| closer? sure! |

Fresh on the heels of The-Dream's painfully typical album teaser (see below) comes the music video of perhaps my favourite track from Corinne Bailey Rae's recently released album, The Sea. "Closer" is the very embodiment of what Corinne stands for: less is more.

Having seen Corrine live at her recent stop in Vancouver, I can attest that she really is under- and overwhelming all at once. She hit the stage with a sombre look on her face, clad in navy blue coveralls, and her hair in a frumpy mess. But when she cradled her acoustic guitar in her lap and began to sing, it's like she shed her unremarkable outer layer to reveal the gorgeous, brilliant artist we see and hear in videos and and on her recordings. Her voice will never blow you away, yet her style and delivery still make it almost too much to handle at times. And her smile, my god... the whole would be a better place if all smiles were as beautiful as her's.  That thing has its own aura or something. That's why I love her: she doesn't look like much, but she is so precious. I really do believe that she is that unique compared to others in the worlds of music and celebrity. I know this song is about getting closer and all into someone else's naughty bits, but I would honestly be just fine having coffee with her and talking about whatever.

Eye candy is eye candy, but when placed next to a real woman, all of these video vixens and pre-fab poptart chicks just start to look a little less hot, and a little more useless. It makes me want to run up and put a No Ma'am tshirt on them. Real beauty? Yes, please.

| bad, real bad: hot and bothered |

Yep, that's right folks. If you turn out sleazy power sex ballads like The-Dream, you too can send random hot chicks into an insatiable sexual frenzy! (Wow, did the Black chick just pour ice water down the front of her shirt?) You heard the man, ladies: Panties to the Side.

You know, I'd turn this thing off if I could just stop clicking 'Replay Video'.

| sad robots indeed |

// Stars //

// The Five Ghosts //

2.8 out of 5

I've got a soft spot for Stars. They were the first non-mainstream, non-rap band I ever followed seriously. They are true musicians. They represent Canada as well as any artists from north of the border. They were the first live concert I ever went to, and the excellence of that one performance spurred me on to attend a countless number of live shows since then. In short, they were my gateway to indie. For that reason, it pains me to give this album such a low rating.

Leading up to the release The Five Ghosts, I continued to hope that they B-list material found on the EP's since 2007's In Our Bedroom After The War was nothing more than filler. Considering the brilliance of Heart and Set Yourself on Fire, Stars have set the bar mightily high. Now that I've had a chance to listen through the album a few times, I'm unconvinced that the magic is still there. The same pieces to the puzzle remain, but there's a distinct lacking beyond the disappointment of "haven't they done that before?" The problem wasn't that the songs are poorly written or sung - Torq Campbell and Amy Millan have maintained their unique harmonic chemistry - it's just that the music sounds tired. Like what the hell is going on with "We Don't Want Your Body"? I haven't listened to the lyrics in depth, but boy does it strike me as a stupid song.

That said, the album isn't bad by any means. Beginning with "Dead Hearts", a typical Stars offering featuring back-and-forth couplets from leads Campbell and Millan, the album gets off to a good start. In search of the signature drama and grandure of the band's previous works, Stars fans will be happy with "I Died So I Could Haunt You", "How Much More", "The Last Song Ever Written", and "Changes". In all, the elements that make up the band's sound are still there; where the music suffers is in it's lack of urgency. Not to say they aren't trying, but there isn't any risk-taking going on here.


Summary: The Five Ghosts is neither here nor there. It isn't particularly heavy on style or substance. It just is. Once known for their emotionally gripping/satisfying music, listening to much of this album reminded me of watching Michael Jordan brick a dunk in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game (yes, they really do matter to me that much). Going back and listening to "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" is all but a confirmation that Stars are more than likely in the latter stages of their popularity and relevance. Hey, one perfect album and three outstanding ones is pretty damn good by any measure of success. Here's to hoping that Canada's original indie pop sweethearts will find a way to evolve their sound and come back strong for a sixth.

// Torrent DL //

| better than g.o.o.d. |

Sweeeet.

| the single life: issue two point five |

// Aeroplane - We Can't Fly //

Dance x Gospel? Yep, they do that too! Get it. That's all!

// Listen & DL //

 // Passion Pit - Tonight, Tonight //

Levi's (yes, the jeans company) has asked some of today's most influential musical acts: "Who shaped your sound?" From the likes of Nas to Jason Mraz to Raphael Saadiq, an impressive roster of artists has paid homage to the pioneers that came before them. Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos cites none other than the Smashing Pumpkins as a primary inspiration for his group. Covering my favourite Smashing Pumpkins song, Angelakos does an admirable job. Definitely a fresh take on a classic.

// Levi's Pioneer Sessions //     // DL //

| the single life: issue two |

// Breakbot - Baby I'm Yours (Aeroplane Remix) //

Aeroplane are godly. Everything these guys do is gold and luckily for us, giving Breakbot's funky summer jam "Baby I'm Yours" a facelift is no exception to the trend. While the original track is already pretty solid on its own, Aeroplane turned it into a six-minute dance anthem. Listening to the first 13 seconds of the song made me feel like I was being launched into space from a cannon. 6 minutes well spent.

// Listen //      // DL //

// French Horn Rebellion v. Database - Beaches and Friends (Hey Champ RMX) //

It's a bummer that it's almost the end of June and summer still hasn't really hit Vancouver. What makes it more of a bummer is "Beaches and Friends" really, really makes you jealous of people who are enjoying beach weather somewhere. This song is actually a year old, but who cares. It's still relevant and it just might be your next best find of the day.

// Listen //      // DL //

// KiD CuDi - REVOFEV (Revolution of Evolution) //

Cudi started performing this at his live shows about a month ago, and he blessed us with proper studio mix earlier this week via his blog. Ever the black sheep, Mr. Solo Dolo has smartly added another crowd-pleaser to his repretoire. The chant section is simple and catchy, and it'll be stuck in your head all day if you hear it once.

// Listen //     // DL //

// Lissie - Pursuit of Happiness (LIVE Kid Cudi Cover) //

I'm always interested to see what happens when artists cross genres and take a chance performing other people's hits. American folk-rocker Lissie has a thing for covering all kinds of popular music (check out her rendition of "Bad Romance"), so she took Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" for a romp at a recent show and did some nice things with it. This chick is kind of raw.

// Watch & Listen //     // DL //

// Eminem - Here We Go //

"Lady, put your money on Shady / Fuck the other weak shit."

This is top flight sounds like. Much like the rest of Recovery, Eminem is comfortably locked into 6th gear on this bonus track. I missed Em tracks with no hooks, no singing, just the world's most masterful wordsmith devastating a track. Like him or not, this level of skill is undeniable. Just check out the 2nd verse. Staggering.

// Listen //     // DL //

| 1st Listen: AVA - Love |

// Angels & Airwaves//

// Love //

1st listen: 3.5 out of 5

Angels & Airwaves have graciously released their latest album, Love, completely free of charge and now available for download. Legit free music directly from the artist isn't a new thing (see Radiohead), but it's definitely a promotional tool that more and more artists are considering. It's not Blink, but Tom DeLonge's voice is an oddly welcome re-addition to my music library. There's a certain familiarity here, in terms of the composition and the scope of the songs on Love. If you liked the band's previous two albums, you'll find a song or three to like here.

Summary: I can dig artists who openly embrace the age of the download. The album itself is a good listen, if slightly repeatitive at times. Love is solid arena-rock fare with a pleasant surfer-ish flare thanks to DeLonge's distinctively whiny vocals. The songs are lengthy - 6 of the tracks are over 5 minutes long - which is uncommon for popular music. Despite this, the songs are paced well and rarely seem to drag on longer than necessary. Love won't change your life, but it just might tide you over until Blink-182 actually reforms gives us something to listen to.

DL: http://modlife.com/angelsandairwaves/love

| the single life: issue one |

MNDR | "I Go Away"

Electro-pop newcomer Amanda Warner (aka. MNDR) recently dropped an EP, (confusingly) titled E.P.E. On "I Go Away", synths drone on behind the slow, listless taps of a snare drum. Warner infuses her words with a kind of passion and aggressive/piercing tone that kind of reminds me of Santigold. "I Go Away" is a fine way to introduce yourself to the world. I'm ready to let MNDR slow-burn her way into my heart.



Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VHhFyHBPk
DL: http://www.mediafire.com/?tnztz35zwe2

Elite Gymnastics | "Is It On Me?"

I love me some chillwave. I also love me some chillwave when it's a crossover with one of my favourite songs of all time. Borrowing from Faye Wong's famous Final Fantasy VIII theme, "Eyes On Me", Minneapolis electro duo Elite Gymnastics have crafted a real sleeper. How nutty is that? Two guys from Minnesota showing love for the iconic Chinese pop singer. If that's not enough to get you to just listen to the song once, I don't know what will.


Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp5aRZiAYVc
DL: http://www.mediafire.com/?lydz0z3kydm

Nipsey Hussle | Feelin' Myself (feat. Lloyd)

Oh, this is just too clean. Nipsey rides the beat with some kind of purpose and Lloyd lends his breezy voice to the hook. It's simple and it works. Content-wise, it's kind of inspirational, in a nut-grabbing swagger kind of way. Hey, if you ever needed a song to help you feel good about yourself...

Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYHrBfeVh0c
DL: http://www.mediafire.com/?mzmimwlymji

Big Boi | Lookin' 4 Ya (feat. Sleepy Brown & Andre 3000)

Here's the deal: Jive won't let Andre on any of the Big Boi tracks... for the official release of Sir Lucious Left Foot anyway. (Clipse weren't kidding when they said those motherfuckers weren't playin' fair.) As an eff-you to Jive for their latest stunt, Big Boi leaked this wicked track featuring Sleepy Brown and his long-lost other half. This is yet another reminder of how much we need a new Outkast album.

Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_rfMI2Cxp8
DL: http://www.mediafire.com/?tjmymmzlycr

| staring at the sun |

// Sleigh Bells //

// Treats //

4 out of 5 


Buzzed about for months since their demo tracks surfaced in the fall of 2009, the Brooklyn-based noise pop duo known as Sleigh Bells has finally arrived. As someone who has generally shied away from anything labelled as noise, I must admit that I'm still trying to stomach what Sleigh Bells offers with their debut, Treats. On its most simple level, Treats offers a relatively poppy take on noise. The hard-hitting electric guitar riffs and bass thumps are sure to melt your brain, but on other hand, singer Alexis Krauss' airy vocals do well to keep things from being an all-out riot.

If I were to describe Treats in one word: filthy. This thing is raw and unapologetic. When first listening to Treats, one of two things will happen: 1) you'll be inclined to drag the album to the recycling bin and start looking for a better quality rip; or 2) you'll try playing something else to make sure your speakers aren't blown. Don't waste your time: like it or not, this is the way it is. Your loss-less FLAC copy is just as rife with clipping as any crappy streamed version out there. It's hard to get over the nagging feeling that playing these songs is somehow wrecking your speakers. But look, Treats wasn't built for dinky little 0.5-watt computer speakers; it was meant for 20-foot-tall speaker towers blasting you into the back wall of the Commodore. It may not help you in terms of buying what they're selling, but it makes sense to me. Having gotten over that, I was able to really get in with the vibe.

This is as gentle an introduction to the Noise genre as you'll find. Without a little bit of perspective, what Sleigh Bells have delivered can easily be written off as audibly-offensive junk. Given a chance, it becomes clear that this is so much more than an assault on the eardrums. There are real rock, pop, and hip-hop sensibilities co-mingling here. Take "Kids" for example: I hope I'm not the only one who can hear DMX's "Party Up" being used as the foundation for the hook. Elsewhere, Krauss' rhythm and monotonous vocal style subtly mimic the stuttery chorus on Three 6 Mafia's "Stay Fly." This is smartly designed music on the bleeding edge between party anthems and fight club soundtrack. After a long day at work, I turned this on as I pulled out of the office parkade in full-on zombie mode. By the time I got home, I had my best Rampage snarl on and my palms hurt from spazzing out on the steering wheel.

Each of the songs are short-ish, which works out quite well. If any of these monoliths were 4 or 5-minutes long, I think I would've died of cardiac arrest upon first listen. Instead, they give you a series of quickie adrenaline shots, each as sonically devastating as the last. The only come-down afforded to the listener is "Rill Rill," which is kind of folky but still moves at a steady head-bobbing pace with finger snaps and a killer drum fill. Other early favourites include "Tell Em", "Kids", and "Riot Rhythm". All in all, the 11-track album is an appropriate length. Anything more just might be too overwhelming.


Summary: this is the musical equivalent of looking directly at the sun. Your eardrums will be numb after the first few times, and you might even get a headache. Your brain will be working overtime trying to figure out why you're blasting it with all that clipping. As a concept, the album is very challenging but still so close to being a perfect '5'. The only thing stopping me from really loving it is the longing to hear it with a little more polish. Despite this, there's something about the way that Treats slinks its way into your favourites list. It violates all that I know about the value of sound engineering, but the slow burn of it is undeniable. Before you know it, the little spark that the album represented will turn into 32 minutes of napalm. Turn it on, turn it up, and just try - TRY - to sit still. Sleigh Bells' Treats will make you lose your shit. Early candidate for album of the year, for it's brazen and infectious delivery.


bt: http://torrents.thepiratebay.org/5604711/Sleigh_Bells_-_Treats_%5B2010%5D_%5B320kbps%5D_%5BAlbum%5D.5604711.TPB.torrent

ms: http://www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic

| mmm, filler |

This is what 4 minutes of filler sounds like. A fine example of how empty music can be when it's all style, no substance. This one really needs T.I., Rick Ross, Red Cafe, etc. Oh well, at least Diddy's dancing is entertaining. Count those steps, Puff.

| bad company 3: kroegs and them |

Nickelback is funny to me. They've sold over 30 million records worldwide. Their last album, The Dark Horse, went 8x platinum in the States. How they have accumulated such impressive sales records is beyond me. Despite the constant hatred from casual listeners and experienced critics alike, the Vancouver-based rockers seem to keep trucking along.

Today, the Province ran an article on Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. The teaser on the front page read:

"Nickelback frontman fires mom, denies concert tickets for kids"

Reading this, one is lead to believe that Kroeger canned his own mom. Alas, the "mom" in this case was his housekeeper. The "kids" are her kids, who were huge Nickelback fans. My first favourite part of the article is the headline: "Five Abbotsford brothers think Chad Kroeger's not at all cool."


Really? This is news? Portugal knew that years ago. Rolling Stone has been slagging these fools for nearly a decade now, yet it took the firing of their mom to get these kids to see things clearly? Here is an excerpt from an open letter the 11 year-old wrote to the Province:


"We dont think your cool and we took your stupid picture off our rockstar wall cause you dont deserve to sit up there with john lennon, mick jagger or bob dylan."

Before reading this, I felt sorry for this family. Single mom - with five kids at home - makes a living cleaning other people's houses. Not exactly the pinnacle of life, if you ask me. But what the hell is fucking Nickelback doing on the same wall as John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Bob Dylan? This could be a $100 question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: "Which one of these do not belong?" That's like finding imitation imitation crab on your Deluxe Lobster Platter at dinner (Yes, I meant to write "imitation" twice). I don't blame these kids; they're young and wouldn't know the difference between an Oh Henry bar and a nutty log of shit. I do blame the mom - she really should know better than that. Hence, I don't feel bad for her for getting fired. Besides, she shouldn't have been trying on Kroeger's girlfriend's clothes. That's kind of weird.

| the obama-nable showman |

// Kanye West //

// Power (ft. Dwele) //

It takes a lot to silence Kanye West. Staged or not, the ill-fated spotlight grab at last year's MTV VMA's cost him fans, ruined his mega-tour with Lady Gaga, and basically upped his egomaniac quotient tenfold. I'll never forget how stupid he looked on the Leno show when he almost cried. Even President Obama called him a jackass.

Now nine months removed from the situation, Kanye has emerged from his self-imposed exile. It's kind of like that scene from The Hangover when they open the trunk and naked Ken Jeong jumps out swinging a tire iron wildly. Kanye's been locked away, and now he's returned to assault the charts. No more 808's - the dude's back to rap.

"Power" reunites Kanye with neo-soul singer Dwele (who doesn't really do much of anything on this track) over a heavy, military-style marching beat laden with hypnotic handclaps. Sampling from King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man", Kanye exposes himself yet cleverly covers it up with all the chest-thumping and "I'm so godly" bravado. It's a surprisingly sober admission that he's just one man, trying to balance out all of his inner selves: the pioneer, the entertainer, the brat, and all the other things he thinks he is the world. He knows he's crazy, but he also knows he's crazy good. 

After going through this song multiple times, I must say that it would be a crime to simply read the title, listen to the song, and only come away with the racier bits about SNL or being on his own dick. Of course, if you're not interested in the man's history or progression, then listen to the cool beat and tell your friends that you heard the new Kanye and he's still a big ol' asshole. -_-

If anyone was hoping that he'd come away from the Taylor Swift debacle a changed man, you'll definitely be disappointed. Even still, real fans of the man (and the future of urban music) should recognize what he's done because no one can successfully put out songs this big after spending half a year being America's whipping boy. While not without his faults, Mr. West really is some kind of resilient. Checking the haters and sounding good doing it, "Power" triumphantly declares the start of the next Kanye season.


dl: http://www.mediafire.com/?ezmdmmno0ly

| welcome to her world |

// Janelle Monáe //

// The ArchAndroid (Suites II & III) //

4.5 out of 5

It was the summer of 2006. Outkast members Big Boi and Andre 3000 reconvened after solo film projects and brought us Idlewild: a real stinker of a movie/musical that I turned off after about 25 minutes. The significance of Idlewild lies in the jazz-based hip-hop soundtrack that accompanied its release. The soundtrack also doubled as Outkast's 6th studio album, and featured some recognizable stars (Lil' Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray). More importantly, Idlewild introduced us to Janelle Monáe. She appeared in the movie, and also on the soundtrack twice.

The first time I heard her voice on "Call The Law", I checked the tracklisting immediately to find the name. She was a big reason why I clung on to the Idlewild soundtrack for as long as I did. I waited patiently until 2008, when she released Metropolis: The Chase Suite. The EP went on to garner critical acclaim, which culminated in a 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. My personal favourite? "Sincerely, Jane".(sorry, couldn't find the album version on youtube) This song is so good, I have a secret bucket list wish to see this song performed live with full orchestra accompaniment.

Here we are in 2010 with release of The ArchAndroid, and Monáe has officially touched down with her unique brand of dramatic alt-soul-pop. A lengthy description, yes, but she really is that hard to classify. She defies boundaries and I love her for that. Her sound is utterly boundless, making The ArchAndroid as complete and satisfying an album as I have ever heard. It essentially picks up where Metropolis left off, and does so seamlessly. Altogether, the trilogy is ambitious, edgy, and ultimately successful at everything it sets out to accomplish.

Consider the fact that this is a whopping 18-track offering, which is risky business for an artist trying to make her first big splash. That's 18 opportunities to be judged, labelled, liked, or disliked. Also consider the staggering breadth and depth of the album. Suite II consists of Monáe flexing her inner early-Busta Rhymes on "Dance or Die", coasting effortlessly over the frantic "Faster", and completely disarming the listener with the uber-soothing "Oh, Maker". Step into Suite III and you will find a cameo from quirky indie popsters of Montreal, and a starry-eyed sampling of Claire de Lune. I am glad to say that Monáe runs the genre gauntlet and emerges a champion. It all flows like a well-crafted, expertly written movie.

The winning combination here is Monáe's raw vocal talent and commitment to artistry. She epitomizes control. Though undertaking the task of housing multiple musical styles under one tidy roof, ArchAndroid never loses it's flair and overall cohesiveness. Best of all, it continues to amaze and instill wonderment upon each listen. You'll never know what she'll pull out of her bag of tricks next, which is one of the things I love most about music. There aren't enough things in this world that make me wonder or keep me guessing. True artists like Janelle Monae do just that - on purpose - and it just makes you want to be around the source of that feeling more and more.


Summary: The ArchAndroid is a wild yet focused effort worthy of any iPod or CD player (if you're still on that). It meanders and seems primed to come off the rails, but thankfully, Monáe remains in full control. The album and is grand, dramatic, and dripping with personality. Even the most discerning pair of ears will be hard-pressed to find a bone to pick, and casual listeners will find many things to like as well. In short: sit, listen, and experience what tomorrow sounds like. Don't deprive yourself of this goodness.

dl: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T25LBC5Z
t: http://torrents.thepiratebay.org/5554610/Janelle_Monae_-_The_ArchAndroid_(2010).5554610.TPB.torrent

^^ About downloads: support the artists by seeing them live and buying a tshirt or three when they come to your area. Rob them of the $15 for the CD, but give back $60+  for a ticket and a shirt? I like my way. It helps me sleep at night =)

| intro |

Here is where music lives. This is a place for me to chronicle my continuing love of music by sharing reviews, thoughts and impressions. The past, present, and future of music are Here.

HERE is where:

· I praise the honest, the exciting, and the creative.
· I promise to be fair, but...
· I will bash stupid, shameless, and otherwise awful shit until it's dead, and then some.
· I do my homework before opening my yap.
· Thoughtful discussion is a good thing.
· At the very least, you will get some help deciding what's worth your time. (This stuff is time-consuming!)
· You just might like what you see and hear.


let's go...