Upper Canada fought long and hard for responsible government, leading ourselves away from the Family Compact which was governing the people of Upper Canada with only an image of elected officials. However, our government is still not perfect, and can be improved to be more democratic and representative to the people? Here’s some ideas:

• Corporations shouldn’t be allowed to donate to political parties.
• Clear and concise guidelines for the reserve powers of the Crown and how it can be implemented by the Governor General.
• Petitioning the Commonwealth to revise the Statute of Westminster to no longer show gender and religious precedence so that the Heads of State reflects the “Just Society” we have created.¹
• A democratic Senate responsible to the People, rather than the parties who appointed them, while still being distinct from the Commons. Whether the best bet is an independent Senate or term limits, I’m not sure, but a means to make the Senate responsible to the provinces they represent.
• Decentralize the government from unelected partisan employees in the PMO and return powers to the elected government Ministers.
• Clear laws on proroguing parliament, and thorough review of potentially undemocratic laws.
• Clear and enforceable laws governing when the Prime Minister can drop the writ.
• A better election system than First Past The Post, and a thorough investigation into the possible choices, along with clear and concise advertising to allow the general public knowledge on how the chosen system works.
• After a choice for Governor General has been thoroughly vetted, a vote in the Commons before presenting the choice to the Queen.
• Open and clear discourse with the Canadian People.

Any other ideas?

1. If William’s first child is a girl, she should be able to take the throne, even if she chooses to be Catholic. [↩]

Season 3
Episode 15
“Say Hello To A Good Buy”

Post Card

When Mary Hopkin began her career at Apple, she was no more than a voice; a tool with which Paul McCartney was going to use to craft pop mastery¹. Hopkin’s voice was superb and fantastic, and McCartney saw that to make a good record of classics and new material which would be universally adored. He began with the Russian tune (which Gene Raskin added English lyrics to) called “Those Were The Days.” The song went on to be an international smash hit.

Post Card picks up where they left off². McCartney found many songs for her, three from Donovan, one from Harry Nilsson, one from George Martin, some Gershwin and even some Irving Berlin. While no McCartney compositions graced the original album, the remastered and expanded edition does include Hopkin’s second single “Goodbye,” a Lennon/McCartney composition³

I think my favourite track is Harry Nilsson’s “The Puppy Song.”

Earth Song/Ocean Song

Where Post Card prevails, Earth Song/Ocean Song fails. While it’s not a bad record, it’s just nothing special. While Hopkin’s first record was a fantastic, grand event, Earth Song/Ocean Song is the same old, in a time over filled with women singing folk songs. It’s cliché and slightly boring.

Some of the songs are fantastic, others are mundane. Throughout it all Hopkin’s voice is superb, and producer Tony Visconti does a fantastic job with Hopkin.

If you want something of this style, might I suggest some Joan Baez?

1. Even his then-girlfriend Linda Eastman photographed the cover. [↩]
2. The CD opens with the song, but it wasn’t on the original vinyl pressing. [↩]
3. Which I’m certain had zero input from John Lennon. [↩]

In store performances from my favourite store to buy used CDs, Sonic Boom.

Come and Get It:
The Best of Apple Records

In 1968, The Beatles formed Apple Corps. Ltd., a new home for the records, and of the amazing and strange records of their contemporaries.

Recently released is Come And Get It: The Best of Apple Records a record that can only be described as mis-titled. This is definitely not the best of Apple, as it doesn’t feature The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” or Lennon’s “Mother.” Instead it could more aptly be titled “Assorted Single, and such.”

Though The Beatles, as a cohesive unit, do not grace the record, they are still in sight. The album features Lennon/McCartney compositions such as “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight”¹, “Thingumybob”², Lennon’s “Give Peace A Chance”³, “God Save Us”⁴, and more George Harrison songs than you can shake a stick at.

The Beatles don’t sit back comfortably only in the role of songwriter. The legendary band also often produce, or perform with their labelmates. The genres are never a pre-defined thing, going from Francophone hillbilly⁵ to shmaltz⁶, soul⁷, gospel⁸ and much more.

It’s pretty easy to list all the brilliant on this record, “Those Were The Days,” “Carolina In My Mind,” “Maybe Tomorrow,” “Sour Milk Sea,” “New Day,” “Come And Get It,” “Try Some, Buy Some,” “Ain’t That Cute,” “Govinda,” “Saturday Night Special,” and “Day After Day.”

There’s also a lot that can be described best as… interesting. The Lennon/McCartney⁹ composition “Thingumybob” would not sound out of place as the backing music for a Looney Tunes cartoon. There’s Brute Force’s comedy song “King of Fuh,” who apparently was “called the Fuh King;” Lennon must have chosen this one.

The only thing bad on the record is Hot Chocolate Band’s reggae cover of “Give Peace A Chance.”

While a lot of this appears on other newly remastered Apple discs, it does feature a lot of material only previously available on singles.

Grit
by KUMONgA

While this might only be a three-song demo, I feel I must give it some space on this here blog. KUMONgA is a new band featuring Dan Walters, who used to be in The Brown Hornets, a pretty damn good band. While The Brown Hornets were a lot more punk, KUMONgA is a bit more focused on soul rock; to the point where the opening track has definite Rolling Stones vibes, specifically “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The other two tracks continue on this theme, creating a rather cohesive and easily digestible three songs. I’m not sure if the title Grit is a reference to their dirty soul sound, or if it’s to display an affection towards the Liberal Party of Canada.

Looking forward to potential live KUMONgA shenanigans.

1. Performed by Trash [↩]
2. Performed by The Black Dyke Mills Band [↩]
3. Performed by Hot Chocolate Band [↩]
4. Performed by Bill Elliot & The Elastic Oz Band, listeners will hear Lennon count in. [↩]
5. The Sundown Playboys [↩]
6. Mary Hopkin’s “Those Were The Days” [↩]
7. Jackie Lomax [↩]
8. Billy Preston [↩]
9. Really Paul. [↩]

Postcards and Daydreaming
by Dan Mangan

While Dan Mangan’s latest record, Nice Nice Very Nice blew me away, if I was first exposed to Mangan’s music with his debut Postcards and Daydreaming, I probably wouldn’t care too much about him. That’s not to say that it’s a bad record, but instead to say that it’s average; average average very average.

Postcards and Daydreaming starts with a high point, “It’s Not What You Think It Is” which might get his fans excited that it’s up to the quality of his later release. However, the audience is left continuing on through a record of unremarkable folk music.

I’m going to take this optimistically, and say that Mangan improved significantly between his first and second albums, I look forward to the improvements for album three.

Masters of the Burial
by Amy Millan

Amy Millan puts together a rather pleasant folk record with Masters of the Burial. It’s not as strong as her first record, Honey From The Tombs, but it’s still enjoyable. Millan’s voice is sweet, and works well for folk music. The biggest difference between this record and the first, being that the first was really a country record, this one is folk. While the two genres share a lot in common, it’s a noticeable difference.

The strongest song on the record is a Weeping Tile¹ cover that Millan performs with mastery. While the worst is a Jenny Whiteley cover called “Day To Day,” a strange contrast to her first album where Whiteley’s “Baby I” is among the strongest.

Public Strain
by Women

Public Strain is not to be mistaken for Pubic Stain.

This Calgary band was recommended by a good friend in the United States who oddly isn’t the biggest fan of Calgary². While I see why he’s a fan of the record, I don’t think it’s for me. The band sounds like they’re trying too hard to recreate the Alternative/Grunge sound of the early ’90s. While they do it admirably, I feel like it’s a sound best left to the Sonic Youths/Eric’s Trips/early Sloans of the day.

There’s nothing bad about this record, it just doesn’t strike a chord³ with me. I have a feeling over time I’ll find a place in my heart for this feedback-laden record.

1. Sarah Harmer [↩]
2. Much like most Canadians. [↩]
3. HA! [↩]

Season 3
Episode 14
“Rudy Spend The Night”¹

1. This blog will not feature the sweaters belonging to Huxtables other than Cliff, however, as Denise mentions shortly after this screenshot is taken, the shirt belongs to Cliff. We did see him wearing it earlier in the season. [↩]

… with never a reason why” – Phil Ochs

Politics is the science which teaches the people of a country to care for each other. If a mischievous individual were to attempt to cut off his neighbour’s hand, would that neighbour’s other hand and feet do well quietly to permit the amputation of the limb if they could hinder it? All will say, No. This then is politics. That part of our duty which teaches us to study the welfare of our whole country, and not to rest satisfied altho’ our own household is well off when our neighbours are in difficulty and danger. The honest politician is he who gives all he can of his time and means to promote the public good, whose charity begins at home but does not end there. The man who says he is no politician, is either ignorant of what he is saying, or a contemptible selfish creature, unworthy of the country or community of which is a part.

William Lyon Mackenzie
March 12, 1795 – August 28, 1861
Mayor of Toronto, 1834
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, 1829-1833, 1834-1836
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the United Province of Canada, 1851-1858

Sourced from: Mackenzie: A Political Biography of William Lyon Mackenzie by John Sewell; James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers; 2002

Some performances at my favourite record store.