Jason Collett 'Rat a Tat Tat': "Love Is A Dirty Word" MP3

A new album from Toronto's Jason Collett is on the way, called Rat a Tat Tat, it will be released on March 9th 2010, but his label has seen fit to offer an mp3 off the record three months before it's release. Not sure why, but now that I ponder that question it may be to get a song out 6 weeks before the album leaks, which often is about 6 weeks before the official release date. I'm just thinking out loud, or talking out of my @$$.

"Love is A Dirty Word" is the song and I like it, no surprise there, I like much of what Collett has written and recorded as a solo artist. Listen to the song and think of the album's title, Rat a Tat Tat, I hear that in the muted bass line and even in the drums here and there. Is it the power of suggestion, or did Collett find the album title in this song? Just another of life's mysteries, I suppose.

love is a dirty word [mp3] from Rat a Tat Tat 2010

Collet recorded a session at CBC last year and included at least two songs from this upcoming record. Here he is with his band live in studio:

love is a chain [mp3] CBC Session
vanderpool vanderpool [mp3] CBC Session

Rat a Tat Tat Track List
01. Rave On Sad Songs
02. Lake Superior
03. Love Is A Dirty Word
04. Bitch City
05. High Summer
06. Cold Blue Halo
07. Love Is A Chain
08. Long May You Love
09. The Slowest Dance
10. Winnipeg Winds
11. Vanderpool Vanderpool

New Band: Novels feat. Born Ruffians, Tokyo Police Club: MP3

Born Ruffians recently announced that their new album will see light of day in 2010 and will be called Say It. Now, they haven't set a date in stone, although the word "spring" was mentioned, so it could be a cold winter for Born Ruffians fans looking for something fresh. Then again, maybe not... it just so happens that Born Ruffian, Luke Lalonde, has been steppin' out with Tokyo Police Club's Graham Wright, Will Currie of Will Currie & The Country French, Ex-Po's Dean Marino, and Jason Sadlowski of Jay Sad. Well, not for long, it was sort of a one night stand... they all gathered at Toronto's Chemical Sound Studios with the intention of recording an EP in one session. This goal was accomplished according to the band's website and I have 100% proof, okay, 20% proof (it's supposedly a five song EP and I've got one song for you to download). And they settled on the band name, Novels (pictured above).

They don't intend to sell the 5 song EP in any form, as stated on their website:

"NOVELS won't be sold in CD stores, on the internet, or anywhere else. Instead, we'll give them away, or put them places. Maybe you'll find a copy sitting on a park bench. Maybe a masked man will hand you one as he passes you on the street. Maybe none of these things will happen. But we'll make sure that everyone gets a chance to listen if they want to."

"This Would Be The First Time" is short, catchy as hell, and all yours... so, spread the word and the song. What? You can't get enough of Novels? You're in luck, the session was photographed and videoed ( is that a word?). Go here for vids (I know, that isn't a word).

this would be the first time [mp3]

The White Stripes: "Let's Shake Hands" Live Video

The White Stripes: "Let's Shake Hands"

THE WHITE STRIPES | MySpace Music Videos

Record Club: "Weighted Down (The Prison Song)" Video ft. Feist

Record Club: Skip Spence "Weighted Down" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Spoon: "Written In Reverse" Lyrics + MP3

This is the first single from Spoon's upcoming album, Transference, (due January 19th). And when I heard it, and "Mystery Zone" (another new track), I wasn't blown away, as I always expect to be when I first hear new Spoon songs. But, after a few listens everything slips into place and I realize that Britt Daniel is a magician, or the devil, or... god forbid... a songwriter, because how else can I explain why the new songs I've heard somehow recall all my old favourite Spoon songs and yet still carve out a nice comfy place in the sweet spot of my brain. Damn you, Spoon (and thank you)!!

written in reverse [mp3]

"Written in Reverse" Lyrics
I'm writing this to you in reverse
Someone better call a hearse
I can see it all from here
From just a few glimpses
Now that light bulb's gone off
And it's pulling my wincin'
And now the light bulb's gone off

I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen you blankly stare
And I wanna show you how I love you
But there's nothing there

I'm not standing here
Oh I'm not standing here
And I'm writing in reverse
You know it could be worse
I'm not standing here
I'm not standing here

I'm not standing here
I'm not standing here
and I'm writing in reverse
I know it could be worse
And I hear that famous song
And I hear that can't be wrong

No nothing was planned
You just can't help yourself
Some people are so easily shuffled and dealt
If there's only one of us you truly felt
We're gettin' you raw
And it feels real good
Although only briefly
Like high school poppers would
Will you lose a bit of yourself?
Will you lose a bit of yourself?

I'm not standing here
Oh I'm not standing here
And I'm writing in reverse
You know it could be worse
I hear that famous song
And I hear that can't be wrong

Look out
All I know, is all I know,
Yes, all I know, is all I know
Is all I know

I'm writing this to you in reverse
Someone better call a hearse
I can see it all from here
From just a few glimpses
Now that light bulb's gone off
And it's pulling my wincin'
And now the light bulb's gone off
I've seen it in your eyes
And there's nothing there
There's nothing there
I wanna show you how I love you
I can see you blankly stare

Why?: "This Blackest Purse" MP3

Why? is the band and Yoni Wolf is the singer who moves between the friendly vibe of REM's Michael Stipe and the earnest and idiosyncratic indie nerd calling card of They Might Be Giants. The band's latest record is Eskimo Snow and boasts, "This Blackest Purse" a terrific song, with a simple melody and dense detailed lyrics.

this blackest purse [mp3]
eskimo snow (Sock Hop Version) [mp3]

Broad Way Sleep: "Too Late" MP3

A yearning vocal line soars over the throbbing bottom end of Toronto band Broad Way Sleep's song, "Too Late". Nothing earth shattering here in terms of originality, but what they do, they do well enough to turn heads and this song surely will. The band is centered around songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/executive producer Ralph Joseph and includes Alexander The (of Styrofoam Ones), Sarah Shafey and Robert Bolton a.k.a. Arowbe (of Times Neue Roman).

This mp3 is a webrip, and may be missing several seconds at the start and finish, but it gives you the idea and impetus to seek them out... doesn't it?

too late [mp3] (album due February 2010)

Phoenix: "Lisztomania / One Time Too Many" Video: A Take Away Show

Phoenix - Lizstomania / One time too many - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix: "1901" Video: A Take Away Show

You can now find this post here at my new blog.

Spoon: "Mystery Zone" Lyrics

Not sure if there's something wrong with the mp3 I've got, or if the song is intended to end abruptly, maybe they fall into the mystery zone. Here's what I hear, please leave any comments if you hear it differently.

"Mystery Zone"
Picture yourself
set up for good in a whole other life
In the mystery zone

Make us a house
some far away town
where nobody will know us well
where your dad's not around
and all the trouble you look for all your life
you will find it for sure
In the mystery zone

Times that we met
before we met
Times that we met
we'll go there
to the mystery zone
ah the mystery zone

There goes the rider
at gates of dawn
he takes no prisoners at all
he'll be there on his own

What gets him gone
off down that road
is something he don't understand
Ooh! The mystery zone

Maybe all he wants
maybe all he needs
is to know that the sun don't set
on the mystery zone

How come it feels so familiar
when you never been there?
How come it seems so unreachable
you never tried to find
never tired to find the mystery zone
mystery zone, oooh!

All of the people
you used to run into but never do now
they took off for the mystery zone

And when you know love
when you find it for real
it contains the emotion sense of
everyone ready
your cover was blown
you weren't there but you were
ooh in the mystery zone
you weren't there but you were
you weren't there but you were

Openin' windows
doors never close it's the fresh air fiend
it's the information troll

We'll pack a bag
sendin' it off just some things that never fit right
to the m...
and we'll send it ahead as a test so we'll know
call it up when it gets there
"What's it like in the mystery zone?"

The times that we met
before we met
we'll go back there
Oh, times that we met
we'll go back
we'll go back there
the mystery zone
to the mystery zone
the mystery zone
oh the mys...

Patrick Watson: 'Just Another Ordinary Day" MP3

On November 17th, Patrick Watson re-released Just Another Ordinary Day. Originally self-released in 2003 in very limited quantities, this was the first recording with all four members of the band. The album was recorded at the same time the band was performing regular sets at the now legendary Café Sarajevo in Montreal. While Just Another Ordinary Day still resembles the band, Patrick Watson, this album features some of the quartet’s most accessible pop-oriented work to date.

If you're still searching for that special Christmas gift: The long playing vinyl version of Wooden Arms made it onto store shelves in mid-November, as well.

Visit his label's site here.

Here's a taste of early Patrick Watson... from Just Another Ordinary Day.
gealman [mp3]

TOUR DATES
December 10 – Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC
December 12 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, ON
December 16 – Metropolis, Montreal, QC

Get more tour dates here.

The Notwist: "Boneless" Grizzly Bear Remix

The Notwist and The Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra w/ The Sleeping Years at the Union Chapel, London Dec 12th.

After a series of celebrated concerts in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Munich and Cologne, The Notwist and The Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra will be playing a very unique show at the Union Chapel in London on the 12th December.

This combination of a 20-piece orchestra with a 5-piece band from Bavaria holds a lot more promise than the typical "Rock meets Classical" set up. Instead, old and new Notwist songs are elaborated upon to form extremely complex orchestral arrangements. These evenings celebrate a new interpretation and elaboration of the Notwistian songbook, which due to the obvious logistical reasons involved can only take place on a few very special occasions.

Tickets from seetickets.com

boneless grizzly bear remix