Frog Eyes.

The first time I had the pleasure of hearing Carey Mercer was in 2003 after the release of The Golden River... Frog Eyes opened for Destroyer at the Horseshoe Tavern... coincidentally... it was first time I saw someone reading a heady novel while a band was playing... at first glance it was humourous to watch Mercer and his knee buckling guitar riffs as he shook his head violently back and forth... and the girl with the thick framed glasses beside me never looked up once from her copy of Resurrection by Tolstoy... but after a minute or two you almost feel like you're alone with Mercer in a washing machine... this is where Frog Eyes sucks you in... and with a brand new release right around the corner... I can hardly contain my excitement... even though I never understood Love in the Time of Cholera.
Frog Eyes will be releasing their follow up to 2007's Tears Of The Valedictorian and first with the label Dead Oceans on April 27th... titled Paul's Tomb: A Triumph... you can download the opening track from the album... over nine minutes in length... called "A Flower in a Glove" here.

Paul's Tomb: A Triumph

1. A Flower in a Glove
2. The Sensitive Girls
3. Odetta's War
4. Rebel Horns
5. Lear, in the Park
6. Styled by Dr. Roberts
7. Lear in Love
8. Violent Psalms
9. Paul's Tomb

Support C.A.R.A.O.S.V.A.W.R.

Canadians Against Random Acts of

Stormtrooper Violence Against Wild Raccoons.

Eventually I will accept paypal.

World Sick.

Broken Social Scene is back with the first single World Sick from the up coming album Forgiveness Rock Record... they've narrowed the band down to six members for this record... consisting of Kevin Drew, Brendan Channing, Charles Spearin, Justin Peroff, Andrew Whiteman, San Goldberg and Lisa Lobsinger... but I imagine half of Toronto will make a guest appearence somewhere on the album... which is due out on May 4th via Arts & Crafts... you can download the single here... in exchange for your email address.
And the kids will be playing Toronto Island on June 19th with Pavement and Band of Horses.

Last.fm

I've been a member of last.fm for an entire year now... and I find myself wondering... does anyone else really want to know what I'm listening to on a daily basis? Probably not... but I like to follow my own listening habits more than anyone... it's almost like musically stalking yourself... since February 15th last year I've listened to 28,020 songs on my ipod alone... which works out to an average of 76 songs per day... that doesn't count the music I listened to on my record player... where would I be if I didn't know how many times I listened to The Purple Bottle by Animal Collective in the past 12 months? If you really need to know... it was 52 times or scrobbles as last.fm puts it... and I needed confirmation when it comes to my love for Bonnie "Prince" Billy... I actually listened to 915 songs sung by Will Oldham in the past year alone... and that doesn't include Palace, Palace Songs, Palace Music, Superwolf or his solo work... it gives me kind of a warm feeling inside... even when Lil' Wayne appears close to the top of my list at #23... who would of thought I had a special place in my heart for gangster rap? I'm currently saving up for a diamond faced watch and I'm in the process of refering to my girlfriend soley as "My Bitch"... it gives me more street cred... kinda like John Mayer or Celine Dion.
Last.fm isn't only for counting the songs I listen to... it also tracks the live shows I've attended and recommends new bands and people with similar musical taste to my own... which is great... except when my ex's show up on that list... but what better way to avoid them at the next live show... I've predicted that last.fm has saved my from dozens of awkward moments in the past year alone... and yes it is possible to avoid someone at the Horseshoe Tavern if you really try... I used to actually have to do some research to find out about new bands... or go early to shows and catch opening acts... now it just pops up for me on my home page... it's as easy as velcro shoes when it comes to discovering new bands... because why should I pick up NME or Spin anymore... Raygun was the last great music magazine anyway... and I'm sick of the holier-than-thou shit that Pitchfork spews out on a daily basis... so for now last.fm is all I need... until the next best thing comes along... or Lil' Wayne becomes my top artist.

Gil Scott-Heron.

Gil Scott-Heron is just as well known for his poetry as his music... releasing his thirteenth studio album through XL Recordings and his first album in sixteen years... titled I'm New Here... and I have little doubt it will end up on mine and many other shortlists for 2010... yet the best part about the record... is what's written on the sleeve inside... Gil writes a letter to the listener... and when it comes to the way the average person is listening to music in 2010... I don't think anyone could have said it better:

There is a proper procedure for taking advantage of an investment.

Music, for example. Buying music is an investment.

To get the maximum you must

LISTEN TO IT FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER OPTIMUM CONDITIONS.

Not in your car or on a portable player through a headset.

Take it home.

Get rid of all distractions, (even her or him).

Turn off your cell phone.

Turn off anything that rings or beeps or rattles or whistles.

Make yourself comfortable.

Play your LP.

LISTEN all the way through.

Think about what you got.

Think about who would appreciate this investment.

Decide if there is someone to share this with.

Turn it on again.

Enjoy Yourself.

~Gil Scott-Heron

You can listen to the new single "Me and The Devil" here.

Beard-O.

Blame The Thermals.

The Thermals have recorded an ode to Canada... apparently this song was written by Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster in less then a half hour... while sitting in a van on the way to Toronto from Buffalo, New York... where they just played a less-than-spectacular show south of the border... and were excited to play a sold out show at the Horseshoe Tavern... which I attended I might add... and yes... The Thermals are amazing... and they prove it once again... you can listen to Canada here.

The Thermals forthcoming album Personal Life will be out on September 7 via Kill Rock Stars.

Die Antwoord.

A Zef-Rap band from Cape Town South Africa... meaning The Answer in Afrikaans... I think it's supposed to be a joke... but it's funny no matter what it is... and they've had such a serge in popularity this year... that it brought down their website until it was moved to a larger server... you can watch a video here.

Danny Sullivan.

How can I thank you enough for making me laugh on a daily basis? All I have to do is pull up that youtube video and my day seems a little brighter... I'd like your address to send a small token of my appreciation... I know you would receive more people showing up at your door trying to kick your ass rather than sending you cheques... but thanks for pushing Noel Gallagher into that stack of speakers in 2008... possibly the most annoying Brit on the planet... only to be out done by his brother and maybe Princess Diana... Danny has pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm for the September 7th attack that broke three of Gallagher’s ribs... and Mr. Gallagher is supposed to show up in Toronto himself to read his impact statement to the court... but come on... give the guy a break... Oasis has been causing me pain for years with their shitty music and blatant Beatles ripoffs... and what do I get? If I see Noel walking around Toronto anytime soon... I'll be sure to give him a shove too... and Danny... one day I'll buy you a beer... I promise.