New Music Review: The National – “Trouble Will Find Me” out on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

The National ‘Trouble Will Find Me’

As I have mentioned before, I have been avoiding The National for ages.  Mainly because I had this preconceived notion that only hipsters enjoyed their music.

After catching their film ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ (see my review here Hot Docs Film Festival: ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema) and an appearance on Jimmy Fallon late one night I realized I had been missing out.

Their latest, ‘Trouble Will Find Me’ (their 6^th release) follows their last successful album ‘High Violet’ which was toured approximately 22 months in the last year.  This album will truly move any emotional blockage you may feel in your heart and belly.  I have been listening to “Trouble Will Find Me” easily every day back and forth on my trek to work.  It’s been a great ally.

“Sea of Love” the first release of ‘Trouble Will Find Me’ is dance worthy but has all the great elements of a pop song.  This album does not begin and end with this song.  In fact it just gets progressively better.

“Heavenfaced” is reminiscent of a Bruce Springsteen ballad.  Lyrics like ‘Let’s go wait out in the fields with the ones we love’ are Wuthering Heights like with Matt’s voice swooning is eerily reminiscent of Leonard Cohen.  Goosebumps as you dance into lyrics ‘She’s a griever, my believer,  It’s not a fever, it’s a freezer, I believe her, I`m a griever now, She’s a griever, my believer’.  This song will be sugar sweet live.

Throughout this album there are moments filled with stuttering rhythms and winding woodwind along with melodies and percussion that refuse to align.

One of my favourites on this album is “This Is The Last Time”.  It is very Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire in tone.  The melding of the lyrics and melodies and the injection of a female singer’s voice which concludes the song is reminiscent of Amy Milan from Stars.  An aching beauty.

“Graceless” is another body shaker which is road worthy and perfect to play on a Saturday afternoon at home.  Gentle but just enough oomph to sing along too.

“I Need My Girl” will make you reflect on perhaps the loneliness of road life for an artist, missing a loved one.  The simplicity of Matt’s voice along with a soft guitar and the low beat of the drums will be a perfect way to reflect upon your week and leaning into any of your own lingering stuff.

There are some moments whilst listening to “Trouble Will Find Me” that you are waking up from a hazy night out on the town.  There is blurriness and the scent of cigarettes and whisky on the breath while the sounds of this album swirls around you in its sentimentality and subtlety.

In these songs, as well as in “Heavenfaced”, Matt emerges from his self-described “comfort zone of chant-rock” and glides into a sonorous high register of unexpected gorgeousness. The results are simultaneously breakthrough and oddly familiar, the culmination of an artistic journey that has led The National both to a new crest and, somehow, back to their beginnings—when, says Aaron, “our ideas would immediately click with each other. It’s free-wheeling again. The songs on one level are our most complex, and on another they’re our most simple and human. It just feels like we’ve embraced the chemistry we have.”

The boys are touring this summer – it maybe worth checking them out.  “Trouble Will Find Me” is a classic and a necessary  new release to add to your summer listening schedule.

http://americanmary.com/

‘Arts & Crafts: X Available For Pre-Order: Free Dan Mangan x Zeus Bonus Track View Album Teaser, Artist Pairings & Track List

As part of ongoing 10th anniversary celebrations, Arts & Crafts is preparing for the May 28 release of Arts & Crafts: X – an entirely original collection of collaborative recordings by artist pairings from the label roster.

Arts & Crafts: X

Broken Social Scene x Years: “Day Of The Kid”

Apostle Of Hustle x Zeus: “Bizarre Love Triangle”

Feist x Timber Timbre: “Homage”

Still Life Still x Zulu Winter: “Era”

The Hidden Cameras x Snowblink: “The Chauffeur”

The Darcys x Ra Ra Riot: “Time Can Be Overcome”

Chilly Gonzales x Stars: “Nothing Good Comes To Those Who Wait”

Hayden x Jason Collett: “Lonely Is As Lonely Does”

Gold & Youth x Trust: “Lady Bird”

Amy Millan x Dan Mangan: “Chances Are”

Arts & Crafts: X is also now available for pre-order on iTunes. Pre-order now and receive the record’s bonus track – Dan Mangan x Zeus’s interpretation of Elliott Smith’s “Waltz #2 (XO)” – instantly.

Stay tuned to Arts-Crafts.ca/x for updates.

Hot Docs Film Festival: ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

It’s 2010 and indie rock band The National are flying high in their career, about to embark on their largest international tour yet. The five-person band consists of two pairs of brothers and frontman Matt Berninger. Enter Matt’s brother Tom, a budding horror filmmaker who wants to make a documentary film about the band. With a camera in hand, he joins the tour in the role of crew member. Starting out with big ambitions and Matt’s full support, it’s not long before he jeopardizes his position by slacking off on the job, getting drunk, oversleeping and dropping the ball. What starts out as a music doc offers an earnest, behind-the-scenes look at Tom’s endeavours and subsequent tumble from grace? Mistaken for Strangers is an endearing story about brothers, false starts, perseverance and defining your own success.

Review:  I have been trying my best to avoid listening to The National for ages.  In the past I found them to be Radiohead-wannabes.  When I saw that their docu, ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ was playing at Hot Docs late one night – I thought I give it a go after seeing one of their performances on Jimmy Fallon the week before.  The song I saw was ‘Sea Of Love’ off their upcoming latest “Trouble Will Find Me” out on May 20/21, 2013.  Perfectly, timed – this docu will sure to make a National fan very happy.

I found this docu to be funny, very relatable and a neat glimpse into fragmented sibling relationships.  The elder sibling is more successful while the younger is struggling with his own confused internal dialogue.

Director, Tom Berninger at the screening of ‘Mistaken for Strangers’ at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. April 2013.

Watching the docu I couldn’t believe that Tom (the filmmaker) was actually allowed to keep footage of Matt’s (the leader singer of The National) torment.  Once the film concluded I saw that Matt had produced the film so perhaps some of the shenanigans that ensued during the course of the film were done for dramatic effect.  Or is this the real Matt?  Regardless it was entertaining.  An interesting portrait of the artist.

The line of questioning that Tom poses to band members was haphazardly genuine.  He is no journalist.  Nor does he claim to be.  Your heart cannot help to go out to this chap.  As the viewer you feel taken a long for the ride when Matt encourages Tom to come along on the band’s tour of Europe.  The wide eyeness, the fatigue and the on the road life – is tantalizing but unrealistic to this average joe.  There is a lot of giddiness at the hands of Tom, strain with his roadie functions riddled with self-doubt and his own questioning of his place, professionally, creatively and personally which loudly parallels alongside his brother’s booming stardom.

This film is an intimate snapshot about brothers first.  The music of The National is a wonderful backdrop in reflection on what you are viewing between them and a powerful reminder on what you may need to work on with your siblings when you leave the theatre.

http://www.hotdocs.ca//film/title/mistaken_for_strangers

http://www.americanmary.com/

Broken Social Scene ‘Deathcock’

‘Deathcock’ is the first song from the rarities disc of “Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013,” the 10th anniversary retrospective deluxe album.  It’s coming out in 6 days people!    Hooray!

The song was recorded during the “You Forgot It In The People” sessions and originally released in 2004 as a limited edition bonus CD given away with online pre-orders of “Beehives.”  Talk about a golden egg!

‘Deathcock’ was the first-ever collaboration between Broken Social Scene and longtime producer Dave Newfeld. Of the song, BSS says:

“Deathcock, originally titled Mourir, was the first recording we did together as a band with David Newfeld. Dave was making a record called Pet Songs and asked if we’d contribute to his project. It was Justin Peroff who initially brought us together as he felt Dave and BSS would be a great collaboration. The song was written and recorded in one day with at least 10 BSS members present and in town for the session. It was after this session we knew we had to work with Dave. The sounds that he got, the vibe he created at this studio, and his understanding of the band all pointed to YES…”.

Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013 is a deluxe package curated from a decade of releases, including some of the label’s most recognizable hits, as well as some never before heard rarities. This commemorative release will be available as a 4xLP special edition translucent vinyl boxed set, deluxe double CD and in all digital formats. CD copies are complete with a 24-page colour booklet including liner notes written by Stuart Berman, noted journalist and author of Broken Social Scene oral biography This Book Is Broken.  Have you got yours yet? 

Let me take the pressure off you.  The album is available for pre-order now, here.

Broken Social Scene will make a very special one-night-only return from hiatus June 8 in Toronto at Arts & Crafts’ 10^th anniversary celebration, Field Trip Music & Arts Festival alongside Feist, Stars, Bloc Party and more.

For festival and ticket information, visit FieldTripLife.com.

The Grove Music Festival (Toronto’s Fort York Garrison Common on Saturday, August 3, 2013)

The Grove Music Festival has now been moved to Toronto’s Fort York Garrison Common on Saturday, August 3, 2013.  The one-day event includes headliners Phoenix, Hot Chip, and Girl Talk.

It was originally due to happen at The Commons at Butler’s Barracks in Niagara-on-the-Lake but to allow our Torontonian hipsters to get there in one piece it has been moved closer to the city centre.  Too bad, the ambience would have been gorgeous in wine country.

Unfortunately,  Pretty Lights, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Bob Mould are no longer on the list.  Instead be ready to party with The Gaslight Anthem, Odd Future fave Earl Sweatshirt, Swedish synth-pop duo Icona Pop, surf slackers Wavves, UK garage idols Palma Violets, and local up-and-comers Young Empires and Nightbox.

Ticket prices are now $59.50, with an automatic rebate policy in effect for all those who’ve already purchased tickets through Ticketmaster. VIP tickets are priced at $99.50.

Seeing as that Coachella and Lollapalooza sold out in minutes, soon the same fate will fall on Osheaga.   Anyone up for a day trip to Fort York over the August long weekend?

http://thegrovefest.com/

Cat Power ‘Manhattan’

I saw Chan (Cat Power) last fall – see my review here Review: Cat Power at the Kool Haus (Toronto October 20, 2012).  My friend Michelle and I consider here ‘our girl’.  I’d love to be her mate and just keep an eye out for her.  Reading her tweets on a daily basis sometimes leaves me with worry and some days makes me giggle in my tea.

I am looking forward to seeing her at Lollapalooza this summer in Chicago.  Twice within 11 months will do a body good.  I really hope she isn’t drinking again as evidenced in her latest video ‘Manhattan’.

Directed by Marshall herself along with Greg Hunt (who also directed Sun‘s “Cherokee” video), “Manhattan” is a love letter to NYC.

Rocking her newly shorn/platinum-dyed hair, a leather jacket, and fingerless gloves, Chan wanders around Chinatown, Harlem, and Times Square (among other ‘hoods), occasionally stopping to rock out with a subway musician, play some b-ball, leaf through vinyl, and hang out at LES watering hole Max Fish.

2013 Lollapalooza Line Up

Lollapalooza 2013 Line Up

I had no intentions at all of going to Lollapalooza this summer.  The last two times I have attended I have had an amazing time – but there’s been drama I wasn’t keen about.  That said, I was at work last week and saw that the line up was leaked.  It was gobsmackingly good!  One day tickets were left and were going on sale after Easter.  Talk about pressure!

The line up this year? 

Aug. 2:

The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, New Order, Queens of the Stone Age, Steve Aoki, Thievery Corporation, Lana Del Rey, Flux Pavilion, Band of Horses, Hot Chip, Crystal Castles, Imagine Dragons, Frightened Rabbit, Dillon Francis, Smith Westerns, Disclosure.

Father John Misty, Ghost B.C., Modestep, Emeli Sande, Jessie Ware, Atlas Genius, Timeflies, Theophilus London, Monsta, IO Echo, Icona Pop, Chance the Rapper, Lance Herbstrong, Robert DeLong, Deep Vally, Twenty One Pilots, San Cisco, Hey Marseilles, Keys N Krates, the Neighbourhood, Pacific Air, American Authors, Houndmouth, Brick + Mortar, D-Pryde, Brite Lite Brite.

Aug. 3:

Mumford & Sons, the Postal Service, the National, the Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Eric Church, Steve Angello, Ellie Goulding, Azealia Banks, Local Natives, Dada Life, Matt & Kim, Foals, Death Grips, Court Yard Hounds, Adventure Club, Ben Howard, GriZ.

Charles Bradley, Heartless Bastards, Baauer, Haim, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, St. Lucia, Shovels & Rope, Little Green Cars, Family of the Year, 360, the Bright Light Social Hot, Reignwolf, Pujol, Planet Hemp, Cole Plante, Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R., Blondfire, Frontier Ruckus, Wheeler Brothers, the Dunwells, Supreme Cuts, Cherub, Wild Cub, Brooke Waggoner, Beast Patrol.

Aug. 4:

The Cure, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Knife Party, Grizzly Bear, Major Lazer, Dog Blood, Two Door Cinema Club, Tegan and Sara, Beach House, Cat Power, 2 Chainz, Alt-J, the Vaccines, DIIV, Alex Clare, Baroness, Lianne La Havas, Wild Nothing.

Angel Haze, Wavves, Alvin Risk, Jake Bugg, Wild Belle, Art Department, MS MR, Guards, Kill the Noise, Skaters, the Orwells, Palma Violets, Astro, Machines are People Too, Yawn, Half Moon Run, the Mowgli’s, Wake Owl, Bear Mountain, O’Brother, Makeshift Prodigy.

I went online last week right when the tickets went on sale.  The Lollapalooza website crashed as soon as it hit 11 a.m..  Ugh.  Refresh!  I had a few windows open.  I finally got into the virtual wait room and as the lottery would have it – 18 minutes later I scooped up one day passes for the Friday and Sunday shows at $95 a pop USD.  Really I could be arsed about seeing Saturdays line up.  Mumford and Sons is a fail for me.  Btw, Lollapalooza 2013 is now officially sold out like most of the summer festivals this year.

I will be sure to document my Lolla 2013 experience here through my blog.  Keep your eyes peeled.    5 more months to go!

Sigur Ros – March 30, 2013 (Toronto, Air Canada Centre)

Sigur Ros – March 30, 2013 (Toronto, Air Canada Centre)

My mate Michelle had a spiritual experience watching Sigur Ros when we were in Chicago last summer at Lollapalooza.  I wasted my time watching the Sheepdogs, when really I should have been with Michelle.  On our flight back to Toronto she made me listen to a song from that moved me.  Their song lyrics and musical arrangements hurt my heart as we said goodbye to our summer holiday in Chicago.

When Michelle heard that SR was planning a tour that would bring them to Toronto last night – she snapped us up tickets.

I didn’t know what to expect – being transparent, I don’t own anything from them.  But I knew in my heart their emotional and ethereal sounds is what I needed to make me swoon on a Easter weekend already filled with heavy thoughts and a pained heart.

SR’s new harder and more aggressive-sounding Kveikur drops June 18.  It is anxiously awaited from their last Valtari offering.  From what we sampled last night – not only were the tracks laden with musical triumphs but lyrics that captured a sombre yet  invigorated mood in a hockey arena that was transformed into an intimate concert stage.

At one point during the concert I said to Michelle that I forgot where I was.  I totally spaced out for a moment.  The images that were being aired on the projection screen showcased water, rocks, climbing and running people, trees and volcanoes which only amplified the music that it was dancing alongside.  It was very spa- like soothing but at the same time very rock n roll.  Watching SR in concert is like watching a living art installation.

Sigur Ros is one band that I encourage you to see in your lifetime.  Hands down.  Even if you were to see them alone – bearing witness to what I saw last night will not only make you feel more humble of a human being but also appreciative of the emotional rawness that comes from inhaling a different musical style far away from the cookie cutter norm.

SET LIST:

Yfirborð

Ný Batterí

Hrafntinna

Vaka

Sæglópur

Fljótavík

E-bow

Varúð

Hoppípolla

Með Blóðnasir

Olsen Olsen

Kveikur

Festival

Brennisteinn

ENCORE:

Glósóli

Popplagið

Stevie Nicks: In Your Dreams

I have been waiting for a Stevie Nicks Bio, book, or docu on her life since I was a teen.  Finally, it’s here!  My April is destined to be grand – I’m finally getting to see Fleetwood Mac at the ACC but I’m hoping to see her docu entitled “In Your Dreams” at the TIFF Lightbox the night before FM’s Toronto show date.

“In Your Dreams” is a portrait of the elusive Nicks as she and Stewart embark on a musical journey to write and record the critically acclaimed album “In Your Dreams.”  Nicks called this “the greatest year of my life” and felt compelled to share the joyful experience that she terms “the day the circus came to town” with her fans.

Nicks allowed cameras inside her magical old mansion high atop the hills of LA with a wild cast of musicians and friends.  The inner life of the legendary Nicks has by her design long been kept at a distance from the public. We learn in “Dreams” that her world features, costume parties, elaborate dinner feasts, tap dancing, fantasy creations and revealing song writing and recording sessions all of which are captured on film. Also cameos by Edgar Allan Poe, Mick Fleetwood, Reese Witherspoon, a massive white stallion in the backyard, owls and naturally a few vampires who appear in several “home movie” style music videos.

Along with tracking the Nicks/Stewart creative partnership, “In Your Dreams” has plenty of other cinematic payoffs including rare never before seen personal scrapbook stills from Nicks’ childhood and family life, and a wealth of candid backstage and performance shots taken over the last 35 years.

This lady is truly the real deal.  Her music totally triggers me.  But singing along to her songs with the same gusto she dispenses gives me so much joy.

http://www.inyourdreamsmovie.com

Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013

Do you remember last year I wrote a piece titles Arts & Crafts and The pleasure of buying from a Canadian Music Label?  In my book Arts & Crafts truly honors good Canadian music and treats fans like their family.

On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Arts & Crafts is releasing Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013.  A deluxe package curated from a decade of releases, including some of the label’s most recognizable songs, as well as never before heard rarities. This commemorative release will be available as a 4xLP special edition boxed set on translucent vinyl, as a deluxe double CD and in all digital formats. Physical copies are complete with a 24-page colour booklet including liner notes written by Stuart Berman, noted journalist and author of Broken Social Scene biography This Book Is Broken.

This would make a great gift for an A&C fan in your life.   Or for yourself so you can be introduced to some musical rarities whilst also adding to your existing music collection in one cohesive format. 

Tracks include of the following:

ARTS & CRAFTS: 2003-2013

I

Broken Social Scene – “7/4 (Shoreline)”

Stars – “Elevator Love Letter”

Zeus – “Are You Gonna Waste My Time?”

The Stills – “Being Here”

Feist – “Mushaboom”

Apostle Of Hustle – “Folkloric Feel”

Amy Millan – “Skinny Boy”

The Most Serene Republic – “Content Was Always My Favorite Colour”

Jason Collett – “I’ll Bring The Sun”

New Buffalo – “Recovery”

Feist – “I Feel It All”

Timber Timbre – “Demon Host”

Dan Mangan – “Rows Of Houses”

Stars – “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead”

Los Campesinos! – “You! Me! Dancing!”

Broken Social Scene – “Lover’s Spit”

 

II

Broken Social Scene – “Deathcock”

The Hidden Cameras – “Mind, Matter And Waste”

Amy Millan – “She Got By”

Apostle Of Hustle – “I Want A New Drug”

Cold Specks – “Grave Goods”

Ra Ra Riot – “Saccharin And The War”

Sally Seltmann – “You Don’t Know Me Anymore”

Los Campesinos! – “Allez Les Blues”

Timber Timbre & Tasseomancy – “The Darkness Of Things”

Feist & Constantines – “Islands In The Stream”

Stars – “Rollerskate”

The Dears – “Raise The Dead”

Brendan Canning – “Secretaries’ Party”

Jason Collett – “False Cassandra”

Dan Mangan – “Faults”

Chilly Gonzales – “Tarantelle”

Kevin Drew – “Apology”

Snowblink – “Blue Moon”

This collection of music will get A&C fans ready for the Field Trip Music & Arts Festival, to be held in Toronto on Saturday, June 8 at Fort York and Garrison Common.

In the months to come I will pop up new tracks and featured A&C artists in the run up to the Field Trip Music & Arts Festival.  Now that the sun is shining, it’s only a matter of time Toronto!  Stay tuned!

Arts & Crafts: 2003-20013 is available now for physical pre-order via GalleryAC.com.

http://www.arts-crafts.ca/index-ie.php