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.

YOU KNOW IT'S SO HARD TO LOVE SOMEONE THAT DON'T LOVE YOU

The White Stripes I "Death Letter" I De Stijl
Jack White covering Son House = Brilliance. This White Stripes performance is outstanding. You can just see his passion for the blues coming out of each note. I love how they take it into "Grinnin' in You're Face" at the end, Jack White has said that the a capella Son House song is his favourite song of all time and has had the greatest influence on his music.  Had a chance encounter with him last week before The Dead Weather concert and it was truly an amazing dream come true to meet him in the flesh. He is at the top of my list of musician from this generation too have such a profound impact on me and he is the reason I started learning to play guitar. I will never forget that wonderful day.

PUFFY LIPS GLISTENING SKIN AND EVERYTHING COMES RUSHING IN...

We don't go to hell
memories of us do
I get a sense of connectedness
Exclusive tight but nothing dangerous
We don't go to hell memories of us do
And if you go to hell
I'll still remember you
But I thought you beat the death of
inevitability
to death just a little bit
Terry's gift is forever green
It got me up and back on the scene
we don't go to hell
just our memories do
Fantastic gap common space
Open concept in your smiling face
we don't go to hell memories of us do
And if you go to hell I'll still remember you
The Tragically Hip I "Inevitability of Death" I Day for Night

I LOVE THE WALLS YOU SHINE THROUGH

Detroit Social Club I "Rivers and Rainbows" I Existence
Big things to come from these guys, you can just feel it. This song was released with the single "Silver" in 2008 followed by "Sunshine People", which were two other amazing tracks that had me waiting on their first album release ever since. Hailing from Britain, the bands debut album was released in the UK this May but still has yet to be released in North America. Come on, dying over here! In the meantime I am loving the singles and their self described "Retro-big beat-gospel influenced-junkie folk" sound, couldn't have put it better myself. Don't you just love all the crazy genre descriptions of music these days? haha

OH RECKLESS ABANDON, LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING YOU

Temper Trap I "Sweet Disposition" I ConditionsOne hell of a feel good song. Was great in 500 Days of Summer.

CAN'T STAND YOU'RE FACE UNTIL IT TOOK...OFF

The Kills I "Cat Claw" I Black Rooster EP
Back in the days of VV and Hotel. I can still remember the day I stumbled upon the Keep On You're Mean Side album and couldn't believe what I heard, musical gold. These two were doing it right, from the start, pure soul pouring out of them.
Not much has changed with Mosshart doing her thing in The Dead Weather, still a chain smoking animal on stage giving the audience everything she has in her and mesmerizing them with her presence. Seeing her preform live, whether with The Kills or The Dead Weather, is a must. She is truly a gift to 21st century rock and roll.

YOU KNOW ALOT CAN HAPPEN AFTER EVERYBODY FALLS ASLEEP...

Ask the forest fire, ask the cop walking on the beat
And do right by them, work a little in your dreams
Don't let time rob you, hold onto your memories
In the glass houses, in the pages of the Rolling Stone
I get a sick feeling, like I'm rocking in a little boat
Hear the big church bell, it's ringing like a mobile phone
Such a long Sunday drive, and I'm taking it all alone
In the last hard drive in the satellites that kick and spin
You'll find that old footage so everything can live again
Pretty pink roses, the ostrich and the elephant
It's the next Noah's ark, everything's got to fit
In the creased pages of a letter I've been trying to send
To a young widow who is desperate for some kind of friend
You'll find a long list of eligible, handsome men
Who want to lay with her, upon the table of the elements
They're going to hold strong to a reason
And cut a new key to the kingdom
And if anybody asks them, say they're going to belong
And if anybody asks them, say that it won't take long now
And if anybody asks them, say they're going to get this done
And if anybody asks them, say they've got a reason

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band I "I Got The Reason #2" I Outer South

I'D FUCK CRIME IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE

The Raveonettes I "Black / White" I Beauty Dies EP
The Danish duo just keep growing on me more and more. This fantastic song and video from their last EP has become one of my favourite tracks from the band.

ALL YOUR DREAMS ARE CHERRY RED INSIDE YOUR HEAD

One sick song. Two amazing versions. Originally done by Jonathan Fire Eater then brilliantly covered by the Kills. I really can't decide which version I like better. Both are exceptional in their own right, from playfully offbeat to mysteriously haunting.

Jonathan Fire Eater I "The Search For Cherry Red" I Tremble Under Boom Lights
The Kills I "The Search For Cherry Red" I Pull A U (Single)

WE EXPECTED SOMETHING, SOMETHING BETTER THAN BEFORE...

We expected something more
do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave
walk away now and you’re gonna start a war
Whatever went away I’ll get it over now. 
I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again
walk away now and you’re gonna start a war
We expected something, something better than before. 
We expected something more
we were always weird but I never had to hold you by the edges like I do now
Walk away now and you’re gonna start a war
Whatever went away I’ll get it over now. 
I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again
walk away now and you’re gonna start a war.
The National I "Start A War" I Boxer

RUBBER FACTORY

The Black Keys I "Rubber Factory" I 2004
This is the album that made me fall in love with the blues. I would have been about sixteen at the time of first listening to this album and I was dying to find more music of its kind which led me to start discovering some of the classic masters like Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, and Son House. From there it just opened up whole new world of music to me that wasn't being played on the radio but fit so true to my soul more then any other style of sound. This eventually led to my love for the modern masters of blues rock from Jimi Hendrix, to Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The White Stripes, and of course The Black Keys amazing body of work. For that I owe so much to these guys and their third (and best!) of many great albums from the band. It's one of those albums I love just as much as the first moment I heard it no matter how many times its played.
Highlights...
"10am Automatic" - love the magnitude of energy that comes from just the guitar and drums of the band and this song is the best example of the power they have.
"When The Lights Go Out" -words can not describe how much I love this song. Sensual, sexy and soulful to the core. Rachel you know what I mean. haha
"Girl Is On My Mind" -this is a great one to dance and sing to.
"Aeroplane Blues" -the guitars rising and falling in such riveting wave of intensity. This is blues at its sexiest.
"Just Couldn't Tie Me Down" -you can really feel the soul in this one.

NEVER LET THEM TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE ALL THE SAME

Led Zeppelin I "Going To California" I Led Zeppelin IVI'm in love with Jimmy Paige and his sweet sweet mandolin. Something about the summer air that just makes me want to listen to this song over and over.

PENNILESS AND TIRED WITH YOUR HAIR GROWN LONG...

I was looking at you there and your face looked wrong
memory is a fickle siren's song I didn't understand
In the gentle light as the morning nears
You don't say a single word of the last two years
Where you were or when you reached the frontier
I didn't understand
See you rugged hands and a silver knife
Twenty dollars in your hand that you hold so tight
All the evidence of your vagrant life
My brother you were gone
And you will try to do what you did before
Pull the wool over your eyes for a week or more
Let your family take you back to your original mind
There is nothing I can do
There is nothing I can say
Fleet Foxes I "He Doesn't Know Why" I Fleet Foxes

CRIPPLE CROW

Devendra Banhart I "Cripple Crow" I 2005
It's hard to find the words to describe this bizarre talent of a man. Never failing to amuse with his curious quirky nature, Banhart creates irresistible folk music for the twenty first century hippie in us all. I can always count on him and his music to leave a smile on my face. Cripple Crow was the album that made me fall in love with Devendra and all his wonder. 
Highlights...
Now That I Know - quiet, calming, bliss. A gentle beauty of song.
Long Haired Child - the kind of informal subject matter Banhart does best with simple charm and jubilance.
Cripple Crow - a free spirited hymn of magnetic proportion.
Just Like A Child - tapping into the pristine wisdom, simple absurdity, and pure exuberance of childhood with lyrics that strangely ring so true. "I need you to please explain the war" haha

OH TO BE NOT ANYONE ...

gone
this maze of being
skin
oh to cry
not any cry
so mournful that
the dove just laughs
the steadfast gasps
oh to owe
not anyone
nothing
to be
not here
but here
forsaking
equatorial bliss
who walked through
the callow mist
dressed in scraps
who walked
the curve of the world
whose bone scraped
whose flesh unfurled
who grieves not
anyone gone
to greet lame
the inspired sky
amazed to stumble
where gods get lost
beneath
the southern cross 
Patti Smith I "Beneath The Southern Cross" I Gone Again

MUSIC YOU CAN FEEL DOWN TO THE BONE

Buddy Guy I "Baby Please Don't Leave" I Sweet Tea
The blues at its finest. The pure soul of rock; raw power, true emotion, surrendered to the guitar. Music you can feel down to the bone.
Loved hearing this song blasted at the opening of a BRMC concert last month before they came on stage. It set the tone for a great night.

IT'S BLITZ!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs I It's Blitz! I 2009
Karen O and the boys took a surprising turn on their latest album. Dance floor friendly tracks, that are guaranteed to put you in great mood, are beautifully melded in with gentle rock lullabies. From start to finish this album is full of songs that are to be cherished for all their poetic splendour and melodic joy. Though I still love the harder edge of their previous albums, I cannot praise the band enough for departing into this brilliant new territory.
Highlights...
Zero - "shake it like a latter to the sun" says it all.
Heads Will Roll - new age goth rock meets electro dance brilliance.
Soft Shock - the vocals, the beat, the lyrics...magnificent.
Dull Life - the bands hard edge comes shining through, picking the pace of the album up a notch
Shame and Fortune - down and dirty guitar anthem with a pulsating sound
Hysteric - this song is on a level of its own, a whimsical rock ballad of a new generation. 

ABOUT AS SUBTLE AS AN EARTHQUAKE...

I know, my mistakes were made for you
And in the back room of a bad dream she came
And whisked me away, enthused
And it's as solid as a rock rolling down a hill
The fact is that it probably will hit something
On the hazardous terrain
And we're just following the flock,
'Round and in between, before we're smashed to smithereens
Like they were, and we scramble from the blame
And it's the fame that put words in her mouth
She couldn't help but spit 'em out
Innocence and arrogance entwined
In the filthiest of minds
She was bitten on her birthday and now
A face in the crowd she's not
And I suspect that now forever the shape
She came to escape is forgot
And it's a lot to ask her not to sting
And give her less than everything
Around your crooked conscience she will wind
'Cause we're just following the flock,
'Round and in between, before we're smashed to smithereens
Like they were, and we scramble from the blame
And it's the fame that put words in her mouth
She couldn't help but spit 'em out
Around your crooked conscience she will wind
And it's a lot to ask her not to sting
And give her less than everything
Innocence and arrogance entwined.
The Last Shadow Puppets I "My Mistakes Were Made For You" I The Age Of The Understatement

FATE UP AGAINST YOU'RE WILL

Echo and The Bunnymen I "The Killing Moon" I Ocean Rain
On the topic of Donnie Darko, love this Echo & the Bunnymen song that the movie open's with. The track couldn't be more perfect for the feel of the film.

MY BAT LIGHTNING HEART

Bat For Lashes I "What's A Girl To Do" I Fur & Gold
Such a cool idea. This video makes you want to recruit a creepy animal head helmut biker gang to ride around with late at night. 
Also makes me want to watch Donnie Darko again for the 2876th time.

SHOTTER'S NATION

Baby Shambles I "Shotter's Nation" I 2007
The band definitely hit their mark with this album, surpassing anything Pete Doherty did with the Libertines. Putting aside Doherty's heroine antics and infamous relationship with Kate Moss, you've got to give it to the guy for making fantastic music through it all. His wildly outlandish character is what drives the band's sound and his unmistakable persona makes each song on this record a brilliantly eccentric masterpiece that perhaps could only have been conceived from the mind of a tragically dysfunctional drug addict.
Highlights...
UnBiloTitled - beautiful song, honest and infectious, there is just something about the guitars in between the chorus that is simply magnificent.
Baddie's Boogie - an overall cheerful & carefree song juxtaposed with the bridge of "lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered pissed off bastard". Brilliant.
There She Goes - jazzed out base rhythms with Doherty's vocals some how managing to be delicate and brute all at once.
Side Of The Road - put this song on, and dance like mad in you're room to let loose some steam.

The Lost Art Of Murder - hauntingly beautiful.