Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #27

I’m doing an odd number this week! Taylor will return next week, but he’s taking this week off. I’m not sure of all the details, but I’m going to assume it’s because he’s some big shot hockey reporter now. He’s probably replacing PJ Stock on HNIC (I just don’t really like that guy).

Anywho, to keep the spirit of Rocca on Tuesday I’ve gone through the songs he’s picked through out the summer and made a mega mix. Yes, you heard right. MEGAMIX.

Ok, so that just means 15 songs, cause I couldn’t choose 10. Looking back at all the songs we’ve featured, you try to choose 10, it’s brutal.

Since we’ll be taking a larger chunk of your time this week, let’s jump to it.

1. Gabrielle Papillon No Common Ground from the album The Currency of Poetry
   This Nova Scotian caught me with that chorus and melody. Something about the way she tosses out “I heard Rome was burning, and this was all they found,” I just really like the way it sounds. Simple. Nothing cerebral or critical. It just sounds pleasing.
2. Coeur de pirate Adieu from the album Blonde
   To continue with the softer female vocalists, Montreal’s Couer de pirate. Like Taylor said, I have nothing against the French speaking part of our nation, I just don’t understand the language. It’s the reason I don’t choose more Fracophone songs for Threat Shark, I’m not sure what they’re talking about. However, that being said, there is some astounding material coming out of that cultural niche. This sounds like it fits in with other Canadian indie music, yet still retains something that sets apart because of the language. Ideal.
3. Amy Millan Towers from the album Masters of the Burial
   Amy Millan is one of the busiest musicians in Canada, you gotta figure. Stars is releasing a new album, which she is a part of, which is great, but I really enjoy her solo material as well, and kinda hope she’ll work on a new album now, though she’l probably be touring with Stars for a little to support their new piece. I’ll forgive her for the delay if they make it into the Okanagan.
4. AUSTRA Lose It from the album Feel It Break
   The only reason I didn’t put this on one of my lists is because he beat me to it. I think this is off the first  summer playlist, and it killed to see he’d snuck in with it right away. A really interesting direction of Canadian music is developing with some strong vocalists working over some more digital or synthesized sound landscapes. Here, we hear one of the more unique voices, and talented. Right around 3:10, yeah, that’s just great.
5. Grimes Vowels = space and time from the album Visions
   A bit of a buzz has come from media around this young woman. As much as Austra is recognizable, Grimes is off in her own category in a lot of ways. Here we get some of that skitchy-techno rhythm with a spacey synth and her voice just lightly over top. Again, lots of layering of vocals.
6. Diamond Rings I’m Just Me
   Something a little more aggressive now. It’s a bit of a slow burner. It seems fairly tame for the first and then really comes alive at the minute mark. The band apparently was taken too serious at first, by those in their seen, but hearing them without any foreknowledge, it sounds like this is a pretty together group, fitting nicely into that modern electro-pop sound. Lead singer John O has got a great voice for it.
7. Rah Rah Little Poems from the album Little Poems
   Switching directions a little bit here, this is totally reminding me of some of the new My Morning Jacket or others playing with that new found twang. It’s developed separately from the “New Country” garbage on the radio, and this song, and many others are reaching into the past for inspiration. I’ve never liked country, but that was because the few times I heard the current crap it was Alan Jackson or Shania. While my Dad introduced me to stuff like Gram Parsons and similar artists, my generation wasn’t producing anything worth while in that arena. Now, we seem to be seeing a rediscovery from the indie scenes and new bands influenced by the past folk, country and folk rock greats like the Band, CCR and old Dylan, which in turn is bringing us something country flavoured in it’s own way.
8. Audio/Rocketry Stompin’ & Strummin’ from the album Buskin’ Songs with Audio/Rocketry
   These guys also play a bit with that prairie country sound I’m talking about, but also use some of the acoustic punk (from bands like Against Me) to infuse a bunch more energy through the vocals. I can totally see these guys sitting on some crates playing at some small town pub playing songs like this. Just some acoustic guitars, a harmonica and a bunch of energy coming from the voice.
9. Cuff the Duke Count On Me from the album Morning Comes
   I’m a bit of a Cuff the Duke fan, and again, we’re hearing some of what I’m dubbing prairie country. It’s not that southern rock, or pop country, or traditional/blue grass. There’s definitely indie rock, it’s a border genre, with themes of the land, unity and trying hard. Anyways, Cuff the Duke haven’t quite become a big name, but they’ve been playing for a few years now and are slowly building up fans and awareness. I think they’re playing TO just as TR leaves.
10. Andrew Vincent Cover It Up from the album I Love the Modern Way
    This guy might have the most Canadian lyrics ever. He’s singing about stuff that happens to everyone. Here, it’s the season’s and how you look. The Alberta Wheat Board and Much Music make appearances. How much more Canadian can you be? He adds some humour at the end, singing about his street.
11. The Rural Alberta Advantage Frank, AB from the album Hometowns
    If you don’t know about the Frank Slide, that’s essential to the lyrical portion of this song, so we’ll just wait a second while you go wikipedia that shiznit. Go ahead. Threat Shark will wait. Fine I’ll do it for you. Ok, with you now informed, listen to the song. I always have a soft spot for songs that go back to almost forgotten historical events and pen a song on it. Often these events were incredibly important to a lot of people and may have altered societies, on a local level at least. As time marches on, the impact of the events can be forgotten, and people can lose touch with the fact people experienced something then and there. So yeah, I’ll just get down from this high horse now.
12. Said The Whale Holly, Ontario from the album Islands Disappear
    Ok, so Said the Whale has become a staple in the Threat Shark diet. It’s kinda strange, since I saw them a few years ago, just after Camilo came out, and I found them rather bland. But the studio work they’ve put out is actually pretty strong. This is off the same album as Camilo, and I really enjoy it, so there’s hope, and maybe they’re excellent live now.
13. Dan Mangan Post-War Blues from the album Oh Fortune
    I don’t know exactly what it is about this song, but I really enjoy it. The war imagery diluted by the Vampire Weekend-esque guitar. The driving beat and big sound coming from a guy I don’t really expect it from? SOmething clicks every time I hear it though.
14. John K. Samson When I Write My Master’s Thesis from the album Provincial
    One of the first songs I heard when I got back into CBC R3 (back when hat was a thing) was this song, and I had no idea it was the guy from Weakerthans. It’s a song I think a lot of university students can get behind, especially my age. While I can’t speak to the master’s part of it, there’s a lot I do get intuitively. It just seems to capture the lifestyle really well, in an honest way.
15. cub My Chinchilla from the album Betti-Cola
    These women should reunite and write lots of new songs. That is all.

C ye,
Kergin

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #22

Wow, we’re at 22. I think this is the longest I’ve stuck at anything for awhile. I usually get distracted by the internet, but here we are, participating in it.

If you’re wondering I’m ambling around here without getting to the point of my playlist this week, it’s because I’ven’t got a real theme this week. There is a progression I tried to work in, with the first 8 songs kind of going from a kind of cute, peppy feel and getting more mature. But that’s not really a theme, and the songs are just loosely related that way.

And then there are the last 2, which jump into funk and then apocalyptic electro-hip-hop Zombie warning. That’s desert. It’s the fun bizarre one.

So without delay, let’s leap into lyrics (and melody)!

LOOKOUT, IT’S A SHARK! NO, WAIT, IT’S JUST THE THREAT SHARK PLAYLIST! REJOICE!

1. Jenny Omnichord Kings of London from the album Cities of Gifts and Ghosts
   A cute little song with a minimalistic air to it. I think that instrument she’s using is called an omnichord, hence the name of the and, which is really just Jenny Mitchell of Guelph. It’s pretty low-fi, but that adds charm to the overall production. The song is a simple little ditty, very Canadian in some regards. Just a fun song, reminding me of Kate Micucci’s work, like THIS.
2. The Elwins On Your Doorstep from the album And I Thank You
   The Elwins are a great choice if you’re looking for some fun, kinda retro, low-fi work that’s still current. The Keswickians have been doing alright of late with some festival appearances and shows with bigger names, playing quirky, fun, danceble songs. A little short, On Your Doorstep is fun with the backing vocals and clapping making it a friendly piece.
3. Hollerado Good Day At The Races from the album Margaritaville 2: The Reckoning
   We’ve actually played this track before on Threat Shark, but I think it’s worth a revisit, especially in this medium. These are one of the big up-and-comers in Canadian indie I think, with a couple of songs making decent moves into our collective consciousness. The most well known is probably Americanarama, which has over a million hits on youtube with a fantastic viral style video that just required 24 friends and an unstable structure, or Juliet, but this is there most recent single which I think shows they weren’t just lucky.
4. Yukon Blonde Stairway from the album Tiger Talk
   Ok, you know when I said that I preferred a track off of an earlier album to the work on Yukon Blonde’s Polaris Prize long list nominated Tiger Talk, but Stairway has really grown on me. And how have I heard more of it? On the TV, of course. I forget the ad, but it’s being used with some sports add. I actually forget now if it’s the Toronto Blue Jays or Olympics, but the driving, upbeat nature of this song is perfect for a pump up song before a summer sport.
5. Wintersleep Resuscitate from the album Hello Hum
   I was worried for Wintersleep for awhile. They had a pretty big hit with Weighty Ghost, but the follow up to that was kind of bland and didn’t receive much notice. Well, five years after the Haligonians (people from Halifax) big break, they seem to have something again. While I don’t think it will quite catch the popular conscious like Weighty Ghost, Resuscitate is still a noteworthy song, with those melodies they’re great at and a starry sounding musical break at the end.
6. Broken Social Scene Meet Me In The Basement from the album Forgiveness Rock Record
   I was originally going to put a Jason Collett song in here, but I’m holding on to that. In it’s stead is the collective he’s so closely tied to. Again, I love the build up at the beginning, it really songs like it should be shown during a clips show of some great sporting achievement put into slow motion. BSS actually has a huge number of people associated with it, and some are pretty big names, notably Emily Haines of Metric. However, here I’m not sure of who’s involved, but the strings section seems prominent, and while vocalists probably take a step back during this piece, almost all the instruments are probably used.
7. New Pornographers Moves from the album Together
   More strings! But this time in a different context as we finally make it to a band from out west. The New Pornographers make it to Threat Shark again with something less than traditional as piano and strings highlight here, along with some really interesting vocals. At times it sounds like it’ falling apart, but they reduce and bring it back in.
8. Amy Millan Skinny Boy (session) from the album CBC Radio 3 Sessions: Volume 3
   A member of the aforementioned BSS, Millan also has had a pretty solid solo career and spends time with Stars, another pretty big name in Canadian music. I’m guessing, but I’d say she’s a busy lady. In fact, with Emily Haines and Leslie Feist both having spent time in BSS, it’s probably safe to say that’s a good place to find talented female musicians. While she’s contributed to a lot, She’s only got a couple solo albums out there, so if you like her voice with the more stripped down music, there isn’t a ton right now.
9. Big Sugar Little Bit A All Right from the album Revolution Per Minute
   Big Sugar guys, Big Sugar. Legends in the right crowd, this is white boy funk and working class reggae and it is so good and so smooth. The main man is Gordie Johnson, and he is amazeballs on stage. Just oozes rock and soul. While Big Sugar has come and gone from the Canadian music scene, they returned recently. I got to see them with Wide Mouth Mason last fall and really, there isn’t much that can compare to it. It’s a niche very few bands fit into, the white-boy Canadian blues, funk and reggae scene, but the vets there are doing some great work.
10. Buck 65 Zombie Delight (Buddy Peace Remix)
    “Zombie’s are on the loose, be courageous. They’re totally disgusting, they’re condition is contagious. They’ll try to bite you’re body, but don’t let ’em.”  Ok, how could I not put this up? One of my favourite artists, on one of my favourite subjects, remixed in an awesome way with screams and heavy beats. Listen to the lyrics, over and over. Do it, you deserve it.

Ok, lots of Ontario this week. I think it’s a good musical meal, starting off light, getting a little more meaty in the middle and then a desert of human flesh. You’re welcome.

Adéu,
Kergin

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #19

I love getting awesome numbers. 19 is great for a number of reasons, primarily because it was worn by both Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman.

I have hockey on the brain.

We’re almost at 20 playlists and I thought it would be good to give you a taste of my taste in music. Up to this point, my selections have been largely influenced by various resources and areas within the Canadian indie scene. As happens naturally when you immerse yourself in music the way I do, you eventually get attached to some of the new things that make their way through your airwaves. This time around, I’m going to give you a listen of some of my favorite Canadian indie acts featuring female vocals.

When I took to writing this summer blog with Kergin, I was learning (albeit just earlier than you) about a lot of the bands that I was subsequently informing you about. Now some of them have made it into a regular rotation of my own.

It’s nice when that sort of thing happens.

MUSIC IS NICE TOO!

1. The Choke by AUSTRA – this act is quickly becoming one of my favorite Canadian indie groups. Upon initially discovering them when they were scheduled to play a show in Kamloops earlier this year, I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt. I found them to be somewhat airy and a echoey; a little bit too out there for my liking. But as I listened more and more to their work, I fell more and more in love. Disappointingly, AUSTRA was stranded on their bus in the middle of the Coquihalla Highway on the night they were supposed to play Kamloops, and so I never got the privilege of seeing them. One day.
2. Change by Hey Ocean! – I would say it probably happened in the past six months or so, but I have recently discovered this inexplicable fascination with female vocalists. If I think way back, I’m pretty sure it started around the time I broke up with my girlfriend. Perhaps the lack of a consistent female presence in my life pushed me to fill the void with the sound of a beautiful female voice? Only god knows. Either way, Hey Ocean! is one of my new favorites. Like Mother Mother? Then check out Hey Ocean! Change is a recent addition to their CBC Music library, only having 33 plays as I write this.
3. Revenge by Emm Gryner – Chances are you have never heard of Emm Gryner. And that is a real shame because she has released a whopping 13 albums! Recording since the early 1990s, Gryner calls St. Mary’s, Ont., home and runs her own record label, Dead Daisy Records, which is she also signed on to.
4. Quelque Part by Caracol – I first discovered Caracol when her record arrived at my student newspaper office earlier this year. I decided to give it a listen and pen a review for the paper. Why not? I’m glad I did. Caracol is pretty fantastic. In a somewhat unrelated note, I was published for the first time in French this week. Interestingly enough, I am now published in more languages than I speak, which I think is a pretty cool accomplishment. It’s too bad I’m not much of a worldly citizen and only speak English though… Anyways, Caracol is French and I thought that fit nicely for many reason.
5. Towers by Amy Millan – Millan actually reminds me a lot of Caracol. A folky blues sound that soothes the ears and leaves the listener at peace. Totally chill.
6. Run by Kathleen Edwards – featured on my last edition of Threat Shark due to her nomination for the Polaris Music Award, I feel like nothing else needs to be said about Kathleen Edwards. She is just all-around amazing.
7. Enemies by Hannah Georgas – here is a new artist that I have yet to feature on Threat Shark. Hannah Georgas is from Toronto, but based out of Vancouver. Best of both worlds, I guess? She is a Juno Award nominee and this song, in particular, really hits home with me. Don’t worry audience, you aren’t my enemy. Someone else is. Well, even that is a stretch because I don’t like to keep “enemies” so to speak.
8. All My Friends by Lindi Ortega – a great blend of poppy alternative country, Lindsi Ortega hails from Toronto. She claims to be a cowgirl, not something typical of most Toronto girls, but being from Calgary, I guess I can give her a break. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she has a phenomenal voice.
9. Open Book by Steph Macpherson – this Victoria native found the second thing that leaves me helpless – an awesome piano track. Brendan Kergin, here is a little Victoria folk singer-songwriter for ya!
10. Life on Earth by Dala – winners of the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, Dala has also been nominated for a Juno Award. Toronto is home to the female duo that names The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan among their greatest influences.

Kergin will be back with our DOUBLE DECADE post on Thursday! I know that doesn’t make sense and is entirely inaccurate, but I like it.

-T

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #7

It’s hot and muggy and disgustingly gross here in Toronto. In fact, it’s so gross that there is even an air quality warning in effect today.

Perfect.

Seeing as I moonlight as a meteorologist, I knew that today was going to be exceptionally hot. Therefore, I brought together this wicked set of cool tunes for you.

Apologies to anyone from anywhere that isn’t currently experiencing balmy or humid weather.

CLICK HERE FOR MUSIC!

1. In Came the Flood by Wintersleep – It’s a fantastic combination of cool! Winter, sleep and a flood! If those aren’t three things that cool you down, then I’m not sure what is! Ok, maybe ice cream could fit somewhere in there…but other than that…Hailing from Halifax, N.S., Wintersleep just released their newest album, Hello Hum in June 2012.
2. Satellites by Cygnets – Satellites are often found orbiting in space. Space is pretty cold from what I hear. Cygnets is a new wave band from my old stomping grounds, Edmonton, Alta. Satellites can be found on their newest album, Dark Days, released in March 2012.
3. Low Sail by Amy Millan – What better on a hot day than to roll out the sails and set out on the water with a cool breeze at your back? Amy Millan calls Montreal home and I found myself feeling comfortably at home listening to her peaceful voice. Low Sail can be found on Millan’s 2009 release, Masters of the Burial.
4. Bitches in Tokyo by Stars – Sharing the same hometown as Amy Millan, Stars amps things back up for us a little bit after a more low key track from Millan. What’s cool about this? How about everything about Tokyo? Fashion, food, lights, music, you name it! I’m starting to find a common theme in many of the songs that I have been picking over the past few weeks. If you can figure out just what it is…please do tell! I’m curious if anyone else is picking up on it.I think it’s subtle…at least I hope it is subtle. Bitches in Tokyo can be found on Stars’ 2007 album, In Our Bedroom After the War.
5. Bloodlines by Arkells – I absolutely love the Arkells! I’ve basically been listening to them non-stop for the past weeks. You may hear more Arkells from me in the coming weeks. Hamilton born and bred, I only wish I could see them live at an outdoor venue this summer! When I think of the song title Bloodlines, I think of veins. When I was younger, I always thought it was really cool that I could see all of my icy-looking blue veins through my skin. I used to trace them with a blue pen when I was really little. Bloodlines can be found on Arkells’ 2011 release, Michigan Left.
6. Cover It Up by Andrew Vincent – In the first line of this song, Vincent sings about his house being covered by snow in the winter. Sounds like it is cold wherever he is. This song is just plain fun. I don’t know much about Vincent and I’ve never seen him perform before, but it sounds to me like the guy knows how to have a good time. He also gets bonus brownie points from me for mentioning the Alberta Wheat Board. This track is almost 10 years old, coming from Vincent’s 2003 album, I Love the Modern Way.
7. Echoists by Young Liars – Typically I spend a lot of time bouncing back and forth from coast to coast. Not today. This is our first Vancouver-based band on the playlist. This electro-pop track makes me reminisce and think back to warm August nights spent laying on the cool grass under the stars. Don’t ask me why. It’s just what comes to mind. Echoists comes from Young Liars’ February 2012 album Homesick Future.
8. Requiem for a Scene by Brasstronaut – After avoiding VanCity, we hit it up for two straight. Brasstronaut is a progressive pop group from the rainy city on Canada’s west coast. I absolutely love the brass horns featured in their work. If having trumpets and horns as a part of your regular set isn’t cool, then I don’t know what is. Requiem for a Scene can be found on Brasstronaut’s 2008 release, Old World Lies.
9. Dick & Jane by Sidney York – When I saw that Sidney York called Calgary home, there was no way I could keep them off of my list. After all, I am from the coolest city on the planet. Once again, I am smitten after hearing another great band featuring strong female lead vocals. Dick & Jane comes from Sidney York’s 2011 album, Apocalyptic Radio Cynic. 
10. Oceans by Topanga – Finally we bring it all the way around and back to where I am currently calling home. Out of Toronto, Topanga brings us Oceans. A gigantic body of water? Perhaps this is what brought in Wintersleep’s flood from earlier. Or maybe this was where Amy Millan was with her Low Sail. Either way, I can’t think of a better way to end my edition of the playlist this week. And that is pretty cool if you ask me. Side-note: Oceans comes from the album of the same title, release in February 2012.

Come back on Thursday as Kergin smash you upside the head with his next edition of Threat Shark Summer! Keep it real home dawg slice fries…?

-T