I recently reconnected with an old friend, from back in my high school days. We never went to school together, after all, she was, and still is far off in a foreign country. So I made Beth this mix, but I didn’t know what I might have sent her all those years ago, so I decided to limit myself to nothing older than 2000. I also didn’t know what she had been listening to since then, so I decided to limit the selection to Canadian music.

“The Indie Queens Are Waiting” by Dan Mangan

• This is my favourite Dan Mangan song, and I’ve been on a bit of a kick of listening to him endlessly.

“Hibernation Song” by Whale Tooth

• This is not just my favourite Whale Tooth song, but everyone’s favourite Whale Tooth song. They’re a lot of fun, but this song specifically is addictively catchy.

“Oh, Alberta” by Elliott Brood

• If you’re going to make a mix of mostly Canadian music, how can you ignore the most Canadian song ever written. “Ontario, that’s where I’m from.”

“Fourteen Hour Day” by $100

• This is such a tragic tale of loss and heartache.

“The Ballad of Poor John Henry” by Cuff The Duke

• Number two in the Cuff The Duke’s “Ballad of…” series, and definitely my favourite.

“Nowhere With You” by The Joel Plaskett Emergency

• This song is just addictive and fun. I often forget about the Make A Little Noise EP, so I figured this was a good way to give it some love.

“Morning Dove” by Greg Keelor

• My favourite song from Keelor’s depressing, but beautiful Seven Songs for Jim album.

“The Nun’s Litany” by The Magnetic Fields

• How can you not love a song with the lyric “I want to be a dominatrix, which isn’t like me, but I can dream. Learn S&M and all those gay tricks, and men would pay me to make them scream.” FYI, on the album Shirley sings the song, but in the video Stephin sings it. He did after all write it.

“The Gambler and His Bride” by Daniel, Fred & Julie

• I never noticed how long this song was until Beth, the recipient of this playlist pointed out how bloody long it actually is. It’s a great song, DF&J played it both times I saw them live recently.

“Many Lives -> 49mp” by Final Fantasy

• The violin is so pretty.

“Jumpers” by Sleater-Kinney

• Not many better songs about killing yourself. “My falling shape will draw a line between the blue of sea and sky; I’m not a bird, I’m not a plane.”

“Sunndal Song” by The Apples In Stereo

• Easy to forget that Hilarie Sidney was in The Apples In Stereo, but I think she added a much needed secondary voice to Robert Schneider’s.

“Step Off The Map and Float” by Library Voices

• We’re all just pinpricks on a paper continent.

“Two Girls From Montreal” by The Bicycles

• The first Bicycles song I got stuck in my head. After seeing them live for the first time (years before their first album was released), I left the venue singing this song.

So, yes, there are one item in there by an international artist, The Magnetic Fields, but not enough people know Stephin Merritt, and that’s just a sin.

A few nights ago, I saw my friend Emily, and somehow my enjoyment from making mix tapes/discs/playlists¹ came up, and she asked me to make one for her, so this is what I came up with.

1. “Tina’s Glorious Comeback” by Dan Mangan
   • Dan Mangan started the previous one off so well, why not carry on. This one is another that I’ll happen to listen to days ago, and still be singing it. My coworkers must think I’m insane.
2. “I’ll Have To Dance With Cassie” by God Help The Girl
   • My favourite God Help The Girl song, and I think Emily would understand the thoughts behind this one.
3. “Cop Song” by Entire Cities
   • One day I was walking down the street listening to this song, and a cop was slowing following me in their car.
4. “Snowsuit Sound” by Sloan
   • Though I’ve given up my love of Sloan, I still understand that they used to be awesome, and this is one of the songs which can perfectly capture it.
5. “Yelverton Hill” by The Inbreds
   • “A ring is an awful thing…”
6. “Great Lakes” by Valery Gore
   • The last mix had Valery’s doppelgänger, so this one should include the original.
7. “Seduced And Abandoned” by The Magnetic Fields
   • This is the tale of an abandoned woman, left without her lover, but with a baby. It’s not the first time that Merritt has told this story, but I think it’s the best rendition of the tale. See: “The Night You Can’t Remember“
8. “Highschool” by The Flashing Lights
   • This power pop anthem is as good as it gets.
9. “Girlfriend” by Eric’s Trip
   • Grunge!
10. “Don’t Wannabe / Like By You” by Julie Doiron
    • Hehe, I put Julie Doiron right after Eric’s Trip! This is the song women sing when I get a crush on them.
11. “Glitter” by The Superfantastics
    • This two piece is just sugary fun.
12. “Your Island” by Young Rival
    • I like Young Rival, I think Emily would dig these Hamiltononians.
13. “Scott Pilgrim” by Plumtree
    • With the new Scott Pilgrim film coming out soon, this song is a perfect piece.
14. “We Are Being Reduced” by Thrush Hermit
    • My lord, this song is stunning.

1. Any music nerd has this love. [↩]

The greatest Canadian show of all time, Rita & Friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9_sJCG9B1o

In December, I set goals for myself, how many films to see this year, how many shows to attend, how many records to purchase, and how many books to read. This is the standings, as of the end of February…

Books I read (6/10) – 60%:
Nothing this month.

Films I saw (32/52) – 61%:
The Sweet Hereafter | Originally released 1997   
Nine | Originally released 2009
The Runaways
Sleeper | Originally released 1973

Albums I bought (24/52) – 46%:
“My Father’s House” b/w “The Digger” (Regional 7″ Volume 2) by $100   
What The Boat Gave The River by Mark Berube & The Patriotic Few   
new EP by Fred Squire   

Shows I attended (14/52) – 27%:
Daniel, Fred & Julie (w/ Baby Eagle & Jerry Leger) @ The Horseshoe Tavern; April 16, 2010   
The Cheap Speakers (w/ Mark Berube and The Patriotic Few, Lordy Lordy & Big Crimes) @ El Mocambo; April 17, 2010   
Sloan, The Meligrove Band, Adam Green & Valery Gore @ Sonic Boom; April 18, 2010   
Daniel, Fred & Julie @ Soundscapes; April 26, 2010   

Dear Mr. Pentland, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Scott & Mr. Murphy,

I hereby submit my resignation as a Sloan fan. The last time I saw your band was in 2008. The only reason I went to see you perform then was because I was in Halifax, and how can one turn down seeing Sloan at a hometown show? Also, how can one turn down seeing Sloan with slmader? It was a mediocre show, but much better than this one.

This show, you opted to promote your new B-Sides release, a noble cause, and this even prompted you to perform two of your best songs, “At The Edge Of The Scene” and “Summer’s My Season.” However, the performance of these two songs were just plainly sloppy and bad. It in now way compared to the excellence of their appearance on disc or at Massey Hall a decade ago.

You also performed numerous songs from your recent Hit & Run EP, the first release of yours I didn’t buy. These songs were terribly boring, and offered nothing new. Pentland, you seemed more concerned with Guitar Wankery than actually complimenting the songs, and Scott you seemed more interesting in playing loud than playing well. Greg MacDonald, your touring keyboard player, seemed superfluous throughout this show. Murphy wasn’t even in top form for his tomfoolery, and Ferguson was his usual self, there, without much else.

Thus, I must hand in my membership card. Thank you for the years of rock and roll service.

Yours in former fandom,
Adam M. Anklewicz

Apparently I’m always a critic. I found a peanut butter cookie to be disappointing, and this led to others criticizing my criticizing. However, that just means I need to be a critic.

On Saturday was Record Store Day, a celebration of all things wonderful¹. I met with my friend Allegra, and we realized we didn’t have time for sushi before Valery Gore’s set at Sonic Boom, so instead we went to the record store, made our way to the basement, where a soundcheck was going on. It wasn’t Ms. Gore, but instead Lullabye Arkestra. It was interesting, and I might have enjoyed them if I stayed, but I was more interested in sushi, so “Legs” and I made a quick dash to New Gen, and did up the sushiing² quickly.

We got back partway through Valery Gore’s set, and did get to see four or five of her songs. It seemed to be a bit of a time warp, while all her songs were from her most recent album, seeing her solo was something that I don’t think I’ve seen since a year or two before Avalanche To Wandering Bear was released.

It was slightly awkward, like those early shows of hers, where there’s nothing allowing her to cover up³ her mistakes. As usual, Gore had her humour to cover up those mistakes and was able to endear herself to the crowd.

From what I recall, and I have a horrible memory, she played “Sparrow,” “Worried Head,” “Consolation”⁴ and closed the set with her “hit” “Shoes of Glass.”

Gore gets bonus points for excellent new glasses, which as everyone knows, cool glasses are where it’s at.

Next up was Buck 65. I had heard his stuff from time to time, and never really understood why people liked it. I decided to give it a shot, and then I saw Shaun Hatton‘s excellent ‘fro descending the staircase. It was the first time I had seen Hatton since beginning his career as a host of Electric Playground. It also gave him an opportunity to chastise me for not attending the most recent Cobra show. We chatted looked at vinyl, and then went upstairs and found his lovely wife Less Lee Moore. She was more excited by new record purchases than Buck 65. I was more excited by awesome people than Buck 65.

Between sets Hatton, Moore and myself were joined by “Gams” and Val Heimpel of Bitter City fame, and a couple of awesome friends of hers. Eventually we heard some rumblings, once again, coming from downstairs, where Adam Green was playing a set that could be best described as humorous. Nothing I’d ever pay to see, but glad I got a chance to. Green’s dance moves were unparalleled, and though his voice was rather sour his songs were fun enough to entertain for half an hour. Also, found Tom there.

Then I joined Tom and “Getaway Sticks,” along with Val, Rachel and Jean across the street at Insomnia for tea and beer. Mmm, beer. We found our way back during the introductory notes of The Meligrove Band’s set. Since the last time I saw the Meligrove Band, Andrew Scott⁵ has left the band, and Brian O’Reilly of Their Majesties and The Pinecones has joined. They played songs, mostly from their upcoming record and their latest, Planets Conspire. The Planets Conspire songs sounded great, while the new ones didn’t grab me. They seem almost a step backwards. I’ll hold judgement until I hear the record.

Next up was being joined by aL and Natalia, and a visit to Future’s Bakery, where we ignored Metz playing. Would’ve been interesting to see an entire baseball team on that tiny stage, but oh, well.

Finally was Sloan, but that’ll wait for another day.

Photos was taken at another point in time.

1. That relate to Record Stores. [↩]
2. Yes, sushi is now a verb. [↩]
3. That’s funny with this photo beside it [↩]
4. You’ve got the heart consolation prize for having just survived, having just survived. [↩]
5. The one from The Bicycles, not the one from The Sloans. [↩]

• Narratives interviews Mitch Fillion of Southern Souls. Great website, but it needs an RSS feed.
• Interview interviews Stephin Merritt. (Courtesy of Chromewaves)
• CBC Radio 3 posts really boring videos.
• Christine Bougie tells us all how to do our taxes. (Courtesy of Terri)
• The only good thing about basketball, dinosaurs eating cheerleaders. (Courtesy of The Daily What)
• Vish Khanna has breakfast with Laura Barrett on CBC Radio 3. Listen here.
• Or, how about Vish Khanna talking to Stephin Merritt.
• Sloan release B Sides Win… they should’ve called it, Raise Your Glass To The B Side.

So, I thought I’d start an ongoing journey into why I like lyrics, and lyricists.

We’re going to start with a gentleman named Stephin Merritt who fronts the band The Magnetic Fields. If you’ve known me for more than 15 minutes, you’ve surely heard me espouse the merits of Stephin Merritt. (har!) The Magnetic Fields are pretty fantastic, their music is smart, and funny. They gained much notoriety in 1999 when they released their triple album 69 Love Songs, which lives up perfectly to the name. Since then they’ve released i, an album in which every song starts with the letter ‘i’ and Distortion, a record covered from head to toe in… distortion. The lyric is simple, from the song “I Don’t Believe You” from their album i.

So you’re brilliant, gorgeous, and ampersand after ampersand

I have before been given funny looks when I’ve claimed that this lyric alone proves Merritt’s poetic ability, so I’ll go further into it. In those eight simple words we have so much context to the story. The venom drips off the words (figuratively), there’s so much spite and hatred in those lyrics, and the You who is being sung to is a pompous, self-righteous, vein douche.

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We all remember Sloan, they were pretty great. They released an absolutely brilliant album called Between The Bridges in 1999, which is among my favourite records of all time. They also released a record called  Smeared, back in the day when they thought they were a grunge band. That didn’t work out for them, or their record label, but that’s another story for another day.

They’ve been a mainstay for Canadian music for 15+ years now, and introduced the rest of Canada to a shitload of brilliant music, including Thrush Hermit, The Super Friendz, Local Rabbits and many more.

Smeared featured a song called “Median Strip,” it’s not a great song, but it has one of their best lyrics ever.

Point came for you to be Glenn Close to me

There’s really not much to say about this lyric, other than, YES! Perhaps also, “remember when Glenn Close came onto the board? Good times.”

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Coming up in volume 2, more music.