#1. Death From Above 1979: You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004). In the 1970s, the Rolling Stones got the job done as a quintet. Four Pixies ruled the 1980s. Nirvana stormed the 1990s trio-style. And in the 2000s, two Torontonians called Death From Above 1979 unleashed all the fury the decade could possibly handle. We’ll be down to a one-man show in the 2010s, I suppose.

Village Voice: I don’t get this.

#2. Unwound: Leaves Turn Inside You (2001). I don’t even know the titles of the songs. Never learned much about the band. For the duration of this 74-minute masterpiece, I know very little at all.

PopMatters: Unwound plays with a tightness and richness that few bands can touch anymore; they have turned into the metal Minutemen.

#3. Songs: Ohia: Ghost Tropic (2000). It’s a horse race of Alydar/Affirmed proportions to decide which Y2K Songs: Ohia release is better: The Lioness or Ghost Tropic. In the end, I’m an Alydar girl and Ghost Tropic wins by DQ via interference. The difference between the two albums is vast- The Lioness is easy to love and Ghost Tropic is more rewarding in the end.

Allmusic: “Everything moves as slowly as a three-legged dog, and anyone neither patient enough nor attuned to Molina’s style of songcraft (imagine Neil Young doing very mellow gypsy folk music) might very well be put to sleep.”

#4. The Rapture: Insound Tour Support Series Volume 19/Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks (2001). Before dance-punk was a thing, there was a really cool band called The Rapture. Before they got their act together and released the “Echoes” album, they had some really cool singles and EPs, including Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks and the Insound Tour Support EP. It was a bit of bad timing that kept their name out of people’s iPods, since their prime material and sound was never captured on a full-length. The essence of their best live material is on these two EPs.

Pitchfork: Jersey, of course, isn’t all ugly. It’s almost like New York sometimes. Likewise, New Jersey is what New York is always on the verge of becoming. Hundreds of thousands of Jerseyites stream in to the city every day, becoming part of the place for eight hours before shuttling back across the borderline. With a sound in constant, uneasy flux, the Rapture speaks (not always eloquently, but effectively) for the commuter– the ordinary-looking joe capable of blending into the Broadway crowds but forever holding a dirty secret in his irradiated little heart..

#5. Landspeedrecord! Road to Flight (2000). The boys from Baltimore first blew me away at local venues with their live set and then they followed through with their recordings, a rarity among DIY bands. And the album cover is a thoroughbred racetrack win photo! Rock and racehorses all the way.

PopMatters: Landspeedrecord! are caught somewhere between the new-wave cool a la Devo and punk brilliance. With as much contemporary influence to keep the sound modern, Landspeedrecord! also delivers enough unique style that will inevitably keep them out of the loop of “cool” with all the kids. For the listener, the key is to not overextend hisself or herself with effort to understand the wired sounds escaping the stereo, but instead to embrace them for what they are. Landspeedrecord! has come a long way, perhaps Road to Flight will take them to the more prosperous spot on the punk rock hill they deserve.

#6. Elliott Smith: Figure 8 (2000). The world lost a great talent in 2003. This was the last album released during his short lifetime.

Q Magazine: Most riveting are the ballads, where he conveys a devastating truth with conversational ease.

PS- I was at this show…

#7. Supergrass: Supergrass (2000). I admit that The Grass nabbed me with “Caught By The Fuzz” in 1994, but they really hit their stride and rung in the new decade in a decidedly non-Coco fashion with their eponymous LP. PS- I hate the word Britpop.

BBC: Too many reviewers concentrated on the rather tired vibe effusing the whole album, mistaking weariness for laziness. What Supergrass really represents is the consolidation of what In It For The Money had dared to let us dream: that this cheeeky Britpop trio had morphed into a truly world class band.

#8. The Breeders: Title TK (2002). Kim Deal is rock music’s Zenyatta. The Queen of Cool. All Wave, Steve Albini, Kelley Deal, all just contribute to her meteoric bossness.

Blender Magazine: Unfortunately, the songs on Title TK are mostly half-written train wrecks.

#9. The Thermals: F*ckin A (2004). Although their live set is nothing short of fantastic and their more recent releases got all the good press, I can’t deny the allure of their rowdy cousin.

cokemachineglow: Portland rockers the Thermal stand out as a lo-fi beacon of light in over-produced, uber-serious times. Whilst most rock has forgotten how to be fun, the Thermals remember the lessons of Robert Pollard and Lou Barlow and Kim Deal.

#10. Fugazi: The Argument (2001). Most of the time, I like the first or second album by a band more than any other album, but where Fugazi ended is where they just started to get it right.

New Musical Express: Whilst ‘The Argument’ still sounds unmistakably Like Fugazi, it’s the sound of an inspirational band, renewed, at play.

The Zone @ 91-3 signed on the radio June of 2001.  And since that time, The Zone has sponsored a large number of Zone Shows.  I didn’t come to the Zone till the spring of 2003, but I have done my best to reflect on some of the best concerts I can reckon from our extensive list of Zone Shows.

Were there better shows?  maybe… in fact I can think of a bunch of great shows that aren’t on this list.  I didn’t include anything that wasn’t a numbered Zone Show or anything that wasn’t in Victoria.

I wanted to include Rifflandia, it was Zone sponsored, but not a Zone Show… but it deserves a mention because it was so darn fun and the few shows I caught this year completely ripped!  About half these shows I was at,m the other half I am relying on eye witness reports of their greatness and my jealousy of not being there.  Here we go.

10) Sum 41 #1 Legends August 15th, 2001

The first Zone Show.  I was not there but after talking with Sara, she felt that it would be important to mark the historic first in the franchise of “Zone Show” that featured a band that would continue to grow.  When Sum 41 returns to Victoria now, they take up residence at the Arena, so if you were there back in the summer of ‘01, you saw something special.

I originally wanted to include  Sloan #60 Legends October 19th 2003.  Sara asked, “what makes that show so special?”

I remember it as being one of the first big rock shows I got to MC as a young buck rocking the evening show on the Zone, but more importantly, there is this Zoner that phones my show from time-to-time that told me the story of his life and that show.

He brought a girl out on a first date to that rock show and they would end up getting married and are still married to this day.  He always tells me how special Sloan and the Zone are to them because of that first date.  awww, cute.

Our first big arena show was aptly, Zone Show #91, Our Lady Peace Save On Food Memorial Center, April 26 2006.

09) Sam Roberts w/ The Killers #74 Centennial Square September 4th 2004

One of my great modern rock shames. Being the junior announcer on the Zone still, I had to work while everyone else went down to Centennial Square to see this hot new band with a hit single called “Somebody Told Me” open up for Sam Roberts!

08) Beck w/ Band of Horses #159 Royal Theatre August 27th 2008

I included this show for a couple reasons.  One: Coral and her friend Alix got to meet the lead singer of Band of Horses outside the Theatre.  Two: Beck totally slays.  Three, Band of Horses just keep getting better.  To see them in the theatre is a treat.

07) Billy Talent w/ Rise Against, Moneen and Anti-Flag #115 Save On Foods Memorial Center January 18th 2007

Fuck it rained that day.  I was outside huddled under a tent in the down pour for an epic live-to-air pre-show that included performances and interviews from all the bands involved.  It was Rise Against’s first time in Vic and marked Billy Talent’s rise to the top of the Canadian Arena Rocking pyramid.

06) The Killers #169 Save On Foods Memorial Center April 23rd 2009

They came in ‘04, they conquered in ‘09.  The Killers jammed out a bevvy of radio friendly hits, were gracious to allow an interview on the Zone, fired up an impressive stage show and just generally exceeded expectation.

05) Metric #101 Legends March 29th 2006

Metric’s first time in Victoria was a handful of years earlier opening for Hot Hot Heat at Sugar, then again headlining with Death From Above 1979.  Those shows were good, but this show, headlining in the basement of the Strathcona Hotel was great!  Metric was starting to firmly establish themselves and you knew then that these guys were gunna be huge!  Just read the The Zone DJs top records of the year and almost everyone has Fantasies on their list.

04) Tragically Hip #174 Save On Food Memorial Center June 20th 2009

The Hip have had more than a few amazing shows in Victoria.  I personally preferred their visit in January of 2007 for Zone Show #116.  Then I saw them at the Commodore with my brother CJ.  That show was spectacular.  But talking with Dylan Willows, he said that #174 was the BEST Hip show he had ever seen.  The special shout out that Gord had for the Times Colonist’s music writer Mike Devlin was go down in infamy ’round these parts.

03) Queens of the Stone Age #153 Save On Food Memorial Center May 1st 2008

There is a trend on this list for the best shows being later int he decade.  I think that is happening for two reasons.  The first being that I remember them better and second, the Zone is growing as a radio station and bigger rock acts are choosing our fair city.  I’ll take it.

Queens is arguably the biggest band we play on the radio.  Not only are these guy important to our playlist on the radio, Josh Homme delivers the goods on stage.  Was a joyful man to interview and just generally owned the evening.

02) Tool #143 Save On Food Memorial Center December 1st 2007

It was my mother’s 50th birthday party on December 1st… and so I had a date in Coquitlam for the shin-dig.  And I missed one my all-time fave bands.  I am not too broke up about it however, I’ve seen Tool live more than once and every show they do is special.  I can only imagine that a concert that sold out instantly was as insane as I imagine.  this will be a show that Zoners will celebrate forever, along with,

01) Nine Inch Nails #161 Save On Food Memorial Center December 5th, 2008

Could there have been a more perfect live experience in Victoria of the arena variety?

The lights alone were worth the price of admission.  Trent had an exceptional set list, great energy and excitement for the entire evening.  I didn’t want it to end.

There were a lot of great shows in Victoria, a lot club gigs, little festivals, Meatloaf.  I could write all day about some of the adventures I’ve had watching Bob make out with some random goer in the beer line of the Def Leppard concert, falling down a flight of stair and cutting my leg at Pirate Party (that was after puking and sharing the hot tub with the twins… male twins… awkward), Plants and Animals, Lucky Bar in general, open Air at Centennial Square (RIP) all those crazy SUB parties up at UVic, Band of the Month shows… oh the list.

Actually, Meatloaf was pretty good.

Go with yourself.

Artist: Sebastian Grainger and the Mountains 

Where from: What some may call the centre of the universe…Canadian style…Toronto of course!

Sounds like: Garage pop rock. Crunchy drums, rockable guitar jams and boisterous melodies.

Why it’s worth checking out: If, like me, you cried like a newborn baby when punk duo Death from Above 1979 called it quits back in 2006…then perk up my friend! Sebastian Grainger is none other than THE Sebastian Grainger…aka one half of our dearly departed Death from Above. Now that I’ve got your attention…the newest effort from Grainger cashes in on his token radtastic vocals and slammin’ guitar riffs. Alongside some new band members, Nick Sewall and Leon Taheny, Grainger has matured his sound. Not in an “I’m 80 years old and let’s polka way,” but rather into a dynamic rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse with a slightly softer edge. Check it out at: http://www.myspace.com/sebastiengrainger

-Kendra Hart, Culture Coordinator (Broadcast Journalism)

You know, it’s been a pretty good decade for music.

Sure, the 2000’s haven’t really had anything as memorable as say Nirvana or U2, and now it seems more then ever that bands release a few singles, an album and kind of vanish into the ether, but still, there’s been a lot of good stuff released.

This list represents one stab at the top 10 albums of the decade. I make no pretense of this being THE list, nor even a list I’ll agree with tomorrow… why, if I were to make it again, I’m sure the order would be different and somebody else would have made the cut at another bands expense… but hell, aren’t all lists like that?

10 ) Gorillaz – Demon Days (2005, Virgin)

Gorillaz first album was like a shot out of left field – there wasn’t really anything I had ever heard like it before.  By the time the follow up arrived, expectations were through the roof. And boy did this album keep pace. It took the best elements from the first album, added some slick production from Danger Mouse and became more band-like. It wasn’t hard to imagine this album being played live by the Gorillaz (which later happened).

Standout tracks: Feel Good Inc., DARE

9 ) Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend (2008, XL)

I wasn’t privy to the hype surrounding this release (indeed, I didn’t even hear it until well after it came out). But damn, this was a great debut. Sure it’s a little too cute an tries to be too clever sometimes, but I think that on the whole, it’s a really cohesive work. And hell, when bands come out of the woodwork sounding like you, that’s gotta mean something good.

Standout tracks: M79, Oxford Comma

8 ) Death From Above 1979 – You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004, Last Gang)

DFA 1979 was like a shot ringing out. There wasn’t really anything quite like them before in music that I could think of – in a way, they were the black to Jack White. Frantic drumming, relentlessly pounding bass and lyrics that came screaming out at you… it was pretty awesome. It’s a real shame the band didn’t stick around, either. Their total output, I think, can fit on just one CD (remixes excluded). Still, you can’t go wrong with their only LP.

Standout tracks: Little Girl, Blood On Our Hands

7 ) Feist – The Reminder (2008, Arts & Crafts)

Before everybody and their mother heard 1234 played to excess, Fiest was a hell of a secret. Despite a good debut album – the solid Let it Die – and appearances with Broken Social Scene (more on that later), she was pretty firmly stuck in that netherworld of CBC Radio 3, a landscape of underappreciated Canadian rock that didn’t really have much of an audience. But thanks to that song (and an iconic Apple ad), she rocketed right into the mainstream. But the album was more then just a hit single. It highlights different sides of Fiest: rock, piano-driven pop, world music.

Standout tracks: My Moon My Man, Sea Lion Woman, I Feel It All

6 ) The Go! Team – Proof of Youth (2007, Sub Pop)

Brash, loud, unafraid to go wherever the hell it wants. Like the title suggests, the Go! Team’s sophomore album is the kind of thing just oozes youth with no regard for conventions. Almost without remorse, it’s eclectic mix of samples beam in from all over – from old school rap to Glen Campbell – and mesh with the band’s live playing. It suggests anything and everything at once. It’s a mashup, it’s an alternative album, it’s dance-punk… it can be what you want it to be as it constantly reinvents itself.

Together, The Go! Team represents where music has gone towards the end of the decade. They don’t just create, but distill everything – the chants from the schoolyard, the guitar riffs from the indie scene and the beat  - with myriad samples for a unique sound. I personally found this album tremendously exciting – Grip Like a Vice, for one, offered a feeling of something completely new: a beamed in vocal sample from over 20 years before mixed into something new.

Proof’s still their defining album and remains an underrated gem.

Key tracks: The Wraith of Marcie, Grip Like a Vice, Titanic Vandalism

5 ) Tegan and Sara – The Con (2007, Vapor/Sire)

With So Jealous, Tegan and Sara exploded out with a new wave-ish sound, with a lot of keyboards and bloops and such, but for their followup, they returned to a rootsy kind of sound, one that suited their skillset. At once current and timeless (shades of REM’s Murmur), The Con resonated with all of Tegan and Sara’s skills – their sharp, smart songwriting, their knack for catchy melodies and their talent at harmony. Whereas all the gimmickry on So Jealous quickly became dated, I think the basic The Con will hold up for a long time. On every level, it’s their best.

Standout tracks: Knife Going In, The Con, Back in Your Head

4 ) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell (2003, Interscope)

Karen O is kind of a weird person. I don’t mean that she’s crazy or anything, but that she seems to draw fans from all over. I liked the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I had a friend who was a big Insane Clown Posse fan who liked them too. So did the cool kids, too. This album – their breakout album, if it can be called that – was a real draw, with Maps as it’s hook. But it was more then just Karen O’s balladry – they crunched through sonic blues and just maybe invented indie rock with Pin.

YYY was a band that got a lot of good press for two EPs (neither of which I really liked), but they justified it with a stunning debut. They still haven’t matched it.

Standout tracks: Maps, Pin, Y Control

3 ) The White Stripes – White Blood Cells (2001, Sympathy for the Record Industry)

For all they’ve done since – and they have done a lot of good stuff since – their breakout album is still the one that retains the most power. Maybe it’s because of what they’ve done, though. Since this album exploded, Jack White has gone, as Stephen Leacock wrote, madly off in all directions. From a band with nothing save guitar and bass to all kinds of sounds – timpani, marimba, horn sections… but here, it’s simple. Loud crashing drums and fuzzed out guitars. Or quiet, simple chords. There wasn’t a lot of middle ground – but it didn’t need it.

Standout tracks: We’re Going to be Friends, Fell in Love with a Girl, Hotel Yorba

2 ) You Forgot it in People – Broken Social Scene (2002, Arts and Crafts)

This album’s one of the cornerstones of where my taste in music lies – along with The Wedge and CBC Radio 3, this album shaped what I was interested in. This record is packed to the brim with the talents of Canada’s indie scene at the time (Amy Milan, Fiest, Emily Haines, Ohad Benchetrit) to the heavily-talented core of BSS was just enough to push the band out of the confines of their debut, a meandering record that didn’t know what it was. I remember a poll a couple years back that called this the second-best Canadian album ever made. Maybe it’s not quite that high… but it’s close.

Standout tracks: Cause = Time, Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl, Stars and Sons

1 ) The Stokes – Is This It? (2001, RCA)

Okay, step back to 2001 with me for a sec. Back about 10 years ago, the entire music scene was (as I remember it) completely different.

The Billboard Top 10 toward the end of August as ruled by R&B (Nelly, Destiny’s Child, Eve) and some lightlight pop (Train, O-Town). Top selling albums included:

• Various – Now 7
• N’Sync – Celebrity
• Aaron Carter – Oh Aaron
• Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory

It wasn’t a great time, really. Rock was quietly vanishing from pop culture in a flood of Nu-Metal, that hybrid fusion of rap and metal that unabashedly stole from Faith No More and Rage Against the Machine, and added a lot more bullshit posturing (Looking at you, Fred Durst). Who had guitar solos? Three Doors Down?

Enter Julian Casablancas and co.

They had clean-sounding, simple little rock songs that were smart, charming and catchy as hell. They brought a vaguely underground scene (think The Mouldy Peaches) and brought it to the masses. If anybody asked me, I’d say Last Nite was a sensational track and without it, popular music would be a lot different. I have no way to prove this, I’ll admit, but without the breakout success of the Strokes, do The White Stripes find an audience? Does the New York scene explode, pushing edgier acts like the Yeahs, Vampire Weekend or !!! to fans?

Like the song said, it’s hard to explain. They sounded both old and new at the same time – equal parts late Velvet Underground and Oasis. Check out their first video – between clips from all over the place, there’s a shot of them playing under a sign bearing more then a passing resemblance to Elvis’ on his comeback concert. Symbolism – rock was making a comeback.

It was a bit of a shame, really, that the Strokes never were able to recapture the same feeling on either of their follow-ups. I remember when Room on Fire came out, it had been delayed a bit – they had recorded an album with Nigel Godrich that ended up getting shelved. They also ditched a live album for reasons that never were explained. Room on Fire felt too slick and empty, like a model house of their debut. Their latest – 2006’s Last Impressions of Earth – had them rocking harder and louder… and was missing the same charms.

More and more, it felt like The Strokes were trying to be the band they were instead of just letting it happen. And while they waited and tried to force it, pop moved on and evolved into the mainstream.

Key tracks: Last Nite, Hard to Explain, Is This It?

I’d just like to start off by noting that today is Saint Andrews day, for those who are unaware. He is the patron Saint of Scotland….and Greece, Ukraine, Russia and Romania nonetheless. But seeing as i’m Scottish i had planned on making a special Scottish artists themed Monday List. But i promised a moustache review last week so i’m sticking with that theme and i’ll get a Scottish artists post in before the end of the year, i’ll make sure it’s a big post too. That should more than make up for the delay in my promised Scottish themed post. As i’ve said many times before there is so much musical talent in this country, some heard and some unheard.

But on to this weeks list and a small review of my 5 days living with a moustache.

*NOTE* All entries on this weeks list will have their picture posted next to them. For facial hair comparison purposes more than anything else i suppose.

Before i begin the countdown i’ll clear something up for anyone who is offended by the exclusion of Freddie Mercury, i deliberately left him out because he is the King of Taches and would out-tache any contenders to the throne too easily.

At number one is the late Frank Zappa, known as much for his facial fuzz as his whacked out freaky jazz rock compositions. Number two is Spinal Tap and their bassist with the mostest Derek Smalls. Number three is the lanky gothic legend, the dapper devil himself, Nick Cave. Boogie-ing his way on in at number four is the actual Devil, Jess “The Devil” Hughes and his amazing ,sexual innuendo loving band the Eagles of Death Metal. At number five the psychedelic moustachioed Captain Beefheart. Number six? One of my favourite bands ever who just happen to contain the moustache sporting musical chameleon that is Jesse F Keeler. Sleazing they’re way in to number seven are The Teenagers (check out their remix of Mer Du Japon, it’s late night heaven), led by Quentin Delafon. Number eight are a band who at one point clearly got together and said lets ALL grow moustaches at the same time, The Beatles. Not their biggest fan but respect for the joint tache venture. Lagging in at number nine is Weezer and Rivers Cuomo’s  “different” period he went through when he decided to spring a moustache upon us all. Finally at number 10 is the frankly baffling attempt by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers to be taken seriously. “Hey, look i have a tache!” Ok Brandon i can see that but that doesn’t mean your band will ever have more than one good album. We all know what one it is, Hot Fuss of course. But the lead single from their second effort promised so much more than was actually delivered and for that reason we’ll include “When You Were Young” and Brandon at the tail end of the Tache Masters list.

Tache Masters
—————
MP3s

1. MP3:  Frank Zappa – Flower Punk

2. MP3:  Spinal Tap – Big Bottom

3. MP3:  Nick Cave – Red Right Hand

4. MP3:  Eagles Of Death Metal – I Only Want You

5. MP3:  Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Diddy Wah Diddy

6. MP3:  Death From Above 1979 – Turn It Out

7. MP3:  The Teenagers – Starlett Johansson

8. MP3:  The Beatles – Let It Be

9. MP3;  Weezer – (If You Are Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

10. MP3:  The Killers – When You Were Young

And special bonus videos, one for the Tache King (ironically a video where he doesn’t have his famous moustache) and one dedicated to a Mr Moustache himself….

VIDEO: Nirvana – Mr Moustache

VIDEO: Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love

And a few bonus MP3s for you to download, believe me these 4 songs are ALL worth downloading. The song by Moustache of Insanity is probably the most random 1 minutes 6 seconds of lyrics you’ll ever hear. The song by Jean Moustache is just sheer sleazy French disco. Pat Cantins song My Lovely Moustache is a gathering of chilled beats and fuzzy mellow bleeps and synth crackles that bring to mind a very stoned version of a certain Richard D James. As for the last track well it’s worth downloading and listening to for the title alone, “Grow Your Own Fucking Moustache, Asshole” indeed. If i was to attempt to describe the song i would be swayed to say “An Angry Hairy Lipped Man Singing About How His Lip Caterpillar Is Better Than Yours”. Or we could just settle for “Orchestral/electronical indie masterpiece with moustache related threats”. Whichever you prefer. Just download all 4 and have your own little Moustache Related Music Session.

Moustache Of Insanity. Clearly the more insane one is in the green shirt.

MP3: Moustache of Insanity – Imagine

Jean Moustache (apparently)

MP3: Jean Moustache – Vodka Champagne

Pat Cantin and his "lovely" moustache.

MP3: Pat Cantin – My Lovely Moustache

The Wet Secrets. There's 5 of them, so you BETTER do as they say and grow your own fucking moustache.

MP3: The Wet Secrets – Grow Your Own Fucking Moustache, Asshole

Now for the Tache Review
——————————

SUNDAY the 22nd: I officially join the Movember club and shave myself a strange breed of moustache/beard. I head round to Andys to see if he’s kept his part of the agreement. He has. He has a handlebar. I’m relieved. I’m not alone in Tacheland. Me, Andy, Chris and Ewan have all agreed to sport our own forms of facial fuzz for this week.

A tache AND a pout!? What was i thinking?!

MONDAY the 23rd: My first day actually venturing outside my comfort zone with this thing on my face. As soon as i leave the house at 7am i feel the cold morning air stiffen my baldy chin, there’s usually a goatee of some sort there. It feels weird without it. I board the bus with my jacket pulled tightly over my mouth and lower part of my face before mumbling my required destination to the bus driver. He looks at me oddly and beckons me onboard. The rest of the journey is secure enough, the bus is pretty empty. I get to my work, take the expected YMCA jokes on the chin (pardon the pun) and open my toolbox.

TUESDAY the 24th: The morning is pretty much a repeat of the previous morning although this time a picture of Lemmy has been stuck to the side of my toolbox. My sister and niece come over to visit after work. My sister Lisa is adamant that she has to take pictures of this ghastly design on my face. She does so. 3 0r 4 times. I cringe in embarrassment for most until i get a picture taken with little Emily and even though i sport this ridiculous thing i can’t help but smile. The pictures from then on in are taken with me in funny/silly mode. Lisa insists she was only taking the pix so she could show Gary (my bro in law) but i know she showed all her friends! Revenge will be mine Lisa, be warned.

The "casual" handlebar and obligatory puzzled look

WEDNESDAY the 25th: I’ve now shaven off the Lemmy-esque side breezer bits of the mosutache beard and i’m down to an almost “normal” version of the handlebar. The journey to work somehow becomes even more awkward as i start to wonder why i’ve even bothered to do this. But an agreement is an agreement and i feel a bit less daft looking when Chris turns up at my place with his very own handlebar effort. I say effort because he’s tried to grow one but its a bit whispy and more like a set of whiskers than a moustache. But at least he’s kept his bumfluff effort unlike some! Andy shaved his off on the Sunday night, he basically only kept it on the Sunday to prove he’d done it then proceeded to shave it off  later that night thinking i’d never know! Cheat. His flatmate Joe stuck him in.

THURSDAY the 26th: My last day of Tache Torture! I’ve shaved off the handlebar bit now and its just a plain old moustache. According to my mum and sister i now resemble an exact replica of my father as a 24 year old. I don’t know whats worse, the fact that they said that or the fact that my dad grew one of these disaster taches out of choice back in the day! Work today is a lot easier, Ewan has returned from holiday and is true to his word. He has a moustache! Some of the friendly abuse is now directed at him. I’m secretly grateful to my shaggy haired friend for sparing me another day as the works focal point of jokes. I’ll buy him a pint later but only on the agreement that its a Guinness and he has to take a huge gulp so he gets a Guinness moustache. I get home on the Thursday and relax knowing that when the morning comes i can finally rid myself of this multi-coloured thing living below my nose.

Words fail me. I can only apologise for any long term damage done to anyone by the viewing of this picture.

FRIDAY the 27th: i rise at 6am and head straight to the bathroom. Hot water, shaving foam, BRAND NEW RAZOR and within 2 minutes it’s gone! I’m free. No more awkward bus journeys, no more “Alright Freddy Mercury” cries in work, no more itchy lip and no more patter from a certain person saying “You actually quite suit that Johnny” in the hope that i’ll keep it. I’m not falling for that one, you know who you are!

I PROMISE I WILL NEVER GROW A MOUSTACHE AGAIN………….UNTIL NEXT MOVEMBER

S.I.T Wolf  X

I suppose you’re all wondering what the new COEN BROTHERS film is like? Well I went to see it this evening, and I’m gonna say this: it’s very different from their usual films, it’s more of a deep, philosophical comedy drama. Some (denser) audience members may leave feeling cheated, or fail to be entertained, but by the ending, I found the film to be very clever, and begin to make perfect sense upon reflection; when I left the cinema. Just go and see it, if you’re intelligent, and want to be entertained. It’s about as challenging to watch as Charlie Kaufman’s latest, I’d say, but possibly a little less complicated. But c’mon, it’s a Coens film, who’s not gonna go see it?

Yes. Yes you should. I’m serious.

Anyway, back to music. I’ve been listening to a bit of a mix lately; about half electronic, half other music? Well whatever, but I’ve bumped into a few incredible tracks from all different corners. Such as this – Erol Alkan’s latest signing, German dude BORIS DLUGOSCH, who has released possibly one of the biggest bangers of this year, immediately rivalling everyone from Jack Beats to Crookers, and mainly due to its simple formula of chopped up beats, wiping synths and high pitched groans, as well as steady popping bass.

“Bangkok” (Original Mix) – Boris Dlugosch (zshare)

Also from Germany is minimal techno duo AKA AKA, who sample some crazy stuff (including Batman & Robin), but in this track utilise a bit of didgeridoo in place of the usual repetitive electronic percussion, which I thought was pretty raaaaaaaaaad:

“Woody Woodpecker” – Aka Aka (zshare) [hi-qual/large file]

A while ago I found these two Portuguese guys called OCTA PUSH, who are incredible. They’ve pretty much popped out of nowhere, and they mix all kinds of styles together to form some kind of supersound. I can’t really explain it, but it’s very accessible. This is their signature track, I think, and it’s pretty sumptuous when you first hear it smother your ear-holes…

“Kolokani” – Octa Push (zshare)

So THE BLACK KEYS decided to go hip-hop for their newest stuff, and collaborated with a ton of rappers and vocalists, including one of my favourites, Mos Def. But the track I’m gonna show you features RZA of Wu-Tang fame, and Pharoahe Monch of “shut the fuck up” fame. It holds a significant amount of soul, psychedelia, and swagger. Raw:

“Dollaz & Sense” (ft. RZA & Pharoahe Monch) – Blakroc (zshare)

I saw TURBO FRUITS a while back when whiting out at a festival, and I remember them playing pretty well for a Be Your Own Pet spinoff. I actually bought their debut album, despite it not seeming fully thought-out. This new stuff shows a stronger side to them, with a balls-out Black Lips-style tightness. This is how mainstream rock music should sound nowadays, brilliant production too. Apparently they’re soundtracking the new Drew Barrymore film though…ugh…

“International Language of Love” – Turbo Fruits (zshare)

INVASION are insane. I first read them described as “wizard metal”, and straight away got on that shit. First listen sounds like Death From Above 1979 with crazy soulish vocals. And I’m happy to say it all sounds that good! It’s pretty spacey, you should check out their videos actually, I’ll post one now just to keep you entertained – watch their other videos though, they’re really cool 90’s video montage-based! Can you handle:

“Alchemy” – Invasion (zshare)

[BONUS COVERT DUBSTEP SKILLZ: "Dublicker" - Unknown Artist vs Aphex Twin (zshare)]

Every time a 0 is involved with the turning year, people tend to go crazy over “the best _____ of the decade”. Lists come out about music and movies and tv shows and whatever. Well, I decided to do that. Because I’m a dork. What I ended up doing is a list of things for every year since the year 2000. I will talk about some of them and leave links to others that I think are fantastical and that I belive you (whoever you are) might enjoy. So. Here we go. Expect to see some bands that repeat, and some that you know I like, if you like me:

2000
Does anyone remember how fantastically catchy ‘Bohemian Like You’ was? The silly video with the karaoke-thing, etcetera? There was a lot of decent music coming out around this time, and I remember being consistently barraged by good albums. This wouldn’t continue through the rest of the decade. Californication would be the last time I would enjoy RHCP as a band.

Dandy Warhols (song – Bohemian Like You); Red Hot Chili Peppers (album – Californication); Smashing Pumpkins/Foo Fighters/A Perfect Circle(show – Summersault – Winnipeg Stadium); Nine Inch Nails (video – Into the Void)

2001
In 2001 I succumbed to sexy pop for a favorite song. Seriously. That song is awesome. Frusciante’s album was magical, and I think my video of the year is really the only choice.

Kylie Minogue (song – Can’t get you out of my head); John Frusciante (album – To Record only Water for Ten Days); Tragically Hip (show – Winnipeg Arena); Fatboy Slim (video – Weapon of Choice)

2002
Dave Grohl makes the list twice as a drummer in this year, and probably would have taken the album too, but from out of nowhere came what would change my mind about Canadian music in that I ended up following almost every project that Broken Social Scene had outside of it’s main band after hearing the album and seeing them live.

Queens Of The Stone Age (song – Go With the Flow); Broken Social Scene (album – You Forgot it in people); Broken Social Scene – (show – Pyramid Cabaret); Tenacious D (video – Tribute)

2003
I remember the moment I fell in love with Sit down Stand up. It was on the eve of the album coming out, and Radiohead played a live show that was broadcasted to Silver City theatres in Canada. When that song reached the crescendo into the fast ‘raindrops’ part, I was almost on the edge of my seat. Which I could also say about the Metric show. They were second on a bill of three that featured Hot Hot Heat as the main act, and were still relatively new, but downright sexy and exciting to watch. I’ve since seen them six more times.

Radiohead (song – Sit Down, Stand Up); Mars Volta (album – De-Loused in the Comatorium); Metric (show – Pyramid Cabaret); Buck 65 (video – Wicked and Weird)

2004
The second time a John Frusciante album makes my favorite albums. This album is widely regarded as his most ‘mainstream’ and is a fantastic, great-amazing thing, just like the Bowie concert, which was the last concert I ever saw at the ol’ Winnipeg arena.

Secret Machines (song – Nowhere Again); John Frusciante (album – Shadows Collide with People); David Bowie (show – Winnipeg Arena); DFA 1979 (video – Black History Month)

2005
I’ll never forget how many phone calls I got when Nine Inch Nails annouced that they’d be coming here. It was the first time I was going to see them, after being a fan since 1994. My phone rang off the hook, and for one song during that show, so did my emotions. I kinda quietly, completely lost it, and felt like a dummy. Ha! By the way, that Esthero video’s freakin’ hot, and I agree with every sentiment in it.

Sufjan Stevens (song – Come On! Feel the Illinoise!); Fantomas (album – Suspended Animation); Nine Inch Nails (show – MTS Centre) Esthero (video – We R in Need of a Musical Revolution)

2006
I saw Wintersleep by myself in front of about 30 people, and skipped work to get there. When I talked to the singer about this, he dedicated a song to me. How nice. As far as Nausea goes, I don’t know what it is about that song, but something in it drives me nuts. It’s way too good and it doesn’t even realize it.

Beck (song – Nausea); Regina Spektor (album – Begin To Hope); Wintersleep (show – The Collective); Eagles of Death Metal (video – Boy’s Bad News)

2007
National Anthem of Nowhere has become my most listened to track on last.fm, and I think the Wintersleep album has since become one of my most listened to albums. They will both continue to rise in numbers. If I did a song by song and album by album breakdown, these two would make somewhere within the top three. And it’s pretty cool that I got to see Mike Patton in any of his 34i83902439024 bands, but Peeping Tom blew me away.

Apostle of Hustle (song – National Anthem of nowhere); Wintersleep (album – Welcome to the Night Sky); Peeping Tom (show – Trocadero); Feist (video – 1234)

2008
God, In Rainbows is great. And Secret Machines live, that’s something so completely underrated, I don’t even know how to describe it to you. The power that they have to get an audience going, is a sight to behold and yet there were so few people there that I was kind of disappointed in the turnout. Oh, and yes, I realize that Feist gets the video 2 years running for the same album, but they’re both great videos.

Kaki King (song – Montreal); Radiohead (album – In Rainbows); Secret Machines (show – Pyramid); Feist (video – I feel it all)

2009
I know, it hasn’t been that long, but Them Crooked Vultures was exactly the album I wanted it to be. So there.  And as far as Spookey’s song goes, this is the second time I’ve talked about it in my blog. Previously appeared in my “songs you won’t see in Guitar Hero or Rock band“, and it’s just something to behold. Metric’s video was perfect, it was the video that I wanted them to have. Something sweet and cute instead of overtly dorky like all of their other videos. As far as Leonard Cohen’s concert goes, I hadn’t been a huge fan beforehand, but was introduced, and BECAME a large fan because of how amazing that concert was. Everything he did was perfect. The singing, the sounds, the engagement with the audience was fantastic. Top five concerts in my life, that one.

Spookey Ruben (song – Mechanical Royalty); Them Crooked Vultures (album – Them Crooked Vultures); Leonard Cohen (show – MTS Centre); Metric (video – Gimme Sympathy)

#69: Placebo/Black Market Music (2000) — the decade started with Placebo’s third album. I love the swagger they return with on ‘Taste in Men,’ it sets the tone for the record and shows the band weren’t just going to be one album wonders with ‘Pure Morning,’ and ‘Every You, Every Me,’ off of Without You… Melding their glam influences (sex, drugs, rock n’ roll) with a more straightforward sound and Brian Molko’s lyricism — which now expored more diverse fare (racism, religion, dysfunction). Check out: ‘Passive Aggressive,’ ‘Black-Eyed,’ ‘Haemoglobin.’

#68: Silversun Pickups/Carnavas (2006) — it’s interesting how I got turned on to these guys. I’d actually just started with R.S. and we were analyzing/comparing sales figures from Cold War Kids first record to SSPU. Two completely different bands with two paths in the indie-hipster world. I think SSPU’s are a bit more Americanized with the shoegazer freakouts and the comparison to the Pumpkins and, well heck, radio-friendly. A solid album from start to finish from an SP fan who thinks duplication with an update is the sincerest form of flattery. Check out: ‘Well Thought-Out Twinkles,’ ‘Rusted Wheel,’ and ‘Three Seed.’

#67: Kings of Leon/Only By The Night (2008) — this was the album that KOL officially traded in their indie/hipster rock credits for bonafide American crossover acceptance, something they’d been gunning for since the beginning of their career. But let’s face it, they weren’t ready for it until now. They needed to find the right production (which now paired up the duo of Angelo Petraglia and Jacquire King) and continue in the flow of 2007’s Because of the Times. The result was their first (well deserved) Grammy. Check out: ‘Closer,’ ‘Sex on Fire,’ and ‘Use Somebody.’

#66: Coheed & Cambria/No World for Tomorrow (2007) — though Sony’s decision to put the regular version of this album in a simple slip-sleeve and sell it to fans was appaling to me, I dealt with it on the musical level foremost. C&C came into their own on this album (with little known fact, Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters fame, recorded skins on this record). It’s easy to draw Rush comparisons to this band, but when you get over that ‘hump,’ you realized these guys have the chops and a little updated nostalgia never hurt anyone. There’s still some killer riffs and solo’s any guitar geek would fawn over. Check out: “Feathers,” “The Running Free,” and “Mother Superior.”

#65: Thrice/The Artist & The Ambulance (2003) — 2003 was a bit of difficult year in terms of my focus in Thrice and the genre they represented at the time. This was also the same year as AFI’s Sing the Sorrow, Brand New’s Deja Entendu, Story of the Year’s Park Ave, and the Senses Fail …Depths of Dreams EP. It probably wasn’t until the middle of 2005, rolling into a Denny’s at the wee hours that I recognized the power of this album. It still shocks me the growth this band has exhibited over the past decade, really coming into their own. If you’re looking for the concrete to build a foundation though, this is the one. Amidst jagged guitars there are great signs of life here and a punk spirit alive and well within a bonafide rock band. Check out: ‘Under a Killing Moon,’ ‘All That’s Left,’ and ‘The Artist in the Ambulance.’

#64: Cure/4:13 Dream (2008) — it’s entirely possible this album could rest inside my decade top 100 on the strength of the atmospherics of the first track alone. ‘Underneath the Stars,’ is everything a Cure fan has come to know and expect. After the trainwreck of the self-titled 2004 Ross Robinson (Slipknot, Korn) produced effort, it honestly did take four years to right the ship, strip down and return to the glory of where the decade took shape with 2000’s Bloodflowers. While my boy JB hates ‘The Only One,’ for being too pop – it’s exactly what was so great about Wish-era Cure and F-U-N! ‘The Reasons Why’ was an extremely dark song that spoke to me in a very dark time. For their 13th album, 4:13 Dream is a homerun and Cure fans should rejoice… Check out: ‘Underneath the Stars,’ ‘The Only One,’ and ‘This. Here and Now. With You.’

#63: Black Keys/Attack & Release (2008) — The Black Keys finally came into their own on this release, thanks to some great songwriting and some exciting production by Dangermouse. Such great atmospherics amidst the blues rock here. Check out: ‘I Got Mine,’ ‘Lies,’ and ‘So He Won’t Break.’

#62: In Flames/A Sense of Purpose (2008) — The string of 2008 releases continues as Swedish metal act In Flames hit the countdown with their most commercially accessible album (number nine studio album, for those keeping score at home) to date, though a far cry sales wise from 06’s Come Clarity album. This album is so chock full of that good old driving European death metal sound, thrash and some fantastic keyboards along with some of the cleanest vocals by Anders Friden to date. Check out: ‘Sleepless Again,’ ‘I’m the Highway,’ and ‘Delight and Angers.’

#61: Metallica/Death Magnetic (2008) — from the opening strings of the opening track and the packaging, a Metallica fan knows something is different about this album that wasn’t there over the past 10-15 years. Their first official studio release with Trujillo in the fold and Rick Rubin producing, the well-oiled metal machine that is Metallica is back and on top of its game. The Bay Area Thrashers are back, cleaner and angrier than ever and ready to give us some serious whiplash. Check out: ‘That Was Just Your Life,’ ‘Broken Beat and Scarred,’ and ‘My Apocalypse.’

#60: Death from Above 1979/You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004) — perhaps the best workout album of the decade. Seriously, I discovered these guys on a lark as I noticed they were supporting NIN on their With Teeth tour and I wanted to check them out. I’m glad I did. While their tenure in the decade was short (splintering off into MSTRKRFT and Sebastian Grainger, respectively), You’re a Woman… was one of the most unique sounding punk meets industrial albums to ever come to fruition. They even use cowbell. Check out: ‘Going Steady,’ ‘Black History Month’ and ‘Sexy Results.’

Sebastien Grainger é um símbolo das jovens bandas undergrounds canadenses. Ele era vocalista e baterista do grupo de dance punk Death From Above 1979 e após o rompimento do grupo se lançou ao universo místico das pequenas bandas que tocam em pubs menores ainda e ninguém ouve falar na vida. Sebastien nasceu em 11 de abril de 1979 é músico, compositor e toca uma pequena variedade de instrumentos em todas as bandas que já teve ligação: A famigerada DFA1979, Girl on Girl, Femme Fatale, MSTRKRFT e recentemente está na carreira solo com a banda de apoio The Mountains. Já lançou um trabalho independente homônimo e vive pela estrada dormindo em trailers.

Aqui para download o debut Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains Download

1 – Love Can Be So Mean

The only time I ever saw them live had to have been in either May of 2004 or 2005. It hadnt stopped raining for three days straight, and I really hate going into NYC with weather like that. But I was on the record label’s guest list (one of the many perks of being a radio dj), and I promised Jeremy (my youngest brother) that I’d get their autograph for his birthday.
They were, and still are one of the best bands I have ever seen live. Their energy never waivered, they didnt half-ass it. They were !ugh! SO fucking amazing. After the show, I stood out in the rain until 3 in the morning, waiting for them to come out. I still kind of feel bad to this day to the two friends that were with me. Of course, being the genius I am, I didnt have an umbrella.
When they finally came out of the empty venue (Bowery Ballroom..my absolute fave venue), I practically jumped at them until they stopped to stare at me and reverted to “omg youre a rock star to me, i’m not worthy” giddiness/shyness. I had them sign my copy of the album, which I later gave to Jeremy (hopefully he knows where it is somewhere), and had them pose for a picture. One with his thumbs down, the other with thumbs up. When I showed Jeremy, he giggled like the bitch he totally is and hugged me.
Of course my pc crashed years later, and I dont have that picture anymore. That’s the worst part of the story. The best part is how happy Jay was when I gave him both things.

This started out as a random band-love-blog, and ended up as an “Awwww, I love my little brother” blog.

My knowledge of this particular remixer consisted of his amazing remix of Franz Ferdinand’s Do You Want To and that he did that thing with Boys Noize (which was also pretty damn amazing). After researching (scourged for all his remixes and wikipedia’d the man), I discovered a couple of interesting things about this guy; he makes some crazy good, headbanging electronic remixes of indie artists (Bloc Party, Klaxons, Interpol and more) and produced the Late of the Pier record. For the second feat alone, I applaud him, it is quite a marvelous record. But that’s not why we are here, his remix of Death From Above is fantastic. Their aren’t words which can give this remix justice, but it’s basically just chopped up heavy, funky bass lines with some great build-ups.

Romantic Rights (Erol Akan’s Love From Below Re-Edit) – Death From Above 1979

Bonus: Waves – Erol Alkan & Boys Noize

official, myspace, beatport, podcast

O MSTRKRFT é um duo de música eletrônica e house da cidade de Ontario, Canadá e fazem contrato com a estimada gravadora Last Gang Records e estão na ativa desde 2oo5 e só lançaram dois trabalhos, sendo o mais recente deste ano. As participações do MSTRKRFT [Masterkraft] em remixes são incontáveis, sendo que eles mesmos já produziram diversos EPs e debuts de grupos do mesmo cenário musical, como o Die Mannequin. A dupla formada por, adivinhem: Jesse F. Keller e Al P. [Alex Puodziukas] possui bastante difusão em outros países, principalmente no Brasil aonde vinham para o festival do Skol Beats, mas devido problemas no avião tiveram de cancelar os shows.

Aqui para download o debut the Looks        Download

1 – Work on You

Another new section, just a simple post about cover versions of songs i like, dislike or maybe even just find funny. I’m gonna do 5 songs each post (well it’ll actually work out at 10 cos both versions will be included). Usually i would post MP3 versions of the songs so that you would be able to download them but i’m having a few problems with my external hard drive at the moment and it has practically all of my music on it. Over 200GB of music just vansihed

Anyways, videos will have to do for the time being…and even at that, it won’t be the official videos. YouTube doesn’t allow you to embed “official” videos.

1. SET YOU FREE

Original Version – N-Trance
Cover Version – Frightened Rabbit

2. EVERYWHERE

Original Version – Fleetwood Mac
Cover Version – Vampire Weekend

3. BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Original Version – Death From Above 1979
Cover Version – Neverending White Lights

*the version that Neverending White Lights do is actually a cover version of a remix version of “Black History Month” believe it or not but we’ll let it swing just this once. If you’re interested the remix they’re covering is by Allan Braxe and Fred Falke.

4. HEARTBEATS

Original Version – The Knife
Cover Version – Jose Gonzalez

5. BETWEEN THE BARS

Original Version – Elliott Smith
Cover Version – Metric

S.I.T Wolf X

Neste programa, músicas de Eletro-Rock que garantem qualquer playlist. Do início das experimentações eletrônicas, nos anos 70, até os dias atuais.

Bloco 1:
 

Bloco 2:
 

Playlist da Semana:

#1

“Transmission”
 JOY DIVISION
 Still (1981)*

Assista ao vídeo de ‘Transmission’
ao vivo na BBC em 1979.

*‘Transmission’ foi o primeiro single da banda, mas só foi lançado na copilação póstuma Still

#2

“Dangerous Type”
 THE CARS
 Candy-O (1979)

Assista ao vídeo de ‘Dangerous Type’
ao vivo.

#3
 
“Swan Lake”
 PUBLIC IMAGE LTD.
 Metal Box (1979) 

 Assista ao vídeo de ‘Swan Lake’.

#MUITO BOM MUITO FODA TOCOU DEMAIS!

“Dance To The Underground”
 RADIO 4
 Gotham! (2002)

 Assista ao vídeo de 
‘Dance to the Underground’

#5
 
“To Hell With Poverty”
 GANG OF FOUR
 Another Day/Another Dollar -EP (1982) 

Assista ao vídeo de
‘To Hell With Poverty’ 

#6
 
“Daft Punk Is Playing In My House”
 LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
LCD Soundsystem (2005)

Assista ao vídeo de
‘Daft Punk is Playing in my House’ 

#7

“Must Be the Moon”
  !!!
 Myth Takes (2007)

 Assista ao vídeo de
‘Must Be The Moon’

#8
 
“House of Jealous Lovers”
 THE RAPTURE
Echoes (2003) 

Assista ao vídeo de ‘House of Jealous Lovers’ ao vivo.

#9
 
“Romantic Rights”
 DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979
You Are a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004)

Assista ao vídeo de ‘Romantic Rights’ ao vivo.
Ouça também: Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains

#10
 
“C-C (You Set the Fire in Me)”
 TOM VEK
We Have Sound (2005) 

Assista ao vídeo de
‘C-C (You Set the Fire in ME)’ 

Abaixo, uma lista de bandas relacionadas:

Bauhaus
Cut Copy
The Dead 60’s
The Departure
Editors
The Fall
The Futureheads
Hot Chip
Interpol
The Knife
Ladyhawke
Liars
Moving Units
New Young Pony Club
Out Hud
Ra Ra Riot
The Rakes
She Wants Revenge
Shitdisco
Test Icicles
VHS or BETA
Vive La Fête
White Rose Movement
Whitest Boy Alive
You Say Party We Say Die!

Sebastien Grainger's solo debut showed he was just fine after Death From Above 1979's break-up

PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Sebastien Grainger & the Mountains’ “I Hate My Friends” MP3

When Death from Above 1979 announced their breakup amidst mutual hatred in 2006, it was an unfortunate time for music fans. Their 2004 record You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine will probably end up being one of the most overlooked efforts of the decade. The collection was infectious, harsh, noisy dance-punk, the likes of which is nowhere to be found on today’s scene.

After the band’s breakup, both members, Jesse Keeler and Sebastien Grainger, went their separate ways. As good as Keeler’s MSTRKRFT was on the first album however, it still can’t hold a candle to Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains‘ self-titled debut.

Taking many aspects of the callous, raucous dance-punk found on DFA1979, Grainger still managed to form a sound all his own with his 2008 release. It was a bit poppy, yet his unmistakable howl still cut through any Strokes-type riffs one could possibly come upon. Even without the heavy metal-inspiration of his previous band, each track remained a driving force, always teetering towards the brink.

For those still curious, take a listen to “I Hate My Friends,” probably the most explosive and boisterous of the tracks he put together on yet another record bound to be overlooked.

– John Cassillo, Reviews Editor

in the spirit
(maybe finally),
of

PARKLIFE 2009

CRYSTAL CASTLES 

‘Reckless’

‘Vanished’

‘Crimewave’ (vs. HEALTH)

‘1991′

‘Untrust Us’ (feat. DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979)

‘Courtship Dating’

Antes que confundam, existem dois grupos denominados Femme Fatale e um deles corresponde à banda criada pelo canadense Jesse F. Keller o ex-baixista do Death From Above 1979. A história de Jesse remonta desde sua primeira banda, Black Cat #13 e que nunca chegou a fazer sucesso e logo então vieram dois projetos: DFA1979 e Femme Fatale, que toca muito hard core e desce muito forte na sujeira eletrônica. Jesse diz ser um trabalho solo de seu maior interesse, mas suas apresentação são lotadas de membros contratados no palco e sempre esteve dedicado ao que seria seu primeiro álbum, Fire Baptism.

Cuidado quando forem ouvir, se quiser lógico, mas é um cd muito pesado e com rock do mais estilo No Age possível. Aqui para download o debut Fire Baptism       Download

1 – Fire Baptism [Reprise]