Cafe De Flore

I took ‘Cafe de Flore’ from the library without fully knowing what the story was about.  I spent the weekend kicking about my flat.  I had one my film to get to before winding down.  I had full intentions of pounding away at my laptop as I watched this film.  That never happened.

I won’t tell you what the film is about.  But it was beautiful.  I haven’t watched a film in months that made my heart ache as much as this one did.  Jean – Marc Vallée  is the Canadian film director and screenwriter behind the film. He is best known for the film C.R.A.Z.Y. and also ‘The Young Victoria’.  Again perfect pieces of cinematography and story telling.

If you get a chance, watch it and tell me what you think.

p.s. The musical soundtrack behind this film is brilliant.  Instead of going to bed, I’m going to start digging  through my cd collection to find the songs I just heard.

RIP MCA

I don’t have loads of words right now but that I’m so saddened by this.  I had the pleasure of seeing the Beastie Boys a few times in my teens – the best show was with my friend Blugh at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on their Ill Communication tour.  It was supreme.  Just recently, I told a friend of mine how I read an article in a magazine where Ad-Rock stated that the BB would never tour again until MCA recovered from cancer.  Man, they truly loved him.  We did too.  RIP MCA. 

MCA always in the middle

From Pitchfork:Beastie Boys MC Adam Yauch, aka MCA, has passed away due to cancer, TMZ reports. He was 47 years old.

The Beastie Boys are one of the most important and influential hip-hop groups of all time. They were instrumental in making hip-hop a global, mainstream force. Formed in 1981 as a hardcore band, they combined punk and rap into a singular sound that grew increasingly broad over the years, encompassing a vast array of genres. Yauch, Michael Diamond (Mike D), and Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) released several classic albums, including their debut album Licensed to Ill in 1986, 1989′s Paul’s Boutique, and 1994′s Ill Communication.

Yauch directed Beastie Boys videos under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower, as well as the 2008 basketball documentary Gunnin’ for #1 Spot under his own name. He also ran a film production and distribution company, Oscilloscope Pictures, that shepherded many films, including Wendy and Lucy, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and the forthcoming LCD Soundsystem documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded the Milarepa Fund, which raised money for the Tibetan independence movement. They put on a series of benefit concerts, the Tibetan Freedom Concerts.

Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, resulting in a canceled tour and the delay of their album Hot Sauce Committee. The Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

Concert Review: Dan Mangan, Bush Hall, London (UK) 3 May 2012

One of my lovely mates, Derek Crook, caught Dan Mangan’s show in London last night…merci Derek! xo  Read his review below:

Dan Mangan, Bush Hall, London 3 May 2012

Bush Hall in West London remains something of an unknown venue, even for Londoners. An Edwardian era dance hall, it now boasts live music and private events and its ornate decor (including elegant chandeliers!) lend it an intimate atmosphere, perfect for the visit of Canada’s very own Dan Mangan.

 

A favourite among many following his performances on the UK festival circuit, this was a chance to see him in a more intimate setting. Leaning heavily on tracks from the excellent ‘Oh Fortune’ album, Dan was in fine form, interacting warmly with the small crowd of 200 or so, sounding great and with a superb band, he showed how far his music has evolved away from the alt-folk crowd he was once part of. His lyrics have got something to say too and this puts him a rung or two above similar sounding acts. Songs such as the pummeling ‘Row Of Houses’ and the chamber pop of ‘About As Helpful As You Can Get Without Being Any Help At All’ showed his song writing range perfectly. There was a sense he won’t be playing such small venues for much longer and who could deny him such wider cross-over success.

Arts & Crafts heads to the UK next week for a London label showcase and their official showcase at The Great Escape which are set for May 9 and 12 respectively. Trust, The Darcys, Eight and a Half and Gold & Youth will be playing those and other shows.

A few tickets for the London event at The Lexington are currently on sale but expect this show to sell out as it marks the UK debut for all four acts. The following night in Brighton The Darcys will be featured on The Guardian’s New Band of the Day Live Showcase at The Warren and Arts & Crafts’ official TGE showcase features Trust, Eight and a Half and Gold & Youth and happens May 12 at Above Audio.

For a complete breakdown of A&C acts’ various plays at and around The Great Escape, check out the festival website. And while you’re there, make sure you grab a free download A&C’s new sampler featuring tracks from all of these artists and many more.

The Dark Knight Rises

I can’t believe I am pimping these sci-fi action flicks.  But let’s face it, I’ve been in denial.  The Dark Knight with Christian Bale and Heath Ledger is on my list of top ten fav films.  If you haven’t seen it – you must.  Thanks to the director Christopher Nolan.

Christopher Nolan is the quintessential over thinking perfectionist director.  I appreciate his brand of film making.  The docu that follows ‘Inception’ is really interesting.  It speaks to how complex and thorough Nolan is when it comes to preparation/pre production, choosing talent, filming and editing.  He is the thinking person’s director.  Watching his work more than once is a must in order for you to catch everything he has implemented and meant for you to observe and understand based on the story’s overall architecture.

Thus – summer 2012 won’t come fast enough.  Must get The Dark Knight from the library again.  Like the Harry Potter legacy of last year – The Dark Knight Rises will be wrought with emotion.  It is the conclusion of the series after all.  Bring.  It.

Norah Jones ‘Little Broken Hearts’

I’m not really sure if Norah Jones has a place anymore in this musical age of Adele.  Her crooning has now been replaced with a peppier and a hipster note thanks to Danger Mouse on her latest ‘Little Broken Hearts’.

My fav song is ‘Miriam’ – it’s powerful and vindictive wrapped up in a pretty bow.  Listen to the lyrics…this is an excellent example that Norah is not the same girl we knew.  I love the music box/nursery rhyme genteel feel to this song.

One thing I like is that she’s brassier on this album.  I think deep down this is really who she is.  The album has some pretty powerful break up songs.  Like Kathleen Edwards – this album is an emotional post-mortem of sorts.

The Avengers

I may be a girly girl – but I can really get behind this.  I watched Michael Bay’s ‘Transformers:  The Dark of The Moon’ and ‘X-men:  The First Class’ a few weeks ago and have can officially say I have fallen for the blockbuster.

That said I saw ‘Iron Man’ a few years ago and really like RDJ in it and the mix of action, humour, buckets of testosterone and cheekiness.  I’m hoping The Avengers brings the same. 

The Avengers opens May 4th, 2012.

Arts & Crafts and The pleasure of buying from a Canadian Music Label

I’ve told you lovelies before about how much I dig this Canadian label.  Not only do they have lovely bands on their roster like Dan Mangan, Belle Orchestre and Timber Timbre but they have great customer service.  Customer service and a record label?  Who knew?

I was looking for the first Dan Mangan CD for a friend in the UK and found HMV’s pricing ridiculous as it usually is.  Logging onto the the A&C website I happened to find ‘Postcards and Daydreaming’ priced at considerably less than that of HMV.  http://www.arts-crafts.ca/index-ie.php

So of course I popped that DM CD into my check out bag as well as Star’s first two albums (they are no longer on A&C – boo!) http://www.galleryac.com/.  When I proceeded to the check-out I noticed I could save on the shipping by actually going to their office on Richmond Street here in Toronto and picking up the CD’s myself.  Can you imagine?  Talk about reducing my carbon footprint.

Bundles I’d like for you to peruse when you have a moment (it’s nice to get a lil extra bang for your buck) are the following:

Cold Specks

Cold Specks Deluxe Bundle

Catalog # AC070-B003

Release Date: 22 May 2012

Label: Arts & Crafts

Audio Formats: CD, LP

Release date: May 22nd, 2012

 

Cold Specks Bundle

I Predict A Graceful Expulsion

includes the Gallery AC Exclusive track “Grave Goods”.

COLD SPECKS’ DELUXE BUNDLE

EACH BUNDLE INCLUDES:

- I Predict A Graceful Expulsion CD or LP

- Holland 7″

- Cold Specks Unisex Tshirt

- Cold Specks cotton tote bag

- Digital Booklet

- Instant MP3 download of the album on release day

- All Pre-orders receive an instant download of “Blank Maps” and Gallery AC exclusive “Grave Goods”

 

Dan Mangan

Postcards and Daydreaming

Catalog # FUM001

Label: File Under Music

Audio Formats: CD, MP3-320kbps, FLAC

Dan Mangan: Postcards and Daydreaming

Postcards and Daydreaming is the debut album from 2010 Polaris Prize shortlist nominee, Dan Mangan. This album is a collection of folk driven tunes complete with beautiful string and horn arrangements. Fans of Bon Iver and The Wooden Sky will find commonalities in the downbeat yet hopeful music of Dan Mangan.

TRACK LISTING

1.Not What You Think It Is

2.Unnatural Progression

3.Above the Headlights

4.Journal of a Narcoleptic

5.Don’t Listen

6.So Much for Everyone

7.Western Wind

8.Fabulous

9.Come Down

10.Some Place to Come Home to

11.Reason to Think Aloud

12.Ash Babe

 

Timber Timbre

Creep On Creepin’ On

Catalog # AC061

Release Date: 5 Apr 2011

Label: Arts & Crafts

Audio Formats: CD, LP, MP3-320kbps, FLAC, Apple-Lossless

Timber Timbre: Creep On Creepin' On

The follow-up to 2009′s self-titled release, multi instrumentalists Taylor Kirk, Mika Posen and Simon Trottier come together again on heartrending compositions that engage, transport and challenge.

Creep On Creepin’ On moves forward from the band’s eponymous album towards the realization of its ability to simultaneously invoke and disguise the most essential elements of pop and rock music with chilling authenticity.

Peeps, I wish more record companies did this.  The pricing, customer service, promoting the beauty within the artists sound and just keeping it real.  It’s so nice to know that I can support Canadian bands and their label truly cares about their customer (you and I) and how they get their brand message out in a sophisticated but also down home Canadian way.

Thank you Jenna for the lovely package and being so generous!  It’s always a pleasure doing business.

Mel xo

Films: L’arbre and L’amour fou

These films make me want to pop Coldplay’s ’Fix You’ on and I don’t want to tell people I like Coldplay.    These films are lovely and worth a glimpse.

Moleskine Passions: Music Journal

Moleskine Passions:  Music Journal

Being a total music geek, I love to learn about new and cool bands.  I love listening to music on my ipod to and from work, travelling, going on short subway trips as I run errands etc.  – It’s such a huge part of my self-care. 

There are times when I feel slightly inundated with tunes.  Last summer at Lollapalooza in particular – there were just so many bands, so much music and so many different things going that I wanted to research when I got back to Toronto.  I remember hoping I had something to write in to document my fav tunes and musical journeys.

This summer – I have myself sorted.  Why you ask?  Well I picked up a ‘Moleskine Passions:  Music Journal’.   Here are the deets (it’s a bit luxe, but that’s me):

Moleskine Passions: Music Journal

It’s fully embossed cover, 3 ribbon place markers and double expandable inner pocket.

6 theme-based sections to fill in: Artists, Lyrics, Playlists, Concerts, My Life in Music, Music Map.

6 tabbed sections to personalize as you wish with adhesive labels.

12 pages of staff paper and 28 blank pages in which to unleash your passion’s creativity.

Several adhesive labels: 80 to be used on the blank tabs, 150 with coloured icons and 12 to customize the cover.

13×21 cm, 5 x 8, 240 pages, acid-free paper.

This lil baby is something I keep in my purse and work bag – for easy access.  My friend’s mentions, tweet’s, Facebook status music updates – all go into it.  Gone are the days of me scrambling to pop it into my phone, scraps of paper or napkins.

It’s very sleek and just looks like an uber cool music notebook.  Very organized and a great place to pop in newspaper articles, Metro pictures, concert tickets and working playlists for working out and ‘on the go’ travel.  I’m always thinking about travel playlists so when I have a Genius Mix that pulls up a song that I haven’t heard in ages – the reminder goes directly into my Moleskine. 

The other night going home from work ‘Animal Instincts’ and ‘You and Me’ from The Cranberries appeared out of the blue.  It was so lovely.  I scribbled in a reminder to make a playlist around it for future trips home from work.  It’s the lil things people.

Yours in music,

Mel xo

Film Reviews: Daydream Nation vs. NEDS

I was so excited to watch ‘Daydream Nation’ over the weekend with it’s Sonic Youth references and lovely musical soundtrack. Ugh. Horrific. It started off very ‘Heathers’ like and ended in a insipid, droll and pathetic manner. I feel like writing Kat Dennings and asking her ’what happened to the cool and smart acting job in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’. Ugh.  I give it 1/5.

But if you want to catch a film with some hootspa, will make you cry, cringe, scream aloud in your condo, giggle so hard that you splash tea on the floor in that same condo….please watch NEDS. I haven’t seen such a beautifully written and acted film in a long time. Once you get past the strong Scottish accents you will truly appreciate the strong characterization and truly British sense of humour and sarcasm. If you have a weak stomach; the violence will upset you.  I give it 5/5.