pretending to be japanese

Out of the frying pan...

2008-04-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

And onto my own effing website.

Seriously, I don't know what you're still doing here. Go to my new effing website! Do it! Seriously!

-Jocelyn

So apparently people read my blog...

2008-04-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

You know who's awesome?

CocoRosie.

You know who's an asshole?

Me.

Let me explain...

About three months ago, I contacted the press rep for CocoRosie asking for an interview for The God Project (which is on indefinite hiatus due to lack of response). I never received a response and kind of forgot all about it. I mean, the ladies of CocoRosie are awesome and busy and nobody reads my blog, right?

WRONG.

This morning, before trotting off to work, I decided to update you, gentle readers, with some random interesting news concerning the music bizznass. This update may or may not have included some news about a certain Devendra Banhart dating a certain Natalie Portman. For those of you who recall, Devendra Banhart was, until quite recently, dating the lovely Bianca of CocoRosie.

Now I may or may not have said something along the lines of "Best rebound ever. Too bad for whichever pseudo-lesbian of CocoRosie he used to be dating."

Seriously, I'm an asshole. All day at work I was like "I have to take that down when I get home. It's offensive to lesbians AND CocoRosie, both of whom I have no issue with." Unfortunately, it was too late, as at about 2:30 I received the following email:

Hey Jocelyn --

I was just going to write you about a new single that CocoRosie has coming out that deals with the subject of God but then I noticed that you called Bianca a pseudo lesbian on the site today so... thanks for reaching out but I think it's best if we pass on this opportunity.

Best -
Miranda

OOPS.

I mean really, guys, this situation is ridiculous. The ONE day that that line was ever on my blog, CocoRosie's press rep reads it and is like "Well F that S." I mean really, it's kind of hilarious. Also horrifying.

So, sorry Coco. And Rosie. You're not pseudo-lesbians. I'm sure you're wonderful people and you make really rad music. And I am just an asshole who has nothing better to do than make fun of people like Jens Lekman all day.

But really, it is kind of hilarious.

-Jocelyn

So Now You Know!

2008-04-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

There's so much big news, guys, that I decided to consolidate it for purposes of faster consumption. Check it.

Devendra Banhart is dating... Natalie Portman?

Seriously. I didn't make this up. This makes sense, actually. I mean they're both well-respected artists who kind of annoy everyone. So I guess they're removing their annoying asses from the dating pool by hanging out with each other. Still, I blame this on Devendra's little featurette in Vanity Fair. He'll be on TRL in approximately four weeks (actually, he probably will because he shot a video with Natalie in it. WTF???).

There might actually be a good music festival in Vancouver

Now I'm not the biggest fan of The New Pornographers, but when they decided to announce an effing MUSIC FESTIVAL in Stanley Park, I decided to stop hating them. The lineup's not out yet, but I'm definitely going.

Goal: to attend as many music festivals as possible this summer, thus degrading into a total douchebag (Sasquatch, I'll see you soon).

Weezer continues to suck

Come on, seriously?

That is all.

-Jocelyn

Lyrics of the Day: Eclipse by The Beta Band

2008-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

The people asking questions to the people with the answers.
The people with the answers ire the people with the questions.
So the people with the questions asked the people with the answers.
The people with the answers won't tell the people with the questions the answers.

So the people with the questions they ask the people with the answers.
But the people with the answers won't speak to them.
Because the people with the answers give the people with the questions.
just a little bit too hard a time to speak to.

I'm a man who likes to be alone.
I'm a man who likes to think alone.
I don't have too many answers, but I got a whole heap of questions.
I got a whole heap of questions that I won't hide from you.

So low, don't you smile you get high?

So the people with the books they went and stood up on the mountain
to get away from the people with no books.
The people with the books they started reading on the mountain but
they couldn't see a thing because the sky went dark.
I don't know where the cloud cover came from.
I'm just sitting here rocking on the station.

I don't want to be the type of guy
who lives alone, reading books, and never eats a pizza pie.
I don't want to be the type of person sitting alone with a book on my own.

With a book on my own.

The people with the questions got together
with the people with the books and left the answers out
So the people with the answers started to make their way over the hill
to meet the people with the questions and the people with the books

And we all live together on a little round ball.
We all sing together when the cuckoo calls.

I'm not the type best living alone.
Could we live together? Well, I don't know.

I'm not sitting here giving you a lesson.
So I'll just keep my mouth shut for the next few minutes.

Can't keep quiet for long.
I'm a human being.
Can't help singing a song.
I'm a human being.

You won't listen to me.
I'm not an authority.

So the people with the answers met the people with the questions
and the people with the books sat down.
They finally decided to sit around to talk about their problems
to see if they come up with some answers to meet the questions
and some questions to meet the answers.

Well, the leaves on the trees are green.
(Ok we're agreed on that.)
And the roads are not very clean.
(Ok we're agreed on that.)
And the food we eat is not very healthy.
(Ok we're agreed on that.)
And the music we make is not particularly good.
(Ok we're agreed on that.)
And the planets sort of revolve around the sun.
(Ok we're agreed on that.)
And the moon is a big ball with nothing on it, and I don't think anyone's ever been there.
(Ok, so we're kind of agreed to that. so what are we arguing about?)
Well, I don't know...
(Ok. So let's get together and smoke that pizza pie)

Some people with a pizza made me very high.
The people with the questions smile.
And the people with the answers lie.
They lie.

So no pizza for them.

Oh Man

2008-04-17T17:44:00.001-07:00

Now I know I feign near-orgasmic excitement at an alarming rate, particularly on the subject of (duh) music, but there are few events in the world of music that are as soul-crushingly awesome as this:

David Byrne and Brian Eno are working on a new album together.

I know, I know, you're finding it hard to contain yourselves too ("Cool! That guy from The Talking Heads and... some other guy!") but try to hold your horses just a little while because this almost definitely totally sweet album won't be out until next year. Perhaps you should spend that time getting (re)acquainted with Brian Eno. Let me help you.

-Jocelyn

Video of the Day: Water Curses by Animal Collective

2008-04-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

In case we weren't all obsessed with this song enough.

-Jocelyn

New Wolf Parade!

2008-04-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Remember when Wolf Parade came out with Apologies to the Queen Mary and it was awesome? Remember how that was like 47,275 years ago?

Well, apparently the guys of Wolf Parade have FINALLY taken a break from the 9,000 other bands they're in to record another album, which will be out in June. Yay!

In even more exciting news, their song "Call it a Ritual" has been posted on Stereogum. Thank you, Stereogum. Not sure how I feel about this song though. Perhaps you should check it out for yourself.

-Jocelyn

Raise Your Hand if You Love Animal Collective

2008-04-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

That's what I thought. Check this out.

They've got a (most likely) kick-ass EP coming out on May 6th. I find it hard to contain myself.

-Jocelyn

Remember High School?

2008-04-09T08:45:00.002-07:00

Oh, the nostalgia. Also, I love Youtube.

Conclusion: black nail polish and Chuck Taylors. And the crushing realization that nobody will ever understand me, ever.

-Jocelyn

Video of the Day: Nantes by Beirut

2008-04-08T23:37:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Joe.

What a babe.

Lyrics of the Day: The Good Times Are Killing Me by Modest Mouse

2008-04-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

The good times are killing me.

Here we go.

Got dirt, got air, got water and I know you can carry on.
Shrug off short-sighted false excitement and oh what can I say?
Have one, have twenty more "one mores" and oh it does not relent.

The good times are killing me.

Kick butt buzz-cut dickheads who didn't like what I said.
The good times are killing me.
Jaws clenched tight we talked all night, oh but what the hell did we say?
The good times are killing me.

The good times are killing me.
The good times are killing me.

Fed up with all that LSD.
Need more sleep than coke or methamphetamines.
Late nights with warm, warm wiskey.
I guess the good times they were all just killing me.

Got dirt, got air, got water and I know you can carry on.
The good times are killing me.
Enough hair of the dog to make myself an entire rug.
The good times are killing me.
Have one, have twenty more "one mores" and oh it does not relent.
The good times are killing me.
Shit-kicker city slickers who all wanted me dead.
The good times are killing me.
Get sucked in and stuck in late nights with more folks that I don't know.
The good times are killing me.

The good times are killing me.

Yay! Deerhunter!

2008-04-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, remember when I said that Deerhunter was broken up forever, never to return? Apparently I lied. I love being wrong.

Check it.

-Jocelyn

Album Review: Full Moon Film by Karl Mohr

2008-04-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

When it rains, it pours. For example, this writer was recently hit by not one but TWO tragedies. First, my hard drive magically stopped existing, giving me cause to bring my computer (which is six months old, by the way, and a MAC, which I was under the impression never break) to the hospital for a brain transplant. Then, to add insult to injury, I came down with a bad case of the plague and missed a bunch of work. That's right, I was sitting at home. Sick. WITHOUT A COMPUTER.

Yeah, it was terrible. I did pretty much an entire book of logic problems. I now officially hate logic problems. I also managed to work my way through High Fidelity, Flight of the Conchords, and Season One of Wonder Showzen, which is soul-crushing but wonderful.

Anyway, you get the idea. It was pretty boring. Luckily, though, I received a piece of mail that temporarily cracked the tedium. It was a lovely little album by Karl "Dance Party" Mohr, who you may remember from the last two posts (I'm thinking of renaming my blog "The Mohr Show." What do you think?), and a note wishing me "butterflies and miracles."

Butterflies and miracles, indeed, gentle readers. More like vampires and 80s theme parties. Or perhaps butterflies and miracles from beyond the grave.

Needless to say, I love it. Not that I don't love the whole synth-rock-emo-pop thing that is so hot right now in independent music, particularly in Canada. It's just that it's awfully refreshing to see something different. Something dark, but not pretentious, and certainly not emo.

Anyway, on to Full Moon Film...

The album opens with "The Slut Within," which singlehandedly earns Karl his "Dance Party" nickname. Then he takes it down a notch with "All Good Seasons," which features a few choice bars from the Canadian national anthem. I know I'm supposed to be a writer and everything, but it's hard for me to describe that using anything other than the word "awesome."

And the awesome just continues with "Storyline," which makes me want to clean my house. For those of you who know me, you understand that this is a big deal. Rarely is anything so motivating. Go Karl.

Aside from a possibly pointless cover of "She's a Rainbow" by the Rolling Stones (sorry Karl, I'm a cover snob), the rest of the album is all up and up from there. It's all a great, wonderful journey into the mind of Karl, whose mind, it seems, looks like a 4am rave among the ruins of a very old European cathedral. It's a journey I am be happy to travel again.

I was worried, upon receiving this album, that I would hate it. I mean, it's one thing to pick on Jens Lekman, who will probably never read this blog and doesn't care what I think anyway, but I don't want to say mean things about nice people who send me music. I can safely say, though, to my relief and delight, that my fears were unjustified. Full Moon Film is, in short, a rad, rad album. Karl Mohr is definitely going places. Watch out, Spencer Krug. There's a new next David Byrne.

And that's the way it is.

- Jocelyn

P.S. Karl has been nice enough to provide you, my loving readers, the demo for "Storyline," which is, as previously alluded to, pretty much the best song ever. Pretty much. Download it here. Also check out his website. Do it.

Video of the Day: These Fine Feathers by Karl Mohr

2008-03-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

Dudes, check it.

-Jocelyn

Interview: Laugh Out Loud

2008-03-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

You know, most of the time I kind of hate Myspace. I mean, first of all, it's pretty much the slowest-loading website ever to exist. Also, it's positively PACKED with spam. I keep it, though, because bands use Myspace to round up new fans and I enjoy being rounded up (oh yes). Recently, I was rounded up by a charming boy named Eric Reid and his (sort of) one-man band, Laugh Out Loud, who graciously granted me an interview. Here is what transpired:

Jocelyn: So you play all the instruments on your recordings yourself, correct? How does that process work? How do you translate that into live shows with other musicians?

Eric: That is correct and incorrect .. I write the songs by myself, come up with what parts I think would sound cool .. and where they would sound cool in the songs and then I record them. My producer and long time friend Karl Mohr gives his input and ideas... which are, more often than not, good ideas. He's a better piano player than me so something that would take me 9 takes to hack out he gets through in one take.

Live is a totally different feel... where i play most of the instruments the music has a lot of my vibe, and then live the musicians follow that vibe but kind of do what they want with it as well.

Jocelyn: Which do you prefer, recording or performing?

Eric: Definitely recording. I find it difficult working with other people and arranging how the songs should be played...when it's just Karl and I recording we both really get each other and what we're going for. I get really stoked off like crazy little production tricks.. like when you hear a beach boys record they have some many little sweet nothings that they throw in.. like a tamborine panned totally to the left with like 50 other things going on all around... and then live its just kind of more focused on the raw energy. I like being able to just do everything i guess... maybe i should hire a 50 piece band or something.

Jocelyn: Does Karl play in your live shows with you?

Eric: Laugh Out Loud has never even played in ontario. I'm currently on a rock and hes in Toronto. We're getting a place this summer to record the new album and then we will play together... I'm really excited to be back on mainland and playing shows with a band.

Jocelyn: How exactly did you end up in Newfoundland?

Eric: I really dont know.. I was really tired (oh the eighteen year old angst) and just kind of wanted to chill out for a couple of years.. so I went to music school in the Atlantic... my dad told me about the program and I said sure... I didnt go to much school at all first year. I just wrote songs and met cool people. I was totally into the live band last year.

Jocelyn: Well the live band is pretty great. I like the curly guy with the brown sweater.

Eric: Haha Bart Pierson is the greatest person in the entire world. We had this really staight up guy in the band who was really into the 'fine tunings' like he would tune after every song and make sure all diminished chords shone out through his perfect guitar tones.. and onstage Bart would like detune his own guitar and grind it against shit that was close to him... He was definitely awesome to have in the band

He lives in St. John's now and his afro is so huge and I don't think hes working.. but every time I see him he tells me about his recordings that he does on his casette player and at the end of every song he trashes his room a bit more.

Jocelyn: Dude's exciteable.

Eric: He's a sweetheart though.

Jocelyn: Obviously. He has a brown sweater.

Eric: Yeah he worked at a thirft store and got great discounts on discounts.

Jocelyn: Oh that is a good friend to have.

So you've got live shows in Newfoundland with the band and recordings in Ontario with Karl, but the music is all you. How does it feel to be a one man dance-rock party?

Eric: The dance parties are both Karl and myself... we wet each others whistles and scream like girls. We do Abba and barber shop boy harmonies while eating watermelon and spitting the seeds at each other (it feels like summer).

Jocelyn: That's beautiful.

A lot of the subject matter in your music is pretty dark, but it's delivered in a funny way. Is that just kind of how you operate or was it a conscious decision?

Eric: Some people say that its me being self concious of my music and diguising darkness with humor... but I'd like to think that my music can get people stoked enough to dance and then when its not saturday night dance fever they can read the lyrics and get a kind of deeper meaning... It's kind of like if you put an I'm From Barcelona song on like "Pearl Harbour"... kind of that ironic twist or something? I don't really feel self concious about my music though.

Jocelyn: How does the songwriting process work for you?

Eric: I am always recording guide tracks. I'll be fucking with the piano or guitar and come up with some sort of a cool melody and I'll record it just singing "do-do"s and "la-la"s and I'll say write down the chords and give myself a remind to have like an Abba-ish bridge in the middle or something. Like so I get the general feeling.. so I'll have a bunch of guide tracks all waiting in a folder and then when I have a cool idea for a song I put lyrics to the "la-la"s and then brainstorm other instrument possibilities.

Jocelyn: Besides making music, how do you spend your time?

Eric: I spend a lot of my time reading I'm currently obsessed with Stephen King. He's not even a horror writer. He is to an extent but there's so much more shit going on with his writing, I can sit for hours reading his books. He's amazing. I work at a movie rental place right now and I get like 3 free movie rentals a day, so I've seen every b-list actor horror movie on the market.

Jocelyn: Haha. Zombies? It's all about zombies.

Eric: Oh my god, I've seen them all. The older the better. What do you do?

Jocelyn: Watch Flight of the Cochords. Over and over. Also, I spend a lot of time ripping pictures out of magazines and putting them on my wall. I lead a fascinating life.

Eric: Do you play/write music?

Jocelyn: Nah. I leave that to people who know what they're doing. I'm a writer. It works out better for everyone that way. Secretly though, I'd love to be in a Pixies cover band and just sing all of Kim Deal's parts. She has the best parts.

Eric: Haha The Pixies are garbage now. They look like melted candles and they sound like they're starting to force it.

Jocelyn: Oh I don't really pay much attention to them now. But back in the day when they were cool and I was like four, we were tight.

Eric: Haha DO NOT Google image search them then, you'll kill your inner child. Alright sorry for sidetracking your interview.

Jocelyn: Ha. It's cool. No worries.

Eric: Let it be our interview. It's a product of us both, like a child.

Jocelyn: Yes. Our interview baby. Can we name it Alphonsis?

Eric: Is that a gender-friendly name? If so, then the answer is no. She shall be Patricia.

Jocelyn: I don't know why you get to name her. I did all the work. You just got to do the fun parts. I want to name her Astrid.

Eric: You're right. I'm fucking chopped liver. Astrid it is. She has your eyes as well as your spite.

Jocelyn: Well spite is a dominant gene. Ok! What music do you listen to when you're feeling shitty and you want not to?

Eric: Usually when I feel shitty I listen to music that makes me feel shittier... I dont know why. "Black Sheep Boy" by Okkervil River is always a good anchor to sink me into the black pit of depression. Placebo's "Without You I'm Nothing" does the trick too. As far as happy music, I love The Beach Boys, older Bowie, The Boy Least Likely To is really happy... so is Jens Lekman... all that is pretty genius music.

Jocelyn: Yeah nothing makes you feel worse like Okkervil River, God bless 'em

Eric: Hahaha.

Jocelyn: So you like to wallow?

Eric: Hahaha. No but sometimes I guess it feels nice being in that darker place and it can be hard to get out. I'm generally pretty happy.

Jocelyn: Well good. I'm generally a proponent of happiness, although misery has its perks.

Eric: We see eye to eye. Astrid shall grow to be a well-rounded woman and a leader.

Jocelyn: Of course she will. She is a gifted child. What is your favourite Laugh Out Loud song?

Eric: My very favourite is one that isn't yet recorded. I've been working on it for like 7 months. I usually spend 20 minutes writing a song, so it really is a different breed... but it has everything in it. It's my Astrid. As of already recorded I'd say "Smile."

Jocelyn: When do you think this mystery song will be finished cookin'?

Eric: I'm recording another record this summer. The song is pretty much cooked.

Here's the recording process: I pay $100 per song and I have unlimited recording time, but with this gem in particular I've been hiring on a bunch of players (violin, cello, viola, saxophone, flute & trumpet) so it'll probably end up costing me a lot more. It's my magnus opus though, so it deserves some special treatment.

Jocelyn: That's an exciting endeavor!

Eric: Woo!

Jocelyn: Well that's about it, I expect. Do you have anything else you'd like to say to my loyal readers?

Eric: Don't Google image search The Pixies in their 2008 form.

Jocelyn: Wise words.

Again and Again and Again, live in Newfoundland (check out the curly guy in the brown sweater).

As you can see, Eric and I are in love. You can testify to that in court when I sue his ass for child support.

Oh, and go to his Myspace page and listen to his amazing music. Dude's only 19. It's pretty impressive.

-Jocelyn

Lyrics of the Day: Unsolved Mysteries by Animal Collective

2008-02-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

"Oh, look at me,"
That sweet boy's plea
His mother cried
"My child's tied his laces!"
Why must we move on
From such happy lawns
Into nostalgia's palms
And feed on the traces?

So you hop to the dance
Or embarrass the parents
Who should I please?
I go to sleep worrying.

Their blood in the dark
Will attract the sharks
Who are not violent
We've all got hungry bellies.

But where are the skin and bones?

So you look at me with your one eye
When you look at me with your blue eye
So you look at me with the inner eye

And all was tame
And all was daggers anyway
Stop crying like a child

And all was greying
And all was aging anyway
Stop growing in the wild

But I feel like i'm lost in those

When you look at me with your green eyes
When you look at me with your black eyes
When you look at me with your dead eyes

And I can't understand when holding her hand
So womanly, I have to go kiss her.
And what a surprise to look in those eyes
To find suddenly, he is Jack the Ripper.
Too suddenly, he was Jack the Ripper.
There he goes.

Stop crying like a child
She stopped crying like a child
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper

Concert Review: Josh Ritter

2008-02-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was Josh Ritter, and he was good but not that exciting. He was also playing a show in Vancouver the day after the Mountain Goats, leaving a certain girl to wonder, "which of these bands that I am really only lukewarm on shall I go to see?" Then a certain girl saw a certain video, and the decision was made.

Look at that! They actually explode! After watching this video, I was certain that Josh Ritter was the man I must see live. So off we trotted, my cousin and I, to the Commodore Ballroom on Friday the 23rd. The show was flawless, apart from the set list (which I now have). For some reason, Joshipoo decided to OPEN with his two BEST SONGS. This is never a good plan, as it will cause many members of the audience (myself included) to wonder "why am I still here?" Not, of course, that there weren't other highlights after "Mind's Eye" and "To the Dogs or Whoever" (which really did explode, as promised), but they were few and far between. One "Girl in the War" sing-along does not a concert make, my friends. And it's best really if you don't get me started on the pitiful encore.

Don't get me wrong, it was a great show, and Josh and the band had amazing energy. In my experience, however, the biggest most exciting song is saved for the end, perhaps even the encore. NOT, as Josh would have it, the first five minutes.

He totally touched my hand though, it was awesome.

That is all.

Covers Galore

2008-02-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a band, in admiration of another band (or perhaps in jest), will occasionally do a cover song. Covers are particularly tasty little morsels as they provide us, the idle listener, with insight into the dynamics of inter-band relationships. Whether created out of fandom or hatred, cover songs are pretty damn entertaining.

Cover songs also come in many different delicious flavours. Read on:

THE SUPER EMO COVER OF A MEDIOCRE POP SONG
This kind of cover is unfortunately popular, and not even the best artists are immune. Whether it's The Magic Numers' cover of "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce (minus the Jay-Z rap, which as we all know is the best part of that song), or Alanis' super cheesy cover of "My Humps", these super emo gems are really just nuggets of crap. Except, of course, for one noteable exception.

The award for Best Super Emo Cover of a Mediocre Pop Song goes to...

THE "HEY YA!" SING (AND CLAP) ALONG
Another popular cover, the "Hey Ya!" sing-along has popped up everywhere so often, that there no longer unexpected places to find it. Whether it's Tilly and the Wall or my friends Tristan and Max at an open mic in a church basement, it's hard to make something special out of a bunch of people just singing along to an already very special song. There is one group, however, who I believe have achieved this goal.

The award for Best "Hey Ya!" Sing (and Clap) Along goes to...

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra

THE GOOD SONG MADE BETTER
The goal of covers, one would assume, is (or should be) always to take a song and improve it. This goal, however, is rarely reached. When it is reached, though, it is so so sweet.

The award for Best Good Song Made Better goes to...

Peach, Plum, Pear (Joanna Newsom) - Final Fantasy

THE GOOD SONG MADE WEIRDER
Not much to say here. Just listen:

THE REALLY REALLY RIDICULOUS COVER OF AN ALREADY REALLY RIDICULOUS SONG
Perhaps my favourite category of cover song, ridiculous covers are, in my opinion, the spice of life. I can't really say anything about the winner in this category, except "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

The award for Best Really Really Ridiculous Cover of an Already Really Ridiculous Song goes to...

My Sharona (The Knack) - Polysics

And finally, it's time for the best cover ever to exist ever in the world, also from the previous category. There has never been, nor ever will there be, a better cover than this cover. It is also impossible to find. Or, it was, until I hunted it down for you, my loyal readers, and, of course, your EXCLUSIVE downloading pleasure. May I present, without further delay, the greatest cover song ever done EVER:

Hot in Herre (Nelly) - Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't

-Jocelyn

P.S. Thanks very much to Pete for sending me the above file. It is super appreciated.

Lyrics of the Day: Grounds for Divorce by Wolf Parade

2008-02-13T01:17:00.000-08:00

Grounds for Divorce

Said you hate the sound
Of the busses on the ground
Said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
So pretend it's whales
Keeping their voices down
Such were the grounds for divorce I know

On the radio
And the bouncing bodies drone
Found eigteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said look at the clouds
It's a show all on its own
Such were the grounds for divorce I know

But the dialing is dead
we hit it on the head
It looked like a wedding cake
But the dialing is dead
We hit it on the head
It looked like a newlywed

But I look at the lovers
In the telephone stands
And the way they move and the way they move their hands
And I look at their babies
And their tiny little hands
And the way they get loved and the way they get loved

Oh look at the lovers
In the telephone stands
And the way they move and the way they move and the way they move their hands

Said you hate the sound
Of the busses on the ground
Said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
So pretend it's whales
Are keeping their voices down
Such were the grounds for divorce I know

Looked like a newlywed

On the radio
And the bouncing bodies drone
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said look at the clouds
It's a show all on its own
Such were the grounds for divorce I know

Love Sucks!

2008-02-11T22:54:00.000-08:00

In honour of the most craptastic holiday ever to exist, I have compiled a few songs about how love is pretty much a terrible idea. F that S right in the A, dudes.

We Love Love!

2008-02-11T22:48:00.001-08:00

In honour of Valentines Day, the best holiday ever, I have compiled a selection of lovely love songs that you and your love will totally love.

Love, Jocelyn

Oh, Juno

2008-02-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Lest I'm the last person to blog about this...

Recently, as part of my super fun "I hate the world" phase I'm happily going through at the moment, I've become totally sick of all my music. Even my happy song (as previously mentioned, "Plasticities" by Andrew Bird) makes me nothing short of bummed. As a result I haven't been listening to anything.

Anything, that is, except the Juno Soundtrack. Let me start at the beginning.

For Christmas I received a gift card to Urban Outfitters, which is awesome and everything except that there's nothing good at Urban Outfitters anymore. I did drop in a little while back, however, to the Urban Outfitters on Granville St. here in Vancouver in the hope of finding some rad bedding for my bed, as I was sick of sleeping on sandpaper (AKA Ikea sheets). Unfortunately, the most annoying song in the world (lyrics to follow) was playing in the Urban Outfitters as I discovered that they had removed the bedding from their store because it wasn't selling well. Two things were going through my mind: "Why would Urban Outfitters get rid of the only cool thing they sell?" and "Why does Urban Outfitters feel the need to play the shittiest music I've ever heard just because they feel it is trendy?"

These are the words to that unfortunate song I'd hoped never to hear again:

The flower said, "I wish I was a tree."
The tree said, "I wish I could be a different kind of tree."
The cat wished that it was a bee.
The turtle wished that it could fly really high into the sky
Over rooftops and then dive deep into the sea.

And in the sea there is a fish,
A fish that has a secret wish,
A wish to be a big cactus with a pink flower on it.
And in the sea there is a fish,
A fish that has a secret wish,
A wish to be a big cactus with a pink flower on it.

And the flower would be its offering
Of love to the desert.
And the desert, so dry and lonely,
That the creatures all appreciate the effort.
And the rattlesnake said, "I wish I had hands
So I could hug you like a man."
And then the cactus said, "Don't you understand?
My skin is covered with sharp spikes
That'll stab you like a thousand knives.
A hug would be nice, but hug my flower with your eyes."

And then it all repeats and it's super annoying and seriously, what the hell?

Anyway, fast forward to a couple weeks later and I decided that I needed to see Juno. As my one free movie pass only applies to the movie theatre that never has good movies like Juno, and I live below the poverty line, I decided it was appropriate for me to watch it for free via the internet. So shoot me. I'll make up for it by totally buying Juno when it comes out on DVD because it is my movie soul mate. Diablo Cody, you are a shining example to those of us who went to Catholic school and were like "well, fuck that."

Unfortunately, however, that super annoying cd they were playing on that super annoying day at Urban Outfitters was the soundtrack to Juno. Of course upon realizing this, I was like "of course, Urban Outfitters was playing the soundtrack of like the trendiest indie movie since Garden State. Way to be predictable, Urban Outfitters." Unfortunately again, that stupid annoying song got stuck in my head for what has now been at least a week and a half. What's worse, I'm afraid, is that I've actually started to like it. I've actually started to like the whole stupid soundtrack with all those stupid songs by Kimya Dawson and the worst Velvet Underground Song ever and Antsy Pants and Belle & Sebastian, whom I loathe, and well actually I've always been down with Mott the Hoople (some things are just genetic)...

And do you know why, gentle readers? Do you know why I'm listening to and apparently enjoying this stupid crap way more than the good music I normally listen to? I'll tell you. It's because unlike the intricate and articulately crafted pieces of art I normally enjoy, the Juno soundtrack is HAPPY. It's HAPPY and it's CUTE and it's CATCHY and no wonder it outseated Alica Keys (please) to be the number one selling album in all the world or something like that.

So I'd just like to say, that I'm sorry for hating you, Kimya Dawson, because apparently you make me happy. Also, I'm sorry for being mean to Jens Lekman because apparently he's a very nice person.

That is all.

p.s. This is the closest approximation to the soundtrack that I could create on Project Playlist. Just be a pal and support something being successful for a good reason and buy it yourself.

-Jocelyn

Video of the Day: Josh Ritter on Letterman

2008-01-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

Not that I'm bragging or anything, but i will shortly be seeing him live. Oh yes.

Lyrix of the Day: Happiness by Built to Spill

2008-01-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

Yo, check it:

Happiness by Built to Spill

Haven't had half a hand in half of what I am
Haven't heard of half the things that happened in the past
Haven't given half a time to half the people half the things I've planned
You don't have to be so cruel cause all I do is a little less than what I can

Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can

Haven't haven't the half of mind to stay and start to take a stand
Haven't held on half as long as I had hoped, as I had hoped and planned
Haven't missed half the shit they said I had to have to have a chance
You don't have to be so cruel cause all I do is a little less than what I can

Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can
Happiness will only happen when it can

The God Project

2008-01-24T09:48:00.001-08:00

For those of you who don't know, I've recently had a slight existential crisis that started me on the search for God. I decided pretty quickly that the best way to make lemonade out of this situation would be to ask some musicians what their thoughts on God were and compile them for a super-cool project. So far, so good.

I set up a separate blog for The God Project (as it is tentatively called), as the tone is seriously different from the tone of Pretending to be Japanese (PTBJ = ridiculous, TGP = intense, sort of). So, guys, check it out!:

The God Project

-Jocelyn

Best Video Ever

2008-01-23T23:39:00.001-08:00

I have no words for this:

Shit

2008-01-22T20:33:00.001-08:00

I ask you this, gentle readers, how is anyone supposed to live in a world without Heath Ledger?

Video of the Day: Bob Wiseman and Feist - Who am I?

2008-01-22T01:03:00.000-08:00

Guys, meet my new friend Bob.

Lyrics of the Day: By Your Side by CocoRosie

2008-01-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

While listening to these lyrics, it's easy to see how Devendra Banhart and either Coco or Rosie dated/are dating (they really need to have Us Weekly for indie musicians so I can be up on the details).

"By Your Side" by CocoRosie

I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I just wanted to be your housewife

I'll iron your clothes
I'll shine your shoes
I'll make your bed
And cook your food
I'll never cheat
I'll be the best girl you'd ever meet
And for the diamond ring
I'll do these kinds of things
I'll scrub your floor
Never be a bore
I'd tuck you in
I do not snore
I'd wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies
I won't ask why
And I try not to cry

I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out

And it's nearly midnight
And all I want with my life
Is to be a housewife
Is to be a housewife
'Cause it's nearly midnight
And all I want with my life
Is to die a housewife
Is to die a housewife

Songs That Make You Feel Better

2008-01-19T21:03:00.000-08:00

It's hard sometimes, in the dead of winter, to find things that make you happy. This is particularly true in Vancouver, where the sun sets at 4:30 and it wasn't even really out to begin with because it's ALWAYS RAINING. Who chooses to live in a rainforest? Well, me apparently, but that's another story.

Anyway, Lately I've been coming home from work in progressively bad moods. To remedy this, I found several songs (available legally for free download. How delightful!) that lift my spirits, if only for a few minutes. Without further delay, here they are:

-Andrew Bird - "Plasticities" (Daytrotter session)
"Plasticities" (more commonly referred to as "my happy song") is just so simple and beautifully constructed. I find it hard to imagine that I'm the only one who finds it hard not to love.

-Final Fantasy - "Peach, Plum, Pear" (Joanna Newsom cover)
Perhaps I shouldn't be talking about this song, what with my looming cover songs update that will undoubtedly mention it, but it's my blog and I'll do what I want. "Peach, Plum, Pear" is possibly one of the best songs ever written. The only thing that makes it better is the fact that Joanna Newsom isn't singing it. No offense to her, of course. Having to listen to her voice is, in my opinion, a small price to pay to get to listen to her music. It is a relief, however, to get to listen to her music beautifully arranged and sung by someone else. I'm just saying.

-Antony and the Johnsons - "Hope There's Someone"
No, it's not exactly a happy song, but listening to Antony sing is in itself a pleasure. That combined with the amazing and intense way this song ends makes it no less than a treat for the ears, tacky though it may sound.

-Band of Horses - "The Great Salt Lake"
It's a strange phenomenon, I suppose, that technically unhappy songs have the ability to make a person feel better. But for me, it's not about tone or lyrics so much as the beauty of the finished product. I love Ben Bridwell's voice and I adore the melodies he sings in this song. That plus envisioning the nerdy little smile he has on his face while performing, and how can you not feel good, really?

-Rogue Wave - "Eyes"
I can't find words to describe this song because I'm listening to it right now and I'd much rather do that than write. It's just lovely, that's all.

-Built to Spill - "Happiness"
(Ok, I lied about all of them being downloadable. Some jerks are signed to Warner. There's nothing I can do about it. That's what Limewire is for, not that I advocate illegal activity or anything.)
I forgot about this song for quite a while and rediscovered it today. I wasn't even really paying close attention but it pulled me in with the line "Happiness will only happen when it can." An important thing to remember, folks! And besides, winter will be over soon enough.

-Jocelyn

Lyrics of the Day: Lover by Devendra Banhart

2008-01-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Instead of a real update, I thought I'd entertain you with the lyrics to "Lover" by Devendra Banhart, because they're just so funny.

Well I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand

And I, I wanna open your door
And love you 'til you're sore
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute
Yeah

I wanna be your thing, your anything, your everything, oh yeah

And I, I wanna fill your cup
Fill it up, fill it up to the brim with love
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute

You'll never have to ask
I'll fill you my sweet glass
I'm gonna mesmerize your ass
Just give me my first chance, it's gonna be the last
I'm gonna make you wanna stay

I, I wanna be your cow
Give you all the milk around town
Let me see, let me see you drink it down
I, I wanna be the pear tree
I want you to climb all over me
Try my fruit and taste my seed

Climb right on me, lay it on me
C-c-climb right on me, l-l-lay it on me

Just let me do my thing
Until you start to sing
I'm going down you all night long
I'm gonna build a bond
I'm pulling out my wand
It feels so right it can't be wrong

Yeah

Well I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand

And I, I wanna be your lover baby
I wanna be your girl
Blow a kiss and change the world

We're gonna make it through
You got me and I got you
Your bleeding heart's at my command
If you don't love me too
Then being friends will do
Long as you let me in your bed

Oh, Devendra.

-Jocelyn

Boo Insound

2008-01-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

So in case you haven't noticed, the albums on the side of the blog have been REMOVED because they linked to Insound, which used to be a really great/cool company and is now officially owned by Warner.

I hate it when that happens.

-Jocelyn

Artist Spotlight: Battles

2008-01-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

Those of you who are avid readers of my blog (nerds + my mum) probably have guessed that there is no band I love more than Animal Collective. You also probably have noticed that i lament the fact that there isn't more music like what Animal Collective creates. In fact, there isn't any. Or at least, there wasn't until I discovered my favourite band of the week, Battles.

No, they're not really like Animal Collective, but they do have a similar alien quality about them. They're sort of like what would happen if Animal Collective and Explosions In The Sky had a really funky, electronic baby. A warning though, they're not for the faint of heart. Their music is structured a bit like techno, but their sound is almost like hardcore. It's a bit hard to describe, actually, without using the term "math rock," which I am reluctant to do. It sounds a bit too much like "psych folk" and all those other fake genres that artists (rightfully) hate.

Reguardless of what you call them, however, Battles are pretty great. The guys are extremely talented musicians who create something together that is greater than the sum of its parts. It's hard while listening to their music to imagine that it was created by humans, which is why the decision to put themselves performing in their music videos was such a good one. It gives the listener/watcher a frame of reference for how this music even exists.

So, without further delay, I present their 2007 release, Mirrored, in its entirety, along with two music videos for your viewing pleasure.

Continue if you dare.

-Jocelyn

"Atlas"

"Tonto"

A Christmas Present for You

2007-12-24T17:09:00.000-08:00

In celebration of the birth of our Lord (AKA the Christian Church declaring the birth of Jesus on a day that coincided with the pagan festival of midwinter in order to take it over), I am gifting you, my precious readers, a "mixtape" filled with songs that make me very happy and thus will make you happy as well.

The list is as follows:
1. Comfy in Nautica by Panda Bear (my favourite song at the moment).
2. Lover by Devendra Banhart (listen to the lyrics. They're HILARIOUS).
3. Idle Songs by Frog Eyes (possibly the only song by Frog Eyes that's particularly good. Whatever).
4. The Ice Storm by The Go! Team (I can't describe to you how much I love this song).
5. Grounds for Divorce by Wolf Parade (a favourite of mine for some years now).
6. Unsolved Mysteries by Animal Collective (off their amazing new album that I've already talked up lots).
7. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk (duh. Best song ever).
8. Up on Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days by Sunset Rubdown (Spencer Krug + Me = babies).
9. Galang by M.I.A. (hahahahaha).
10. Plasticities by Andrew Bird (there's no bad mood this song can't fix).

So, there you are, my loves. I suppose this is not really a real update, but you can expect a few in the coming week and a bit as I will be on vacation from my real job and thus will have lots of time for my fake job.

Happy Christmas!

(I mean that in the most secular way possible)

-Jocelyn

The End of The World

2007-12-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

This technically qualifies as music, I guess. Really I just think it's very clever.

-Jocelyn

The Best and Worst of 2007

2007-12-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

As 2007 grinds to a close, it's time to look back and reflect on the wonderful things/crimes against music that were committed this year. So, without further delay, the rundown is as follows:

Best Myspace Find:
Obviously, this award goes to The Last Dinosaur, who friended me on Myspace and quickly became my new favourite unsigned band from Cambridge. These lovely boys have amazing chemistry and impressive songwriting skills. I expect wonderful things from them in the future. Download there song "Home" here.

Worst Myspace Find:
The title of Worst Myspace Find goes to the most annoying band of all time, Science Ninja Team. I actually didn't make it through all four of their songs on Myspace, because they were so bad I was considering flushing my computer down the toilet. I can't even imagine why these guys think what they are doing is a good idea. It's not. Science Ninja Team, for the sake of the world, please stop.

Most Exciting Albums:
5. Kala - M.I.A.

I was surfing the two for $10 bin at HMV when this album came on and I ended up staying in the store just to hear the whole thing. I have been a mild fan of M.I.A. since "Galang" but her new album is really something to talk about. It's refreshing to see someone who is both commercially successful and really good. Keep it up, M.I.A.

4. Alive - Daft Punk

Oh man oh man oh man. I have not heard this entire album yet (come on, Mum! Christmas Present!!!), but what I have heard is enough to make me vomit happiness all over the place. It's pretty messy.

3. Person Pitch - Panda Bear

For those of you who do not know (that includes you, Panda Bear), Panda Bear and I are in love. I'm sure his wife and child will be upset to learn this, but hey, you can't stand in the way of soul mates. It's just not done. Anyway, Person Pitch is amazing. "Comfy in Nautica" is actually possibly the best song I've ever heard, outseating "We Tigers" by Animal Collective. Clearly I only like one kind of music.

2. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon - Devendra Banhart

I bought Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon on a whim, and three songs in I was (no kidding) jumping up and down and screaming to my roommate that this album was "sooooooo good." It got panned by Pitchfork and was completely missing from their "Top 50 Albums of 2007" list, but they suck and I rule. This album is great. Seriously.

1. Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective

Strawberry Jam is by far Animal Collective's best album yet, which is saying a lot. It's super short, but makes up for it by not having one second of filler. Also, it features my boyfriend, Panda Bear, which is a major plus. I have yet to get tired of listening to this album over and over again. If I didn't have to listen to other music for research purposes, I'm not sure I would. It's just that awesome. Excellent Work, Animal Collective. I can't wait to see what you come up with in 2008.

Most Disappointing Albums:
(It speaks highly of 2007 that I could only come up with four.)
4. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman

Night Falls Over Kortedala is one of those albums that EVERYBODY talks about. Naturally, I assumed that they were talking about it for a reason, like maybe it was good. Not so. Sure, Jens Lekman is original, and his lyrics really are phenomenal. But I really do think he sounds like a bad lounge singer. I guess some people consider that a good thing. Those people are wrong.

3. New Magnetic Wonder - The Apples in Stereo

The Apples in Stereo had FIVE YEARS to come up with some good music and they blew it. Enough said.

2. Places Like This - Architecture in Helsinki

"Heart It Races" spent a whopping three weeks as my favourite song. Those three weeks ended when I went out and bought Places Like This only to discover the rest of the album was crap. Now I'm super pissed at Architecture in Helsinki and can't even listen to "Heart It Races" without hearing "Money You Wasted."

1. Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? - Of Montreal

Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?... Of Montreal was my favourite band until I heard this album and now I barely think about them. From what I've read, this ultra-poppy meaningless garbage with dark, miserable lyrics is the new direction they're going in now, so I doubt I'll be thinking about them much in the future. I don't think there could have been a worse follow-up to The Sunlandic Twins. Seriously, there is one good song ("Suffer for Fashion"). Pitchfork put this album at number five on their "Top Albums of 2007" list, right above Strawberry Jam. I'm not sure how anyone can rank Of Montreal's worst album above Animal Collective's best, but whatever. As I said before, Pitchfork sucks. So does Hissing Fauna.

Best Music Video:
"Heart It Races" by Architecture in Helsinki (misleading! Don't buy the album!)

Worst Music Video:
"Peacebone" by Animal Collective (misleading! Do buy the album!)

Best News:
Ike Turner dies. What an asshole. Have fun in Hell (I picture some Dante-style poetic justice with him getting the shit beaten out of him by Tina Turner. You go girl!).

Worst News:
The Blood Brothers break up. I talk about this in like every other update, that's how upset I am. It's only because I could have seen them this summer and I DIDN'T GO! I never dreamed I would NEVER have another chance. Tragic. Totally.

So that's it for now, I think. Here's to 2008!

-Jocelyn

Check it Out!

2007-12-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

My new official BFF, Mike Ramsey, made the new heading for this page as well as the following images:

Pretty much Mike is the greatest person ever. Props to him.

Also, check out his blog here.

That is all.

-Jocelyn

Free Download: Golden Opportunities Mixtape by Okkervil River

2007-12-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

Okkervil River is great. Don't take my word for it, Lou Reed Agrees. Don't just take Lou Reed's word for it, here is evidence: Okkervil River has decided that they would post an entire album online for FREE DOWNLOAD. Best Christmas present ever? Yes.

Anyway, the Golden Opportunities Mixtape is a very nice listen. Consisting of eight covers and one original tune ("Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas"), it's mellow and cute, much like the boys of Okkervil River themselves.

Really, though, why would you sit here and listen to me talk about an album when you can go download it yourself for free? I mean, even if it sucked, it's free. Go download it! Seriously, go.

-Jocelyn

Christmas Wishlist

2007-12-16T09:27:00.000-08:00

So I had this brilliant idea for an update.* I tell everybody what to get their friends and family for Christmas, in what may turn out to be shameless product plugs. So, thus ends the confusion of what to do for Christmas gifts, guys. Check it out:

Dads:

The White Stripes - Icky Thump
It is a commonly known fact that dads love Led Zeppelin. Most dads, however, have already listened to everything by Led Zeppelin so many times in their 50-odd years of existence that they're sick of it. Enter the White Stripes. While not nearly as epic, Jack White (the only member of the White Stripes who matters) has a vaguely Led Zeppelin-esque quality about him. His music is usually, if not always, a throw-back to the straight-up Rock and Roll of our dads' youth. Thus, dads love the White Stripes. Haven't you noticed?

Mums:

Antony & The Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
I don't know about your mum, but my mum loves gay men and singing black women. Thus, I couldn't think of a better album to get my mum for Christmas than I Am a Bird Now by a singing gay man who sounds like a black woman (note to mum: I am not actually getting you this, as you asked for olives and coctail napkins). This album, I'm sure, would please mothers other than my own. I mean, mums love it when bluesy-sounding dudes sing bluesy-sounding songs. It touches their soul or something.

Geeks:

Daft Punk - Alive
Not that you have to be a geek to like Daft Punk, just that geeks almost definitely do like Daft Punk. Anyway, Alive is an absolutely incredible live (duh) album from these French agoraphobes that anyone who likes Daft Punk even a little bit would probably pee themselves listening to. I'm not a geek (duh), but I definitely want this one for Christmas. Hi Mum!

Really Really Pretentious People:

Sigur Ros - Heima
Really really pretentious people are more apt than the average bear to like Sigur Ros. One can conclude, then, that really really pretentious people are more apt than the average bear to want this super-special DVD recording of various free concerts Sigur Ros played in Iceland in 2006. Whatever floats your boat and finds your lost remote, guys.

Teenage Girls:

Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
Unfortunately for the world, the whole emo thing hasn't really gone out of style with the teenage girls yet. Fortunately for teenage girls, Band of Horses is still doing the whole emo thing. I chose 2006's Everything All the Time over 2007's Cease to Begin because Cease to Begin is like Everything All The Time only not as good. Plus I feel that all teenage girls really just want to subject horny teenage boys to "The Funeral" and then ask them how it makes them feel.**

Teenage Boys:

The Blood Brothers - Young Machetes
Point #1: Teenage boys have a higher tolerance for hardcore than the general population. The Blood Brothers are a way for them to piss off their parents while actually listening to good music.
Point #2: It may seem cruel to give these boys an album by a band that no longer exists, but if there's anybody who's going to go on to bigger and better things, it's the dudes from the Blood Brothers. And, as teenage boys sometimes grow into cool people, they will be better able to appreciate these bigger and better things if they know where they came from.

Emo Kids:

Rivers Cuomo - Alone
Sure, it'll be late (the release date is January 8th), but that will just give your beloved emo kid another reason to be emo. Emo kids love that stuff. They also love Weezer (though nearly always specify OLD Weezer). Thus, they will definitely love this undoubtedly super-emo release from the king of emo himself, Weezer front-man Rivers Cuomo. I mean really, what could be a more emo album title than "Alone?" Alone is what emo kids are (possibly because they're so infuriatingly emo), so they'll definitely love this album.

Hippies:

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus (30th Anniversary Edition)
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the clothing store Roots, but up here in Canada, it's like the best store ever... for tourists (and expats). I used to work there. Anyway, the owners (who are American), spent some time dodging the Vietnam draft down in Jamaica before they came up to Canada instead (I think they heard the pot was better). As a result, the playlist in the stores consists of A LOT of reggae. As a result, I do now and forever will hate reggae. Sorry, reggae. I know it's not your fault, but I just can't listen to you ever again without getting irrationally angry. But there are people who can, and for those people this is a pretty great album.

People With No Taste In Music:

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Possibly I'm going to be torn a new asshole for recommending Jens Lekman to people with no taste in music, but I just think his music sucks. His lyrics are great though. This album is definitely for people who are really into lyrics. That's my justification.

Children:

Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas
I can't think of anyone making really good music today who is more kid-friendly than Sufjan Stevens. And really, there's no reason kids can't learn to love good music at an early age. You COULD get them the Spice Girls Greatest Hits album, but you'd be running the risk that they, like me, would still fall victim to the Spice Girls' brilliant marketing schemes at age 20. Don't be like me, kids! Like good music!

Collectors:

Pink Floyd - Oh, By The Way
You'd have to really love this person/be ridiculously wealthy/go in together on this gift with 19 of this person's closest friends to pay $270 for their Christmas gift, but I can't think of a music collector who wouldn't want a boxed set of ALL of Pink Floyd's albums ever, packaged as mini replicas of their records right down to the tiny album sleeves. That's just really cool.

People Whose Taste In Music Transcends What Others Tell Them Is Cool:

U2 - The Joshua Tree Deluxe Edition
For those people willing to admit that U2 was once a great band (despite the obvious fact that they no longer are), The Joshua Tree Deluxe edition is pretty much the best gift ever. Because (duh) The Joshua Tree is pretty much the best album ever. You can't say that in public without running a serious risk of being punched in the face. Anyway, this two disc edition of the BEST ALBUM EVER features all sorts of b-sides and liner notes and anything a fan of THE BEST ALBUM EVER could want. I'll be locking my doors tonight.***

So that's it, guys. Happy Shopping!

-Jocelyn

* - When I say I came up with this idea, what I mean is my mum emailed me to suggest I do a Christmas Wishlist for my blog.
** - Answer: horny. Everything makes teenage boys feel horny. This is a scientific fact.
*** - Yes, mum. I lock my doors EVERY night.

Interview: The Last Dinosaur (FEAT. CAPITAL LETTERS)

2007-12-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome, friends, to a very special update of this very special blog. Today marks a momentous occasion in the history of Pretending to be Japanese. A very lovely couple of blokes, Jamie Cameron and Luke Hayden (better known as The Last Dinosaur), agreed to let me interview them, in what turned out to be an interview cherry-popping for all of us. Surprisingly, it went quite well.

So, without further delay, The Interview:

Jocelyn: It seems like you guys have a lot of projects going on musically. How did The Last Dinosaur start? What sets it apart from the other things you're doing?

Jamie: Basically, Luke and I met at college (when we were 17) and have been friends ever since. I'd been recording my own songs since i was 16 by myself. We got in a band together at college but didn't actually write or record together for a while.

I started another band called Since I Was A Little Girl which attracted a small label from the UK. We agreed to release a CD in 2003, but we were in a bad car accident and James (my friend, the other guy in the band) passed away. We still released the CD though and I had a good relationship with the guy who owned the label.

Luke and I were still friends throughout all of this and eventually we started to record a mix of guitar and piano with a friend rapping over the top and the same label wanted to release our EP. That band was called Lostboy, which sort of fizzled out and there was a while where I was just recording on my own, but randomly one day late last year we decided to record something together late at night. That became the beginning of "The First Last Dinosaur Song."

And then it seemed to fall into place, and we didn't understand why we hadn't recorded together properly before! So, we would meet up and stay up late into the night when the magic seemed to be there and just record whatever we came up with. It's different from the other things we do because of what inspires it and how we approach it I think.

Jocelyn: So is that what you mean when you call Luke your "musical life partner?"

Jamie: Yeah. That's because he's always been there throughout what I've been doing and now I can't imagine doing anything in the future without him being involved somehow.

Jocelyn: How did you come up with "The Last Dinosaur" as your name?

Luke: Luke.

Jamie: Which is sort of true. When we were coming up with a name Luke randomly said "The Last Dinosaur," which he decided would be better as "Our Last Dinosaur," which became "Your Last Dinosaur." This carried on for a while until I suggested the first idea was the best (which is usually the case).

We both loved Denver The Last Dinosaur when we were younger. I guess, strange as it might sound, the name reflects certain feelings I'd have when I was younger and trying to relive those feelings that have been lost due to age.

Jocelyn: When you were kids, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Luke: I wanted to be a Thundercat.

Jamie: Did you actually?

Luke: Yeah, I had the sword. But it turns out I'm actually He-Man.

Jamie: I wanted to be a musician, which is sort of painfully boring and obvious compared to Luke's answer.

Jocelyn: You've done a better job of realizing your goal though.

Jamie: Ahah! Yes!

Jocelyn: So where do you see yourselves in five years?

Luke: Uh... I dunno... I guess... 27.

Jamie: Five years? Wow that's so far away, I wouldn't even like to hazard a guess. But there will definitely be a lot of music involved. As long as I can carry on doing music and not have to work a job that makes me horribly depressed then I'll be happy.

Jocelyn: What's your favourite Last Dinosaur song?

Luke: I have a real problem picking favourites. I like "The Song Playing At The End Of The Film Of My Life." I've listened to that the most probably, but I'm too indecisive to pick!"

Jamie: It's really hard for me too, "Home" is such a personal subject for me, but then there's "The First Last Dinosaur Song," which has a sax solo by our friend James Slade which just blows me away every time I hear it.

They were each born from such different situations and thoughts that I guess it depends on the feeling I had at the time. I think perhaps if I had to choose it would be "Home" for me though, just because I put so much into it.

Jocelyn: When you're not playing music, what do you do?

Jamie: Luke works for his dad and gets paid a lot and I work for Blockbuster and get paid very little.

Luke: PS3. I skateboard. I love my movies too. I love Donnie Darko. Not the movie, just him. Although, I do love the movie.

Jocelyn: The movie would have been better if they'd use the original version of "Mad World" instead of that sappy cover. Imagine looking at Donnie's destroyed room/dead body while listening to straight up new wave.

Jamie: Yeah, we love Tears for Fears, so agreed. And the way they used "Head Over Heels" in that film is amazing. I used to listen to that song a lot when I was younger. On a stolen mix cassette that my dad made my sister for her 10th birthday.

Some 80's bands are amazing, despite the popular opinion that they are all rubbish (except from the hipsters). Talk Talk and The Blue Nile are two of my favourite bands. Talk Talk especially. For Me, no band inspires what The Last Dinosaur do as much as Talk Talk.

Jocelyn: How do you feel about Gwen Stefani covering "It's My Life?"

Jamie: I really ony listen to the latter three Talk Talk albums, so I never felt protective over the earlier stuff.

Jocelyn: Well, you already possibly said two of them, but I wanted to know what your top five favourite bands of all time are.

Luke: Inlets, Sparklehorse, The Constantines, Elliott Smith, Kidsaredead.

Jamie: I couldn't possibly pick a top five, because I'm a geek, but here are a few people I love: Inlets, Sparklehorse, The Constantines, Kidsaredead, Broken Social Scene, Karl Blau, Atronauti, The Tupolev Ghost, Jenny Hall, Animal Collective, The Delgados, Explosions in the Sky, David Crosby, Stina Nordenstam, Savath & Savalas, Jim O'Rourke...

I could go on forever probably, so it's better I stop now!

...Jeniferever! We forgot them! We love them!

Jocelyn: Well, I think that's it. Unless you guys have anything else you'd like to say.

Jamie: Yes! Please draw us a dinosaur, befriend us on Myspace, and watch our pretty video!

Thus ends our first interview. As a special gift to you, my loyal readers, Jamie sent me "Home" in mp3 form. Here it is, available for your listening/downloading pleasure.

Good luck with the dinosaur drawings!

-Jocelyn

RIP: bands who are no longer with us

2007-12-09T21:21:00.000-08:00

i was going to do an update on deerhunter, but they decided to go on "hiatus" (sounds like a break-up to me). so in honour of their departure from the world (as of yesterday), i have decided to do a very special update on great bands who are no longer with us. starting, of course, with the offending party themselves.

for those of you who are familiar with deerhunter, the break-up (excuse me, "hiatus") can come as no surprise, seeing as they're all crazy. evidence follows:

1. they kicked out their first drummer, dan walton
2. their first bassist, justin bosworth, was a heroine addict, got clean, then promptly died of a head injury while skateboarding
3. at a recording session in new york, deerhunter actually managed to accomplish nothing due to their lead singer, Bradford Cox's "mental and physical state at the time" and disagreements with their engineer
4. in august of 2007, they parted ways with guitarist Colin Mee because he didn't show up to some shows
5. they like to post things like porn and descriptions of poop on their blog

despite this (or perhaps because of it), deerhunter was a pretty great band and they will be sorely missed. not that they won't be back, of course. i mean, it's just a "hiatus" after all.

next on the list is the blood brothers, whose death i am still mourning. the blood brothers, at least, had a legitimate reason to part ways. the band formed when the members were still in high school and stayed in existance for 10 years. while i am devastated at their departure, i think if they had stayed together any longer it would have been the equivalent of marrying your highschool sweetheart, which is just wrong. that said, they are sorely missed as they were possibly the only hardcore band i could ever have liked and they lent the genre some much-needed talent.

now for something a little older, my favourite no longer existant band, neutral milk hotel. formed in the early 90's, these guys are pretty much the reason the independent music scene is what it is today. they made it all the way to 1998 and then went on an indefinite "hiatus" (see what i mean?). to make matters worse, jeff magnum himself pretty much disappeared after doing his last live show in new zealand in 2001. he now lives in a cave or something with osama bin laden and doesn't see fit to grace the world with his presence. it's really too bad the great ones are all crazy.

and now for something completely different, let's talk about ugly casanova. no, they haven't officially broken up (although i'm not sure they ever officially existed either), but as they'll probably never make another record, i feel safe talking about them in this update. for those of you who don't know, ugly casanova features edgar graham (aka isaac brock from modest mouse pulling an andy kaufman). isaac brock, it seems, made up an alter-ego for himself, formed a side-project, signed a record contract (with sub-pop), released an album and promptly got in deep shit with the record company with which he was already signed (epic). thus the likelyhood of another album from these guys, who are like modest mouse only sillier, is slim to nil. i think we can safely say RIP, ugly casanova, you were highly entertaining while you lasted.

the unicorns. they were born unicorns and they died unicorns. this adorable band lead a short life (2000 to 2004), but what more can you expect from a band that is little more than a novelty act? they missed the ark, i suppose, which is really too bad because they were funny and cute in a way that nobody is anymore. the good news (sort of) is that the members are still active (sort of) in other projects (sort of). at least they haven't pulled a jeff magnum and dropped off the face of the earth. still, we can all mourn the death of this endangered species.

and that's it, i suppose. for your listening pleasure i have compiled a playlist featuring songs by these five bands. and try not to be too sad, guys. it's not like the death of these great bands means you can't listen to their music anymore. i mean, if that were true, classic rock fans would be super SOL.

-jocelyn

album review: strawberry jam by animal collective

2007-12-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

once upon a time (the summer of 2006) my friend will robinson, who was already responsible for introducing me to of montreal, made me a mix cd. this mix cd was the best mix cd in the world, featuring such bands as wolf parade, devotchka, built to spill, tilly and the wall, the blood brothers, and various other bands i now adore (actually, we can pretty much give will credit for the crazy music lover i am today). the best song on this wonderful mix, however, was a little ditty called "we tigers" by animal collective.

from this point on, i was hooked. i downloaded every animal collective song i could get my hands on, bought their album feels and played it almost constantly (much to the dismay of my roommate at the time), and checked their concert listings pretty much daily to see when and if they would get their asses to vancouver. there was actually a point where i was trying to convince my parents to fly me back to chicago to see them there. strangely, they didn't go for it.

i finally got a chance to see them this fall, which was phenomenal, but that's not what i'm here to talk about. i'm here to talk about strawberry jam, which is probably their best album ever, and i DON'T use that term lightly.

animal collective (avey tare, panda bear, geologist, and deakin) started out as one of those bands that existed, i suspect, for their own amusement. their music, while good, was difficult to listen to at best. by the time they made it to feels they had discovered a little thing i like to call melody, which worked out well for them. then, in september 2007, they released strawberry jam, which is so melodic it's almost poppy (you know, for animal collective). they've managed to create an album that is easy to listen to and nothing short of delightful without losing any of their character or weirdness. it's quite an achievement.

normally when discussing an album, i would pick a couple of tracks that i thought were really better than the rest. this time, i can't do it. "for reverend green" is my favourite, but really the entire album is so good that there's really no point in me choosing tracks for you. you should choose them for yourself.

after seeing them live, i remember despairing that there weren't more bands like animal collective in the world. that, actually was what sent me on the music discovery track i've been on recently. i haven't found any bands like animal collective, but i have found great music, and perhaps it's better that way. nobody i know is like these guys and if they were, it wouldn't be as good.

animal collective, keep up the good work. and panda bear, please marry me.

that is all.

-jocelyn

artist spotlight: the apples in stereo

2007-12-08T15:16:00.001-08:00

they're fun! they're formulaic! they're... the apples in stereo!

but one has to ask, why are they the apples in stereo? what made them feel that the plethora of '60s-esque pop available these days to music listeners was not enough? why, apples in stereo, why?

sure, they're by no means a bad band. they know how to play their instruments, they know how to write a catchy melody... what they don't know, however, is how to be creative. with so many artists these days doing their own thing, the apples in stereo decided to break from the norm and create something so wholly unoriginal it's really no wonder that in their fifteen years of existence they've never achieved mainstream success, even with such career highlights as contributing to the powerpuff girls soundtrack.

their february 2007 release, new magnetic wonder (available in its entirety for your listening... pleasure? on the band's official website) is more of the same. one might assume that with five years between new magnetic wonder and their former most recent album, velocity of sound, the apples in stereo might have had enough time to think of something new. this is clearly not the case.

it's difficult for me to listen to such music coming from artists who are so obviously capable of more. apples in stereo, i believe in you. may i suggest dropping some acid, picking up your instruments, and playing all your old songs while totally high off your asses? record that. i guarantee it would be a better album.

-jocelyn

who do you think you are?

2007-12-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

until recently (today), it has been the policy of this blog to discuss musicians/musical artists. this seems unfair to me. there are talentless hacks out there who are not getting the attention they deserve within this blog. it is for this reason i would like to discuss my favourite bunch of talentless hacks, the spice girls.

they can't sing, they can't dance, and they certainly can't act, but i was a ten year old girl living in the UK when they rose to fame. thus, the spice girls will be in my heart until the end of time. viva forever.

as a special nod to me and my love for them, the spice girls opened their world tour here in vancouver on december 2nd, 2007. as a special nod to me and my love for them, my aunt bought me an ourageously expensive ticket and i was there. i almost got trampled to death in the merch line (it was like a mosh pit only scarier), i saw a man in a union jack dress and go-go boots, and i heard the sound of 20,000 drunk girls about my age (the other 8,000 in attendance were a couple of kids and a bunch of gay men) screaming their heads off for the greatest band of all time (i use that term loosely).

the concert opened with a video of some spice-like girl children playing dress up. blah blah blah. bring on the spice girls. the audience was possibly about to explode by the time they came out. the build-up was unbelieveable.

then, there they were (in their fabulous roberto cavalli costumes). rising up from the floor, my spice girls. singing (i use that term loosely), "spice up your life." i'm not kidding, i started crying. racing through my mind was, "i wish i could go back in time and tell my 10 year old self about this!"

the girls continued with "stop" and "say you'll be there," with 28,000 mostly female people screaming along. it was pretty great. then they sang one of their new songs ("headlines") so we could all give our lungs a rest.

the concert was pretty all over the place from there. it was great and exciting and bright and loud, but there was sort of a lull between the opening and the encore. it's worth mentioning, however, that each of the girls had a little solo act, starting with posh. as she is the least talented of all of them, she did not sing during her act and simply walked around the stage and struck poses. actually, that's what she did throughout the entire concert. it was pretty funny.

the next act was scary, who did an s&m themed rendition of lenny kravitz's "are you gonna go my way?" featuring a very long whip. then baby performed her song "maybe," and it was back to the classics with "viva forever" (my favourite spice girls song ever. as decided when i was 12). for those of you who don't know, this was their last single before ginger (my favourite spice girl) jumped ship and therefore gave me no cause to care about the spice girls anymore. at the end of the song, she sank into the floor and the other four were left to perform one of their songs from after gerri left, "holler." this was pretty funny as well.

then, for gerri's triumphant return, she walked out and performed "it's raining men" in what was basically a bright red one-piece swim suit with a big white belt and some white go-go boots. it was fantastic. then for the dramatic anti-climax, sporty performed her solo "hit," "i turn to you."

after that there were a few more songs, a crazy medley of tacky 70's songs, and the girls performed "goodbye" and left us to wait about four seconds for the encore.

five seconds later, in new outfits of course (there were a lot of costume changes. at one point ginger was in an incredibly sparkly version of her union jack dress. it was great) the girls were back singing "if u can't dance." for those of you gentle readers who are familiar with the spice girls, you may have noticed that "wannabe" had yet to be performed at this point. so did the girls, in their incredibly scripted onstage banter. "i feel like we've forgotten something," said scary.

they all pondered this and then broke in to "wannabe" to which i replied "it's about damn time" (actually, i replied "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! SPICE GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLS! WANNABEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"). oh, it was so good. it was so so good. i almost died. it was so good. then an alternative version of "spice up your life" and they were gone.

i can't think of anything redeeming about the spice girls. they exist to make money, not music. few of them actually even understand music (i except mel b and possibly mel c from this, but only somewhat). they exploited a generation of little girls with their shitty albums and their shitty merchandise.

but dammit, i love them. they exploited me then and they exploited me again ($75 for a t-shirt and a pack of buttons?!) and they can exploit me any damn time they want. girl power.

-jocelyn

artist spotlight: fujiya & miyagi

2007-11-29T20:57:00.000-08:00

lest you get the wrong impression, allow me to state once and for all that while i have been recently excited about certain folk and folk-like artists, this is not my preferred genre of music. until recently i was of the camp that if there's no synthesizer involved, the music isn't worth my time. while i have been proven very wrong, i still loves me some synth.

hence today's featured artist, fujiya & miyagi. these guys know their way around a synth, and for that i love them. it's worth noting, too, that the name for this blog comes from their song "photocopier."

f & m formed in Brighton, UK in 2000. drawn together by a mutual love of "early nineties electronica" and wrestling, steve lewis (fujiya) and david best (miyagi) ventured forward into the realm of musical obscurity. it wasn't until 2005, with the addition of matt hainsby (&) that the band really started to take off. with their 2006 release, transparent things, they catapulted themselves into the public eye and into my heart.

transparent things is smooth and enjoyable, with songs that are well-constructed, catchy, and often quite funny. the record opens with "ankle injuries," which is enough to make anyone a fan. the rest of the album doesn't disappoint. even with stand-out tracks, such as "collarbone" and "in one ear and out the other," there is no filler. it's honestly a good, solid album from start to finish.

the video for "ankle injuries" too, is nothing short of cool. it's exciting to see a video that is truly original, while being so distinctively british (it's reminiscent, i think, of the video for "move your feet" by junior senior).

in october, i saw these guys live at (the soon to be torn down) richards on richards. i was concerned that they wouldn't live up to the idea i had of them, as i had seen live videos of them on youtube and was less than impressed. their performance was, however, enchanting and delightful. though the turnout was small, the energy in the croud was palpable, and the energy on stage was contagious. they delivered a brilliant performance, delivered me the set list, and went on their merry way.

there are better bands in the world. there are more talented musicians. still, it is refreshing to see a group who puts such care into the construction of their music, and the effort shows in the end result. i truly look forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.

over and out.

-jocelyn

album review: smokey rolls down thunder canyon by devendra banhart

2007-11-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

it may seem to you, gentle readers, that devendra banhart is all i talk about. you're pretty much correct, but there is reason beyond his attractiveness.

you see, devendra banhart is truly a unique voice in modern music. unlike so many of his contemporaries, he doesn't seem to be trying to be anyone else. he is simply himself (himself being a hippie child on acid, more or less). in this goal, he succeeds admirably, particularly in smokey rolls down thunder canyon which is, for lack of a better word, pretty fucking great (ok, that's three words. whatever).

there are those who have criticized this album for being too all over the place (you know who you are, pitchfork). these are the same people who criticized cripple crow for being too long. i understand that, as an actual music journalist, one may be trying to get through an album in order to review it. but i also know, as a lover of music, that 22 songs is not so much too long as getting your damn money's worth. raise your hand if you're tired of paying $16.99 for 12 songs. that's what i thought.

anyway, back to smokey. all over the place? maybe. but then, that's devendra. if you've ever seen/heard/read him interviewed, you'd realize that hippie children on acid don't really have the attention span to stay on one subject for too long. this could be seen as a character flaw, but in devendra banhart's case, it's actually quite refreshing. he's branched out from his much-loathed "freak folk" niche to create a truly international album. from what i can tell, there are at least three languages used in his songs. not to mention a gospel choir (or part of one, anyway).

to talk about the songs individually would only detract from the work of art this album is (particularly the special edition, featuring a book of drawings, photographs, and lyrics). despite the variety, there is a certain flow to the album. the connection is there, for those willing to listen well enough to hear it. this is not an album of background music.

for your listening pleasure, here is smokey rolls down thunder canyon in its entirety. deezer, i cannot thank you enough.

enjoy, my friends. you won't be disappointed.

-jocelyn

a northern chorus

2007-11-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

last thursday night, my roommate and i decided we needed to go out for a drink. we decided upon the railway club pretty quickly, as it is pretty much our favourite bar and they often have live music. we made the right decision.

what we found when we arrived at the railway club was a northern chorus, a little band from hamilton, ontario. these guys (stu livingstone, pete hall, alex mcmaster, owen davies, craig halliday, and graham walsh) have been together since 1999 and it shows. they're not your run-of-the-mill underplayed canadian band. their songwriting is sophisticated and their music is, for lack of a better word, beautiful (due in part to alex mcmaster's sweet cello skills).

pitchfork hasn't had two words to say about these guys since 2005, which is a shame really because from what i can tell they've really come into their own. their march, 2007 release, the millions too many, has a kind of subtle brilliance to it that their earlier releases lack (you're welcome to take a listen on their official website). not to mention, their stage presence is spot on. they know how to shut up a room. bronwyn and i weren't even there to see them and intended to spend most of our time on the patio. needless to say, our desire for cigarettes was neglected in favour of a desire for something better. that's right, i said it, a northern chorus is better than cigarettes.

check out the video, guys. it's pretty cute.

-jocelyn

in case you were wondering...

2007-11-28T03:43:00.000-08:00

these are the songs i am listening to right now:
1. grounds for divorce - wolf parade (the first song i heard by them, courtesy of will robinson. needless to say, i was impressed)
2. did you see the words - animal collective (perpetually my favourite animal collective song, though there are others i sometimes enjoy more)
3. hope there's someone - antony and the johnsons (reccomended to me by devendra banhart)
4. sadie - joanna newsom (when i first heard her voice, i was irrationally angry. halfway through that first song, though, i was converted. she's pretty great)
5. three colours - sunset rubdown (clearly i just have a crush on the whole swan lake family)
6. heart it races - architecture in helsinki (this song gives me hope for the world. more specifically, it gives me hope for australia)
7. mr. november - the national (i kind of hate the national, actually, but this song is so damn catchy)
8. suffer for fashion - of montreal (perpetually my favourite band, though there are others i sometimes enjoy more)
9. the funeral - band of horses (i have been addicted to this song since the first time i heard it. i like to belt it while washing dishes)
10. we tigers - animal collective (first animal collective song i heard, also courtesy of will robinson. needless to say, i am only cool because of will)
11. guitarmy - the blood brothers (on that same mix will made me, this song followed we tigers, and it shall follow it forevermore)
12. peach, plum, pear - joanna newsom (oh god this song is so good)
13. twilight - antony and the johnsons (ditto)
14. i feel just like a child - devendra banhart (i really do think it's only a matter of time before devendra banhart and i run away together. and by that i mean in reality, i probably would not be able to stand him. to keep the fantasy alive, it's best if we never meet)
15. idle songs - frog eyes (first frog eyes song i heard, though these guys i found without will robinson's help. this is actually their best song, i think. the rest of their music is woefully unimpressive. they put on a mean live show though. actual quote from carey mercer when i saw them in june: "this next song is off our new album. it's called.... fuck.")
16. plasticities - andrew bird (i'm pretty sure it's impossible to listen to andrew bird and not have at least a small crush on him)
17. ankle injuries - fujiya & miyagi (i'm pretty sure these guys live to please me. case and point: when i saw them live, one of them (who can keep them straight?) handed me the fucking set list. yeah, it's still on my fridge)
18. jacksonville - sufjan stevens (best song ever? possibly)
19. long haired child - devendra banhart (devendra, i want to have your long-haired babies)
20. clap your hands! - clap your hands say yeah (this song freaks my roommate out)
21. how it ends - devotchka (and that's how it ends)

due to their unavailability on deezer, the following songs are missing:
- the men are called horsemen there - sunset rubdown (this is pretty much my favourite song right now)
- rapture rapes the muses - of montreal (this is pretty much my favourite song ever. i'm pretty sure i'm not alone in feeling this way either. you should have seen the reaction from the croud when they played it at their concert last february. of montreal, please come back to vancouver. i love you so)
- we're gonna make it - devotchka (pretty much the entire soundtrack to little miss sunshine is super great)
- parentheses - the blow (this is the cutest song ever. the cutest one that doesn't suck, anyway)
- truck - the octopus project (this band is too obscure even for deezer. jocelyn, you've truly outdone yourself)
- i'm glad i hitched my apple wagon to your star - the boy least likely to (hey, it's catchy)
- kimberly austin - porno for pyros (i have liked this song for about a decade. that's pretty impressive for three chords. three chords that i can almost play quickly enough to make this song happen! go me!)
- set fire to the face on fire - the blood brothers (i think they broke up just to spite me. no, yeah, they did)
- we got broken eyes - sunset rubdown (canadians are hot)
- help us stay alive - explosions in the sky (i've developed an unfortunate liking for instrumental music. it's getting me into trouble)
- modern love - david bowie (stupid david bowie enforcing stupid copywrite laws on stupid deezer. doesn't he have enough stupid money??)
- venus in furs - devotchka (first song i heard by devotchka, courtesy of (guess who?!) will robinson. pretty much the greatest cover ever to happen. pretty much)

so that's the scoop, dudes. play. listen. enjoy.

a new update

2007-11-22T02:28:00.001-08:00

sometimes i wonder if music hasn't died.

of course that's overly dramatic and probably not the case, but if you think about it we're kind of in a rut. i mean certainly there is phenomenal music out there (devendra banhart, animal collective, joanna newsom...) but none of it seems to have the spark that the older music did.

take yes, for example. the first time i heard "close to the edge" it did nothing short of MOVE me. perhaps it's cliche but that's how i felt. and LED ZEPPELIN for chrissake. gods of rock. the greatest rock band of all time. even if there are bands with more talent, with better songs, whatever... they were the GREATEST. they haven't made music in years (apart from the recent reunion tour) but people still talk about them as though they're relevant. do you know why? it's because they were great. it's because every single fucking song that they put out into the world was a singular work of art, to say nothing of the albums. i can think of four albums right now that i would call their best. THAT, my friends, is saying something.

granted, i feel similarly about devendra banhart's "smokey rolls down thunder canyon," which came out in september. but that is a rarity. albums these days (to say nothing of songs) just seem to lack the intensity and the art that went in to the music of the sixties and seventies. they're either too all over the place (the one fault of smokey) or too themey (of montreal's "the sunlandic twins", everything by beck...). or worse, they're chock-full of filler ("tears of the valedictorian" by frog eyes, "feels" by animal collective...). three good songs does not an album make!

it seems, my friends, that albums as an art form may well be lost. there's no journey anymore (like the journey one takes while listening to sgt. pepper). a couple of illegal downloads (we're all guilty. not legally though, just figuratively) and suddenly nobody gives a shit about the record as a goddamn concept. raise your hand if FILLER SONGS are a good part of the reason you STARTED downloading in the first place? that's what i thought.

a true fan of music will buy a record, regardless of its availability online, not because they want the songs, but because they want the record as a whole. if anything, we've become more discerning about what we'll pay for, and i'm not sure we should be punished by being peddled a bunch of mediocre albums by mediocre bands. you want to make money, record companies? make some damn records! give us something worth listening to and i guarantee we'll buy it (or your money back).

and another thing, i'm sure i'm not the only person left who misses the 15 minute song (no, i'm not talking about let's not shit ourselves (to love and to be loved) by bright eyes, because while that song IS proof that conor oberst is the only man who understands me, it is proof of little else). i'm talking about the recording of dazed and confused from led zeppelin's incredible three disc live album "how the west was won." i'm talking about and you and i by yes, which is one of the greatest songs ever written. these songs are works of art. they're not pretentious, they're not overwhelming. they just are. beautifully and inexplicably. and they absolutely touch at the core of every single person who really listens to them.

that, my friends, is music.

-jocelyn

a bit of a mini-post

2007-11-20T15:33:00.001-08:00

i just wanted to share this delightful treat with you. it is final fantasy covering peach, plum, pear by joanna newsom. pretty much awesome. pretty much.

bigger update coming shortly!

-joc

album review: cripple crow by devendra banhart

2007-11-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

first of all, thanks to luke, i now know about deezer.com, which is like project playlist only better and more legal. so check out the ENTIRE album i'm going to tell you about:

second of all, i apologize for the fact that this album was actually released in 2005 and is therefore not new or exciting. it's not like i'm pitchfork, dudes. i just bought this album and it was FUCKING GREAT so i decided to share it with you.

so yes, here's the dizz-eal, some friends and i were talking over coffee and samosas (weird? maybe) yesterday discussing the nature of art. we decided that there's a certain amount of effortlessness that needs to be involved in order to make art great. the effortlessness can be actual or imagined by the audience, but it really ought to be there. nobody likes it when you try too hard.

i believe devendra banhart embodies this concept. songwriting and performance seem to come so naturally to him that it's almost impossible to imagine him doing anything else (though he does). cripple crow flows from beginning to end. it's one of those albums you could listen to again and again without getting bored. it's also one of those albums you could talk over without feeling guilty. and with 22 tracks, it's one of those albums where you definitely got your money's worth (i bought it new at a local record store for $12.95).

the album opens with "now that i know." this song immediately transports you into devendra banhart's child-like universe where things are simultaneously innocent and confusing. it's a good world. by the time the album gets to "long haired child," you're hooked. eighteen more tracks, including "chinese children," and "i feel just like a child," (which, in my opinion, are two of his best), and you're still sad when the album ends.

in short, this album rocks. devendra banhart rocks. if it weren't for him, i'd still hate folk music like any other self-respecting crazy dance-rock fan.

in other news, the museum of modern art in san francisco is currently holding a show featuring devendra banhart's music paired with paul klee's art.

may i say that the person who thought this up is just brilliant. banhart's music sounds almost like fucked-up children's songs and paul klee's art looks almost like fucked-up children's book illustrations. needless to say, i am going to this show.

that's all for today, folks! hope you found it informative!

-jocelyn

RIP blood brothers

2007-11-12T21:20:00.000-08:00

as you may or may not know, the blood brothers announced on thursday that they are going their separate ways after ten years of making music together. that sucks.

goodbye, blood brothers. i loved you so.

artist spotlight: andrew bird

2007-11-12T17:50:00.000-08:00

i thought i'd kick off this music blog by talking a bit about my fellow chicagoan, andrew bird.

it's really delightful, actually, to see someone who has such an intellectual understanding of music use his powers for good and not evil. unlike brian eno, who wasted his talent on heaps and heaps of ambient bullshit for years, andrew bird doesn't compose music just for his own enjoyment. his music is both beautiful and accessible, quite a feat for a classically trained musician with a BA in violin performance.

i've picked out a few of his songs for your enjoyment. this was particularly hard, because i've yet to meet an andrew bird song i didn't love. all of the music on the playlist is from his most recent three albums, for no other reason than their availability on project playlist.

also for your enjoyment, andrew bird's video for his song "imitosis":

that's all for now!

-jocelyn