Sunday, January 2, 2011

An Honest Mistake Debut Album

It's finally here!

An Honest Mistake's debut album
Comprises of all the catchy sing along chorus you've heard from our live gigs, now you can listen to it over and over again.




Full color inserts with lyrics to all your favorite AHM tunes





Get your autographed copy today from any one of our band members or drop me a message on Twitter or Facebook.


Stay tuned for the official album launch event happening in the next few weeks.

You're ALL invited!



Meanwhile, we'll be playing at Baybeats Music Festival this Saturday;

Aug, 21st, 6pm
 at
The Esplanade, Singapore



http://baybeats.com.sg/

Come party with us in the Lion City!

Source: http://baldwinchua.blogspot.com/2010/08/honest-mistake-debut-album.html

The Rosebuds A.C. Newman Half Man Half Biscuit Velocity Girl

Polvo, Versus @ Lee's Palace, Toronto (August 13, 2010)


  Richard Baluyut of Versus: photo by Michael Ligon

It was a 90's Merge Records comeback as Chapel Hill's Polvo and Brooklyn's Versus took over Lee's Palace last Friday night. The 1990's was my coming of age period in terms of indie rock, and Versus(along with Seam, Aminiature, and Toronto's own Venus Cures All) was one of the the first real indie bands I saw live when they played the El Mocambo in 1995. During that period I started to discover indie record labels such as Merge Records who offered a roster of acts that were extremely exciting, if not musically but also for their D.I.Y. ethic towards touring and recording, and the associated culture of zines that helped to build the indie rock scene one fan at a time. It was a really special period. While Polvo also sprung from that same period, it's not too surprising that I never latched onto them given their tendencies towards math rock(a term I've read they don't like) a genre I was never particular towards, but having seen them live for the first time last week, their musical quality was more than evident.

Lately, I've had a bad habit of missing opening acts, and this time it was Toronto's Soft Copy. One of these days I will catch them. Fortunately I made it in time for Versus who were up next. Taking the stage were core members Fontaine Toups and Richard Baluyut with touring member Margaret White on violin and keyboards. It was was that setup, with Richard and Fontaine on guitar and bass respectively and both on vocals, along with Margaret that performed the first few songs drumless, the songs obviously leaning towards a sparer version of the band than I'm used to hearing.

Richard let it be known to the crowd (which at this point was no where near full as it should have been) that his brother and the band's drummer Edward Baluyut could not make it because he had to go back home as his wife was giving birth to their baby. Fortunately, the opening band Soft Copy's drummer Paul Boddum took over on the spot, having not even rehearsed with the band, and did an admirable job filling in, occassionally at the beginning of a few songs having a quiet discussion with Richard as to what sort of rhythms to play. The band's newest album entitled On the Ones and Threes released this year on Merge is their first record in ten years since their last LP Hurrah, the new LP providing the impetus for touring again and providing much of the setlist. Having not heard the new songs until that show, it sounded like classic Versus - alternating lead vocals between Richard and Fontaine, nice melodies, a little muscle balanced with some finesse in the guitar arrangements, and a good sense of dynamics showing the band are just as adept at subtlety as they are at turning it up. It was the old favourites that I was most excited to hear such as "River", "Blades of Grass" and "Fallow" off of their debut 1993 debut full-length The Stars Are Insane. Obviously there were some people in the crowd that were excited to see the band live again(some who I'd imagine might have been at that same Versus show I was at at the El Mo in 1995) but it was a generally disappointing turnout. Of course they were never the biggest band around even back then and taking a ten year gap between albums doesn't necessarily help either.

There was obviously a reason why Polvo was headlining the night as after Versus' set, the venue quickly filled up comfortably. Having broken up in 1998 and then quietly reuniting in 2008, I presume there were some in the audience who didn't think Polvo would come to Toronto, so for them this show was a special treat. For me, having not really listened to the band at length, it was a history lesson. Not nearly as harsh or dissonant as I expected, while there was not a vocal melody within earshot at least from what I recall, the guitar, bass and drums were presented with mathematic precision that gave the songs somewhat of an accessibility. At times, the instrumentation was less angular, giving the impression of the band on the brink of playing a more conventional rock tune, although for the most part staying the course, and perhaps all the better for it. Whereas crowd reaction during Versus' set seemed sporadic due to the lighter crowd, Polvo induced a generally more enthusiastic response, prompting the band to come back for an encore. The band released their newest album In Prism through Merge Records in September 2009, and like Versus with their newly released album, it looks like they're both here to stay. Polvo and Versus fans are rejoicing everywhere.

Photos: Polvo, Versus @ Lee's Palace, Toronto (August 13, 2010)
MySpace: Versus
MySpace: Polvo

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2010/08/polvo-versus-lees-palace-toronto-august.html

Sufjan Stevens The School Papas Fritas Liam Finn

Jeff Beam - Venus Flying Trapeze.

Honest musicians with personal commitments and a precious soul to bare, Jeff Beam falls straight into this elaborate category. A seemingly self styled musician, a large percentage of this album release is self produced, mixed and spun out for us to indulge by the artist alone - Personal pleasure or private hell, Jeff say`s "It's a psychedelic affair".
Recorded on a remote island off the coast of Maine called Vinalhaven, Tanner Smith of the band Laminated Cat makes a brief appearance on a couple of tracks. Venus Flying Trapeze is nice studio fuelled affair, there`s plenty of late night musings and mixing desk frowns apparent with Jeff`s latest release - A great guitar rush can be achieved in only a few quick listens.

Jeff Beam : Currently, A Currency Urgency!
Learn More And Buy

Source: http://mojophenia.blogspot.com/2010/12/jeff-beam-venus-flying-trapeze.html

Mystery Jets Final Fantasy The Sounds Shop Assistants

THIRD WAVE

"THIRD WAVE" is a Legendary Philippine New Wave Vinyl Compilation Series that was released back in the 80s and was very popular to PINOY NEW WAVERS. In the 90s a Philippine Bootleg New Wave compilation CD series called "3rd Wave" also made waves here in MANILA. In line with my little blog "The Doctor Is In" Third Year Anniversary, I'm featuring this series exclusively "The Dr. Stirring Rhod Way". I was lucky enough to have completed the entire series from the 80s Vinyl Records (THIRD WAVE) and the 90s CD Bootlegs (3rd Wave) . So why "THIRD WAVE"? I guess It's the Third Wave of British Invasion and that's pertaining to music. Just continuing my blog's 2010 Third Year Anniversary so let me present you.......a PINOY NEW WAVER classic "THIRD WAVE".


My entire THIRD WAVE collection

VINYL RECORDS (all released back in the 80s)
1) THIRD WAVE
2) THIRD WAVE Volume 2
3) THIRD WAVE Third Stage
4) THIRD WAVE Final Chapter

BOOTLEG CDs (all released back in the 90s)
1) 3rd Wave One "The Best Of New Wave"
2) 3rd Wave Two "The Best Of Wave"



"THIRD WAVE" was a popular Philippine New Wave Vinyl Compilation that was released back in 1986 just after the Philippine February People Power Revolution and at the height of WXB 102. When this compilation hit the record bars here in MANILA, I immediately got my own copy. This first volume consist of 10 tracks from 10 different Artists/Bands. This was released by MERCURY RECORDS under DYNA PRODUCTS INC. and definitely PINOY WAVERS would recall this record. If not, then where were you then KABAYANS? The tracks here were either played by WXB 102, POWER 105, and NU107 back in the 80s. The Artist/Bands are Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, ABC, WIN, Koo De Tah, The Kane Gang, In Parallel, Vitamin Z, Trillion, and recent MANILA visitor none other than Tears For Fears. The THIRD WAVE LOGO and JACKET DESIGN was by JHO SPRINGSTEEN. Well, I really don't have any idea who the baby was on the cover because It was not written on any part of the sleeves. I wonder how he looks like nowadays.


This compilation has an error on how the tracklist would have been written or which song was to be included. I'm referring to Track 2 of Side A which listed as Trillion's Step By Step. If you'll notice on the picture above, the name TRILLION has a different Lettering(Pink) compared to KOO DE TAH and WIN. YUP!! The name Trillion superimposed the name of Jeff Lorber. So It was found out that the producers of this compilation had a major mistake of not really knowing what to place whether the song Step By Step by Jeff Lorber or Step By Step by Trillion. Finally Trillion made it to the tracklist which I think is much better with the concept than the Jeff Lorber song which is a funk/jazz track.


I uploaded both "STEP BY STEP" songs for you to listen to and be the judge. I decided to let you listen to the 12" versions of both songs instead of the album versions to spice up this blogpost of mine.

STEP BY STEP by JEFF LORBER:


STEP BY STEP by TRILLION:




"THIRD WAVE Volume 2" was the follow-up compilation also released in 1986 few weeks after the success of the first volume. YUP!! I rushed also to the nearest record bar when news of the release of this Vinyl leaked in campus. He He He!! It also consists of 10 artists/bands and this would be recalled by PINOY NEW WAVERS as the compilation that included the 1984 99.5RT controversial "Medium by Fade" or "Fade by Medium" which was popularly known as "More To Lose" by "SEONA DANCING". Yup!! This was the first Philippine release of the song and was also released on 45 single few weeks after. "More To Lose" was known to be a New Wave Anthem here in the Philippines and It's 12" extended remix was not really released here locally in MANILA so Pinoy New Wave collectors like me relied on getting an imported vinyl which is much expensive. The other artists and bands included were ABC, Bronski Beat, Alone Again Or (not to be mistaken with a POWER 105 DZBM classic song from THE DAMNED), Be Wild, Then Jerico, Zerra One, Elton John & Millie Jackson, Blancmange, and a personal favorite of mine which is a band called Twilight. This time ABC made it again to the compilation but with the song "Vanity Kills". The first volume included ABC's "Look Of Love". As expected, all songs in the compilation made it to the playlists of either WXB 102, DZBM POWER 105, and NU 107. I'll not go into details regarding what station played the songs first or even introduced the bands first. I'll try to indicate it when I make specific blogposts on each bands or songs next time. The same person was also responsible for the THIRD WAVE logo and jacket. Hmmmp? The baby just got older on the cover. Nothing also written on who the kid was on the cover.


"THIRD WAVE: Third Stage" was the third installment of this Philippine New Wave compilation series which was released back in 1987 few weeks before WXB102 said farewell on MANILA airwaves. Comparing to it's two predecessors, this compilation is a bit underground in concept with more songs included in it. This included 12 songs from 9 Artists/Bands wherein two songs each from The Cure, Siouxsie and The Banshees, and X-mal Deutschland. The other Artists/Bands are Fine Young Cannibals, Communards, The Call, and The Mission. We also see the return of both Then Jericho and Zerra One on the line-up which added up greatness in the compilation. Songs here also made it to the playlists of either WXB 102, DZBM POWER 105, and NU 107. Definitely, I didn't missed out buying this Vinyl too once it hit the record bars back in 1987. The sleeve design this time was by DIANE SPACEY and resleeved by JHO SPRINGSTEEN too.


The "THIRD WAVE" series was a big hit to PINOY NEW WAVERS that on December 17, 1993 there was a New Wave Party entitled "THE THIRD WAVE" organized by Legendary Manila New Wave Mobile 33 1/3. YUP!! That's the ticket shared to us by Eric Pascual of 33 1/3 Mobile when I featured them here on "The Doctor Is In" wayback December 2008. Wheeew!! Time flies so fast indeed!! Well, as you can see the ticket design was based on the "THIRD WAVE: Third Stage" compilation.



"THIRD WAVE: Final Chapter" was the last of the series in Vinyl which was released back in 1988 at the height of the POWER 105 and NU107 New Wave Radio competition. Of course WXB 102 was not on air anymore when this hit the record bars here in MANILA and so most of the songs here were introduced by BM and NU. I also bought the Vinyl immediately when it was released. This included 12 songs from 11 different Artist/Bands because Violent Femmes has two songs here. The Cure and Xmal Deutschland made a comeback and the others are Camouflage, March Violets, All About Eve, King Kurt, Voice Of The Beehive, The Jam, The Fountainhead, and Hard Rain. Artwork is by the same person who worked throughout the entire series and that's JHO SPRINSTEEN. Another great line-up indeed!! Finally ending the Vinyl Series with a bang which started 1986 up to 1988. "THIRD WAVE" made a mark for PINOY NEW WAVERS back then. All "THIRD WAVE" Vinyl series were released by MERCURY RECORDS under DYNA INC. So was this the Final Chapter of THIRD WAVE? I guess not!! ENTER THE CDs!!


"3rd Wave One: The Best Of New Wave" was a Philippine New Wave Bootleg CD compilation released back in 1997 which hit the underground shops in Greenhills. Well, we thought that's the end of "THIRD WAVE". I guess we were wrong!! Though, this was the last piece of the puzzle in my collection and I bought it on a much later date I'm still happy that when I finally got an original copy then my THIRD WAVE collection was finally completed. According to the sleeve, this was released by a certain "HK HOT HITS RECORDS". Wheeeew!! Is that a nice name for a record label? He He He!! This Bootleg CD compilation contains 17 songs from 14 Artists/Bands from the New Wave Era of the 80s since this was released already in the 90s. All songs here were played by either WXB 102 , DZBM POWER 105, and NU 107 back in the 80s and of course 90s Legendary New Wave Program 89 DMZ's WAVE 180 since it was still popular during those times. The Artists/Bands are Echo And The Bunnymen, The Alarm, The Smiths, The Adventures, 10,000 Maniacs, Cactus World News, The Bolshoi, Red Flag, Translator, Soup Dragons, Aztec Camera, The Church, and two former MANILA Visitors namely Real Life and Gene Love Jezebel. Echo And The Bunnymen has 3 songs in this CD while Gene Loves Jezebel has 2 songs. Another great compilation and if you'll notice It's "3rd Wave" already and not "THIRD WAVE". I guess that's to distinguish the Legendary Vinyl from this CD. Since the compilation title was "3rd Wave One" so there should be a follow-up.




"3rd Wave Two: The Best Of Wave" was definitely a follow-up New Wave Bootleg CD compilation released back in 1999 by Soundwave and remastered by 24bit and this time I was able to buy this CD when It was available at Greenhills back in 1999. This also included 17 songs but this time It's from 15 different Artists/Bands namely Morrissey, Camouflage, Pale Fountains, Flesh For Lulu, The Bolshoi, H20, White China, The Mighty Lemon Drops, 10,000 Maniacs, Concrete Blonde, Information Society, Alphaville, Book Of Love, and former MANILA visitor China Crisis. There was a typographical error on the back sleeve because instead of Flesh For Lulu, the tracklist showed "Fresh For Lulu". Hmmmp? That was fresh!! He He He!!! Btw, Flesh For Lulu has two songs in this compilation. This CD was also the chance for PINOY NEW WAVERS to have a clear CD copy of POWER 105 EXCLUSIVES "Smiles And Jokes" by WHITE CHINA and "Blue Diamond" by H2O. This is the final compilation of 3rd wave and it ended the THIRD WAVE/3rd Wave series. Those were the good old days of Vinyl Records and CDs. Nowdays, a lot of youngsters are just contented to have those mp3 copies of songs being played on the airwaves/internet. A lot has changed indeed in the music industry. I still prefer to have the physical copy of the songs I love listening to via CDs or Vinyl Records."THIRD WAVE/3rd Wave" will always be remembered by PINOY NEW WAVERS of my generation.


Inside my "3rd Wave" CDs

I think that's all for now folks!! I hope you enjoyed another trip down memory lane with this very exclusive blogpost of mine as much as I enjoyed creating it. THANKS for dropping by and taking time to visit again "The Doctor Is In". Do come back for more.


This is the
THIRD WAVE of Docmuzic!!

-DR. STIRRING RHOD

Source: http://docmuzic.blogspot.com/2010/08/third-wave.html

Hello Operator McCarthy Gentleman Reg Suburban Kids With Biblical Names

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Year In Music 2010

Don't fret Cee Lo, 2010 was a good year
Well, it's time to put 2010 to bed. But not before we wrap it up with some favorites, not so favorites, some RIPs, and top posts on station to station in its first year (or eleven and a half months). For as in life as in music, it's nice to have memories but it's even nicer to look forward to what's coming up around the bend next.So before we make a mad dash into 2011, a look back at the year that was 2010....in a roundabout way.





Nine Favorite Songs from 2009 that were totally dig-gable in 2010:
1. Japandroids "Wet Hair"
2. Bear In Heaven "Lovesick Teenagers"
3. Pearl Jam "The Fixer"
4. Phoenix "1901"
5. Grizzly Bear "Two Weeks"
6. Metric "Help, I'm Alive"
7. Mumford & Sons "Little Lion Man"
8. Animal Collective "What Would I Want Sky"
9. Akron/Family "River"

Rip This Joint!
Six 2010 Reissues we probably should all pick up at some point:
1. The Rolling Stones "Exile On Main Street"
2. Spiritualized "Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space"
3. Bruce Springsteen "Darkness On The Edge Of Town"
4. The Cure "Disintegration"
5. Weezer "Pinkerton"
6. Iggy and the Stooges "Raw Power"
Looking forward to more Local Natives in the future..
station to station's favorite new artists of 2010:
1. Local Natives
2. Best Coast
3. Tame Impala

station to station's three big pleasant surprises of 2010:
1. Frightened Rabbit "Winter Of Mixed Drinks"
2. Field Music "Measure"
3. Justin Townes Earle "Harlem River Blues"

station to station's three biggest disappointments of 2010:
1. Blitzen Trapper "Destroyer Of The Void"
2. M.I.A. "Maya"
3. Hole "Nobody's Daugther"

The worst album I heard in 2010:
Sleigh Bells "Treats"

The best album I heard in 2010:
Beach House "Teen Dream"
Complete List of top albums 20-1

My brother Adzilla's Favorite 40 songs of 2010:
"Bring It On" tickled Adzilla's fancy.
1. Bring it On ? The Gaslight Anthem
2. Winter Winds ? Mumford and Sons
3. Next Girl ? The Black Keys
4. Giving Up the Gun ? Vampire Weekend
5. Bloodbuzz Ohio ? The National
6. Swim Until You Can?s See Land ? Frightened Rabbit
7. Fuck You ? Cee Lo Green 
8. Power Lies ? The Thermals
9. Ambling Alp ? Yeasayer
10. How I Got Over ? The Roots
11. Little Lion Man ? Mumford and Sons
12. The Dreamer ? The Tallest Man On Earth
13. Madder Red ? Yeasayer
14. Howlin For You ? The Black Keys
15. Holiday ? Vampire Weekend
16. Sun Hands ? Local Natives
17. Living In Colour ? Frightened Rabbit
18. O.N.E. ? Yeasayer
19. Conversation 16 ? The National
20. Cousins ? Vampire Weekend
21. Got Nuffin ? Spoon
22.  Not In Love ? Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith
23. Swim ? Surfer Blood
24. It?s Gonna Be I Told You So ? The Drive By Truckers
25. What?s It In For ? Avi Buffalo
26. Who Knows Who Cares ? Local Natives
27. The Difference Between Us ? The Dead Weather
28. Modern Man ? Arcade Fire
29. White Sky ? Vampire Weekend
30. American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem
31. Fall Hard ? Shout out Louds
32. Too Afraid To Love You ? The Black Keys
33. Airplanes ? Local Natives
34. Spanish Sahara ? Foals
35. Angela Surf City ? The Walkmen
36. Laredo ? Band of Horses
37. All Day Daylight ? The Morning Benders
38. Our Whole Lives - The Hold Steady
39. Windstorm - School of Seven Bells
40. Titus Andronicus Forever ? Titus Andronicus

Favorite Concert of 2010
The National @ Murat Egyptian Room/Indianapolis

Klaxons brought the cat in an astronaut suit but a mediocre musical effort
Favorite Album Cover:
(Tie) Klaxons "Surfing The Void"/Weezer "Hurley"

Favorite News Story In Music:
(Tie) Kings Of Leon Get Shit On/Weezer Petition To Break Up


R.I.P. Mr. Chilton
Ten artists gone in 2010 that will be truly missed:
1. Alex Chilton
2. Captain Beefheart
3. Ronnie James Dio
4. Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse)
5. Doug Fiefer (The Knack)
6. Peter Quaife (The Kinks)
7. Jay Reatard
8. Malcolm MacLaren (Sex Pistols manager and mastermind)
9. Guru
10. Teena Marie



Five Nods to Hip Hop Music in 2010:
1. The Roots-Right On
2. Big Boi-Shutterbug
3. Kanye West-Runaway
4. Janelle Monae-Cold War
5. Erykah Badu-Window Seat
The new Loretta Lynn of country keeps churning out worthy hits.
Five Nods to Modern Country Music in 2010:
1. Miranda Lambert-Me and Your Cigarettes
2. Dierks Bentley-Bad Angel
3. Zac Brown Band-Free
4. Tim McGraw-Felt Good On My Lips
5. Brad Paisley-Water
Tamaryn "The Waves"...loaded in IPOD
Four Albums from 2010 I will check out in 2011 (because I ran out of time):
1. Tamaryn-The Waves
2. The Avett Brothers-Live, Volume 3
3. The Tallest Man On Earth-The Wild Hunt
4. John Legend & The Roots-Wake Up!

Favorite Video Of 2010
The Books-I Didn't Know That  
Complete List of Top Ten Music Videos of 2010

Favorite Ten Songs Of 2010:
The National...on a blood buzz
1. The National-Bloodbuzz Ohio
2. Yeasayer-O.N.E.
3. Foals-Spanish Sahara
4. Beach House-Silver Soul
5. Frightened Rabbit-Swim Until You Can't See Land
6. Vampire Weekend-Cousins
7. Cee Lo Green-Fuck You
8. Tame Impala-Solitude Is Bliss
9. Local Natives-Sun Hands
10. Belle & Sebastian-I Didn't See It Coming




Complete list of top 100 songs of 2010:
Songs 1-20
Songs 21-40
Songs 41-60
Songs 61-80
Songs 81-100

Website Stats: (according to Google Analytics)
Most read posts on station to station:
Overall:
Tim McGraw Setlist

JHO Hall Of Fame Album:
Beatles-Abbey Road

New Music Review:
The Drive By Truckers-The Big To-Do

Top Ten:
Ten Birthday Songs

Artist Spotlight:
The Doors-Speaking Secret Alphabets

The year was...:
The year was 1994

50 States:
Hawaii

Cheers! Thanks for the support. Feel free to subscribe.

email with ideas or topics for the website in 2011:
jhostation@gmail.com

Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2010/12/year-in-music-2010.html

of Montreal Lush Miike Snow Lola Dutronic

A Great Year for Music

At the end of the year, I've made a habit of compiling a list of my favorite albums of that year. Usually I start thinking about the list in November or December, but this year I'm already starting to struggle with what albums should be at the top of my list. My struggle is solely due to the fact that there are just so many great albums being released this year.

You've got your heavy hitters releasing absolutely fantastic albums: Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, LCD Soundsystem, The National, Stars, Spoon and Vampire Weekend. All these albums have been in heavy rotation since their respective releases.

Then you've got your up and coming bands trying to make names for themselves: Hammock, Cloud Cult,  Broken Bells, Gayngs, Jeremy Messersmith, Menomena, Ra Ra Riot and School of Seven Bells. Each of these bands have crafted albums that really caught my attention and are poised to join the big leagues.

Finally, I've been charmed by a number of little known bands like Under Byen, Amiina, Dessa, Engineers, Olafur Arnalds and The Twilight Sad.

And the crazy thing is, there are still more great albums looking to be released before the end of the year and year 2011. Plus, rumors of projects nearing completion from Radiohead and Iron & Wine.

Like I said, the year-end list will be particularly tricky this year.

Source: http://iguitaround.blogspot.com/2010/10/great-year-for-music.html

The Promise Ring Rose Melberg Sleepy Township The Organ

Back to Bubblegum... Again!

There is definitely another big bubblegum mania coming... at least to me. I know, I keep going back to bubblegum music practically all the time. I love bubblegum music and I don't think I'll ever get tired of sweet guys singing about ?yummy?...

To celebrate bubblegum music, here is the original theme song of the Archies TV show, known as The Archie Show. Now that's catchy!



Gee, just look at that psychedelic blinking! And whoah, Jughead is invisible! I highly doubt they would allow this kind of stuff be shown on TV anymore...

And how cool it is that the Archie comic still exists! I am so going to subscribe it! No, really, maybe not... But the music still kicks ass. And the TV show is cool, too..

Of course this is also still the real deal!

Source: http://thoughtsonmelody.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-to-bubblegum-again.html

My Teenage Stride Ingrid Michaelson The Motorcycle Boy Sia

Sufjan Stevens, DM Stith @ Massey Hall, Toronto (October 13, 2010)

Sufjan Stevens @ Massey Hall: photo by Michael Ligon
  Sufjan Stevens @ Massey Hall: photo by Michael Ligon

Update: Review now up.

With the memories of a thoroughly entertaining Belle and Sebastian show at Massey Hall the night before, it was Sufjan Stevens, promoting his latest album The Age Of Adz which brought me back to The Grand Old Lady Of Shuter for the the second night in a row this past Wednesday. And I could have sworn that the crowd was exactly the same for both shows. The first and only time I'd see Sufjan live was back on September 10, 2005 at Trinity St. Paul's in Toronto and having missed out on tickets when he played an intimate, extremely sold-out show at Lee's Palace on October 1 of last year, I pounced on the presale when tickets went onsale for this show back in August. Presale success was achieved and I snagged a balcony seat, row B and almost smack dab centre to take in Sufjan's show which on it's own terms was as good as the Belle and Sebastian show the night before.

Opening the show was Asthmatic Kitty roster-mate DM Stith. Tall and slim, the young gentleman took up his position at his mic and chair surrounded by the musical gear that Sufjan and band would be using later that evening. Playing a mere four songs that would span about twenty minutes total, Stith adhered to a similar indie-folk sensibility as his roster-mate Sufjan performing the songs with acoustic guitar with smooth fingerpicking technique, but injected his songs with some experimental and electronic creativity using a looper to add some sweeping vocal and guitar effects. Sombre and passionate were Stith's vocals throughout the set. Taking a swig of water from a vessel which he jokingly contained hair spray, he declared that he'd play a song that was easier on his voice, then launching into the autumnal "Thanksgiving Moon". His impassioned vocals combined with the subtle acoustic and electronic instrumentation kept the crowd entranced for the entirety of his brief set. It's sets like these that were made for the acoustics of Massey Hall. His last song was entitled "My Impatience" with Stith at one point during the song singing "tell me when it's over" - no knock on Stith who I and in fact most of the audience thought was fantastic if the audience response at the end of the set was any indication, but there was perhaps a little truth in that song title as I couldn't wait till Sufjan came on.

The stated set time for Sufjan to come on was 9:15 pm so when the lights dimmed at 9 pm I was a little taken back but then suddenly overcome with anticipation. With Sufjan taking centre stage, flanked by two female back-up vocalist/dancers, they were joined by two drummers on drumkits on either side of the stage, plus a guitarist, bassist, a keyboardist, two trombonists and DM Stith on piano and back-up vocals. Adding to the aesthetics was a backdrop that showed various artistic projections[some of which were the paintings of one eccentric American artist named Royal Robertson whom he'd speak about later] throughout the night. The night's setlist was culled almost exclusively from his new album The Age of Adz, the first two songs being fairly dramatic pop-rock exercises, the drumkits on either side of the stage being used to great effect. In response to that Sufjan jokingly promised us a song to lift up our "...spirits after all that drama...", then launching into a song, the far more subtle "Heirloom" which featured the vocal phrase "I'll never let it push your arms no more". This was the night's strength - the ease with which Sufjan could transition between subtle acoustic folk songs and his dramatic, ambitious band compositions. In other terms, jokingly as Sufjan may have put it, the new album deals with his confusion between love and the apocalypse, no more clearly illustrated than with a song like "Vesuvius" where Sufjan namechecks himself in the lyrics, "Sufjan, follow your heart, Follow the flame, or fall on the floor".

Continuing his love vs apocalpyse meme, the end of the set featured a "3 song cyle about love and the apocalypse", ending with the spectacularly infectious and danceable "Impossible Souls" as Sufjan, at times singing with a vocoder, and his back-up singers donned hipster sunglasses and danced gleefully as the backdrop displayed images of Sufjan that wouldn't look out of place in Vice Magazine or a Urban Outfitters catalogue. "Impossible Souls" being the last song of the new album would have been a dynamite ending to the main set, with the deep optimism of the back-up singers singing "boy we can do much more together better get a life get a life get a life" as Sufjan responed with "it's not so impossible". But then Sufjan and band came back to end the main set for real by surprising us with Illinoise favourite "Chicago". That damn near knocked me off my seat but then after a much coaxing from the crowd, Sufjan eventually returned to the stage by himself to give us one more Illinoise tracks, "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" before ending the night with the serene beauty of fan-favourite "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.". My only criticim of the show really is that the audience remained seated for the entire set. I'd have expected that at least the floors would have gotten up for the danceable "Impossible Souls" but I didn't notice anyone try and that was a shame because Sufjan was certainly getting his dance on, as ironic as his hipster glasses might have been. Overall, I think I like this version of Sufjan over the pep squad leader of the last show at Trinity St. Paul Church five years ago. And hopefully it won't be another five years before I get to see Sufjan in a venue like Massey Hall again.

Photos: Sufjan Stevens, DM Stith @ Massey Hall, Toronto (October 13, 2010)
MySpace: DM Stith
MySpace: Sufjan Stevens

Source: http://mligon08.blogspot.com/2010/10/sufjan-stevems-dm-stith-massey-hall.html

Ugly Casanova Hello Saferide The Rain The Rocketboys

Sundaze 1011 Space Inside Out

Hello, that was fun that space week..but a bit of a non sense...there is no space ! No Earth either, planets , the sun ? All great illusions, it's all a virtual realty, admittedly of a superb quality and i am sure most of you think what's he on about. Yet on a scientific fysics level everything can be reduced to quantumstates and solidity is a joke, it doesnt exist, vibrating energy packets thats about how far we can go, and that in itself is one of the highlights of the relentless scientific drive towards reductionism, but now they have come to a treshold and the next step is one that is bitterly opposed, the idea that our observing consciousness belongs to another realm. Most neurologists today still are busy trying to prove it is a by-product of brain activity, an idea that is deeply embedded in the materialistic/scientific world. This of cause is total nonsense as numerous near death cases have proven, consciousness doesn't need a living body to be aware. You might ask then why would consciousness want a body then..the simple answer is our virtual world offers a wonderfull range of experiences thru our bodies senses and we are able to interact, entertain eachother and express oneself thru many ways, and all on a basicly beautiful planet equipped with a full set of supporting life (plants, animals). The more thoughtful answer why we'd want a body is in order to grow in consciousness as the previously mentioned points enable us to enrich ourselves with experiences, knowledge and understanding.
Alas it aint easy and with governments jailing those that would like to experiment with another brain chemistry, it shows some of the limitations posed by the fearful materialistic classes, many of whom have been deluded by religions.. What is needed is a paradigm shift that establishes consciousness as the driving force of nature, and it's eternal nature. It follows that respect is due to all life as all is an expression of consciousness.. so we should stop raping this planet f.i. , feed not kill eachother, create to enjoy, not to destroy. Some simple examples which, if we'd implement these, would greatly enhance our chances of growing our consciousnesses.........

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Spirit Space - A Journey Into Your Consciousness


Allow yourself to travel even further down the quantum rabbit hole in a quest for answers to age old questions. Discover remarkable possibilities as to what and how our consciousness works with the world around us. Listen to possibilities of what happens to our consciousness before and after death. Challenging Quantum physics theories and how they affect how we perceive the world anciently and today, both spiritually and scientifically. This film acts as a progressive travel log for human life attempting to answer questions that mankind has been seeking since the dawn of thought. What were we before we came here? Why do we need to be here? And what in the world happens to us after we die? Spirit Space also opens cases from individuals who have been hypnotically regressed to a point between lives,after death, and even before birth. Not only does the film grapple with reincarnation, the spirit world, and the nature of the human soul it also tackles equally sticky questions such as Is there a Heaven and Hell? What is a spirit? Viewers with a penchant for skepticism will balk at the lack of physical evidence to back up the claims in Spirit Space, but the film remains a reassuring voice, affirming that our existence is not limited to the boundaries of our mortal flesh.

Who's in it ?
Fred Alan Wolf ( who was featured in the recent hit movie What the Bleep Do We Know?, and The Secret) earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics. He continues to write, lecture throughout the world and con duct research on the relationship of quantum physics to consciousness. He is the author of 11 books including Taking a Quantum Leap which received the National Book Award. Don Miguel Ruiz Born into a family of healers, don Miguel Ruiz has embraced the centuries old legacy of healing and teaching the nagual and carries forward the esoteric Toltec knowledge. Don Miguel shares the wisdom that resulted in the creation of The Four Agreements. His views of a universal peace are shared in the film, Spirit Space. They provide a spiritual but practical sense to the topics discussed and students of his will appreciate the wisdom and comfort that he shares. Edgar Mitchell Among authors trying to bridge the gap between cience and spirit, former astronaut Mitchell brings unique credentials. Originally scheduled for the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, Mitchell, as told in this smooth blend of autobiography and exegesis, journeyed to the Moon in 1971 (and generated great controversy over ESP experiments he conducted on the flight).

Spirit Space - A Journey Into Your Consciousness rar 1-3 (306mb)

Spirit Space - A Journey Into Your Consciousness rar 4-7 (334mb)

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Steve Roach a onetime professional motorbike racer born in California in 1955, -- inspired by the music of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, and Vangelis -- taught himself to play synthesizer at the age of 20, 7 years later he debuted with the album Now, his early work was quite reminiscent of his inspirations, but with 1984's Structures from Silence his music began taking enormous strides, the album's expansive and mysterious atmosphere inspired directly by the the beauty and power of the earth's landscapes to create lush, meditative soundscapes influential on the emergence of ambient and trance. Subsequent works including 1986's three-volume Quiet Music series honed Roach's approach, his dense, swirling textures and hypnotic rhythms akin to environmental sound sculptures. In 1988, inspired by the Peter Weir film The Last Wave, Roach journeyed to the Australian outback, with field recordings of aboriginal life inspiring his acknowledged masterpiece, the double-album Dreamtime Return I. II

After relocating to the desert outskirts of Tuscon, Arizona, Roach established his own recording studio, Timeroom, and in the years to follow grew increasingly prolific, creating both as a solo artist and in tandem with acts including Robert Rich, Michael Stearns, Jorge Reyes and Kevin Braheny -- in all, close to two dozen major works in the 1990s alone, all of them located at different points on the space-time continuum separating modern technology and primitive music. His album roster from that decade includes: Strata (1991), Artifact (1994), Well of Souls (1995), Amplexus (1997), and Dust to Dust (1998). Early Man was released on Projekt in early 2001, followed by one of his many collaborations with Vidna Obmana. His ability to create organic time-altering soundscapes reached a high point on the 2003 four-CD opus Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces, and has continued since 2006 in his prodigious Immersion series. Recent releases Possible Planet and New Life Dreaming show a return to a more open, breathing sound.

Vidna Obmana is a pseudonym used by Belgian composer and ambient musician Dirk Serries. The name Vidna Obmana literally translates to "optical illusion" and was chosen by Serries because he felt it accurately described the music. He retired the Vidna Obmana moniker in 2007, most of his current work is released under the Fear Falls Burning pseudonym.
Born and raised in Antwerp, Serries began recording experimental noise musics in the late '80s, working solo and in combination with artists such as PBK, exploring the more abrasive side of electronic composition.Beginning with the release in 1990 of Shadowing in Sorrow, however, (the first part of what would come to be known as Vidna's ambient Trilogy) Serries began moving toward an almost isolationist ambient aesthetic, exploring themes of calm, solitude, grief, and introspection in long, moving pieces which tended to chart similar ground as American space music artists such as Robert Rich, Michael Stearns, and Steve Roach

InnerZone

The circle, ripe with cosmic associations, is a most mysterious object. Often representing infinity, the line of a circle does not begin nor does it really ever end - a seemingly endless sequence of events. It is this perplexing concept that Steve Roach + Vidna Obmana are consumed with in their musical collaborations. Throughout the album, the duo conjure up drifting soundworlds that absorb the listener into the flow. But the cyclical nature of this conceptualization is most easily noticed when the musical current picks up and the beats emerge. The ring of rhythms repeat their rapid circuits, surfacing out of the aural fog, breathe, then back down below. Along with the prevailing synthesized sounds, InnerZone features an array of unconventional acoustic sources; distorted, shifted, delayed and otherwise processed - almost beyond recognition. The fusion of Roach's arid ambience and Obmana's echoing caverneque sound creates an interface that merges these contrasting evocations into a realm of unprecedented properties: a subterranean region that possesses an infinite sky, a union of earth and heaven.



Steve Roach & Vidna Obmana - Inner Zone (02 170mb)

1 At The Edge Of Everything (6:08)
2 Strands (8:39)
3 Cloud Space (6:18)
4 Encounter Passage (2:13)
5 Isolation (14:04)
6 Spires (10:39)
7 InnerZone (25:23)

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In 1989, Dr. Jeffrey D. Thompson was approached by representatives working with NASA and JPL to explore a series of powerful recordings which the Voyager I & II Spacecraft had sent back from Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These recordings seemed to be having a profound effect on the scientists and researchers who were exposed to them. Dr. Thompson was approached as an expert in the field of sound and healing, and especially in his work with "Primordial Sounds.? Primordial sounds are human body sounds and nature sounds formatted in special ways to cause a deep response in the subconscious mind. These are extremely useful in all levels of healing. Could the space sounds actually be Primordial Sounds, also ? from outer space but strangely familiar to us?

Each "instrument" sound you hear in this Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, DC, B.F.A, Audio Program is actually various NASA Voyager I & II, Injun 1, Hawkeye, IMP1 and ISEE 1 space probe planet recordings. They are compressed electronically down to the fundamental harmonic frequency. At this range, the space recordings sound like unique musical instruments.

Using these specially created musical instrument sounds from the planets, Dr. Thompson has created a special series of musical compositions that have the original space recordings. Each is a personal journey into and through our Solar System, into a place strangely alien to us and yet strangely familiar.



Thompson - Space Sounds Music (89 74mb)

01 - Space Sounds Music (33:00)

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Music was in my blood?the mystery, the magic, the emotions fused with the intellect.


Kit Watkins was born to a couple of classical piano teachers in 1953 in Virginia, not surprisingly he studied piano at home from ages 5 through 13. During his teen years, Kit was drawn to rock music and click for larger became a driving force behind a series of local bands, playing organ, synthesizer, and flute, as well as singing lead. By age 18, he was discovering his own writing abilities. He soon joined up with the band Happy The Man (HTM) which was forming at the local university. It was with HTM that Kit honed his skills in composing, performing, arranging, and producing. During its six years, the band recorded five albums, including two produced by Ken Scott and released on Arista Records. In 1979, with HTM unable to get a new record controct Kit got an invitation to join the British band Camel , dissatisfied with his opportunities in the band he left 1 year later, though he did join them on several tours of the UK, Europe, and Japan from 1980 through 1982.

In the early '80s, Watkins began building his own home studio and produced consistently inviting music that draws on his first-rate keyboard skills and his keen ear for sonic detail. Kit?s solo career began in 1980 with the self-produced album Labyrinth, released on his own Azimuth Records label. The album won him 5th place in Keyboard magazine?s Annual Readers? Poll Awards for keyboard album. He recorded and performed with drummer/percussionist Coco Roussel during this period. During the 80s, Kit continued to produce solo and collaborative albums, some click for largerreleased on his own label, while others were picked up by larger independent labels. In the early 90s, Kit formed a new label, Linden Music, which released a number of his new ambient recordings, as well as CDs by Robert Rich, Jeff Greinke, David Borden, and others. When in 96 distribution fell away the label fell too. Unsurprisingly Kit has been a great fan of the internet as artists like him get a chance being heard with all the distribution models available now.

In 2001, Kit performed a milestone concert in Philadelphia for The Gatherings series, hosted by Chuck van Zyl of Star?s End Ambient click for largerRadio. It was Kit?s first performance in 20 years, and his first ever as a solo artist in a new genre. In preparation for this concert, Kit began learning and using an electronic wind instrument as the focal point of his stage performance. He finds this instrument far more expressive and liberating than electronic keyboards, especially for melody and solo work. Coupling his abilities on flute with his many click for largerinfluences by horn and reed players, the migration to the electronic wind instrument has been a natural. The Gathering CDs/DVD are available at the Kit Watkins shop.

Kit Watkins is continuing to record and release new works from his private studio in Brattleboro, Vermont.The music of Kit Watkins can be heard on-line at KitWatkins.com, as well as on such broadcast radio shows as Hearts of Space, Star?s End, and Echoes. Kit Watkins.Com lots of streamed music and even many quality downloads from his discography....excellent website well worth a visit.

This Time And Space

Possessing the probing nature of Spacemusic, the drifting quality of Ambient and the embracing comfort of New Age, This Time and Space is the culmination of an enlightened musical intelligence; one that gives shape to ethereal musical lines, structure to amorphous harmonic forms and, to the listener, a sense of the unique interconnectivity between sound, spirit and the vastness of the universe. This Time and Space is memorable in its ineffable atmosphere, its capacity to cast a spell on the listener while bringing him more intensely into contact with himself. The sounds flow continuously, dissolving any contrasts and unbinding primordial emotions. 7 pieces create a soundworld of perennial beauty and profound tenderness that captures our yearning for deep peace and contentment. You offer here lovely music for meditation and a landmark recording in the [field of] Ambient Healing Music.



Kit Watkins - This Time And Space (03 124mb)

1.Tranquility (4:06)
2.Sacred Honour (6:27)
3.Reflectivity (11:30)
4.This Bliss (5:05)
5.This Time And Space (4:25)
6.Circumference Of One (14:40)
7.Finally Touched (12:42)

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Source: http://rho-xs.blogspot.com/2010/12/sundaze-1011-space-inside-out.html

Half Man Half Biscuit Velocity Girl Rosie Thomas Great Aunt Ida

Wildy's World Artist of the Year for 2010

Just as with Song of the Year, the Artist of the Year is a difficult pick.  This competion was actually a lot closer than the song category as there are several artists in this year's countdown with valid arguments both for their albums and their accomplishments beyond the recording studio.  While not a requirement to be named Artist of the Year, our pick was a Wildy's World Artist of the Month in 2010 and is the only artist to place two albums in this year's Top 60 Albums.  With an entry at #32, her live album Stages, and this year's #3 album After Dark, as well as her breakthrough success in Japan and a stunning voice, Halie Loren rose above a very talented pack during 2010. Congratulations, Halie Loren.  You are the Wildy's World Artist Of The Year for 2010.

Source: http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/12/wildys-world-artist-of-year-for-2010.html

Steve Adey Ladytron Magneta Lane Look See Proof

Rhodeo 1012 Happy Xmas

Hello, Happy Xmas to you all, another year has gone and war is not over..there's just too much profit in it...for some..and yet there are 75 million more of us this year. Good thing US and Russia agreed to scrap a lot of nukes..these things are useless anyway, alas admitting to that is a step too far still. Secrecy still rules, despite Wikileaks, in fact most of that is useful destraction of the real evils. Unfortunately we've seen many an american company bend over backwords to accomodate the Washington puppet theatre ..only goes to show the puppeteers are playing more stages. And the gullibles screaming for the head of Assange..complete morons. Meanwhile the internet and Google keep growing. Facebook..hmm reminds me of "I'm not a number, I'm a free man" anyway wouldnt invest in it..dodo service, the fickle public will soon face up to that...enough. I'm here today to offer you a gift, something that i think most visitors would enjoy...


A book of treasure, a book of discovery, a book to open your ears to new worlds of pleasure. 1,000 recordings guaranteed to give listeners the joy, the mystery, the revelation, the sheer fun of great music.This is a book both broad and deep, drawing from the diverse worlds of classical, jazz, rock, pop, blues, country, folk, musicals, hip-hop, world, opera, soundtracks, and more. The entries are arranged alphabetically, to break down genre bias and broaden every listener?s horizons. And the writing is passionate, informed, opinionated. Includes indexes for every mood and occasion. But wait There's more ..NME asked artists about albums they considered having slipped to the cracks-undeservedly..some didnt slip thru here btw..plenty to read and enjoy whilst listening to great music.



Happy Xmas 110mb

or you could buy the Hardcopy



ps a short note- i re-upped some dead mediafires and skipped over ducky's..if you come across a dead link please make a comment so i can keep this site as live as possible.
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Source: http://rho-xs.blogspot.com/2010/12/rhodeo-1012-happy-xmas.html

Helen Marnie Malcolm Middleton Grandaddy VV Brown

Tickets Still Available For A Number Of Beady Eye's European Dates








Tickets for Beady Eye's first UK live shows sold out in 30 minutes, but a number of tickets are still available for the following dates on the bands highly anticipated European tour.

Wednesday 16th March - Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
Friday 18th March - La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Saturday 19th March - Le Bikini, Toulouse, France

Tickets are still available for Beady Eye's first confirmed festival appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival on Sunday 12th June.

For more details on tickets visit www.beadyeyemusic.com

Click here to win a 'Black Fur Trim Hooded Parka' from Pretty Green.

Source: http://stopcryingyourheartoutnews.blogspot.com/2010/12/tickets-still-available-for-number-of_29.html

Georgie James The Pastels Miou Miou The Postmarks