New music preview, Metric – Synthetica

Well, I was originally was going to reblog the blog post I first saw about the new Metric (not quite as easy as retweeting!), but his post is fairly personal, so I will just ‘borrow’ from it! Original post can be found here: New Music 2012 – Part 14 – Metric ‘Synthetica’

So the new Metric, Synthetica, is due for release June 12, and the first single, “Youth Without Youth”, will be released on May 1, 2012.

According to Emily Haines, Synthetica “is about forcing yourself to confront what you see in the mirror when you finally stand still long enough to catch a reflection. Synthetica is about being able to identify the original in a long line of reproductions. It’s about what is real vs what is artificial.”

Perhaps it is just me, but I find the cover art would feel at home on a Rush album, and Emily’s comments could easily have come from Geddy Lee referring to a Rush album!

Click the above image for a massive JPEG of the album cover. And below, the album cover upside down to save you the trouble of standing on your head, or turning your monitor upside down…

Full tracklisting:

1. “Artificial Nocturne”
2. “Youth Without Youth”
3. “Speed the Collapse”
4. “Breathing Underwater”
5. “Dreams So Real”
6. “Lost Kitten”
7. “The Void”
8. “Synthetica”
9. “Clone”
10. “The Wanderlust”
11. “Nothing But Time”

Head on over to the official Metric website, ilovemetric.com for plenty of tidits on the new album, and “when the lyrics are where they belong, a secret little prize will be unlocked. And so it begins…”

More Metric: Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud.

Follow me on Twitter, where I tweet everything about music, including new music releases (watch for hashtag #FutureMusic)!

Pop Montreal 2011 teaser/CD haul

This is just a warm up post. As the title suggests, a teaser of what I have yet to write, and of the CD’s I picked up during Pop Montreal 2011. I had been posting plenty of updates on my Twitter during the festival, and took some notes, so, a full review will come shortly! (Mostly unrelated, but of note, this WordPress.com blog post: Prepare for National Novel Writing Month with the Post a Day Challenge. I am all about quality over quantity, however, with NaNoWriMo, it is all about writing writing writing, and editing later, as the writer is bound to have some quality within, or good stuff that can be edited later, versus sitting around thinking and generating very little content while (over?)thinking. Anyway…)

Pop Montreal 2011 CDs

All the discs I picked up (from top left clockwise), Lindi Ortega – Little Red Boots, Rebekah Higgs – Odd Fellowship, Ohbijou – Beacons, Dinah Thorpe – 12, Grass Widow – Past Time)

All the shows/artists I saw (bold denotes Canadian artists):

Charlotte Cornfield
Lindi Ortega
Donlands and Mortimer (most)
Ben Caplan
Charlotte Cornfield
Kid Koala
Karkwa (mostly indirectly)
Arcade Fire (about the first 30 minutes, indirectly on screens)
Mussaver (most)
Dinah Thorpe
Rebekah Higgs
Pat Jordache (most)
Tune-Yards
Ohbijou (first 30 minutes)
Kid Sister
Alessi’s Ark
Laura Marling
By Divine Right (last 15 minutes)
Allie Hughes
Sheezer
Hannis Brown
Mensch
Grass Widow
The Raincoats
Think About Life

So, in the coming days, once I finish writing it, my Pop Montreal 2011 post will be a review and thoughts…

Pop Montreal 2011 preview (September 21 – 25)

I am not too great at previews, Sean over at Said the Gramophone is, but I will try.

Slowly but surely as I heard more and more bands announced, this years Pop Montreal has quite a diverse lineup with plenty of well known, and lesser known acts. Apologies on the formatting, as I do not have enough text, and I wanted to get the pics in!

After reading this blog post, head on over to Pop Montreal for official times and information regarding the concerts. And for Montrealers, the latest Montreal Mirror has a handy pull out day by day schedule of music listings. Or view it online. And on the official Pop Montreal users can build their own personalised schedule.

(Bold in the next two signifies Canadian acts.)

A few of the shows I am personally really looking forward to include tUnE-yArDs, Rebekah Higgs, Ohbijou (new album, Metal Meets hits stores September 27, I might get to buy it before the official release!), Kid Sister, Laura Marling, and Q-Bert. I am also very much looking forward to local Montrealer Charlotte Cornfield (who has two sets on opening Wednesday, one opening for Philémon Chante, and later that evening as part of the Let Your Hair Down Showcase!), Kid Koala (opening for the giant free Arcade Fire show), the giant free Arcade Fire show(!), Krista Muir, Samiam (who I just saw were playing a few minutes ago!), Real McKenzies (Awesome Scottish influenced Celtic punk!), and The Planet Smashers. Oh, and in the course of writing this blog post I see in the official Pop Montreal program Maylee Todd is playing Saturday night set as L’Esco (basically a small semi-basement bar/venue). No word online, so I will not hold my breath! She rules by the way! And I got to know her from Pop Montreal last year! I also see that the Sarah Blackwood (from psychobilly act The Creepshow) set for the Stomp Records BBQ is at 4PM, before local rockabilly act The Hellbound Hepcats! And although I really do not know his solo work, Liam Finn is playing the fest too.

Also a few acts I know little to nothing about, and in many cases am just going by their pictures (press photos are indeed important!), that I would like to see include Lindi Ortega, Cherry Chapstick (another Montreal act!), Megan Bonnell, Marques Toliver, Vilify (Montreal again!), Natale (from Paris, booming pop vocals and insect-like acrobatic dancing apparently!), UN (514 represent!), D-sisive, Molly Sweeney (Montreal!), Dinah Thorpe, Emma-Lee, Caroline Keating (Montreal), Old n’ Weird, Shaydakiss (Montreal) and Azelia Banks (both opening for Kid Sister), Frankie Rose, Dominique Young Unique, Anna Rose, Yuck, Gianna Lauren, Alessi’s Ark (London, according to Pop, folk songs that make you want to cycle down an English country road!), Allie Hughes, Sheezer, and The Raincoats.

There is no way I will be able to catch them all, but I will try and catch a fair bit, all of what I really want to see, and hopefully some of the ones I would like to see barring any personal scheduling conflicts, and definitely catch some artists that are new to me.

tUnE-yArDs

So knowing what I know, a few I would recommend include tUnE-yArDs. I have only heard some of her stuff, and I saw her performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, but she, Merrill Garbus et. al., definitely have an innovative sound.

Laura Marling

Laura Marling and her blend of UK folk should prove to be awesome, her third record, A Creature I Don’t Know, came out on Monday. Hopefully I can pick it up at the show!

DJ Qbert

Q-Bert is a legendary DJ, thus making him big in hip hop, since hip hop, that is to say rapping, emerged from the DJ, the disc jockey. His turntablism skills are crazy good! I see quite a fair amount of shows, but I do not get to see proper DJ/scratching shows often at all.

A few locals I can highly recommend include Charlotte Cornfield (folk/rock), Krista Muir (multi-talented, ukelele playing and then some!), Kid Koala (speaking of turntablism!), and the ever impressive some 15 plus years on, The Planet Smashers (ska extraordinaire!).

I have not heard them yet, but hope to check out Montreal’s own electro dur UN. Just by Pop Montreals description: “Toronto’s weirdo pop princess”, Allie Hughes sounds like a great bet! Frankie Rose of Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, and the Vivian Girls fame, enough said!

Another artists I just listened to, Dominique Young Unique, is a young female MC from Florida. Upon hearing and watching “Show My Ass“, I was reminded of Rye Rye, although no doubt they differ quite a bit, Rye Rye coming from the Baltimore scene and being a M.I.A. protégée.

Cannot say as I know them, but given their history, having formed in the U.K. in 1977, I might just have to check out The Raincoats.

Of course Pop Montreal is far from just music, it is Film Pop, Art Pop, and more! Last year Feist’s film Look at What the Light Did Now had a screening, and this year PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake will have a screening. Also there is Bloodied But Unbowed: The Birth of Vancouver Punk Rock 1977-82.

And among the symposiums, there is Voices on Voices, which, to steal Pop Montreal’s description, is “a workshop/discussion on writing and arrangement with Merrill Garbus, aka tUnE-YaRds.” Very nice. And The Raincoats – Adventures, which as you may have guessed, is about The Raincoats!

Allie Hughes

Charlotte Cornfield

Dominique Young Unique

Bookmark this page, and come back, as I will continue adding links to the artists’ official websites while I check them out.

Who or what are you looking forward to at Pop Montreal? Do not be shy, comment, and plug your blog (if you have one), it may just end up on my blogroll! It might also influence me to go see a certain show! Les commentaires en français sont également les bienvenus. Heck, since this is the digital age, any language will do, even binary or hex code (okay, perhaps a tad too geeky).

New Music and upcoming music

Been a while since I have posted a new music post, it is about time! On with the list.

Rebekah Higgs – Odd Fellowship – August 16 (Canadian!)

Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You August 26

Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter IV August 29

The Kooks – Junk of the Heart September 12

Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know September 12

Primus – Green Naugahyde September 12

Anthrax – Worship Music September 13

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy September 13

The Pack A.D. – Unpersons September 20 (Canadian!)

Tori Amos – Night of Hunters September 20

Blink-182 – Neighrborhoods September 27

Ohbijou – Metal Meets September 27 (Canadian!)

Evanescence – Evanescence October 11

Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto October 24

Miranda Lambert – Four the Record November 1

Release date to be determined:

Michelle Branch – West Coast Time September?

Dido – yet to be titled

Queens of the Stone Age – yet to be titled

Esthero – yet to be titled

Osheaga Saturday (day 2) review (July 30, 2011)

I started off my Warped Tour review saying how I am a Warped Tour veteran, well, I can start this off saying I am an Osheaga newbie. This was my first time going.

Osheaga 2011 early on with The 222s starting the day on one of the main stages.

Similar to Warped Tour, there are always bands/artists to see at any given time, although not nearly as many as at Warped Tour. That is okay in this case, where quality over quantity rings true.

My friend and I entered a little late, but not late, as we were able to catch a fair amount of The 222s, veteran Montreal glam punks. I cannot say as I know them well, at all! However they sounded good, perhaps not as good as their heyday (since I do not know them that well).

Quite a number of people do enter late, since the schedule is made before hand. At Warped Tour one has to enter the grounds to see when bands are playing (the schedule is made early the day of the event). Toronto’s The Midway State played next to a decent crowd, many of whom were from Toronto!

The Midway State at Osheaga July 30, 2011

[Edit: It would seem I Forgot to hit update (had a duplicate of the first pic for a little shy of a day!)]

Next was Oh Land, the Danish chanteuse, now on her second release (Oh Land), also her North American breakthrough. We watched her entire set. She provided quite the stage presence with what she was wearing!

Oh Land at Osheaga July 30, 2011

And for the most part the show was quite enjoyable, although it felt lacking a little. I noticed during her rendition of “Son of a Gun”, it did not quite feel like it had the zest of the recorded version. I did like how it started, with the percussionist playing the electronic drum, slowly raising either the volume or pitch, till it was obvious as to the song about to be performed! Do not get me wrong, I still very much enjoyed her, as I have listened to her debut a few times, and it makes for a good listen. I think her career can certainly be a promising one. “White Nights” and “Voodoo” were a couple of other songs that were very enjoyable live! On a sidenote, prior to the set starting, as they were still finishing soundcheck (there is only so much time between acts on each stage), they really tested the woofers, we were close by, and it literally shaked our insides! Luckily they were not on full during the set, as more than earplugs would have been necessary!

The day could not have been any nicer, sunny, with the sun hiding behind the clouds briefly now and then providing some well needed respite from the excess heat. And for those not familiar with Osheaga, one of the side stages is the “Tree Stage”, so literally it is among the trees, which provided a nice shaded venue to see performances!

Three Canadian acts were playing at almost the exact time slot, Montreal’s Braids, Newmarket’s Tokyo Police Club, and Vancouver’s Mother Mother. We saw a decent chunk of Braids, and then moved over to the Tree Stage to see Mother Mother.

Montreal's Braids at Osheaga July 30, 2011

Braids’ performance was very good, knowing them beforehand helps, otherwise their style is quite a switch from typical rock band music. They are labelled as art rock, or experimental rock on Wikipedia for the primary two genres. They seemed to be having a little technical difficulties with a monitor, and kept playing, or extending the song. At that moment we headed to see Mother Mother. They performed their big hit “O My Heart”, and ended with a nice song primarily featuring the two girl singers (Molly Guldemond and Jasmin Parkin) harmonising most of the song, with Ryan Guldemond jumping in here and there, quite nice!

Aside from hanging out, which I am sure many people do for most of the day, we saw the John Butler Trio before watching the entire Sia set, which was very impressive in every way! Musically very great, playing numerous songs from her latest, We Are Born, and other good ones, including “Breathe Me”, and “Soon We’ll Be Found”. The latter even had Sia doing hand mimicking similarly to the excellent music video (see picture below). Sia took the time to allow the crowd time to heckle her, of course it was good-natured, but very entertaining!

The awesome Sia at Osheaga July 30, 2011

Shirtless Lupe Fiasco way in the distance at Osheaga July 30, 2011!

On the main stage a nice long set (just shy of an hour) from Lupe Fiasco made way for Death From Above 1979. One of DFA1979′s reunion shows this year, and it did not disappoint! I did leave before the set was over to go see UK up and comer Anna Calvi.

Anna Calvi’s set started late due to a late running sound check, and a technical issue. The crowd was a bit sparse for her set. It was on the tree stage, and likely not too many people know her around here yet. And she ended her set a little early. Being that it was the first time I saw her, I cannot draw comparisons, yet I enjoyed what I heard. She plays fairly dark indie rock. She did not seem too thrilled, maybe because of the smaller crowd.

Anna Calvi and her band at Osheaga July 30, 2011

Yet, for acts like her, Osheaga is a good venue to introduce lesser known acts. On the other hand, I think Janelle Monae, who played Friday should have played a proper headlining show, as she does have a big cult fanbase. I cannot say as I know the numbers around here, but likely they are up there (when I first tried to purchase her debut disc it was sold out!).

My (Osheaga) day came to a close checking out Ratatat, Bright Eyes, and then Elvis Costello and the Imposters. Ratatat of course have collaborated with Kid Cudi, most notably on “Pursuit of Happiness”. Kid Cudi having cancelled his Friday Osheaga set with illness, apparently due to overworking. What I saw of Elvis Costello impressed. I was fairly tired by that point, but did enjoy him, despite now knowing his work too well.

I then headed over to La Ronde, Montreal’s amusement park, to see the last day of the fireworks, which were a Beatles tribute. It was a good display, featuring audio montages from each member’s song book, and a nice brief grand finale!

And for the first ever Too Much Music top tip (Top Gear ripoff), avoid the metro on a Saturday night post Osheaga! Likely true any day after Osheaga, however Saturday La Ronde and Osheaga leaving at the same time, equalled masses of people trying to leave the island on the metro! I took the shuttle bus back to La Ronde and took the pedestrian path on the Jacque Cartier bridge to get back to the city!

Menomena (abridged) Pop Montreal show review 2010

So the good thing about Pop Montreal is discovering new bands. Well, I suppose that is true with pretty much all festivals, I digress.

I managed to catch most of Menomena, a band I had never heard of prior. Sometimes I at least know a band by name, however that is not even the case this time.

Menomena are from Portland, Oregon, and have been active since 2000, and have just released their fourth album, Mines, on July 27. A person I was talking to before the show described them as prog light, or something to that effect. Upon hearing them, I kind of agree, however I’d say more indie. All Music and Wikipedia list experimental rock as well, which I would say feels right.

All members of the band share singing duties and frequently swap instruments while playing. Justin Har­ris, despite the fact they do share lead vocals, from what I saw, I would feel he is the primary lead vocalist. He played mostly guitar, but also a song that had a predominant bassline, and also saxaphone. Danny Seim on percussion pretty much stuck with drums, while Brent Knopf played keys, and guitar I believe. They also had Joe Haege of Tu Fawning as an additional performer with them (a touring member), he played bass and guitar, and had some keys of his own. Apologies if I made an error, as I still do not know them very well. And they all seemed quite competent with all their instruments.

Although it may not be actually prog, the term may work in the way the sax, and instrumentation is arranged. Also the songs are of decent length, not too long, but not too short either, probably in the five minute range.

I have just been looking at reviews of the new album, and past albums, and they appear to all be very well rated! I managed to pick up their third release, Friend and Foe, as their new one was sold out. Once I give it some rotation, I’ll post a review here.

Openers were Suckers, and Tu Fawning. Tu Fawning will be releasing their debut, Hearts On Hold, October 5. I am actually sorry I missed them, as judging by their music on MySpace, they seem quite good, and I am a sucker for girl/women (or female if you will) singers!

Menomena were actually just on Last Call with Carson Daly as well, taped from when they performed in Los Angeles September 16.

Continue for the remaining Menomena, Tu Fawning, and Suckers tour dates.

Metric – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (lp of the week/review)

2003 in Canadian music saw the release of Kathleen Edward’s debut, Failer, Sloan’s seventh, Action Pact, Sarah McLachlan released Afterglow, her fifth LP, Montreal ska heroes released their fifth as well, Mighty, and a band by the name of Metric released their commercial debut, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? It should have been their second, as Grow Up and Blow Away never saw a release in 2001 (later released in 2007, with a slightly modified track listing). After that, the rest, as they say, is history. In regards to Canadian music, no doubt I am missing numerous releases, both major and small, I just used a few illustration purposes.

Since Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? they have been indie rock fan favourites in Canada. And with the release of Fantasies, and the song “Eclipse (All Yours)” on The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack, it is safe to say they are now known globally.

To this day, from the release of 2003′s Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, to 2009′s Fantasies, I think it is safe to say Metric really have their own sound, of indie rock meets new wave, making them fairly unique.

Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? is a solid release from start to finish. It really helped pave the way for what Metric have become, the evolution of the band one might say started with this album, at least stylistically for what they would become. Likely this would have been the case if Grow Up and Blow Away did see a release in 2001, however it is hard to say for sure, seeing as after the release of Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, they were touring like mad, and out of the touring is where Live It Out, their second released album, came. Grow Up and Blow Away, is more a mellow, rock album, with considerably less new wave influence. “Soft Rock Star” is a very nice mid tempo track from said album, with its funky bass line, and vocals that fit the song title.

The tone is set quickly on Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? with “IOU”. It mellows out a little with “Hustle Rose”, and picks up again with the political and very enjoyable “Succexy”. I believe the first Metric track I heard was “Combat Baby“. A very fitting first track. Also, a track I am looking forward to rocking out to on Rock Band 3!

As I mentioned above, the Metric sound is fairly unique, and that is the case with Emily Haines’ voice. CMJ likened her voice to “a more enthusiastic Ladytron-ette”. I have to agree in part, as she does sound a little like Helen Marnie, however their respective voices work well for their respective genres.

Fans and those that are not yet fans of Metric can do no wrong with checking out their first commercially available album.

Music videos from Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?:

Calculation Theme
IOU
Combat Baby
Succexy
Dead Disco

Future (a.k.a. new) music – June 2010

Well, as I mentioned in my last future music post from April 11, Janelle Monáe‘s new album comes out this Tuesday!

The new Nelly Furtado has been delayed, at this moment after summer sometime. The new Danzig, Deth Red Sabaoth, looks like it will be released June 22.

Rah Digga’s Classics looks to be sometime this summer.

Other releases:

M.I.A.‘s interestingly titled /\/\/\Y/\ (Maya using all slashes save for the Y), will be released July 13.

Rye Rye, the Baltimore rapper, and first act M.I.A. signed to N.E.E.T. is scheduled to release her debut soon. She stated June 29 (in a VEVO interview during SXSW 2010), however based on recent tweets of hers, and her Facebook page, from around May 11, I’d guess it may not be that soon, as she is in the studio with The Neptunes.

Sia – We Are Born, June 22 (Wikipedia June 7, her recent tweet is June 22).
Sarah Harmer – Oh Little Fire, June 22.
Helmet – Seeing Eye Dog, June 22.
Stars – The Five Ghosts, June 22.
Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite, July 2.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Straight to the Heart, August 2.

Almost Brit Pop Music Video Playlist March 3, 2010

I say almost as I have added a Kylie Minogue video in there. She is Australian, but she is fairly popular in the UK. Anyway, on with the playlist.

Kylie Minogue – Wow
La Roux – I’m Not Your Toy
Pixie Lott – Gravity
VV Brown – Shark in the Water
Noisettes – Don’t Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)

The Kylie Minogue video is what you would expect from her, dancing, lights and plenty of visuals. I’ll let Wikipedia explain a little better.

The video features Minogue in dancing in a futuristic nightclub surrounded by dancers in alien outfits.

I really did not notice the alien outfits to be honest, as my eyes are generally on Kylie most of the time! And I have only watched it a handful of times at most.

The La Roux track, “I’m Not Your Toy” is one that will definitely get you feet busy, and perhaps nodding along. The video features her singing in front of a pool with a fair number of people around it. The video cuts to the people a fair amount as they are grooving to the song also as if there is something going on with them. All the while Elly is singing the song. Later, Elly is seated in an elaborate chair, and she is also in the pool. The video ends with her submerging into the pool, funky hair and all!

The Pixie Lott song, “Gravity”, is one I easily could have mistaken for Jordin Sparks, as it is a poppy R&B track. The video is mostly her in a black tutu, but there is also a couple dancers in the background on certain scenes. She does have a couple of other outfits in the video, a black “burlesque inspired outfit”, and in a red catsuit performing an aerial silk routine. The latter two outfits were added by an anonymous Wikipedia user. I do not know clothing too well, however I probably would not have used the term burlesque.

VV Brown’s “Shark in the Water” is the first time I really heard and saw her. The video is basically her singing the song while telling a story. It is a good poppy track.

Lastly, Noisettes with “Don’t Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)”. It is the second single from their second album, Wild Young Hearts. I only really started getting into them recently. Wild Young Hearts is quite a good album.

The video is a fair amount fantasy, with mostly lead singer and bassist, Shingai Shoniwa. The other band members do pop up here and there. The video also features a fair amount of accompanying visuals.