gabriel Yared - Happy Toast
17. Sofian Rouge - El Wahrania
18. CunninLynguists - Nothing to Give
19. Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings

(it has been scientifically proven that 1 in 4.3 people prefers __ to __.)

-midnight-
Paul Nazca / Surface / Alchimie (2001)
Alex Smoke / Lost In Sound / Incommunicado (2005)
-12:11-
Röyksopp / Remind Me (Someone Else’s Club Mix) / Remind Me (Single) (2002)
Vitalic / My Friend Dario / Ok Cowboy (2005)
Spank Rock / Backyard Betty / YoYoYoYoYo (2006)
Para One / Turtle Trouble / Epiphanie (2006)
-12:28-
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke / Intro / The Upper Cuts (2005)
Chromeo / Needy Girl / She’s In Control (2004)
Moloko / Familiar Feelings / Statues (2003)
-12:49-
Ratatat / Wildcat / Classics (2006)
Of Montreal / Cato as a Pun / Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)
Super Furry Animals / Slow Life / Phantom Power (2003)
-1:05-
Architecture In Helsinki / Wishbone / In Case We Die (2005)
Ulrich Schnauss / On My Own / A Strangely Isolated Place (2003)
Massive Attack / Hymn Of The Big Wheel / Blue Lines (1991)
-1:21-
Bright Eyes / Bowl Of Oranges / Lifted (2002)
Spoon / Everything Hits At Once / Girls Can Tell (2001)
Final Fantasy / This Lamb Sells Condos / He Poos Clouds (2006)
Thievery Corporation / Lebanese Blonde / The Mirror Conspiracy (2000)
-1:39-
The Books / Tokyo / The Lemon of Pink (2003)
Aphex Twin / Girl/Boy Song / Richard D. James Album (1996)
CunninLynguists / Since When / A Piece of Strange (2005)
-1:55-
Outkast / 13th Floor/Growing Old / ATLiens (1996)
-2:00-

(Oh sorry ma’am, did you want an mp3 with your sandwich?)

Luomo / Really Don’t Mind / Paper Tigers (2006)
Herbert / Addiction / Bodily Functions (2001)
-12:15-
Bjork / New World / Selmasongs (2000)
Brian Eno / An Ending (Ascent) / Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (1983)
Cibelle / Lembra / The Shine Of Dried Electric Leaves (2006)
-12:32
fUNCTION / The Red Hook Overview / The Secret Miracle Fountain (2006)
Carla Bozulich / Pissing / Evangelista (2006)
Do Make Say Think / Horns of a Rabbit / Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn (2003)
-12:52-
Slint / Good Morning, Captain / Spiderland (1991)
The Drones / Jezebel / Gala Mill (2006)
Broken Social Scene / Late Nineties Bedroom Rock for the Missionaries / You Forgot it in People (2002)
-1:11-
Dismemberment Plan / A Life of Possibilities / Emergency & I (1999)
The Black Angels / The Prodigal Sun / Passover (2006)
The Constantines / Hotline Operator / Tournament of Hearts (2005)
-1:27-
The Hold Steady / Stuck Between Stations / Boys and Girls In America (2006)
Persephone’s Bees / Muzika Dlya Fil’ma / Notes From The Underworld (2006)
Art Brut / Nag Nag Nag Nag / Nag Nag Nag Nag CDM (2006)
-1:43-
My My / Got It / Songs for the Gentle (2006)
Jahcoozi / Fish / Pure Breed Mongrel (2005)
Cujo / Cat People / Adventures in Foam (1997)
-2:00-
Tunng / Woodcat / Comments Of The Inner Chorus (2006)

(If you look, you might not see. If you fill two, you’ll mp3. I’m obtuse.)

-midnight-
Murcof / Recuerdos / Remembranza (2005)
Clint Mansell / Tree of Life / The Fountain (2006)
-12:15-
Howie B / Angels Go Bald:Too / Turn The Dark Off (1997)
The Clash / London Calling / London Calling (1979)
John Vanderslice / Up Above the Sea / Cellar Door (2004)
-12:28-
Man / Belem / Main Gauche (2002)
Gotan Project / Diferente / Lunático (2006)
Malajube / Étienne d’Août / Trompe-L’Oeil (2006)
-12:47-
Hidden Cameras / Awoo / Awoo (2006)
Jens Lekman / Black Cab / Oh You’re So Silent Jens (2005)
Peter Bjorn & John / Paris 2004 / Writer’s Block (2006)
-12:59-
Animal Collective / The Softest Voice / Sung Tongs (2004)
Múm / Green Grass of Tunnel / Finally We Are No One (2002)
Joanna Newsom / Cosmia / Ys (2006)
-1:20-
The Arcade Fire / Cold Wind / Cold Wind (2005)
The National / 90-Mile Water Wall / Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers (2003)
Los Lobos / The Town / The Town And The City (2006)
-1:33-
Bob Dylan / Ain’t Talkin’ / Modern Times (2006)
Solomon Burke / None Of Us Are Free / Don’t Give Up On Me (2002)
-1:48-
They Shoot Horses Don’t They / Lowlife / Boo Hoo Hoo Boo (2006)
Tom Waits / Rain Dogs / Rain Dogs (1985)
Grinderman / No Pussy Blues / Grinderman (2006)
be Your Own PET / Adventure / Be Your Own PET (2006)
-2:03-
Sun Kil Moon / Floating / Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)

the ocean between us opens
the silence is indifferent

A claustrophobic muddle of bodies shoving against each other, moving across toward opposite ends. The bright white sun cursing down over their sweat and frustration. And then. There it is. Focus on. Red bandana against blurred backdrop, threading through downturned noses and cell-phone chatter. It’s him. And then. Against the tide. Body turned sideways. Slip through an opening. Next one’s too small. Wall of bodies. Quick glimpses of red. The teeming plaza. And then. Body turn inside out, shed its mass to flow above the mob. Not likely. Stuck in the wet heat. Dirty hand clawing from behind tattered cloth. Try to climb. Temporary neighbour’s knee’s not so much a foothold. Lurching. Sprawling forward. Skinned knee. Stand up. Go on. Glimpses of red. And then. It’s crushing in. Louder. Shoulder viciously in the face. Stinging, reeling. But lip curled. Teeth clenched tight. Determination. Force it now. Just force it. Through the mass of bodies tighter and tighter. Push. And then. Eyes closed. Glimpse of red. Hands out. Stance bent pressure forward. Tear the next opening. Fuck me? Fuck you. Shove back. Move it. Against the tide. Like a serrated heavy iron barricade pressing closer. Press back. Against a steady hurricane flinging insults and armpit stench. Follow the red. Keep on. Living muscle, bone and cloth, nails and butted elbows. And then. A hint of lighter air. Eyes open. At the edge. The throng behind and in front the fresh and boundless air stretching and flowing. And then breathe.

And suppose I never met you, suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you, suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs just to break my own fall

Somehow you came to be in this rather peculiar place. If you look back across space and time, you seem to remember following someone here, but them being ahead and you being behind perhaps you didn’t recognize that person as yourself, if they well and truly were. And so here you are. There are these weird undulating waves of green and darker green spinning around you. And you’re standing on this small square of brick or something that seems to be bobbing as if it were floating on water, but it isn’t, and it isn’t bobbing quite properly either. It’s bobbing in high speed, almost like it was bopping. And whenever you think it should be coming up, it’s going down; whenever you think it should be going down again, it stands still for just a second. It’s hard not to feel perpetually as if you’re just about to fall into the uh green wavy stuff above and below you. So you raise your arms up for stability and as the block bop n bobs more, you can’t help but realize it must look like you’re doing the dorkiest dance ever. And the green wavys all around you will see you and think you’re weird and not want to eat lunch at your table.
You realize there’s another block a bit of a ways away. Such a bit that at certain times you could probably step on it from your current perch, but enough of a bit that you would have to be really careful. This one, the new block, is blue. In a mysterious green vortex it’s not like there’s much else to do, so you go for the step. Go! And then there’s solid brick kinda stuff under your stepping foot. Except now the two blocks are moving away from each other. And now your legs are split too far apart to properly finish your step. You might be able to grab that orange block you didn’t notice before for some kind of support. But it’s the strangest kind, because now your mooring point block brick things are circling in such strange ways that your body is twisting itself into impossible knots. Thank god it seems your limbs are now freakishly flexible. So you have no idea where you are, you’re twisted around yourself and still can’t help but worry that at any second you’ll go plunging into wherever it is that people go when they fall off of floating blocks in green vortexes. A bit of a concern, but things really probably could be worse.

(It’s a .aiff! No.. It’s a .ra! No.. it’s… it’s… it’s.. thing)

-midnight-
Bent / Exercise 1 / Programmed To Love (2001)
Ellen Allien & Apparat / Do Not Break / Orchestra Of Bubbles (2006)
Simian Mobile Disco / Hustler / Hustler 12” (2006)
-12:19-
Balkan Beat Box / Sunday Ark / Balkan Beat Box (2005)
Daniela Mercury / Maimbê Dandá / Carnaval Eletrônico (2004)
Lily Allen / LDN / Alright Still (2006)
-12:34-
A Hawk and a Hacksaw / Song for Joseph / The Way the Wind Blows (2006)
Beirut / Scenic World / Gulag Orkestar (2006)
The Decemberists / Culling of the Fold / The Crane Wife (2006)
-12:47-
Augie March / Heartbeat And Sails / Sunset Studies (2000)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! / In This Home On Ice / Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (2005)
Belle And Sebastian / Another Sunny Day / The Life Pursuit (2006)
-1:00-
Sparklehorse / Shade and Honey / Dreamt For Light Years In the Belly of a Mountain (2006)
Spoon / The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine / Gimme Fiction (2005)
Yo La Tengo / Mr. Tough / I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass (2006)
-1:13-
Groove Armada / Pre 63 / Vertigo (1999)
Superpitcher / Träume / Here Comes Love (2004)
CunninLynguists / The Gates (feat. Tonedeff) / A Piece of Strange (2005)
-1:29
Castanets / Three Days, Four Nights / Cathedral (2004)
The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band with Choir / American Motor Over Smoldered Field / “This Is Our Punk-Rock,” Thee Rusted Satellites Gather+Sing (2003)
-1:46-
Sonic Youth / Do You Believe In Rapture / Rather Ripped (2006)
PJ Harvey / One Line / Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
Regina Spektor / Fidelity / Begin to Hope (2006)
-1:59-
My Morning Jacket / Knot Comes Loose / Z (2005)

(Mysterious hyperlink leads to recording of community radio show, local DJ says)

-midnightish-
Kammerflimmer Kollektief / Mantra / Cicadidae (2003)
-12:10-
Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté / Hawa Dolo / In The Heart Of The Moon (2005)
Akron/Family / Before And Again / Akron/Family (2005)
Wilco / How to Fight Loneliness / Summerteeth (1999)
-12:24-
Mark Lenover / We Crush Little Bones in the Dust / The Arsonists (2006)
Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim / Aiwa / Ceasefire (2005)
Underworld / 8 Ball / The Beach Soundtrack (2000)
-12:43-
Talk Talk / Time It’s Time / The Colour Of Spring (1986)
Guillemots / Come Away With Me / Through The Windowpane (2006)
Peter Bjorn & John / Young Folks / Writer’s Block (2006)
-1:00-
The Shins / Australia / Wincing the Night Away (2007)
Ray LaMontagne / Within You / Til The Sun Turns Black (2006)
Midlake / Roscoe / The Trials of Van Occupanther (2006)
-1:16-
Tiger Lou / Like My Very Own Blood / The Loyal (2005)
The Futureheads / Fallout / News And Tributes (2006)
The Thermals / I Might Need You To Kill / The Body, the Blood, the Machine (2006)
The National / Mr November / Alligator (2005)
-1:32-
Viva Voce / When Planets Collide / Get Yr Blood Sucked Out (2006)
Swan Lake / Bluebird / Beast Moans (2006)
Islands / Rough Gem / Return to the Sea (2006)
Baby Eagle / Some Things We Lose / Baby Eagle (2006)
-1:46-
Bert Jansch / The Black Swan / The Black Swan (2006)
Giant Sand / Inner Flame / The Inner Flame: Rainer Ptacek Tribute (1997)
Benoît Pioulard / Triggering Back / Précis. (2006)
-2:04-
Nick Drake / Place To Be / Pink Moon (1972)

And get this! the mp3 is (at least for now) APS; so you can hear my beautiful voice at high quality.

-midnight-
Alias & Tarsier / Cub / Brookland/Oaklyn (2006)
Alpha / I just Wanna Make You / Stargazing (2003)
-0:10-
Shearwater / La Dame Et La Licorne / Palo Santo (2006)
Guillemots / If The World Ends / Through The Windowpane (2006)
A Silver Mount Zion / 13 Angels Standing Guard ‘Round the Side of Your Bed / He Has Left Us Alone, But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms (2000)
-0:28-
Wilco / At Least That’s What You Said / Kicking Television : Live in Chicago (2005)
My Morning Jacket / Anytime / Okonokos (2006)
Radiohead / Like Spinning Plates / I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings (2001)
-0:43-
Matmos / Roses And Teeth For Ludwig Wittgenstein / The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth of the Beast (2006)
The Avalanches / Since I Left You / Since I Left You (2001)
AFX / PWSteal.Ldpinch.D / Chosen Lords (2006)
-0:56-
LFO / LFO / Frequencies (1991)
Alex Smoke / Chica Wappa (Mejor Edit) / Incommunicado (2005)
Dub Pistols / Revolution / Six Million Ways To Live (2001)
Basement Jaxx / Hey You / Crazy Itch Radio (2006)
Pendulum / Slam / Hold Your Colour (2005)
Massive Attack / I Against I / Collected (2006)
-1:29-
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis / Martha’s Dream / The Proposition OST (2005)
Gustavo Santaolalla / De Ushuaia A La Quiaca / The Motorcycle Diaries OST (2004)
James Newton Howard / Gravel Road / The Village OST (2004)
-1:41-
Stuart A. Staples / That Leaving Feeling / Leaving Songs (2006)
Lambchop / Give Me Your Love (Love Song) / What Another Man Spills (1998)
El Perro Del Mar / God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get) / El Perro Del Mar (2006)
-1:55-
The Mountain Goats / Moon Over Goldsboro / Get Lonely (2006)

The eager wind races over the face
Of the deep blue, white tipped sea,
Rolling the water below it up into
Waves. Its airy shriek becomes a hymn
To the quickly gathering storm, whose eye
Forms above the Pacific’s deepest well.

A small craft briefly atop an ocean swell
Sees more than it’s prepared to face.
A lone sailor’s straining eyes
Look out across the reckless sea
To see wind and water whipping round him;
And his vessel whipping round, too

He grips the gunnels but makes no move to
Seek the cabin’s shelter. Maybe it’s just as well:
It’s clear that this will be the end of him.
The water spits, the wind pummels his face,
And as it strives to shake him loose, it can see
The maniac gleam rising in his eye

Is this a man much braver than I?
Who chose to remain in safety, refused to
Break out and follow my friend to the sea.
If this is to be his end, then I surely chose well:
My life will not be torn apart by elemental fates.
Yet my monotony sees no end. Hmm.

Somehow it seems that I’m less real than him
Though this storm might be only in my mind’s eye.
I paint a crazy grin on his wind-bit face
And he watches the chaos with glee. He screams into
The wind; then, knowing that he might as well,
Laughs as I throw him to the sea.

A world away from my home in Tennessee,
A friend’s last breaths are torn away from him.
The endless ocean is now where he’ll dwell,
But knowing what I know of the man, I
Cannot help but imagine that he will go to
meet death with a smile etched on his face.

But if he faces death on the stormy sea,
Better there be two, and not just him.
I wish that I’d gone along. Oh well.

WRITING

Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings (play) - An office worker is challenged by an old friend to break the mediocrity of his day-to-day drone. He doesn’t. Then he thinks maybe he should have. Adventure and self-actualization ensue. Adaptation meets Heart of Darkness. (potential to combine elements of ForceSuntoRise into it, since they are very similar thematically)

Force the Sun to Rise, again (short story) - expand and improve original in order to actually convey intended message. Am a bit into this.. started last year.

Pale Gaze (novel) - A wealthy civil servant meets a strange young woman living in a house that is slated for destruction to make way for a townhouse development. He becomes intrigued, perhaps obsessed by her, and tried to determine how she came to be where and who she is. Her upbringing was largely devoid of outside human contact, so her perceptions of the world are almost alien and call into question the role of society in making us who and how we are. This could be the big one. I really think this has loads of potential. I’m just being extremely careful with it (to the point of not working on it) so I don’t fuck it up.

Faraway Trains (short story) - Maria, a 16 year old girl, travels against her mother’s will to spend christmas with her estranged father. Her mother has done her utmost to keep her from seeing him. Maria has met him twice: once over a decade ago when he was introduced as her uncle, and more recently and awkwardly when they met briefly in his hometown. She is determined that whatever either of her parents say, she will get back the father she lacked growing up.

A Song Sung and A Book Writ Through Gritted Teeth and Clenched Fist (novel/short story?) - A young fellow travels abroad, to a room in rural Britain, with high hopes for writing his great novel. He awkwardly tries to fit in, and his starry-eyed idealistic view of the place is gradually stripped away. Crime thriller? Not sure yet.

Why Dream in Technicolor (play) - A despondent young man (on one stage) imagines (on stage two) how things might be if only he could get his head out of his ass and be more like people tell him to be. Had this idea in first year and have written a few pages. Has potential, I think.

Northenden (comic) - comic series based on my GURPS campaign. This would be totally cool, and the best medium to tell this story I think. I would just need to find an artist. It can’t be me.. I just don’t have that talent.

Busf#cker!!! (comic) - based on monologue; on hold due to mostly lost interest.

VISUAL ART
‘laptop to the head’ (photography) - Someone lying in a field, wrapped up by all sorts of cords and wires, a gash in their head and a laptop nearby

OTHER
Post Apocalypse (installation) - There is no one left on earth to tell their story. Instead we learn of their lives through their detritus, fragments of things left over: answering machine messages, TVs left running, letters (get it?.. post!), etc. Neat device to tell a story, just don’t know what the story should be. Also need to consider that if this is the world of the present or future, computers will affect what will be left running/open. Could have a computer terminal with certain things open, but that sort of goes against the tangibility i would really want to be a part of this.

RPG CAMPAIGN IDEAS (also potential for fictive endeavors)

Northenden - It will never die! And will likely occupy much of my creative thought process for years to come. I’ve seriously grown quite close to this bastard. In fact, I think I love Lord Osark! (who I’ve decided looks exactly like Jeff Tweedy)

No One’s Land - the last survivor(s) of an apocalypse wake up in an abandonned landscape; try to survive and determine whether he/she/they are alone

The Dustbowl - In the depression era US, an orphaned young woman whose big city life has fallen apart inherits an inn from her uncle and moves to the middle of nowhere to try starting fresh; things get interesting. Started this (barely) as a solo GURPS game with Val. I still am quite attached to it, just never felt I had the time to focus on it because Northenden was taking all my brainpower in the summer (seriously).

VAGUE IDEAS
-A story told in fragments, different characters in different settings and genres, but they all relate to each other and form a cohesive whole. Again, interesting device.. need a story.
-Short film script about… something. Russ said I should write something that he could shoot. So I should. I mean this guy has mad skillz. Opportunity!
-Should paint something again…
-More songofthedays. those are good for stretching the writing muscles.

(This is a special edition mp3 (”emm-pea-threa”) that features, or rather doesn’t feature depending on how you look at it, a missing section that occurs at 74′51.83 (59%). I would also like to apologize for my speaking being way too loud compared with the music on the recording, and blame the mixer at the station which seems to not quite be displaying everything right)
(I fixed the link now so it’s actually linking to the right show.. whoo! -nov 4)

-12:18-
Venetian Snares vs Bong Ra / Felbomlasztott Mentökocsi (Bong-Ra Remix) / 4 Adaptations of Rossz Csillag Alatt Született (2006)
Various / Thunnk / The World is Gone (2006)
-12:25-
Echo & The Bunnymen / The Killing Moon / Ocean Rain (1984)
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds / Red Right Hand (Scream 3 Version) / B-Sides And Rarities (2005)
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster / Puppy Dog Snails / Royal Society (2004)
The Matadors / Let’s Ride / Hellblazin’ (2002)
-12:46-
Outkast / Dracula’s Wedding (feat. Kelis) / Speakerboxxx / The Love Below (2003)
Gnarls Barkley / The Boogie Monster / St. Elsewhere (2006)
Siouxsie & The Banshees / Cities In Dust / Tinderbox (1986)
David Bowie / Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps) / Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps) (1980)
-1:00-
Residents / Arctic Hysteria / Eskimo (1979 )
Nouvelle Vague / Bela Lugosi’s Dead / Bande A Part (2006)
UNKLE / Celestial Annihilation / Psyence Fiction (1998)
-1:15
The Knife / Silent Shout / Silent Shout (2006)
Pendulum / Fasten Your Seltbelt (feat. The Freestylers) / Hold Your Colour (2005)
Goldenboy with Miss Kittin / Rippin Kittin / Or (2004)
-1:31
Burial / Gutted / Burial (2006)
Amon Tobin / Searchers / Out From Out Where (2002)
Boxcutter / Brood / Oneiric (2006)
-midnight-
Massive Attack / Inertia Creeps / Mezzanine (1998)
Cadence Weapon / Grim Fandango / Breaking Kayfabe (2005)
King Geedorah / Monster Zero / Take Me To Your Leader (2003)
-1:46-
Medeski Martin & Wood / Dracula / Shack-man (1996)
Tom Waits / Army Ants / Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards [disc three {Bastards}] (2006)
Sufjan Stevens / They Are Night Zombies!! They are Neighbours! They have Come Back from the Dead! / Illinois (2005)
-2:00ish-
Current 93 / Black Ships in the Sky / Black Ships Ate The Sky (2006)

(Want it? Can’t have it! Want it? Can’t ha.. oh fine [eesta mp3, meesta])

-midnight-
Max Richter / Song / Songs From Before (2006)
Sigur Rós / Untitled 3 (Samskyeti) / ( ) (2002)
-
Talk Talk / Inheritance / Spirit of Eden (1988)
The Mountain Goats / Song For Lonely Giants / Get Lonely (2006)
Calexico / Pepito / A Feast of Wire (2002)
Shearwater / Johnny Viola / Palo Santo (2006)
-
Lhasa / La Marée Haute / The Living Road (2003)
Alias & Tarsier / Dr. C / Brookland/Oaklyn (2006)
Beach House / Tokyo Witch / Beach House (2006)
-12:42-
Lamb / Merge / Lamb (1997)
Konono Nr. 1 / Lufuala Ndonga / Congotronics (2005)
OOIOO / Umo / Taiga (2006)
-
Ali Farka Touré / Beto / Savane (2006)
Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim / Gua / Ceasefire (2005)
Tom Zé / Ave Dor Maria / Estudando O Pagode (2005)
-1:19-
Future Sound Of London / Calcium / Accelerator (1991)
Squarepusher / Hello Meow / Hello Everything (2006)
Out Hud / How Long / Let Us Never Speak of It Again (2005)
-
Philip Glass / Etude No.2 [Luciano Supervielle] / Glasscuts (2005)
Matias Aguayo / New Life / Are You Really Lost (2005)
Charles Manier / Bang Bang Lover / Idol Tryouts Two: Ghostly International Vol. Two (2006)
-
R.E.M. / 7 Chinese Brothers / Reckoning (1984)
Serena Maneesh / Don’t Come Down Here / Serena Maneesh (2005)
PJ Harvey / Shame / Uh Huh Her (2004)
Tom Waits / Hang Down Your Head / Rain Dogs (1985)
-
Songs: Ohia / Soul / Nor Cease Thou Never Now… 7″ (1995)

Is four phone calls during one show a record? I dunno.
Two were actually from people listening to and enjoying the show.
Though none were from people that I didn’t already know.

Final:
A haphazard thigh high hedge stumbles along the sidewalk edge, changing from bright red to yellow speckled green and spotted with unintended gaps. In colour and shape it could be a last-minute Christmas decoration set by your unemployed uncle, clutching his stomach and reeling from too much eggnog and gin. As a purely physical boundary it is entirely ineffectual, but its ugliness at least keeps a passerby’s eyes from straying away from their path and into the front yard. The hedge breaks at a fenceless chain link gate, rusted the same brown as the exposed branches of the mostly hawthorn boundary.

The hedge is not the property’s only ambassador to the outside world. The patchy lawn is dominated by a pair of straight-standing firs, placed evenly on either side of the concrete path that leads from gate. These evergreens shoot straight up into the bright blue storm flecked sky, with little concern for the more subdued height of their nearby, now leafless, peers. Their only competitors in the struggle to be the most grandiose of neighbourhood trees are each other. So they stand together above the power lines, their majesty easily mistaken for domineering smugness.

All of that—the hedge, the firs, and a cluster of ragged cedar bushes at the end of the lawn—is just a diversion from what lies behind. The off-white stucco house is trimmed in faded black. The small, square front window can conceivably be viewed from the street, but only at specific angles. Such an angle reveals laced curtains closed behind weathered glass with ribbed shutters that we can only assume would be shut were they not screwed into the wall. Like the tacit classmate who barely speaks when rarely spoken to, it’s hard to know whether this withdrawal is set off by assured self-importance verging on the solipsistic… or simple shyness.

Draft:
A discarded side road curls around low rent housing and an overgrown vacant lot. An uneven thigh high hedge follows its sidewalk, breaking at a fenceless chain link gate, rusted the same brown as the branches of the sparse hawthorn boundary. The path beyond the gate leads briefly through a lawn much greener than its neighbours’, but dominated by two straight-standing firs placed evenly on either side. They shoot straight up into the bright blue storm flecked sky, with little concern for the more subdued height of their nearby peers, whose leaves have mostly already left to paper surrounding lawns and rooftops. Not content to limit their stake to the neighbourhood’s sky, the spiny branches of these two trees hang low to attend the grass like massive yet gentle combs.

The off-white stucco house is simply trimmed in faded black but reveals little of itself to the street, instead burying its face in those two thriving spires of fir and a cluster of cedar bushes directly at its front. Its two small, square front windows can conceivably be viewed, around the untamed wilderness before them, from the street—but only at specific angles. Such an angle reveals laced curtains closed behind weathered glass and ribbed shutters that would likely be shut were they not screwed into the exterior wall.

The gate, one of whose poles stands slightly askew, is occasionally seen to be opened. Mainly at half past four on Thursdays and Sundays, when a hunched octogenarian in a straight turquoise coat with impractically large buttons creeps slowly along the walkway with the help of a brown plastic cane. Though this pattern rarely continues into the winter months. Sometimes after sundown a window, more likely the right, is lit from within. Not tonight.

Hush a wild violet, hush a band of gold
Hush you’re in a story I heard somebody told
Tear the promise from my heart, tear my heart today
You have found another, oh baby I must go away
So hang down your head for sorrow, hang down your head for me
Hang down your head tomorrow, hang down your head, Marie

A pane is fixed to a faded wooden wall. It’s flecked with dry road dust and spattered by the rain. An uneasy crack begins to snake faintly up from the chip-paint frame. Dirt and water harden to a veil of smudged white mud, distorting the darkened interior. A stray pebble and shards of glass chime delicately as the stale and fresh airs throw themselves at one another; a jagged exclamation the only thing left clinging to the chip-paint frame. Dust and rain remain and come anew. A bright eyed young boy’s leg snags on the last slice of glass and the red mark glistens against the veil of white mud in the heat of the noonday sun. The chip-paint frame darkens and weathers with age, recoiling from its lone toothy tennant. Dust and Rain. In the end it takes just the lightest of breezes to catch the corner of the window’s last triangle of glass and push it over the edge. It falls inside, behind the light. But it cannot find the ground.

(Receive digitally encoded sound vibrations roughly in accordance with live broadcast experience)

-midnight-
Twine / Plectrum / Twine (2003)
Loscil / Motoc / Plume (2006)
Moby / The Sky Is Broken / Play (1999)
-
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / West Country Girl / Boatman’s Call (1997)
Los Lobos / Little Things / The Town And The City (2006)
Procol Harum / A Whiter Shade of Pale / Procol Harum (1967)
-
Chords / Sh-Boom (1954)
Dion & The Belmonts / I Wonder Why (1958)
M.I.A. / Bingo / Arular (2005)
Lily Allen / Smile / Alright Still (2006)
-12:52-
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton / Doctor Blind / Knives Don’t Have Your Back (2006)
Hem / Great Houses Of New York / Funnel Cloud (2006)
Nina Nastasia / On Teasing / Run to Ruin (2003)
-
Dusty Springfield / Spooky / “How Can I Be Sure” B-Side (1970)
Califone / Spider’s House / Roots & Crowns (2006)
Yo La Tengo / Autumn Sweater / I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (1997)
-1:18-
Subtle / Midas Gutz / For Hero: For Fool (2006)
13 + God / perfect speed / 13 + God (2005)
Saul Williams / Black Stacey / Saul Williams (2004)
Lupe Fiasco feat Matthew Santos / American Terrorist / Food & Liquor (2006)
-
The Deadly Snakes / I Can’t Sleep At Night / Ode To Joy (2003)
The Constantines / Tank Commander (Hung Up in a Warehouse Town) / Shine a Light (2003)
PJ Harvey / Sheela Na Gig / Dry (1992)
-1:47-
My Brightest Diamond / We Were Sparkling / Bring Me The Workhorse (2006)
Various / Deadman / The World is Gone (2006)
Isobel Campbell / Willow’s Song / Milkwhite Sheets (2006)
-
Sufjan Stevens / For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti / Greetings from Michigan The Great Lakes State (2003)

She said that she would take care of me,
But I can’t see how she’ll make this worthwhile
It’s dark and so cold that I can’t feel my hands.
A car drives by overhead, no stopping.

I don’t see how this will be worth it.
Why does she think my loyalty can be bought?
Another car continues straight over the bridge.
Was it just her eyes got me into this?

My loyalty can be bought, but she couldn’t know.
This is a fool’s game, no one is coming.
It was just her eyes got me into this.
My feet are gonna get me back out.

I was a fool for playing, and now I’ll be leaving.
O’Leary can do her own goddamn dirty work.
But as I lift my feet to back slowly out
A glock barks twice in the winter night.

It’s O’Leary, doing her own goddamn dirty work.
I catch sight of her as I turn round.
Then a glock barking twice more in the cold winter night,
And me falling into the cold winter ground.

I see everything has turned around for me now
It’s dark and so cold that I can’t feel my hands
And I lie on the red ground, remembering how
She said she would take care of me.

(This is where you listen when you want to listen to this show when it is not when it is on)

David Holmes / Out Run / Bow Down To The Exit Sign (2000)
St. Germain / Land Of… / Tourist (2001)
-
Architecture in Helsinki / One Heavy February / Fingers Crossed (2004)
Caribou / Barnowl / The Milk Of Human Kindness (2005)
DJ Koze / Estrella / Kosi Comes Around (2005)
-12:34-
Fujiya & Miyagi / Collarbone / Transparent things (2006)
Mew / Comforting Sounds / Frengers (2003)
Lupe Fiasco / The Instrumental (ft Jonah Matranga) / Food & Liquor (2006)
-
Alpha & Omega / But Roots / City Of Dub (2006)
Underworld / Confusion the Waitress / Second Toughest in the Infants (1996)
Moloko / Sing It Back / I Am Not A Doctor (2001)
-1:07-
Grizzly Bear / Plans / Yellow House (2006)
Os Mutantes / Baby / Os Mutantes (1968)
Stars / your ex-lover is dead / Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
-
Bell Orchestre / Throw it on A Fire / Recording A Tape the Colour of the Light (2005)
Patrick Wolf / Teignmouth / Wind In The Wires (2005)
U2 / Ultra Violet (Light My Way) / Achtung Baby (1991)
-1:37-
Dismemberment Plan / Time Bomb / Change (2001)
dEUS / Fell Off The Floor, Man / In A Bar, Under The Sea (1993)
Cadence Weapon / Oliver Square / Breaking Kayfabe (2005)
-
The Kinks / Waterloo Sunset / Something Else By The Kinks (1968)
OK Go / A Million Ways / Oh No (2005)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists / The High Party / Hearts Of Oak (2003)
-2:03-
Junior Boys / FM / So This Is Goodbye (2006)

(One Time and ONE time only. MP3! Mp3! MP3!)

Various / Today / The World is Gone (2006)
Portishead / Only You / Portishead (1997)
-
Quantic / Blow Your Horn (Feat Ohmega Watts) / An Announcement to Answer (2006)
Drum Island / La danse electrique / Drum Island (1997)
Mark Hollis / Watershed / Mark Hollis (1998)
-
Califone / The Orchids / Roots & Crowns (2006)
Cat Power / He War / You Are Free (2003)
iron and wine | calexico / he lays in the reins / in the reins (2005)
The Sadies / Higher Power / In Concert Vol. 1 (2006)
-
The Decemberists / Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) / The Crane Wife (2006)
Bob Dylan / Spirit On The Water / Modern Times (2006)
Augie March / Stranger Strange / Moo, You Bloody Choir (2006)
-1:08-
My Brightest Diamond / Something Of An End / Bring Me The Workhorse (2006)
Under Byen / Den Her Sang Hander Om At Få Det Bedste Ud Af Det / Samme Stof Som Stof (2006)
TV on the Radio / Hours / Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
-
Yo La Tengo / Beanbag Chair / I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass (2006)
Joseph Arthur / Too Much To Hide / Nuclear Daydream (2006)
The Pipettes / Pull Shapes / We Are The Pipettes (2006)
-
Firefox AK / The Draft / Madame, Madame! (2006)
Love Is All / Felt Tip / 9 Times That Same Song (2006)
Of Montreal / Reject the Frequency / Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer (2007)
-
Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeny / Bed is for Sleeping / Superwolf (2005)
The National / Cardinal Song / Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers (2003)
Stuart A. Staples / Old Friends / Leaving Songs (2006)
-
Shearwater / Nobody / Palo Santo (2006)

Spirit on the water, darkness on the face of the deep
I keep thinking about you baby and I can’t hardly sleep
I’m traveling by land, Traveling through the dawn of day
You’re always on my mind; I can’t stay away

A cold mist detaches from the grey river, culled from its supple surface by the greenleaf fingers of willows reaching out over it; it lilts on an upward draft into my open arms. I hold it, soothing, to my fevered forehead and the autumn air catches in my throat. I look back along the infinite play of water over stones, to where it smudges into fog under the narrow road bridge. The slender traces of dampness in the air etch the lines of a hesitant smile at the corners of my eyes. I lean back onto the uneven peat and let my heavy lids fall to closed and wait for my awkward shoulders to settle into the dirt.

(New, exciting, compressed audio, technology allows you to “re-experience” episode)

-midnightish-
Junior Boys / Under the Sun / Last Exit (2004)
Orbital / The Girl with the Sun in Her Head / In Sides (1996)
-
My Morning Jacket / Gideon / Z (2005)
Pulp / She’s A Lady / His ‘N’ Hers (2006 remaster) (1994)
Doves / The Sulphur Man / The Last Broadcast (2002)
-12:39-
The Hold Steady / Chips Ahoy! / Boys and Girls in America (2006)
Art Brut / Emily Kane / Bang Bang Rock And Roll (2005)
McLusky / To Hell With Good Intentions / McLusky Do Dallas (2002)
The Wrens / Per Second Second / The Meadowlands (2003)
-
Scott Walker / Cossacks Are / The Drift (2006)
Tom Waits / Step Right Up / Small Change (1976)
Amon Tobin / Marine Machines / Supermodified (2000)
-1:10-
The Books / Enjoy Your Worries, You May Never Have Them Again / Thought for Food (2002)
Bonobo / Nightlite (Feat. Bajka) / Days To Come (2006)
LTJ Bukem / Atlantis (I Need You) / Apollo Two - Vol 1: Return To Atlantis (1993)
-
Sunset Rubdown / I’m Sorry I sang on your Hands That Have Been in the Grave / Shut Up I Am Dreaming (2006)
Guillemots / Made Up Love Song #43 / Through The Windowpane (2006)
Grizzly Bear / Knife / Yellow House (2006)
-1:43-
Badly Drawn Boy / Once Around the Block / The Hour Of Bewilderbeast (2000)
The Delgados / The Past That Suits You Best / The Great Eastern (2000)
The Flaming Lips / Morning Of The Magicians / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
-2:00-
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / The Ship Song / Live Seeds (1993)

A fair hand stretched toward a stubborn gate,
asking where the road beyond it might go
and why for so long it had remained shut.

The cold iron bars, locked silent and straight,
insisted they would neither tell nor show
what came after or what had gone before.

Fair feet stayed set, pleading to be told what
this barrier needed to budge from its state
and let their owner’s onward journey grow.

Nothing, then: a whisper on the wind cuts
in to say, “You must find another door.
Wait no more, tell this gate you’re finished here.”

The fair voice calls, “I should have gone before.
There are other paths not blocked by your fear.”

Andre, an old friend, visits Jim, a married Australian office worker. They stay up late over imported beer and Andre subtly criticizes the safety of Jim’s lifestyle choices. Andre then invites him to go on a trip with him but Jim declines.

The next day Jim’s work day goes smoothly; at dinner, he tells his wife about Andre’s planned trek to Indonesia in search of a rare flower that is commonly believed to be extinct. She is intrigued, but happy to hear he isn’t going.

A week later, Jim has been doing some research into the flower Andre was after. He gets the news that Andre was picked up as a hostage by insurgents and is now believed dead. His wife is away on business and Jim spends some of the evening imagining what might have happened to Andre. Jim has a troubled sleep, feeling somehow responsible for his friend’s death. At 4 AM he packs his bags and heads out, leaving his wife a brief note.

After a confused blur of rapid fire snatches of travel events, Jim is in the jungles of Indonesia trying to describe Andre to a man who barely speaks English. He is introduced Abalya, who is an expert on local flora and leads him to where the Pocci flower is believed to be growing. After several days Abalya gives up, saying it is too dangerous for him to remain. Jim refuses to give up, despite the man’s warnings.

He ends up a bit of a mess: starving and poisoned by something he shouldn’t have eaten. He hears gunshots and crawls toward them. Andre appears and drags him to shelter. Andre reveals that he is involved with the rebel uprising. They wax philosophical about life and the choices that we make and are made for us by society; Jim says he hasn’t made very many choices in his life. As Andre begins another metaphysical rant, Jim stops paying attention and the sound of Andre’s words fades. Then Jim steps out of his own body and walks out through the audience as the houselights come on and the doors come open.

Yes.

Some I want to see more than others.

Italicized shows have been attended. (Parenthesized shows mean I probably won’t go, but are noteworthy). Starred shows I have tickets to.

Here’s a brief, in progress, rundown (this list will hoperfully be kept uptodate, also some weblistings contradict each other, so I might not be sure wtf):

Oct 02: Yo La Tengo - Phoenix - Toronto - $22.50
Oct 09: Under Byen (w/Giant Sand) - The Horseshoe - Toronto - $15.00
Oct 11: The New Pornographers - Kool Haus - Toronto - $20.50
Oct 12: TV on the Radio (w/ guests, Grizzly Bear?) - The Opera House - Toronto - $17.50 - sold out.
Oct 14: Art Brut (w/ We Are Scientists, Spinto Band) - The Opera House - Toronto - $17.50 - Doors 2030
Oct 28: The Hold Steady - The Horseshoe - Toronto - $15.00 Adv
Oct 29: Love is All - The Horseshoe - Toronto - $10.50 Adv
Nov 05: Califone - The Horseshoe - Toronto - $10.00 Adv
Nov 06: The Decemberists (w/ Alasdair Roberts) - Kool Haus - Toronto - $22.50

THTR&FLM 4A06: Honours Performance Project
This class is a big deal. In some ways it counts as a thesis project, I guess. I had some ideas going in, they have been altered, but I’m pretty excited about what we’re doing now. Traditionally the course has been an every-man-or-woman- for-him-or-her-self- gets-to-direct-a-50-minute-play- of-their-choosing type of affair. Now we have to work in groups, which led to nervousness going in, but worked out very well for me. I’m working now with already friends Kristen and Marco on a piece of interactive theatre that will explore Hamilton’s relation to the steel mills. Steelcity, Hammertown, the smell, all that good stuff. It will be a lot of work, but the kind of work that I welcome doing (creative and fulfilling). Cockett is teaching it, of course. He is british and cockettish, which is more often than not a good thing. We get a week in the theatre for our play without having to share it with another production, and it can be as long as it needs to be. Look for its performance coming up probably late February or early March kind of a deal. Maybe. Also track its progress and find out more (eventually) on the production blog. It will probably be one of those pretty gruelling at times but ultimately awesome kind of experiences.

ENGLISH 2I06: Modern British Literature
Wow. Second year classes all of a sudden seem so.. straightforward. So we read a bunch of books, right an essay, do some minor group work and do an exam. The prof, one Monsieur Granofsky, seems pretty… straightforward. I can see it maybe getting boring, or too by-the-books, but, I bought the books and they look pretty cool in general. I love Heart of Darkness. Well, not super worried about this one, like I said. Seems straightforward enough, but I do want to actually read the books for it; hopefully I can manage that. We’re going to get a new professor in January, and it’s hard to know yet if that’s a good thing

MUSIC 2II3: Popular Music In North America and the United Kingdom: Post-World War II
Whoo baby. This one is right up my alley? Or is it? Right now it looks like one of those put minimal effort in and hopefully come away with a good mark deals. I’ll probably learn some stuff about older music, which I tend to not end up listening to. The prof however is largely uninspiring. A rather bland lecture style, with some very occasional signs that she does know what humour might be. One thing that bugs me is that she won’t put up her power point presentations online, which I feel is an outdated practice. Most teachers have realized now that it’s easier for the students to pay attention when they aren’t frantically trying to copy things down from the board. But this is one of them regurgitation courses (whatever Dr Fast claims) and there isn’t much that she says that isn’t on the slides, so if they were online maybe attendance would drop significantly. I also disagree with some of the things she’s said, mostly that you need completely different criteria to evaluate every genre of music, and that electronic music is all about dancing. Oh well. Should be pretty easy, if boring. Though tests are on Saturdays which is silly.

ENGLISH 4FW3: Forms of Creative Writing
The Course Calendar says that English seminars are supposed to be limited to 15 people. This one has 48. So a computer has divided the class into groups of 7 with whom we will primarily collaborate. The course is almost exactly the same idea (and same prof) as the creative writing course I took in second year. We have to do a rough draft of an assignment each week, as well as hand in a final draft of the one from the previous week. So it will force me to write, which is always a welcome thing, and a thing that I definitely do appreciate. The result I guess, is that if my group-members are talented and dedicated, I could learn a lot. If not, it’s basically a teach-yourself type deal, and maybe trying to share titbits of wisdom with others.

ENGLISH 4CJ3: Crusade and Jihad
This was possibly my first seminar, because as much as it wants to I’m not sure whether 4FW3 counts as one, and as an introduction to seminars, this one kinda scared the shit out of me. I didn’t choose it, because in this lovely department of English, that’s really not done. You give them a list of your top 3 seminars in each term and they try and slot you in one in each. The one they gave me for second term conflicted with Thtr&Flm 4a06 so they put me in the only one they had room in. That’s okay, though, it seems like an interesting enough topic. However, the prof, one Dr Savage (scared yet?) scolded us on the first day of class for not having much to say on the topic. “This isn’t that kind of class, if this continues we’re not going to get much out of it” well, something to that effect. Err. I don’t know anything about the subject. But I guess we were supposed to be researching it over the summer or something? Also the course outline stipulates that late assignments will not be accepted and gives unclear descriptions of the duedates rather than actual dates. And so after 2 hours I went to buy the courseware because I felt like I really had to read something from it to feel a little less frightened. And they were sold out! How that happens in a class with a strict number of students enrolled, I couldn’t tell ya (they got me one printed up in 2 days though at least). We have an assignment due on Friday already (or the last day of the third week of classes, which I understand to be Friday): we have to decide on a theme related to the topics in the course to pursue and create an annotated bibliography. A good idea for an assignment, but at this point I really don’t know what the fuck. So. Ahh. The topic of the course is basically analysis of conflicts over the holy land with a focus on the rhetoric, specifically the words crusade and jihad which might not actually be all that different. This will be stressful, hard, and scary.

THTR&FLM 1A03: Introduction to Performance Analysis
I’m not actually taking this class. I am, however, being paid $18.25 for each lecture I attend, so even though it’s 8:30 in the morning, I can deal. I’m a Teaching Assistant for the class. I have 2 tutorials to lead, which both go down on Fridays. My first ones went down pretty well. The 12:30 kids were much more chatty than the 9:30 kids, understandably. And for some reason I can’t not refer to them as kids. teehee. I enjoy the whole teaching thing, I think. It’s pretty straightforward, though will be a fair amount of work.. cause I’m not going to just look the plays up on Sparknotes like my TA for this course did. I have an office hour every week, and will get to mark essays and exams, etc. It’s rewarding and important seeming work, though; a cut above doing phone surveys with Americans for sure! It’s probably the second most exciting class I’m involved in this term (next to 4a06, of course). And it will cover rent. But despite the fact that I feel I should, I can’t really think of anything else to say about it.

(available for your listening pleasure, digitally downloadbly)

-midnight-
Superpitcher / Even Angels / Here Comes Love (2004)
Underworld and Gabriel Yared / Happy Toast / Breaking and Entering (2006)
-
Laura Barrett / Robot Ponies / Earth Sciences (2005)
Spiral Beach / Voodoo / Spiral Beach (2006)
Hidden Cameras / She’s Gone / Awoo (2006)
-
Venetian Snares / Swindon / Cavalcade Of Glee And Dadaist Happy Hardcore (2006)
Roman Flugel Presents Soylent Green / La Forza Del Destino / La Forza Del Destino (2006)
Squarepusher / Welcome to europe / Hello Everything (2006)
-
Scritti Politti / The Boom Boom Bap / White Bread Black Beer (2006)
The Elected / Sun, Sun, Sun / Sun, Sun, Sun (2006)
Yann Tiersen / Kala / Les Retrouvailles (2005)
-12:57-
The Mountain Goats / Maybe Sprout Wings / Get Lonely (2006)
Radiohead / Nice Dream / The Bends (1995)
Menomena / Wet and Rusting / Friend and Foe (2007)
Shearwater / Red Sea Black Sea / Palo Santo (2006)
-
Death From Above 1979 / Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edition) / Romance Bloody Romance (2005)
Blues Explosion / Mars Arizon (DFA Remix) / Crunchy EP (2005)
-1:29-
Bonnie “Prince” Billy / Love Comes To Me / Then The Letting Go (2006)
The Constantines / Hyacinth Blues / The Constantines (2001)
TV on the Radio / Tonight / Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
-
PJ Harvey / To Bring You My Love / To Bring You My Love (1995)
The Dresden Dolls / Sex Changes / Yes, Virginia (2006)
Fiona Apple / Not About Love / Extraordinary Machine (2005)
-2:00-
Loose Fur / Answers To Your Questions / Born Again in the USA (2006)

The cures are no damned good, except for a while. Four months after the operation and it’s like my insides just decided something ain’t to their liking. The docs keep telling me, “It’s normal, Charles. Some people experience mild rejectionary tendencies, but they’ll pass.” Reassuring me. “It’s for your own safety, Charles.” But it’s getting worse. The dull ache I (well, the pills) can handle, but I’m having trouble sleeping and I’m always on edge, no matter how many suppressants I dose. Uncle Harriman (no relation) laughs, “Of course you’re uneasy, Chuck. Someone put a computer inside you.” He vanished into the night four days ago, though (no relation), and no one else sees things that way, or admits it. They just play along (easier that way). I still hit the pubs with my ams (who still get off on staying out 200 seconds past curfew) but every burg I yam and every pint I cram tastes more and more like dust. It’s like there’s a tiny metal snake inside me, gnawing and feeding (“filtering”, they say). Anyway, gotta get going. I’m hungry.

(Updated Sept 16th)

(you can now relive the moments in glorious low definition “MP3″!)

-midnight-
Jürgen Paape / So Weit Wie Noch Nie / So Weit Wie Noch Nie (2003)
Kelley Polar / In Time / Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens (2005)
-
Barbara Morgenstern / Nichts Muss [part 1] / Nichts Muss (2003)
Laub / Wortspur / Filesharing (2002)
Barbara Morgenstern / Nichts Muss [part 2] / Nichts Muss (2003)
-
Sofian Rouge / La Marche Du Vent / Mediterranean Excursions (2006)
Junior Boys / Caught In A Wave / So This Is Goodbye (2006)
Daniela Mercury / Preto e branco / Carnaval Electronico (2004)
-
Jamie Lidell / Music Will Not Last / Multiply (2005)
Roisin Murphy / Night of the Dancing Flame / Ruby Blue (2005)
Busdriver / Reheated Pop! / Fear Of A Black Tangent (2005)
-
Latyrx / The Quickening (The Wreckoning PartII) / The Album (1999)
Hieroglyphics / Oakland Blackouts / 3rd Eye Vision (1998)
Aesop Rock / The Next Best Thing / The Next Best Thing (7″ Vinyl) (2006)
-1:05 am-
P.O.S. / Stand Up (Let’s Get Murdered) / Audition (2006)
Killer Mike / That’s Life / I Pledge Allegiance (2006)
The Roots / In The Music (Feat. Malik B. & Porn) / Game Theory (2006)
-
Asobi Seksu / Thursday / Citrus (2006)
Sonic Youth / Incinerate / Rather Ripped (2006)
Califone / A Chinese Actor / Roots & Crowns (2006)
-
Mirah / The Dogs Of Buenos Aires / C’mon Miracle (2004)
Clinic / Distortions / Internal Wrangler (2000)
Liars / It Fit When I Was A Kid / Drum’s Not Dead (2006)
-1:50am-
M. Ward / To Go Home / Post-War (2006)
Beirut / Brandenburg / Gulag Orkestar (2006)
The Decemberists / The Crane Wife 3 / The Crane Wife (2006)
-2:04 am-
Bonnie “Prince” Billy / Strange Form Of Life / Then The Letting Go (2006)
–

THE SLIPSTREAM, with your delicious host Damon Muma
from MIDNIGHT Monday to TWO on Tuesday
on CFMU 93.3 …follow link to discover lo-bitrate webcast of radio!

So I thought in honour of the new season, and because I take this little radio gig perhaps far too seriously, I’d formalize the structure of my radio program, by way of -

THE MANIFESTO. [scrawled with half a pen on the back of your tim horton paper muffin bag].

Programming:
Music is art. Art is communication. Art should move us, spiritually and intellectually. Maybe moreso spiritually, but in a way they are one and the same. I aim to present, each week, a collection of songs that acheive small greatness in the field of musical endeavor, no matter the genre. What that really means is that I play the songs I like. I just choose them very carefully from a veritable slew (to illustrate this slew, I’ve so far listened to more than 150 albums that were released in 2006; and no, of course I don’t pirate music). I aim to play only songs that have a lot to offer, and of course what exactly that is can change wildly from song to song. I also want to make the best of what time I have, so I have determined not to repeat the same artist within one show, nor the same song within the same few years, except by accident. Of course taste is subjective, but I believe there is a large amount of objectivity in the analysis of art. There is good art and less good art, and of course a rather extensive middle ground. The Slipstream tries its darndest to be a place for good art. I want every person who listens to the program to hear and be moved by music they have not heard before or did not take note of on the first go round. A sort of goal for the show is to create for myself the ultimate playlist for my Ipod or Winamp or what have you.

Engineering:
The songs are selected well in advance, by being sent to my special playlist in winamp. Then they are arranged into a coherent order, shuffled around for a while, mixed and matched and blended (using mixmeister) so that they flow smoothly into each other. Also, the last song of a set will link sounways somehow to the next song. If the talking were removed one would hear a coherent mix. I do this all in advance and show up at the station with a few CDs full of each set as one track. Each show takes at least 2-3 hours to sequence, not including all the music listening or the burning, playlist writing, webposting, mp3 recording tagging and posting, manifesto writing, etc. The mp3s that show up here are recorded from the CFMU webstream and are therefore not particularly good quality. I apologize.

Hosting:
I basically sit in the studio, say some stuff and then press play. This year I’ll probably be bringing my shiny new laptop with me so that I can look stuff up if I need to and also lurk on msn and harass people into listening. Previously, everything I said about the show was just from trivia I have accumulated and stored in my indie-musically-overwhelmed mind. I like to be a big goofy now and then, but ultimately the me talking part is only so that you can know who these cool music making cats are.

So in the end, ignore all that jibber jabber up top, and what you get is a series of really good songs from a variety of genres flowing together for two hours every week around islands of Damon talking. What I get is something that I am almost always quite proud of.

Full stop.

Music: tonight’s show
Mood: pretentious

Yesterday at a bit before four, I went out to play Tennis with Brian, Ian, Matt and later Casey. My room here locks. So I leave to play tennis, without my keys, and I lock the door behind me without really even thinking about it. Why? I never locked it when leaving before, or maybe just once. But still. Illogical. So thankfully now that I have a cell phone, I call the landlord and leave a message asking him to come unlock it if he had a chance, then go and play tennis. We can’t really find any good courts in Hamilton at all nearby, the ones we thought were good are a bit overgrown and extremely netless. I hit a car windshield with a tennis ball and got it back, though, so in one way it’s all worthwhile. There could be a lot of better ways, however. Afterwards I hang out for what I deem will be an appropriate amount of time. Happen to get the landlord’s cell number, and so give him a call. He has unlocked my room. Oh Happy day.

On the walk home I pick up a beef shawerma with some rice salad for 5.95 at Cedar’s something or other (it used to be called, unpronounceably, Gjahzi’s, spelled in a fairly incomprehensible font). I go home, and realize that while my room is unlocked, (with the light on and looking oh so cozy) there is no one else home and the door is locked. You may recall that I am not in possession of my keys. They are sitting inside my room. I can see them through the window. So I sit on an unupholstered lawn chair on the gravel patch behind the old house and eat my dinner. The shawerma is pretty good, it has nothing on Barakat, but how could it be? The rice doesn’t come with a fork, and since I can’t get inside to find a utensil, I eat it using the lid for the sauce that I eventually find buried in the rice after eating the first chunk with my hands. I think the sauce is rancid, but I’m not sure. I don’t even know what it is supposed to be so it’s hard to judge. It tastes halfway between extremely delicious and sour milk. I don’t finish it.

I call Brian, who is at SWHAT, and discover that he will be back probably around 8:30. Well. I have no food of my own in the house yet, so I may as well take this opportunity to go shopping. So, I stash my tennis racquet and balls in the old shed behind our neighbour’s house to have more room in my backpack for edibles and head out shopping. 12 cobs of fresh corn for $1.99. Who could resist? I buy a lot of stuff, cause food is good, and I currently have none. At the checkout, Brian calls to tell me he’s home. Excellent. It turns out I have bought rather a lot.. considering especially that I have to carry it all home by myself. I have to rest periodically on the way home, and nearing the house a bag breaks and the jam-jar heads face down into the sidewalk. It’s ok, though. And I arrive home. I’m not super ok, though. The red, bloodshot hands from carrying heavy plastic bags is all well and good, but 26 hours later and my shoulders remain really fucking sore. It was pretty lucky I have a cell phone now, though that doesn’t quite go far enough to qualify as that cherished silver lining that can reportedly be found where it’s least expected.

So that brings us to today. I had 11:30 class, went home after because I’d forgot to bring a void cheque for the meeting of the theatre TAs at 14:30. So I go to that and afterwards i head home. More than halfway back and I remember that I needed to buy test strips at the pharmacy while on campus. I’d tried to do it on Wednesday, but they didn’t have the correct info for my mom’s drug plan on file, so I had to get that first. I think I have the info on me, so I rifle through my pockets and my backpack. No dice. So I go all the way home, look in my room, don’t find it. Look in my pockets. There it is.. it’s been there all along. I am an idiot. So I head back towards campus for the third time. I’ve just about had enough of walking. I arrive at the drugstore at 16:36, which should be all well and good. But wait. On Fridays they close at 16:30 and are buttoned up tight. That’s ok, test strips are only like 80 dollars for a box of 50 or something ridiculous like that. By this time I’m a tiny bit tired and agitated, so I have a fruit smoothie to cool off. The fruit smoothie does not have unwanted dead things or rancidness involved. It’s actually quite good. And I run into an old acquaintance at the smoothie stand which helps with the cooling off process. When I get home I see my keys on my desk, even though I thought I had them with me, even though I felt them in my pocket. But, you see, the doors were all unlocked this time, so there is a silver lining! Except that once again it didn’t really change anything.

Lessons learned? Pharmacy closes at 4:30 on Fridays. Remember your keys and Things in general. So now I am a better person, right?

But when I said this has been a good couple of days before, I actually wasn’t being sarcastic (shock, shock, horror). Yeah some kinda bad stuff happened, but it was humourously bad, and hopefully was entertaining in story form. As an aspiring writer that’s all I can hope for, right?
There are a few things that counterbalanced the clownly buffoonery that I described above:
My new digs, next door from my old digs but with four strange boys added into the mix to make things more interesting, are actually very good. My new bed is pretty sweet, my room set-up is spacious and neat. The four boys are very amiable, and no sign of Haye Jiggerty or similar personalities are in evidence.
Teaching Assistanceship is exciting. It will be a fair bit of work. I have fifty kids to mark the work of and answer questions from, but I think I will definitely enjoy doing so. It’s even very beneficial from a practical standpoint.
And the last of the big three (maybe the best) is that re-done fourth year theatre class. The one where instead of letting you direct whatever play you want, like in the past, they throw people into groups and force them to collaborate. As it turned out, Kristen and Marco are my collaborators and I couldn’t be happier about that. We are going to be creating some manner of dramatic performance about Hamilton, the industry, the steelworkers and steelmills and the environment. We have a lot of ideas, and a lot of excitement. So I think this will, if not awesome, at least be good. So at least in our case, the prof didn’t cock it up.

Great!

That’s all, folks.

A mannequin antique white hand reaches out, flat in the predawn dimming. The paperthin indigo sky trembles, apprehensive at its approach. Fingers grip and slowly peel the sky backward, corner to corner, toward daylight or whatever burgeons behind.

A break! The slide is open and it all tumbles outward like seven thousand bubbles beneath the ocean. The flowers, balloons and honeydew melons. A bird of paradise, dreams of Uncle Evan’s red hat, lavalamps and ice cream trucks. The darkness of night shredded and scattered in their wake. Gaudy day has come for us all.

Hide the children! Hide your face! Stand in the way of beauty! Go back to your bed and your clownwrought dreams.

(mp3 - please excuse the choppiness)

6 am
Alex Smoke / 6am / Incommunicado (2005)
Boards Of Canada / Olson / Music Has The Right To Children (1998)
Ochre / 111 / Lemodie (2006)
Björk / Domestica / Pagan Poetry CDS (2001)

Earth Leakage Trip / No Idea / Psychotronic EP (1991)
Goldfrapp / Lovely Head / Felt Mountain (2000)
U2 / Lemon / Zooropa (1993)

Isolée / Today / Wearemonster (2005)
Ada / Lifedriver / Blondie (2004)
Tomas Andersson / The Other Day / Copy Cat (2006)

7 am
Hot Chip / Boys From School / The Warning (2006)
Fujiya & Miyagi / Ankle injuries / Transparent things (2006)
Mates Of State / Think Long / Bring It Back (2006)

The Mountain Goats / Broom People / The Sunset Tree (2005)
The Decemberists / July, July! / Castaways and Cutouts (2002)
Camera Obscura / Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken / Let’s Get Out of This Country (2006)
New Pornographers / It’s Only Divine Right / Electric Version (2003)

Sunset Rubdown / Stadiums and Shrines II / Shut Up I Am Dreaming (2006)
Spoon / Me And The Bean / Girls Can Tell (2001)
Tindersticks / Her / Tindersticks (1993)

Band of Horses / The Funeral / Everything All The Time (2006)
Augie March / The Drowning Dream / Strange Bird (2002)
Tom Waits / I’m Still Here / Alice (2002)
Sparklehorse / Hundreds of Sparrows / Good Morning Spider (1999)

8 am
Smog / Rock Bottom Riser / A River Ain’t Too Much to Love (2005)
Maria Taylor / Song Beneath the Song / 11:11 (2005)
Hidden Cameras / Follow These Eyes / Awoo (2006)

Lhasa / Anywhere On This Road / The Living Road (2003)
Daniela Mercury / Vou batê pá tu / Carnaval Electronico (2004)
Dizzy Gillespie / Manteca (Funky Lowlives Remix) / Verve Remixed 2 (2003)

Mr. Lif / Mo’ Mega (Feat Akrobatik & Blueprint) / Mo’ Mega (2006)
Ghostface Killah / The Champ / Fishscale (2006)
Lady Sovereign / Blah Blah / Blah Blah EP (2006)

Junior Boys / In The Morning (ft. Andi Tomi) / So This Is Goodbye (2006)
Lali Puna / Faking the Books / Faking the Books (2004)
Herbert / Those Feelings / Scales (2006)

Bonnie “Prince” Billy / Strange Form Of Life / Then The Letting Go (2006)

By special request (well, that’s what I’m calling it) I was invited to fill the prestigious 6-9 am slot on CFMU this wednesday morning. And this is no ordinary gig. This was live in the student centre with all manner of life swarming around me, and visions also. This was a bit last minute (when factored in the whole moving thing) so I just went with a selection of my favourite sections from the summer shows I did, with special emphasis on the last one, since it was only aired at a really odd time and is one of my personal favourite playlists.

So right now I feel a tad apprehensive and a bit lonely. Or maybe it’s just that it’s 4am and I’m the only person awake in my empty basement and I’m on a two week road to getting a cold that just can’t decide if it’s coming or going. Logically, I should be pretty excited to be going back to Hamilton. I guess. The problem is that I have two lives going on between London and Hamilton with mostly different friends and different lifestyles from one to the other, and they both have a lot of benefits, and then some drawbacks. The most concise way to describe the difference is that Hamilton is just more of most things, primarily responsibility; it’s more hectic for sure, and there are also more opportunities there I think. It lacks security in that I don’t get hot meals cooked for me, I have to look after myself more, and I don’t get to have Val even in the same city as me, let alone in my arms on a regular basis.

So Hamilton is me, and some good friends, against the world. Whereas London is more like everything handed to me on a silver platter. I’m gonna have to learn how to shop for myself and cook again. To haul my ass to class. To not have access to my parent’s van. To be in a long distance relationship. And I’ve done it before, so I know I can do it again. So I’m cool. I can deal. It will just take some time to adjust. And there are definitely some exciting things to look forward to, too. So here’s to the future:

-This is my last year at Mac and I have no clue what I will do after. But whatever it is, it will be AWESOME.
-My radio show (god knows I obsess over that baby) is moving up by two hours to a significantly better timeslot. 12-2 am on Monday nights (technically Tuesday morning). Also I’ll be doing some live broadcast from the atrium at the Student Centre 6-9am this Wednesday, so if you’re around do come by and give a yell. I’ll just be throwing down the maddest of hot tracks I played on the summer slipstream (already selected of course. (what? me packing? maybe in a bit).).).).>
-I have an amazingly nicer bed now. So I’ll hopefully be getting much more out of the time I spend there. We got it at the Sleep Factory for a pretty nice price (parents footed the bill for that one god bless them)
-I’m going cellphone. Gasp, horror. I know not the first thing people who know me would expect. But if life neatly filled all your expectation boxes and closed the lids behind it, it wouldn’t really be worth living, would it? I will share the number when I get it switched to a Hamilton phonicese (it’s Colin’s old one, just picking up the last year of his 3 yr contract).
-This that and the other thing. The sky’s the limit as they say.
-Maybe most exciting, though, is that I have a job during the first term of the school year, and a pretty wicked job, too. I am a Teaching Assistant for Catherine Graham’s 1st year theatre class. It’s ten hours a week at a nice dollarly figure (though I don’t know exactly what yet, somewhere from 18-20, they say) so it should pretty much pay my living expenses and save me from some of that serious debt at the end of university ave. Also, I get to subvert and possibly help those tiny little froshers on their way to inevitably majoring in theatre and film. Hopefully I can do a good job of it because I really hated my TA in first year; so my goal is to do one… no, eleven better than was done to me.

Much more I could say, if my fingers had it in them, but for now I’m gonna pack it in, or maybe up.
I’m going to try and give this little url more attention this year.

This is a call out to all the youth in the ghettos, suburbs, villages, townships. To all the kids who download this song for free. By any means. To all the kids short on loot but high on dreams. To all the kids watching T.V., like, “Yo, I wish that was me.” And all the kids pressing rewind on Let’s Get Free. I hear you. To all the people within the sound of my voice.

So here’s the plan. The ides of march are always at hand. And when the power hungry strike, they strike the poorest of man. And if you dare put up a fight, they’ll come and fight for your land. And they’ll call it liberation or salvation. A call to the youth! Your freedom ain’t so free, it’s just loose. but the power of your voice could redirect every truth. Shift and shape the world you want and keep your fears in a noose. Let them dangle from a banner star spangled. I’m willing and able. To lift my dreams up out of their cradle. Nurse and nurture my ideals ’til they’re much more than a fable. I can be all I can be and do much more than I’m paid to. And I won’t be a slave to what authorities say do. My desire is to live within a nation on fire, where creative passions burn and raise the stakes ever higher. Where no person is addicted to some twisted supplier who promotes the sort of freedom sold to the highest buyer. We demand a truth naturally at one with the land, not a plant that photosynthesizes bombs on demand, or a search for any weapons we let fall from our hands. I got beats and a plan. I’m gonna do what I can. And what you do is question everything they say do, every goal ideal or value they keep pushing on you. If they ask you to believe it question whether it’s true. If they ask you to achieve, is it for them or for you. You’re the one they’re asking to go carry a gun. Warfare ain’t humanitarian. You’re scaring me, son. Why not fight to feed the homeless, jobless, fight inflation?! Why not fight for our own healthcare and our education?! And instead, invest in that erasable lead, ’cause their twisted propaganda can’t erase all the dead. And the pile of corpses pyramid on top of our heads. Or nevermind, said the shotgun to the head.

Word.

Here’s a brief summary of what’s been going on. I shall sort it by appropriate topics, and some of them may be expanded upon at a later date.

Summer is for relaxing. Actually it isn’t. You realize you’re going to have to start paying back that 35 thousand dollars you owe the government sometime, right?

Summer is for working. Summer jobs. That is the ticket. My ticket to ride the wealth train is MSI. I’ve been working there for ten weeks. I call Americans and try to make them do surveys. It is very easy and pays very slightly more than it legally has to. I’m also acting as ocasional chaperone - or whatever one would call it - for Chris again this year (a classmate from elementary school who has some kind of developmental disability). It’s weird being paid to hang out with someone. But I guess I’m not complaining.

Summer is for writing that novel you always say you’re going to write. Actually, no it isn’t. As of last week though I finally got a bit of a start on writing a play that, if finished, will have a chance at being put on at Mac next year. I took a few mime classes with an extremely kind man who once trained under Marcel Marceau and thereby met a fellow my age with quite similar seeming interests. Earlier in the summer (mine, not theirs) I directed my mother’s anthroposophic grade 3-4 class in The Fate of Baldur and found just how impossible it can be for 10 year olds to stand in a circle.
Also my GURPS Game is going extremely well, and that’s almost like writing a novel in an odd way, since the plot is based on a novel I was going to write back in grade 10; it has even garnered upwards of 2 fans in foreign countries who think it’s pretty cool, but not as cool as I think it is. I also think I’m going to try and get a topical article published in Pyramid. I think I can do it, and they pay real dollars. That would make me a professional writer, if a freelance geeky one (and this lance is reeaally free).

Summer is for music. The new Bonnie “Prince” Billy album is stunning. I’m swaying more toward housey and trip-hoppish vibes these days. The new Junior Boys album is utterly great. And they from Hamilton. In fact and deed, I saw them live last weekend.
The radio show continueth. Sort of. I make the shows in the basement, upload them, and listen in eagerly each monday night to find out that they don’t get played because the guys who have the show before mine are… well I’ll save personal attacks for the much longer rant they’ve earned themselves. This is fucking frustrating as all hell. But on some kind of bright side I’m quite proud of the quality of the shows over the summer. I seriously have the best taste in music ever. Green Day!

Summer is for love. I met Val 367 days ago. Now+9 days=1 year of being an item. A magical one at that (which we still haven’t statted out in roleplaying terms.. what gives?).

Summer is for growing. On June 1, my brother Kevin finally left me with the basement to myself. He’s got an apartment on Highview with a home theatre deal. And his work (honeywell) very recently sent him to New Zealand and Singapore to test and fix software. Also Phil, who I’ve known quite well since Kindergarten.. bought a house! A house.. Craziness.

Summer is for vacationing. That’s why they call it summer vacation, I guess. One weekend I went to Val’s cottage and it was a completely awesome (and liberating) experience. Last weekend I went to Hamilton, saw some plays, saw a concert, ate real good food, and experienced my stolen bike quote for the summer rising to 2 (from, not by.. as if you wouldn’t know). 2 weekends from now is the Goderich Celtic Fest, which conveniently coincides with me and Valerie’s 1 year, so we’re going camping and getting bagpipes blown in our faces for a few days. I’ve been playing some tennis with Brian R the past month or so which has been really fun. Seen some movies, been to a bar or two, shot the shit, met cool dudes and dudettes, earned some cash.

Summer is for sun. Ow. Hot.

So amongst all that I’ve been extremely busy. I don’t have the time to do half the things I want, and barely enough to do what I must (well not really.. depending on what you count). But between all the busy busy, and even right on top of it and drowning in the middle of it, I think.. though I don’t want to jinx it.. but I don’t believe in jinxes so fuck it. I think that this is probably turning out to be my best summer ever. Not to say it couldn’t be better, but I am in very fine spirits. I hope you are, too.

(mp3)

2 am
Boards of Canada / Olson / Music Has The Right To Children (1998)
Ochre / 111 / Lemodie (2006)
Björk / Domestica / Pagan Poetry CDS (2001)
Smog / Rock Bottom Riser / A River Ain’t Too Much to Love (2005)
Maria Taylor / Song Beneath the Song / 11:11 (2005)
Hidden Cameras / Follow These Eyes / Awoo (2006)
Lhasa / Anywhere On This Road / The Living Road (2003)
Daniela Mercury / Vou Batê Pá Tu / Carnaval Electronico (2004)
Dizzy Gillespie / Manteca (Funky Lowlives Remix) / Verve Remixed 2 (2003)
Moloko / Absent Minded Friends / Things To Make And Do (2000)
Grandadbob / Hide Me (Al Usher Mix) / Recordings (2006)
Dani Siciliano / She Say Cliché / Likes… (2004)

3 am
Magnetic Fields / Sweet-Lovin’ Man / 69 Love Songs, Pt. 1 (1999)
Danielson / Did I Step On Your Trumpet / Ships (2006)
Wolf Parade / You are a Runner and I Am My Father’s Son / Apologies To The Queen Mary (2005)
Aesop Rock / Fast Cars / Fast Cars, Danger, Fire & Knives EP (2005)
Buck 65 / Kennedy Killed The Hat / Secret House Against The World (2005)
Hieroglyphics / At the Helm / Third Eye Vision (1998)
P.O.S. / Audition Mantra / Audition (2006)
The Mountain Goats / Broom People / The Sunset Tree (2005)
The Decemberists / July, July! / Castaways and Cutouts (2002)
Camera Obscura / Lloyd, I’m Ready to be Heartbroken / Let’s Get Out of this Country (2006)
New Pornographers / It’s Only Divine Right / Electric Version (2003)
Dios / You Make Me Feel / Dios (2004)
Plej / Blue / Electronic Music From The Swedish Leftcoast (2003)
Alpha / Lipstick From the Asylum / Stargazing (2003)
Wilco / Impossible Germany / Live Summerfest (2006)

So it still didn’t air, even though I have the next episode all ready to go. Ridiculous? Yes. However, the Agression Session guy mentioned that tonight was their second last show. I don’t know if that has anything specific to do with the programming director being extremely pissed at them. Maybe their replacement will know how to do simple operations with winamp. One can only hope. Maybe their replacement should be me… (edit: my wish seems to have come true)

(mp3)

2 am
Underworld / Dirty Epic / Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1993)
Band of Horses / The Funeral / Everything All The Time (2006)
Augie March / The Drowning Dream / Strange Bird (2002)
Tom Waits / I’m Still Here / Alice (2002)
Sparklehorse / Hundreds of Sparrows / Good Morning Spider (1999)
Aloha / Brace Your Face / Some Echoes (2006)
Stereophonics / Maybe Tomorrow / You Gotta Go There To Come Back (2003)
Orbital / The Box (slipstream epic version) / In Sides (1996)

3 am
Keren Ann / Surannee / La Disparition (2002)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists / The Gold Finch and the Red Oak Tree / The Tyranny of Distance (2001)
Neko Case / Hold On, Hold On / Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (2006)
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins / Rise Up with Fists / Rabbit Furcoat (2006)
Juana Molina / Micael / Son (2006)
Esem / Microessen / Scateren (2005)
Thom Yorke / Analyse / The Eraser (2006)
Junior Boys / In The Morning (ft. Andi Tomi) / So This Is Goodbye (2006)
Lali Puna / Faking the Books / Faking the Books (2004)
Herbert / Those Feelings / Scale (2006)
Vangelis / So Long Ago, So Clear (ft John Anderson) / Cosmos (1974)

(mp3)

2 am
Earth Leakage Trip / No Idea / Psychotronic EP (1991)
Goldfrapp / Lovely Head / Felt Mountain (2000)
U2 / Lemon / Zooropa (1993)
Sunset Rubdown / Stadiums and Shrines II / Shut Up I Am Dreaming (2006)
Spoon / Me And The Bean / Girls Can Tell (2001)
Tindersticks / Her / Tindersticks (1993)
Amon Tobin / El Cargo / Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Sou (2005)
Alex Smoke / Brian’s Lung / Incommunicado (2005)
Burial / You Hurt Me / Burial (2006)
The Birthday Party / Junkyard / Junkyard (1982)
Bauhaus / Dark Entries / Press the Eject and Give Me the Tape (1982)
Interpol / Leif Erikson / Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)

3 am
Young and Sexy / Television / Stand Up for Your Mother (2002)
Destroyer / Rubies / Rubies (2006)
Infected Mushroom / Dancing With Kadafi / BP Empire (2001)
Daedelus / Samba Legrand / Denies the Days Demise (2006)
Awesome New Republic / 2K3012 / ANR So Far (2005)
Xiu Xiu / Save Me / The Air Force (2006)
Phoenix / Long Distance Call / It’s Never Been Like That (2006)
Flaming Lips / Fight Test / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
Air / Venus / Talkie Walkie (2004)
R.E.M. / I’ll Take the Rain / Reveal (2001)

(mp3)

2 am
Outkast / Atliens / ATLiens (1996)
Rae & Christian / Now I Lay Me Down / Northern Sulphuric Soul (1998)
RJD2 / F.H.H. (feat. Jakki) / Deadringer (2002)
Prefuse 73 / Plastic (feat. Diverse) / One Word Extinguisher (2003)
Cadence Weapon / Julie Will Jump the Broom / Breaking Kayfabe (2005)
Edan / Torture Chamber Ft. Percee-P / Beauty and The Beat (2005)
Murs & 9th Wonder / Murray’s Law / Murray’s Revenge (2006)
Mr. Lif / Mo’ Mega (Feat Akrobatik & Blueprint) / Mo’ Mega (2006)
Ghostface Killah / The Champ / Fishscale (2006)
Lady Sovereign / Blah Blah / Blah Blah EP (2006)
Gorillaz / DARE / Demon Days (2005)
Ohmega Watts / Groovin’ On Sunshine / The Find (2005)
Basement Jaxx / Lucky Star (Feat Dizzee Rascal / Kish Kash (2003)
Roots Manuva / Stone The Crows / Run Come Save Me (2001)
Quannum / Concentration (feat. Jurassic 5) / Quannum Spectrum (1999)

3 am
The Roots / The Next Movement / Things Fall Apart (1999)
Buck 65 / 463 / Talkin’ Honky Blues (2003)
Dub Pistols / Soldiers / Six Million Ways To Live (2001)
Massive Attack / Five Man Army / Blue Lines (1991)
Gil Scott-Heron / The Revolution Will Not Be Televised / Pieces of a Man (1971)
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy / Television, the Drug of the Nation / Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury (1992)
P.O.S. / P.O.S. is Ruining My Life / Audition (2006)
Latyrx / Balcony Beach / The Album (1997)
Aesop Rock / No Regrets / Labor Days (2001)
Blackalicious / Cliff Hanger / Nia (2000)
Sage Francis / Crack Pipes / Personal Journals (2002)
Dert / José González - The Light + Common & Erika Badu - Heartbeats / Sometimes I Rhyme Slow (2006)

(mp3)

2 am
Nitin Sawhney / Homelands / Beyond Skin (1999)
Sofian Rouge / Amaravatti / Mediterranean Excursion (2006)
Shpongle / Dorset Perception / Tales of the Inexpressible (2001)
Conjure One / Redemption / Conjure One (2002)
Isolée / Today / Wearemonster (2005)
Ada / Lifedriver / Blondie (2004)
Tomas Andersson / The Other Day / Copy Cat (2006)
Alex Smoke / Something’s Gone / Paradolia (2006)
tunng / tale from black / mother’s daughter and other songs (2004)

3 am
The Velvet Underground / Venus in Furs / The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
The Deadly Snakes / So Young and So Cruel / Porcella (2005)
Tindersticks / Marbles / Tindersticks (1993)
Belle and Sebastian / Stars Of Track And Field / If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996)
The Weakerthans / Without Mythologies / Left and Leaving (2001)
Sufjan Stevens / Casimir Pulaski Day / Illinois (2005)
Amy Millan / Wayward and Parliament / Honey from the Tombs (2006)
Barbara Morgenstern / The Operator / The Grass Is Always Greener (2006)
Zita Swoon / Intrigue / A Song About A Girls (2004)
Wilco / Pieholden Suite / Summerteeth (1999)
Talk Talk / Living In Another World / The Colour Of Spring (1986)
Gnarls Barkley / The Last Time / St. Elsewhere (2006)
A Camp / I Can Buy You / A Camp (1999)

(mp3)

2 am
Booka Shade / Night falls / Movements (2006)
The Microphones / You’ll Be in the Air / The Glow, Pt. 2 (2001)
Modest Mouse / The Ocean Breathes Salty / Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)
The Constantines / Nighttime Anytime (It’s Alright) / Shine a Light (2003)
Console / Mount Everest Horizontal / Solo Swim OST (2004)
Arovane / Theme / Tides (2000)
Waldeck / Wake Up / Balance of the force (1998)
Archive / Nothing Else / Londinium (1996)
Sigur Rós / Hafsól / Hoppipolla (Single) (2005)
Orbital / Dwr Budr / In Sides (1996)

3 am
Amina / Hemipode / Animamina (2004)
Beirut / Postcards From italy / Gulag Orkestar (2006)
Bruce Springsteen / Mrs. McGrath / We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)
The Commodores / Zoom / Commodores (1977)
Air / All I Need / Moon Safari (1998)
ELO / Mr. Blue Sky / Out of the Blue (1977)
Outkast / The Rooster / Speakerboxxx / The Love Below (2003)
Balkan Beat Box / Cha-Cha / Balkan Beat Box (2005)
Amon Tobin / Verbal (feat. MC Decimal R) / Out From Out Where (2002)
Massive Attack / Silent Spring / Collected (2006)
Stars Of Track And Field / Let Ken Green / You Came Here For Sunset Last Year (2005)
Junior Boys / Like A Child / So This Is Goodbye (2006)
Portishead / It’s A Fire / Dummy (1994)

(mp3)

2 am
Alex Smoke / Intro, 6am / Incommunicado (2005)
Nathan Fake / Charlie’s House / Drowning In A Sea Of Love (2006)
The Flaming Lips / It’s Summertime / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
Tom Vek / Nothing But Green Lights / We Have Sound (2005)
Pinback / Non Photo-Blue / Summer In Abaddon (2004)
PJ Harvey / A Place Called Home / Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
The Shins / Caring Is Creepy / Oh, Inverted World (2001)
The Hidden Cameras / Doot Doot Ploot / Mississauga Goddam (2004)
Of Montreal / Your Magic Is Working / Satanic Panic In The Attic (2004)
Hot Chip / Boys From School / The Warning (2006)
Fujiya & Miyagi / Ankle injuries / Transparent things (2006)
Mates Of State / Think Long / Bring It Back (2006)

3 am
Pavement / Range Life / Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
Wilco / Heavy Metal Drummer / Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
The Figurines / Other Plans / Skeleton (2005)
M. Ward / Big Boat / Transistor Radio (2005)
The Ponys / Get Black / Celebration Castle (2005)
dEUS / Everybody’s Weird / The Ideal Crash (1999)
The Walker Brothers / Once Upon A Summertime / Images (1967)
Scott Walker / Cue / The Drift (2006)
The National / Val Jester / Alligator (2005)
Current 93 / All The Pretty Little Horses / All The Pretty Little Horses (1997)
Doves / Friday’s Dust / The Last Broadcast (2002)
DJ Shadow / Building Steam With a Grain of Salt / Endtroducing….. (1996)
The Decemberists / Grace Cathedral Hill / Castaways and Cutouts (2002)

So much for summer reruns. Or more accurately, summer silence. I’m working my witty bitty pwaywists to the bone all through the summer holidays. Doing up the show in my basement in London with my dad’s studio mic and sending it through the internet to Hamilton. Of course it’s not up to me to actually put it on the radio, so I can’t guarantee you’ll actually hear it. Like this week.. nada. Those Agression Session dudes don’t like to do what they’re told or something? I guess it’s appropriate..topically? Anyway. I wonder should I bother with a new one for next week or just get this one put on? I’ll let YOU decide.

I’m going to be leaving the high quality mp3s I upload for the station up until the next showis ready, which will be less than a week after this page goes up (probably 2-3 days), so if you want it, get it fast. Someone wants these… I’ve somehow been getting hundreds and hundreds of downloads (confused! but happy!) After that I’ll put up lower quality versions (though I haven’t decided how low.. i might let YOU decide).

As noted in the show, The Slipstream has changed it’s rules somewhat, as summarized below
I, Damon Muma, host of said radioprogram do glibly swear:
1. only play gobsmackingly awesome songs that I heartily endorse the checking out of - UNCHANGED
2. make all the songs flow into each other with ease and beauty - UNCHANGED
3. never repeat an artist in a show unless there is compelling and noted reason - UNCHANGED
4. never play any song that has been played on the show before, ever, unless it is for a ‘theme’ show, and even then proceed with caution (i broke this once or twice by accident) - NOW: never play any song that has been played on the show within the last year.

I want to do some research and find out if my 20-24 new songs a week gives my show’s 2 hours a week more total songs in rotation than your typicalcrapcommercialradio station’s 168 hours a week. I wouldn’t be surprised.

Tough luck
I suppose it’s how a man is built
you say your father called you ‘admiral’
you couldn’t drink your mother’s milk
it takes a little more than that to make you
after all you’ve been tampered with and toyed
you’re just a tiny swimmer in a million
meets a tiny tissue in the void

now im trading nightmares on the stock exchange
where hearts are fat and hair is thin
I just know I could make a killing
If I could tally up enough sin
then I’ll buy myself a house on the harbour
every song my hummingbird heart will sing
is gonna have the same refrain:
“one day my ship will come in”

It seems again and again always coming round to this.
The same tick tocking into nowhere. The same you on the inside wanting to be outside. And the sacks of shit you can’t help but step on - walking to and fro to nowhere - always smell the same.
Round and round and who exactly said circles were perfect? Maybe I’ll give him a piece of this. A crooked hook ripped from a hopeless hole.
Simplicity and elegance repeat repeat until their disguise is stripped away to bear tendons stretched and muscles atrophied. Simple is nothing and the elegant is that which lacks purpose and creative sole.
There’s your circle. It never takes you anyplace new. It stays with you insidious till your dizziness throws you roughly to the floor.

Last night a subtle pause. The wet breeze among the newly budding leaves. Some sense of a tired and pregnant spring. A cycle. Rebirth. Repitition brings bitter with his sweets. Whatever.

One day your ship will come in.

(mp3)

2 am
Infantjoy / Departure / Where the Night Goes (2005)
Sunset Rubdown / Us Ones in Between / Shut Up I Am Dreaming (2006)
Adem / Warning Call / Love and Other Planets (2006)
The Decemberists / The Gymnast High Above the Ground / Her Majesty (2003)
The Notwist / Solo Swim / Solo Swim OST (2004)
Trembling Blue Stars / Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruise / Broken by Whispers (2000)
Hanne Hukkelberg / Searching / Little things (2005)
LFO / Blown / Sheath (2003)
Boxcutter / Tauhid / Oneiric (2006)
TV On the Radio / I Was a Lover / Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
Sofian Rouge / El Wahrania / Mediterranean Excursion (2006)

3 am
Massive Attack / Unfinished Sympathy / Blue Lines (1991)
The Delgados / Woke From Dreaming / Hate (2002)
Lou Reed / Perfect Day / Transformer (1972)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Into My Arms / Boatman’s Call (1997)
Radiohead / No Surprises / OK Computer (1997)
Wilco / Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway(again) / Summerteeth (1999)
The Cardigans / Carnival / Life (1995)
Gnarls Barkley / Crazy / St. Elsewhere (2006)
Herbert / Something isn’t Right / Scales (2006)
Augie March / Bolte And Dunstan Talk Youth / Moo, You Bloody Choir (2006)
My Morning Jacket / One Big Holiday / It Still Moves (2003)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists / Parallel or Together? / The Tyranny of Distance (2001)
U2 / A Sort of Homecoming / Unforgettable Fire (1984)

So this was the last show of the year, ostensibly until the autumn, when I shall return to Hamilton. And it turned out to be more interesting an experience than most.

First I got a call in for a request that I felt bad about not being able to fill, cause I’m just that pretentious that I don’t do requests. Or really because I spend hours getting the tracklist just so before the show and it’s fairly unstraightforward to change. Ah well, it was the only request I got and had to deny all year anyway. Then I get another call.. I think it was the same guy, sounding more obviously drunk this time, asking if I wanted to go out for a latte and a haircut. I wasn’t sure if he was making fun of me or it was a joke or what, so I was just confused. I don’t like being confused. But no matter. The sweet tunes are bomping.

Things took a marked turn for the better when during El Wahrania the middle aged Mediterranean (olive-complective) janitor gave me sign language big-ups from outside the studio window. That made me happy. Damn right more people should not be scared off by music that sounds nonwestern, and thanks to Phillip for hooking me up with that and so much other music.

Then during the last set (Augie Morning Pharmacists) Daddy P, (who hosts Dope FM on CFMU and has self-reportedly been involved with various community radio stations for 15 years and I see fairly often because he’s often in the production room during my show (as he was today)), gave me a call because he was really excited that I played Gnarls Barkley (Danger Mouse + Cee Lo if that means anything) and then we chatted more and he said he thinks my show is really awesome and I should do it over the summer (sent in via mp3 upload type deal) so he can listen to it cause he likes it a lot. That made me happy. And I thought heck, why not? The roster is a bit lacking in the summer cause most people just eff off like me. It could do well for weaseling me into a better timeslot. Also, it’s what I like.

So the slipstream might just be continuing over the summer in some form or other. Prerecording doesn’t seem quite as authentic somehow, but it does allow me to be more creative I suppose. Heck, I could be downright silly if I wanted to (do I smell a mumareuther in the works?). Anyway, more news as it comes. And maybe I’ll start posting things besides radio playlists again, wouldn’t that be lovely? Cause oh yeah.. School’s Out For Summer!

(mp3)

2 am
Coldcut / Everything Is Under Control / Sound Mirrors (2006)
Bloc Party / Banquet / Silent Alarm (2005)
Plump DJs / Scram / A Plump Night Out (2001)
Leftfield / Afro-Left / Leftism (1995)
Kano / Ps & Qs / Home Sweet Home (2005)
Lady Sovereign / Random / Vertically Challenged (2005)
Camouflage Nights / It Could Be Love / In the Summer of 2004 (2004)
Robyn / Konichiwa Bitches / Robyn (2005)
Roisin Murphy / Ramalama / Ruby Blue (2005)
Ladytron / Discotraxx / 604 (2001)
The Go! Team / Bottle Rocket / Thunder Lightning Strike (2004)
Kanye West / Gold Digger / Late Registration (2005)
Madonna vs. M.I.A / UR Hung Up / DJMonsterMo (2005)
Vitalic / Poney Part 1 / Ok Cowboy (2005)

3 am
Pnau / Again / Again (2003)
The Prodigy / Poison / Music for the Jilted Generation (1995)
Nelly Furtado / Promiscuous Girl / Loose (2006)
The Roots / Thought @ Work / Phrenology (2002)
Starsailor / Four To The Floor (Thin White Duke mix) (2004)
Junior Boys / Bellona / Last Exit (2004)
Felix da Housecat / What Does it Feel Like (Royksopp Remix) (2001)
Frost / Endless Love (Röyksopp Remix) (1999)
Annie / The Greatest Hit / Anniemal (2004)
The Decemberists / I Was Meant For the Stage / Her Majesty (2003)

This is sorta based around the DJing gig I did for the theatre and film semi formal (with the help of Marco. or really it was more like I was helping him). Only about half the songs here actually got played, but the other half I would sure have liked to. And man.. if people in general aren’t a little more close-minded than I thought. Unless I’m close minded for not thinking the black eyed peas are awesome. and thinking that lcd soundsystem’s tribulations is hella danceable. Oi. But maybe the regular joes are more discerning.. I mean they like only a specific group of carefully selected songs, whereas us indie blokes will like almost anything that they don’t! Well, that’s oversimplification and digression at their worst.. just enjoy the damn tracklist arright?

(mp3)

2 am
Primal Scream / Kowalski / Vanishing point (1997)
Ellen Allien & Apparat / Jet / Orchestra Of Bubbles (2006)
Elbow / Any Day Now / Asleep In The Back (2001)
Augie March / Asleep in Perfection / Sunset Studies (2000)
Jeff Buckley / Grace / Grace (1994)
Modest Mouse / A Different City / The Moon And Antarctica (2000)
Tapes ‘n Tapes / Insistor / The Loon (2005)
British Sea Power / Fear of Drowning / The Decline of… (2003)
Under Byen / Heftig / Samme Stof Som Stof (2006)
Massive Attack / False Flags / Live With Me Single (2006)
Radiohead / The Bends / The Bends (1995)

3 am
PJ Harvey / It’s You / Uh Huh Her (2004)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / City of refuge / Tender Prey (1987)
Neutral Milk Hotel / Ghost / In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
John Cale / The Endless Plain Of Fortune / Paris 1919 (1973)
Badly Drawn Boy / Bewilderbeast / The Hour of Bewilderbeast (2000)
The Wrens / Hopeless / The Meadowlands (2003)
Notwist / Neon Golden / Neon Golden (2002)
Ron Sexsmith / Gold In Them Hills (Remix feat Chris Martin) / Cobblestone Runway (2003)
My Morning Jacket / Golden / It Still Moves (2003)
Imogen Heap / Hide and Seek / Speak For Yourself (2005)
Røyksopp / Alpha Male / The Understanding (2005)
Adem / Love and Other Planets / Love and Other Planets (2006)

So. I’ve lost the plot and not really just scholastically. I’m recently sort of like a lump of stale playdough sitting on the shelf not doing much of anything. It’s because I thought spring was here and then it fucking wasn’t. Fuck. I think it might finally be around to stay, though. The night walking to the station tonight felt like good old night is supposed to, in two words: invigorating and inspiring. Gimme some more of that sweet stuff.

The essay that I thought was due next Monday is actually due this Thursday. That leaves less time to work on it than would be ideal.

On Friday is the Theatre and Film semi-formal. Fellow Theatre CFMUer Marco and I are gonna be providing the jams because I hate hearing shitty music at events like that. You think Top 40 is good dancing music? what about the music that’s actually written to dance to instead of sell records? Euge! The fact that I don’t know how to DJ, or have time to plan out some sweet tunes (which won’t stop me from doing it anyway) wouldn’t stop me. I still have to pay 30 bucks to go, though. Is that a good deal? No, not really. Oh well, the society needs to break even on this I guess.. but we’re already saving them about 300 dollars they’d have to spend on a real DJ. And of course a lot of people are going to prefer hearing (what I consider) fairly shitty music. So because a central part of my personality is the desire for other people to be happy or at least like me (I’m not sure exactly how self centred I am in the long run), I’m a little anxious about the event. Mike A graciously said we could use his laptop for the proceedings, which will at least make things more straightforward.

In world news, the Ontario government has devoted some odd billion dollars to pay for getting insulin pumps and supplies for diabetic children. Shit. As a diabetic adult, that doesn’t help me at all. There seems to be a misconception that juvenile onset Diabetes goes away when you grow up, and that adults with diabetes aren’t as bad off and they brought it on themselves through overeating anyway; this little action is going to do nothing but further said misconception. They don’t really say if a child is anyone less than 18 or what, but what about the 20 year old struggling through university who suddenly gets diagnosed with type I diabetes? That’s gotta be way harder than people like me.. I was diagnosed at 2 and to me it’s just a part of life that I learned from the git-go. I guess the thinking behind it is twofold: a) kids need more help looking after themselves, and insulin pumps do that. b) kids are cute and bad things happening to kids is worse than bad things happening to grown-ups anyway, especially in the eyes of ze public.. opinion polls. Gosh I’m young to be so crotchety. It’s definitely a step in the right direction. But it’s just a step, and I don’t want anyone treating it as the solution to the problem. The problem being that insulin pumps are hugely expensive and rarely covered by health insurance because they aren’t necessary to survival. What they do do is reduce the risks of related (expensive) complications (blindness, missing feet).

Next year Ian is moving in with good chaps Casey, Michael and Matt. That left me and Brian to a new roomie or new digs, and because of both of our propensities for not doing much work in that area not much got done and we took the first easy solution that offered itself. So Brian and I are moving into the half-basement next door with four strangers. It has potential to be alright, and has potential to end up being really shitty. At least the two guys who we met seemed docile, amicable, pretty cool and most importantly as far as I could tell, not Haye Jiggerty (that’s Jaye’s twin of weirdly awkward doominess). But at least it’s cheaper and the stove has knobs. So that’s up in the air. As is the summer and that whole job thing. Too much uncertain floating right now. I’ll just shut up and write my essay. Yeah right.

(mp3) [the last 1.5 songs are missing due to inexplicable winamp crash while I was elsewhere]

2 am
Morcheeba / Over and Over / Big Calm (1998)
Aim / Ain’t Got Time to Waste (feat. YZ) / Cold Water Music (2001)
David Thomas Broughton / Unmarked Grave / The Complete Guide to Insufficiency (2005)
Broken Social Scene / 7/4 (Shoreline) / Broken Social Scene (2005)
Sun Kil Moon / Duk Koo Kim / Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
José Gonzáles / Slow Moves / Veneer (2003)
Gustavo Santaolalla / Coyita / Ronroco (1996)
Red Hot Chili Peppers / Cabron / By the Way (2002)
Jan Jelinek / Universal Band Silhouette / Kosmischer Pitch (2005)

3 am
Lamb / God Bless / Lamb (1997)
Diplo / Way More Brazil / Big Dada Sound 2005-2006 (2005)
Bloc Party / This Modern Love / Silent Alarm (2005)
Tom Vek / C-C (You Set The Fire In Me) / We Have Sound (2005)
Of Montreal / Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games / The Sunlandic Twins (2005)
Rapture / I Need Your Love / Echoes (2003)
A.C. Newman / Miracle Drug / The Slow Wonder (2004)
The Dresden Dolls / Backstabber / Yes, Virginia (2006, Apr 18)
Sia / Breathe Me (Mylo Remix) / Breathe Me (12″) (2004)
Leftfield / 21st Century Poem / Leftism (1995)
The Arcade Fire / Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) / Funeral (2004)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / People Ain’t No Good / Boatman’s Call (1997)

Special Behind the Scenes Featurette:
So just as I was about to head to the station I realized I never actually burned the second CD I was going to use for the show tonight. See, I pre crossfade all the tracks and everything so it can sound delicious and nice.. as long as it’s done. So I burned it a little last minute, decided to make use of my seatless bicycle to get to the station sooner, and upon getting there the CD player didn’t accept it. So during the David Broughton set I raced home to start a new CD-RW burning (just out of the wrapper to try and guarantee no funny stuff). I managed to get back to the station with just a tad of dead air. It appears my bicycle muscles have atrophied. Then during the Jelineklambdiplo set I did the whole thing again to grab the freshly burned and thankfully working CD. That all goes to explain the out of breathiness and lack of anything interesting to say due to high levels of fatigue. Yeah I’m probably insane and take the radio thing a tad too seriously. Oh well. More interesting than anything else that happened today! The unintellibility of the above is entirely related to the absence of my mind. Sleeptimeyes?

(mp3)

2 am
Peace Orchestra / Who Am I / Peace Orchestra (1999)
Herbert / Harmonise / Scales (2006: May 30)
Walker, Scott / Farmer In The City / Tilt (1995)
Nine Horses / Wonderful World / Snow Borne Sorrow (2005)
Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan / Ballad Of Broken Seas / Ballad Of Broken Seas (2006)
Bonnie Prince Billy / Another Day Full of Dread / I See a Darkness (1999)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Lament / The Good Son (1990)
Lamb / Bonfire / Fear Of Fours (1999)
The Decemberists / Oceanside / 5 Songs [EP] (2000)
The Mountain Goats / Lion’s Teeth / The Sunset Tree (2005)
Augie March / Just Passing Through / Moo, You Bloody Choir (2006)

3 am
Shining / Goretex Weather Report / In the Kingdom of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster (2005)
Bomb the Bass / Bug Powder Dust (feat. Justin Warfield) / Clear (1995)
Apsci / Tirade Highway / Thanks For Asking (2005)
Obscure Celebrities / Fahreinheit (Ulrich Schnauss Remix) / Microatlas E.P (2003)
The Knife / Marble House / Silent Shout (2006)
Adem / Launch Yourself / Love and Other Planets (2006: Apr 24)
Arab Strap / Don’t Ask Me To Dance / The Last Romance (2005)
Saul Williams / Telegram / Saul Williams (2004)
A Silver Mount Zion / The Triumph Of Our Tired Eyes / Born Into Trouble As The Sparks Fly Upward (2001)
Sigur Ros / Viõrar Vel Til Loftárasa / Agaetis Byrjun (1999)
Sunset Rubdown / Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings / Shut Up I Am Dreaming (2006: May 2)

Spencer Krug!!

So, spring is here. The heavy coats can get left at home, making the rest of the world just a little bit closer. The windows are open and the air is ten levels more vibrant and animated and fresh. There aren’t any tips of green anywhere yet, nor even birdsong.. but still everything around here seems so much more alive. What wonders that does for the body and soul. In some ways it’s like travelling without moving. Thank you, wind. Thind.

This weekend there’s friday, which brings the CFMU fundraiser rock show at the Underground, (9:30, $5) which will find myself present at it. There’s also Saturday, during which the last couple director’s series plays will wind up and climax with an all-inclusive theatre party. Thursday is also basically part of the weekend for me, and on it I will be going to a little student film festival type deal. On sunday I will read a novel, write a novel, invent a better way of caring, and visit Lithuania.

The director’s series next year at Mac is going to be rather different. Instead of 12 students each directing a one act play on the Robinson Memorial Stage, they’ll be letting in 20 or so folks, and we can propose to do anything that is performance related. The pressure’s on to come up with a good proposal (due late April) and get the marks necessary to get my foot in the door. Last night I had an idea. And having ideas is something that makes me quite happy. It’s an idea for something pretty standard.. (ie a one act play on the Robinson Memorial Stage). Hopefully this germ of a spectacular will continue to grow and if all is well then I’ll be writing a brilliant play. I don’t have characters or a plot, but I almost have a theme and I have one hell of an ending. And I have a really good feeling about it. Don’t make a sound.

Goals for the future include:
i- finding a (preferably friendly) rent-payer to fill the Ian-shaped hole at one four three emerson next year, or else finding somewhere else to live (if you can help with this in any way, do please get in touch.
ii- spending less time frittering away my life reading stupid shit on the internet and doing stupid shit on the computer; I know it’s possible. When I was in grade 6 I woke up at 5:30 every morning to write a novel. But I’ve been trying to do this for what seems like goddamn ever, so.. who knows. Why isn’t it easier to do fairly straightforward things that would vastly improve my quality of life? And would the answer just be something really depressing? Je shrug, au jour d’hui.. as little as shrugging ever accomplishes.

I hope you’re doing well.

You’re on a distant shore
I stamp my feet down down
Do you hear knuckles on your door?
Do you understand what I’m pining for?
I’m afraid of the water
I’m afraid of the sky
I’m tired of waiting
But Oceans never listen to us anyway
And if I fall into the drink
I’ll say your name before I sink

In dim light covered with shadow he steps forward. His mouth is tingling, his tongue won’t sit still. His chest is light. He is unsure. Everyone is always unsure, he hopes. There is a racket inside his thoughts: heavy thuds and thrums and lightly feathered wisps of chime. He winces, falters. Eventually the wheel will stop grinding. It just takes that one right moment. He hopes.
He is aware of his body again. He stands. He takes another step toward the table. He reaches out his hand. His fingers spread apart slightly.
There.
The loudest silence. The brightest fireball night.

(mp3)

2 am
Sufjan Stevens / Come on! Feel the Illinoise / Illinois (2005)
The Herbaliser / Gadget Funk / Take London (2005)
Lyrics Born / I’m Just Raw / Same Shit Different Day (2005)
LCD Soundsystem / Tribulations / LCD Soundsystem (2005)
Sleater-Kinney / Modern Girl / The Woods (2005)
Wolf Parade / Modern World / Apologies To The Queen Mary (2005)
Black Mountain / Modern Music / Black Mountain (2005)
Art Brut / Modern Art / Bang Bang Rock And Roll (2005)
John Vanderslice / plymouth rock / Pixel Revolt (2005)
Architecture In Helsinki / Maybe You Can Owe Me / In Case We Die (2005)
Røyksopp / Only This Moment / The Understanding (2005)
A.C. Newman / On The Table / The Slow Wonder (2004)
Destroyer / European Oils / Rubies (2006)
Neko Case / Star Witness / Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (2006)

3 am
The Mountain Goats / Oceanographer’s Choice / Tallahassee (2002)
Elbow / Picky Bugger / Leaders Of The Free World (2005)
The Eels / Trouble With Dreams / Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005)
Cat Power / The Greatest / The Greatest (2006)
Beth Orton / Shopping Trolley / Comfort Of Strangers (2006)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Henry Lee / Murder Ballads (1996)
Mogwai / Friend of the Night / Mr Beast (2006)
Tortoise / Along The Banks Of The River / Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996)
Clogs / 5/4 / Lantern (2006)
Calla / Pulverized / Collisions (2005)
Stars / Heart / Heart (2003)

4 am
The New Pornographers / The Bleeding Heart Show / Twin Cinema (2005)

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2 am
Okkervil River / So Come Back, I Am Waiting / Black Sheep Boy (2005)
British Sea Power / Apologies to Insect Life / The Decline of… (2003)
The Constantines / Insectivora / Shine a Light (2003)
Primal Scream / Insect Royalty / Xtrmntr (2000)
Blur / Badhead / Parklife (1994)
The New Pornographers / Letter from an Occupant / Mass Romantic (2000)
The Flaming Lips / A Spoonful Weighs A Ton / The Soft Bulletin (1999)
Talk Talk / New Grass / Laughing Stock (1991)
Calexico / Woven birds (Cinematic Orchestra Remixico) / Alone Again Or CDM (2003)
Dead Can Dance / Song of the Dispossessed / Spiritchaser (1996)

3 am
Pulp / I Spy / Different Class (1995)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / The Weeping Song / Live At The Royal Albert Hall (1997)
Massive Attack / Live with Me / Live with Me CDS (2006)
Coldcut / Mr Nichols / Sound Mirrors (2005)
Outkast / Da Art of Storytellin’ (Part 1) / Aquemini (1998)
Martina Topley Bird / Anything / Quixotic (2003)
Bent / Cylons in Love / Programmed to Love (2001)
Her Space Holiday / You And Me / The Past Presents The Future (2005)
Feist / One Evening / Let it Die (2004)
Sub Sub / Past / Full Fathom Five (1995)
Zero 7 / Destiny / Simple Things (2001)

4 am
Augie March / One Crowded Hour / Moo, You Bloody Choir (2006)

Next week is the annual fundraising hullaballoo, so it will be a special show. what’s so special about it? i dunno like.. the best song of 2005 and some other fun bits of bats. not gonna do a full show countdown of anything cause i’m overquota on countdowns already.

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2 am
Elbow / Strangeways To Holcombe Hill In 4.20 / Forget Myself (2005)
Doves / Darker / Sea Song (1999)
Radiohead / The Trickster / My Iron Lung (1994)
Pearl Jam / Yellow Ledbetter / Jeremy (1994)
Interpol / Specialist / Interpol (2002)
U2 / Walk to The Water / With Or Without You (1987)
Massive Attack / Home Of The Whale / Hymn Of The Big Wheel (1992)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Little Empty Boat / Into My Arms (1997)
Suede / My Dark Star / Stay Together (1994)
The Stone Roses / Standing Here / She Bangs the Drums (1989)
My Bloody Valentine / Don’t Ask Why / Glider (1990)

3 am
Belle And Sebastian / Your Cover’s Blown / Books (2004)
Clash / Armagideon Time / London Calling (1979)
Pixies / Into The White / Wave Of Mutilation (1989)
Orbital / What Happens Next / One Perfect Sunrise (2004)
Underworld / Cherry Pie / Pearl’s Girl (1997)
Kate Bush / Under The Ivy / Running Up That Hill (1985)
Goldfrapp / White Soft Rope / Strict Machine (2004)
Cocteau Twins / Those Eyes, That Mouth / Love’s Easy Tears (1986)
Aphex Twin / Flim / Come to Daddy (1997)
Radiohead / Fog / Knives Out (2001)
Super Furry Animals / Arnofio’ / Glo In The Dark / Something for the Weekend (1996)
The Mountain Goats / Raja Vocative / Orange Raja, Blood Royal (1994)
Augie March / Rich Girl / Waltz (1999)
The Smiths / Asleep / The Boy With the Thorn in His Side (1985)

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2 am
Deltron 3030 / 3030 / Deltron 3030 (2000)
Grandaddy / He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s The Pilot / The Sophtware Slump (2000)
Doves / A House / Lost Souls (2000)
Ry Cooder / El U.F.O Cayo / Chavez Ravine (2005)
RJD2 / True Confessions / RJD2 Is God (2003)
Dub Pistols / soul shaking (conduct disorder) / Six Million Ways To Live (2001)
Kanye West / Diamonds From Sierra Leone / Late Registration (2005)
Sebastien Tellier / La Ritournelle / Politics (2004)
Coldcut / Walk A Mile / Sound Mirrors (2006)

3 am
Rosanne Cash / Black Cadillac / Black Cadillac (2006)
R.E.M. / Nightswimming / Automatic for the People (1992)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / New Morning / Tender Prey (1988)
Bonnie Prince Billy / Death to Everyone / I See a Darkness (1999)
Glenn Richards / Middle Of The Road Class War Terra Nullius Blu-Hoos / Closed Off, Cold & Bitter - Life As A Can Of Beer (2005)
stuart a staples / say something now / lucky dog recordings (2005)
Ms. John Soda / Hands / Notes and the like (2006)
Awesome New Republic / Wheels, No Engines / ANR So Far (2005)
Electric President / Insomnia / Electric President (2006)
Royksopp / Sparks / Royksopps Night Out EP Live (2006)
Ada / Lovelace / Lovelace (2004)
Ellen Allien & Apparat / Way Out / Orchestra Of Bubbles (2006)

4 am
Of Montreal / City Bird / Satanic Panic In The Attic (2004)

I started working on this list in December 2004 when the 2005 crop started leaking out into netlandia and since then I’ve been constantly tweaking, adding, removing and rearranging. Until airtime, at which point it all gets set in stone. The actual list that this was culled from goes up to 180, which represents all the albums I heard this year that I enjoyed enough to consider them list-worthy. There are plenty of others that were never considered. The ones that made it on I have heard and enjoyed and usually multiple times, with increasing as you get nearer to the top.

As with all lists, it is inherently wrong. I disagree with several parts of it already, and have for a while. Most annoyingly, Bright Eyes is too high and I don’t know why the hell I pushed Beck off at the last minute. As unrevolutionary as Guero might have been, I quite enjoy it from time to time and it deserves to be here. So there, now that I’m not fully behind this list, you shouldn’t even give two and a half craps about what’s on it. But if you do anyway, more’s the power to ya!

This was originally aired on CFMU on my radioshow. The songnames in parentheses with each album correspond to the song that I played on the show. You can listen to the 5 parts (2 hours each) by dealing with the following links as you see fit: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5.

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One last kick at the can…

19: Bright Eyes - I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (We Are Nowhere And It’s Now)
I was originally wary of Bright Eyes. I didn’t give Conor Oberst a chance because he was lumped in with emo and that whole scene (along with metal) is one that I generally give a pass despite my attempted inclusiveness. I realise eventually that this is really indie-folk, not emo. And that is one of my favourite genres of all. One of Two 2005 Releases by Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake… is a fairly straightforward, rootsy affair with beautiful melodies, notable guests and young Conor’s notably distressed sounding voice

18: Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now (Man Is The Baby)
Antony’s unique, beautiful voice haunts the lush string arrangements of these beautiful melodies, well, beautifully. There aren’t a lot of albums these days that sound exactly like this, or really anything at all like this unabashed soulful crooning. It’s just beauty, dudes, take it or leave it.

17: Kanye West - Late Registration (Gone (Feat. Consequence & Cam’Ron))
Second album in as many years from the new star of hip-hop. Kanye is everywhere. The media loves him, the radio loves him, even the indie kids are buying in. Not without reason, this one is a doozy. Late Registration, produced with some help from Jon Brion, is a more fleshy, direct doozy of an album. Highlights galore, and while Kanye’s rapping is very commendable, the lush arrangements take centre stage.

16: M.I.A. - Arular (Bucky Done Gun)
Maya Arulpragasam is the daughter of a Sri Lankan Tamil, a revolutionary group that sometimes uses violence as a tool to affect change. Considering the climate of the world these days, Maya has a very unique view of the world, even if she does not embrace the views of her father. “I’ll fight you just to get peace” she proclaims. Mean, gritty, born of the jungle and transplanted into an immaculately produced beast of a dancefloor album, Arular is not for all ears… it is abrasive and frenetic more than it is melodic, but it is technically and ideologically ahead of almost any competition.

15: Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (Positive Tension)
2005’s flagship band of the British press, Bloc Party deliver a mean rocking album. A subtly synthetic sheen over its hard-rocking exterior, the Bloc deliver catchy and compelling riffs from tip to tail. The base sound of these songs is intense and paranoid, coiled up around your leg with a snarl. Many move toward more delicate territory, but they never leave home completely.

14: Elbow - Leaders Of The Free World (An Imagined Affair)
Elbow hit the 3rd album masterstroke with this fine collection of songs. Alternating between fast and slow for much of its duration, Leaders… consistently delivers. Guy Garvey’s wispy lyrics are personal and effective; the arrangements either fist mashingly intense or plaintive and simple. Though there are better things about Cast of Thousands and Alseep in the Back, Leaders… is more cohesive, direct and passionate.

13: My Morning Jacket - Z (Wordless Chorus)
More produced than previous albums, which were quite sparse, Z is a joyful collection of sunsoaked melodies that bleed out through the instruments and singing. Every song is catchy and remarkable in its own way. It is always wonderful to see such remarkable craft on display for all to see. This is more accessible than older albums, which were perhaps more personal, but here it really works.

12: Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary (Dinner Bells)
The next Arcade Fire. Hailing from Montreal, produced by Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock (and it shows), these world worn youngsters deliver a murky, grimy arrangements with ragged lead vocals that are counterracted or maybe contradicted by soaring anthems of melodies and stir-the-populace lyrics. It doesn’t work as well as it did for the Arcade Fire, but it sounds to me like it’s coming from an honest place, and it’s a very wonderful experience to hear them trying.

11: The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (You Are a Conductor)
Third album from Guelph based rockers. And this is rock. The where, how and why of rocking. It comes from the travails of the street and is channelled into searing, roaring cries. This album past by most critics, and even disappointed a large number of devoted fans. Well, I pity the fool. I love this thing start to finish. It’s not as immaculate or as experimental, or as brutally raw as the first two albums, but it delivers, and it rocks.

Wilco - Kicking Television: live in Chicago (Handshake Drugs)
Kraftwerk - Minimum Maximum (Tour de France)
A pair of live double albums that are notable for their high quality and notability.

10: Spoon - Gimme Fiction (The Beast And Dragon, Adored)
5th album from Britt Daniel and his Cronies, well, 4th if you don’t count Telephono (which no one does, really) is more of the same and more on top of it. Indie rock with an uncharacteristic zip and fuck added to the rhythm section. Stylistically, it’s easily to tell a song that Brit has had his paws on, but these songs are often excellent and earn their high place in Spoon’s utensilarian pantheon.

9: Jamie Lidell - Multiply (Multiply)
Jamie Lidell made aname for himself in the electronic world as one half of Super_Collidor (with Cristian Vogel). On multiply, he somewhat abandons his electronic leanings and turns his eye to mo-town… with much success. I often complain that what these days we call R&B, is largely a load of crap and doesn’t have half the soul of the “black” music (for lack of a better term) of the 70s did. Maybe that’s a strong argument for synthesizers taking the soul out of music. I respect this album a whole lot because it does a lot to revitalize and modernize a genre without killing it. James goes back to the source material, and proves very soulful indeed (and includes a whole whack of synthesizers anyway!)

8: Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Jacksonville)
The objective album of the year. For my tastes however, it is a bit too saccharine to be at the top of the heap. It is heaps of awesome, though. From the bleak heart-rending beauty of John Wayne Gacy, Jr to the hyperactive broadway musical bliss of the title track, there are a whole whack of stupendous songs on this album. Clever turns of phrase, and twinkly turns of ivory and strings. Cut out 20 minutes and you might get into the top 5 of my subjective list.

7: The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (Use It)
Despite two very solid albums coming before, the third album from the Pornos is their best yet. In my mind there is no hint of a question about it. These songs are so tightly wrapped, so deliciously filled with hooks and bubbling with melody; it just goes hard and never lets up until the end. Leaving you wanting more. Pop/rock is the biggest, least defined genre at most CD stores. This (Canadian!) album comes close to a definition.

6: iron and wine | calexico - in the reins (he lays in the reins)
When 2 of my favourite artists get together to do a collaboration, it is an exciting thing. When it turns out that together they are even better than individually, it is great cause for celebration and hollering. This 7 song EP is chalk full of spanishly influenced country folk narrated by Sam Beam’s incomparable voice. Every song is notable, and it is over much to quick, but sometimes it’s nice to hear such a succinct statement made and not belaboured.

5: The National - Alligator (Daughters of the Soho Riots)
Maybe this is just straightforward indie-rock. A collection of slow and fast songs, with lyrics, driven by guitar.. acoustic for the slow songs, distorted for the fast songs. Not particularly interesting, right? Well maybe I fuckin’ love it! It is a beautiful meeting of country-rock, Britpop, and alternative, just keeping the best parts of each. Matt Berninger’s deep voice caresses the occasionally jaw-dropping lyrics that accompany these consistently brilliant songs.

4: Roisin Murphy - Ruby Blue (Through Time)
When one of my favourite bands breaks up, it is a sad thing. When the lead singer goes on to make a solo album that’s better than any of that band’s albums, it is great cause for celebration and “oh yeah”ing. Such is the story of Moloko and Roisin Murphy. After the demise of Moloko, (when she and …, whose romantic partnership basically formed the band, broke up) Roisin teamed up with famed (in some circles) producer Matthew Herbert, whose warm, jazzy, electronic yet startlingly organic productions fit Roisin’s sultry voice beautifully. A perfect variety of subtly gorgeous jazz numbers and rambunctious and delightfully strange experimentalism. Also look out for the delicious live show.

3: The Decemberists - Picaresque (The Bagman’s Gambit)
Colin Meloy’s Decemberists are the band that made me go from thinking it would be cool to play guitar, to picking one up and learning about 8 or so chords badly. Hey, it’s a start, alright? Their story-driven songs are expansive and delightful, whetting the imagination and the emotions with moving tales from all walks of life, though mostly the downtrodden (which is usually more interesting anyway). Picaresque is more boisterous and garish than its predecessors, with the layers of violins, stand-up basses, 12 string guitars being applied liberally. Somehow, it stands an equal alongside their previous completely brilliant albums. It is joy to behold.

2: The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree (This Year)
John Darnielle is quite a prolific writer of music. The Sunset Tree is something like his 13th album since 1995, depending on how you count them. Only on the last couple albums of his, though, has he turned his lyrical eye inwards where, thanks to his abusive stepfather, there resides a wealth of poignant material. Using professional production techniques instead of a Kmart boombox is also a new development, and to these ears a very welcome one. These songs are delicately haunting at times and often painfully true. Darnielle’s lyrics stay to smaller details that paint a more complete picture (running to his room to escape an outburst.. “so this is what the volume knob’s for”). Honest and compelling.

1: Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs (Measuring Cups)
Andrew Bird is somewhat of a virtuoso. He is a classically trained violinist, whose first releases were straightforward classical and folk songs. He also whistles and sings and plays guitar, and his newer releases have expanded into some sort of mostly mellow indefinable amalgam of any musical style you can make on his instruments. His awareness of music convention is acute and you can tell from the first few notes that everything on this album is put together precisely and expertly. Whether you like it or not is then up to you. Bird fills the album with a generous helping of wit, unpredictability, and at the core great tunes. The Mysterious Production of Eggs is a unique creature whose song is truly delightful to hear.

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And yet more. Verily.

39: Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites (The Zookeeper’s Boy)
An all-out progrockathon with guitars spidering in and out and elevated vocal melodies soaring above with rambunctious joy. All the tracks flow into one another and despite a few overwrought moments it’s all fun as hell.

38: Doves - Some Cities (One Of These Days)
Third time’s the charm? Not quite, but given what they were putting themselves up against, we don’t expect them to necessarily surpass past genius (Lost Souls, Last Broadcast), but what we get is an evolved, very solid offering of power-hungry anthemic Britpop.

37: Sigur Rós - Takk (Saeglopur)
Another third album, if we choose to ignore the oft-ignored Von, and it functions in a similar way to Some Cities, offering us with the power, delicacy and beauty we have come to expect from Icelandic twins Sigur and Ros. It gets a tad bit predictable in patches, but it’s a wonderful journey nonetheless.

36: The Deadly Snakes - Porcella (Gore Veil)
Toronto natives give us a delightful modern cross between Tom Waits and Nick Cave. There is plenty of variety here, and a whole bucket of songs which are fantastically catchy in their own untraditional way. Just very well done, really.

35: M. Ward - Transistor Radio (Fuel For Fire)
Matt Ward is a seemingly rather dour fella, and he lets his disenchanted outlook bleed through his music. Well he can’t really help it because his voice is just so beautifully ragged, but the bluesy tunes he spins certainly compliments very well and creates a beautiful atmostphere. Not notably different from previous albums, but that’s a good thing.

34: Camille - Le Fil (Ta Douleur)
French electronic folk or something like that. Most of the sounds on the album seem to come from Camille’s lips and be mussed up somehow or other. But mostly it’s a collection of diaphanous melodies that bob around and hang together like a bit of cheery abstract tapestry.

33: 13 + God - 13 + God (low heaven)
A quite successful collaboration between The Notwist (dreamy German electronica) and Themselves (murky American hip hop). The bands’ sounds suit each other surprisingly well, and there’s definitely some marvellous tracks in here. Not for all, though, it can easily be a little strange. Themselves have a knack for that.

32: Sons and Daughters - The Repulsion Box (Rama Lama)
Another entry that might only be on here as a result of its similarity to Nick Cave. But seriously, a rip-roaring batch of… rock, I guess. Very Scottish, quite fierce, and a covered in a nice caking of dried mud. This ain’t the music of the sleekly polished innercity, but rather… pirates, I guess.

31: Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart (Here Comes A City)
Juicy British guitar pop with an occasional sprig of folksy leanings (and remember, folk is not a dirty word!). The Go-Betweens were big in the eighties, disappeared for a stint, but now they are back! It is exciting to see older bands at the top of their game. They pound out quite a few killer riffs and tunes and certainly keep us interested. It has a bit of the bright jangle a la Unforgettable Fire era U2. That is a good thing.

30: Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (Entertain)
Grrr. L. Grimy and a little angry. Sleater-Kinney are back for another helping of distorted rawk. This is all pounding drums and words in a not particularly pleasant singing voice, but the fever is infectious and seductive. Ragged and rough, but in all the right places.

29: Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock And Roll (Formed A Band)
I keep thinking of Art Brut like a Rock n Roll version of the Streets, but they’re much more than some version of something else (though a comparison to The Hold Steady might be more apropos). They have their own very unique style, and even if you don’t get into the hilariously simplistic talky lyrics, the music itself should have you rocking in no time.

28: Underworld - RiverRun Project (Food A Ready)
Underworld is back! After their quite disappointing 100 Days Off back in ’02, they’ve started releasing internet only Eps of sorts, and they are delightful to the ears. A great variety of sounds, all intriguing, moving, or relaxing, just like the excellent old days. It’s much like meeting an old friend after 5 years, and got this little radio DJ very excited.

27: Patrick Wolf - Wind In The Wires (Teignmouth)
A collection of airy, violin-driven pop-tunes, run through the electro/glitch filter. A cloudy day in spring, a strong, fresh wind blowing in from somewhere else, beckoning you along with it… this album captures that certain reflective, pregnant mood that is one of my favourites, and so it’s rather difficult to not like it quite a bit.

26: System Of A Down - Mezmerize (Revenga)
I’m no metal-head. If I was, perhaps I’d hate this album. But damn if it doesn’t just push a few great buttons. A wide variety of soaring melodies, frantically hammering guitars, and even something like polka in there somewhere. These guys are a little unhinged, but if you can tolerate their mainstream oddness, quite a listen.

25: LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (Too Much Love)
James Murphy gives us a fine collection of dancefloor friendly, indie-rock-dance. You don’t realize how indie-rock this album is until you hear Never as Tired as When I’m Waking Up. Also, his voice sounds a lot like Ted Leo to me, which is good, but not in a particularly noteworthy fashion. Some of the year’s finest dance beats all on el CD..

24: British Sea Power - Open Season (It Ended On An Oily Stage)
Sophomore album from British Sea Power sees them abandoning a lot of their quirkiness and focusing those wonderful elegiac choruses that made Carrion one of my favourite songs of ever. This is a bit disappointing in a way, but in the end largely successful, I just hope they switch it up for the next album or I might find myself not caring. Like ‘Wind in the Wires,’ it creates a certain mood. That expectant lethargy brought on by the pre-dawn black summer sky-tinged dark blue. Prowling at night when your mind and body tell you you should be sleeping, but another bit of your mind and body disagree. And again, a lovely mood.

23: Vitalic - Ok Cowboy (La Rock 01)
Easy to lump in with that European electro trend, but Vitalic has a character their own. Their grinding, obviously processed synths have a certain down to earth feeling that makes them feel deceptively organic. And it definitely has that French sound, which gives it a lot of life. Lush, in a sparse sort of way… which is a contradiction, but that’s just how I see it.

22: Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft (Atomik Lust)
A delightful and somewhat whacky dish of muuusic. Not sure what all to say about this here. There’s lots of very catchy summery melodies, and some strangeness. I dunno. I like it.

21: Isolée - Wearemonster (Schrapnell)
Some latenight textured house beats. Some more acoustic sounding instruments are thrown into the mix and mangled, along with some samples and none of it seems out of place. It’s a largely dark piece of work but full of intriguing eccentricities and immaculate production. Just get in the right mood and get some nice speakers and enjoy.

20: Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering (Turning Backs)
Vashti’s last album came out more than thirty years ago, so she’s been out of the loop for a while. What we get here is a collection of delectable delicate strains of folk melody. They are charming in their quiet pastoral beauty, something of Keren Ann or Espers. This is sunlight dappling over a field swelling in the gentle breeze music; the sweet melodies calming like the bite into a perfect apple.

Augie March - The Cold Acre (Live at the Northcote Social Club)
Moo You Bloody Choir = Most anticipated release for moi of 2006. That’s all there is to that.

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Still? Yes goddamnit. This guy is nuts. Part 3 of the 111 album countdown.. and we all know the significance of 111 divided by 3! (not particularly anything, but absence is as important as presence). and Heeeeere we go!

62: Deerhoof - The Runners Four (Spirit Ditties Of No Tone)
A sprawling, strange collection of lopsided, loopy somewhat psychedelic indie rock. With 20+ tracks to choose from there’s a lot of variety.

61: Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask (A.T.H.F.)
Danger Mouse and MF Doom team up with Adult Swim to create a rather interesting collection of raps about immature adult cartoons. Dark and layered yet spare production and MF Doom’s weathered sounding raps create a murky atmosphere and the Adult Swim samples make it rather demented. Cool.

60: Yann Tiersen - Les Retrouvailles (Kala)
A collection of sparkling and gentle decidedly French sounding melodies from the man who brought us the Amelie soundtrack. Guest spots from Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins) and Stuart Staples (Tindersticks) give a few of the finest songs of the year, and the rest of the album is infinitely listenable, if a little repetitive

59: Cuff The Duke - Cuff The Duke (I Really Want To Help You)
Oshawa natives deliver a highly enjoyable album of countryrockbluegrass. A simple album, and not even deceptively simple: You’ve got your catchy hooks, jangly instrumentation, and lyrics about the travails of working class life. An album for the common people.

58: Calla - Collisions (So Far, So What)
New album is fortunately much less aimless than previous offerings. There’s louder guitars and more straightforward melodies, and it’s all pretty bleak. Most of the music ends up being processed into a haunting, uneasy delivery. Quite good, but doesn’t fully realize its potential.

57: The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers (Mornings Eleven)
British popsters recall the days of the shiny pop tunes of the sixties where harmonizing voices lament the complexity of relationships. Simple, but delightful.

56: Røyksopp - The Understanding (Someone Like Me)
Follow up to 2001’s spectacular Melody AM sees this Norwegian production duo straying away from ethereal chill-out to more traditional Euro Electro, or something. They definitely know their way around a pair of synthesizers and the result is lovely. The live show is definitely notable.

55: Gorillaz - Demon Days (O Green World)
The animated dudes are back with another album, and it is just as fun and eccentric as their first. The formula remains basically the same – hip hop and alternative and rock all filtered together into a batch of catchy, danceable tunes.

54: Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (A Pain that I’m Used to)
A comeback of sorts for these dudes who are primarily associated with 80s nu-wave movement. They sound like themselves, and may be accused of rehashing, but they are pretty near the top of their game. The electronic beats sound manufactured and vicious as they should, matching David Gahan’s voice perfectly.

53: Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust (Agony in Her Body)
Some very fine hip hop from the Sage. Songs both political and personal generally communicate an atmosphere of anxiety, mostly thanks to Sage’s voice and lyrics (there’s some awesome lines in here). The production is fittingly dark, lurking in the dark streets and slamming us with intensity as required.

52: Cristian Vogel - Station 55 (Neon Underground)
Electronic pioneer monsieur Vogel operates on his own terms, and it’s rather hard to place him in any specific category. As is often not the case on full length electronic releases, there’s a huge amount of variety here and a healthy dose of bizarre, dark, infectious and jazzy productions.

51: The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever (Be Gentle With Me)
A rather lurvely little collection of unabashedly hyperhappy indie-pop. “I’m happy ‘cause I’m stupid.” Well, we’re happy you’re stupid then, because my day is made that little bit more bearable by your chirpy, chipperness-inducing melodies.

50: The Books - Lost And Safe (An Animated Description Of Mr. Maps.)
A more conventional album from one of the least conventional groups going. Some melody and sometimes logical lyrics get added to the reversed guitars and mangled samples from here, there and everywhere. For some reason all these strange sounds sound really excellent together, and this is certainly a highly unique album.

49: Edan - Beauty and The Beat (Rock and Roll)
Edan reminds us of the classic hip hop of the mid or even nearly 90s. A more organic production style, though it’s very layered and a little bit psychedelic. For some reason I feel this album should be tie-dyed.

48: Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better With (Walk Away)
Sophomore release from the indie bozos that split the world in half in 2004. They progress somewhat with fuller productions, and some (more accurately one) slower ballads (done quite well, too), but the formula remains largely intact; but it’s a rather infectious and successful formula so that’s no reason to complain.

47: Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die (Do The Whirlwind)
At times goofy, but incredibly tight little bits of pop. There’s a couple songs on here that just won’t get out of your head, even if you beat it with a stick (your head I mean). Horns, synths, even sitars, guitars and sound effects create a sort of carnival atmosphere like an incredibly colourful acid trip.

46: Animal Collective - Feels (Banshee Beat)
More acid! Yay! I think they call this psychfolk. A bit like an acoustic Four Tet with lyrics; all sprawling, textured, untraditionally structured bits of this and that. It’s all quite complex and compelling and these guys clearly have leet skill; I just can’t quite get it to give me an emotional connection

45: The Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (Railroad Man)
A double album from the band that managed one mainstream hit. Remember Novocaine for the Soul? This is a really wonderful listen. Not all the songs are gems, but there’s 33 of them and there’s a whole wealth of interesting things to discover; from country, to happy pop, to folky approaches, and yet it all hangs together pretty well.

44: Black Mountain - Black Mountain (Druganaut)
Gritty bluesrock from Jupiter. Actually it’s from British Columbia (that’s where I’m from!) This album is one I often enjoyed significantly while listening to and then forgot about until a few months later when I would appreciate it again. An intriguingly different collection of songs.

43: Fiery Furnaces - EP (Sing For Me)
Not exactly sure this fits my own criteria for inclusion, but I put it on back in February and after so long one can’t cut it. This is a sort of collection of odds and ends from the Fiery Furnaces previous, overlong albums. I find this concise picture of their unique sense of melody and arrangement much more listenable than their rather overwhelming LPs. And 40 minutes sure ain’t bad for an EP.

42: Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene (Superconnected)
Hotly anticipated followup to 2002’s You Forgot It In People. There’s some awesome guitars and tunes here no doubt, and I find it more immediately accessible than their aforementioned hypemachine, but it is lacking some of its subtlety. The barrage of 50 odd instruments can be a bit overwhelming, but there’s some wicked songs at the core.

41: The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (Take, Take, Take)
A radical departure from Elephant. When you’re one of current popular music’s most well regarded guitar players, recording an album largely on marimba and piano is a … well, Jack White thing to do. It works quite well, though. Their signature style remains intact, but it’s lovely to see it from a rather different angle.

40: The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (Stevie Nix)
Badass dirty guitar rock backs half-sung tirades about growing up and being a part of the music scene. Clever lyrics and quite excellent music combine for a rather unconventional but engaging and really quite awesome experience.

XX: Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - B-Sides And Rarities (Right Now Im A Roaming)
This ain’t in the countdown but it’s a worthy mention. Hey, 3 CDs for the price of one is not shabby in the least.

… to be continued…

Last term was the best yet at McMaster. I had class that was fun, class that was absurdly easy, class that was practical experience, some classes mostly full of friends. Marks were decent, probably enough to put me on a good path toward maintaining my scholarship which is all that matters in that department. The production of Henry was the best I have been involved in, personal performance-wise, overall production quality-wise, cast chumminess-wise, etc. It was thrilling, and rather an honour to be part of. But really is there any point in all this looking back?

Tonight I have Critical Thinking, which is a very boring seeming course, but one I feel I’ll be able to get a high mark in without too much effort. But a 2 hour night class where it takes the prof 8 minutes to make a point you figured out in 1 doesn’t do much to keep one like me awake. The solution I have discovered to this problem is to use the time creatively. I am getting a blank notebook and using the time to write (not illustrate! heh. no) my first comic book. The topic of the comic book will be the stirring narratives of BUSF#CKER!!! … what else? I have a whole wealth of ideas for this little project and though I shouldn’t jinx it, I feel this has a chance of potentially earning me some pocket money if I work hard enough at it (here’s hoping!). Thanks to the four people who have already drawn the dude in various media (though I haven’t seen them all), it’s nice to have support! and the nature of this cracker means that all of you are right! But if anyone likes to draw and wants specific things to draw, let me know and I will hook you up.

Stagemanaging Problem Child is taking up almost all of my unwasted time these days. It’s gruelling, busy, occasionally frustrating, but ultimately rewarding (here’s hoping!) work. It was a bit rough at the beginning of the term getting flung into that right off the bat, right off of leaving London under unfortunate circumstances (not only is leaving London generally unfortunate thanks to a certain female, the holiday was bloody brilliant save the last two rather literally and figuratively painful days and that all took some dealing with). Hey Valerie, five fucking months! You better not just be after my money…

Today it is like spring. The sun shone and it was actually warm light, not that pale thin winter sunshine that multiplies off the snow and blinds you. I was wandering down Broadway near the Ginos and noticed the most peculiar house… it had curvy wooden lattice type furnishings. There was a delapidated raised porch on the front, but instead of steps, there was a mailbox. I can’t believe I never noticed it before, but it was quite interesting.

This afternoon Ryan drove Ashleigh and me all around Hamilton with an emphasis on the seedier neighbourhoods… most of which I’ve never seen because my travel in Hamilton is basically limited to in between my house and school and the grocery store with occasional jaunts downtown. Nice to get a feel for what the rest of the city has to offer and it’s always interesting to see new things.

What else? On Saturday we conducted the first live roleplaying session that I have been involved with in Hamilton. Mike was GMing and I and Brian were in charge of two ISWAT agents tracking vampires through the streets of Johnson’s Rome. It was an absolute blast and I’m looking forward to more.

That, for now, is all.

(mp3)

The second part of our tiny little downcounting of musical albumens.

87: Menomena - Under an Hour (Flour)
A set of three extended tracks created for a dance performance. Repeating arrangements weave in and out, build, denoue, and make for great listening

86: Kate Bush - Aerial (Somewhere in Between)
Kate’s first album in 12 years is a double one, though it could fit on one CD. Exhibits the fanciful, lush, dark atmosphere of her best work, but more restrained and not quite as sharp.

85: Ladytron - Witching Hour (Destroy Everything You Touch)
Hard-hitting, brooding electro, a little bit gothy. Gets a bit repetitive after a while, but a very worthy effort.

84: Roots Manuva - Awfully Deep (colossal insight)
One of hip-hop’s best and most distinctive voices comes out with a pessimistic, worried album tinged with techy elements of the booming UK garage scene.

83: Gang Gang Dance - God’s Money (Egowar)
Pygmy children locate whistles, helium, and a variety of drums and crunchy things. The result is somehow very appealing (at least to these ears). Psychedelic, insane and a little bit spastic.

82: Busdriver - Fear Of A Black Tangent (Reheated Pop!)
Extra-speedy rapper Busdriver delivers a disc of cynical rhymes backed with loopy, chirpy production. If you can decipher what he’s saying there’s good stuff in there!

81: The Kills - No Wow (No Wow)
Grimy guitar rock with male and female lead voices. A little reminiscent of Damon-favourite PJ Harvey.

80: Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak of it Again (How Long)
Sharing some members with !!! (and that’s what you get when you capitalize the number of albums in this here countdown), Out Hud delivers an album of whacky indie disco psych techno riddled with some excellent songnames.

79: Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh (Selina’s Melodie Fountain)
Murky guitar rock that drones at times and sometimes learns to fly—in an anthemic, epic sort of way. M83 for those who like to rawk? No. But I just name-dropped, so I am elite.

78: Matias Aguayo - Are You Really Lost (De Papel featuring Max Turner)
Some goshdarn excellent micro-house. Subtle in its way, it creeps along with a steady rhythm and buries itself inside you.

77: Kelley Polar - Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens (Here in the Night)
The Junior Boys have already spawned an Imitator! Monsieur Kelley, though delivers great variety on this disc, expertly crafted productions back succulent and surprisingly complex pop cherries, crooned over with a sweet voice.

76: Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (Extraordinary Machine)
Caused a little bit of controversy when Fiona abandoned producer Jon Brion for . No one can definitively decide which version is better, but they’re both good. It sounds a little bit out of its time but it all fits together quite beautifully.

75: The Drones - Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By (Baby²)
Australian band delivers longest album title of countdown! One of best also! Manly, dense and dirty rock and roll. Grrr.

74: Richard Hawley - Coles Corner (Just Like The Rain)
Some lovely and warm tunes involving lush instruments and melodies, with Richard’s pleasant croon to make you smile. This is an album you can play for your parents. Good, old fashioned songcraft.

73: Cage - Hell’s Winter (Stripes)
Chris Palko’s troubled life gets the focus on his album. Cage explores how his abusive, heroin-addicted father, violent upbringing, and time in a mental institution (etc) made him who he is. Dark stuff, finely produced by Def Jux regulars like Blockhead. And Eminem thought he had it bad…

72: Buck 65 - This Right Here is (Bandits)
Canadian rapper’s big label debut collects some of his previous tracks and some new ones and re-jigs them for a theoretically larger audience. That audience includes me, so I won’t complain about any of that selling out crap. He could almost come from the south, probably the most un-urban hiphop I’ve run into.

71: esem - scateren (dispehrse)
A free web-release that breaks from traditional albumic conventions. Beautiful electronic ambient music of various types.

70: Blackalicious - The Craft (Ego Sonic Wardrums)
Independent hip-hop’s flagship (Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel) delivers their third album, and it’s a much more polished affair. More consistent in sound than previous offerings and therefore less noticeable, but expertly put together and there’s some delicious offerings within.

69: Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow (Chinese Children)
Sad-voiced Devendra delivers another long, dusty album of folky songs, sometimes Mexicanally affected, sometimes straight ahead strum. He knows how to write some fine lyrics and tunes.

68: Thee Silver Mt. ZionMemorial Orchestra& Tra-La-La Band - Horses in the Sky (Mountains Made of Steam)
The ex-Godspeed You Black Emperor side project (too big to be a side project now, i’faith) delivers number 4. Unfortunately a step down from other albums, but brilliant, moving and honest nonetheless, if you can get used to Efrim’s voice (cause oh boy does he like to sing now!) Still no substitute for their mindboggling live show.

67: Castanets - First Light’s Freeze (A Song is Not The Song Of The World)
Unique spare electronic indie folk rock… or something. Clackety beats, building atmospheres of organic sounding synths create the bed for dramaric dual-voiced lyrics.

66: John Vanderslice - Pixel Revolt (trance manual)
Following up Cellar Door with another album of pleasantly catchy often beautiful melodies, a variety of narrative lyrics and extremely eclectic instrumentation.

65: Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (For Real)
Ragged voiced folk-rock. I don’t want to say emo, but this guy doesn’t sound happy. He still manages for some excellent lyrics and a true emotional punch now and then. It often gets pretty intense.

64: Caribou - The Milk Of Human Kindness (Yeti)
Formerly Manitoba, Dan Snaith (a Dundas native!) doesn’t let Handsome Dick cramp his style, delivering a superb set of wild and psychedelic songs that stretch the mind with sounds you’ve never heard before.

63: Iron & Wine - Woman King EP (In My Lady’s House)
Sam Beam presents a collection of 6 songs backed by his unique and utterly wondful voice. The arrangements are much expanded from the simple palette of his sparser previous offerings, now offering various layers of rattling and dinging, but still in that dusty back forty sort of way.

..to be continued..

(mp3)

The first part of a rather ambitious and perhaps deranged countdown.

111: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - The Proposition Original Soundtrack (The Proposition #1)
Atmospheric, at times pretty and others creepy as Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (a violinist who has worked with Cave on several albums) are so good at. It has a real character, and though I haven’t seen the movie yet, it builds a mood quite clearly and effectively on its own.

110: Maxïmo Park - A Certain Trigger (Acrobat)
Another in the parade of British nu-wave seemingly cashing in on the success of Franz Ferdinand. This is a cut above the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs and The Bravery, though. Maximo Park take the sound and make it theirs.

109: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl (Shuffle your Feet)
A huge departure for the band; turning from somber and gritty guitar-rock to gospel-tinged blues. Good to see a band progressing somehow, but this one was close. At first I hated it, but the craft is there and I eventually found myself actually wanting to listen to the album.

108: Why? - Elephant Eye Lash (Crushed Bones)
An intriguing blend of indie rock and indie hip hop. Valuable, if only for the interesting sound it exudes, but listenable beyond that as well. Worth a listen.

107: Boards Of Canada - The Campfire Headphase (Satellite Anthem Icarus)
Ambient electronicery by Scotland’s famed duo. Can feel a bit repetitive and uninspired at times, but there’s some beautiful stuff going on here.

106: Metamatics - 3 Jak and Dive (vlokal)
Glitchy ambience almost in the style of BoC.

105: Jason Collett - Idols of Exile (Fire)
Folk rock from the lead singer of Broken Social Scene. Pleasing to the ears, and some brilliant melodies.

104: Xiu Xiu - La Foret (Ale)
Eerie minmalist and sometimes hard to listen to rock. Lead singer sounds pretty bent out of shape sometimes. A difficult listen, but let it weasel its way in and you may well find something valueable.

103: Lemon Jelly - 64-95 (’64 aka Go)
A bit of a departure for the group. Each song uses a sample from the year in the title. Sounds a little more traditional than previous Lemon Jelly offerings, but at the same time mature and accomplished. The DVD that comes with videos for every track is a treat.

102: Pendulum - Hold Your Colour (Fasten Your Seltbelt Feat. The Freestylers)
Wicked drum and bass from Australia. Shades of Apollo 440. A ripping good time.

101: Thomas Brinkmann - Lucky Hands (THIRTY2)
Delicate ambience. Sounds both natural and heavily computerized at the same time. Beautiful and subtle.

100: Ry Cooder - Chavez Ravine (Poor Man’s Shangri-La)
A concept album from the veteran performer about the destruction of the titular community, a sort of commemoration of their unique way of life. Many different styles and very rich, Chavez Ravine has a lot to offer and it’s definitely one I feel would place a higher given some more time to sink in.

99: M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us (Teen Angst)
Bombastic synthesizer anthems. If you excuse how seriously it seems to take itself, very fun and at times profoundly beautiful.

98: The Clientele - Strange Geometry (Since K Got Over Me)
Gentle guitar rock. Not much else to say. Quite well crafted.

97: Espers - The Weed Tree (Rosemary Lane)
Medieval sounding psychfolk covers of everything from traditional ballads to Blue Oyster Cult, and an original.

96: The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners (A Hiccup in Your Happiness)
Sunshine and simple catchy pop melodies.

95: The Rosebuds - Birds Make Good Neighbors (Hold hands and fight)
Not so different from Warmer Corners, a little more airy and straightforward.

94: Common - Be (Testify)
Straightforward but certainly high quality hip hop from one of the genres notables.

93: Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth (I’ve Hardly Been)
Fun, catchy all-over-the-place light indie rock.

92: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (Details Of The War)
Nice arrangements. Get a new singer.

91: Keith Fullerton Whitman - Multiples (Stereo Music for Acoustic Guitar, etc – Part One)
Nice experimental ambience. Surprisingly complex and easy on the ears though it sounds strangely mathematical.

90: The Herbaliser - Take London (Song for Mary)
Hiphop, reggae, soul and electronica flounce together in this rather lovely bit of music. Electronic music played on live instruments.

89: Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (The Party’s Crashing Us)
No Satanic Panic in the Attic, but there’s certainly some delicious gems here. Fantastic as a quantitative judgement (as in, the realms of fantasy), but not so much as previous offerings, and much more disco involved.

88: Robyn - Robyn (Be Mine!)
A variety of styles and speeds, but all well-crafted electropop as always seems to be big in Europe.

..to be continued next week..

(mp3)

The holiday special. Christmas, X-mas, triple x-mas, sex-mas, axe-mas, kwanza, chanuckhkha, you know.. whichever bastes your turkey.

2 am
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds / Stagger Lee / Murder Ballads (1996)
the national / abel / alligator (2005)
Nada Surf / Paper Boats / Let Go (2002)
Yann Tiersen / A secret place / Les Retrouvailles (2005)
Augie March / This Train / Strange Bird (2002)
Sigur Rós / Hoppipolla / Takk (2005)
Pnau / Super Giants / Again (2003)
Vitalic / The Past / Ok Cowboy (2005)
Under Byen / Kyst / Kyst (1999)
Bell Orchestre / Salvatore Amato / Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light (2005)
PJ Harvey / The Slow Drug / Uh Huh Her (2004)

3 am
Luomo / The Present Lover / The Present Lover (2003)
Neneh Cherry / Move With Me (Dub) / Until The End Of The World (1991)
Herbert / It’s Only / Bodily Functions (2001)
Twine / Girl Song / Twine (2003)
M. Ward / Four Hours In Washington / Transistor Radio (2005)
The Mountain Goats / Pale Green Things / The Sunset Tree (2005)
Wilco / Hell Is Chrome / A Ghost Is Born (2004)
The Wrens / Happy / The Meadowlands (2003)
Iron & Wine / Passing Afternoon / Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)
Calexico / Sunken Waltz / Feast of Wire (2003)
Iron & Wine | Calexico / 16, Maybe Less / In the Reins (2005)

4 am
Elbow / The Everthere / Leaders Of The Free World (2005)

Thank you to all who listened to a even a minute or two of the first half of the second season. I’ll be back in the new year with the top 111 albums of 2005

For this performance I played all of the “characters”. I lined up eight pairs of shoes, one for each , at the back of the performance area on a little wooden riser/thing. Between each bit, I scurried back and changed shoes quickly and then got back into the game, pedally transformed into a totally different character. It went much better than I anticipated. I hope that there is more in store for BUSF#CKER!!! and if you (yes, YOU!) have any of the drawing skills, I would love to see your take on him.

*as in, more with the ad-libbing and less with the strict memorization.

So without further ado:
(more…)

(mp3)

Tonight! All is music pertaining to scoring the movement of picture or body.

2 am
Vangelis / Prologue And Main Titles / Blade Runner (Esper Edition) (1982)
Peter Gabriel / The Feeling Begins / The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988)
Pale 3 / The Roof, The Escape (Feat. Michael Brook) / Der Krieger Und Die Kaiserin (2000)
Samuel Barber / Adagio For Strings / Platoon (1986)
Sigur Rós / Yfirum / Englar Alheimsins (2000)
Clint Mansell / Lux Aeterna / Requiem For A Dream (2000)
Hans Zimmer / Duduk Of The North / Gladiator: More Music (2000)
Christopher Franke / The War / In The Beginning (1998)
Christopher Franke / Severed Dreams / Volume 2: Messages From Earth (1997)
Rob D / Clubbed to Death / The Matrix (1999)

3 am
The Dust Brothers / Who Is Tyler Durden? / Fight Club (1999)
Philip Glass / Koyaanisqatsi / Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke / Tempest / The Insider (1999)
Nick Cave / A Prison In The Desert / Ghosts Of The Civil Dead (1989)
Ennio Morricone / La Resa Dei Conti / For A Few Dollars More (1973)
Astor Piazzola / “Introduccion” From Suite Punta Del Este / 12 Monkeys (2000)
Yann Tiersen / La Valse d’Amélie / Amelie (2001)
Menomena / Water / Under An Hour (2005)
Edward Shearmur / Grand Central / K-Pax (2001)
Vangelis / Memories Of Green / Blade Runner (1994)
Clannad / Harry’s Game / Harry’s Game (1982)

4 am
Beethoven / Adagio Cantabile (Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’) / The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

(mp3)

2 am
Thomas Brinkmann / Margins / Lucky Hands (2005)
Mirah / Cold Cold Water / Advisory Committee (2001)
Augie March / Brundisium / Strange Bird (2002)
Cuff the Duke / No Sleep, No Heat / Cuff the Duke (2005)
The Deadly Snakes / Work / Porcella (2005)
Iron and Wine | Calexico / History of Lovers / In The Reins (2005)
Andrew Bird / Way Out West / The Swimming Hour (2001)
Tindersticks / Rented Rooms / Curtains (1997)
The Cardigans / In the Round / Super Extra Gravity (2005)
Mazarin / Another One Goes By / We’re Already There (2005)
Fiery Furnaces / Sing for Me / EP (2005)
Dubstar / Not Once, Not Ever / Disgraceful (1995)

3 am
Saint Etienne / Milk Bottle Symphony / Tales from Turnpike House (2005)
Broken Social Scene / Hotel / Broken Social Scene (2005)
Animal Collective / Grass / Feels (2005)
Richard Hawley / Born Under A Bad Sign / Coles Corner (2005)
Underworld / Jal to Tokyo / Lovely Broken Thing (2005)
Cristian Vogel / The Time Lock / Station 55 (2005)
Isolée / Pictureloved / Wearemonster (2005)
Okkervil River / Black / Black Sheep Boy (2005)
Belle & Sebastian / Like Dylan in the Movies / If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Sunday’s Slave / Tender Prey (1987)
Vashti Bunyan / Wayward / Lookaftering (2005)
Espers / Dead King / the Weed Tree (2005)
Laura Veirs / Through the Glow / Year of Meteors (2005)

4 am
Bonnie Prince Billy / I See a Darkness / I See a Darkness (1999)

(mp3)

2 am
Rob Porter / The Designated Patient / Henry V (2005)
Saul Williams / Act III Scene 2 (Shakesphere) / Saul Williams (2004)
Radiohead / I Will / Hail To The Thief (2003)
Arcade Fire w. David Bowie / Wake Up / Fashion Rocks (2005)
Sleater-Kinney / Faraway / One Beat (2002)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists / Shake the Sheets / Shake the Sheets (2004)
U2 / Bullet The Blue Sky (live in Dublin and London) / Wembley Nights/Zoo Europa (1993)
Sage Francis / Gunz Yo / A Healthy Distrust (2005)
Manic Street Preachers / Ifwhiteamericacouldtellthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart / The Holy Bible (1994)
Elbow / Leaders Of The Free World / Leaders Of The Free World (2005)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds / Hiding All Away / Abattoir Blues (2004)
System Of A Down / B.Y.O.B. / Mezmerize (2005)
Outkast / War / Speakerboxxx (2003)

3 am
Cage / Grand ‘ol Party Crash (ft. Jello Biafra) / Hell’s Winter (2005)
Sigur Rós / (the Pop Song) / ( ) (2002)
Lyrics Born / The Last Trumpet (ft. Lateef the Truthspeaker) / Later That Day… (2003)
Lifesavas / Resist / Spirit in Stone (2003)
Kanye West / Jesus Walks / College Dropout (2004)
Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra la la Band / God Bless Our Dead Marines / Horses in the Sky (2005)
Super Furry Animals / Liberty Belle / Phantom Power (2003)
The Decemberists / The Legionnaire’s Lament / Castaways and Cutouts (2002)
Devendra Banhart / Heard somebody say / Cripple Crow (2005)

4 am
Our Ugly Army (Mark Grayson Lenover) / Henry V / Whenever Shots Are Fired (2005)

Thanks to Marco for dropping by. Thanks to everyone involved with Henry V. And thanks to everyone who has come to see it.

Henry V
written by Shakespeare
directed and reinterpreted by Peter Cockett
starring an ensemble cast of high talent including two South Alumni! (those being Damon [that’s me] as well as my good friend [and hopefully your good friend as well] Ciara Murphy)

This has been eating up a fair amount of my time in the last little while, but I think it will be well worth it. Moreso than any other show I’ve been in in the past, I really feel kinda priveleged to be a part of this one. This is a real personal thing for the director, who told us that this is the one thing he’s done in his career that he truly cares about. And I think it’s probably worth caring about. It’s not your typical Shakespeare play… there’s a lot of added stuff, new scenes with no dialogue, a much pared down script, the ‘hero’ of the play is looked at a leeeetle bit more critically than is traditional, there’s guns, explosions, a lot of intensity, live and recorded video footage, and a Nick Cave song for good measure. It’s probably a little disturbing, so if you’re not up for that kind of thing be warned (still come, of course, but you might want to leave the kids at home)

I understand plans are in order for a bunch of people to trek on up from London this coming Saturday and that is awesome! I look forward to seeing you all and thank you profusely, but the more the merrier! The website above has infos on the showtimes etc (and a trailer!). Now for those of my comrades who aren’t in school (therefore technically not students) and still want to get the student rate (thereby saving ten bucks) because you’re poor like a student, my stage manager has advised me that if you purchase tickets over the phone in a situation where you can’t be asked to show a student card and just ask for student tickets you should be fine. She also said that if there’s a problem with that to yell at the people at the door to go get her. It should not be an issue though. And no complaining that ten bucks is too much, because it isn’t. (20 might be, though). Now I’m not trying to imply that if you don’t come I’ll kill you or anything like that, but I’m not ruling it out either. Also, feel free to recommend it to any parent or acquaintance or familymember etc that might happen to be vaguely interested in political theatre.

And while I’m making plans for you, I might as well get this one out of the way:
you are all also coming to see:

Problem Child
writer: George F Walker
director: Ashleigh Gillan
stagemanager: Damon Muma

Auditions: Nov 22, 23 and 25 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm in Com Base 10-8

Performance: January 26-28 in Robinson Memorial Theatre, Admission: Free.

Those of you who know me well (or have read my profile), probably know that George F Walker is my favourite playwright and possibly my favourite author altogether. Therefore, the opportunity to work on this production (and get scholastic credit for it, no less) is pretty freaking awesome! Working on this with Ashleigh and whoever ends up getting cast is going to be such a blast. Heck it would be awesome even if it wasn’t George F. The cake has so much icing it’s dripping on the floor, guys!

(mp3)

2 am
Omar Faruk Tekbilek / Shashkin (Hefner Remix) (2001)
µ-ziq / Swan Vesta / Tango N’ Vectiff (1993)
Rae & Christian / Divine Sounds / Northern Sulphuric Soul (2004)
Common / I Am Music / Electric Circus (2002)
Blackalicious / Give It To You / The Craft (2005)
M83 / Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun / Before the Dawn Heals Us (2005)
Andrew Bird / Why? / The Swimming Hour (2001)
Andrew Bird / I / Weather Systems (2003)
Andrew Bird / Skin is, My / The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)
A Camp / The Oddness of the Lord / A Camp (2001)

3 am
Modest Mouse / Tiny Cities Made of Ashes / The Moon And Antarctica (2000)
Sun Kil Moon / Salvador Sanchez / Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
Swayzak / Sob 1 / Dirty Dancing (2002)
Camille / La Jeune Fille Aux Cheveux Blancs / Le Fil (2005)
Buck 65 / Corrugated Tin Facade / Secret House Against The World (2005)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / We Came Along This Road / No More Shall We Part (2001)
Sufjan Stevens / John Wayne Gacy, Jr / Illinois (2005)
Bird York / In the Deep / The Velvet Hour (2005)
Patrick Wolf / This Weather / Wind In The Wires (2005)
Røyksopp / What Else Is There? / The Understanding (2005)
Pale 3 / Just Another Day (feat. 12 Rounds) / Der Krieger und Die Kaiserin OST (2001)
Jason Collett / We All Lose One Another / Idols of Exile (2005)

(mp3)

2 am
Doves / The Storm / Some Cities (2005)
Massive Attack ft. Dot Allison / Aftersun / Danny the Dog (promo) (2005)
Depeche Mode / Precious / Playing the Angel (2005)
Mew / Special (Radio Mix) / And the Glass Handed Kites (2005)
Death From Above 1979 / Black History Month (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix) / Romance Bloody Romance (2005)
The Hold Steady / Killer Parties / … Almost Killed Me (2004)
Serena Maneesh / Drain Cosmetics / Serena Maneesh (2005)
Pulp / This Is Hardcore / This Is Hardcore (1998)
The Constantines / Love in Fear / Tournament of Hearts (2005)
Calla / Swagger / Collisions (2005)
Saul Williams / African Student Movement / Saul Williams (2004)
Herbert / The Audience / Bodily Functions (2001)
3 am
Menomena / Strongest Man in the World / I am the Fun Blame Monster (2003)
John Cale / Paris 1919 / Paris 1919 (1973)
Dirty Three / The Zither Player / Cinder (2005)
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis / The Rider Song / The Proposition - OST (2005)
Sons And Daughters / Dance Me In / The Repulsion Box (2005)
Super Furry Animals / Zoom / Love Kraft (2005)
Hybrid / If I Survive / Wide Angle (2000)
Coldcut / Autumn Leaves (Irresistable Force mix) (1999)
Handsome Boy Modeling School / Sunshine (Groove Armada Sunset Dub) (2000)
Death Cab For Cutie / Summer Skin / Plans (2005)
Keren Ann / Ending song / Not Going Anywhere (2003)

The interior is coloured by the late afternoon sky. Or is it early evening already? The sun is bowing out after another day with a fluorish of royal gold. Plazas and spiring highrises reflect the warmth of the sky. The Don Valley is resplendant in orange and yellow and red on its own autumn terms. The clouds are piled in an uneven net. Above the metal shield of ceiling probably there are snatches of midday blue, but they won’t be seen through the dirty picture windows butted by rows of passengers. Snug rows or mashed rows is entirely a matter of opinion.

After several stops, with nothing else to do, we are gradually introduced to the characters. With such an expansive cast there’s certainly something of note, just keep your nose shut tight–evidently not everyone had a chance to shower before ariving at the set.

We don’t openly stare or acknowledge our companions, except for the lady in a checkered coat three seats down, but we are all aware. We can all hear the 11 year old japanese boy excitedly talking about Magic: The Gathering, explaining new cards and wondering at terrifying combos. I can’t help but be tempted to try a game, if only in my head. Certainly it’s been a long time. I don’t imagine many of the other thirty odd witnesses have any idea what the fuck, though. They can instead wonder at the boy’s company. Is that very much older fellow with him a brother, or a remarkably older friend, or even a young father? There could be a story there.

At the next stop, two new guys barrel onto the bus. 16 years, maybe less. One is impressively large and has a light, patchy goatee on the front of his ball-capped head. The other is of a similar feather, but regular size. His baggy jeans have metal dangling from them. Together this pair steals the frame. Their looming is probably partially unintentional, but it’s all part of the show. There’s something about a strike, it might relate to work or school, there’s something about not doing a paper, instead some other kind of paper, something about a girl. And then there’s something about wanting beer. At that age, who doesn’t? If this was ten years ago, Kurt Cobain would give these fellas direction. Grunge. “Yeah. It’s the next stop.”

As our public metal chariot pulls to the side and comes to rest, the loomers head toward the doors, but much to their chagrin no amount of shoving against them results in a way out. We discover, if we’d forgotten, the female voice of our busdriver as she explains them through the process of simply standing on the step and allowing the doors to open of their own accord.

“Bitch!” One of the grunge kids mutters on his way out. The kind-looking black man sitting right next to the doors with a small cardboard box package on his lap winces and slowly shakes his head. You, and others nearby register agreement with his sentiment–silently or with a quirked lip. The 23 year old university student at the very rear doesn’t notice. He has other things to think about, and his white headphones help take him away from them for a little while, or at least dull their edges.

Round a corner and into Pape station. With a surge of motion the tenuous connections made in this most momentary of communities fall away as quietly as they were formed. The subtle dynamic that had only just begun to unwittingly form becomes an empty line of almost comfortable red seats and a scuffed black floor; but soon to be replaced. We funnel easily across the platform, down the escalators and onto the waiting subway.

…then we thank the Gods that BUSF#CKER!!! evidently had other things to be doing on that particular afternoon.

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week I had an excellent little vacation to Toronto, managing to only miss one class as a direct* result. Tuesday night was Spoon (with Mary Timony) at Phoenix Nazi Concert Theatre and Matt snagged a drumstick. Stayed the night on Laura’s futon. Wednesday, Brian and I spent a day at the science centre with a primary focus on the Bodyworlds exhibition of plastinated bodies. It was close to being mindblowing. Very highly recommended. Then we went to Brian’s brother’s for porkchops and guillotines (dinner and a card game) and general relaxing. Then on to The Opera House where we met up with Ian, Monique, Matt and a friend of Ian’s named Josina and witnessed The Hold Steady and The Constantines. Both were excellent. Monique vehicled Matt and I to Union Station in plenty of time to catch the last bus back to Steeltown. All was good, all was bright.

*I missed a few others. I mean, I needed to sleep in Thursday morning, it was necessary for necessity’s sake.

(mp3)

2 am
Amon Tobin | Four Ton Mantis | Supermodified (2000)
Portishead | Cowboys | Portishead (1997)
Massive Attack vs Mad Professor | Bumper Ball Dub (karmacoma) | No Protection (1995)
Tricky | Bury the Evidence | Blow Back (2001)
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Anger | Discord (1998)
Primal Scream | Pills | Xtrmntr (2000)
Chris Vrenna | Duchess | American McGee’s Alice (2001)
Aim | Demonique | Cold Water Music (2001)
RJD2 | The Horror | Deadringer (2002)
Plastikman | Ask Yourself | Closer (2003)
Orbital | P.E.T.R.O.L. | In Sides (1996)

3 am
Luke Vibert | Acidisco | YosepH (2003)
Evil Nine | Crooked (Feat. Aesop Rock) | You Can Be Special Too (2004)
Plump DJ’s | Creep Show | Eargasm (2003)
Delerium | Fragments of Fear | Morpheus (1989)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | From Her to Eternity | From Her to Eternity (1984)
El-P | Deep Space 9mm | Fantastic Damage (2002)
Ministry | Every Day Is Halloween | Every Day Is Halloween (1984)
Bauhaus | Bela Lugosi’s Dead | Bela Lugosi’s Dead (1979)
Unicorns | Tuff Ghost | Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? (2003)

oi, mates! it’s le season premiere! roast me a kipper and flay me a jambo!

(mp3) [the file may be slightly mucked but should be fully usable]

2 am
U2 vs Lyrics Born / Callin’ On Sunday / Partyben (2004)
Castanets / No Voice Was Raised / First Light’s Freeze (2005)
Go-Betweens / Statue / Oceans Apart (2005)
The New Pornographers / Sing Me Spanish Techno / Twin Cinema (2005)
The Boy Least Likely To / Hugging My Grudge / The Best Party Ever (2005)
The Lucksmiths / Sunlight in a Jar / Warmer Corners (2005)
The Magic Numbers / Love’s a Game / The Magic Numbers (2005)
Metric / Dead Disco / Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
Franz Ferdinand / Outsiders / You Could Have It So Much Better With… (2005)
Rogue Wave / Bird on A Wire / Descended Like Vultures (2005)
Clem Snide / Something Beautiful / End of Love (2005)
Of Montreal / Climb the Ladder / Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004)
Primal Scream / Star / Vanishing Point (1997)
3 am
Busdriver / Happiness’s (Unit Of Measurement) / Fear of a Black Tangent (2005)
The Books / An Owl with Knees / Lost And Safe (2005)
The Mountain Goats / Love Love Love / The Sunset Tree (2005)
The Eels / Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living) / Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005)
Four Tet / Smile Around the Face / Everything Ecstatic (2005)
Out Hud / It’s For You / Let Us Never Speak of it Again (2005)
Squarepusher / Tetra-Sync / Ultravisitor (2004)
My Morning Jacket / Off the Record / Z (2005)
The Constantines / Soon Enough / Tournament of Hearts (2005)
Elbow / Station Approach / Leaders of the Free World (2005)
Spoon / Metal School / A Series of Sneaks (1998)
4am
The Rosebuds / Blue Bird / Birds Make Good Neighbors (2005)

Notes: Four Tet = Kieren Hebden = was in Fridge (as was Adem). I actually went and looked that up during the show after I wasn’t sure, and then forgot to mention it. Squarepusher is one of the pioneers of IDM and is really just one guy, Tom Jenkinson, and is (I am informed) not to be made fun of. He plays bass really well.
The levels seemed really too high on the web-stream (hence the blatantly loud mp3 and resultant decrease in quality), but at the station they were where they normally are, if not a little lower. Might be a problem with the stream itself. I’ll try to look into it so further shows are snappier and crisper.

NEXT WEEK!: creepy, terrifying ambience and music in honour of the eve of all hallows. hide the children. suggestions requested! requests suggested! (as long as they’re well in advance)

Continuing the tradition it started last year, the slipstream will deliver quality, carefully selected songs on a weekly basis. The journey will, as always, be narrated, produced and programmed by host “Damon Muma,” who has this to say about the program: “the slipstream flows under, above and within the mainstream. (It is) a nongenrelist blend of quality music and sound and song specially prepared for your own personal enjoyment. join us.”

A new website for the show is currently under development but has no particular ETA. The old website is viewable here. If you live beyond the station’s limited broadcast range, the CFMU website provides a web-stream which you can listen to live.

If you miss a show, or don’t want to miss sleep over some pretentious college kid’s live masturbatory ego-trip, the new episodes will be archived here (or thereabouts) so you can skip past his guileless, mind-numbing banter.

we don’t like it when the city lights start fading
when the city people act crooked
when the city pigeons break wings
when the city fire starts spreading
then we can’t get down!

Hey. The sky would be burning with fire, but it’s since burnt out and the embers have dulled to grey. You smell that? Heady and sweet mixed with sulphur. You want to reach out and touch it, knowing it will sting through your skin, and cut into your core. Lucky you can’t touch a smell, anyway. That creeping yellow mist, though, you can touch, maybe even hold; not that you’d want to try. There’s voices everywhere, left and right, seeping up through cracked asphalt. Black shadows; darkened stark, through the chill mist, even against the black building piles. They creep in a crooked circle around you, twenty, maybe twenty seven of them. Just shadows, but helmeted, moving under heavy weight. Shapes of letters and numbers in their hands. Too dark to read. 9mm. MP5. AK-47. M16. There’s an avenue of escape behind your left shoulder, and then there isn’t. You turn 360. The noose is closed. Your turning stomach is a crank, winding your sinking heart into your mouth. The shadows are still, for about 15 more seconds, then they raise their arms toward you. And start to dance.

Come to think of it, the slipstream sounds more like a late-night phenomenon than any other type.

Don’t get too excited, we won’t know for certain for a week or so. So you might still have to be incensed at the loss of such a paperclip of community radio (after only 4 months I’d hardly call it a staple).

James”

Well f. My fears are confirmed. We’ll see, I guess. Due to the 80+ odd hours I’ve spent over the summer and fall plus the constant random brainroom planning and sequencing songs for the radio show, building a new website for it, getting the renewal form in 4 months early when half the people reportedly didn’t get them in at all, checking the station excessively etc, I’m a little bit unhappy, though it’s no one’s fault really. I guess that’s what I get for being overenthusiastic. What’s that they say about assuming?

So now I have to decide whether to just throw in the towel (and have potentially more spare time), move into the annoyingly buzzworded podcastsphere (that way having all the time not entirely go to waste), or what. So much for my top 111 albums of 2005 countdown!!! it was going to be so cool, too.

time can take it’s toll on the best of us
look at you, you’re growing old so young
traffic lights blink at you in the evening
you tilt your head and turn it to the sun
sometimes the tv is like a lover
singing softly as you fall asleep
you wake up in the morning and it’s still there
adding up the things you’ll never be

The world has let its grip on me slip. Something to do with naps in the early evening, love, lunch in the dead of night, dreams, empty houses, missed medication, careful bracing for disappointment, a strangely heavy calm, nostalgia and lethargy. I crave the soft yellow-orange that melts out and holds a room in its warm hands. That kind of light fluorescents will never understand.
It feels like winter. Bitter winds, cold snow fluttering down, becoming warm water in your palm. Your palm, in the warm room, against the cold glass. Watching the snowflakes dance. A warm blanket and a cup of hot something. A safe refuge that somehow wards away the dangers of passing time. That kind of winter; the good kind, not the other kind.

- I am owed, by various people for various reasons, close to $350. The Bank of Damon is considering implementing of interest charges.
- Decemberists show was completely awesome. You could have read a really long, involved description. Blame technology.
- In Toronto ran into Dr Peter Cockett and he asked me to give him some music to use before and after Henry V. I love shit like that. Stephanie is letting me get my musical paws all over the Macthespian production for the third year streaight, too, which is sweet.
- The sun shone today, for the first time in a while. I really like the sun. It’s been grey and rainy since the weekend.
- And what a great weekend it was!
- Speaking of which, Val is going to be less than two feet away from me in less than a week. This is a cause for great celebration.
- My two month Ipod ordeal might be done finally.. I’d write details, but.. yeah. I don’t want to spend anymore time with all that shit.
- It would be cool if there was a pub called ‘the Shit and Giggle’
- Cyberpunk should be a musical genre. I wonder what it would sound like.
- My theory about all the artists I like coming to Toronto this fall is officially wrong. Why oh why did Iron and Wine and Calexico not schedule a tourdate in Toronto? Argh. And they’re my favourite, too.
- Having a “little nap” at 1am to get back some awake, and then “getting up” after an hour or two to “study” is not really smart thing to try. Especially Twice. Oops.
- You can get rid of those annoying, stupid tabs on MSN that nobody likes. You just have to look under ’security’ instead of ‘tabs’. Obviously the programmers were trying to make it easy for people.
- That guy sure hates buses.
- Imagine if there was a really bitter diabetic who went around cutting out peoples’ pancreases.
- There should be a band called Fat Chicks with Dicks.
- Tonight I’m going to see Controller.Controller. I’ve seen them before and they were really good.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring a funner fact that I thought I’d be able to reveal today, though I’m worried it might bring a completely un-fun fact. Hopefully the news will be good. You’ll know more soon.

Among all the urchins and old Chinese merchants
of the old town,
we reigned at the pool hall
with one iron cue ball
and we never let the bastards get us down.
And we laughed off the quick tricks–
the old men with limp dicks–
on the colonnades of the waterfront park.
As 4 in the morning came on, cold and boring,
we huddled close
in the bus stop enclosure enfolding.
Our hands tightly holding.

The sky, its majestic blue and spires of clouds, was wiped out by the pissing rain. Pouring over us and everything, leaving barely a space to form words or compute thoughts. Spatial relations, divisions between objects lost their meaning in the solid wash of water. Her scuffed flannel shirt was battered into a sodden dissolving sponge, as if each thread sought some place to crawl away to but found none.
Not ten feet to her left, the awning claimed to offer a shelter. She shied toward it on alternating minutes, but I held her away: my hand and its rain clamped fast upon her hand and the same rain. My eyes desparately sought hers, but the sheet of waters separated us like television static. The dull reflecting of it sent images of the past to both of us. She saw the pain, the interminability, failures and dastards. I saw small fragments of our precarious existence, tied together by a tenuous cord that was always the same. She. My only companion through the storm. She saw an end. I saw my own hope, and the absolute necessity.
I stood long, every muscle and joint tensing, hoping that through the curtain between us, she could see how my eyes implored. I vowed then never to let go, and in a way I haven’t.

The streets are full of Goths and Greeks
I haven’t seen my mum for weeks but
Coming home I feel like I
Designed these buildings I walk by
You know you drive me up the wall
I need to see your face that’s all
You little sod I love your eyes
Be everything to me tonight

I never know what I want but I know when
I’m low that I need to be in the town
Where they know what I’m like and don’t mind

Light mist pierced by sun, but to what end? Fog embraced and eased away by morning’s call. Tangled vines twisted apart to set free their quarry. Ruddy cobblestones swept bare and smooth. Corner-building disassembled brick by brick. A man, confused, follows a trailing bit of ribbon out of the frame, leaving his briefcase which is buffeted away by a freak gust of wind. Gradually, the trees give up their leaves, their branches and leave a slight depression in the washed out sidewalk. As the fever hits, nothing remains but brilliant white that shudders slightly at the impact.

Vocal Edit - Instrumental Soundtrack Version - Live

is it close?
maybe close enough to touch?
it’s what you wanted for so long
it comes around
to where it all began
and it’s all down to the victor

Grey and blue sky. Smell of sulphur smoke. Brick and mortar, interlocked a hundred and seventy years ago with the grime on a workman’s hands, cease. Seams split and tear in a harsh crack and roar. Dust and rock and shards fling the three floor tenement asunder. Brick. Mortars. Memories. A fixed instant extended taut for the taking. Are you bigger than all this? Your hand crushes, squeezes. An attempt to grasp, to hold. If you’re big enough, keep it together. The shock, the force - withstand. A flash of heat. Bricks are tiny pebbles lodging in your palm, window casings slivers easily removed. If it were only so easy, gently ball hand into fist to force it all again into place. Back to how it used to be.

From Sept 17-21, I saw the four best concerts of the year so far. Four very different concerts at four very different venues. And they all blew my mind (or at least came damn close) in their own big way. I was going to post this all nearly after the fact, but the busyness, fullness, laziness and a little bit of the greatness of life conspired for it to take rather long.

Following is a lengthy but brief account of U2, Lal, Peoples Republic, Saul Williams, Amina, Sigur Ros, Annie and Royksopp live in Toronto and Hamilton over four sweetly consecutive days.

Saturday, Sept 17: U2 - Air Canada Centre - Toronto.

It’s no secret that Damon likes U2. Hell, he basically didn’t listen to any other band between 1994 and 1998, and then it was about 50% U2 for 2 years and a bit. Now, of course, they don’t get to occupy much of my aural schedule and they probably never will again. Largely because their new material is uninspired. But whatever. The old songs are still as good. They still know how to work a crowd like nothing else. The light show is fookin’ incredible.

I was looking forward to this concert less than I might have been. But when it got down to the wire and Wake Up by Arcade Fire was playing and then the arena was plunged into darkness, I was pretty damn thrilled. I actually trembled with excitement for a bit, which was nifty. The band was pretty tight (they’ve probably been tighter). But ohh the lights, and ohhh the crowd, and the soaring songs. Here’s the thing… at a U2 concert the audience is almost as important as the band. Being in a huge room with 20k overly enthusiastic people, it’s hard not to be quite enthusiastic oneself, and it feels damn good. Everyone singing along, cheering loudly, being moved, being rocked. It’s all one giant churchlike catharsis.. and that’s the power of music as went on to be demonstrated on this and on the next three days.

Highlights of the show: Great setlist and good variety of songs from their older albums (too much from Bomb, but that’s to be expected) we even got a B-Side, and the Ocean and Electric Co. During One they pulled up Daniel Lanois and afterwards Eddie Vedder onto stage for a little singsong of Old Man River. Very cool. The first encore was just about the best thing ever. All of a sudden we hear a familiar beat and melody… … popmuzik!! which eventually turned into Discotheque (first song from Pop on the whole tour i think). we hoped for Mofo, but that was swell enough. The ZooTV style fly display was hella awesome. And Bono bellowing out Pavarroti’s part in Miss Sarajevo was incredible. I especially liked Bono’s intro to Miracle Drug: saying how Edge is from the future on another planet, and when he landed in Dublin his spaceship was playing those 4… no 5 notes. When Edge came out of his spaceship, Larry asked him “what’s the future like?” and Edge just said “better.” Then he dedicated the song to the Sick Children’s Hospital. A powerful little sentiment. A powerfully gigantic show.

Sunday, Sept 18: Lal, Peoples Republic, Saul Williams - Pepperjack Cafe - Hamilton.

This show was a bit of a gamble. Lal sounded pretty neat on record, Saul Williams is pretty cool and has a pretty hot rep but some people weirdly don’t seem to like him, and Peoples Whothehellwhatsit? *shrug*

First of all, props to the venue. Really nice place, nice atmosphere, nice stage, good acoustics. Makes the Underground look like a hole in the ground… wait.. never mind. It was easy to see it was an older clientele: no IDing, quieter, less hollering and lameness, a very mature crowd; probably mostly determined by the slightly steep 25 buck ticketprice (for another show that might be a concern, this one was worth more).

LAL was awesome, because LAL is trip-hop. And it actually worked really well live. The singer had an awesome voice, and kept doing this thing where she’d sing the same line over and over while walking to and away from the mic - sounded really good. The production courtesy of dude in the back with a laptop was mellow, kinda glitchy sonic massaging. Come to think of it, every act was just one emcee and one producer guy with a whole whack of confusing buttons and cranks to pull and twist. I guess that’s hip hop live for you. Haven’t seen to much of it in all honesty.

Peoples Republic was startlingly awesome. Good production (are you afraid of the dark? scrrreeeeeach). The fella spittin’ tha rhymes (and in fact the other dude) used to be in Warsawpack (notice a trend with the names?) nothing wrong with some good old whiteboy socialist rap, right? Most of the lyrics were pretty jaw-droppingly good, which is always surprising when you have no idea who the bloke is. Unfortunately I can’t really find any info about this stuff online as it’s not the easiest thing to google for.. I don’t quite think they have any releases yet. Wish I could quote the lyrics.. but some songs were: monotony rock, terror level red, blackout, we walk among devils. much bang on lyricism.

But how can you even talk about lyricism in comparison to Saul fucking Williams? This dude… this dude. wow. He really is a poet. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone on stage with quite that much conviction and sincerity. Slow songs, thumping songs. Standing still, the crowd enraptured. Dancing around manically, the crowd pumping. During one song, the beats cut out and it was just Saul a capella, and then he lowered the mic and it was just his unamplified voice twisting and bending words like nothing else. He was in fact perhaps at his most powerful a capella, but the raucous grimy beats were a necessary and pretty sweet counterpoint. Saul was pretty much like a preacher a lot of the time, and thankfully his messages were definitley ones I’d agree with. If not, by the end of the show I’d probably be convinced. It was obvious he himself stood behind his words 100%.

This show certainly taught me some things, or rather reinforced them in a boot-to-the-head sort of fashion: people who think hip-hop is not a completely profound method of self-expression, and those that think music shouldn’t be political are completely wrong and should have terrible things done to them if they refuse to change their opinion after being asked nicely.

Monday, Sept 19: Sigur Ros - Massey Hall - Toronto.

I’d heard some very very good things about Sigur Ros live from two of the people who went to the show with me (Ian ‘lowball’ Delong and Michael Mikhai Hightower Dealerdog MacCool Roellinghoff el Conquistador) so I thought I was in for a bit of a treat. Boy was I wrong. This was not a bit of a treat, this was a gigantic mother of a creamsicle filled crazy-pie of a treat. Though I must say that using sweets and candy to describe this show might be completely dumb.

This was my first time at Massey Hall, and seeing music somewhere that was designed to be have it played in is absolutely wonderful. It was a very different crowd, too. We even got shushed as we came up the stairs a couple songs into Amina’s opening set (they played a saw with a mallet and a bow, it was all pretty great, and definitely cool but nothing on Sigur.. even though they ended up being Sigur’s string quartet) and there was actually silence during the songs and then polite and exuberant applause in between.

The band started with a gigantic sheet across the stage and lights shining outward to splash their shadows on it in a large fashion, it was a really neat effect though they got rid of it for the second song. The image of Jonsi’s gigantic shadow holding a violin bow and playing his guitar with it will not soon leave, it was just such a peculiar and unique motion, in other surrounds it might have been truly terrifying. The production of the show was quite excellent, lots of lights in many colours but very appropriate, and a lot of abstract sorts of films projected gigantically behind the band.. birds on a wire, a baby’s face for a whole song etc.

The music itself is obviously the focal point of a show like this, and boy did it deliver. Sigur Ros could easily be lumped with what we in the biz call post-rock. Long, langurously intense songs, built on fluttering of pianos and walls guitar and violin noise, with some plaintively high vocals that are either Icelandic or gibberish, but it doesn’t quite matter. The songs move with grace between hammering intensity and sparse, delicate beauty.

Half of the experience was mental, which is rather unique from the concerts I usually attend. The music sort of provided a nice set of paints to use on the canvas of my mind. It’s a really lame sounding metaphor, but it’s fairly appropriate. I had a bunch of really nifty ideas just from hearing the music, cause this music is probably best described as profoundly inspiring. The only difficulty with the concert was that every three minutes I wanted to rush out of the hall and write a novel or shoot a movie. Powerful, deeply affecting sorts of stuff. And recommended for basically everyone in the entire world.

The concert was perhaps best summed up by Ian’s friend Erin who attended the concert having never heard the music of Sigur Ros before. Mike asked her if she liked the concert and her response was something along the lines of “how could I not? it was like, pure beauty or something.” Yes.

Tuesday, Sept 20: Annie, Royksopp - Opera House - Toronto.

After Sigur Ros, the stakes were pretty damn high. How could sometimes goofy Norwegian electropop compete with those profound Icelandic swells of inspiration? It turns out this show might have taken the cake if Ontarians/Torontonians knew how to be not lame and dance at a blatantly DANCE SHOW (I’m planning much longer diatribe and analysis for the Sil at some point, perhaps in a new column entitled why everyone should be more like me). But it was still pretty awesome.

The Opera House is a pretty sweet venue. It was indeed, at one point, an opera house. There’s fancy windows, an arch over the stage and a big balcony up at the back. There’s haze and red light falling on the surrounds so it looks like a sort of post-something ghost of an opera house. Very funky.

Annie was really more than you should bargain for for an opening act. Unfortunately short set, but she played all the main ones and for some messed up reason the songs were actually better live than on album. She was backed with 2 Finnish gentlemen: a guitarist/percussionist and a nob-twiddler, and they really did a good job of even having some jamming etc. Also, Annie is extremely attractive. And Norwegian. So that was good.

Didn’t really know what to expect from Royksopp, live electronic music is never easy to predict, or pull off. But wow. Royksopp (that being two Norwegian dudes.. I don’t know their names so I’ll call ‘em Royk and Sopp from left to right) came out dressed in fancy red shirts with black ties, and behind them they had a gigantic inflatable cassette tape with their name on it, and in front of that a whole bucketload of electronic shenaniganery… there were mixers, and keyboards, and some drum kits and other more mysterious devices.

The performance itself was pretty flawless, they were awesomely into it, the songs worked surprisingly amazing live, the light show was awesome. It was really cool when they brought real live girl singers on stage to sing, too. Their music is pretty mellow, almost chill-out on album (at least Melody AM), but live it really jumps out and grabs you, and shakes you around a bit. The show was really great at the beginning, but the stoic audience really detracted from it, for the last couple songs of the main set things got better. (I had been going bananas consistently for a while) It is a demonstrable fact that when during poor leno everyone just let go and started jumping and singing along, you could tell that everyone in the building.. the band, the audience, the lighting technician, even the coupld people who still refused to dance.. everyone’s enjoyment of the concert increased dramatically.

I’ve always wanted to see a band like Orbital or Underworld live, and though I wasn’t expecting it beforehand, Royksopp pretty much gave me that oppurtunity. The first encore (as confirmed later by a setlist someone managed to snag) was made of unreleased songs.. basically jams it seemed like, that occasionally incorporated bits of their other songs. Really great idea for an encore, I think (like when the Cons just do covers for their encores) that makes it really seem like a bonus, rather than just a prerehearsed hollow excuse to make the audience wreck their voices. But what’s a better bonus? An actual unplanned encore, which we got due to the mindblowing exuberance exhibited by the crowd. It was great. Kevin and I started doing this unison arm bopping kinda thing during the chorus and Royk acknowledged us with a point of finger and a nod, which was way cool.

Hearing such great music so loud, and as organic as it really can be and just going all out and grooving to it is a wonderful experience, and an appropriate way to end my concert marathon with a bang, just as it started.

There’s some pictures and further discussion here

“Eat rye straw
Leave, withdraw
Drink ink tea
Stay with me
Fame stay shy
By way of why
Wait, lie low
Old ones’ odd odes
Read. Read on
Read, read on
Breathe, be calm
You’re gone, gone on”

The air’s cold or warm. Maybe somewhere in between. The winter grey bare branches arch from trees to prick at the pale sky. Summer’s flowers bloom and bloomed, red and yellow, gold and black. Wherever, whenever and however it is, a wind blows. Delicate or harsh and firm. A wind blows from east and west. Carrying the gentle colours of sunset, the eer of a full moon, the plaintive smile of sunrise, the forceful warmth of noon. A wind blows them all to your open door. You’re locked in a dark basement or packed onto a stuffy tedium with wheels. Maybe ornery acquaintances and workload have declared an alliance and a full-scale assault. Open your door. A wind will find you.

A green velvet seat cover. Might be nice if it wasn’t in a molded out back room, stacked and stuffed with detritus, and covered in cracker-crumbs. Ripped and revealing crumbling yellow foam within. Subtle brown coffee stain. Twitch. Coffee. Hand moves down toward the pen pinned under yesterday’s crossword. Pause. Reconsider. Hand moves toward unbatteried remote. Pause. Reconsider. Hand moves toward armpit. Scratch. Pause. Creaking legs. Foot moves toward bookshelf. Pause. Reconsider. Foot remains. Foot moves toward TV. Hand switches the sticky dial. Over-oranged sitcoms commence and fuzz. Twitch. Reconsider. Foot moves to the similarly attired kitchen. A scuffed carton of orange juice regurgitates the last of its faintly soured guts into a red plastic cup. Tastebuds are intrigued (not overly pleased, but at least they have something to do). Vague refreshment. Pause. Reconsider.

I got a role in the McMaster School of the Arts Fall Major Production of Shakespeare’s Henry V this year. I play two bit-characters (Sir Thomas Grey of Northumberland and the Duke of Bourbon), which is cool cause I almost have my lines learned already. And Grey gets shot in the back of the head execution style which is totally sweet and all I can really ask of a role. The play is very modernized and significantly cut down and altered to be about the Iraq War and also war in general and the media and how people are convinced that war is good, but it’s not meant to be preachy at all.. just a bit kablam! and a lot of multimedia images, music and video etc. A lot of it reminds me of Babylon 5 in various ways.. the whole political/war aspect, which is tres cool. I will also be involved in the production aspect through my stage managing class, and it seems like it will be a really wicked production, so the tres coolness continues. The only sticky bit is that rehearsal means I’ll have to be here pretty much every Sunday until then, except we’re not currently scheduled for one on Thanksgiving. And if we end up having one, I’m not going to go, because I’m going to London for Thanksgiving and no one can stop me.

Just so you can all make plans to come see it:
-November 18, 19*, 20*, 23, 24, 25, 26*, 27-
-at 8:00 (*2:00 p.m. matinee also)-
-Robinson Memorial Theatre in Chester New Hall, McMaster Unviersity-
-Tickets: (905) 525-9140 x 23333 to reserve-

Additionally, last night I went up to Toronto on a MACSTFPA (mcmaster society for theatre and film and the performing arts) trip to see Family Stories: Belgrade which was directed by Sasha, my acting prof two years running. It’s termed a ’slapstick tragedy’ and is about 4 kids (played by adults) playing ‘house’ during the NATO bombing of Belgrade. And yeah. It was the best piece of theatre I’ve seen in my entire life. And I’m not saying that because I know the guy who directed and he’s such a cool dude. It just was. Hilarious, touching, tragic, ridiculous, haunting, important, challenging, affecting, resonating, enlightening, even perhaps potentially offending. Really everything I would ever want in a play. perfect set, amazing actually probably flawless acting, awesome music and multimedia, and a killer script. No one that went on our bus could even pretend not to like it. Wow. So, if there’s anyway you can go, go. The theatre would have had 4 people in the audience if not for our class trip, and this is one of those things that everyone should see, it deserves to be seen. It runs until Oct 8.

This past weekend a girl I know named Val came up from London to see me. It was completely, and completely unsurprisingly, awesome.

My Ipod broke last week, I finally got my new replacement and guess what? It broke within 2 days. At this point it’s hard to even bother being ticked off about it, so yeah. Except, from what I understand, it appears that my replacement this time might be a new colour one (unf still 20 gigs, not 60) so apple can get a few DCPs for that, but probably not enough to get them out of the deep hole they’ve fallen into.

This weekend.. Ted Leo on Friday and Dead Can Dance on Saturday!

There’s a great deal of other interesting things probably but I’m not saying what because you smell a bit funny.

Idlewild – Warnings/Promises

Oh, copy control. Thanks to you this CD might “encounter playback problems” on my CD player. Yay! Luckily, I’ve had the whole album in easily burnable MP3s on my hard-drive since January, so it doesn’t bug me too much. At any rate, clearly the copy-control is working!

The upshot of that whole thing is that my anti-copy-control convictions won’t let me recommend buying this CD, which is unfortunate since it’s quite good. While perhaps not as strong as their two previous albums, Warnings/Promises is still definitely worthwhile. Idlewild has that distinctly Britrock sound, so fans of British Sea Power, Snow Patrol or the Killers (who are just pretending to be British) will likely find this of interest. It’s a little less polished, a little more scratchy and rough around the edges (which works to its benefit) than those bands, but it’s still got some fist-pumping choruses and the dancing guitar riffs we fans of the Edge all love so well.

3.3 stars

pepperjack (vb): to perform an act which results in someone (male) being kicked with excessive force in the testicles and up the ass simultaneously. Usu passive. hopefully used in a figurative context i.e. “this school work’s got me pepperjacked!”. can also be used as a separable prefix verb i.e. “that shit jacked my pepper!”
Variants: peckerjack – usu used by Mexican immigrant workers.
Sometimes seen as the masculine equivalent of being “fucked sideways by a cactus” (or “cacti”, in extreme circumstances)

mumareuther (vb): to cause a situation, person, item or location to become unavoidably awesome

William Trotterburg Fuck (1852-1894)
An angry poet who wrote trite imitations of the romantic masters such as Blake and Shelley. His best known work is probably “Reflections on Dicking Around in the Pantry After Work on Thursday”. Some scholars believe his works were intended to be satirical, though most agree they’re just terrible. His name is often used as an expression of anger or confusion (usu both concurrently) in an attempt to invoke his indignant and foul-tongued spirit. The most common form of this practice involves the spelling or speaking of his three initials– W.T.F. A much better method, however, is to say his first two initials and then exclaim his surname vigorously-– doubleyoutee-FUCK!
If you want to really impress your relatives, use his full name and mention that he’s from Essex and preferred the back of the carriage to the hayloft. Especially if your relatives are also from Essex and prefer the back of the carriage to the hayloft, if you know what I mean.

biblethump (vb): colloquial. dryhumping, if you know what I mean. Cause it’s funnier and better. Also more tactful, and confusing. And confusion is sexy.

pomosexual (adj): Postmodernism is sometimes rather oddly shortened into “pomo.” I think we all know what sexual means. Postmodernism is of course rather difficult to fully and briefly define, but one of the big tenants of postmodernism is Self-Referentiality (who lives in number seven and has a door that’s a mirror). So then pomosexuality would logically be self-referential sex, ie masturbation. Pronounced po-mo-secks-you-uhl, and with a lot of tongue.

That’s it for now.

As an addendum, 143 Emerson Attic finally has l’internet.

The internet man did come out of his van, despite the rain. Nonetheless, Cogeco still has a nice big stack of “hey you, yeah you, fuck you!” coming to them. They discovered that Ian had an account with them two years ago that he then cancelled, so they gave him the same name and password required to activate the internet that he obviously would have no reason to keep record of, and then kept him on hold for about half an hour trying to figure out what it was. And then some more tedious ‘your call is important to us’ bullshit which I won’t bother sharing the details of. I was so excited, too. When the internet man came out of his van it was almost like Christmas. Oh well. Way to go, guys.

I know some of you were trying to leave comments here about how you couldn’t leave comments, but now I’ve reversed the situation and you should be able to leave comments about how you can! And soon the pictures will actually work.

All my classes seem awesome, every single one of my profs seems really cool. American Lit is the best first impression from a lit course yet. Myth is going to be easy, entertaining, and funny, and interesting.

The biggest news for me though is that my nine thousand dollar dream is crushed. however, its shell left behind a five thousand dollar dream that’s as much as I could hope for anyway. I now get 2000 big ones from the government for being disabled, and I have officially got permission from the dean of humanities to contact Sasha about raising my mark therefore getting my non-re-renweable 3000 buck scholarship that I missed by one measley mark. The prospect of “scheduling an appointment with the dean of the school of the arts” that was put on me by the fine folks of the humanities was going to be very daunting, and I was worried I’d have to beg, or maybe cry. But it turns out the dean is just about the nicest, friendliest, coolest, easy-going dude I could imagine. So he’s gonna email me when the mark is changed and then I just email the financial aid types and I’m suddenly three thousand dollars richer. Or as Brian correctly corrected me, three thousand dollars less poor.

Tonight I’m allegedly going to some sort of mutated martini party at Russ’ house to celebrate. I don’t know for sure if the plan for a big party will fly since it was related to me by a rather inebriated Russel and might be downscaled (ie not upscaled in the first place) will find out soon. But I’d be content enough just to go home and read… I only got 4 hours of sleep last night after a rollicking good time at the west-end and then some exploitation of our upstairs and brendan making sweet musical love to my (er.. my dad’s, technically) guitar.

Weekend plans seem to have mostly solidified. Ear to the Ground fest looks a mite too expensive, so it’ll just be to and froing from TO for U2, Sigur Ros and Royksopp. The CFMU general meeting is on sunday evening, so that’s more incentive not to skip my classes and just stay in toronto until Tuesday evening. Hopefully I’ll get a better idea of when the slipstream radio show will be and when I can start… I’m quite chomping at the bit, in a horselike fashion.

And now off to eat some grass.

There are a lot of shows (that is, concerts) coming up that I really want to see.

Yes.

Some I want to see more than others.

Some I already have tickets to.
Italicized shows have been attended. (Parenthesized shows mean I probably won’t go, but are noteworthy). Starred shows I have tickets to.

Here’s a brief rundown:

Sep 12: Bloc Party - The Docks - Toronto
Sep 16: The Stills, Wintersleep - Underground - Hamilton
Sep 16-18: Ear to the Ground Festival - Toronto
Sep 17: U2 - Air Canada Centre - Toronto
Sep 17: Kid Koala - Casbah - Hamilton
Sep 18: Saul Williams, Lal - Pepper Jack Cafe - Hamilton
Sep 19: Sigur Ros - Massey Hall - Toronto - sold out
Sep 19: The Organ - Casbah - Hamilton
Sep 20: Royksopp, Annie - The Opera House - Toronto
Sep 23: Metric - Quarters - Hamilton - sold out
Sep 26: LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A. - Toronto - sold out
Sep 30: Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Underground - Hamilton
Oct 1: Dead Can Dance - Massey Hall - Toronto - sold out
Oct 2: Lyrics Born - Lee’s Palace - Toronto cancelled
Oct 9: The New Pornographers - Phoenix Theatre - Toronto - $25
Oct 10: John Vanderslice - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto
Oct 10: Fiery Furnaces, Apostle of Hustle - Lee’s Palace - Toronto
Oct 13: The Decemberists - Phoenix Theatre - Toronto - $17.50
Oct 14: Controller.controller, Magneta Lane - Underground - Hamilton
Oct 14: Ka’Naan - Pepperjack Cafe - Hamilton - $12
Oct 17: Mountain Goats - Lee’s Palace - Toronto
(Oct 17: Wolf Parade - Horseshoe Tavern - $12)
Oct 17: Deadly Snakes, Tangiers - Casbah - Hamilton
(Oct 18: Franz ferdinand, tv on the radio - Ricoh Coliseum - Toronto - $32.50-$42)
(Oct 19: My Morning Jacket - Kool Haus - Toronto)
Oct 29: The Matadors - Call The Office - London
Oct 30: The Go Team - Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto - $15
Nov 1: Spoon - Phoenix Theatre - Toronto - $20
Nov 2: Constantines, The Hold Steady - Opera House - Toronto - $17.50
(Nov 2: Calla - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto)
Nov 3: The Hidden Cameras - Casbah - Hamilton
Nov 11: Andrew Bird w/ head of Femur - Revival Bar - Toronto - $15 - doors @ 7
(Nov 13: Art Brut - Lee’s Palace - Toronto)
Nov 16: John Cale - Corktown Tavern - Hamilton
(Dec 01: The Magic Numbers - Lee’s Palace - Toronto)
*Dec 09: Iron and Wine/Calexico - The Docks - Toronto

There’s some I’m forgetting. I will probably keep this updated.

Despite the steel-mills, one way streets, school, paying out of my own pocket to live and the lacking of company I’d much like to be sharing, things are generally turning out quite well. When I tromped up the stairs to our new pad (directly across the street from the old one) I actually felt a great deal of rather unexpected excitement, yay, even giddiness.

I really love the new place. My room is pretty small, but with a little ingenuity I managed to make efficient use of space and get it set up very much to my liking. Our kitchen is wonderful; though we originally had enough utensils/pots/spatulas etc for 3 households of the same size, the extras are all packed away now and it’s basically in working order. It works as a living room, too, complete with a small sofa that we couldn’t fit upstairs. Turns out we barely even need the top floor, as all our day-to-day needs and adequate hangout space exist upon the main (though still upper) level.

But the top floor represents a great deal of potential. For those that don’t know, it’s slightly atticky and just one big long room. The ideal party/rec room.. and we even have a bar-fridge up there. The only slightly tricky part is that the stairwell is really too narrow to bring up, well, much of anything that’s wider than a person. Ian hit upon a brilliant solution, though. The plan now (we’ll just hope it’s ever realized) is to make it a sort of Oriental style lounge with low furniture. Maybe lots of cushions and pillows. Beaded curtains even? We don’t want to go so over the top it ends up looking like a harem, because then we’d need to find harem girls. If anyone has anything lying around that could maybe help furnish this little room, or a cheap (but good) old speaker set or tv, several friendly young adults might be interested in acquiring it.

One of the notably best parts of the living arrangement this year is that I actually want to be living with both of the other dudes living across the hall from me, which is a brilliant change from last year. We even have a happy shared phoneline, which is both fiscally excellent, but also good for the third year university student’s soul. It makes it seem like it’s a home, not just a house. *sniff. *tear. *wheeze. *vamoosh.

Also good for the soul is seeing lots of people after the long summer sojourn and finding that they often seem to vaguely like me or at least tolerate me, and I often seem to hold similar opinion of them. Thanks guys.

All my classes seem really good, most of them also seem like I’ll be able to pull out a high grade without too much difficulty. I’ll post some sort of round-up at a later occasion.

Beautiful weather, wonderful strolls, paper airplanes, GURPS out the wazooo, firefly marathon, substitute marathon, the ride of funkmaster festus (i will always be the left hand of funk), trampolines, stratford, almost the best concert evar (con stan teeeens!), top floors of parking structures, the grimm return of gilliam, sprinklers watering roads, cuckoo’s nest, chowder, the best ever foosball championship that never happened, the second annual national rum appreciation day, tulips, self-discovery, mumareuthering, rabbits, nevada devil-cake, music, many gigantic subs, awesome friends new and old. And a girl named Val.

August 2005 earns 10/10, making it rather a hard act to follow. And quite frankly, I had no desire to leave London. But since I’m feeling generally positive these days, with any luck that’ll be enough to crush the suck and prod the superfantastic into being vaguely present, even if only on Tuesdays while wearing an oddly pinstriped green coat.

Thar she blows.

Hide the women and children.

What you’re looking at right now is the new version of the slipstream. Gone is the rudimentary html (complete with lack of stylesheets) and Come is this high technological wonder you see gyrating before you at seventeen and a half revolutions per second. I hope you’re as veritably gobsmacked as I.

It might be apparent that I have joined the almost unavoidable rank and file of pale, blue-themed webpages. Naturally so. There must be some reason that 80% of websites now share the same colour scheme. I’m not about to try and stand in the way of history by having a site that’s all “oh look at me I have light text on a dark background” or “hello, i’m purple and green and Grey and very pleased to make your acquaintance”. I have been told by several that this here sort of short-lined, drab design is easy on the eyes and easier to read. I have also been told the opposite by others, and yet here we are. Here we are, sitting at our computers, looking at pale, bluishly hued sites from all over the world. It must mean something.

I’d love to hear what y’all think of my new home on Al Gore’s interweb. Even if you don’t think highly. All suggestions will be executed (either by implementation, or by six-gun). Ian, I know you think the title is purple, but it isn’t, nor is the font emo. Next?

If there are any who should be listed in the links, or any who would rather not be listed there, or perhaps would rather not have their real name used, let me know either here or privately. I live to serve.

Also, bear with whatever stupid little problems result from the newness of this here site. With any luck they shan’t persist much long.

Oh. And it looks better in firefox. On purpose.

Huge thanks to my man Kevin for getting it online during the week where I struggle without internet save that I steal from spare moments on the campus. (we should be getting it near the 14th, which is a wednesday, at our pleasant house on Emerson)

Holy fuck I’m awesome.

1. My Morning Jacket - Off the Record (from Z)
2. Elbow - Picky Bugger (from Leaders of the Free World)
3. Wolf Parade - Modern World (from Apologies to the Queen Mary)
4. DJ Shadow - Six Days feat. Mos Def [Remix] (from the Private Repress)
5. The Herbaliser - Gadget Funk (from Take London)
6. Lyrics Born - I’m Just Raw (from Same Shit Different Day)
7. LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations (from LCD Soundsystem)
8. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. (from Demon Days)
9. Roisin Murphy - Ramalama (from Ruby Blue)
10. Sufjan Stevens - Come on! Feel the Illinoise (from Illinois)
11. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Little Empty Boat (from B-Sides And Rarities)
12. John Vanderslice - Plymouth Rock (from Pixel Revolt)
13. Architecture in Helsinki - Maybe You Can Owe Me (from In Case We Die)
14. Røyksopp - Only This Moment (from The Understanding)
15. System of a Down - Revenga (from Mezmerize)
16. Apsci - Tirade Highway (from Thanks for Asking)
17. The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show (from Twin Cinema)
18. Sigur Rós - Sæglópur (from Takk)
19. Calla - Pulverized (from Collisions)
20. Iron and Wine/Calexico - 16, maybe less (from In the Reins)

Running Time: 79:29

MP3 (56 kbps.. yes it’s low quality, but no I don’t have infinite web storage space)

I gave you several reasons; you drowned in sympathy
I gave you room to breathe in; you held your trust in me
Just forget it, I’ll regret it
Quote me on the first, Cause the worst is to come
Don’t believe it, You don’t need it
Forget every word that I said that you heard

Night fell hard and heavy, distorting the stoop with ugly smears of unlight. Crushing the birds and their songs and the red wisps of sunset. Tugging my face into a frown. Crickets warble drunkenly into my eardrums and the suffocating heat oozes on. The thoughts tapping my head are morose and sluggish like the air around me. I thread the lies and miscommunications into a cheap cloth and throw it over my face. Stubborn detachment numbs my fingers. My knees are cold.

Gymnastics super fit
Muscles on the gun clip
Bite, teeth, nose bleed
Tied up in the scarf piece
Can I get control?
Do you like me vulnerable?
I’m armed and I’m equal.
More for for the people.
Physical, Brute force
Steel, Iron you’re the boss
Yeah you’re so o-able
Grind me down sugar salt

Muscle stretched taut in determination. It’s as if, even here, I’m in the muck with dirt and sweat plastered together down on my arms, glistening in the sun. A suit sends a glance toward me. It smugly challenges but has nothing to back it up. A bus coughs by with a spew of hot exhaust. My nose wrinkles mechanically against the smell, and my eyes narrow as the vehicle’s absence sends the daybright keening into my eyes. Straight through. Straight back to the hills and jungle leaves. The face paint. The fingers on steel. Shouts of desperation. Courage and Triumph. Blood.
I won’t back down. Not even here.

Hearing only one root note
Planted firmly in the ground
Undo my heart, unzip my body and
Lend to my ear a clear and a deafening sound
Everybody smile please
Nobody pay no mind to me
Finger in position on the switch
A little flash photography

Can’t stand straight. Colours on my eyes. Shapes and swirls, and I can’t stand straight. Even if I tried. And if it ever will stop. Ever stops to beating you upside the head, shaking you back and forth. Scruff of the neck of the collar of your shirt. Check yourself at the door and remember to tip the clerk. Toss off your baggage, toss off your clothes, toss off yourself. Tosser. And if you’ve tripped and you’re falling down long down, click those heels together, and whistle a melody your mama sung.

“I cried myself to sleep last night
And the ghost of Carl, he approached my window
I was hypnotized, I was asked
To improvise
On the attitude, the regret
Of a thousand centuries of death.
Are you writing from the heart?
Are you writing from the heart?”
-full lyrics-

All in a merry go round, batting past like tufts and corners of variously shaped birds. On goes time and life and play at work and work at play. Decorate the details in the festidious glimmer of clown garb, pop on a cherry-red nose — sweet like next door’s candy shoppe. Perfectly alright in every capacity, all the excitement there ever was in that whoosh and squeal of a kazoo. Sometimes all the optimism labled on these coloured glasses and sprinkled cookies runs together and grates against itself. A short pause, stepping up the last concrete step toward the front door, and you almost let go the tether.

It’s almost enough to make my pants blue.

1. Adem - Everything You Need from Homesongs (2004)
2. Kings of Convenience - I Don’t Know What I Can Save You from from Quiet Is the New Loud (2001)
3. Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio from Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
4. Josh Ritter - Come And Find Me from Golden Age Of Radio (2002)
5. Ulrich Schnauss - Passing By from Far Away Trains Passing By (2001)
6. Beth Orton - Sweetest Decline from Central Reservation (1999)
7. Espers - Daughter from Espers (2004)
8. Augie March - The Night Is A Blackbird from Strange Bird (2002)
9. Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr from Illinois (2005)
10. Alasdair Fraser & Tony McManus - Roslin Castle/Miss Gordon of Gight from Return to Kintail (1999)
11. Wilco - Hummingbird (Soma Version) from The Wilco Book (2004)
12. John Vanderslice - June July from Cellar Door (2004)
13. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) from The Hounds of Love (1985)
14. The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #2 (Laika) from Funeral (2004)
15. Portishead - Sour Times from Dummy (1994)
16. Radiohead - Let Down from OK Computer (1997)
17. Tom Waits - Time from Rain Dogs (1985)

Running Time: 79:29
Mp3 (32-64 vbr)

1. Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass from Silent Alarm (2005)
2. Bright Eyes - Down A Rabbit Hole from Digital Ash In A Digital Urn (2005)
3. Joseph Arthur - Stumble And Pain from Our Shadows (2004)
4. Broadcast - Ominous Cloud from Haha Sound (2003)
5. Feist - Mushaboom from Let It Die (2004)
6. Spoon - Everything Hits at Once from Girls Can Tell (2001)
7. Annie - Heartbeat from Anniemal (2004)
8. 13 + God - Soft Atlas from 13 + God (2005)
9. Daedelus - Thanatopsis from Exquisite Corpse (2005)
10. Ada - Cool my Fire (I’m Burning) from Blondie (2004)
11. Architecture in Helsinki - Like A Call from Fingers Crossed (2003)
12. Clann Zú - One Bedroom Apartment from Black Coats and Bandages (2003)
13. The Wrens - She Sends Kisses from The Meadowlands (2003)
14. Sparklehorse - Piano Fire from It’s A Wonderful Life (2001)
15. Andrew Bird - A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left from The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)
16. Patrick Wolf - The Libertine from Wind In The Wires (2005)
17. General Electrics - Facing that void (w. Maroons) from Cliquety Kliqk (2003)
18. The Eels - Trouble With Dreams from Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005)
19. The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Temple Music from Royal Society (2004)
20. The Constantines - On to You from Shine a Light (2003)
21. The Divine Comedy - Tonight We Fly from Promenade (1994)

Running Time: 79:34
Mp3 (64 kbps)

6 am

Spoon / Something to Look Forward To / Kill The Moonlight (2002)
Merkury Burn / I Should Care / Rumours of Our Death (2001)
Death From Above 1979 / Pull Out / I’m a Woman, You’re a Machine (2004)
The Ramones / Blitzkrieg Bop / Ramones (1976)
Talk Talk / The Rainbow / Spirit Of Eden (1988)
Talk Talk / Eden / Spirit Of Eden (1988)
Ulrich Schnauss / Monday Paracetamol / A Strangely Isolated Place (2003)
Outkast / SpottieOttieDopaliscious / Aquemini (1998)
Massive Attack / Protection / Protection (1994)
The Decemberists / On the Bus Mall / Picaresque (2005)

7 am - I don’t want a job. I want to be independantly wealthy and fuck off.

Otis Redding / (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay / The Dock of the Bay (1968)
Willie Nelson / On the Road Again / Honeysuckle Rose (1980)
The White Stripes / I’m Bound to Pack It Up / De Stijl (2000)
Josh Ritter / Come and Find Me / The Golden Age of Radio (2001)
Sun Kil Moon / Carry Me Ohio / Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
Travis / Driftwood / The Man Who (1999)
R.E.M. / Find the River / Automatic for the People (1992)
British Sea Power / The Land Beyond / Open Season (2005)
Modest Mouse / World At Large / Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)
Mercury Rev / Goddess On A Hiway / Deserter’s Songs (1998)
The Divine Comedy / Tonight We Fly / Promenade (1994)
Cake / The Distance / Fashion Nugget (1996)
The Music / Take The Long Road and Walk It / The Music (2001)

8 am

Portishead / Roads / Dummy (1994)
The Delgados / Coming In From The Cold / Hate (2002)
Lisa Gerrard/Dead Can Dance / Sanvean / Towards the Within (1994)
Tom Waits / Time / Rain Dogs (1985)
John Vanderslice / Coming and Going on Easy Terms / Cellar Door (2004)
Elbow / Powder Blue / Asleep in the Back (2001)
Yo La Tengo / Our Way to Fall / And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000)
Wilco / Reservations / Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
Radiohead / True Love Waits / I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings (2001)
Ted Leo/Pharmacists / Under the Hedge / The Tyranny of Distance (2001)
Hot Hot Heat / Jingle Jangle / Elevator (2005)
Spoon / I Summon You / Gimme Fiction (2005)
Doves / Pounding / The Last Broadcast (2002)

6 am - In honour of the rising sun

Jerry Lee Lewis / Great Balls of Fire / Fire (2003)
Twine /Kalea Morning / Twine (2003)
The Cinematic Orchestra / Dawn / Man With a Movie Camera (2003)
Broken Social Scene / Looks Just Like the Sun / You Forgot It In People (2002)
U2 / The Three Sunrises / Wide Awake in America (1985)
Plump DJs w/ Louise Rhodes / Morning Sun / Eargasms (2003)
Pulp / Sunrise / We Love Life (2002)
Brian Eno / Silver Morning / Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (1983)
Slowdive / Good Day Sunshine / Souvlaki (1993)
Orbital / One Perfect Sunrise / Blue Album (2004)
The Polyphonic Spree / Light & Day - Reach for the Sun / The Beginning Stages Of… (2002)

7 am - The Arsonist’s Songbook

The Prodigy / Fire (Sunrise Version) / Experience (1992)
Electric Six / Danger, High Voltage! / Fire (2003)
Weezer / El Scorcho / Pinkerton (1996)
Sparklehorse / Piano Fire / It’s A Wonderful Life (2001)
Tricky / Bury the Evidence / Blow Back (2001)
Merkury Burn / Fireball / Burning Words (2000)
Franz Ferdinand / This Fire / Franz Ferdinand (2004)
Johnny Cash / Ring of Fire / Ring of Fire (1963)
Bruce Springsteen / Dancing in the Dark / Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
Latyrx / Aim for the Flickering Flame / The Album (1997)
Ada / Cool My Fire (I’m Burning) / Blondie (2004)
U2 / The Unforgettable Fire / The Unforgettable Fire (1984)

8 am

Roisin Murphy / Dear Diary / Ruby Ble/Sequins 2 (2005)
Busdriver / Unemployed Black Astronaut / Fear Of A Black Tangent (2005)
Edan / Beauty / Beauty and The Beat (2005)
Rae & Christian / Divine Sounds / Northern Sulphuric Soul (2004)
Missy Elliott / The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) / Supa Dupa Fly (1997)
Nicolette / No Government / Let No One Live Rent Free in Your Mind (1996)
Crime and the City Solution / The Dolphins and the Sharks / Paradise Discotheque (1990)
New Order / Krafty / Waiting for the Siren’s Call (2005)
Of Montreal / Disconnect the Dots / Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004)
Dispatch / The General / Bang Bang (2000)
Jude / Brad and Suzy / No One Is Really Beautiful (1999)
M.I.A. / Amazon / Arular (2005)

((“Well, the smart money’s on Harlow and the moon is in the street, the shadow boys are breaking all the laws. And you’re east of East St. Louis, and the wind is making speeches, and the rain sounds like a round of applause. Napoleon is weeping in the Carnival saloon; his invisible fiancée is in the mirror. The band is going home; it’s raining hammers, it’s raining nails. Yes, it’s true, there’s nothing left for him down here. And it’s time time time, and it’s time time time that you love.”

The cold wind bites deep enough to draw blood. Sluggishly, it wrenches out a year of despondency and spreads it round on the stale, grey sidewalk: roughly sorted to a stack of throttled opportunities, a heap of battered friendships and a stupid, gaping hole of nothing. He sits on the cold cement; a tattered newspaper’s temporary shelter buffeted away; a clenched fist caught by gritted teeth. He tastes metal and spies a kind of hope.))

6 am

The ArcadeFire / Wake Up / Funeral (2004)

–U2 Live from San Diego (March 28, 2005)–
(City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo - Stories For Boys, Cry - The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart, Beautiful Day, New Year’s Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else)

7 am

–More U2 Live from San Diego (March 28, 2005)–
(Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky - Hands That Built America, Running to Stand Still, Zoo Station, The Fly, Elevation, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40)

8 am

White Town / Your Woman / Women in Technology (1997)
DJ Shadow / Six Days (Remix featuring Mos Def) / Six Days CD Single (2002)
Gorillaz / Feel Good, Inc / Demon Days (2005)
Mitch Hedberg / Various Funnyisms / Various Funny Places (24 February 1968 - 30 March 2005)
Huey ‘Piano’ Smith & The Clowns / Don’t You Just Know It / Having a Good Time (1959)
A Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band / Horses in the Sky / Horses in the Sky (2005)
Beck / Broken Drum (Boards of Canada Remix) / Guero (2005)
The Weakerthans / Reconstruction Site / Reconstruction Site (2003)
The Constantines / Young Lions / Shine a Light (2003)
British Sea Power / North Hanging Rock / Open Season (2005)

(MP3)

7 am

Bill Haley and his Comets / (Tonight We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock / (1954)
Nina Simone / Sinnerman / Pastel Blues (1965)
Beth Gibbons & Rustin’ Man / Mysteries / Out of Season (2002)
Passengers / Your Blue Room / Original Soundtracks 1 (1995)
Radiohead / Bullet Proof (I Wish I Was…) / The Bends (1995)
Fun Lovin Criminals / We Are All Very Worried About You / 100% Colombian (1998)
Latyrx / Storm Warning / Quannum Spectrum (1999)
Roots Manuva / Clockwork / Brand New Second Hand (1999)
Orbital / P.E.T.R.O.L. / In-Sides (1996)
Moloko / Forever More / Statues (2003)

8 am

Jens Lekman / If You Ever Need a Stranger (to Sing at your Wedding) / When I Said I Wanted to be your Dog (2004)
Bent / Chocolate Wings / Programmed to Love (2000)
Antony and the Johnsons / Fistful of Love / I Am a Bird Now (2005)
Air / The Vagabond / 10,000 Hz Legend (2001)
Bright Eyes / Lover I Don’t Have to Love / Lifted (the story is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground) (2002)
Gavin Friday / Angel / Shag Tobacco (1996)
The Shins / Pink Bullets / Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
Yo La Tengo / You Can Have it All / And then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (2000)>
William Shatner / Romeo and Juliet / The Transformed Man (1968)
Garbage / #1 Crush / Romeo + Juliet (1996)
The Decemberists / I Don’t Mind / 5 Songs EP (2005)
Mazzy Star / Fade Into You / So Tonight, That I Might See (2002)

6 am

Junior Senior / Move Your Feet / D-d-don’t Stop The Beat (2002)
Hybrid / Finished Symphony (live) / Live Angle (2000)
U2 / Zooropa / Zooropa (1993)
Amon Tobin / Stoney Street / Bricolage (1997)
Lamb / Lusty / Lamb (1997)
Aim / Cold Water Music/ / Cold Water Music (1999)
The Notwist / This Room / Neon Golden (2002)
Avia Gardner / Urban / Saturday Morning Empires (2004)
M Ward / Sad, Sad Song / The Transfiguration of Vincent (2003)
Patrick Street / Music For a Found Harmonium / 3 Irish Times 3 (1989)

7 am - Devils with Drum Machines

Orbital / Satan (Industry Standard) / In-Sides Bonus Disc (1996)
Azzido Da Bass / Doom’s Night (Timo Maas Remix) / Music for the Maases (2000)
Dope Smugglaz / The Word (PMT Remix) / Swordfish OST (2001)
Luke Vibert / Acidisco / YosepH (2003)
Underworld / Moaner / Beacoup Fish (1999)
Primal Scream / Swastika Eyes (Chemical Brothers Remix) / XTRMNTR (2000)
Basement Jaxx / Where’s Your Head At? / Rooty (2001)
The Prodigy / Voodoo People / Music for the Jilted Generation (1995)
Leftfield and Afrika Bambaataa / Afrika Shox / Rhythm and Stealth (1999)
Lemon Jelly / ‘88 aka Come Down On Me / 64-95 (2005)
Way Out West / Intensify Pt 1 / Intensify (2001)

8 am

Everything But The Girl / Hatfield 1980 / Temperamental (1999)
General Electrics feat Maroons / Facing That Void / Cliquety Kliqk (2003)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / (Are You) the One That I’ve Been Waiting For? / Boatman’s Call (1997)
John Vanderslice / Confusion Boats / Mass Suicide Occult Figurines (2000)
Dismemberment Plan / The Face of the Earth / Change (2001)
Trashmonk / Dying Day / Mona Lisa Overdrive (1999)
Alasdair Fraser & Tony McManus / Roslin Castle/Miss Gordon of Gight / Return to Kintail (1999)
The Delgados / No Danger / The Great Eastern (2000)>
The Libertines / Can’t Stand Me Now / The Libertines (2004)
Spoon / Metal Detektor / A Series of Sneaks (1998)
Decemberists / Eli, The Barrow Boy / Picaresque (2005)
The Go! Team / Everyone’s a VIP to Someone / Thunder Lightning Strike (2004)

01 - Doves – Pounding [from The Last Broadcast, 2002]
02 - Hot Hot Heat - Jingle Jangle [from Elevator, 2005]
03 - Of Montreal – Climb a ladder [from Satanic Panic in the Attic, 2004]
04 - Spoon - I Summon You [from Gimme Fiction, 2005]
05 - Augie March - There is No Such Place [from Sunset Studies, 2000]
06 - M Ward - Vincent O’Brien [from The Transfiguration of Vincent, 2003]
07 - The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving [from Left and Leaving, 2000]
08 - Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees [from The Bends, 1995]
09 - Adem - Long Drive Home [from Homesongs, 2004]
10 - Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeney - Beast for Thee [from Superwolf, 2005]
11 - Josh Ritter - California [from Hello Starling, 2004]
12 - Mercury Rev – Vermillion [from The Secret Migration, 2005]
13 - The Church - Under the Milky Way [from Starfish, 1988]
14 - The Decemberists - Engine Driver [from Picaresque, 2005]
15 - Stars - Ageless Beauty [from Set Yourself on Fire, 2004]
16 - The Tindersticks - Buried Bones [from Curtains, 1997]
17 - Beth Orton - Stars All Seem to Weep [from Central Reservation, 1999]
18 - Air - You Make It Easy [from Moon Safari, 1999]
19 - Mazzy Star - Fade Into You [from So Tonight That I Might See, 1993]
20 - A Camp - Song for the Leftovers [from A Camp, 2002]
21 - Simon and Garfunkel - For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her

Running Time:
Mp3 (64 kbps)

6 am

Animal Collective / Leaf House / Sung Tongs (2004)
Underworld / MMM… Skyscraper, I Love You / Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1994)
Drum Island / Glacier / Drum Island (1997)
DJ Food / The Crow… / Kaleidoscope (2000)
Max Richter / On The Nature of Daylight / The Blue Notbooks (2004)
Télépopmusik / Hollywood on my Toothpaste/ / Angel Milk (2005)
Nits / Dreams / Da Da Da (1995)
Talk Talk / Life’s What You Make It / The Colour Of Spring (1986)

7 am - Angels with Synthesizers

Orbital / Halcyon & On & On / Orbital 2 (The Brown Album) (1992)
Lamb / Heaven / What Sound (2001)
William Orbit w/ Beth Orton / Water From a Vine Leaf / Strange Cargo III (1993)
Bjork / All Is Full of Love / Greatest Hits (2002)
Frou Frou / Let Go / Details (2002)
Ivy / Edge of the Ocean / Long Distance (2000)
Air / You Make It Easy / Moon Safari (1999)
Peace Orchestra (Peter Kruder) / Shining / Peace Orchestra (1998)
Vangelis / Rachel’s Song / Blade Runner OST (1992)
Mandalay / Beautiful (7″ Canny Mix) / CD Single (1998)
Craig Armstrong w/ Liz Fraser / This Love / The Space Between Us (1998)

8 am

Daedelus / Thanatopsis / Exquisite Corpse (2005)
13+God / Soft Atlas / Men of Station EP (2005)
Vitamins for You / Luxury and Hope / Saturday Morning Empires (2004)
The Weakerthans / None of the Above / Left and Leaving (2000)
Iron & Wine / Naked As We Came / Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)
Sage Francis / The Buzz Kill / A Healthy Distrust (2005)
Radiohead / I Might Be Wrong / Amnesiac (2001)
Patrick Wolf / The Libertine / Wind In The Wires (2005)
Andrew Bird / Case in Point / The Swimming Hour (2001)
Modest Mouse / Gravity Rides Everything / The Moon And Antarctica (2000)
The Constantines / On To You / Shine A Light (2004)

6 am

The Von Bondies / Cmon Cmon / Pawn Shoppe Heart (2004)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Babe, I’m On Fire / Nocturama (2003)
Kraftwerk / Computer Love / Computer World (1981)
Coldplay / Talk / ? (2005)
Doves / Almost Forgot Myself / Some Cities (2005)
Tindersticks / Another Night In/ / Curtains (1997)
Badly Drawn Boy / The Shining / Hour of the Bewilderbeast (2000)
Calexico / Not Even Stevie Nicks / The Feast of Wire (2003)
Air / Ce Matin La / Moon Safari (1999)

7 am - Some of the Best songs of 2004

Ted Leo/Pharmacists / Me and Mia / Shake the Sheets (2004)
The Go! Team / Junior Kickstart / Thunder! Lightning! Strike! (2004)
The Dresden Dolls / Girl Anachronism / The Dresden Dolls (2004)
U2 / Original of the Species / How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
Junior Boys / Bellona / Last Exit (2004)
Annie / Heartbeat / Anniemal (2004)
Feist / Mushaboom / Let it Die (2004)
Adem / Long Drive Home / Homesongs (2004)
Kate Rogers / This Collective / St. Eustacia (2004)
Espers / Voices / Espers (2004)
The Arcade Fire / Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) / Funeral (2004)
Franz Ferdinand / The Dark of the Matinee / Franz Ferdinand (2004)

8 am

Monty Python / Money Song / Monty Python Sings (1991)
Pink Floyd / Money / The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Blackalicious / Deception / Nia (2000)
The Decemberists / The Engine Driver / Picaresque (2005)
The Wrens / She Sends Kisses / The Meadowlands (2003)
The Sadies / Why Be So Curious? / Favourite Colours (2004)
Apostle of Hustle / Song for Lorca / Folkloric Feel (2004)
Final Fantasy / This is the Dream of Win & Regine / Has A Good Home (2005)
Spoon / I Summon You (demo) / [from upcoming album Gimme Fiction] (2004)
The Shins / New Slang / Oh, Inverted World (2001)
Augie March / The Vineyard / Strange Bird (2002)
The Decemberists / 16 Military Wives / Picaresque (2005)

6 am

Ween / Push the Little Daisies / Pure Guava (1992)
British Sea Power / Lately / The Decline of… (2003)
RJD2 / Smoke and Mirrors / Deadringer (2002)
Holger Czukay / Der Osten Ist Rot (the east is red) / Der Osten Ist Rot (1984)
The Gotan Project / Epocha / La Revancha Del Tango (2001)
Augie March / The Night is a Blackbird / Strange Bird (2002)
Archer Prewitt / Wilderness / Wilderness (2005)
My Morning Jacket / Bermuda Highway / At Dawn (2001)
Bright Eyes / First Day of My Life / I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005)

7 am - Duude, you should totally watch this music video!

Blur / Coffee and TV / 13 (1999)
UNKLE / Rabbit in the Headlights / Psyence Fiction (1998)
The Avalanches / Frontier Psychiatrist / Since I Left You (2000)
Pearl Jam / Do the Evolution / Yield (1998)
The Chemical Brothers w/ The Flaming Lips / The Golden Path / Singles 93-03 (2003)
Kosheen / Catch / Resist (2001)
Andre 3000 / Hey Ya / The Love Below (2003)
Red Hot Chili Peppers / Can’t Stop / By the Way (2002)
Bjork / Bachelorette / Homogenic (1997)
Johnny Cash / Hurt / American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
UNKLE / Eye 4 an Eye / Never Neverland (2003)

8 am

Andrew Bird / Sovay / The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)
Andrew Bird / A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left / The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)
Andrew Bird / Fake Palindromes / The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / As I Sat Sadly By Her Side / No More Shall We Part (2002)
James / One of the Three / Laid (1993)
Antony & The Johnsons / Hope There’s Someone / I Am a Bird Now (2005)
A.C. Newman / Drink to Me, Babe, Then / The Slow Wonder (2004)
Rogue Wave / Every Moment / Out Of The Shadow (2004)
The Rapture / Echoes / Echoes (2003)
Annie / Anniemal / Anniemal (2004)
Saint Etienne / Sylvie / Good Humor (1998)
Blue States / Across the Wire / The Soundings (2004)

1) Intro (Oh, To be a Mechanical Man [Printed Circuit], Fight Test [The Flaming Lips], In the Future with Machines [FPU], Welcome to the Machine [Pink Floyd], Terminator 2 theme [Brad Fiedel])
2) Mr. Roboto [Styx]
3) You’re Out of the Computer [My Robot Friend]
4) Robot [The Futureheads]
5) Robot Rock [Daft Punk]
6) Do it Like a Robot [Princess Superstar]
7) Stepfather Factory [El-P]
Cylons in Love [Bent]
9) Jed the Humanoid [Grandaddy]
10) Paranoid Android [Radiohead]
11) We Are the Robots [Kraftwerk]
12) Replicant [Covenant]
13) Destroy Him By Robots [Anthony Rother]
14) Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots [The Flaming Lips] (Samples: Machine Says Yes [FC Kahuna], Reproduction [The Mirror is the Doorway], Electro Knight [Metatronik])
15) Attack el Robot! Attack! [Calexico]
16) Metal Fingers Inside My Body [Add (n) to X]
17) Victory Pose [Totally Radd]
18) Robotic Girls are Hard [Daedelus] (Breather [UNKLE])
19) Bonus Track! Half-Man, Half-Machine [Goldie Lookin’ Chain]
20) Outro (Buggie Technica [Polysics], et all)

Running Time: 77:01
Mp3 (64 kbps)

6 am

Bloc Party / Like Eating Glass / Silent Alarm (2005)
The Decemberists / The Tain / The Tain (2004)
Amon Tobin / The Lighthouse / Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Soundtrack (2005)
Roots Manuva / Awfully Deep / Awfully Deep (2005)
Sneaker Pimps / Loretta Young Silks / Bloodsport (2002)
The Walkmen / The Rat / Bows and Arrows (2004)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Red Eyes and Tears / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (2001)
Franz Ferdinand / 40 Ft / Franz Ferdinand (2004)

7 am - Sinead O’Connor on songs not by Sinead O’Connor.

(These little songs were meant to get played.
And these little songs saved the day.)

Ghostland / Guide Me God / Ghostland (1998)
Asian Dub Foundation / 1000 Mirrors / Enemy of the Enemy (2003)
Conjure One / Tears from the Moon / Conjure One (2002)
Peter Gabriel / Blood of Eden / Us (1992)
Massive Attack / Special Cases / 100th Window (2002)
Moby / Harbour / 18 (2002)
The Chieftains / Factory Girl / Tears of Stone (1999)
Bono, Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer / You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart / In the Name of the Father OST (1994)
The Edge / Heroine / Captive OST (1985)
Afro Celt Sound System / Release / Vol. 2: Release (1999)
Bomb the Bass / Empire / Clear (1995)

8 am

1 Giant Leap / Racing Away / 1 Giant Leap (2002)
Pale 3 feat. Franka Potente / Fly With Me / The Princess and the Warrior OST (2001)
The Dresden Dolls / Half-Jack / The Dresden Dolls (2004)
Wilco / Hummingbird (Soma version) / The Wilco Book (2004)
Goldfrapp / Lovely Head / Felt Mountain (2000)
Doves / The Storm / Some Cities (2005)
13 and God [The Notwist + Themselves] / Men of Station / 13 and God (2005)
Slowdive / Machine Gun / Souvlaki (1993)
Mum / We Have a Map of the Piano / Finally We Are No One (2002)
At The Drive In / Arc Arsenal / The Relationship of Command (2000)
Pinback / Fortress / Outside Closer (2004)
Iron and Wine / Woman King / Woman King EP (2005)

6 am

Ted Leo/Pharmacists / My Vien Ilin / The Tyranny of Distance (2001)
Blackalicious / Release / Blazing Arrow (2002)
Grandaddy / Everything Beautiful is Far Away / Under the Western Freeway (1997)
Julee Cruise / Falling / Floating into the Night (1989)
Deep Forest / Sweet Lullaby / Deep Forest (1993)
Buck 65 / Wicked and Weird / This Right Here Is (2005)
Bubba Sparxxx / Deliverance / Deliverance (2003)
Junior Boys / Teach Me How To Fight / Last Exit (2004)
Metric / Hustle Rose / Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)

7 am - Ze Arte de la Remixe

Aim / Sail (Rae & Christian Remix) / (1999)
Astrud Gilberto / Who Needs Forever? (Thievery Corporation Remix) / Verve Remixed (2002)
Handsome Boy Modelling School / Sunshine (Groove Armada Sunset Dub) / (2000)
Dave Matthews Band / The Space Between (DJ Tiesto Remix) / (2002 - white label promo)
Kings of Convenience / I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix) / Versus (2001)
Depeche Mode / Halo (Goldfrapp Remix) / Remixes 81-04 (2004)
David Bowie / Loving the Alien (Scumfrog Remix) / (2002)
Bomb the Bass / Bug Powder Dust (Kruder & Dorfmeister Session Tm) / (1995)
R.E.M. / Leave (Soundtrack Version) / A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
U2 / Mysterious Ways (Apollo 440 Magic Hour Remix) / (1991)
Audrey Hepburn / Moon River (Kid Koala Live Scratch-Up) / (2003)

8 am

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra / Indictment / Who is this America? (2004)
Up, Bustle and Out / Dig it, Don’t Mess With it / Urban Evacuation (2003)
Asian Dub Foundation / Real Great Britain / Community Music (2000)
Daft Punk / Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger / Discovery (2001)
LCD Soundsystem / Daft Punk is Playing at My House / LCD Soundsystem (2005)
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster / Temple Music / The Royal Society (2004)
The Chemical Brothers / The Boxer (Feat. Tim Burgess) / Push the Button (2005)
British Sea Power / Blackout / The Decline of… (2003)
Broadcast / Ominous Cloud / Haha Sound (2003)
Blonde Redhead / Elephant Woman / Misery is a Butterfly (2004)
Hood / The Lost You / Outside Closer (2005)
Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Matt Sweeney / Beast for Thee / Superwolf (2005)

6 am

Electric 6 / Gay Bar / Fire (2003)
NOFX / The Decline / The Decline (1999)
Don McLean / Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) / American Pie (1971)
Sage Francis / Runaways / Personal Journals (2002)
Andre 3000 / Take Off Your Cool / The Love Below (2003)
Sons & Daughters / Broken Bones / Love the Cup (2003)
St Germain / Rose Rouge / Tourist (2000)
Lemon Jelly / ‘79 aka The Shouty Track / 64-95 (2005)
Death From Above 1979 / Black History Month / I’m a Woman, You’re a Machine (2004)

7 am - My Metal Friend

Styx / Mr. Roboto / Kilroy Was Here (1983)
My Robot Friend / You’re Out of the Computer / Hot Action! (2004)
Futureheads / Robot / Futureheads (2004)
Kraftwerk / The Robots / The Man Machine (1978)
Princess Superstar / Do It Like a Robot / Last of the Great 20th Century Composers (2000)
El-P / Stepfather Factory / Fantastic Damage (2002)
The Flaming Lips / One More Robot / Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
Grandaddy / Jed the Humanoid / The Sophtware Slump (2000)
Radiohead / Paranoid Android / OK Computer (1997)
The Flaming Lips / Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt 1 / Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
Calexico / Attack El Robot! Attack! / Feast of Wire (2003)
Add N to (X) / Metal Fingers in My Body / Avant Hard (1999)
Totally Radd / Victory Pose / Shark Attack Day Camp (2004)

8 am

Bjork / I Miss you / Post (1995)
Moloko / The Time is Now / Things to Make and Do (2000)
Castanets / You Are the Blood / Cathedral (2004)
Elbow / Snooks / Cast of Thousands (2003)
The Weakerthans / Exiles Among You / Left and Leaving (2000)
Dungen / Festival / Ta Det Lungt (2004)
Can / Vitamin C / Ege Bamyasi (1972)
Architecture in Helsinki / Like a Call / Fingers Crossed (2004)
Dead Can Dance / Rakim / Toward the Within (1994)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / Easy Money / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)
Tom Waits / Hoist That Rag / Real Gone (2004)
M. Ward / Hi-Fi / Transistor Radio (2005)

6 am

The Flaming Lips / Seven Nation Army / Live on BBC Radio 1 (2004)
Way Out West / Domination / Way Out West (1997)
Ada / The Red Shoes / Blondie (2004)
I Monster / Who is She? / Neveroddoreven (2004)
Röyksopp / Remind Me / Melody A.M. (2001)
Air / J’Ai Dormi Sous L’Eau / Premieres Symptomes (1998)
David Bowie / Life on Mars? / Hunky Dory (1971)
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead / Caterwaul / Worlds Apart (2005)
PJ Harvey / Long Snake Moan / To Bring You My Love (1995)
UNKLE / Nursery Rhyme / Psyence Fiction (1998)

7 am - Songs of California

Gipsy Kings / Hotel California / Rubaiyat: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary (1990)
2 Pac / California Love (Original Version) / CDS (1996)
Dead Kennedys / California Uber Alles / Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980)
Scott McKenzie / San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair) / The Voice of Scott McKenzie (1967)
The Mama’s and the Papa’s / California Dreamin’ / If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966)
Beach Boys / California Girls / Pet Sounds (1966)
Kings of Leon / California Waiting / Youth and Young Manhood (2003)
Led Zeppelin / Going To California / IV (1971)
Joni Mitchell / California / Blue (1971)
Tom Petty / Free Fallin’ / Full Moon Fever (1989)
Low / California / The Great Destroyer (2005)
Allen Ginsberg / A Supermarket in California / Howls, Raps, and Roars (1963)
Josh Ritter / California / Hello Starling (2004)
Billy Bragg and Wilco / California Stars / Mermaid Avenue (1998)
The Decemberists / California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade / Castaways and Cutouts (2002)

8 am

Radiohead / Lull / Karma Police CDS (1998)
Stars / Ageless Beauty / Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
John Vanderslice / June July / Cellar Door (2004)
Beth Orton / Stars All Seem To Weep / Central Reservation (1999)
Bright Eyes / Down a Rabbit Hole / Digital Ashes in a Digital Urn (2005)
65daysofstatic / Install A Beak In The Heart That Clucks Time In Arabic / The Fall of Math (2004)
M83 / Don’t Save Us From the Flames / Before the Dawn Heals Us (2005)
The Postal Service / Be Still My Heart / We Will Become Silhouettes CDS (2005)
The Delgados / I Fought The Angels / Universal Audio (2004)
Mercury Rev / Vermillion / The Secret Migration (2005)
R.E.M. / Electrolite / New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)

6 am

Dick Dale and his Del Tones / Misirlou / Pulp Fiction
Cinematic Orchestra feat. Roots Manuva / All Things to All Men / Every Day
Spiritualized / Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space / Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
The Constantines / Nighttime Anytime (It’s All Right) / Shine a Light
Sonic Youth / Pattern Recognition / Sonic Nurse
Clann Zú / One Bedroom Apartment / Black Coats and Bandages
Ulrich Schnauss / Passing By / Far Away Trains Passing By
Four Tet / As Serious As Your Life / Rounds
Interpol / Slow Hands / Antics
The Von Bondies / No Regrets / Pawn Shoppe Heart

7 am - Songs from Movies

Nancy Sinatra / Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) / Kill Bill
Bruce Springsteen / Streets of Philadelphia / Philadelphia
Pixies / Where is My Mind? / Fight Club/Surfer Rosa
Gary Jules / Mad World / Donnie Darko/Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets
Beck / Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometimes / Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Elliot Smith / Needle in the Hay / The Royal Tenenbaums/Elliot Smith
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds / (I’ll Love You) Until The End of the World / Until The End of the World
Bono and Gavin Friday / In The Name of the Father / In The Name of the Father
Ash / A Life Less Ordinary / A Life Less Ordinary
Massive Attack / Angel / Snatch/Pi/Mezzanine
The Soggy Bottom Boys / I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow / O Brother, Where Art Thou
Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard / Now We Are Free / Gladiator

8 am

Lamb / Gorecki / Lamb
Sigur Ros / Staralfur / Agaetis Byrjun
Mclusky / Flysmoke / My Pain and Sadness Is More Sad and Painful Than Yours
The Faint / Desperate Guys / Wet From Birth
Joseph Arthur / Stumble and Pain / Our Shadows
Augie March / There Is No Such Place / Sunset Studies
M Ward / Vincent O’Brien / The Transfiguration of Vincent
A Camp / Song For The Leftovers / A Camp
Spoon / Don’t Let It Get You Down / Kill the Moonlight
Fiery Furnaces / Here Comes the Summer / EP
Primal Scream / Higher Than The Sun / Screamadelica
Sub Sub / Jaggernath / Delta Tapes
Doves / Black and White Town / Some Cities

So now that I’ve written an entry about not writing entries, allow me to smack my head ‘gainst nearest wall repeatedly. Or at least until the world stops spinning. I jest though. I’m not one to do those sorts of rash things. Wallheadsmacking is right out. All I mean to say is that I won’t (ie shouldn’t) have the opportunity to spend much time with this site (especially because I spend all my time choosing and arranging songs to play on my radio show, if by all I mean far more than is probably even necessary or useful). Though I might end up ramping up the updates anyway, so maybe I shouldn’t go around making bold claims about it. As you can see, I am rambling. Rambling about ramping… STOP.

So I will stop jabbering about useless stuff and cover the more important and interesting things in painstaking brevity, like so: 1. Being part of an elite student force brainstorming to create a government webpage at the home of a Colombian doctor with meals and pay provided complimentarily = wickedcool, yo. 2. Cuff the duke = good show, man, pass me another cold one. 3. Jaye’s croutons = sensational, second-to-none, a must-see, with some lip-smacking goodness for good measure. 4. John O’Groats to Land’s End May 2005 = the dream is coming ever closer to reality 5. When I’m late for a class it’s either because my trusted, true shoes that lasted me since grade 10 now have a penchant for letting the water in, and now I am of course forced with great remorse to use my hiking boots that accompanied me on the Bruce, for they take a great effort and considerably more time for to tie up tightly ‘fore I set off down the line. Or mayhap it might be something different entirely.. some simpering student has had his or her way and announced an “International Walk Real Slow in Front of Damon” Day. In other situations different reasons could well fit, but it’s certainly never just because I’m a lazy sack of shit.

Well, that was fun. Maybe we can do it again sometime.

(MP3)

6 am

Aram Khachaturian / Sabre Dance /
U2 / Please/Where The Streets Have No Name (Live in Rotterdam) / Popheart EP
Talk Talk / I Believe in You / Spirit of Eden
Ted Leo/Pharmacists / Biomusicology / The Tyranny of Distance
Vangelis / Monastery of La Rubida / 1492: Conquest of Paradise
Lamb / Gabriel / What Sound
The Cocteau Twins / Cherry Coloured Funk / Heaven Or Las Vegas
Underworld / Born Slippy (Nuxx) / Anthology 1990-2000 / Trainspotting OST

7 am

Sarah McLachlan / Fear (Hybrid’s Super Collider Remix) / Remixed
Massive Attack / Teardrop / Mezzanine
PJ Harvey / Angelene / Is This Desire?
Radiohead / Street Spirit / The Bends
Portishead / Sour Times / Dummy
Aesop Rock / Daylight / Labor Days
Neutral Milk Hotel / In the Aeroplane Over the Sea / In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Shins / Saint Simon / Chutes Too Narrow
Calla / Fear of Fireflies / Scavengers
Outkast / Jazzy Belle / ATLiens
The Flaming Lips / Waitin’ For Superman / The Soft Bulletin

8 am

The Decemberists / Odalisque / Castaways and Cutouts
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds / Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry / Henry’s Dream
Lyrics Born / The Last Trumpet / Later That Day
Sigur Ros / Hjartad Hamast / Agaetis Byrjun
Wilco / Ashes of American Flags / Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Calexico / Quattro / Feast of Wire
R.E.M. / I’ve Been High / Reveal
The Wrens / Everyone Choose Sides / Meadowlands
British Sea Power / Carrion / The Decline of…
Modest Mouse / Float On / Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Dexy’s Midnight Runners / Come On Eileen / Too Rye Ay

((“Yes I have seen it too, just a little different from how you do: A river winding blue among the dunes and a marble bed; a sun that doesn’t set but settles.
There is no such place.
If you’re looking for an unmarked place, Blasted in appearance and a composite of fearful minutes frozen in the waking instant.
Longing, things I long for: peaceful nights, strangers at the door, ‘O come in, come in, You’ve been here before.’
There is no such place, so perhaps we have a reason for our long and falling face. A house upon a hill with no windows, just a can upon the sill to catch your tears to feed your garden.”

The fresh wind of snow melted fourteen days ago. The hint of a touch, light enough to not give note. The cold spring sun shines over a sombre oak, from its bough hanging from faded yellow corded ropes a wooden seat, tilting slightly from wear and stained through years of rain. Sloping down from the swing, the riddles of grass are smooth and airy lengthened, broken to the East by a scuffed dirt path treaded only now in wistful glances of the urbanized and all grown up, this hill and meadow kept pristinely tucked away.))

Seeing that this here (pathetically) is the first entry of the new year, I knew I had to do something special (did you see my gently touching, hopeful but only-to-the-pont-of-being-cautiously-optimistic one from last year? oh wow.. it was a keeper.. *tear) to make it worth the wait (actually I don’t remember if the one last year was good at
all, I think it had words in it, though). And seeing as I don’t like to disappoint, I’ve pulled out all the stops, and am prepared to present to you the brand new, all improved, completely spectacularly awesometastic new version of this website where everything is better, brighter, happier, funnier, more meaningful and yay, even godlike!

!!

!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

See? I knew y’all’d love’t!

Before you can enjoy the new features here however, you must complete one of the following steps:
1. Lower your expectations drastically.
or
2. Erase any memory you retain that concerns this website in its previous state.
Having completed either of said operations you are free to enjoy the unbearable awesomeness contained herein! Thank you.

And I also have a small (meaning big) announcement to make concerning the existence of my own exclusive radio engagement on CFMU (!!!). Yup. I have my own show, and what a sweet timeslot it is: Wednesday Mornings from 6 to 9! I’m sure most of you know how much of a morning person I am, so this will be interesting. But still pretty freaking exciting! (the fateful email went something like:
“Hey man. You’re actually capable of being awake in the morning…any interest in doing your own morning show? As of this week, Alexis (Lexcellent, Wednesday am) is gone away to school in Waterloo and the slot’s open. If a weekly morning show sounds too intense you could just take it until the summer. Or you could just fill in a few weeks until I can find someone else. But it’s yours to grab first if you like.”)

The first show is soon, so do tune in if you get a chance. I would really appreciate it. I don’t know for sure the name of the show or the details surrounding it quiiite yet because the focus groups are still examining such things from all possible angles and varying levels of light intensity, but when I find out, you (and you and you) will be the first to know.

Just to not totally kill the spirit of Christmas, I should probably mention it. Christmas at the Muma household this year was awesomely split into 2 teams: Kids vs Parents.. with each group collaborating on snazzy gifts for the respective other. Kinda like a reality show or something. (You reading this big-time network producers?… What a stupid, obvious question. Sorry). Luckily we children were brought up to value creativity and delightful touches like printing out the 2005 video guide cover, taping it to the 2002 guide’s cover and wrapping it up, or labelling a present “to: dad, from: aliens (thank you for letting us impersonate your children for the last 6 years)” really added to the holiday cheer. The parent team countered by having 3 presents, the first 2 of which were socks and sheets, and the last one was the lonely trepidation-defying bag packed to brimming with awesomeness. Overall, the parents won hands down, I mean a freaking Ipod, man! Not to mention the loan of a loaned frying pan = Sweet! No, really… this mother is teflon, baby, and so no stick it’s practically repellent! If God had a frying pan that cost less than $100 this would be it! (just see those pics in the ham challenge for some evidence o the unpleasant frying pan predicament that up until recently tormented us). It was a little disappointing that Vern didn’t show up this Christmas; it’s almost become a tradition for second cousin Vern to drive in through the snow in his remodelled old auto and spend some time chatting quietly with the family over some tea. He’s one of those pious Christians who can really make you believe it actually is all about peace, love and understanding. But he was busy getting ready to be married probably, so no Vern this year. Anyways that’s enough about Christmas, time to dive back into the present.

School this term is looking like it might be a bit on the tricky side, what with the 2 courses more than last year situation, rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet for 7 hours every Saturday, 3 hours of SWHAT and 3 hours of radio.. = 13 hours I could maybe intsead put into a job or something, that might have an interesting effect, but yeah… me and jobs, well we all know that don’t mix! So things are looking slightly bleak for this term and I was getting a little depressed, but then Ian used his economics to cheer me up. Maybe it’s useful after all. Wait, that’s ALL it is.

Fun fact: “Triple dipped” makes triple look spelled incorrectly. Or maybe it does it on its own.

Tracklist:
Mogwai - Mogwai Fear Satan
…
Amon Tobin - El Cargo
General Electrics - Facing That Void
The Dismemberment Plan - The Ice of Boston
…
Nick Cave - Abattoir Blues
Tindersticks - Buried Bones
Augie March - This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers
…
Wilco - I Can’t Stand it
Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
XTC - Earn Enough for the Both of Us
…
Menomena - Late Great Libido
Blockhead - Insomniac Olympics
Adem - These Are Your Friends
…
Church - Under the Milky Way
Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill
Arcade Fire - Laika
…
Espers - Meadows
Slovo - Come Down
Talib Kweli - Get By
…
Bloc Party - Banquet
McLusky - She Will Only Bring You Happiness

These are not necessarily endorsements, but I don’t usually see an artist I don’t like. It does happen though, from time to time, for one reason, or another (and those more embarassing ones tend to be toward the bottom of the list…).

(Last updated September 25, 2007)

U2 x 5
The Mountain Goats
Sigur Ros x 2
The National
The Constantines x 6
Wilco
A Silver Mt. Zion
Akron/Family
Final Fantasy
Saul Williams
Junior Boys x 5
The Arcade Fire
Royksopp
Radiohead
The Decemberists x 3
The Hidden Cameras
Ted Leo/Pharmacists x 3
TV On the Radio
Spoon
The Sadies x 3
Spiral Beach
Andrew Bird
Ohbijou
The Weakerthans x 2
Cuff the Duke x 2
The Notwist
Subtle
PJ Harvey x 2
Garbage
Do Make Say Think
Bowerbirds
The Hold Steady
Annie
Of Montreal
Grizzly Bear
Stars
David Bowie
British Sea Power
Joseph Arthur
Moby
Manitoba (now Caribou)
Death From Above 1979
Iron and Wine
Calexico
The Unicorns
Shapes and Sizes
The Organ
R.E.M.
Dead Can Dance
Dan Deacon
Girl Talk
The Prodigy
Controller.Controller x 2
Merkury Burn x 2
Jon Rae and the River
Hylozoists
Laura Barrett
Head of Femur
Magneta Lane
Howie Beck
Matthew Barber
Matt Pond PA
Mary Timony
Meligrove Band
Moneen
Bell Orchestre
The Reputation
The Matadors x 5
Blackalicious
DJ Shadow
Latyrx
LAL
Maroons
Lifesavas
Joyo Velarde
Tiesto
Dieselboy
Adam Freeland
Max Graham x 2
Kid Koala x 2
Blockhead
Bonobo
Sixtoo
Amon Tobin
The New Deal
The Birthday Massacre
Sanseiru
The Gurriers
Alexisonfire
From Fiction
Spirit of the West
Sam Roberts
Pilate
Treble Charger
Turn Off The Stars
Avril Lavigne
Swollen Members
Elephant Man
Bif Naked
Theory of a Deadman
High Holy Days
Third Eye Blind
Kazzer
The Junction

Last but not least.. a whole slew of world class celtic musicians whose names would be impossible to all list, and you haven’t heard of them anyway. But my oh my there’s some gold in them hills.

It’s quite possible I forgot some things, and any ranking is interchangeable with most things up to 10 or 15 spots away, because ranking things is silly. But for some reason we love to do it anyway.

Expect it to be updated with some amount of frequency (last time was July 05)

1) U2: Achtung Baby
2) Massive Attack: Mezzanine
3) Radiohead: The Bends
4) Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden
5) Radiohead: OK Computer
6) U2: The Joshua Tree
7) Outkast: ATLiens
The Wrens: Meadowlands
9) Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
10) Underworld: Dubnobasswithmyheadman
11) Air: Moon Safari
12) Vangelis: Blade Runner Soundtrack
13) Ted Leo/Pharmacists: Tyranny of Distance
14) Kruder and Dorfmeister: the K&D Sessions
15) Portishead: Dummy
16) The Decemberists: Castaways and Cutouts
17) The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
18) Augie March: Strange Bird
19) Primal Scream: XTRMNTR
20) Doves: Last Broadcast
21) The Notwist: Neon Golden
22) Arcade Fire: Funeral
23) Red Hot Chili Peppers: By The Way
24) Royksopp: Melody A.M.
25) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Let Love In
26) The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
27) Sigur Ros: Agaetis Byrjun
28) R.E.M.: Automatic for the People
29) U2: The Unforgettable Fire
30) Lamb: Lamb
31) The Flaming Lips: The Soft Bulletin
32) The Roots: Phrenology
33) Wilco: Summer Teeth
34) Outkast: Stankonia
35) Massive Attack: Blue Lines
36) Junior Boys: Last Exit
37) R.E.M.: New Adventures in Hi-Fi
38) Twine: Twine
39) Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow
40) Andrew Bird: The Mysterious Production of Eggs
41) Calexico: Feast of Wire
42) The Weakerthans: Left and Leaving
43) Spoon: Kill the Moonlight
44) Dusted: When We Were young
45) Massive Attack: Protection
46) Pulp: Different Class
47) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Abbatoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus
48) Bjork: Post
49) Radiohead: Kid A
50) The Dresden Dolls: The Dresden Dolls
51) Aim: Cold Water Music
52) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The Boatman’s Call
53) The Decemberists: Her Majesty, The Decemberists
54) Aesop Rock: Labor Days
55) U2: Zooropa
56) The Delgados: Hate
57) Silver Mt. Zion: Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upwards
58) A Camp (self-titled)
59) Menomena: I am the Fun Blame Monster
60) Adem: Homesongs
61) British Sea Power: The Decline of British Sea Power
62) The Who: London Calling
63) PJ Harvey: Is This Desire?
64) Lyrics Born: Later That Day
65) Neutral Milk Hotel: In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
66) Tom Waits: Rain Dogs
67) RJD2: Deadringer
68) Brian Wilson: Smile
69) Quannum: Spectrum
70) Amon Tobin: Bricolage
71) Orbital: In-Sides
72) Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
73) Annie: Anniemal
74) The Decemberists: Picaresque
75) Moby: Play
76) The Pogues: If I Should Fall From Grace With God
77) Run Lola Run: Score
78) Of Montreal: Satanic Panic in the Attic
79) Air: Premiers Symptomes
80) Goldfrapp: Felt Mountain
81) Delerium: Karma
82) U2: War
83) John Vanderslice: Cellar Door
84) Moloko: Statues
85) Ada: Blondie
86) Amon Tobin: Supermodified
87) Outkast: Aquemini
88) El-P: Fantastic Damage
89) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The Good Son
90) Elbow: Asleep in the Back
91) Espers: Espers
92) Lyrics Born: Later That Day
93) Wolf Parade: Apologies to Queen Mary
94) Primal Scream: Screamedelica
95) Dead Can Dance: Aion
96) Beth Orton: Central Reservation
97) Moxy Fruvous: Bargainville
98) The Insider: Score
99) Shpongle: Tales of the Inexpressible
100) Gladiator: Score
101) Bjork: Homogenic
102) Conjure One
103) At The Drive In: The Relationship of Command
104) Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
105) Basement Jaxx: Kish Kash
106) PJ Harvey: To Bring You My Love
107) Grandaddy: Sophtware Slump
108) Iron & Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
109) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Henry’s Dream
110) Ulrich Schnauss: A Strangely Isolated Place
111) Primal Scream: Vanishing Point
112) U2: Pop
113) The Go! Team: Thunder Lightning Strike
114) Bloc Party: Silent Alarm
115) Hybrid: Wide Angle
116) Prodigy: Music for the Jilted Generation
117) Modest Mouse: Good News for People who Love Bad News
118) The Constantines: Shine A Light
119) Prodigy: Fat of the Land
120) Broken Social Scene: You Forgot It In People
121) Cinematic Orchestra: Every Day
122) Elbow: Cast of Thousands
123) Delerium: Semantic Spaces
124) Bent: Programmed to Love
125) Dismemberment Plan: Change
126) M.I.A.: Arular
127) Badly Drawn Boy: Hour of the Bewilderbeast
128) Kanye West: The College Dropout
129) Nits: Da Da Da
130) Spoon: Gimme Fiction
131) Slowdive: Souvlaki
132) Josh Ritter: Hello Starling
133) St. Germain: Tourist
134) Four Tet: Rounds
135) Vitalic: OK Cowboy
136) M. Ward: The Transfiguration of Vincent
137) The Weakerthans: Fallow
138) Augie March: Sunset Studies
139) LCD Soundsystem: LCD Soundsystem
140) Moby: Everything You Know is Wrong
141) U2: Boy
142) Keren Ann: Not Going Anywhere
143) PJ Harvey: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
144) Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
145) Sigur Ros: ( )
146) Broadcast: Haha Sound
147) System of a Down: Mezmerize
148) Modest Mouse: The Moon and Antarctica
149) Apollo 440: Electro Glide in Blue
150) Mint Royale: On The Ropes
151) Loreena McKennit: The Visit
152) 13 & God
153) Jens Lekman: When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog
154) Delerium: Poem
155) Crime and the City Solution: Paradise Discotheque
156) Boards of Canada: Music Has A Right to Children
157) Antony and the Johnsons: I am a Bird Now
158) Sun Kil Moon: Ghosts of the Great Highway
159) The Album Leaf: In a Safe Place
160) Cocorosie: La Maison de mon Reve

(Last updated December 05)

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
2. U2
3. Radiohead
4. Outkast
5. Massive Attack
6. The Decemberists
7. Augie March
8. Ted Leo/Pharmacists
9. Underworld
10. Wilco
11. Andrew Bird
12. The Constantines
13. The Wrens
14. Portishead
15. The Flaming Lips
16. Lamb
17. Spoon
18. Air
19. R.E.M.
20. Moloko./Roisin Murphy
21. Amon Tobin
22. Sigur Ros
23. The Notwist
24. Primal Scream
25. Doves
26. Talk Talk
27. Calexico
28. Orbital
29. Blackalicious
30. The Arcade Fire
31. Dead Can Dance
32. Vangelis
33. David Bowie
34. Royksopp
35. Bjork
36. Elbow
37. Red Hot Chili Peppers
38. Franz Ferdinand
39. Junior Boys
40. The Dresden Dolls
41. The Shins
42. PJ Harvey
43. British Sea Power
44. Silver Mt. Zion…
45. The Prodigy
46. The Weakerthans
47. Aim
48. Pulp
49. Lyrics Born
50. Delgados
51. Ulrich Schnauss
52. Iron & Wine
53. Broken Social Scene
54. RJD2
55. The Tindersticks
56. Modest Mouse
57. Cinematic Orchestra
58. Hybrid
59. Cardigans/A Camp
60. The New Pornographers
61. Menomena
62. Aesop Rock
63. The Roots
64. Adem
65. M Ward
66. Keren Ann
67. Luomo
68. Stars
69. Yo La Tengo
70. Delerium
71. Bright Eyes
72. Sufjan Stevens
73. Grandaddy
74. Way Out West
75. Moby
76. Merkury Burn
77. Neutral Milk Hotel
78. Saul Williams
79. Lemon Jelly
80. Beth Orten
81. Of Montreal
82. Smashing Pumpkins
83. Annie
84. The Pogues
85. Goldfrapp
86. The Bloc Party
87. Apollo 440
88. Sage Francis
89. Beck
90. Enigma
91. Four Tet
92. Fatboy Slim
93. DJ Shadow
94. Boards of Canada
95. John Vanderslice
96. Simon and Garfunkel
97. Dismemberment Plan
98. Kanye West
99. Gorillaz
100. White Stripes

01 Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Me and Mia
02 The Go! Team - Junior Kickstart
03 The Wrens - Boys, You Won’t
04 Primal Scream - Kill All Hippies
05 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - There She Goes, My Beautiful World
06 Iron and Wine - Woman King
07 McLusky - She Will Only Bring You Happiness
08 Augie March - This Train
09 The Constantines - Shine a Light
10 PJ Harvey - Long Snake Moan
11 Menomena - The Strongest Man in the World
12 Sparks - This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us
13 Annie - Anniemal
14 Ulrich Schnauss - On My Own
15 Mirah - The Dogs of Buenos Aires
16 Talk Talk - I Believe In You
17 The Decemberists - Eli, The Barrowboy
18 Adem - There Will Always Be

Running Time: 77:50
Mp3 (64 kbps)

(Postcard Story)

Numb to the Guns

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances. The starched throb of the waltzes lulled her mind toward pleasant detachment. She took little notice of the empty chairs across the room, or the absence of a particular scarce gentleman who might have, on a better day, sat in one of them and gazed in her direction. But those blue eyes were lost to her now, details of a faraway dream. Bessy presented her with a tray of overcooked canapés and Elizabeth mechanically selected the closest. Beneath the squealing violin and bassoon thrum, a constant schizophrenic rumbling and sharp treble bursts, like twisting knives, played out a different sort of song. A song that in their lavish ballroom they tried hard to ignore, hinted at only by Uncle Torvald’s sober warning to the other gentlemen: “If you do stir abroad, go armed.”

(Dialogue)

“Is that the kid I beat the shit out of in elementary school? He looks kinda whacked. Hey man! Do you want a fucking breath mint! Hahahaha.”

“Jimmy. Jimmy. Calm down. You’re drunk. Let’s just go home.”

“What do you mean by the calling me drunk. I had what… 5 beers? It takes more than that to get me going!”

“Jimmy…”

“Greg, you tell her. I’m just a bit tipsy, no more.”

“Jimmy, we’re going home, and we can talk things through tomorrow morning.”

“Jim, that was rum, not beer, buddy. You are gone beyond belief.”

“Yeah. Well. I am totally obviously able to take care of myself here, people. Go on home. Bake yourselves something. Greg, why don’t you take Lindsey home and tuck her in nice. I’m sure she won’t mind. Fuck. I’m sure I won’t mind.”

“Just lay off it, okay? Lindsey’s been through enough today.”

“Oh she has, has she? Well what a fucking pity that is! You’d better tuck her in really nice then, huh? … What?”

“You’re a pretty big asshole, you know. You probably do. But, you know, in case you didn’t.”

“Oh yes! Go Greg! Get it all out! And I won’t remember it in the morning anyway. Haha. Come on, man. What have you got?”

“I don’t have anything, okay? Listen to me buddy. Let’s get you home.”

“You got nothing, huh? Then I guess by Lidnsey’s very distinguished interpetation then mathematically I must have less than nothing. Is that so, Lindsey? Lindsey?”

“Lindsey? … Shit!”

(Characterization)

Winston Northcote surveyed the gathered throng. He squinted against the sharp sunlight and tried to make his facial cringing appear austere and dignified. He cleared his throat precisely and the babble fluttered away, leaving the crowd expectant, admiring and ready to eagerly soak in his carefully chosen words.

He delivered practically the same speech he’d given at hundreds of Guns for Christ rallies all over Utah and occasionally Nevada. He substituted in the names of local officials, businesses and lawyers to get that vital personal connection, but the themes and general points remained unchanged. The crowd responded predictably with great enthusiasm; he was preaching to the converted, after all. The whoops and cheers served to remind him why he’d given up on most other sorts of social interaction where success and acceptance were far from assured.

After the speech was over Winston mingled with the more enthusiastic members of the crowd and enjoyed the complimentary sandwiches for a quarter hour or so. It was nice meeting the attendees—delivering a broad, friendly smile and seeing warmth and almost unconditional support reflected in their faces. Beyond that initial connection and some genuinely pleasant exchanges of words, though, he was never sure what to do with people, and had never been. Invite them over for tea? What if they preferred coffee! Start a squash society with them? Not worth the risk!

So he’d slide into his restored 1956 Corvette Convertible and drive down the dark, winding highway toward home. The hate letters that inevitably greeted him weren’t worth anxiety-there was always a valuable lesson to be learned from them, and he could never identify the vigorously punctuated scrawls with real human sentiment anyway. He read through each of them carefully, set them aside, set his alarm, and curled up into his bed.

(Setting)

She wasn’t here yet, so he sat down on a grey log and watched the water slide past. The river was brown. It would have been blue on a day of sun and cloudless skies, but there wasn’t any use expecting that. Every Tuesday late afternoon, at the edge of the Chimlin River in this shaded corner alcove of West Kinsman Park, it seemed the air was always heavy with grey and coyly holding back a rainy sneeze. There was a curious tension between the fear of imminent precipitation and the knowledge that it would likely amount to nothing more than a few dribbles.

A rough semicircle of haphazardly discarded concrete slabs lifted up slightly behind him, as if to retain the ring of scrub and trees beyond. The trickle of traffic on the footpath further behind was obscured by a curtain of vegetation, but the clinking of dog leashes or the whirr of bicycle wheels sporadically ventured through. Much as it might try, the lazy sounds of parklife couldn’t quite mute the distant downtown traffic hum, but the broad softly fluttering leaves put it far enough out of mind for a relaxing midday bite to eat. If she came.

The muddy ground at his feet was dappled with patches of grass or another scraggled shrub and if he looked close enough he’d see the unending bustle of hundreds of tiny insects beneath the miniature green canopy. Always some sort of bustle, even here. Out about four feet the ground gave way to the river. Its edges were frosted with thick folds of foam: white and sometimes brown. A grey sewage pipe broke the gentle curve of the shore and thrust into the water: three-foot diameter and broken by several ragged cracks, but they were only an inch or two at most. He knew that sitting on the pipe halfway out afforded a rare glimpse of the pale blue mountains usually blocked by metal and glass skyscrapers. They were beautiful. He’d show her when she arrived.

(Short Story Outline)

Faraway Trains Passing By

It is Boxing Day. Maria is waiting at a train station for the train to take her to Belleville to visit her father. She is seventeen. The wait for the train and then the journey, with all the landscape swishing past, is a good place for her to spend some time mulling about her situation.

She doesn’t know her father (Frank) well at all. Her parents divorced before she was born (and her mom remarried when she was quite young?). She’s met him only a few times: while very young going to visit him with her mother and step-father (she vaguely remembers this, he was called uncle Frank), and when she got older became interested in finding out who he was. She grilled her mother with questions, but Brenda was not very forthcoming. It became clear there was a lot of bad blood between the two grownups. Maria became determined to meet her father, but her mother (who is now single again) put up a lot of resistance and refused to take her. When she was old enough to go by herself (a year or so ago?) she jumped on the opportunity and travelled to Belleville to see him. It was awkward, to say the least. Frank came across as not the friendliest of people, a bit of a gruff loner. But Maria is convinced the gruffness is just a shield over his loneliness and misfortunes (whatever they might be) and that inside there is a father she is perfectly able to love. This time she is determined to bring some light into his life and hers and get her father back. She was going to visit him on Christmas, but her mom shot that down, and was going to shoot down this plan as well, but Maria is determined. She has the turkey dinner she plans to make for him all planned out in her head.

This will be told through various flashbacks through the train-ride. Specifically her hazy memory of her first visit, her more specific memory of her more recent one, her stand-off with Brenda and leaving the house.

She gets of the train and takes a cab to her dad’s house. The house is empty/boarded up, so she stares for a while almost dizzy and eyes stinging, and the cabby’s waiting and takes her back to the train station so she can catch another train and watch the landscape swish past in reverse.

Philosophy exam (tomorrow at 4, creepin’ up slowly) looking kiiiiinda brutal as all hell at this point in time. Today I cracked open my binder to study for it (yes this should have happened sooner.. feeling ratherridiculous, but also keep in mind other books had been cracked open previously) and out fell the ticketto the DFA1979 concert I had thought completely vanished (see previous post). I had thought itbest to do the radio and not go to the concert (which was probably ridiculously awesome) so i could spend sometime studying (which i didn’t really end up doing anyway). The irony(or maybe it was a feeling of profound stupidity) almost made mystomach turn. It was a bit of a moment of truth or something though.. primarily indicating the need to get my act together considerably (violently, if necessary). So I decided to talk about it here (idiot!). But I will return to studiousness shortly I promise.

     Monday, December 6th:

A message from our sponsor: I will be appearing once more on CFMU on Tuesday evening from 11pm until Midnight. Invite your friends, make a pot of tea and relax with the festidious and gruelling sounds of Damon^TM spinning some wild and crazy cuts from the highest reaches of his musical esteem. Please stay tuned. (I was going to go to the DeathFromAbove1979 concert, and had even bought a ticket. However it was the sort of ticket that goes completely and entirely missing so soon after its purchase that I do not even remember its physical appearance. I was going to shell out even more money to attend the concert anyway, but when the fill-in notice was posted, I took it as a sign.

Tracklist:
Wilco - Jesus, etc
Weakerthans Pamphleteer
..
Keren Ann - Seventeen
Brian Wilson - Good Vibrations
..
The Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band - Could’ve Moved Mountains
..
Air - Run
Junior Boys - Last Exit
The Delgados - Coming in from the Cold
Josh Ritter - California
..
Outkast - 13th Floor/Growin’ Old

And now ladies and Gentlemen, I am awfully proud to present:

The Great Ham Challenge of 2004!!!
What’s all this about? Well, there is a full packet of pillars sliced blackforest ham unopened in the fridge. Well and good. But oh my look at that! (close up) the expiration date is listed as December 3rd! (shock and horror ensue vigorously) Now we don’t want our meat going bad now, do we? And, furthermore, even though it was sealed in an airtight plastic sort of situation we still don’t want to be taking any chances now do we? (I am very careful about these sorts of things when it comes to food, as you will soon discover). So clearly this package of ham must be used up before the third rolls around!
So the ham challenge is to use up each slice of ham in a day (or so) so it doesn’t go bad. But here’s the TWIST (what’s that you say?): every slice must be used differently (oh my! Sounds exciting!).

So here we are ready to kick this all off. The crowd has become hushed with anticipation (or maybe there just isn’t one…). And he’s off! (that “he” is me. I’m talking about myself in the third person now, isn’t that great? Lol!)

Slice one: a nice slice of ham tastes good by itself! Mmmmm

Slice two: and since it tastes good by itself. What if we slap on some Heinz^TM mustard! Mmmm ham and mustard. That tastes good, too. It’s like they were born to be together. Awww. Though it leaves a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste. Is ham supposed to have an aftertaste? It might be the mustard. I mean, it was here when I moved in in September and probably about half a year before that. But since it doesn’t have any ‘best before date’ on it anywhere ,it’s gotta be perfectly fine! Where the aftertaste came from I will never know… one of life’s little mysteries.

Slice three: sandwich. Another slice of ham would have been really nice on this lovely sandwich. I was starting to wish that I hadn’t given myself this terrible limitation, and was thinking of calling this whole thing off entirely. But I put faith in the glory of God and stuck it out. And added some salami and cheese. And some miracle whip, honey mustard sauce, and a bit of tomato. Mmmmm!

Slice four: omelette. Some eggs, onion, cheese, and of course a finely chopped slice of the olde black forest hamme. This is delicious, and there’s enough yield to make a pseudo western sandwich (throw the omelette in some nicely toasted bread!). The fact that there was only one slice of ham in this is almost tragic… I could barely taste it! But damn that was a fine tasting meal. This should really count for two! Oh wait, I make all the rules! So… … No! We must maintain the integrity of this esteemed competition and resist temptation.

Slice five: sandwich with cracker and cheese. Mmmm what a nice snack. Like a ham and cheese sandwich but on a cracker! And really quite tasty. I bet it would have been even better with real honest to god Ritz crackers instead of the flaky no-name imitations I’m stuck with. Unfortunately the cucumber was in the fridge for a month and went soft. So I sliced it up and fed it to the worms… I hate wusses (get it? It got soft? Oh man, I kill myself).

Slice six: Fried ham! Of course I’m not running out of workable ideas. Shut up! I was going to get all fancy and marinade it in some orange juice.. but there isn’t any. Maybe for the best. And that was some good fried ham! kinda like bacon, but not!

Slice seven: give to Ian. Oh so he says he doesn’t like ham. Eat the damn ham, Ian! Thank you.

Slice eight: Grilled cheese…. With ham! Now that’s an idea and a half. Now you might think, or even say “Damon! You’re just taking things that normally have cheese and adding ham!” and to that I say, “Yeah, what’s your point? I’m winning this damn competition and you aren’t! So get outta my face!” Ham and cheese really do go together. The final verdict on this baby is good, but probably better without the ham. Oh well, all in all a success.

Slice nine: What? I swear there was only eight the first time I counted. Aw fuck. Well I guess I might as well donate it to charity! But since I don’t feel like leaving the house… Maybe if I use it to clean the counter that would count as a different use? It can get into all those hard to reach places! Well I make the rules, so I say go for it! (idiot). Alright! Mmmmmm hamrag. Tasty!

And that does it! Damon is the worldwide winner of the ham challenge for the first consecutive year! And here he comes now; let’s see what he has to say! I’d just like to thank myself for having the strength to go out and represent hammanity in this wonderful event. I know a lot of you thought it couldn’t be done. And there were those of you who thought it shouldn’t be done. To them I say “naanananaaaana!”

Wow guys! Wasn’t that great?

Keren’s style is light, easygoing and very difficult to dislike. Her
gentle voice caresses your ears as the dreamy but catchy melodies
float over sparkling guitar arpeggios and strains of violin or piano.
The album exudes a delicate folky chill-out vibe, but there are some
louder moments and a good amount of variety within. It is a great
example of how music can be straightforward and emotional without
coming across as schmaltz, though it sometimes treads the line
closely. Like those infinitely enjoyable golden oldies, every song
brims with honest charm and friendliness.

Understated, relaxing and unabashedly pleasant, it’s not an album for
all moods or tastes, but I can’t help but think it may be the perfect
album to take the edge off late night crammings.

9/10

Listen!

Tracklist:
U2 vs Lyrics Born - Callin’ On Sunday
Moloko - Fun For Me
..
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Babe, You Turn Me On
Dresden Dolls - Jeep Song
The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I’m Yours
..
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Me and Mia
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Under Your Hedge
Doves - Pounding
..
The Wrens - Ex-Girl Collection
John Vanderslice - Coming and Going on Easy Terms
..
U2 - Mercy
Augie March - Little Wonder
Feist - Mushaboom
..
Annie - Heartbeat
Espers - Voices
Orbital - The Box
..
Primal Scream - Kill All Hippies
Pulp - Disco 2000
The Pogues - Turkish Song of the Damned
..
Underworld - Dirty Epic
.
Massive Attack - Risingson
The Notwist - Consequence
The Shins - Saint Simon
..
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Walking to Do

UPDATE!! (Saturday, Novermber 27thst)

U2 vs Lyrics Born - Callin’ On Sunday
Moloko - Fun For Me
..
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Babe, You Turn Me On
Dresden Dolls - Jeep Song
The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I’m Yours
..
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Me and Mia
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Under Your Hedge
Doves - Pounding
..
The Wrens - Ex-Girl Collection
John Vanderslice - Coming and Going on Easy Terms
..
U2 - Mercy
Augie March - Little Wonder
Feist - Mushaboom
..
Annie - Heartbeat
Espers - Voices
Orbital - The Box
..
Primal Scream - Kill All Hippies
Pulp - Disco 2000
The Pogues - Turkish Song of the Damned
..
Underworld - Dirty Epic
.
Massive Attack - Risingson
The Notwist - Consequence
The Shins - Saint Simon
..
Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Walking to Do

Embarassing moment of the show.. accidentally playing the beginning of an ad overtop of ‘Heartbeat’. And realizing that the version of the Meadowlands by the Wrens that I had downloaded, and have proclaimed to be one of the best albums of the year is an unmastered version.. Ex-Girl Collection sounded rather different than I’m used to.. and dare I say, better~!~ Well, that’s what I get for being a pirate. yarr.

Damon is excited.

It’s a little bit scary cause I’ve never done it before and I’ll have to remember how to work all the CD players and mixers and faders and microphones and computers… but hopefully I can manage, or at least fail in an entertaining sort of way. Naturally I’m now spending all my essay-due-monday-time trying to find all the right tracks to play tomorrow and wow the pants off Hamilton with.

This merry affair will of course be broadcast. In the Hamilton area at 93.3 FM CFMU, and on the internet at the CFMU website(look for the ‘listen now’ link).

Comparisons aside, the band have a good command of the sound they’re working with. The first two songs hit hard, but unfortunately it starts to flag afterwards, though not from a decrease in quality. The sounds all come together pleasantly, but as the album winds to its close, the songs remain too similar to get very far off the ground. Fans of Pilate and Turn Off The Stars will definitely find a lot to like here.

     Jack pulled neatly into the driveway of his split-level home. He tilted his wristwatch toward him: it was a little later than he should like it to be. Ah well. As he twisted the key out of the ignition, the last yellow sliver of sun passed out of view and under the horizon.

     He trudged along the squares of weathered cement, past the neatly trimmed shrubs to the porch, and nudged the door open with his shoulder. Inside, he kicked off shoes, yanked off his tie, and dropped his jacket toward the base of the coat rack. It was dark save for what dim early evening ambience filtered through the drawn curtains. No yellow glow coming from the kitchen. No succulent meatloaf or fried vegetables on the air, no not even the crackle of cooking. Strange… He checked his watch. Yes, it was definitely Wednesday. Meatloaf day. And no meatloaf.

     Well there’s gotta be a reason. But what do I know about what goes on around here? It’s like I’ve been dead five years and no one thought to tell me.

     He found himself in the kitchen, the light now switched on. No dirty dishes, Bouncer’s red food dish freshly emptied. His eyes came to rest on the ugly old toaster. He grabbed it off the counter and let it drop. The floor received it with a generous clatter and the cord tore out of its socket. He waited. Nothing. Not the wispy, monotone “Clean it up,” he should expect. Just a fly moving slowly across the windowsill, and the ticking clock.

     As Jack bent awkwardly to pick up the toaster, his forehead slammed into the fridge. Muffling his “Jesus f Christ” etc. out of habit, his eyes found focus on the note. It was written in blue ink, with familiarly looping letters and firm punctuation.

     Well. That settles that. At least she had the decency to let me know. He stared blankly for a time, then shrugged, opened the fridge and pulled out one Coors Light and another. Then he trudged along the tiles toward the back door.

     In the dim backyard, the crickets chirped loudly from the garden and lawn. The little old wading pool sat comfortably in the grass, off to the side. Neither Ron nor Liza would miss the scuffed Disney characters chasing each other over the faded blue plastic. They’d grown past it being useful anywhere except in memories.

     Jack let his lips rattle as he loudly exhaled a lung or two full of air. “Honey. I’m home,” he muttered dispassionately, and with a splash deposited his buttocks on the bottom of the half full pool. He found the right angle to cram his legs into the restrictive plastic circle, and cracked open his first beer as the dirty rainwater soaked through his pants.

     Some time had passed. The air had cooled. The sky was black. The second beer was half used up and the arm that held it was draped over the outside of the pool. Jack glanced over and saw Bouncer there on his right, tail wagging, blue bowl clamped firmly in jaw. “Hey buddy, no one gave you water, huh?” As Jack tilted the bottle into his dog’s dish, he noticed its serious eyes were diverted intently past him toward the driveway. He followed the retriever’s gaze and saw a yellow glow filtering through the fence. His eyes narrowed and he tried to focus on a chink in the wooden slats, and what was behind it. Shit. He lurched to his feet. The pool heaved in response to his step and sloshed cold water across his back. A trail of drips followed him back through the house as he fumbled in the pocket of his pants, then coat, for the car keys.

     He walked toward his silver BMW, its headlights carelessly burning a bright hole in the darkness of night. He tried the handle unsuccessfully. Jesus. Who locks the door with the damn lights left on? He bent down and slid the key into the lock. Just as he began to twist it, the field of yellow light on the asphalt, hedge and fence suddenly evaporated.

     ”God. Damn. It.”

     He was about to fling his keys down onto the driveway.

      “Hey you!”

     His eyes widened. What the… Jack was about to wheel around to identify the speaker when a fist caught him across the back of the head, hard. His neck snapped forward and his forehead slammed into the glass of the car window. Reeling, he staggered backwards and sideways, trying to get himself turned around.

     ”Yeah you, fuck you man!”

     The heel of a boot connected with his hip and a sharp pain shot through him. Keys clinked down onto the driveway.

     He raised his hands weakly to block his face against the incoming blows, but he could discern little more than a blur and a shadow. Another blow, this time to the arm. Eventually the figures of two men became apparent, but by then Jack was on the ground, his eyes bleary and his body crunched and stung.

     Thick arms took him under the armpits and hauled him roughly over the driveway. He heard a metal door swing open and latch, and became aware that he was in a van’s cramped trunk. An engine whirred and growled. Jack groaned.

     One of the attackers was looking down at him, impassive. “You really don’t have a clue, do you?”

     ”What the hell are you talking about? What’s going on?” The words were slurred and mangled.

     ”It was a rhetorical question. Don’t answer.”

     ”I wasn’t, I was just asking…”

     ”I said don’t try and answer.” The man’s foot jerked suddenly. Jack’s brain exploded into a sea of blackness.

     Cold, rough asphalt clung to his skin. He was lying stomach down. His breath came in gasps, and his hands were shaking. He was acutely aware of rivulets of water (or his own sweat?) sliding down his side and dripping on the ground. The orange glimmer of streetlights crept in and plied his eyelids open. The world was a blur. It hurt to move. He closed his eyes again and stayed sprawled on the street under the deadweight of night.

     A distant car horn brought awareness sliding back.

     Jack stiffly moved his hands and lifted himself off of the road. Rows of rundown houses and shops extended past him on either side and spun dangerously around him. He was naked. And more injured than his memory could account for.

     As the world steadied itself, he noticed a weathered sign above the door of a nearby building. “Ned Pepper’s Pub” in faded red lettering and the light was on. He gritted his teeth and moved across the pavement toward the door, which opened loudly. Except for the man behind the bar and a mouse he thought he saw scurry behind a jukebox, the room was empty.

     The bartender’s eyes widened in disbelief as he caught sight of the new arrival. “Holy Jesus. What in hell happened to you?”

     Jack approached the bar “My wife left me today. She uh… She took everything.” The sharp grime on the floor stuck to the soles of his feet. “Can I get a shot of whiskey?”

     ”How you planning on paying?”

     ”I’ll owe you. C’mon; I’m good for it.”

     ”Yeah? How many people do you already owe? Got many outstanding debts?” Jack stared blankly. “Nevermind, you can have it on the house. And you’re lucky there’s no other customers for you to be scaring away, otherwise…”

     Barely a second after Jack held the shot glass in his trembling hands it clattered onto the counter, empty. He swallowed, and for a few moments worked to get control over his breathing. “What time is it?”

     ”Does it matter? Hell, what time do you want it to be?”

     ”I…”

     ”It’s 7 bloody minutes to twelve. Happy?”

     Not particularly.

     He pushed back out into the street. A fog was creeping along the ground, feathering upward, and illuminated by orange streetlights. He had no idea what part of the city he was in, but certainly one far from the stale safety of neatly clipped hedges, double garages and ornamental front-porch lion sculptures.

     After several minutes, or maybe hours, he had adjusted to the pain of walking, pushed it somewhat into an isolated compartment of mind. Jack was vaguely aware of changes around him: buildings elongating and clad in corrugated steel, sidewalk crumbling into sharp, irregular gravel. He was more aware of his vibrating mind, and the distorted images of the evening and night that rewound and replayed around him.

     God. What did I do to deserve this?

     What did you do not to deserve this? Linda’s dark eyebrow arched conspicuously and she regarded him, her arms folded. The smell of meatloaf flowed from the kitchen, and the kids scrambled after some doll or other in the living room. And goddamnit why can’t you admit you never loved me?

     Jack’s next footfall stuck to the ground and he lurched to a halt. Grimacing, he shook his head and in the process bit his tongue, hard. He stood still, staring bitterly at the ground, swaying lightly in the breeze. A thousand petitions, complaints and justifications spiralled through his thoughts, latching onto everything and nothing and culminating meaninglessly in a desperate, wheezing sort of groan.

     He trudged onward, shifting focus back to the pain. The new pain in his tongue developed a camaraderie with the familiar pain in his feet, hip, head, body, everywhere. His thoughts, the road, the fog, the buildings all mashed together into tangled fuzz as he plodded down the disconsolate street.

     Sharp, clear twin beams of light cut through the morass in his head, jolting him to wide-eyed momentary stillness. In a moment, the blaring white had torn his mind’s aimless glaze to shreds. A lumbering roar followed heavily behind and Jack had just enough time to turn towards it and see the immense mass of folded and gridded steel barrelling toward him. A frantic horn blare, and finally the whimpered screech of ineffectual brakes. A moth on a searchlight.

     He carefully drew in a paper-thin breath, felt the sweet air dive vividly into his lungs. The first thing in years he’d really, actually felt. He closed his eyes, and made up his mind.

     The air shuddered.

     ”Holy fuck! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

     Jack stood frozen in front of the truck’s towering metal grille; he let his arms drop and his eyes open. “I guess not.”

     The driver was leaning out of the door of the cab, her eyes wide. The two regarded each other for several moments, mouths moved but no words formed. Every molecule in Jack’s body was buzzing. Eventually, he spoke. “Uh, sorry about all this. Do you have something I could maybe eat?”

     …”…I probably have something back here. A sandwich or chocolate bar or… or some pants. Christ! Look, you’re pretty beat up, I’ll call you an ambulance.”

      “Nah. I’m good, I think. A chocolate bar would be great!”

     The driver, hand already on the phone, might argue, but she wouldn’t change his mind on this. She rummaged in the back of the cab, and eventually approached him warily. “I got some cookies. Chocolate chip, at least.” She held out a wax paper wrapped packet. “Well… Have a good night. And take care of yourself.”

     Jack took the package. “Yeah. Thanks a lot.” His giddy daze was only beginning to fade. After the too late “You, too” trailed off, he vaguely tracked the red taillights off into the misted dimness.

     Before he could think to do it himself, his hands were unwrapping and his mouth was burying itself in the sweetened crunch of the cookies. The wax paper floated forgotten to the ground, but every crumb was accounted for. He licked the last bits from his lips and teeth. That was a really good cookie.

     The various pains were tempered somewhat by this small nourishment. His limbs were still tingling and the awareness of his own body felt more widespread than the space should have allowed. Slow, careful steps turned him through a full rotation. The pitted pavement gave way to gravel, ditch and fence, then a dark barrier of trees and swaths of rolling meadow. He slowly realized he had no idea what direction he’d been wandering. Alright! Well. Life gives you a lemon… right? He laughed.

     Heavy blue was soaking up into the sky from the horizon. Jack bit his lip, picked a good direction and he ran. Like Forrest fucking Gump. He left the road and stumbled into the swampy ditch, scrambled through the long mess of reeds and wild scrub. He cleared the squat line of barbed wire easily and crashed through a dam of spiny branches. In the field beyond he dashed onward, forcing each step against the rising scarcity of oxygen and building ache in his legs.

     After running as far as he could (probably not very) he collapsed into the soft weave of grass on a hillside. He rolled onto his back and lay soaking in the dew, gasping for breath and savouring every one he managed to catch. All his senses were singing.

     A point of pressure on his chest roused him and he found the big eyes of a border collie peering down at him. “Bouncer?”

     The dog stared back blankly and shifted its paw back to the ground. “It’s great to see you, buddy!” Jack ruffled the tufted fur between its black ears enthusiastically and it sat down next to him. “Look, I shouldn’t have fed you beer. I’m sorry. That was careless.” He put his arms over the dog’s lanky shoulders and gazed across the lightening meadow with a half smile. And all that other shit, too. As if I can have control over it. But I will, and I won’t let this happen again.

     Jack shifted back onto his side, laid his cheek against the cool grass and drew his knees toward his chest. As his breathing evened and sleep calmly laid itself over him, the first yellow sliver of sun crept over the horizon.

No wonder I feel like I’ve seen the Constantines constantly bandied about by Call the Office, or at least the marquee outside, long before they were preening in the glow of indie-cred and continent wide praise. It turns out they’ve played there no less than 20 times in the last 5 years. And I was dumb enough not to go to any of them. But wait, the website tells me they played with Sanseiru (my oldest friend phil’s teacher’s old band for those who don’t know) three years ago. So I may have been there. I can’t quite remember, but back then I wouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t like them. As it turns out, last night I saw them for either the first or second time. It turned out to be a very agreeable experience. Theirs is the kind of music that when you hear you kinda just know it’ll be better live.

Raspy voice, vocals brazenly pleading with the mic. Lead singer bears uncanny resemblance to someone and eventually I realize it’s Terry Jones. Or maybe I have seen them before. Music is dark, grungy, and heavy. Layers of sound flit in and out. It’s messy but focused. The beats hit hard, and the drummer’s grinning like he really really knows it. All the musicians are wowzers. They even bring out the cowbell! The melodies aren’t upfront, they’re buried beneath the squelching music, but it’s got a raw driving intensity that’s rather undeniable. I love the raspy almost slurred spoken quality of the lyrics. Like a pounding haze. There’s plenty of old school rock n roll bravado and posing, but during Shine a Light when he raises his fist and tells us to think of our families (can’t anymore remember the exact words), I’m genuinely moved. Heck I have a really awesome family. The concert is dedicated to hating the thieves who busted into their van last night in London. Everyone breaks at least one string. They turn to taking various shots of liquor on stage; perhaps they’re alcoholics, or perhaps they need to de-stress after the robbery. By the time the end of the show comes around not everyone is quite standing up straight. But what an ending it is! They bring the Seasnakes back onstage, and with 6 or 7 guitars, a bass guitar or 2 (who can keep track exactly), drumming, and a sax, they bust out a rather incredible version of Gordon Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The instrumental ‘choruses’ of guitar bombast between verses are monumental. MMmmmm.

Also last night, on television, which I do not have, U2 completely asserted dominance over Saturday Night Live. It’s been tricky for me as an elitist indie music type hearing that what U2 really cares about is gaining a huge audience and being very popular, and I was really starting to question their motives. But their escapades on SNL showed at least me that there’s still no pop music artificiality behind it and they and their music are coming from a genuine place. It was thrilling to see the entire cast and audience and crew in awe of the band, and kinda know that the band could tell. But they’re the types that when they get acceptance and praise, they don’t settle for it, they take it as bait and push harder. Supposedly after the broadcast ended they just hung around and played 3 more songs. That’s some folks who love what they do, right there, and for all the people who might think U2 has descended into no better than meaningless corporate rock trying to make a quick buck, that really sets them apart. So you can expect me to bring them up fairly commonly here, because they excite me. Ooh la la. This one is looking forward to the tour.

And also, the new CDmp3 player that I got (just a month ago) to replace my old one (which, sadly, broke, and was probably my most happily used possession) seems to have completely crapped out. I should be throwing things and kicking stuff, but I have learned that stubbed toes are no fun. Instead I’m all about the controlled, seething burn. I’m not really super mad, but I feel that if I chose to be, I would be fully justified in it.

In other news, both the new U2 album and the new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album are being hailed by critics as being exemplary specimens of the artists’ work and perhaps career defining pieces of work (the latter in particular). Quite a lot of the fans on the nick cave forums seem to dislike the album(s) however, while the U2 fan community is gobbling up the new album so delightedly they barely have space to in their mouths to fit the copious drool. From this, I draw the conclusion that a) most Nick Cave fans are pessimists, and b) most U2 fans are optimists. And for some reason I’m not surprised.

If anything it is their most direct, accessible release ever. Is that good? Hard to say for sure. But it succeeds in doing everything that All That You Can’t Leave Behind didn’t quite manage. When Bono talked about Beautiful Day as a profound expression of pure joy, he would have been put to shame if he heard Original of the Species. The album is not a return to what the band does best, so much as it is what the band does best. The melodies are tight and elegant and catchy; it’s loud, it’s joyful, it’s triumphant, moving, and it’s uncompromised. It’s not a hugely rocking album, but it is huge, and it’s quite loud. Every note is in its place and it sounds very well constructed, but at the same time it’s more than that the voices and the instruments leap off of the record with vibrancy and vigour. They have a life of their own, and the harmony between the brilliant performances and the transcendence of the songs themselves seem to drive the album into the stratosphere. I think it’s going to be huge, because the power of this album is undeniable.

Yes, I am excited, and potentially overreacting and blinded by my gigantic slobbering fandom, but you know what? It doesn’t matter. Cause I feel Grrrrreat! And it’s all thanks to a little band from the Northside of Dublin called U2. If anything, this experience has cemented the fact that no matter how I manage to look at it, U2 is still unquestionably my favourite band, because a new release by anyone else could definitely not have this lurvely effect on me. I can only hope the album stands up to time and I’m still this in love with it in three weeks, and three months, and three years.

The complete rough draft of my creative writing project is now available for perusal. I invite and encourage such action.

Oh, and remember (of course you don’t) that creative writing essay that I did at the last minute, and researched through 5 books the same night I wrote it? I was summarily rewarded with an A for my efforts (right after being told that the prof was the hardest marker in the English dept, too). School is a strange, strange beast. But at least this time it’s a friendly one.

I had a thought about music. And I suppose it could be extended to encompass many forms of art, but it’s most at home defining music. You see on several occasions people (often myself) have asked me what it is that I think makes one song, one album, better than another. What is it that I look for in music? At the essence, it’s all about emotion, and I established that to myself a long time ago. If a song doesn’t make me feel, it’s probably crap. I don’t tend to mind how a song makes me feel when judging it, but rather how much. If it scares me, saddens me, energizes me etc. It’s all one and the same. All are even, and many can be combined. Though some suit certain moods much better. I suppose if my emotions were very unbalanced I might prefer a certain mood exclusively over another. I will say that most of my favourite songs are “slow” songs, because it’s harder for a simply loud, catchy song to be intense enough to have a lot of power. Kill All Hippies (Primal Scream) is an example of a very upbeat dancefloor pounding song that still stays sounding really important because listening to it is like having your head pounded by a bucket of bricks. Simply happy songs face a bit of a hardship gaining impressive power. Well.. maybe I do favour certain moods, then. But I would rather like to think that it’s harder to make an accomplished, deeply affecting light, happy song, so there just aren’t as many… and it isn’t that I enjoy them less. I will probably never know for certain though, will I? I’m getting sidetracked though, the gauge to consider music by that I thought of was “is this song important?” and not just in the general all-encompassing nature of importance, but more specifically “does this song sound like it’s the soundtrack to something really important happening?” the more important the better and it can be important for a whole host of different reasons. But a song needs to bring you somewhere that changes something, or if it leaves things the way they started, it needs to shake them, punch them, cry out to the outside, or beg them to change, or quietly accept fate. It just has to do something, feel something, make some sort of statement. It can be subtle, whatever, but I feel that almost all of the music I really like could be made to fall under the category of appearing to chronicle important dynamics or situations. And that, my friends, is why Party for 2 by Shania Twain is the most asstastic song in the history of music. It means less than the hokey pokey song and it communicates less than a dead mime. (Now that I think about it, dead mimes could be used in a variety of profound and interesting ways.) That song however, is completely and utterly hopeless.
(and just for the record, when I had it up there as song of the day, that was not done in seriousness. I don’t know if anyone noticed, or cared, but I should hope that if any of you thought it wasn’t a joke you at least had the decency to lower your opinion of me considerably.)

Eventually, my incredulity was eroded away by the sweet ’70s arrangements, catchy tunes and often comical lyrics. Jens (who kams vrom Schweeden) sees the world as a big, scary, confusing, and, more often than not, heartbreaking place. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the poor guy.

But it’s nice to hear a songwriter who doesn’t take himself too seriously and keeps his sound simple. Jens is enjoyable, purely for his quietly amusing, over-dramatized tales, and the bright and wonderfully sentimental melodies that accompany them.

4/5

7.5/10

The Organ

Controller.Controller

My CD reviewing for the Silhouette is facing a problem. Largely that I gave Josh Ritter’s album 4 stars, and Flogging Molly’s 3.5 stars. Probably should have been 4.5 and 3, because every CD I have tried to review since then has been better than Flogging Molly, but not better than Josh Ritter therefore stuck at 4 stars. Admittedly this has only been 2 albums so far, but I can see it happening a lot more. So I am faced with a dilemma and my journalistic integrity is on the line! Maybe I should just throw in the towel and quit while I’m ahead. It’s not like they’re paying me. Plus the winning mix CD had all sorts of artists that the average person has heard of.. what’s with that? I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

Tomorrow (that being Friday) I go to see Controller.Controller and The Organ at The Underground, which should prove to be a rollicking good time, but will surely not match the rollicking inherent in the first rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet which is set to take place the following day.

That felt a little too self-referential and pretentious, I’m going to get some water.

It really feels like a Monday today, even though usually Mondays haven’t been a terrible thing for me. But the dulldrums and the tedium and the grinding are setting in. I’m needing to get a topic for my essay due Thursday for my Creative Writing class, and I’m hedging back and forth on several things and not entirely sure what I should focus on, and especially what is expected of us in this assignment. Yesterday I went to the library and got 10 vaguely related books and I still don’t have a too much of a clue. Ideas, oh lots of ideas. They’re just not doing so much of the coming together thing. Maybe I’ll make a flowchart. Maybe I’ll pound my head against the wall. Maybe the ships will come sailing in.

If you happen to be up at 8:00 am tomorrow (Tuesday) tune in to CFMU (online or at 93.3 FM in the Hamilton area) and you can listen to me hopefully not make a fool of myself (assuming I succeed in dragging myself out of bed). It would be nice if no one else made me into a fool, either. Time will tell.

-I signed the volunteer agreement with CFMU (so -I’m now a real-life honest-to-god member of the radio station and I have the door codes and everything!)
-I got my CompLit essay returned to me (I scored an 80, which is better than I feel I deserved, but I really did have a great title page)
-Adam invited me to come onto his radio show again (next Tuesday at 8am. Very exciting, and you can listen online!)
-I auditioned for Romeo and Juliet (waited in line for 3ish hours, did the monologue, managed to not screw it up, got the call today saying I’m in, playing a fella named Peter, and I’m reprising my role of thespian society musical consultant which will also be a thrill. ’twill be fabulous, so around March or something you all now have plans.)
-I stayed up much of the night writing my aesthetics essay (the first essay I think I’m actually pleased with, which doesn’t bode well for the mark which will pretty much have to be a disappointment, and if not another example of me doing better in my damn electives than my majors. The essay is entitled ‘My Taste Is Better Than Yours’.)
-I’m going to submit one of my mix CDs to the Silhouette for their monthly mixtape contest. (The prize is a gift certificate of some sort. Wish me luck.)
-Today I workshopped the next bit in my creative writing assignment and it was received well. (This is an ongoing thing, you can expect a new instalment to appear here each and every week. It’s like a serial or something similarly very exciting!)
-I found out my exam schedule today. (It ain’t so bad. One on Dec 9th, and one on the 15th, and none in the morning or early afternoon)
-Yesterday I also paid the first cable internet bill (ah the joys of living by oneself), and today I had a little quiz in Comp Lit. Not to mention that I’m getting several free-so-long-as-I-review-them CDs through blogcritics, which is kinda exciting.

And that’s just the last two days, and that’s probably skipping over some pretty important stuff. Not to mention the Adem/Explosions In The Sky concert on Monday, whose pictures, and perhaps a brief review, will perhaps eventually appear on here, as well as the whole wonder of Thanksgiving Weekend. My life is busy, but pleasantly. It was pretty awesome that staying up late to do my aesthetics paper, doing my creative writing instalment at the last minute, and writing a quiz all after spending three hours in line at an audition didn’t manage to make me particuarly stressed, and was by and large actually quite enjoyable. Life is good.

You know, now that I think about it, some sort of point form type of thing would be much easier to comprehend, so I’m gonna go back and change it, but I’m gonna leave the part where I say that I’m not, just to confuse people. Wankers.

The fiery spirit of Celtic music suits a marriage with punk, but I find the distorted guitars don’t really help beyond securing a demographic. That reflects my own preference, and it’s safe to say fans of either genre will find something worthwhile here. The musicianship is good but not outstanding, and the vocals and lyrics are pretty average. Overall, it’s the genuine Irish spirit of carousing that carries the album.

Most of songs are upbeat and many end up sounding rather like one another. This isn’t entirely bad because it’s a formula that works pretty well, but a few standouts (like Tobacco Island) show there’s a lot of potential not being tapped like it could be.

3/5

Adem

Explosions in the Sky

Last night I played a bit of intramural soccer with Ian and some of his friends who have a team set up. We won! That was good. I was about the only one there without shin-guards, soccer shoes, and shorts. I was definitely the only one who hadn’t been in anything resembling a soccer game since elementary school. So I was fairly outclassed. But luckily I only touched the ball twice, only once with negative results, and neither time proved particularly disastrous. Now my legs are pretty sore. Maybe there’s a connection there. Anyway, I miss the good old days soccer. It would be nice to play sometime with people who also suck brutally.

Radio station On-Air training was today. It wasn’t particularly outstanding, but informative. Just another step in the long trudge to achieving my dream. I look forward to having access to that huge room with more than thirty thousand CDs.

In creative writing class, I had a nice little eureka moment about my project.. in the form of realizing that disconnected vignettes aren’t all they’re made out to be, and it would be much more amusing if all the horrible bad things happened to one person over the course of the night, instead of many. And what the hell, since the creative writing class is all getting a chance to critique it and make suggestions, I might as well give y’all that same chance.

I’m back in London for Thanksgiving this weekend. I’ll be seeing Explosions in the Sky a day later in Toronto instead of Sunday in Hamilton at a reportedly sub par venue. More complication and expense as far as travel is concerned, but it’s worth it to get some homecooked Thanksgiving feasting and see ye olde family. Speaking of travelling and expenses, I randomly discovered that R.E.M. is playing in, of all places, London Ontario on their next tour. This excited Kevin, and for some reason there were 5th row tickets left, which are no longer left. Wink wink. Nudge Nudge. Unfortunately the show is on a Tuesday evening, which is particularly inconvenient. But this might be my last chance to see this, one of my favourite bands. So we shall see what we shall see.

Oh yeah, and my phone finally, actually, honest to god really works. Same 5283368 business it was always supposed to be. And with that, my rambling endeth.

Josh sticks to the same gameplan throughout, but the songwriting is accomplished, catchy, emotive, and it stays interesting. The lyrics are poetic and often brilliant. This sort of music isn’t for everyone, but if you do like mature, well produced, low-to-mid tempo, melodic folk-pop songs, it’s difficult to think you would find any problem with this album. Down in my room, with a perplexing and draining late summer cold, Hello Starling is my comforting mug of steaming tea, and an understated friend I feel I’ve known my whole life.

8.5/10 or something like that

In the afternoon Colin and Amy came up and they, I, and Brian saw the play ‘The Love List’ which had Colin’s uncle in it (so we got 2 free tickets which made it quite worthwhile). It was very funny, light-hearted, goodtimes. Then we ate some really good cheap pizza and showed up to the Underground for the Arcade Fire show. And these guys really have blown up, my oh my there was quite a line-up. Then Colin decided the ten dollars was too much for him to spend on a band he didn’t really know, so he got in the Lexus and drove back to London. Poor guy. In retrospect, it might have been criminal to charge any less for the show.

The first of the opening bands was Heston Rifle. They play what might be described as post rock metal. Violin and guitars and interweaving melodies and then lots of hardcore noise-wall rocking. The violinist was cute but she kept hiding back by the rear speaker-stacks, and the bassist played really hard and made his fingers bleed all over his guitar. I guess it was pretty cool, but not really my cup of tea, so to speak.

Belle Orchestre followed, and they were awesome. They called for silence by raising their right hands and just waiting for the crowd to quiet down a bit and then launched into their orchestral intensely fun music. They used a wide variety of instrumentation, and at one point the guy with the french horn and the guy with the trumpet went out into the crowd and played a bit. Lots of neat percussing with chains and multiple drumsticks and stuff as well. Three of the members were shared with Arcade Fire as well. Overall they were pretty awesome, similar vein to Arcade Fire but a bit lighter and sunny. I really wish I’d had the money for their CD.

And then it was time for The Arcade Fire. And it was an instant sort of ‘holy shit’ moment that almost gave me chills. They did Laika first and Richard Reed Perry (the distinctive looking fellow with the glasses) went manic and started smashing everything with his drum sticks.. the stage, keyboards, tambourines, you name it. There were splinters flying, and damn it was intense. And with such an awe inspiring initial impression working away at piquing my exuberence, the show progressed. Win’s voice was pretty rough (listening to the album, the way he sings really doesn’t seem healthy) but it didn’t make too much difference. I would have wished that the audience could’ve all sang along every single word a la a U2 concert, but.. maybe in a couple years. The slow songs often missed a bit of punch due to Win’s hurting vocals but they were still awesome, and the fast songs kicked major major ass. They played everything from Funeral plus four other songs which were likely all from the EP (I know at least No Cars Go was). They had really good, entertaining stage banter as well, which is always a plus.. talking about how they finally realized there was more to Hamilton than the 20 ft around Underground, etc. They had all sorts of fun instruments as well… accordian, french horn, violin, stand up bass (sometimes bowed), 2 keyboards, 2 xylophones, drums, bass guitar, guitar, 12 string guitar, bells on guy’s legs, fun flute, triangle, steel drum, lots of tambourines and various other percussive type things, and maybe some other things I’m forgetting or didn’t manage to notice. And they also switched instruments like mad.. Regine played drums for a couple songs, and they were constantly moving around. Except for the violinist who stayed put on the other side of the stage, but I don’t think she’s technically in the band. Regardless, It was powerful, powerful stuff. It’s difficult to describe the music, I suppose earnest, honest, emotional, and soaring would be some choice adjectives for it, as well as wickedly good. The highlight of the show for me was probably Power Out, wickedly followed up by Rebellion (Lies), and Tunnels was also high up on the list, but there was nary a dull moment to be found. I have definitely not used that much energy at a show this year, nor have I heard that much audience enthusiasm at a club show… ever, I think. I was totally stoked afterwards and so bought a t-shirt and a CD, and then some gatorade to rebuild those electrolites and have green sweat. Oh I’m a good little consumer, I am. The excitement and rush lasted well after the concert had ended, which is the sign of an evening supremely well spent. It’s hard to decide definitively, but The Arcade Fire are at least dangerously close to being the best live band (out of 30+) that I’ve seen in the last three years.

Pictures here.

my camera became a bit of a community commodity this time, so only most, and not all, of the pictures were taken by my own hands

Heston Rifle

Belle Orchestre

THE ARCADE FIRE

So today after my afternoon class, in awe of the lovely weather we have been having, I thought it might be fun to go on a bike ride, but I didn’t know much about the bunches of bike trails that allegedly fill Hamilton to bursting, so I had to weasel IanD into coming with me. We brought some paper and reading to maybe get some work done (boy, did we ignore all of that or what!) and then decided to bring IanH as well. So the three of us travelled down toward the harbour, and along the park-like trails. It was a good example of a fairly unattractive area trying pretty hard to look beautiful and for the most part not really succeeding. Then we got toward the end of the trail, saw a map of all the waterfront trails and decided unanimously that we might as well go up to Lake Ontario, and follow near the skyway over to Burlington. And before we know it we’re riding along Burling St E, in the heart of Hamilton’s seemingly unending steel producing industries. Now this is the part of Hamilton people refer to when they’re thinking about the smelly, pollutionating, ugly part of it. Regardless, I thought it was neat. Then the road started getting more and more unsuitable for bicyclists. There were big trucks, awkward intersections, and the whole bit, but no real obvious way to get anywhere else. So we kept going. Eventually it became evident, as we were riding along the grassy hump beside the street, that the busy, truck-infested road we were on was leading toward the QEW and there wasn’t much of a way of getting off it. But we found a fenced off residential area and passed our bikes over the fence and then hopped it. I really wish I’d thought to bring my camera with me, though. Well there’s always next time! It gets a bit less exciting from there on in, we eventually found the lakefront trail (had some food at a little hot dog stand) and followed it into Burlington (over a little lift bridge that was dwarfed by the gigantic skyway), and then back through Burlington and back home. Now that was fun! Definitely something I feel should become a regular occurence down in the Emerson continuum.

Back this past weekend I was back in London, and I recall that I probably did something. Those things included James’ birthday party, and the second Sadies concert in two weeks (which was unsurprisingly very great) and this time I managed to get some pictures of it! We were talking about how my digital camera thingie was broken, and then my dad randomly plopped the thing I needed to fix it on my desk and now it’s even better than before! (how’s that for skimping on the techno-geek talk?) My dad’s the best. It was also particularly awesome to have a delicious homecooked meal. My mom’s the best. I had to wake up absurdly early on Sunday to get back to Hamilton for primary orientation at CFMU (the campus radiostation). I have On-Air Training on Wednesday, at which point I can be put on the fill-in list! In related news, I was on ‘Early Morning Rebel’ on Tuesday morning because the host, Adam, is awesome and invited me to come on. It was pretty cool, and I suggested that I’d be happy to do it any time, and he said that might be cool, but, since there’s a chance he was just being polite, I’m leaving the ball in his court on that one.

I finished my first essay last night (comparative literature, Gulliver’s Travels.. which really was a great book), skipped my first two classes today. I really need to get back into the essay writing frame of mind, it just wasn’t coming. Less procrastination might help as well. I’m doing a very, very slender version of my favourite monologue ever in Acting class, which is quite exciting. And now I reaaally need to think of an idea for my Creative Writing class major project, since the first installment is due Tuesday! (the postcard story I wrote for that class is now available of public consumption as well). A lot of other things have also changed in this town recently, and you can be brought up to speed on all of it by checking the newly updated update page!

And most importantly, The Arcade Fire on Saturday!! Sweet Jesus.

* Yeah right, suckers!

Greenwood has opted for a very produced sound. This lets you enjoy the quirkiness of his often-interesting instrument and style choices, but overall it’s not a wise move. The songs themselves have a loose, unfinished-in-not-necessarily-a-bad-way feeling that is choked by the lavish, artificial arrangements. If Clarence was some guy playing around in my garage I’d think he was great, but with the whole studio behind him he balances awkwardly on the edge of sounding pretentious to the point of being silly. Criticisms aside, there are some fine songs here, and it’s definitely an interesting even rewarding listen, but all in all it can’t quite outdo being average.

http://damonmuma.com/wp/2004/09/23/good-vibrations/ Brian Wilson - Good Vibrations from SMiLE (2004) /sunshine pop/
((“I, I love the colorful clothes she wearsand she’s already working on my brain.I, I only looked in her eyes,but I picked up something I just can’t explain. Im pickin up good vibrations. Shes giving me excitations. Gotta keep those lovin good vibrations a happenin with her.”
Ah the sweet sun and the sting of hot summer sand under foot. The garish hues of plopping beach balls and dropping swim trunks. Purple arms and hot silver moons and rolling sparkles of water. Light in an eye, face split with a neverending smile.))

Favourite Colours is a wash of deep bass, clear-ringing picked steel and good old fashioned country twang. The melodies themselves are straightforward but ornamented with musicianship that’s so impeccable it’s often hard to keep track of the complex layers of instrumentation. Many of the songs wouldn’t sound out of place on a Tarantino soundtrack.

I’m not an accomplished Sadies connoisseur, so I can’t compare this to previous albums, but alone it stands as a very accomplished work. This is delicate and beautiful, driving and tuneful music that conjures the welcome simplicity of the wide open and the wind in your hair.

Tracklist:
1. Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Biomusicology
2. Yo La Tengo - Autumn Sweater
3. The Wrens - Ex-Girl Collection
4. Doves - There Goes The Fear
5. The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)
6. The Von Bondies - Cmon Cmon
7. The Pogues - Turkish Song of the Damned
8. Eddie & the Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do
9. The Wrens - Faster Gun
10. …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Let It Die
11. UNKLE - Nursery Rhyme (incomplete)
12. Interpol - Leif Erikson
13. The Housemartins - Flag Day
14. Kate Rogers - This Collective
15. Martina Topley-Bird - Anything
16. Gustavo Santaolalla - Iguazu
17. REM - Leave (soundtrack mix)
18. Stars - The Woods
19. Scissor Sisters - It Can’t Come Quickly Enough
20. Junior Boys - Last Exit

Length: 79:59

And, unsurprisingly, there’s a story to go with it. On Friday (not, however, the morning as per their arrangement) the Bell^TM man came and supposedly hooked up my own not-to-be-shared-with-not-wanting-to-share-housemate phone line. However an inaugural call home revealed the Call Display^TM info pertained to the surnominal title of the aforementioned housemate. Evidently Bell Man had failed to protect the correct wiring of telephones the world over. I went to tell Jaye^TM about this “snafu” (if you will), and that a long distance call to London would likely appear on his phonebill and that I would gladly reimburse him for said call. He seemed rather taken aback by this situation and very concerned that I was accidentally connected to his phone-line, even going so far as to (hopefully jokingly) suggest legal action against the phone company. So it was clear he wanted this situation rectified, but Ian felt he could straighten it out without calling Bell^TM and risking long waiting times or exorbitant charges. This was haltingly accepted by Jaye, though he was very insistent that he’d really rather I didn’t use the phone already hooked up in my bedroom for local calls, and that it would be much preferable that I go upstairs and request the use of our vertical neighbours phoneline, rather than risk interrupting the viriginity of his phoneline he claims to barely ever use. I asked if this was because he didn’t want to miss God calling, and he jumped on this opportunity and agreed passionately. But I could tell he wasn’t being entirely open with me. There was something else going on. But what would life be without a few little mysteries? So the denouement of our story occurred this evening when Ian did some mystical rewiring that resulted in my phone being connected to my line and Jaye’s being connected to his.

On Friday (oooh what a busy day ’twas!) I also ventured out of my basement to go to a big house party full of mostly strangers. Even though I couldn’t find any mixers and ended up drinking long island ice tea mix straight (a trip to the beer store is in order) it was a good time. I ran into a guy who turned out to be named Adam and looked familiar, and we established that I’d probably seen him at the Silver Mt. Zion show earlier this year. It turned out he has a show on CFMU, and when I made known my aspirations in that direction he invited me to come on his show on Tuesday the 28th at 8am. The plan at this point is to play some Decemberists and Ted Leo/Pharmacists and discuss their undeniable awesomeness in great detail. Adam also demonstrated knowledge in music that makes mine seem very limited by comparison, and very good taste (he is also fully onboard the arcade fire train), and he’s also in a band which I’ll have to check out at some point. So that was all pretty exciting based on me wanting a radio show more than almost all other things. They say it’s all about who you know. I also didn’t audition for the Fall Major (a feminist musical with one male part), and didn’t not get a callback. If for some reason I had auditioned, I might have sung I Was Meant For The Stage by The Decemberists on account of it seeming appropriate, falling within my range, and its lyrics being mostly known to me.

The opener was some dude named Rick White or something like that. He was really skinny and had enormously long hair, and he played some nice quiet tunes on his guitar and sang. Then eventually the Sadies took the stage and hot damn do they know how to put on a live show. The music they played was surfy, bluegrassy, country kinda stuff, with occasional violins and a stand-up bass. They were amazing musicians… it was mesmerising to watch the Good brothers’ fingers flying around on their fretboards. And very fun to watch them going all out on their harmonies… eyes squeezed shut and mouth opened wide. It was really very folky, the lyrics (to the songs that had them) seemed to be somewhere in the vein of those old time folk jams of the sixties, and I really appreciated that. There’s not a whole lot of young people bringing that kind of music and that kind of feeling to the other young people, and I really appreciate that (I also appreciated the fact that they kicked some major ass). They played a bunch of covers at the end of the show, just randomly trying stuff out that they weren’t sure would go off, and then for an encore they brought Rick White on and just played a whole bunch of songs by various people, perhaps some by themselves. I like that angle on music.. making it a collaborative community thing not just between the musicians on stage but all the people who’ve come before and written great songs. There isn’t much of that in any genre except folk, or folk related music (there’s certainly a lot at the Celtic Festival) and I think it’s largely because most other types of music are so concerned with style and image. These guys are just playing their music, and other music they like whereas other bands have to prove to everyone who they are and try and pretend they’re original. And the Sadies really are original, just in case you thought I was claiming otherwise. And it’s not necessarily a problem to try and stand on your own, but it’s silly to put on blinders, and it just doesn’t feel as warm and fuzzy and communal. But all in all, beyond strange ramblings about the nature of various kinds of music, The Sadies kicked ass. They’re definitely on tour, and they’re definitely awesome, so if you get a chance really do check them out. There is no way not to be blown away by the musicianship, precision, and spirit in these guys. And they have a stand-up bass which is automatic bonus points. I might just use their concert in London on Sept 24 as an excuse for my first home visit of this brand new school year.. we will have to see.

And in other music news (what other kind of news is there?) I am completely in love with the new album by The Arcade Fire, who are coming to Hamilton shortly, and I definitely intend to be there. They really are what music is all about. Well, one type of music. Grand, elegaic, anthemic, honest, emotional without being fake or annoying. I may have gotten into the whole joy of music that sounds totally true and honest after being blown away by the silver mount zion concert this spring, and these guys (also from Montreal) are operating on a very similar level. It’s raw, it’s spirited, it’s meaningful, political, hopeless and hopeful. And hot damn does it rock. This album has actually crippled my ability to listen to other music as I’ve been so completely addicted to it. And just as a disclaimer, all the fabulous reviews that are know coming out about the album, and all the hype that is ballooning out has nothing to do with why I listened to the album… I found out about all that afterwards, and I must say it’s quite appropriate.

The move-in was pretty straightforward, and I have my room arranged in a very pleasant fashion. Despite being smaller than the one at home (smallness=the only incentive to keep tidy), I enjoy the set-up more, and I definitely prefer the white walls to the pink. It evidently took a while to get the internet situation up and running. And I won’t have a working phone line for another week. That was the soonest they could have someone over, and Jaye, for reasons confusing, doesn’t want to save a whole load of money and share the phone line. I spent a long time talking to him trying to understand his reasoning, and I just can’t, unless he is hiding something or a little bit crazy. That was a source of some stress, but other than that he seems to be a nice kid. Ian arrived on Wednesday night with the ping pong table in pieces. Never have I seen a messy stack of junk rearranged so quickly and efficiently. In lightning speed the unfinished basement room positively brimming with junk was transformed into a ping pong playing heaven. It was madcrazycool. Look for the Memorial Invitational Ping Pong Tournament (we kill the winner and name next year’s competition after him/her) coming sometime in the future.

Schoolwise, I’m taking Aesthetics, Creative Writing, Modern European Literature, and The Art of Acting. They all look to be quite interesting and are sufficiently different that I won’t get them confused with each other. Of course next term I have 6 courses with less differences between them to keep straight. But that’s for the future. My Art of Acting professor seems especially really cool, and I only have exams in two of my courses which will be quite awesome come December!

Generally things have been awesome.. I have a pretty light workload this term, so I’ll be balancing it out with some SWHAT and some radio station volunteering and maybe some improv clubbing and hopefully some drama of some sort (I’m not sure how much I want to audition for the Feminist Musical Fall Major this year, my chances with only 3 male parts don’t look to good and I’d likely rather be in something else, maybe something non-feminist for once). There’s lot’s of cool people in and around my house, my room is super cozy, I look forward to attending and doing the reading for all my classes. So life is pretty good.

In the big internet-hole, I took the opportunity to rehaul or at least slightly modify every page on my site. The biggest change is to the paintings on the visuals page which are now actually there! So if you’re interested take a look around, get comfortable but don’t leave your undies lying around.

In the summer of 2004, award winning artists Micheal Feiner and Damon Muma joined forces to create the most exciting and unprecedented artistic collaboration that I am aware of in the city of London. The fact that I am unaware of any other artistic collaborations should not keep you from realizing how exciting and important this is.

Caffeine Dreams

The first in a continuing series of paintings is titled “Caffeine Dreams”. It was completed in July. It is a commentary on our modern consumerist mythology, or something.

Neither of the artists drink coffee regularly.

“I’m not like the other girls, the ones who give it up for free”

The Second

is temporarily untitled and cannot be shown here because it is unphotographed and hanging in Hannah Feiner’s apartment in Toronto. If you would like to see it, you will have to drop by and ask nicely until other arrangements can be arranged.

the third

does not and may never exist.

I will probably (not definitely) make a brief trip up to Hammertown to leave off some stuff on friday morning. But I will have to hurry so I can be back for the season finale of Northenden (which is my GURPS campaign, and yes I know it takes a real geek to call the last session in a roleplaying game before an indeterminate hiatus a “season finale” but that’s just the way god made me, and if you start questioning god he’s liable to get pissed off and zap you). For those of you who don’t know what roleplaying is, go here, and thou shalt be partially enlightened albeit perhaps still quite confused. And I’m still waaaiiting and waiting for my new shiny fourth edition books to arrive in the mail. I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a pair of books in a good while.

The day before yesterday was Sunday. That day worked out pretty well. My parents took the whole family up to Niagara-on-the-Lake to see Nothing Sacred by George F. Walker at the Shaw Festival. You may have heard me mention this dude before, because he rocks. A lot. (Speaking of which, when the hell are those reruns of This Is Wonderland get their ass back on CBC?) I myself enjoyed the play immensely. I thought that the script was awesome, a lovely blend of biting humour and revolutionary or emotional seriousness that worked very well. ‘Twas a complex, slightly unbelievable, very original, and remarkably engaging story. Just the way I like it. The stage design was very well done too, inspired by the work of Kandinsky and a little abstract, but very effective. The acting was brilliant, and Mike Shara as the revolutionary and smart-ass Bazarov was very effective. Actually I could have sworn I was watching Jayson MacDonald much of the time he was on stage, and that’s really not a bad thing since that dude’s pretty cool as well. Perhaps it seemed so awe-strikingly good because I haven’t seen professional actors indoors on a big stage doing a play in.. several years (despite the fact that in the last year I’ve seen at least 15 plays and been in 2. Now that I think about it, that’s quite a lot really). They all had it down to an artful science, they did. Very, very impressive. Actually not long before seeing that I saw some professional actors doing Shakespeare, but that was outside… As You Like It in Gibbons Park. That was really good as well. At any rate, after the play we drove back towards home but stopped for dinner at a restaraunt called “Twelve” in Port Dalhousie (which St. Catherines has eaten). It was right on the water, with beautiful trees and ducks and a waterfall (at least water falling out of a pipe and down some concrete, anyway) in view out the windows. There’s times you feel a bit cheated paying twenty bucks for an entree and getting this tiny little thing that tastes pretty good, but not that good. Well, at Twelve, the food was actually the best food I think I have ever tasted. In my entire life. (at least that I can remember). It was the kind of cooking that even something that looks not particularly great (like random vegetables you don’t recognize, or something that looks like coleslaw, which I’m not a huge fan of, or little brown worms) it ends up tasting absolutely amazingly divine. It made Kelsey’s the next night on the way back from Hamilton seem ‘decent enough’, when normally it would be ‘mmm good’. So yeah, that was sure as hell worth 20 bucks for an entree (and my lovely parents were paying anyway). I had some sort of pork roast with spaetzles and other things. Actually one of the funnest things about Twelve was that about half the things on the menu I had no idea what they were, but I’m pretty sure it would have all tasted absolutely gorgeous.