Category: Music

"And like that…[they're] gone"

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The Brits have been seen off back to London. We dropped them at the airport this afternoon after spending the day enjoying Ontario. We wandered around Elora for a while, checking out the gorge and a few shops (including Stÿll, which I think is worth making the trip back for) before jumping in the car and heading to a nearby lake. It wasn’t as impressive as we’d hoped; we just drove along it until we found a spot where we could walk down to the shore. It wasn’t the nicest lake, so we just jumped back in the car (but not before I snagged a chocolate milkshake from a walk-up snack bar) and made for a town. We passed through a little rain — as it turned out, the only rain we encountered; pretty lucky as the forecast had been calling for storms — before reaching Orangeville. We poked our heads into an art gallery, a chocolate shop and a restaurant for lunch (it used to be a pub, or so my pub guide said, but it had been replaced by a restaurant…which I think may have made me sick…anyhoo) before getting back in the car and heading south. We arrived at Pearson in good time, got our guests checked in and on their way, looking for a pub on which to watch the footie match (which Germany lost after Italy scored very late in extra time).

We jumped back into the car once more (after I searched frantically for my Blackberry, which I — whew! — found on the floor) and I fought back post-lunch nausea long enough to return the car to a downtown Hertz, squish onto a subway and get home in time for some prime-time chilling. By the way, I like Toronto a lot less when I have to drive in it.

TimmyD blogged the whole affair on The Plummet Onions. It was great to have them here, great to show them a little more of Toronto, and great to know that it wouldn’t be too much longer before we see them again.

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Recent tidbits:

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Finally, I’m sad to say that Ash, the tiny-but-fierce cat and companion to our friends CBGB passed away this weekend. She was ancient and storied, like all great legends. I’ll miss her padding around CBGB’s place, I’ll always smile when I think about how she fell asleep on my lap on the way to Collingwood, and I’ll always laugh when I think about poor Ed having to pick her up with hockey gloves. Hopefully the smiles & laughter will come as easily to CBGB as missing her will.

R.I.P., Ash.

[tags]elora, styll, orangeville, indietits, philosopher’s walk. polaris prize, tornado, ash cat[/tags]

Tarragon & black pepper

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Stanzi was back in town today, so T-Bone and I got to have lunch with her. We decided to swing by JS Bonbons on the way home. OK, it was completely out of our way, but it was worth it. I’d almost forgotten how tasty the salted caramel and gianduja truffles are.

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More new music that I’m trying to get to: Ships by Danielson, Valhalla by Danny Michel, Ecce Homo by The Hidden Cameras, Bottom Of Barrels by Tilly And The Wall, Eraser by Thom Yorke, and Springtime Can Kill You by Jolie Holland. I’ve already decided to buy Rather Ripped by Sonic Youth, Awoo by The Hidden Cameras (when it’s released) and Begin To Hope by Regina Spektor.

[tags]js bonbons, danielson, danny michel, hidden cameras, tilly and the wall, thom yorke, jolie holland, sonic youth, regina spektor[/tags]

The invisible hand has a cramp

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Good news: a new Arcade Fire album doesn’t seem too far off.

Bad news: Sleater-Kinney has broken up. One of the best — if not the best — rock band in North America has called it quits, and were on the upswing when they did it; their last album was their best (and the best album to be released in all of 2005, in my opinion). I will miss their music a great deal.

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When a guy who obviously understands the free market system as well as Warren Buffett says “A market system has not worked in terms of poor people,” you know there’s something wrong. No wonder he’s donating $31 billion to charity.

[tags]arcade fire, sleater-kinney, warren buffett[/tags]

"I am not a piece of hash!"

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I’m just the tiniest bit sunburned today (due to a less-than-expert application of SPF goodness) after watching the Pride Parade yesterday. CBGB came over and Nellie made us some brunch while we watched England cling to a 1-goal lead to reach the quarter-finals. Afterwards we skipped out to Bloor street to watch the Parade. It was much the same as the other parade we watched: lots of dancing trannies, supersoakers and corporate sponsorship. Nellie’s favourite moment was the Geeks Are Gay Too section, one of whom carried a “Willow & Tara forever” sign. Actually, truth be told her favourite moment was the half-naked firemen, but she totally geeked out when she saw the Buffy reference.

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We also watched two more movies over the weekend, both of which were very good and happened to star Paddy Considine. That was a coincidence though.

In America (imdb | rotten tomatoes) was excellent, a well-worn story (grieving family, new environment, cute kids) that was done so expertly that it felt new. And when I say cute kids, I mean cahyyyyooooote…but not all treacly and showy. Their cuteness actually had something to do with the film, so it worked out. Great acting, uplifting (without being cheesy) story, and well written. Definitely recommended.

Also recommended: 24 Hour Party People (imdb | rotten tomatoes), the story about the rise of the Manchester music scene in the late 70s and early 80s, told from the point of view of Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan). I don’t particularly care for music by Joy Division / New Order or the Happy Mondays, but the story’s a great one nonetheless. Just the early scene of the Sex Pistols playing to a crowd of 42, but the impact of that show, and what the attendees would go on to do…it was mildly depressing, since you realize that kind of grassroots music scene just doesn’t happen anymore. These days record executives are waiting in crouch positions with plane tickets and contracts in hand, ready to catch the first flight to whatever city breaks out next, and they own the scene before fans even get into it. Wilson said himself that the only reason the Manchester scene started is because the established radio & TV owners hated punk and new wave, so it grew on its own with a little help from a local TV personality.

I guess we may never see that again. Pity. Then again, if it prevents us from having to listen to anything like “Kinky Afro” ever again, maybe that’s not such a terrible thing.

[tags]pride parade, willow, tara, in america, 24 hour party people, joy division, new order, happy mondays, sex pistols, manchester[/tags]

Awoogula

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I must be in a quirky mood. Both the new Regina Spektor disc and Hidden Cameras disc are really good. Metacritic generally agrees about the former, as does Pitchfork. The AV Club really digs it. Awoo, the Cameras disc, isn’t officially out yet, but eMusic seems to carry their catalogue so I’ll happily download it in the fall when it’s released.

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I have never seen an episode of Leave It To Beaver. I have never seen an episode of The Brady Bunch either (that I recall; I think my brothers watched it when I was a kid), nor have I ever watched an episode of Gilligan’s Island.

I don’t think this is particularly odd; these shows all aired before I was even born. However, mentioning to people that I haven’t seen these shows usually sends them reeling in disbelief.

[tags]regina spektor, hidden cameras, leave it to beaver, brady bunch, gilligan’s island[/tags]

Wayward and parliament

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Two trailers: Pulse, which I really only want to see ’cause it has Kristen Bell in it, and the remake of The Wicker Man, which I really only want to see because it gives me an excuse to yell “Oh God! Oh Jesus Christ!” every few minutes.

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Speaking of movies, we watched Match Point (imdb | rotten tomatoes) yesterday. I have to say: not at all like the Woody Allen fare I’m accustomed to. And thank god for that. I liked it a great deal; I’m a fan of movies that just launch you into a story. Don’t try to beat me over the head with character development, just show me the characters and let me fit them to the film.

Anyway, I suppose it’s a bit obvious now since he makes a point of showing the main character reading Crime And Punishment at the beginning of the movie, but it did feel like a Dostoevsky story. If that was Allen’s intention, then he added a self-effacing nod to it: the character was also reading a Cambridge Companion To Dostoevsky.

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Amy Millan‘s solo disc Honey From The Tombs (from which I lifted this post’s title) is excellent. Find yourself a copy.

[tags]pulse, wicker man, kristen bell, woody allen, match point, amy millan[/tags]

1:02

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It’s barely a minute long, but “The Last Days Of Tecumseh” by Grant Lee Buffalo is one of the prettiest songs you’ll ever hear.

[tags]grant lee buffalo, last days of tecumseh, short songs[/tags]

77.21%

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Catching up…

Torontoist spots an asshat parking his H2 in a handicapped parking spot. The Star says Bob Cole needs to retire from calling hockey, and I agree. He should take Harry Neale with him. Still with The Star, Ben Rayner asks if Radiohead is overrated. Not a chance, sez I. Finally, two links from Yes But No But Yes: super cuteness and super ugliness.

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Last day of the class (save tomorrow’s exam). I’m a little tired, but it’s par for the course on the Thursdays. We’re in good shape, project-wise; a few things to tie up and put together and we’re home free.

[tags]h2, asshat, bob cole, harry neale, ben rayner, radiohead, kittens+puppies, inhofe, mba[/tags]

"I think we can conclude that the Muslim lobby in the U.S. is not as effective as they would like it to be."

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How blindingly stupid would you have to be to think that only 1,000 people died in World War II? Jesus.

Anyway, Scott Adams suggests that it would be interesting to make people take a general knowledge test when voting. Nellie’s of the same opinion, but thinks people below a certain score shouldn’t be given a ballot.

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West 8 was announced as the winner of the waterfront redesign contest, so it looks like Toronto’ll be getting a great big maple leaf in our harbour. Nooooooot sure I like that, but any progress is welcome. [from Spacing]

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The Polaris prize: Canada’s answer to the Mercury Prize.

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Asshat see, asshat do. Sorta.

[tags]wwii, west 8, toronto harbourfront, polaris prize, mercury prize, same-sex marriage[/tags]