ONLY FIRE CAN GO REPLACE HIS CROWN

WU LYF I "LYF" I Go Tell Fire To The Mountain 
After much anticipation, the tracks of the mystifying Wu Lyf group have been released on an album! Having my first listen right now and it's a stunner. Going to let it brew a bit before giving the full album a review, but I can all ready tell it is going to be an album obsession for sure! When they first released this track I was so thankful something big was coming on, music so uninhibited it just burns with energy and spirit. The kind of fire thats been fizzling out in today's music.

WORDS ARE ALMOST NEVER SEEN & NEVER EVEN HEARD

The Raconteurs I "Rich Kid Blues/ Kissy Kissy (Kills Cover) I Consolers of the Lonely
Coming across this live rendition of Jack White and The Raconteurs covering Terri Reid's 'Rich Kid Blues' was fantastic enough as is, but the transition into 'Kissy Kissy', one of my all time favourite songs by The Kills, just made this live jam even more amazing! Jack White you can do no wrong!

IN THE HALF LIGHT WE ARE FREE

Arcade Fire I Toronto Island I August 14, 2010

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO LOOK STUPID WHEN I'M SLEEPING...

I never really liked sunny days
The black wings just reach out to me over a distance…
And I can feel the wind from the wings
I see the clouds, I feel the ocean with my feet, and I’m home again
It requires an ability to judge distance
The aeroplane flies high…turns left, looks right
Love is a sentimental heart
Life is a sentimental way
Spy the fragile heart so cursed
As he walks across this earth
I’m disconnected by your smile
Disconnect a million miles
And what you promised me
I hope will set you free
I’m disconnected by your smile
If I knew where I was going I would already be there
(Laugh) I wish I had more time
Judicious, beautiful, augmented, whatever
I’ve always been afraid to die, but I think I’m more afraid to live
And all I gave to you is lost
And all you took from me is lost
Black wings carry me so high
Up to meet you in the sky
I’m disconnected by your smile
Disconnect a million miles
And what you promised me
I hope will set you free
I’m disconnected by your smile
Wishing you were real to me
Wishing I could make believe
I’ll take my secrets to the grave
Safely held beneath the waves
Always knew I couldn’t save
Always knew I couldn’t save you
And in the heart I know you’re there
And in my heart I know you care
And in my heart I know you don’t
Smashing Pumpkins I "Aeroplane Flies High (Looks Left, Looks Right)" I Rotten Apples

ANOTHER MILLION HYPNOTIZED

Eddy Current Suppression Ring I "Colour Television" I Primary ColoursNo matter how many times I play this song I just can't get sick of it. The lyrics are so simple, yet so brilliant. Turn of the TV, turn this song up, and dance your ass off for 5 minutes. It will feel way better than channel surfing through garbage for hours on end.

I'm liking their live performance of the song too, they're a great Aussie band. Fantastic base riff!

I'LL MEASURE TIME, I'LL MEASURE HEIGHT, I'LL CALCULATE MY BIRTH RIGHT

Polly Jean f***ing rules. Raw and real. They just don't make female artists like her these days.

PJ Harvey I "Man-Sized" I Rid of Me

THERE'S MORE TO THE PICTURE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Beautifully haunting cover of Neil Young's 'Out of the Blue'. If Sons of Anarchy wasn't such an amazing show, I would still just watch it for the great music.
Battleme I "Hey Hey My My" I Sons of Anarchy - The King Is Gone

R.I.P. CAPTAIN

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band I "Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do" I Safe As Milk
Don Van Vliet was a one of kind artist with true originality and innovation in the style of Delta Blues. Sadly the legend past away last week at the age of 70. He had a profound influence on some of my favourite musicians today including Jack White, Tom Waits, and PJ Harvey. Thank you Captain for you're music and for you're inspiration to many artists, you were one hell of talented man.

FLY LIKE A BUTTERFLY, WATCH THAT DEMON BE MY GUIDE

The Music I "Karma" I You Might As Well Try To Fuck Me -EPBeautifully surreal b-side track from an amazing brit band I will always love. Such a shame to hear they have broken up. Their early tracks from when they were just out of high school are a true treasure, their first album was a masterpiece.

WHO'S MESSIAH BE GOOD FOR YOU?

Black Lips I "Veni Vedi Vici" I Good Bad Not Evil

GO 'WAY FROM MY WINDOW...

Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who's never weak but always strong
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me babev It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.
Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let your down
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you an' more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.
Go melt back into the night
Everything inside is made of stone
There's nothing in here moving
An' anyway I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
Who'll pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
An' to come each time you call
A lover for you life an' nothing more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.

Bob Dylan I "It Ain't Me, Babe" I Another Side of Bob Dylan

FUN HOUSE

The Stooges I "Fun House" I 1970
Punk rock prime, Iggy Pop and the boys giving rise to the loud and primitive style of punk that was disregarded at the time but soon led rock to a whole new level. What I would give to have seen them live in their short but momentous life span as a band (the reformation just isn't the same).  No one lets all inhibitions out the door quite like Iggy did on stage in the 70s, the man is just other worldly doing his thing up on the mike.
Highlights...
Down On the Street -zealous anarchy doesn't get any better than this. (Although I do really enjoy the Rage Against the Machine cover!) 
Loose -I dare you to find a more danceable punk rock song, just try. haha
Dirt - the slyest and raunchiest stooges track, right down to nitty gritty of what punk rock is all about.

DANCING ON THE LEGS OF A NEW BORN PONY

The Kills I U R A Fever I Midnight Bloom
These two can do no wrong, and this song can stay in my head forever.

I'LL BE WAITING, WITH A GUN AND A PACK OF SANDWICHES

Radiohead I "Talk Show Host" I Street Spirit (Fade Out) EP

I WOKE UP WITH THE POWER OUT...

not really somethin to shout about. 
Ice has covered up my parents hands, 
don't have any dreams don't have any plans.
I went out into the night, 
I went out to find some light. 
Kids are swingin from the power lines, 
nobody's home so nobody minds.
I woke up on the darkest night, 
neighbours all were shouting that they found the light.
Shadows jumpin' all over my walls, 
some of them big, some of them small. 
I went out into the night,
I went out to pick a fight with anyone. 
Light a candle for the kids, jesus christ don't keep it hid.
Ice has covered up my parents eyes, 
don't know how to see, don't know how to cry. 
Growing up in some strange storm, 
nobody's cold, nobody's warm. 
I went out into the night,
I went out to find some light. 
Kids are dyin' out in the snow, look at them go, look at them go.
When the power's out in the heart of man, 
take it from your heart put it in your hand. 
What's the plan? what's the plan? 
Is it a dream? is it a lie? 
I think i'll let you decide. 
Just light a candle for the kids, 
Jesus christ don't keep it hid! 
cause nothing's hid, from us kids.
You ain't foolin' nobody, with the lights out! 
When the power's out in the heart of man, 
take it from your heart put it in your hand. 
where'd you go?
Arcade Fire I "Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)" I Funeral

SHE SAID YOU'RE KILLING THE LIGHT

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club I Pheonix Club, Toronto I August 1, 2010

PUT OUT THE FIRE BOYS

Cold War Kids I "Hospital Beds" I Robbers and Cowards
Love this song with all my heart. Just started learning it on guitar and it is my favourite song to sing with. Cold War Kids did the original and their is something quite beautiful about the video shot for it. I also love Florence + the Machine's cover of the song, her voice is outstanding on the track and is quite powerful with the lyrics.

Florence + the Machine I "Hospital Beds" I A Lot of Love - A Lot of Blood - EP 

DEAD LEAVES AND THE DIRTY GROUND...

When I know you're not around
Shiny tops and soda pops

When I hear your lips make a sound
Thirty notes in the mailbox
Will tell ya that I'm coming home
And I think I'm gonna stick around
For a while so you're not alone
If you can hear a piano fall 
You can hear me coming down the hall
If I could just hear your pretty voice
I don't think I need to see at all
Soft hair and a velvet tongue
I wanna give ya what you give to me
And every breath that is in your lungs
Is a tiny little gift to me
I didn't feel so bad 'til the sun went down
Then I come home
No-one to wrap my arms around
Wrap my arms around
Well any man with a microphone 
Can tell you what he loves the most
And you know why you love at all 
If you're thinking of the holy ghost
The White Stripes I "Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground" I White Blood Cells

UP FROM BELOW

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros I "Up From Below" I 2009
Fronted by former Ima Robot member Alex Ebert, the idea for the band stemmed from a story Ebert was writing, about a mythological character named Edward Sharpe sent to spread the healing power of music across the world. Taking on the persona of this character thats exactly what Ebert set out to create. Bringing together a large group of musicians including his girlfriend at the time, singer Jade Castrinos, the band was formed in 2007 and gradually as they developed their friendships and love for making music they starting recording the songs for the debut album. The intention of the music was to create songs that focused on bringing about positive energy rather than songs that were fighting against something. 
The result is an album that will truly put you in the happiest mood you could possibly feel. Since its debut it has continued to grow into one of those albums I can't stop listening to and became a staple for road trips to the cottage this summer. I saw them live at the Phoenix at the end of July and I can't even begin to put in words what an experience it was. To feel the energy created by these guys is something fantastic. Not one person there wasn't smiling, singing, and dancing all night and to see how gracious they were to feel the energy they had created among the crowd reciprocated back to them was something very special to experience at a concert. They finished the night with Alex walking as far out into the audience as his mike would let him and got everyone to sit down on the ground around him while we sang along to"Brother" with him. 
Call them new age cult hippies, call them what you will, their is an amazing feeling that comes from this album and they have created something powerful without setting out to preach about anything other than love and music. Which when it comes down to it, is all this world really needs.
Highlights...
"40 Day Dream" - great opener to clap to and the lyrics are just priceless.
"Up From Below" - a redemption song that really expresses Ebert's past battles with drugs.
"Carries On" - never fails to make me smile through the entire day, pure joy.
"Desert Song" - possibly my favourite on the album, their is just this surreal energy in the core of the song that was phenomenal to hear live.
"Home" - the epic love song that has caused quite a sensation.

I DENIED THE THINGS I SAW INSIDE, THE THINGS I SAW INSIDE, IS WHAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE

The Black Angels I "Black Grease" I PassoverOne of my favourite songs of all time. Just feel that amazing guitar riff pulsating through the heart of the song. The Black Angels are one hell of a band that I highly recommend giving a good listen too. Psych blues rock at its finest.