Video Updates!

It's been a really good week for new music videos, folks! Here's five of them that have caught my attention:

Dinosaur Bones - Ice Hotels



For a band that has thus far only released a 4-track EP, Dinosaur Bones have been doing pretty well for themselves. They've already made quite a splash on the Toronto-indie scene, playing with various shows and festivals. On February 2nd they're releasing a 7-inch vinyl featuring the new track, Ice Hotels and Royalty. These two tracks really do sum up the kind of great music that's been coming out of our city recently. Of course, this is all just the teaser for their upcoming debut full-length that they've recorded with Jon Drew, the man behind such beloved Canadian acts as Tokyo Police Club, the Arkells and Fucked Up. You can preorder the limited edition white vinyl (classy!) over at Hi-Scores Recording Library now. In February, Dinosaur Bones will also be doing a quick romp around the States before bringing the tour back home for Canadian Music Week.


Hollerado - Juliette



I love Hollerado. I really do. They are synonymous with "fun". Their record, Record in a Bag, will be available for purchasing on Feb. 9th. Each will be hand packaged by the band in a ziplock, and it will include the CD, a card for bonus track downloads, stickers, and possibly a prize card for various goodies. Goodies may include free admission to Hollerado shows or guitars. I'm so fuckin' serious.


Hawksley Workman - We Dance To Yesterday



Here's a video that made me go WTF a couple of times. Hawksley plays a mullet-topped Japanese game show character in this video... I really never know what to expect from this guy. I've been hearing very good things about his album, Meat, which was released this last Tuesday. I'm going to have to pick it up sometime soon.


Raveonettes - Boys Who Rape



This is a DIY style video for one of the oddest tracks on their latest record, In and Out of Control. Match a saccharine sweet tune and voice to lyrics about the rage felt toward men who take advantage of women, and you get this song.


OK Go - This Too Shall Pass

Surely you've all seen their video for A Million Ways, Here It Goes Again, and WTF already. OK Go has announced that they're planning on doing a video for each track on their new album, released earlier this month. I look forward to it. Without doubt they are the kings of the one-take video.

Sweet Hallelujah

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm not very good at checking my emails. Sometimes there will be a delay. But when I got an email telling me that Hawksley Workman is releasing For Him and the Girls on Nov. 17, 2009, I had to do a double take! Wasn't this already released? I was just listening to it a few days back and the CD was sitting on my desk. I couldn't have missed a recent email from 2000, right?

It turns out that his debut For Him and the Girls, which had been released in Canada years back is finally set to be released in the States.

If you haven't heard his material yet, you don't know what you're missing! Truly an original performer and songwriter, I don't even know how to describe his music; it's so unique. I've always loved his work yet I've always been at a loss whenever I've had to describe his music. He's been compared by critics to Tom Waits, David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright and Freddie Mercury.

All at once, he can be glam/humble/playful/folky/indie/classic/modern/nostalgic, switching between the role of the troubadour and the rock and roll performer. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it all works brilliantly, combined with his expressive vocals and dynamic onstage persona.

Check out some songs from the debut below. And remember that this is only the debut, he's had a few Canadian albums out since then. You ain't heard nothing yet!

Hawksley Workman - Maniacs (mp3) (buy)

Hawksley Workman - Bullets (mp3) (buy)

Hawksley Likes His Remixes

Yes, I know. Yet ANOTHER post about Hawksley Workman. But the guy has been busy, releasing a couple of album this year. And he sure likes his remixes. Los Manlicious, released just last month had a few tracks remixed from Between the Beautifuls.

Anyhoo, as a thanks to all his fans, he's released an exclusive remix of "Fatty Wants to Dance" made over by Nik Kozub of Shout Out Out Out .

Hawksley Workman - Fatty Wants To Dance (The Paronomasiac Remix)" (join mailing list for exclusive tracks in mp3 format, it's a 14mb file)

Modern Music Could be a Healing Sound

For an artist whom adoration is a major theme in his music and writing (see his book, Hawksley Burns for Isadora), he inspires a major swoon-fest at his shows. A talented musician and engaging performer, he gets the audience right into it and I can't even really compare him to any other musician. His songs have a little bit of folk, pop, jazz, new age and a little bit of rock and roll sleaze.

His latest Los Manlicious is finally out in Canada and he's added new tour dates in the Fall.

November 19 Le Cercle Quebec City, QC
November 21 La Tulipe Montreal, QC
November 22 Bronson Centre Ottawa, ON
November 25 The Music Hall London, ON
November 26 Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY
November 28 Massey Hall Toronto, ON

There are a few alternate versions of tracks from Between the Beautifuls, including my favourite "Prettier Face" and Los Manlicious is louder and more rock-and-roll than the last few releases. Worth a listen.

Hawksley Workman - Prettier Face (Between the Beautifuls version) (mp3) (buy)
Hawksley Workman - Kissing Girls (You Shouldn't Kiss) (mp3) (buy)

Ring Me.

Cartier, the diamond company has sponsored a bunch of works around the theme of "What would you do for love?", for their "Love" line, of course emphasizing the fact that a diamond would seal the deal. But it's not all cynicism, there is money being donated to various charities and 8 tracks commissioned to musicians like Hawksley Workman, Phoenix, Lou Reed and Marion Cotillard (yes, THAT Marion Cotillard of Oscar fame). All tracks can be heard and downloaded at the CartierLove website.

Hawksley Workman - The Ground that we walk on (mp3)

Phoenix - Twentyone One Zero (mp3)

Marion Cotillard - The Strong Ones (mp3)

Music nerds may actually pay attention to these diamonds.

True Patriot Love

Happy Canada Day Folks! I know you love your country, and so do these guys. They drop names like it's hot! And I know you secretly love it too when you hear an obscure geographic reference close to your heart. Like the name of your hometown or the CN Tower or the fact that the background for the Barenaked Ladies "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" video was filmed five minutes from where you live.

Joel Plaskett - Work Out Fine (mp3)

Thrush Hermit - From the Back of the Film (mp3)

Bedouin Soundclash - St. Andrews (Mp3)

Carnations - Scream and Yell (Mp3)

Hawksley Workman - Smoke Baby (Mp3)

Final Fantasy - The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead (Mp3)

The Neverending White Lights

Yesterday, ImpressionableYouth and I headed over to Yonge St to see Neverending White Lights play at Sunrise Records as part of Record Store Day. I've been curious to hear how the songs sounded without the guest vocalists who appear on the albums. His first album, Act I: Goodbye Friends of Heavenly Bodies featured guests such as Emm Gryner and Dallas Green (Alexisonfire, City & Colour). Dallas performed the song "the Grace" which was the track that first brought the Neverending White Lights to my attention. Act II: The Blood and Life Eternal features Sune Rose Wagner (the Raveonettes), Hawksley Workman, Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins, Auf der Maur) and Lexi Valentine (Magneta Lane) amongst others.


It was a good set. Joined by two other musicans, Daniel Victor (the mastermind behind the Neverending White Lights) sang and played guitar for short acoustic-ish set. B-Rad (I think that's what he was introduced as), the percussionist played rhythm with a pen, a cup of glass and an empty bottle filled with mung beans. It's cool how improvisation works.

I'm not too familar with the names of the songs so when Daniel Victor asked if anybody had requests, I had songs I wanted him to play but I just couldn't remember them at the top of my head. It would have been embarrassing if I shouted out something that doesn't exist. Anyways, I'm glad they played "The World is Darker" which is one of my favourites, sang by Melissa Auf der Maur in the studio version. The song "Always" was the highlight of the show though.

They played later that night at the Danforth Music Hall.

Neverending White Lights (feat. Dallas Green) - The Grace (mp3)
Neverending White Lights (feat. Melissa Auf der Maur) - The World is Darker (mp3)
Neverending White Lights - Always (mp3)