I Break Horses

Wow, it's been a while. I've been busy, and I'm sure the three of you have been busy. After all, it's the summer. You're either working or lounging. In either case, you don't want to be sitting on the computer reading.

But enough with excuses. I've been lazy, and that's the real reason I haven't posted in months...and months. I'm going to give this another go, so bare with me.

I'll do concert reviews when I go, which isn't often. Mostly however, I'll just post cool videos I come across as I find them. I'll still write thoughts on music. The blog will now incorporate lots of smaller posts instead of the odd larger one.

So without further hesitation, I bring you: I Break Horses.

I Break Horses is a Swedish band made up of Maria Lindén and Fredrik Balck. They met on a forum for hypochondriacs and have been making music together ever since. Their debut album is due out this fall. If you like techno, pop, indie-ish sounding music, than give it a try.

Until then, listen to this song and interesting video that accompanies it:

I Break Horses - Hearts

Live and in living colour: DFA 1979

I've got work to do, but these are much more interesting. Death From Above 1979 returned this weekend after a five year hiatus to play Coachella. Here's some Little Girl/Blood On Our Hands for you guys.

The boys are back and as good as ever. Oh, the things I would do to see this band live.

Also, while i'm here, this is the Decemberists performance on Jimmy Kimmel last week. They played their newest single "This is why we Fight."

Enjoy.

Shad ain't bad

So last week I switched things up again. You’ve heard from my folk side, my acoustic side, and my Ska side. Now the three of you are going to get a little funky and talk about hip-hop.

I haven’t always been the biggest hip-hop fan. I’ll be the first admit it. When I was younger in my “these people are useless hacks” phase I wouldn’t even give a song with a hip-hop beat. Thankfully I’ve moved on from that phase and only think that way about pop music now. Phew!

Anyways, last Sunday night I had the pleasure of seeing Canadian hip-hop sensation and Juno winner Shad in concert. Opening acts Keys and Krates as well as local act Black Majic Movement both did a good job of setting the stage for the evening, but there’s no question it was the headliner that stole the show.

Not only did Shad play many of his popular hits, but his a cappella versions of songs mixed with his freestyle made the concert a truly unique experience. People were waving their hands, bopping their hands, and dancing to Shad’s unique and high energy beats.

If you’re familiar with Shad, you know that it isn’t his beats that bring in the fans. His lyrics are second to none in the hip-hop community as he easily executive intricate, poetic, and though provoking verses with ease.

If you’re even slightly a fan of hip-hop, get to your nearest Shad show immediately. Also, happy Record Store Day to all you collectors out there, lots of cool stuff came out yesterday.

Below are a few Shad videos. Enjoy:

Life of the Party

I’ve got a confession to make. I have a musical love which I’ve hidden from all of you…and by all of you I mean all three of you that read my blog.

I love ska music. I can’t explain it. The sound of the music is completely different from acoustic, folk, or indie, but I love it. Perhaps it’s the upbeat tempo or the feel good vibe it gives off, I’m not really sure.

As part of Juno Fest, I had the immense pleasure of seeing Canada’s most prominent ska band, The Planet Smashers, along with openers The Johnstones and Saint Alvia.

The three bands put on an entertaining show, all bringing a different but enjoyable sound to the stage.

Saint Alvia opened the night. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. As The Saint Alvia Cartel I had enjoyed their singles, but never divulged deeper. Don’t Wanna Wait Forever and Blonde Kryptonite were both on my playlist in the summer of ’08. Safe to say, the band had definitely stepped away from the feel good pop punk of their previous incarnate.

The band had a darker sound with heavy guitars and less melodic vocals, but they pulled it off nicely. If I have one gripe with the show, it’s that Saint Alvia really didn’t fit the feel of the night. Ska music is high tempo and upbeat, neither of which describe Saint Alvia.

The goofy, funny, and entertaining Johnstones were up next and got the crowd hyped. People were skanking, the dance not the life choice, to the beat of the music and the young crowd thoroughly enjoyed it.

Then came The Planet Smashers. The ska veterans produced a high energy, well paced show that the fans in attendance went nuts for. They played many fan favourites such as Life of the Party, Super Orgy Porno Party, and the one that sent the crowd into a frenzy, Surfin if Tofino.

If you like ska, or a good time, see The Planet Smashers at your earliest convenience. Below are two videos of the band. Enjoy

The Basia Experience

I’m back, finally. I know it’s been forever and all three of you have been distraught wondering about the status of my existence.

Last week I attended a concert in Guelph, Ont. that featured one of the most prominent folk artists not only in Ontario, but in Canada. Basia Bulat performed at the Dublin Street United Church for about 200 fans in what was an intimate but energetic show.

Waiting outside a church for a concert is an odd experience. I'm not a prominent church goer by any means, but seeing a bunch of "indie" kids co-mingling with people reaching retirement over a particular musician was kind of surreal.

Basia performed many crowd favourites off of her two albums, Heart of my Own and Oh, My Darling including my personal favourites Go On, Run, and If Only You. She also performed new songs, as well as a cover of an old Polish song during the encore.

She was as cute, witty, and intelligent during her banter as you would expect. Her genuine smile, as well as her joy to be in Guelph invigorated the crowd that was rather mute during the opening act.

For fans of acoustic performances, folk, “indie” (whatever that is), or country, Basia Bulat is likely right up your alley.

Her live vocals were nearly perfect and her backing band only added to the entertainment with their large smiles and professional musicianship. The show taking place in a dimly lit church only added to the feel. If you ever get a chance to attend a concert in a church, I strongly advise doing so.

Enough from me, here’s Basia. Here’s a live performance of Basia by herself for CBC Radio One. Below that is a performance for Q TV of Run.

Copyright? Downloading? Remixing? Oh my....

So, I started watching this extremely interesting documentary “rip! A Remix Manifesto” that deals with copyright laws over the last 10 years, and more specifically dealing with the remixing and mashing-up of music. I’m finding it quite compelling and think that most music fans (and really, who doesn’t like music) will find it interesting as well.

The documentary deals with who owns the copyrights to the remixed songs, and whether or not the original artists should be compensated.

To be more specific, the documentary focuses on remix guru and ultra-talented mash-up sensation Girl Talk. The film stated that at $2500 per infringement, with some of Girl Talk’s songs featuring up to 25 pieces of owned material, his last album would have cost in excess of $4 million just in copyright.

The film is both a parody and critique on the current copyright laws, and features many of the teenagers who have been charged with illegally downloading music.

It’s a fun documentary and anyone who is interested in the topic of copyright or illegal downloading should give it a watch.

With that being said, here is a few samples of Girl Talk’s work. You may notice a song or two….

Lelia Lelia Lelia

Today’s blog is reserved for the very interesting and complex Lelia Broussard. Her mystery doesn’t lie in the music, although she does put an intriguing twist on the formulaic female pop singer.

Broussard is a Lousiana native that is doing everything on her own. And by everything, I mean everything. She records albums, and tours the United States solely on the money she makes off of her albums and her website. No record labels, no tour sponsors, nothing.

I stumbled across her cover of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” on Exclaim.ca (have I plugged them enough yet?) and loved it so much I decided to divulge deeper into her collection, and safe to say, she’s awesome.

She is currently in the running to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and, in my humble opinion, you should vote for her! http://www.rollingstone.com/choosethecover

Her album, Masquerade, is a really fun pop album, with just a hint of dangerous blues that sets a fun tone throughout.

Below is the music video for the album’s really lovable first single “Satellite.” At the bottom is an acoustic version of “Rosie” that I fell in love with as soon as I heard it.

Satellite

Rosey