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.

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)

Summer's End

Yeah, so I asked my sister to fill in for me for the last post. We got on the topic of what we would do if either of us had won a crap-load of money because I entered a contest to win a quarter of a million dollars while at The Canadian National Exhibition a couple weeks prior. Obviously, I didn't win. Nonetheless, I had a great day at the CNE. It's just one of those things that you have to go to every year if you live in the vicinity. You keep telling yourself that there's nothing new THIS year, and it's not ACTUALLY that much fun, but still wind up ambling through the front gate.

Looking back on it now, I had a very kick-ass last week of summer! Went to the CNE and the Chinese Lantern Festival. The morning after, I woke up early to set myself at the Edge 102,1 store front studio for a short performance and interview by Bedouin Soundclash. They played a two song set, starting with the single Walls Fall Down and ending with 12:59 Lullaby, which can be found by a quick YouTube search. I'm not sure why I'm so surprised... but those guys are nice. So nice. I had a short conversation with Pat and Eon, during which they promised to play some more all ages shows (I'm holding you to that, boys) and they used my cell phone. Bedouin Soundclash used my cell phone! That's my current greatest claim to fame.




I also saw the Joel Plaskett show down at Yonge and Dundas Square for Ryerson. That man is still as sharp as ever, I tell you. He and the Emergency (plus Peter Elkas) dished out a load of crowd teasers like Extraordinary and Nowhere with you. Ashtray Rock, the song, was a bit unexpected though. The audience enjoyed themselves so much, that all of the front row pushed the barricade forward for the second song of the encore. I don't think the band could have been more pleased.


I think that was a great way to follow up my first two posts. Funny, I didn't even know about these two shows when I was writing those entires. It must be fate. But that's all come and gone.

Evil Dead: The Musical is also ending tomorrow, as I was told. I saw it way back before the summer even began. That was a good show, indeed. It was based off the first two Evil Dead movies, long before Sam Raimi started directing web-slinging blockbuster hits. Deliciously cheesy like its ancestor, and 100% more ear-pleasing to a music lover. I was kind of upset that I didn't get splattered with fake blood as was promised in their advertisements, despite sitting in the first row. I guess it was a hit and miss sort of thing. Well, here's what I believe to be the greatest summary of the campy musical:

Original Off Broadway Cast of Evil Dead: The Musical - What the Fuck was that? (MP3)
(Go Buy the Soundtrack)

Cheers to a great run, cast and crew of the Toronto Evil Dead Production!

Anyway, school has started for me once again. I've got a terrible morning and a very La De Daa afternoon. Data Management, followed by Physics and Visual art. I take a break for lunch and then head off for Drama before the school day is finished.

The Flashing Lights - Highschool (MP3)
Foo Fighters - My Poor Brain (MP3)

For those of you who might not personally know me, I'm in my last year of high school and I've finally realized that it isn't as great as television and movies make it out to be. I feel pretty much the same as I did in grade 9, only with a larger sense of urgency. I don't like it!

August the 21st is a good day for my wallet.

Lemme get to the point. Today, on August the 21st, 2007, there were/are three new items on my shopping list.

1) Bedouin Soundclash's Street Gospels


Aw. Don't you just love these guys? It's got to be impossible not to. Just as expected, their new material has a familiar Caribbean vibe. I was listening to the album in the car on my way to and from dinner, where the speakers overemphasize the bass. It wasn't bad though. The cruddy speakers and the album itself reminded my of how often the four-stringed instrument is disregarded. I suggest you look back on some old favourite songs and listen carefully for surprisingly enjoyable bass lines. Anywho, the album comes with some exclusive video footage and a hidden track. Sweet.

Stream the album in its entirety
Walls Fall Down (MP3)
Nico on the Night Train (MP3)
Go Buy It (and recieve a 7'' vinyl while quantities last)

2) Earlimart's Mentor Tormentor

I first heard about Earlimart while looking up some Office tour dates. To add to that, I first found Office accidentally when I was looking up The Office, with Steve Carell. They've got a good sound and some soothing vocal harmonics going on for a few of their tracks. These gems'll be spotted around North America together for an upcoming tour, but more on that later... As in not-during-this-post later.

Everybody Knows Everybody (MP3)
The Hidden Track (MP3)
Go Buy It

3) House Season Three.

I know, not exactly music, but oh man, I'm so addicted to this show. What's gonna happen now that Mr. House's employees are all gone? What's gonna happen know that that Penn kid, best known for his role as Kumar in Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle, is supposedly cast as a reoccurring character?

Massive Attack - Teardrop (MP3)
Madness - Our House (MP3)
Buy the DVDs

Yup. My wallet lost a lot of weight today.