Wild Things

When I heard the film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are as to be directed by the Spike Jonze, I wasn't sure what to expect. Internet rumours have been circulating about creative differences between the director and the film company so a while; I heard Jonze had been kicked off the project.

But I suppose that's not true, because now there is an official trailer, with the movie release date to be set in October:




With Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" in the background of the trailer, as well as Karen O's involvement with the musical score, this will probably be the sad-eyed indie boy and girls' ultimate children's literary adaptation.



Arcade Fire - Wake Up (mp) (buy)

Immortal Hymns

The electronic-experimental group Mono are releasing their fifth album, Hymn to the Immortal Wind today. It's got their soaring, hopeful melodies, this time with 28 full piece chamber orchestra backing them up.

Mono - Follow the Map (mp3) (buy)

Please Put the Phone Down

Pilot Speed, formerly Pilate, of Toronto (Woot! Represent!) is getting ready for the release of their new album Wooden Bones.

1 Put The Phone Down (mp3) (Amazon) (iTunes)
2 Light You Up
3 Bluff
4 Ain't No Life
5 Up On The Bridge
6 Where Does It Begin?
7 What Is Real, What Is Doubt
8 Today I Feel Sure
9 Midnight Fires
10 Wooden Bones
11 Open Arms

"I felt it was important for us to write songs that could work in any environment. Songs that would have a conventional appeal but still sound like us. Even the 'weird' or 'artier' tracks have what I think are pretty easy entry points for the listener," quoth Todd Clark, vocalist/pianist/lyricist of Pilot Speed.

You know, usually when I hear the word "arty" to describe music I cringe a little bit. "Arty" can imply that when I'm listening to an album, I'll forget what and who I'm listening to. And that forms the inevitable Why question. But... I trust these guys.

In 2006 Pilate Speed brought us the brooding track Barely Listening and that was pretty decent. The people deemed it Top 20 material, and rightly so.



Sometimes their material can be pretty dark like that.

Even the new single Put the Phone Down, although sweet and gentle makes me feel a little bit. The Wooden Bones album as a whole carries a theme about life and humanity's fragility. Depressing? Maybe. But the boys won't admit to that.

"I don't find the themes on this album depressing. To me as an observer, it's just the way it is. Life is precarious, in a lot of ways; the trick is to feel comfortable with that realization," says Clark


I like his philosophy.

Wooden Bones comes out April 28th.

Some Tom Foolery Afoot

Do you like East Coast Music?

Well, what about Tom Waits-ish vocals?

Or indie music consisting of more than drums, bass and guitar?

And does the atmosphere at the Dakota Tavern inspire you?

Well then. How about the Tom Fun Orchestra? They're from Halifax and even though their name sounds like an Asian kids string quartet, they sound more like the Arcade Fire if they were inspired by 40's big band music and grew up drinking Jack Daniels and whiskey.

Tom Fun Orchestra - Highway Siren Song Breakdown (mp3) (buy)

Alligators don't sound like Alligators

I always imagined Alligators sounding a little more wild. I also didn't know they suited up and are influenced by Radiohead, the Beach Boys and the Zombies. Guess you learn something new everyday...

Alligators - Where does it hide? (mp3) (buy)

The Elusive Voxtrot

Considering I had a ticket to one of Voxtrot's 3 shows the last time they were in Toronto and was actually at the venue, I never got to see them. We had to leave early and we couldn't get to the other shows for various reasons. It's like I'm destined to never see them live. Although I would love to hear the live versions of all the goodness from their EPs and first full length. So I am happy to announce that they're back! And starting to tour again.

Ramesh from the band states "regarding our absence, sometimes one needs to disappear in order to regroup; situations change and human beings are swept here and there by the marvelous ebb and flow of culture. And so, there can be only this: a return to a love of music."

They are giving away the new single "Trepanation Party" from their official website.

Voxtrot - Trepanation Party (mp3) (download available for free on their official site)

Sounds like someone's been listening to the Cure quite alot on their time off.

Buy it or else

Metric is streaming their new album, Fantasies on Myspace. It's fantastic. Go buy it. Please. I'm not even biased here. I mean, yes, I'm a Metric fan, they're cool, but I didn't love their last albums. But this... this is synthesizer gold.

Metric - Waves (mp3) (buy)

Philadelphia Calling

Philadelphia's Evening Magazine is unassumingly building up to something soothing and pretty. The EP is out on ITunes today.

Evening Magazine - 18 Wheels (mp3) (buy)

Indifferent Youth

Amazing Baby should have named themselves sometime else.

Amazing Baby - Bayonets (mp3) (you can download the ep free here)

Just Peachy

What? Fairy tale masks, eighties sweatshirts and bright colours aren't enough to entice you? At least Peachcake's music is a party. Like Of Montreal, but so so different.

Peachcake - Souls Have No Drum Machine (mp3) (buy)

The CN Tower Belongs to Who?

The Toronto-Halifax band the Darcys' love their beards. And they're also covering Final Fantasy's the "CN Tower Belongs to the Dead". Now, I don't know how these two things are related...

Darcys - The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead (Final Fantasy Cover) (mp3) (buy)

Addition, Subtraction

Here are some recent additions and subtractions to music.

Barenaked Ladies minus Steven Page:

(Is something... missing?)

If you haven't already heard, Steven Page has left the Barenaked Ladies. According to the latest blog post on the band's official site, the remaining four members of the band will continue to tour without him, while he pursues his own projects, and perhaps some theatrical work.

Growing up, Steven Page was always the face of the band for me. It just... won't be the same without him now.

Barenaked Ladies - It's All Been Done (mp3) (Amazon) (iTunes)

Bedouin Soundclash minus Pat Pengelly plus one video:


Wow, it's really a tough time for Canadian bands, huh? Pat Pengelly, the Bedouin Soundclash drummer, announced that he was leaving the band in January, but I didn't find out until recently so it's pretty upsetting for me. Jay and Eon will still be at it. They'll be supporting in the upcoming No Doubt Tour which is pretty exciting stuff.

Also, they've got a new video for the track Hearts in the Night, available exclusively during this month at the David Suzuki Organization website. Watch it here! And while you're there, why not take the Suzkui Nature Challenge?

Bedouin Soundclash - Hearts in the Night (mp3) (Amazon) (iTunes)

These Electric Lives plus a new song:

Right, right, this is just over a month old too, but better to post it late than never, correct?

These Electric Lives are a four piece Toronto band you probably don't know, but you should SO totally know. It's the good type of pop-rock. You know, the wholesome kind that you can dance to. Don't they look like such wholesome boys?

Well according to their myspace status, they are hard at work in the studio, so maybe we'll finally get an LP in the near future. Seriously, guys! I've had your EP for way too long. It's like you're just taunting me now!

These Electric Lives - Called It Off (mp3) (not yet available for purchase)

The Rakes plus one video:

The Rakes have just uploaded a new video for the single 1989 and it features the band roaming Berlin, toppling dinosuars, riding rollercoasters andthings of the like. Oh, those boys and their silly antics. I'd have it no other way.



The third album, KLANG, hits the world on March 23rd.

The Airborne Toxic Event minus a voice, minus some shows:



Mikel Jolett, head of the Airborne Toxic Event, was suffering from chronic laryngitis, as described in the video, and the band had to cancel a few shows, also as described in the video.

More recently however, things seemed well enough to proceed and they came up to Toronto for their scheduled tour date. They did a single song set at 102.1 the Edge and stayed a little to chat with the people who showed up for them. I got to talk to Mikel (who was ever so sweet), Steven (who agreed to high-five me 'cause we're both Asian, YEAH), and Anna (who had the most awesome specs). You can watch the performance here:



Mikel's vocal chords managed through their complete show at the Mod Club that night, but things have gotten worse. So now it's chronic laryngitis, coupled with a throat infection, coupled with a fever of 102. Dear boy, please take care of yourself! As a result, the Ottawa and Montreal shows have also been canceled.

If you have the time, please send your love, get well wishes and warm tea over to their official site, myspace, or youtube account.

Say Hi to Your Mom?

Say Hi is one of those bands (of one guy) that deserve to be heard. I think sometime before, Say Hi went by the longer name of Say Hi to Your Mom. It's a poppy synth-y indie affair and the new album, out today (March 3, 2009) is accurately titled: OOhs & Aahs.

Here's the first track:

Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh (mp3) (buy)

Also, the entire new album is up for stream at Spinner.com. Click here to check it out!