Hawk by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

This album can only be described as pure beauty. The insanely high and twee voice of Campbell’s matched with the gruff, deep, strained voice of Lanegan are perfectly matched. The album starts off with “We Die And See Beauty Reign,” a soft sober song, which brings the listener into this vocal pairing. Immediately after, it gets heavier with one of the highlights, “You Won’t Let Me Down Again.”

Campbell, who wrote all but two of the songs¹, isn’t afraid to play around in genre. The soul song “Come Undone” could easily fit on a Sharon Jones record, and doesn’t sound out of place on this record at all. Then there’s the rockabilly “Get Behind Me,” and the folk “Cool Water” in which Campbell ditches Lanegan temporarily in favour of Willy Mason. Then there’s “To Hell & Back Again” which wouldn’t be out of place on a Gentle Waves² record.

Fantastic record.

Travellers in Space and Time by The Apples in stereo

The Apples In Stereo have been around for a long time as the definitive pop band of the ’90s. Their sugary melodies have made a name of Robert Schneider’s songwriting. Travellers in Space and Time is their first record without Schneider’s ex-wife Hilarie Sidney, who would traditionally provide one or two songs per album. While her songs were never what defined the band’s sound, they were always a highlight, and it feels as if that’s missing from the record.

The album lifts heavily from the early disco sounds which Toronto’s new mayor is a big fan of. Unfortunately it’s not a song that can easily support a full album, let alone an hour long, sixteen track record.

There are definitely highlights, among them are “Hey Elevator” and “C.P.U.” but the record is too much of a rehashing of other things they’ve done. The aforementioned “C.P.U.” could have easily fit it with Her Wallpaper Reverie.

Give’r a pass.

The Shilohs by The Shilohs

I was in Vancouver, and my ex-sister-in-law, who was nice enough to show me around the city, took me to Zulu Records. I asked the employees there to recommend a few CDs. They gave me a few options, and this one stuck with me. Turns out he, along with his fellow employees were in the band. The EP is a a throwback to post-Gram Parsons 1970s country-rock, they do very well at emulating what those who once emulated Parsons himself, such as The Rolling Stones.

The EP’s a nice snack of six songs, easily taken in, and will be interesting to see where this band goes from here. If they come to Toronto, I’d certainly head out to see them.

1. The others being Townes van Zandt covers.
2. The name Campbell released two albums under while still in Belle & Sebastian.

“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.