It's Not You, It's Me

I feel like I just got dumped.

The Rakes broke up on Oct. 22, 2009. According to an official release on their site:

"To our fans, sorry if this abrupt end is an unpleasant surprise and might piss any of you off, particularly those who were coming to see us on our UK and US tours. Under the circumstances we just couldn’t continue… We of course don’t want to piss anyone off, we never took canceling shows lightly - but it’s best to leave you all on a high note, rather than unimaginatively continue, on and on, until before you know it you’re playing an OAP home in Eastbourne and discover all the audience are younger than you.

Sincere thanks for all your support. Here’s our collective thoughts:

The Rakes have always been very adamant and proud of the fact that we give 100% to every gig we’ve ever played. If we can’t give it everything then we won’t do it. That was the rule we set ourselves from day one.

After much deliberation we have come to the shared conclusion that we can’t give it 100% anymore and regret to announce that The Rakes are calling it a day. We are sorry to let down all the people who were coming to see us on the UK & US tours. Writing your own obituary is a surreal thing to do but we want to give particular thanks to our much-loved fans, all the great people we’ve worked with over the years, our management and loyal record label. We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to write music together and perform around the world. Genuinely, thanks for the good times…. That was one hell of a party! But now, we really must get some sleep."

I'm so distraught, I'm not even concentrating on homework. I don't think I can go to work tomorrow. Can't I see them one last time? At the ModClub in Toronto? Where they were supposed to play on Nov. 9?

Well, that's JUST great. You know what Rakes, I don't need you. I've moved on! I saw tons of other bands.... (sniff).

And by the way, in the words of the Flight of the Conchords, "I'm not crying, it's just raining on my face."

Rakes - 1989 (mp3) (buy)

Rakes - Shackleton (mp3) (buy)

Rakes - Little Superstitions (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.

The Light From Your Mac

The Rakes have graced us with a new track. These guys are always able to charm me with their swaggering English drawl, catchy guitar riffs and most of all, their devilishly cheeky lyrics. Can't get much cheekier than this one:

The Rakes - The Light From Your Mac (mp3) (Can't buy it yet. Be patient)

I'm charmed, just buy looking at the name of that track. It's starts out like a modern day lullaby, just bass and vocals. It's cold during some obscure hour of the night. "The light from your Mac cuts through the gloom like moonlight" as Donohoe innocently suggests that you go off to bed. He tells you some anecdote about why you shouldn't ever leave London, New York or L.A. and you feel all safe and warm while he's telling you your bedtime stories.

And still,

I could crash on your sofa
That's not what I am here for
We could do spoons or more
Just don't show me the fucking futon
...
Yeah your brother be right
Don't let me stay tonight
I'm drunk and you are tired
Don't let me stay tonight

How could you not be charmed by that?

Look out for their third album, KLANG, on the 23rd of March.

March Is Going To Be a Good Month

March is going to be a good month for album releases. Here are the two I'm looking forward to.

Joel Plaskett will be releasing a triple album in March. "Triple album"?! I've never even heard of that! It's gonna be three (wow, three!) discs! Mmmmmm.


"A new record for a new year. Well, three new records for one year to be exact. March, I’ve been told, so now I’ll tell you, 'March, my new triple record called 'Three'. See you in the spring. Until then: shoveling, shoveling, shoveling," quoth Joel Plaskett off his website.

Here's an unreleased one that he performed at See Vous Play way back in October of 2007. I do hope he includes it on one of those discs. Although I've been perusing YouTube, and there's not a single video for it! But here's to hoping anyway.

Joel Plaskett - Too Many Choices (live) (mp3)

Thanks to I(heart)Music for posting it so many months ago!

Also, according to a CBC Radio 3 interview Joel did last month, he's been working with Two Hours Traffic again. Looks like he'll be producing their follow up to Little Jabs. Even though it's only in pre-production now, I'm very excited.

In other album news, the Rakes' third album will be called 'KLANG'. It's set for the 23rd of March. When I heard the album name, I immediately thought, "hey that's like the Kooks, with their album called 'Konk'!"

Few people know that the Terminator is an honorary member of the Rakes.

Klang Tracklist:

You’re In It
That’s The Reason
The Loneliness Of The Outdoor Smoker
Bitchin’ in the Kitchin’
The Woes Of The Working Woman
1989
Shackelton
The Light From Your Mac
Muller’s Ratchet
The Final Hill
Never Get Married

The first single is '1989' and it'll be up for legal download a week before the album drops. Here's a video featuring an unofficial version of the track over the course of a Planet Roc studios tour in Berlin where they recorded.

the Rakes - 1989 (Unofficial)

And to tide you over until that release, here's an older track of theirs'.

The Rakes - Terror! (mp3) (buy)

The Lost Boys

The Rakes are nearly finished their next album and it's due out sometime next year. They apologize for the lack of contact and says the upcoming album shall be "raw but focused", capturing the sound of a live band near the bottom of an empty room with stairs. Listen for the crazy atmospherics (and dancing) once it comes out next year.

But for now, check out a couple of the tracks from their last outings.

The Rakes - 22 Grand Job (mp3) (buy)

The Rakes - Leave the City and Come Home (mp3) (buy)

The Rakes - When Tom Cruise Cries (mp3) (buy)

Back to Reality

So it's been almost a week since I've been back from holiday in Vietnam and I'm taking my time settling into the reality of work, class and other related real life events. The lifestyle is so different. People are poorer and the pace is slower, but everyone is so relaxed all the time. People sit around and soak in the sun and watch the world go by all day. Workers would walk out and sit around for a while, work, chat, sit around for a bit, play with the neighbourhood kids, sit around for a bit and so on. I know the grass is greener on the other side and all that, but it must be nice sometimes. The only time they aren't relaxed is when they are waiting in line or driving. They just HAVE to be two steps ahead. Old people literally push you out of the way so they can line up before you. It's kind of funny how everyone rushes around to slack off once they get to where they are going. I'm going to attempt to relax more in the new year.

Work work work (Pub Club Sleep) - The Rakes (mp3)
Crazy World - Richard Ashcroft (mp3)

But not just yet. I'm quite upset at the Markham Library, who has sent me a bill for the Bill Bryson book "In A Sunburned Country",which I returned sometime in August or September. I called them back to tell them I've returned it and since they can't find it, they're charging me for it. But I'm not paying it. Screw that. I'll just have to live with being banned from the library permanently. Which sucks, because there are so many books I wanna read!

Took out a Loan - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (mp3)
Six Barrel Shotgun - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (mp3)