Sonic Avenues: Frénésie Pop!

Stéfane Campbell

BANG BANG, novembre 2009

Connus jusqu’ici par une poignée d’initiés – disons La Mecque du rock’n’roll PQ –, les quatre fêtards de Sonic Avenues s’apprêtent à changer la donne avec un premier album qui devrait élargir son auditoire. C’est du moins tout le mal qu’on leur souhaite. Garage sur le fond, pop et sucré sur la forme et résolument rock dans le rendu, les dix pièces qui se conjuguent en 27 minutes bien comptées ont tout ce qu’il faut pour séduire. Et bien que trois de ses membres soient issus de Sorel, la fraternité avec Malajube ou encore Mille Monarques se limite, selon le chanteur et guitariste Maxime Desharnais, au copinage de quartier plus que musical : « Mat Denoncourt était mon ancien voisin et on connaît les gars de Malajube, mais je ne crois pas qu’on ait beaucoup d’affinités sur le plan musical. » Cela dit, quand un groupe conjugue pop et punk avec autant de doigté, ça nous titille. Rencontrez Max, musicien et fan fini des Undertones.

Bien sûr, ce n’est pas sans une certaine fébrilité que les quatre jeunes musiciens qui œuvrent ensemble depuis trois ans présentent ledit gravé. Après une année et des poussières passées à concocter l’essentiel de ce qui s’y retrouve – « On s’y est mis à temps plein, sans faire de shows ou presque et on s’est calmé sur le côté party… » – c’est sous la tutelle de Clément Goulet (The Dears, Creature) que la formation commet une immersion totale de power-pop hyperactive et référentielle au possible : « Il a très vite compris où l’on voulait aller avec tout ça », affirme sans ambages Max, quant à la contribution de Goulet. Et de quoi en retourne-t-il au final? Pensez Buzzcocks, Barracudas ou encore The Undertones, ce sur quoi Desharnais s’enthousiasme : « Je suis content que tu dises ça, The Undertones sont définitivement dans mon top 3 de bands préférés à vie! ».

Dans l’garage…

Loin d’être plaqué, disons que le mandat n’est définitivement pas donné d’avance considérant la rachitique proportion de formations issues de la fleur de lys qui s’adonne au genre susmentionné. Ce qui ne semble toutefois pas embêter notre principal intéressé outre mesure : « On y va tout simplement avec ce que l’on écoute dans la vie. C’est vrai que c’est plus rare par chez nous, mais si tu te promènes un peu partout dans le monde, il y a des coins où la scène est ultra présente », répond celui qui s’est époumoné chez nos voisins du sud au cours de l’année passée et projette une tournée européenne au printemps 2010.

Et s’ils ont vite été taxés de garage sixties à leurs débuts, Desharnais croit bien que l’étiquette perdra quelques plumes à l’écoute de l’album lancé vendredi prochain : « Je suis très heureux de la direction qu’on prend sur l’album. On a été associé au mouvement sixties un peu à tort et on tend à s’en dissocier plus que jamais ici. Ça s’approche beaucoup plus du power pop abrasif et intense. »

C’est dans un élan de redécouverte que le musicien est tombé – à nouveau – sous le charme des groupes-formateurs du genre ici défendu : « C’est des bands que j’écoute depuis que je suis tout jeune, aux côtés des Ramones, Beatles, Stones et que, comme plusieurs gens, j’avais un peu laissé de côté avec le temps. Et c’est en jouant de la guitare et en commençant à chanter que j’ai tout ressorti et réentendu sous un angle complètement différent. » Et s’il estimait les consonances d’un point de vue d’auditeur dans un premier temps, c’est la sensibilité du musicien qui, aujourd’hui, parle d’une musique à priori assez unidimensionnelle, mais qui témoigne bel et bien d’un sens aguerri de la mélodie à son plus simple dénominateur : « du punk, c’est très simple, mais certains éléments-clés, comme les breakdowns, relèvent carrément du génie. »

On the road

C’est soutenu par un « single» et quelques démos à tirage très limité que Sonic Avenues a tout de même déjà réussi à franchir les frontières et aller s’épivarder aux États-Unis sur un parcours qui les a vus fouler les scènes de New York à Boston en plus de quelque autres grands centres. Et c’est de son arrivée dans la Grosse Pomme que le musicien garde le souvenir le plus mémorable : « On arrivait de Boston, on avait fait le gros party la veille, mais on voulait quand même tout donner ce soir-là, à New York (au Lit Lounge du Lower East Side pour tout dire). En arrivant, on syntonise la station rock’n’roll garage WFMU à qui on avait envoyé un “press kit” des plus basiques. Et en roulant dans NY, une de nos pièces commence à y jouer, c’était carrément surréaliste. »

Ainsi, le groupe présentera la nouvelle galette ce vendredi au Divan orange en plus d’y introduire deux nouvelles pièces qui se retrouveront probablement sur le prochain disque. En fait, lors de l’entretien, Desharnais s’affairait à fignoler l’une d’elles afin de la rendre à son goût pour vendredi. Boulimique de travail le monsieur? « Bah… On est un band de même, on fait un set de douze pièces. No matter what. Et on essaie de la changer le plus souvent possible, c’est notre façon de rester motivés. »

Lancement d’album au Divan Orange avec The Walnut Kids, Mother’s Children et DJ Mlle Bacon, vendredi le 27 novembre, 22h

sonicavenues.com

Photo: Gordon Ball

Christmas is coming ! One month and a half

We’re gonna celebrate it in advance !

and what is the perfect gift ?

> A list of wonderful cover songs, of course !!!

If you remember well, we introduced a cover of Umbrella by Coeur de Pirate at the very beginning of the blog

• Here is a new one :

Coeur de Pirate – Étienne d’Août @ Hillside Music Festival (Malajube Cover)

• Then some scandinavian artists :

Astrid Swan – When you were young (The Killers Cover)

Carolina Wallin Pérez – Ingenting (Kent Cover)

• Daft Punk reworked :

Alphabeat – Digital Love (Daft Punk Cover)

La Pompe Moderne – Plus dur meilleur plus rapide plus fort (Daft Punk Cover) (do you remember our former post about them ?)

• 2 of my favourite covers : for once Katy Perry does not sing like the girly girly girl she likes to play.

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)

Ellie Goulding – The Wolves Act I & II (Bon Iver Cover)

Cam.

Cet été j’ai eu la chance d’aller au festival des musiques émergentes d’Abitibi Témiscamingue (FMEAT). Invité à titre de blogueur j’ai eu la chance de voir beaucoup, beaucoup de concerts et de vivre cet évènement à plein, comme dit Marie-Pierre Arthur.

C’est donc avec plaisir et nostalgie que j’ai regardé les quelques images mises en ligne par l’équipe de la blogothèque.

Jetez-y un coup d’oeil, ça vaut le coup.

Mother Mother, Alfa Rococo, Camaromance et Random Recipe.

Thus Owls, Mother Mother, le Roi Poisson, Clues, Berithan Berrio et Malajube

La suite est ici

Avec ces 60 catégories cette année, plus que normale de faire L’Autre Gala de l’Adisq. C’était donc aujourd’hui qu’on pouvait voir sur les ondes de Musique plus en simultané, les quelques résultats des Félix remis aux gens de l’industrie de la musique.

Je dois dire un gros bravo à l’équipe Dare To Care qui ont gagné plusieurs prix !! ”Record Label of the Year’, Jean Leloup pour ‘Rock Album of the Year’, Malajube pour ‘Alternative Album of the Year’.

Un gros bravo aussi à Numéro #, pour avoir emporté le félix du meilleur album életronique.

On a eu l’occasion aussi de voir une superbe prestation de La Patère rose, artistes du Label Grosse Boîte, petite soeur de Dare To Care . Je dois dire que la p’tite Fanny Bloom m’a beaucoup impréssionnée ce soir avec son interprétation de La Marelle…ils ont assurés !

Pour plus de détails sur les autres gagnants de la soirée :
http://www.musiqueplus.com/info/videos/l-autre-gala-de-l-adisq-les-artistes-nous-invitent-a-la-fete

Les festivités se poursuivent dimanche prochain. N’oubliez pas d’aller voter pour la chanson populaire de l’année juste ici : http://adisq.radio-canada.ca/fr/chanson-populaire-de-lannee/vote

Allez … un p’ti vote pour Jean Leloup là !!

Et juste parce que j’ai bien aimée leur prestation :

I’m feeling really good about the show for today.  A lot of new music, a lot of great music!

1. Les Trois Accords – Ton Pantalon Est Plein
2. Marie-Mai – Gardes Tes Larmes
3. Coeur De Pirate – Corbeau
4. Marie-Chantal Toupin – Comme Un Homme
5. Vilain Pingouin – P’tite Vie, P’tite Misère
6. Jonathan Painchaud – C’est La Vie
7. Vulgaires Machins – Pop-Corn
8. Mara Tremblay – Devant L’orage
9. Les Breastfeeders – En Dansant Le Yah!
10. Dolly – Sous Le Charme
11. Malajube – Le Métronome
12. Okoumé & La Chicane – La Mer À Boire
13. Yelle – Tu Es Beau
14. Indochine – Les Citadelles
15. Yelo Molo – Malaise
16. Stefie Shock – Salut Chantal
17. Les Cowboys Fringants – Toune D’automne
18. Vénus 3 – Elle Marche
19. Kate Ryan – Désenchantée
20. April March – Cet Air-Là
21. Mes Aïeux – Le Vieux Pont
22. Projet Orange – Répondez
23. Louise Attaque – Revolver
24. Tricot Machine – Pas Fait En Chocolat
25. Anik Jean – Si Parfait
26. Kermess – Y A Pas Grand Chose Dans Le Ciel À Soir
27. Les Bumper Stickers – J’pas Capable
28. Andrée Watters – Exister À L’envers
29. Daniel Boucher – Sans Ma Mie
30. Ariane Moffatt – Point De Mire (Remix)
31. Tarmac – Longtemps
32. Richard Desjardins – Y Va Toujours Y Avoir
33. DobaCaracol – Rouge
34. Les Respectables – Plaisir
35. Alfa Rococo – Les Jours De Pluie
36. Boom Desjardins – Calvaire

Je pourrais vous expliquer à quel point j’ai hâte à ce concert, mais FrancoPhil l’explique si bien

Extrait:

“Si Malajube n’est plus à présenter, Clues reste moins connu du côté de la scène francophone. Le groupe a fait paraître cette année un très bon disque portant le nom de la formation, sur étiquette Constellation. Parmi ses membres, on note la présence de Brendan Reed, un ex-Arcade Fire pré Funeral , et d’Alden Penner, un ancien du groupe The Unicorns.”

J’ai hâte en tà!  Comme on dit en Bauce

Young Galaxy are touring throughout October and November with Bend Sinister and Malajube.  If you’ve never seen the YG, I suggest you get out to a show.  One of the top 10 Canadian albums of the year as well.

I went to see this last weekend at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema!

The Trotsky

Directed by: Jacob Tierney

Year: 2009

Actors: Jay Baruchel & Emily Hampshire

Growing up, I wanted to be Audrey Hepburn. So I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s way too many times, tried to be poised, lovely and regal and started calling my cat, “Cat.” I was, however, fairly certain that I was not Audrey reincarnated. That is not the case with Leon Bronstein, the self-proclaimed teenage reincarnation of Leon Trotsky. In hopes to fulfill his destiny, Leon plots out the key points of the Revolutionary’s life and sets on the course of mirroring them in his own. To name a few – marry an older woman (preferably named Alexandra), be exiled, and undergo a few assassination attempts. At this point in his life, he settles for starting a revolution at his Montreal West public school.

“Are you my Stalin, Dwight?”

The film is a treat for anyone familiar with the area (students at Loyola campus will most likely recognize many of the settings), because is there really anything more exciting than seeing a sidewalk or restaurant you walk by every day on the big screen? The actors portraying the students at Leon’s school are well cast: you feel like they belong there. Leon himself (played by Jay Baruchel) is a slightly two-dimensional character, but you find yourself rooting for him and his earnest mix of deluded self-confidence and vulnerable self-doubt. On the other hand, the antagonist is not antagonistic enough for my liking. The “strict” principle of the school, played by Colm Feore,  does not convince me for a second to dislike him. It might have something to do with the sympathetic laugh lines around his kind eyes. Another amusing casting is that of the director himself in a scene, putting a perfect period at the end of the film.

The script for The Trotsky is one of its main strengths. It is intelligent, but done in a way so that viewers (like myself) with only a passing knowledge of Russian history and culture don’t drown in the references. Baruchel does a great job at delivering these lines with his deadpan humor. The film is also elevated by great use of music, a mix of Russian revolutionary style songs and French Canadian Montreal band Malajube’s tunes (we always knew they were meant to be together).

To really enjoy The Trotsky, you have to put aside your doubts in today’s generation of apathetic (or as Leon argues, simply bored) youth. Would they pull through in real life? I doubt it. Would I change the idealistic way they act in the movie? Not for a minute. That the director, a young man himself, believes makes me want to believe in them too.

It’s hard to find a trailer for the movie, and since my blog skills have yet to reach perfection, check out the last post for a link to the trailer!

Got a fantastic show lined up today, in honor of Fall Break.

1. Ariane Moffatt – L’équilibre
2. Vilain Pingouin – La Délinquance
3. April March – Pauvre Lola
4. Andrée Watters – Ici Je Suis De Trop
5. Vulgaires Machins – Les Mains Pleines De Sang
6. Les Breastfeeders – Où Allez-Vous Si Vite?
7. Daniel Boucher – Perles-Tu?
8. Kermess – Le Nouveau Millenaire
9. Kate Ryan – Ella Elle L’a
10. Yelo Molo – Au Départ
11. Dolly – Sèche Tes Larmes
12. Marie-Mai – Emmène-Moi
13. Kevin Parent – Les Doigts
14. Éric Lapointe – Le Cuir De Ma Vie
15. Projet Orange – Mystère Aérosol
16. La Chicane – La Grande Battaille
17. Les Trois Accords – Turbo Sympathique
18. Malajube – St-Fortunat
19. Tarmac – Sur Mes Lèvres
20. Les Respectables – Cambre Tes Hanches
21. Alfa Rococo – Lever L’ancre
22. Daran Et Les Chaises – En Bas De Chez Moi
23. Okoumé – Assassin
24. Mes Aïeux – Continuer Pareil
25. Les Cowboys Fringants – Joyeux Calvaire!
26. Yelle – Dans Ta Vraie Vie
27. Longue Distance – Hey! Le Bum
28. Louise Attaque – Salomé
29. Anik Jean – Veuve Noire
30. Indochine – Le Lac
31. Les Bumper Stickers – Soir De St-Jean
32. Mara Tremblay – Plexus Solaire
33. Jonathan Painchaud – Qu’on Se Lève

1. Vulgaires Machins – Compter Les Corps
2. Tarmac – Tout Un Pan De Moi
3. Les Cowboys Fringants – Repentigny By The Sea
4. Jonathan Painchaud – Haschich
5. Vilain Pingouin – Marche Seul
6. Indochine – Republika
7. Yelle – Ce Jeu
8. Richard Desjardins – Le Coeur Est Un Oiseau
9. Prototypes – Sexy
10. Capitaine Révolte – J’ai Oublié
11. Les Breastfeeders – Chanson Pour Destinée
12. April March – Laisse Tomber Les Filles
13. Malajube – Pâte Filo
14. Louise Attaque – Nos Sourires
15. Andrée Watters – Minuit
16. Dolly – Que Du Bô
17. Marie-Mai – Il Faut Que Tu T’en Ailles
18. Les Respectables – Libre
19. Anik Jean – Hurt/Orage
20. Vénus 3 – Elle Marche
21. Éric Lapointe – Qu’est-Ce Que Ça Peut Ben Faire
22. Kate Ryan – Voyage, Voyage
23. Ariane Moffatt – Retourne Chez Elle
24. Les Trois Accords – Gratte-Moi
25. Stéreo Total – Ta Voix Au Téléphone
26. Les Bumper Stickers – La Journée Où T’as Mal Tournée
27. Yelo Molo – Les Mystérieuses Cités D’or
28. Mes Aïeux – La Dérive
29. Alfa Rococo – Peau De Chagrin
30. Okoumé – La Bruit Des Origines
31. Daniel Boucher – Aidez-Moi
32. DobaCaracol – Fièvre

Photos par Denys Tremblay.

Ceux de Konflit sont à venir….

Oof, definitely starting to feel like fall lately.  I have a great lineup of songs today to take your minds of the cold and the rain.  Check out what’s playing:

1. Mes Aïeux – Belle, Embarquez
2. Louise Attaque – Si L’on Marchait Jusqu’à Demain
3. Yelle – Mal Poli
4. Jonathan Painchaud – Orphelin
5. Les Prototypes – Danse Sur La Merde
6. Marie-Mai – Ici Maintenant
7. DobaCaracol – Brume
8. Alfa Rococo – Le Laboratoire
9. Andrée Watters – Enfer
10. Capitaine Révolte – La Journée Molle
11. Daniel Boucher – Un Inconnu
12. Dolly – Matin D’encre
13. Eric Lapointe – Le Diable M’en Veut
14. Les Bumper Stickers – Pas De Panique
15. Les Respectables – J’arrive
16. Marie-Chantal Toupin – Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
17. Yelo Molo – On Veut Ton Bien
18. Ima – Jardin D’hiver
19. Vulgaires Machins – Anasthésie
20. Malajube – Montréal -40C
21. Ariane Moffatt – Combustion Lente
22. Vilain Pingouin – Sous La Pluie
23. April March – Caribou
24. Yelo Molo – Malaise
25. Anik Jean – Thorazine
26. Les Trois Accords – Bing Bing
27. Tarmac – Je Cherche
28. Les Cowboys Fringants – Toune D’automne
29. Vénus 3 – La Porte
30. Stéreo Total – Miss Rebellion Des Hormones
31. Yelo Molo – Gros Zéro

Toronto’s Fucked Up have certainly come a long way from their days opening for local bands in the small room of the Croatian Cultural Centre, bleeding for the assorted 30 hardcore kids (half of which were in the other bands). Indeed, having successfully avoided the splatter on multiple occasions, I would never have dreamed that Fucked Up would take home what is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s most prestigious music prizes.

But take it home they did.

The 2009 Polaris Music Prize Gala was presented by Sirius Satellite Radio and hosted by Much Music’s Sarah Taylor and CBC Radio 3 Vancouver’s very own Grant Lawrence, while it streamed live at muchmusic.com and cbcradio3.com/Sirius channel 86. The fourth annual prize also marked the first ever pairing of the two media outlets.

This was a year of firsts for the Polaris Prize. Patrick Watson, who won for his 2007 album Close To Paradise, was again nominated for his latest Wooden Arms along with Joel Plaskett and Chad Vangaalen. K’NAAN, Malajube and Metric were also nominated in 2006. And for the first time in Polaris history, no debut albums made the cut.

Each year, a jury of 182 music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers from across Canada submit their top five Canadian albums released between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009. These picks are then condensed into a top 40 Long List. From there, it gets whittled down to a Short List of 10. 12 of those Jurors are sequestered when the Gala begins, deliberating on who will win the $20,000 prize. The prize is then awarded based solely on artistic merit, and not record sales or marketing.

All 10 Short List nominees performed at the star studded gala. Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge’s Alan Cross (also of the Ongoing History Of New Music as well as Explore Music) introduced Toronto’s Metric, who were nominated for their album Fantasies and kicked off the evening with a rousing acoustic rendition of their hit single “Gimme Sympathy.” Next was Toronto’s Great Lake Swimmers, nominated for their album Lost Channels. Montreal’s Malajube played from their latest Labrinthes, before Montreal’s Patrick Watson performed in the middle of the crowd, CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi providing auxiliary percussion reminiscent of his MoFru days before introducing Toronto’s K’NAAN, whose album Troubadour was recorded in Bob Marley’s original home studio. Halifax’s most famous son, Joel Plaskett performed songs with triad’s for names from his latest triple offering Three, which he recorded with his father. Chad Vangaalen, nominated for Soft Airplane (b-sides now available for free download at softairplane.com), was introduced by legendary author of the Canadian Music Bible, Michael Barclay. Elliott Brood nominated for their rootsy album Mountain Meadows were next in the stunning showcase of Canadian talent, introduced by the CBC’s Amanda Putz. St. John’s Hey Rosetta!, nominated for their album Into Your Lungs, which was produced by Hawksley Workman, performed just before Fucked Up closed the night with a spirited set.

Fucked Up’s enigmatic front man, Damian “Pink Eyes” Abraham, stripped on stage, his gruff vocals providing an interesting contrast to the more pleasant music atypical of the hardcore punk genre. If the Chemistry Of Common Life proves anything, it proves that it is definitely not what you’d expect from a hardcore punk album.

Following a food fight started by Malajube and Patrick Watson and ended by Chad Vangaalen, last year’s Polaris winner, Caribou announced the final results to torrents of applause. Pink Eyes and co graciously accepted the award after first kissing Grant Lawrence on the lips and thanking him for being such an influence with his band the Smugglers.

The win marks an interesting turning point in the Canadian music industry, and truly shows why the Polaris Prize is so different from any other and so vital.

Expect a compilation of Fucked Up’s singles early next year titled Couple Tracks: Singles 2001-2009 on Matador Records.

You can find the full gala at muchmusic.com or cbcradio3.com in both audio and video podcast form.

-Kristina Mameli (Broadcast Journalism Alumni)

Quelle semaine de fou!

À 30 h du show de Malajube + Konflit, le buzz est bon.

La Slague est gonflée à bloc après la tournée de Konflit qui a fait des concerts surprises sur un gros truck (baptisé le “cube-truck-stage-fun-machine”) dans les stationnements d’écoles secondaires de Sudbury (et même jusqu’à Noëlville!).

Le show ambulant a sévi dans 7 écoles secondaires de la région, au Collège Boréal, à l’Université Laurentienne, à la Place Tom Davies et les gars de Konflit ont même décidé d’offrir un concert à Copper Cliff, sur les piquets de grève du Local 6500 Steelworkers,  pour démontrer leur appui aux travailleurs.

Les réactions étaient incroyables.  Les étudiants du secondaires pensaient qu’ils sortaient dehors pour faire prendre  une photo de groupe aérienne de l’école.  À leur grande surprise, Konflit les attendait, guitares, bâtons de drum et micros à la main.  Trois chansons plus tard, le coeur de Chris Berthiaume, chanteur de Konflit, défaillait et le groupe partait dans une ambulance du Collège Boréal sur des airs de Malajube.  Théâtral, à l’image de Konflit.  Les péripéties continueront demain soir…

Voici le vidéo reportage du Northern Life qui a suivi Konflit du Collège Notre-Dame à la Place Tom Davies et ensuite sur les piquets de grèves à Copper Cliff.

MÉTÉO
Demain soir, on annonce de la pluie. À Woodstock il a plu. Préparez-vous en conséquence. Parapluie ou maillot de bain, peu importe.  On peut avoir jusqu’à 1000 personnes sous la véranda en cas de pluie, donc un peu d’eau ne devrait certainement pas vous faire manquer le gros show de la Grande rentrée.

BAR PAYANT + BONNE BOUFFE + BREUVAGES CHAUDS
Ça serait pas un show Froche sans une bonne petite bière frette. Comme à chaque Froche on aura un bar payant sous la véranda avec une excellente vue de la scène.

Tom de Saveurs du Nord va également être là pour vendre des produits Old Rock, du beau café show et de délicieuses pâtisseries (mmmm… Pig in a blanket…).  Hot Diggity Dog sera là pour vendre, tu l’as deviné, des hot-dogs! Finalement, Foysey’s sera là pour tester en grande primeur leur nouvelle recette de Chocolat Chaud ainsi que du bon cidre de pomme chaud.

S’il fait froid, il y en aura en masse pour réchauffer vos sens, la bouche pleine de confettis.

MALAQUI?
Cette section s’adresse à ceux qui ne connaisse toujours pas Malajube.

On a pris un risque cette année.  On a décidé de faire venir un groupe qui est plus connu à l’étranger que chez nous à Sudbury.  Malajube a tournée à Austin (TX), New York, Berlin, Vienne, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Paris, Londres, Mascouche, Rouyn-Noranda… et là, dans 1 dodo ils débarquent à Sudbury.  C’est un des rares groupes francophones à percer le marché américain (tout en chantant en français!).  Ils ont eu d’excellentes critiques dans le New York Times, le Voir, Pitchfork, Penthouse, NME, Eye Weekly, Exclaim, etc.

C’est du indie-rock, super catchy, mélodies un peu bonbon, progressif par boutte, mais rockant tout autant.  Ils étaient finalistes aux Prix Polaris 2009 (où ils ont entrés dans une food fight avec Patrick Watson), aux Junos et ils viennent de recevoir deux nominations à l’ADISQ. On est chanceux d’avoir Malajube dans l’Nord et ils ont très hâte de venir jouer pour vous.

FROCHE 2009
Ça se passe demain. Malajube + Konflit à la Place du marché à 20 h.  Les portes ouvrent à 19 h.

Les billets sont 5 $ pour étudiants du secondaire, 12 $ pour les étudiants post-secondaire, 22 $ pour adultes et 50 $ pour un famille de quatre.

Vous avez jusqu’à 16 h 30 aujourd’hui, vendredi, pour réserver vos billets au TNO au 525-5606 x4.  Sinon, les billets seront disponible à la porte.

À demain ma gang de Slagueux!

I missed last week because I was sick  Only three weeks into the semester and I got sick!  Unacceptable, immune system, unacceptable.  But today I return triumphant, with more musique en français for all of you!

Here’s what you’re hearing today:

1. Les Breastfeeders – Le Roi Est Nu
2. Dolly – Je Ne Veux Pas Rester Sage
3. Okoumé – Son Rire
4. Richard Desjardins – L’engeôlière
5. Les Respectables – Fûmer Ou Travailler
6. Tarmac – Notre Epoque
7. Daniel Boucher – Guele De Bois
8. Steréo Total – Lolita Fantôme
9. Jonathan et Eloi Painchaud – Parle, Parle
10. Mononc’ Serge – Rien
11. France D’amour – Moi, J’ai Toi
12. Louise Attaque – Est-Ce Que Tu M’aimes Encore
13. Mes Aïeux – Ville Fantôme
14. Alfa Rococo – Véga
15. Malajube – Dragon De Glace
16. Vulgaires Machins – Dieu Se Pique
17. Les Trois Accords – Saskatchewan
18. Les Bumper Stickers – Si J’avais Eu Un Char
19. Marie-Mai – Dangereuse Attraction
20. April March – Tu Mens
21. Ariane Moffatt – Perséides
22. Vénus 3 – L’un Va Sans L’autre
23. Marie-Chantal Toupin – Comment Je Pourrais Te Dire
24. Indochine – Go Rimbaud, Go!
25. Anik Jean – Lucifer
26. DobaCaracol – Amazone
27. Stefie Shock – Je Combats Le Spleen
28. Vilain Pingouin – Salut Salaud!
29. Yelo Molo – Sabrina
30. Yelle – Je Veux Te Voir
31. Les Cowboys Fringants – Heavy Metal

Listening to the Polaris Gala on CBC Radio 3 because I can’t get the MuchMusic stream to work which is too bad because it would be nice to actually watch it. I really wish I could be there, but then, who doesn’t?

So far, performances by Metric (acoustic) and Great Lake Swimmers. I have to work early tomorrow morning so hopefully it isn’t too much longer until they announce the winner but I have a feeling all ten bands are going to play.

Next up is Malajube, apparently their favourite band is the Beatles but they would rather share a stage with the Whalers according to the nice people at CBC. Voici, Malajube! Sweet performance. I hate when they ask stupid questions like “Did you ever anticipate a nomination like this?”, how is a band supposed to answer a question like that with any sort of candour? Also, these guys have a crazy French Canadian accent.

K’Naan has the best performance so far although his introduction was super, super awkward.

On to Joel Plaskett Emergency – I love him (and so do a lot of people!), I would definitely be happy to see him win. After this, I need to go to sleep so I guess I will find out the results in the morning.

Woke up at 5am this morning and the first thing I reached for was the internet (that’s right, I have the entire internet in my room) and I actually didn’t believe the first post I read that said Fucked Up had won. After checking three more, I resigned myself to the truth. I have to say, I am a little disappointed (poor Joel!) but I think it is great that the band who won can use the money and exposure, not to mention that they are doing a really cool thing with the money.

Looks like that is it for my Polaris 2009 posts! Let’s see what 2010 brings. Oh and if you are interested in seeing what the best Canadian album (released before 2004) is, check out the geographically impossible blog at North by East West.

Last night’s Polaris Music Prize was a great celebration of Canadian music. It moved me to see such an eclectic display spawned from our fine nation; from Elliott BROOD’s rowdy country, to K’naan’s powerful hip-hop, to Fucked Up’s face melting hardcore. It was just plain rad.

Just A Few (of the many) Highlights – In Point Form:

- Patrick Watson’s performance of “Hearts In The Park” (a track available only through iTunes) was both terrifying and exciting as they crept through the crowd with these tenticled-megaphone-light thingys strapped to their backs.

- Elliott Brood got all the jaded industry types (Gian Ghomeshi in particular!) participating with wooden spoons and baking trays.

- A “food fight” started by Patrick Watson and Malajube’s tables. It was less with the food and more with the cups, ice and water.

- Chad VanGaalen’s thoughts on the Prize after his performance. “And this is how it ends” will be a favourite quote for months.

- K’naan’s performance of “Wavin’ Flag.” Goosebumps.

- Seeing Fucked Up’s Damian “Pink Eyes” Abraham in his underwear. Again.

- and of course, who could forget the romance when the winner was announced?!

Don’t worry if you missed the live broadcast of the gala last night. R3 will have the podcasts (audio and video) this week, and Saturday, Sept. 26th at 9PM Much Music will be broadcasting the highlights (perhaps different than the highlights noted above). Also, check out Quick Before It Melts, they’ve got some great coverage of the show and audio treats for your ‘pod!

The “Fly Me To Polaris” name is based on a 1999 Hong Kong movie. Ok, Monday is the day we’re waiting for and it’s the 2009 edition of the Polaris Music Prize Gala. The photo from above, let’s say that I am missing two of the nominees. It’s K’Naan and F**ked Up. That’s right, one of the short nominees will be chosen to win the $20,000 prize. Here’s the 10 nominees listed;
1. Elliott Brood – Mountain Meadows
2. F**ked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
3. Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
4. Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs
5. K’Naan – Troubadour
6. Malajube – Labyrithes
7. Metric – Fantasies
8. Joel Plaskett – Three
9. Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane
10. Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms

There has been some criticism over the short list because it seemed like the jury has been lazy in choosing the top Canadian album of 2008-2009. Basically, returning nominees like Patrick Watson, Chad VanGaalen, and Joel Plaskett are back at it. Also, there’s no female artists (that’s if you include Emily Haines in Metric) in this year’s list.
As much as I like several songs from Metric’s Fantasies, I felt that it’s too mainstream to be on the short list. Although, how could I forget about “In Our Bedroom After The War” by Stars being on the short list for the 2008 edition of the Polaris Music Prize.
The 2009 edition of the Polaris Music Prize still have diverse genres in the running. There’s hardcore punk to Hip-Hop to the standard Pop/Rock and Folk. Aside from the criticism, it will be still exciting to finding out who will win.

I had the opportunity to co-host again on Kristal’s Method at CKCU-FM because we were playing the short list nominees for the Polaris Music Prize. We discussed about what we liked or not liked on the short list. I mentioned on-air my pick to win The Polaris Music Prize. I won’t write it on here because I would want you to listen to it. It seems more like keeping in suspense but I could be wrong on my predicted pick. To whoever wins, congratulations on being the 2009 Polaris winner.

You can listen again or if you missed out by pressing play;

Here’s some YouTube videos from a few of my favorite artists and bands. Since my favorite Joel Plaskett song wasn’t played on-air, but it has been played so many times on the radio or web radio.

Joel Plaskett – Through & Through & Through

Metric – Gimme Sympathy

Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On A Line

There you have it, Fucked Up’s The Chemistry of Common Life wins The 2009 Polaris Music Prize. [Link 1] [Link 2]
In case you don’t want to read through the semi-live blogging provided from below. All in all, even with the criticisms of the short list, it was still an amazing way to establish Canadian music.

9pm – Semi blogging and listening to the live broadcast on CBC Radio 3. Woot!
9.02pm – Not really liking Sarah Taylor of MuchMusic. Yay for Grant Lawrence.
9.03pm – Metric is up first! What the!
9.04pm – Kristal’s favorite radio guy (I think), Alan Cross introducing for Metric.
9.05pm – Nice acoustic version of Help! I’m Alive. From Hey Rosetta! on Twitter, http://twitpic.com/infq9. Mind you, I am not watching it from MuchMusic’s website.
9.10pm – Gimme Sympathy live. Nice! Another acoustic set.
9.22pm -  Great Lake Swimmers are up.
9.25pm – GLS performing Pulling On A Line. Such a nice relaxing song.
9.29pm – I’m still writing comments on CBC Radio 3’s blog and Twitter.
9.37pm – It’s pretty funny having to hear Vish Khanna and Craig Norris banter back and fourth during the Polaris Music Prize Gala. Referencing Goodfellas, that’s a classic.
9.40pm – I guess Sarah Taylor is graciously comfortable getting into host form. Malajube is up next.
9.49pm – Just one Malajube song performed?! OK, I am wrong at that (thanks to Arys on the CBC Radio 3 blog). Again from Hey Rosetta! on Twitter, http://twitpic.com/inkgv.
9.57pm – Gotta love Grant Lawrence saying the F word live at the Gala. Patrick Watson time. What a unique performance I am hearing from Patrick Watson. I am still listening by ear and not watching by eye. Twitter comments from people are seemingly surprised by his performance. From Jill Barber’s Twitter, http://twitpic.com/inmuo.
10.12pm – Craig Norris telling the listening audience of a technical issue at the Polaris Music Prize. Oh nevermind, it’s back on. K’Naan is up. Jian Gomeshi is introducing him. K’Naan performing Waving Flag, such an excellent song. Updates on Twitter is saving me while Facebook is failing on me. K’Naan now performing Take A Minute.
10.36pm – Now, he’s up and he’s my pick to win it (I hope), that’s Joel Plaskett. Three, ’nuff said. OMG, the guy who used to do Combat des Clips/Combat Zone on MuchMusic. Heartless, Heartless, Heartless with his dad, Bill Plaskett.
Deny, Deny, Deny, such a sweet song.
10:55pm – Seems like it’s going overtime. Chad VanGaalen is on now.
11.10pm – Took a blogging break of sorts, watched a bit of the MuchMusic webcast and eating almonds. Sweet, Elliott Brood is coming up and that means, Amanda Putz will be introducing them.
11.14pm – Yay! Great to hear Amanda Putz introduce Elliott Brood. Lots of cheers for her. Elliott Brood starts with Without Again. Such a great song. Another excellent song with Write It All Down For You. Crowd used cookie sheets and wooden spoons and that shows how awesome Elliott Brood is.
11.38pm – Down to 2. Now, it’s Hey Rosetta! from Newfoundland & Labrador. It’s unique to hear this NL band. Tired Eyes starts off the whole song.
11.51pm – Nearing midnight and the last nominee is none other than F**ked Up.
12am – It’s time for F**ked Up. Yes, Grant and Sarah said the actual name. I don’t know their songs and getting tired. Gonna sit back and enjoy their performance.
12.14am – Caribou on stage to present the winner. Who?
12.15am – It’s Fucked Up. Oh my, but congratulations for winning the 2009 Polaris Music Prize.
That’s a wrap. Out of the 7 albums that I have, only 3 I don’t have and one that wins it. It’s a surprise to see Fucked Up win and it finally takes the white male winning off now. An unusual choice but it will definitely get some buzz. Difficult to say if this was impressive but it sounds more like shock value.

Raison de plus pour ne pas manquer le show Malajube + Konflit le 26 septembre : les oreilles d’Obama!

Pour sauver le monde, Barack Obama a besoin de vraiment bonnes tounes dans son iPod. La CBC l’a aidé.

Il y a quelques mois, la CBC a lancé le concours Obama’s Playlist afin de trouver les 49 meilleures chansons d’artistes canadiens, choisies selon le vote du public. La CBC les a ensuite remises à Obama pour qu’elles habitent dans son iPod.

La liste est pleine de chansons monumentales et gigantesques comme Pour un instant d’Harmonium, Mon Pays de Gilles Vigneault, Dégénération de Mes Aïeux, La complainte du phoque en Alaska de Beau Dommage, Oublie pas de Karkwa, Quand les hommes vivront d’amour de Raymond Lévesque, Rebellion (Lives) d’Arcade Fire, The Canadian Dream de Sam Robert, Rêver mieux de Daniel Bélanger, Closer to the Heart de Rush, Helpless de Neil Young, The Hockey Song de Stompin’ Tom Connors, If I Had a Million Dollars des Barenaked Ladies, One Great City! des Weakerthans et… TENEZ-VOUS BIEN…

Montréal -40°C de Malajube !

Si c’est bon pour le moral du chef du monde libre, c’est bon pour nous avec.

Voyez Malajube + Konflit le samedi 26 septembre à la Place du marché.

Billets: 525.5606 x4 ou letno.ca

Everyone is in anticipation for the 4th Annual Polaris Music Prize on September 21st.
Somehow I wish I can be a jury member for this.
I did a prediction awhile back and I should update on who I should think would win it.
Have to say I have all the albums except for F*cked Up and K’Naan that is nominated.
Except for F*cked Up, I have all their autographs on the albums. K’Naan is on a Bluefest ticket stub.

Here is a review of who is nominated:
Elliott Brood – Mountain Meadows

F*cked Up – Chemistry of Common Life

Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels

Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs

K’naan – Troubador

Malajube – Labyrinths

Metric – Fantasies

Joel Plaskett – Three

Chad Vangaalen – Soft Airplane

Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms

PREDICTIONS:
Chad Vangaalen 100%
Why: Soft Airplane is a unique album. It has everything from indie pop, folk, electronica, rock and alternative. The lyrics are very prolific.
Best tracks: Willow Tree, Bones of Man, Cries Of The Dead, Inside The Molecules, Molten Light and Frozen Energon.

Joel Plaskett 90%
Why: As I said before Three is an ambitious album and it ranges from rock in Volume 1, acoustic in Volume 2 and a mix of both in Volume 3.
Best tracks: Through & Through & Through, You Let Me Down, Wishful Thinking, “Shine On, Shine On, Shine On”, In The Blue Moonlight, “Rewind, Rewind, Rewind” and On & On & On

Elliott Brood 80%
Why: Its a great album which the title comes from the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Great songwriting and music.
Best tracks: Write It All Down For You, Without Again, The Valley Town, Notes and Miss You Now.

Hey Rosetta! 75%
Why: Another great album by a big band. There might be a chance of this band winning.
Best tracks: Red Heart

UNDERDOG:
K’Naan
Why: There might be a chance he will win it.

F*cked Up
Why: Somehow with a band name like that will kind of surprise everyone. Even surprise the Harper government.

Metric
Why: I have this weird feeling there might be a chance they will win it.
Fantasies is a good album but let’s say that three songs on the album have been overplayed.
Best tracks: Help! I’m Alive, Gimme Sympathy, Sick Muse, Front Row and Twilight Galaxy

So tune into CBC Radio 3 for the live broadcast.
Or if you want to see the live video, go to Much Music.
Can’t wait to find out who will win this year’s $20,000 prize.

Here are my thoughts on each of the short listed candidates for the Polaris prize to be given out on Monday night (September 21 at 8:00EST). I’ll warn you and apologize in advance, this post is going to be a the lengthy side.

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Elliot Brood – Mountain Meadows
There are some really great tracks on this record like Write It All Down For You and the Valley Town but there are also several mediocre tracks and I felt like the album, great title aside, was generally a little uninspired and definitely not deserving to win. I just want to stress that I am not saying this is a bad record, but the winner of the Polaris prize should be a record that is an outstanding musical achievement and Elliot Brood does not reach that level.

Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
This record on the other hand was bad, very bad in fact. Normally I try to listen to things a couple times or at least listen to a few songs more than once, but I was grateful when I realized that I had made it through all ten tracks of the Chemistry of Common Life and would never half to listen to them again. Many journalists/bloggers/people in general have predicted that, the quality of the album aside (they were short-listed so someone likes them), the band’s name will prevent them from winning the Polaris. Although I agree that their name will likely prevent them from breaking into the mainstream in a big way, I don’t think the journalists and members of the music community are going to balk at the name in terms of voting for them. I hate to write reviews that are so negative, but I guess it comes with reviewing a bunch of albums chosen by someone else. If there is one good thing I can say about this record, it is that some tracks have a sense of urgency to them that makes me think they would be better live than in studio.

Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
First listen through and my overall impression is that this is a very pretty record but I need to listen to it again before I can evaluate it on a less superficial level. Second listen through proved that although the record is pretty, it is generally boring. This is the kind of record that is great to study to because it is very minimally distracting. When I listen to the songs attentively, I like them and I get the impression that this band listened to extensively over time could become a band I severely doubt that they will win a Polaris with this album. If you want to check out Great Lake Swimmers, I recommend listening to Concrete Heart which has excellent violin and keyboard tracks and reminds me a lot of Wilco as well as The Chorus in the Underground which has an endearing country twang to it.

Hey Rosetta – Into Your Lungs
I actually picked up this album two or three days after my original post where I planned to review all the Polaris albums. When I turned the album over to make sure it was the band I thought it was and saw that the record was produced by Hawksley Workman, I definitely had to buy it. You may be wondering why, in all this time, I have not bothered to post a review of it. To be honest, I am not entirely sure but I think it came down to me being so entirely torn on how I feel about this album. I really love Hawksley and on some tracks I am positive I can hear him singing (although there is no mention of him providing vocals in the liner notes) and some of the tracks on this record are amazing. I really like I’ve Been Asleep for a Long Time and their single on the radio, Red Heart, (not to be confused with Black Heart). However, after that song the album goes completely downhill. Since I had the actual CD, I had been listening to it on random for about week before I noticed that the entire second half of the album is boring. Really, really boring – if Hey Rosetta had made the second half of the album on par with the first they would have been a serious contender for the Polaris, but in actuality I am surprised they made it to the short list.

K’Naan – Troubadour
I really did not know what to expect when I started listening to this album, I am not generally a fan of rap but I have been following K’Naan for some time on Twitter and I have been amused and pleased at how down to earth he is as well as how connected he is to his fans. My favourite song on this record is Dreamer, I love the lyrics in the chorus and the song is just fun to listen to. That actually goes for the whole record; K’Naan definitely does not sing about the easiest or most upbeat topics as he draws a lot of inspiration from growing up in Wardhiigleey, a gang infested district of Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War regardless listening to his record, you get the impression that he is hopeful about the world and that he was having fun when he was creating this record. One of my favourite lyrics from the record is “My job is to write what I see/So a visual stenographer is what I be” from I Come Prepared.

Malajube – Labrinthes
First of all, I have to own up to the fact that there is a significant lost in translation issue with French bands for me; one of the major aspects that drive my appreciation of music are lyrics and that is totally nonexistent with Malajube. Not that they don’t have lyrics, but that my understanding of them is little to none. With that being the case, all I will say about them is that I loved that one of the songs was called Porté Disaparu which I am fairly certain means ‘disappearing door’ and I really like Dragon De Glace.

Metric – Fantasies
Three of the songs on this record are very popular radio singles, they are all decent songs but way overplayed. Moreover, Metric was in a sense ruined for me a few years ago when I left one of their shows in a rage because their fan base seems to mainly consist of fifteen year old girls who love to scream through a band’s entire set. Neither of these things is Metric’s fault, however I know I am not the only person who has had enough of them being included among the ranks of Canadian indie darlings. There are good tracks on this album like Satellite Minda and Gold Guns Girls but there are also songs like Twilight Galaxy which make me feel like Metric has been writing the same song for years about people telling Emily Haines how to behave and her complaining about the downside of fame, “did I ask you for attention when affection is what I need”. Fantasies is not a Polaris winning album, but I think that their mainstream popularity puts them completely out of the race. The majority of the people who are voting are people who want to see this money go to a band who needs it, Metric is not that band.

Joel Plaskett – Three
Setting out on the odyssey that is Joel Plaskett’s latest album, a triple disc 27 track epic, I find myself wondering why I didn’t write the review for this one when I bought it months ago. In all actuality, listening to it is a labour of love and I could easily write this review without listening to the record again. There are so many great songs on this album, and Plaskett is a lyrical genius. On Through & Through & Through he sings, “I’m the Berlin Wall/ I’m a Communist/You’re a wrecking ball/In a summer dress” actually, every lyric in this song is pretty awesome. I love the whole concept behind this album, three cds with 9 songs each and many of the song titles are the same word repeated three times. This is Plaskett’s second nomination (he also received a nod for 2007’s Ashtray Rock) and I am not sure if that will work for or against him. I would love to see Plaskett win – he has been on of my favourite artists for a long time, he has been a mainstay in the Canadian indie scene for almost two decades now and this is a kickass record. Unfortuantely, the same argument that applied to Metric applies to him – he is pretty mainstream now, he was even in a Zellers commercial (funny enough, Emily Haines shot one of the videos for her solo project in a Zellers) and he definitely has no need for the money or the exposure.

Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane
This is it! Seriously, as much as I love Joel Plaskett – this is a formidable record. Every song is awesome, great lyrics and a cool sound. From Bones of Man, “I felt at peace and alive/Even though the ship was going down”. Lyrically they remind me of the Decemberists because every song tells a fantastic and whimsical story. The record really varies in sound too, moving from the pretty and serene Cries of the Dead to Old Man + the Sea which sounds like it was performed by Neil Young and then to the erratic electronica that closes out the album in Frozen Energon.

Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms
I feel like I am having the same problem with a lot of these records, that although there are a few strong tracks they are rounded out with relatively uninteresting ones. With Patrick Watson’s third effort pales in comparison the (Polaris winning) 2006 release, Close to Paradise. Highlights on this album are the piano track that starts Beijing and the male/female combination on vocals on Big Bird in a Small Cage. The combination of having won previously plus a relatively lackluster record puts them out of the running for this year’s prize.

—

If I was voting: Joel Plaskett – Three, runnerup Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane

My Predictions:
1. Chad VanGaalen
2. Joel Plaskett
3. K’Naan – yup, he is sort of in the wrong genre, but he has put out a truly excellent record and I think he is the wild card in the short list.

Tune in tomorrow night at 8pm to CBC Radio 3 who will be broadcasting the whole event live. I think they are announcing the winner around 9:30.

In exactly one week we are launching SHIFT our new project/album… a 7 song E.P.

On our new E.P., we did a remake of Ghost Train, a track off our 3rd album Morgue E.P. and tonight we’re giving it away.

DOWNLOAD TRAIN FANTÔME HERE ! (right-click, save as)

You can also listen to it on our MySpace or on our facebook page.

SHIFT E.P. is being launched in Sudbury next Saturday, September 26th at 8 PM during Froche 2009 with Malajube.

//

Dans exactement une semaine on lance nouveau nouveau projet et disque SHIFT… un E.P. de 7 chansons.

Sur ce disque on revisite la chanson Ghost Train de notre 3e album Morgue E.P. Ce soir, vous avez la chance d’avoir cette chanson une semaine avant le lancement de disque.  On te la donne.

TÉLÉCHARGER TRAIN FANTÔME ICI ! (clique droit, enregistrer sous)

Tu peux aussi l’écouter sur notre MySpace ou notre page facebook.

Le lancement de SHIFT E.P. aura lieu samedi prochain, le 26 septembre à 20 h au Froche 2009 en première partie de Malajube.