DROP DEAD FRED

DROP DEAD FRED

-THE GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME-

I have seen this movie more times than I have sneezed in my entire life.

SNOT FACE!

"Without music, life would be an error."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

THE DARKNESS

WHO REMEMBERS THE DARKNESS, RAISE YOUR HAND!

The Brit award winning band were never given as much recognition as they deserved here in Canada.

The band released album Permission to Land which pulled off #1 album in the UK in 2003, then in 2005 One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back released in November 2005, only reaching #11 on the charts.

Chart numbers aside, while being a byproduct of influences such as AC/DC and Thin Lizzy, The Darkness found their own distinct sound in the voice of singer Justin Hawkins. The Darkness is the kind of band that is hard to take seriously, but you cannot help but love listening to.

Anti-abortion, but pro war....

They want them dead. Just not right away.

Hallelujah

There isn't much need for an explanation other than this is what gets me through pulling all nighters of essay writing.

Thank you Jeff Buckley, your music is beautiful.

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Official Music Video) - Watch more amazing videos here

YES I KNOW WHO ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK IS

I AM SO SICK OF WORKING IN A MUSIC STORE AND OLD PEOPLE ASSUMING I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT "BECAUSE I'M YOUNG."

I HONESTLY JUST WANNA BE LIKE, "LOOK, I KNOW WHO THE HELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 4 YEARS NOW, AND YES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE EASY LISTENING SECTION."

"THEY ARE BEFORE YOUR TIME"... REALLY? HMM.. WELL THEN I MUST NOT KNOW PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, OR THE BEATLES EITHER.

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

The Dead Milkmen

So I started out by writing this blog based on all the new artists that sound alike.

I made a massive list of comparative bands ranging in genres from dance to metal.

Then I realized whats the point, I mean, you like what you like regardless of who ripped who off, or who is just as similar as whoever else.

What i say isn't going to change your opinion.

I would love to open your eyes to some new sweet bands, consider it my gift from me to you,

but ripping on some of your all time favs- #@!& it, MUSIC IS ABOUT PERSONAL OPINION AND INTERPRETATION.

WHO AM I TO SAY WHO IS GOOD AND WHO IS BAD.

SO, this being said.

Here is an oldie, but a classic.

THE DEAD MILKMEN is a satirical punk band that formed in 1983 and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Their songs consist of simple, often childish lyrics, that as corny as they may be, are hella catchy.

They recorded eight studio albums, one live record, and several EPs and self released cassettes in their initial career before disbanding in 1995.

Their decision to break up was not based on a lack of love for music, but sadly rather due to the fact that their bass player was suffering from tendinitis and could not play without intense pain in his hands.

Commercial and record label struggles also caused frustration and therefore played a part in their disbandment.

Post breakup the band went in their own directions.

Over the 13-year hiatus, other bands were formed featuring members of The Dead Milkman, solo projects were pursued, and careers in journalism and blogging were put into play.

Bass player Schulthise, the initial cause of the disbandment attended University to study Serbo-Croatian language, literature, history and culture.

1998 saw him moving to Serbia where he taught English, hoping to contribute to the country's re-growth and development.

When NATO bombed Serbia in April of 1999, he fled back to Philadelphia where he worked as a custodian for several years.

On March 10, 2004, he committed suicide. His death was featured in the New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine.

The death of Schulthise reunited the Dead Milkmen for two consecutive tribute shows in Schulthise memory, proceeds were donated to various mental health organizations and to the Serbian monastery that he supported.

Dan Stevens of The Low Budgets played bass with the Dead Milkman for these shows.

In 2008, the band announced their plans to continue performing and work on new material with Dan Stevens permanently replacing the deceased Schulthise.

It's odd how death can, and usually is the cause of reuniting.

AND NOW I GIVE TO YOU, MY PERSONAL DEAD MILKMEN FAVORITE,

PUNK ROCK GIRL.

This track was their single in 1988/1989, and is their biggest commercial hit.

It's been 20 years, and they are still playing it on MuchMusic's The Punk Show.

SO TO ALL OF YOU, ENJOY!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT!

Allow me to introduce you to Franco, Franco Un-American

SO, presentations suck, especially if you're someone like me who does not enjoying standing up in front of a class full of university students to ramble on about something that you have absolutely no interest in, and really don't give a shit about.

(Studs Terkel anyone?..exactly..)

THE CURE?

NOFX.

FRANCO UN-AMERICAN!

This song can fix all sorts of dread and nervousness, guaranteeing to leave you pleasantly chilled out. I just listened to it while anticipating my presentation, and the entire time I was stuck up in front of the class (which just so happened to be extra full today), I couldn't help but smile while this song played in my head.

So, why think all the bad things when life is so good....

YOU CAN ALL THANK ME LATER WHEN YOUR FEELING HIGH OFF THE VIBES OF THIS SWEET, SWEET, SONG.

PEACE + LOVE

J. SPOT

I never thought about the universe, it made me feel small
Never thought about the problems of this planet at all
Global warming, radio-active sites
Imperialistic wrongs and animal rights! No!

Why think of all the bad things when life is so good?
Why help with an 'am' when there's always a 'could'?
Let the whales worry about the poisons in the sea
Outside of California, it's foreign policy

I don't want changes, I have no reactions
Your dilemmas are my distractions

That's no way to go, Franco Un-American
No way to go, Franco Un-American
No way to go, Franco Un-American
No way to go, Franco, Franco Un-American

I never looked around, never second-guessed
Then I read some Howard Zinn now I'm always depressed
And now I can't sleep from years of apathy
All because I read a little Noam Chomsky

I'm eating vegetation, 'cause of Fast Food Nation
I'm wearing uncomfortable shoes 'cause of globalization
I'm watching Michael Moore expose the awful truth
I'm listening to Public Enemy and Reagan Youth

I see no world peace 'cause of zealous armed forces
I eat no breath-mints 'cause they're from de-hoofed horses
Now I can't believe; what an absolute failure
The president's laughing 'cause we voted for Nader

That's no way to go, Franco Un-American
No way to go, Franco Un-American
No way to go, Franco Un-American
Where can we go, Franco Un-American

I want to move north and be a Canadian
Or hang down low with the nice Australians
I don't want to be another "I-don't-care"-ican
What are we gonna do Franco, Franco Un-American

Muppets do QUEEN

WHO can honestly say that they don't love the Muppets, or that Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody isn't legendary?

THAT'S RIGHT, NO ONE CAN!

Seriously, what better mix could their be than

the Muppets doing Queen!?

SO ENJOY, I DEFINITELY DID! - - and COMMENT!

OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE..

THIS FRIDAY.

VICTORIA PARK.

THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

BE SURE TO CHECK THEM OUT OVER THE HOLIDAYS!

CBC'S THE END

I am going to begin by stating

*THIS POST IS A CLASS ASSIGNMENT, AND NOT A PART OF MY PERSONAL RANTS*

If you are interested enough to read on, let me take a minute to fill you in on what exactly it is about. Based on the CBC News World Piece “The End,” the three part documentary is about the changing formats of media, specifically dealing with radio, television and print media.

THE END- OR THE BEGINNING?

The world we live in today is media dependent, and has been this way for quite some time now. What many of us are naïve to however, is the ways in which media is changing. CBC’s documentary THE END focuses on the ways in which print, radio, and television mediums in particular are being challenged and ultimately changing from their traditional forms and styles into new, modern, digital and mechanical resources.

The section of the documentary that focuses on the end of print media, talks about how we are entering an age where paper is becoming a luxury. While every growing online sources are making our traditional paper print sources nostalgic, how far is this going to go? Will print eventually die off completely? Will the Internet be the is and end all?

The death of print has been declared for a century now, and the blame is being put largely on bloggers. The blogosphere has taken over, and we are snubbing paper pages for screens. For example, Wikipedia, the free online dictionary that is collaborately written, is now the largest reference site on the Internet. The notion of citizen journalism vs. mainstream media is key in the transition from paper to online, because where editors are the gatekeepers of information; the web makes it possible to be your own editor. Unlike mainstream media, citizen journalism also provides a larger range of perspectives and ideas that are usually unheard in the narrow-minded mainstream world.

Although newspapers are still in print, the readership among the new generation is becoming obsolete. The New York Times openly admitted web readership outnumbers physical print readership, and that the change in advertising and technologies are presenting challenges to the life of the newspaper. With the rapid growth of technology, will paper live on? Is the authentic feel or materialistic appreciation enough to keep the print media alive? On the other hand, what if the system crashes, then what will we do? After all, books don’t crash.

The end of radio is also upon us. How you may ask?

Radio vs. Podcast.

Music vs. MP3.

Need I say more?

The radio itself has become a home for aired advertisements and repetitive songs. The availability of online downloads have taken over the need for radio song play, and therefore radio as a music technology is over. While Ipods, MP3’s are only one issue when talking of the change in radio, the invasion of satellite radios seems to be an even bigger issue. Who needs local stations anymore when this “new and improved” seems OH so much bigger and better. The variety of songs is incomparable to that of a local station, and in terms of news updates, well that information is available in practically every other part of our technology filled lives. Rest In Peace old-school radio, for you may be missed, but likely forgotten.

In terms of television, a move away from the traditional family time TV set has made it so that you do not have to sit in the house to watch your favorite shows anymore. The portability, and availability of this form of media has spread through mass technologies, cell phones and the Internet being two obvious examples. We no longer need the television set to take part in the television experience. The digital world is all about streaming TV and movies, and it’s still a screen technology, so what’s the difference right? WRONG. There is a difference, the TV of the future is much more dominant than the TV sitting in your living room.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING YOU ASK?

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT! (or at least we are making it seem so).

WE THE CONSUMERS ARE APPROVING THIS WITH OUR PURCHASES- DECLARING CONVINCE AS THE KEY TO NEW MEDIUMS.

The market is changing, but for the better, or worse? Personally, I am not a fan of these small handheld devices, and I feel like we are all drowning in a sea of technology.

While this may be an end to the traditional forms of media, it is most definitely not an end to media. The new era of media is upon us, and whether we like it or not, we will be exposed to it’s digital, mechanical ways. While this is sad news for the traditionalist and anti-technologist, look on the bright side. A realm of capabilities which were impossible before. Change is inevitable, and media is no exception.

THE FUTURE IS DIGITAL.

Maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me...

Made famous by Oasis, the song Wonderwall is loved by all who hear it.

A karaoke classic and guitar playing sing-a-long, what is there not to love about this song.

-SO-

What if I told you there was another version of this song.

A version that strips the upbeat and adds the mellow.

Ryan Adam's does a cover of this song, and I can guarantee that anyone who is "in the mood" will love every one of his soulfully drenched words and softly picked guitar sounds.

Adam's version turns the famous Wonderwall into a haunting song, remastered with emotion.

Ryan Adams' version is almost chilling, but it's so beautiful that I can't help but listen to it again and again. I love Oasis' version too, but Ryan Adams' version has so much more depth to the song.

- Lauren Twocock, Newark, England, 24.12.2006

Despite the loyalty from Oasis fans voting the original song the better version for reasons varying from simply being original to the recognizability of the song from the first note, even Noel Gallagher of Oasis says Ryan Adams is the only person who ever got the song right.

Oasis rocks
I like more the original song

- Carolina, Mar del Plata, Argentina, 29.09.2007

I do admit often times cover songs do not compare to the original, but every now and then a band comes along and takes an already famous song and makes it their own. Ryan Adams is not the first, and will not be the last, to take a classic, put a different spin on it, and leave the listener transfixed on his every word. For example, the Smashing Pumpkins mastered Stevie Nicks Landslide, and Johnny Cash captured spotlight with Nine Inch Nail's Hurt.

SO, WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

-OASIS or RYAN ADAMS-

Something About Airplanes..on vinyl

So, the weekend that just past I spent in Toronto for back-to-back Brand New shows.

Thus being said, staying over for the weekend not only called for a lot of partying to celebrate being un-bed ridden, but a lot of vinyl shopping too!

My prize purchase...

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE- SOMETHING ABOUT AIRPLANES

I'm going to begin by saying that Death Cab is definitely a vinyl band.

Opening with BEND TO SQUARES, the sound is much more texturized, and seems to "pop off" the record compared the the CD version.

*anyone who knows Death Cab, specifically old Death Cab, knows that Ben Gibbard's voice is distinctively soft, so now just imagine an analog vs. digital version...its heavenly*

The warmer, fuller sound that comes with vinyl makes the sweet sounds of Death Cab OH so much better than the mechanical sounds that come on CD.

...all I want for Christmas is the rest of Death Cab's catalogue on vinyl

BEWARE OF ME!

So, I just want to make it clear that I have been so blogless lately due to the fact that I not only managed to catch the h1n1 flu, but I got a nice dose of pneumonia to go along with it.

GREAT!

I honestly don't think this could have come at a worse time- all my final essays and presentations due... and the medication I'm on s

ends me to Mars.

But spending the last two weeks in isolation = extensions.

YAY EXTENSIONS - except not = NOW I GET TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE.

yes, consider this my apology for the coming short blogs.

SO, I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL HEARD THIS

MANY MANY MANY times..

BUT BEWARE OF THE SWINE!

INDIE CHRISTMAS SONGS, pt. 2

Alright, so if that last list didn't get you in the Christmas Spirit these songs sure are to!

Yes, I will admit it does seem early to be posting Christmas songs, but in the retail world Christmas started the second Halloween ended, and for all you avid shoppers, only 36 more days to shop!

REGARDLESS, CHRISTMAS IS AWESOME SO WHY NOT GET PUMPT?

This Christmas- Dismemberment Plan

Happy Christmas (War is Over)- The Polyphonic Spree

We Three Kings of Orient Are- Sufjan Stevens

A Change at Christmas- The Flaming Lips

No Christmas While I’m Talking- The Walkmen

Christmas Song- Mogwai

O Holy Night- Sufjan Stevens

It’s Christmas Time- Yo La Tengo

Christmas At The Zoo- The Flaming Lips

Just Like Christmas- Low

Do You Hear What I Hear- Copeland

Maybe This Christmas- Ron Sexsmith

All I Want For Christmas- Parenthetical Girls

Christmas on the Coast- A Change of Pace

My First Christmas as a Woman- The Vandals

Santa Claus- Belle and Sebastian

Song for the Angels- Great Lake Swimmers

The First Song- Band Of Horses

Winter Wonderland- Phantom Planet

In This Home on Ice- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Merry Xmas Everybody- Rooney

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

MUST HEAR CHRISTMAS SONGS, pt.1

Have you heard enough of the old Christmas songs that make you want to pull your hair out yet? Well, hopefully the playlist below will help alleviate the stress and get you in the Christmas spirit!

Blue Christmas- Bright Eyes

Christmas is Going to the Dogs- The Eels

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)- Death Cab For Cutie

We Three kings- Fuel

Christmas Night of Zombies-MXPX

This Time of Year- The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

When I Get Home for Christmas- Snow Patrol

Put the Lights on the Tree- Sufjan Stevens

Santa Clause is Coming to Town- Sugarcult

The Christmas Song- The Ravonettes

...stay tuned for even more sweet alt indie Christmas songs!

Do You Realize...that the Flaming Lips make me smile

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face

Do You Realize - we're floating in space

Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry

Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know

You realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last

You realize the sun doesn't go down

It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

-The Flaming Lips, Do You Realize

The Flaming Lips Do You Realize?? (Full Version Video)

Bloc Party is a PARTY!

Straight from the UK underground comes one of the most arousing bands of the 21^st century...

Bloc Party

The quartet from Essex London aim on delivering an energized sound combining the likes of Joy Division, The Cure and The Smiths – creating an electronic rock fusion.

Beginning as England’s top indie act, the release of 2005’s Silent Alarm saw the group winning “Album of the Year” from rock magazine NME along with critical acclaim from not only UK media but US as well, with sold out shows following 18 months of constant touring.

The unique blend of the telecaster garage rock and upbeat percussion managed to not only capture the indie scene, but top electronic attention leading to collaborations with the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Death from Above 1979 and Automato, eventually leading to a remix release of the debut album. Their 2007 release “A Weekend in the City” attempted to incorporate more programming into their sound with tracks such as “On”, blending acoustic and electronic percussion. The direction of Bloc Party’s future was put to the test with “Weekend’s” late b-side single release, “Flux”.

The year 2008 brought with it the multi-formatted release of Bloc Party’s third and most experimental album yet, “Intimacy”. Fans had mixed reviews for the heavily programmed album, as Lead singer Kele Okereke promised a return to the raw grunge of the group’s debut release. Instead, “Intimacy” delivers an electronic heavy dance album with all members contributing their newfound sonic style whether it’d be Russel’s factory of guitar effects, Matt’s industrial beats or Kele’s vocal looping.

However the sound of Bloc Party progressed, the message has always remained the same. Front man Kele does not shy away from expressing his thoughts on love and life, which are ever so clear within his lyrics.

*BLOC PARTY MUST HEARS*

Silent Alarm

This Modern Love

Like Eating Glass

Helicopter

A Weekend In The City

Hunting for Witches

SRXT

The Prayer

Uniform

I Still Remember

Intimacy

Talons

Signs

Biko