West Magnetic - Light In Me

Hey Hey Bruthas and Sistas

Lets get sexy. To Canadian Content.

Artist - West Magnetic
Album - Light In Me
Year - 2003
Vitals - 320kbps MP3 CBR


-D.ave


(clickin' the head will take you to the download link)

Julie Doiron - Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars

It is currently raining in Halifax, and what better way to accentuate the weather's beauty than some beautiful rainy music. I cannot think of a better record to bring light to the monochromatic skies that reign over the trees on Spring Garden Road. Julie's music has been around for a long time. She started out playing her Rickenbacker bass in Eric's Trip - one of Canada's most rockilicious, lo-fi gems - along with Rick White in the nineties. Her first solo record came out in 1996. She just released her ... ninth (?) solo lp a few months ago. This record is certainly a highlight in a brilliant catalogue, and unfortunately her only one with the Wooden Stars. You'll hear more rocking, full band arrangements of her songs on this one than on many others. If you enjoy this record, I highly recommend checking out the others, especially Desormais, which remains one of my all time favourites (and will probably be posted in the near future). As Feist reigns queen the indie music scene in Canada in terms of success, it could be argued that Julie reigns in terms influence she has had on musicians across the country, whether it's through Eric's Trip, or her solo work. 

And watch out for that last track...

Gulliver

(touch the nun with your curser and you shall receiveth the goods)

Ruckus Roboticus - Playing With Scratches

Long time no see! My internet bill has finally been paid, so, to inaugurate:


Artist - Ruckus Roboticus
Album - Playing With Scratches
Year - 2007
Vitals - 320kbps MP3 CBR

This one's a little hard to come by, for some reason. Which is too bad, because it's fantastic. Something of a concept album about the life and times of a fictional, masterful turntablist.

this record is:
funky, playful, silly, clever, bizarrely retro. get it in your ears.

d.ave

PS: Big up to everyone digging our site globally! You are Halifax, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Brooklyn, New York, LA, San Fran, Berlin, Sydney (Aus), London, Paris, Vienna, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Madrid, Athens, Warsaw, Seoul, Santiago, Tokyo, Moscow, Buenos Aires and Zagreb. Cheers to you all! If you have albums you want to see up on here, give us a shout!

-D.ave


(clickin' the head will take you to the download link)

P:ano - The Den

Here is a beauty for all of ye. Known to me only because the Cool Jerk went to school with the brother of the girl who did the string arrangement for the band. No, this band is no longer alive. They're not dead, but living somewhere where we cannot find them, in the place where all bands go when they cease to exist: The internet. I guess the members are still probably making music of some sort, but that is beyond my own knowledge. Regardless, the Den is a masterful album. It manages to convey all the seasons of the year, starting with winter. My favourite recurring theme on the record: the constant female vocal harmony reminiscent of my dear Julie Doiron (whom I will post many a classic from in the future). 

If you dig makin' beautiful pop music BEWARE. This album just may influence the shit out of you. 

Gulliver

(click the Nun and you will have music)

P J Harvey - To Bring You My Love

If only this music was known to my sixteen year old self, I would surly be a better person today. Some bad ass rock and roll to cool the soul. With rhymes! P J Harvey has a discography highly worth investigating. Although her fan base seems fairly massive, she still sits in relative obscurity in rural Canada, which is a terrible shame. Her songwriting is highly contagious. Her vocals are rocking. Jam on that shit!

Dig the title track's erie groove, with one of my favourite fade in's of the nineties [I tried to think of some other good one's, but all I could remember is Radiohead's Black Star (which was known to my sixteen year old self)]. And what? Even a synth string section? Hopefully, this will fulfill your grunge quota for the day.

Gulliver. 

Let the nuns guide you...                     

          

Willie P. Bennett - Tryin' to Start Out Clean

First I will show you my home. Because there are no strangers where there is an incandescent stream of sonic glee. My day is always slightly diminished when I look for this man's music and fail to ever find it. Hopefully this will assist those who feel the same. Willie P.'s debut album is a folk masterpiece. For me, this is definitive rural Ontario music. The trees outside my bedroom window. My roommates farm packed into an album. I was returning back to this home last year with the plan of visiting this musician's house to tell him how much he influenced my life. Upon landing in Pearson International, I met my mother to hear her say, "Willie P. Bennett died". Perhaps in thirty years his music will be loved across the world (what with the wonders of the Internet!) But until then I can only deliver it to people by hand. 

Fortunately, I can now harness the energy of the wondrous Internet and bring this phantasmagorical album to visitors of this fair blog. I will also in the future try to be less self indulgent with my adjectives. 

There are Whitely's playing on this record, and Dennis Pendrith on the upright bass!  Click on the nun. This is what I look like. 

  

Gulliver Travels.

Hey Gang.

Let's all give a big incandescent sonic welcome to new "resident" contributor.

His name is Gulliver.
and he will be pouring records down your gulliver, if you know what I mean.

North West Arm - Seminar Five

Recorded in one night, when it had snowed an uncharacteristic amount.
In a small, classroom.
above a Gymnasium.
with Saxophones.

P.S. If you got this from anywhere but this site... I solemnly assure you, it is of inferior quality.

Please, do yourself a favor and click on Galileo's face.

No Luck Club - Happiness

Aight. So, while I was going through the half finished posts sitting in our blogbox, I had noticed that D. started working on a NLC post, which was mega exciting, but he never posted it... and I could never figure out why, anyway...this is what the post read:


"These baaaad mutha fuckaz will blow yo' mind"

No Luck Club is a Canadian turntablist trio. Nice!

Sadly though, one of the tightest tracks on this album - "Lousy Lover" was destroyed on my harddrive in a tragic mashup accident, but I have a feeling the Cool Jerk might have a backup of this one. We can only pray.

Much Love,

-D.ave

Now, I probably shouldn't act like Jesus Christ, but hey, at least I answer prayers.
Booya. Keep it freaky.
-Cooljaboy.

(clickin' the head will take you to the download link)

Gal Costa - Gal Costa

This woman is insane. I think this record is ample proof that the Brazilian take on soul and funk music is some of the most magically psychedelic shit around. This post is part of up keeping my dream of saturating ISSG with Tropicalia music. Well, shit. Seems like a good idea for a Masala, eh?
I think we're a bit backed up in the kitchen, but, expect some flaming dishes in the next little while.
By the way. Do not listen to Sebastiana while operating heavy machinery. You will get hurt.
-Xool Gerc

Cornershop - When I Was Born for the 7th Time.

This album is magical.

If you ever feel like embracing your indo-rock side. Let Tjinder and Ben take you on a journey to a land where all the kids in punk bands know how to play the dholaki and sitar.

The Local Rabbits - This Is It, Here We Go

You know what. You might not like Ben Gunning's voice right away.
But.
I only have to say two things about this record.
Pete Elkas plays the guitar on this album.
and he sings.
If you're anything like me, and totally sick of wealthy Americans producing our local talent, you probably threw Elkas out with his "Wall of Fire".
Well, I offer you a trip back in time.
I would plead with you to check out this dudes guitar licks.
How about this.
Listen to "The Firey Wall".
That's all I'm gonna say.

The Flashing Lights - Where The Change Is

Remember when I told you that Matt Murphy used to be in a bunch of killer bands?
The Flashing Lights truly stands to be his most fluid combo. I would argue that this is his best work. This record is unreal and only for fans of pop music. I say that because you probably won't be able to take "MGMT" off the bar radio and throw this on without getting assaulted by dicks in keffiyehs. I'm sure it's never a good time for me to rant, but that's what blogs are for right?
Losing independent music sucks. So much.
Boys and girls of Canada, your country is amazing. Get to know the kids playing in your cities. Let them know that it's spectacular that they're playing music.
Back to this record.
Do you like the Kinks? I really do.
I bet Matt Murphy does too.
You know what else Matt Murphy likes.
Tambourines.
and organs.
Peace.
-Kewl JRK.

The Super Friendz - Mock Up, Scale Down

Holy Shit. I have fallen off the wagon.
Sorry kind fellows. I would try to pretend I had a good reason, but I just found a bunch of records I posted that I never published.
A bunch of classics from the Canadian 90's.
I feel like writing about this record, but if you're anything like me...you've been trying to get your hands on this shit since you were a preteen.
If you're not too familiar with the Friendz, I can introduce them to you.
Dave Marsh plays the drums. You may remember him from the Joel Plaskett Emergency or perhaps his own band, Dave Marsh and the True Love Rules. Dave Marsh likes Canadian Club and John Bonham.
Charles Austin plays the bass. He is a lovely man who you are likely to catch in sweatpants or a flannel shirt at any local rock and roll show. If you live in Halifax, go see his band...they're called The Lodge.
Drew Yamada plays the guitar and he is now a doctor. He also writes great songs about smoking cigarettes...
Matt Murphy plays the motherfucking guitar. Think Robbie Robertson meets Thurston Moore? Matt plays in a ton of cool bands. But I think he's a journalist now. Who lives in Toronto.
Anyway. The Superfriendz have been working on a new record for the last couple of years. Everytime I see a member of the Superfriendz, they tell me about how Matt just has to finish some vocal tracks, and that's been happening for the last two years...so...that may never come out. But if it does, I guess you can expect to find it here, right?
Stay out of trouble, music fans.
-Cool Jerk

Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order

Oysterhead
The Grand Pecking Order
320kbps


Alright. This album might be stale news for some people (yes, it came out 8 years ago, yet, 2001 still seems like it was yesterday, what with el niño, same sex marriage becoming legal in the Netherlands, and the twin towers crumbling (coincidence?)) and it does get blogged a lot, but it has the rich sounds of 3 musicians at the top of their game. And who can turn their back to that? Les Claypool (Primus) Trey Anastasio (Phish) and Stewart Copeland (The Police) each contributed pinches of their spice here and there on this album and what resulted was a flavour explosion, the likes of which I've yet to hear again. The album is pretty Claypool heavy (fans of Primus will know what this means) but you really get the feeling that none of the musicians are holding anything back, and it's just this really great one-off musical mesh - sometimes times heavy and driving, sometimes full of magic and whimsy. And while the songs oscillate between Claypool-style and Anastasio-style, Stewart Copeland kicks ass throughout this album. His musical ability and discretion are absolutely flawless from beginning to end. People who suck Sting's dick for being "the only important member of The Police" can go to hell. Stewart Copeland has been doing kickass radical shit for almost three decades and Sting is doing washed-up jazz covers of his own songs. I mean, can you imagine Sting pairing up with two alt-rock/funkers to do a one off colab? Nah B. Not enough money in that.

Fuck Sting. Copeland is where it's at.

-D.ave


(clickin' the head will take you to the download link)