Hey Rosetta! - I've Been Asleep For A Long, Long Time

This is supposed to be Metal Monday. Well let's be honest for a moment, there are no rules around here. Rules are for the birds. Please direct any complaints you might have to this brick wall.

I slept for about 13 hours last night. Straight. On the couch. TKO'd. No dinner. No Superbowl. No writing. Suffice to say I was tired. Sleep didn't really happen for me apart from a couple hours nap here for there from about Thursday. Starting to think I have too much on the go.

Today is catch-up day. El Bloggo is now good to go. Sort of. Still have a few Best Of's to get to further down the road.

In the meantime Tim Baker & Co. are bringing me back to life. Hope they're enjoying whatever it is they've been up to since December. Probably a lot of not much.

Hey Rosetta! - The Simplest Thing

I remember seeing Tim Baker play for the first time at the Wilser's Room many moons ago, a quiet little songwriter session right around the time when the first EP came out. It was a game-changer. The whole room was mesmerised with what we were hearing.

Now after more than a decade of traveling the world the band is taking a well-deserved break. It's not really a surprise, they've been planning their escape since the beginning. Maybe a couple years down the road we'll catch them at a reunion show or on a random corner in St. John's would seem fitting.

This song stuck with me then and still done many years later. No video for this one. Hit play, close your eyes, and go wherever it takes you.

Best of 2014 Part 3

Running a little late-ish today, but have no fear, I am here! Let's just take a quick minute to assess the final Hobbit movie, The Battle Of The Five Armies, that I watched last night. Quick summary: disappointing. Probably my least favorite of the six Peter Jackson Middle Earth films. It was entertaining, went by fast, but to me it felt sloppy, rushed, just a bit too messy. I liked the Lord of the Rings films. For me the pacing of the Hobbit trilogy was way off. It's a shame. The visuals were stunning as always, but didn't make up for the mediocre writing. Anyway go see it for yourself, at least there's some really cool action scenes. Dain's dwarves were pretty cool.

Music time.

#15

Pharoahe Monch

PTSD

Hip-hop is getting ever more divisive. People pulling in all kinds of different directions, both in terms of production and lyricism, and lots of different sorts getting into it. Even white Australian girls are into it, maybe I'll give it a try some day. My preference is more old-school classic styles. Tight lyrics, solid beats, nothing too whack. A little gangster, but never over the top.  

This album fills all the requirements and more. The Pharoahe is one of those few who can stand with the old school kings. Of course it makes sense since he's been around for more than 20 years, and yet only four solo albums are on his discography. This one might be his best. The production sounds like a Roots album (some of them were in on it) and the lyrics are unmistakably Monch. It's versatile with both big heavy grungy tracks and slower more thoughtful offerings. For me it's one of the best hip hop records of the last five years. 

Broken Again

Damage

Rapid Eye Movement

#14

Swans

To Be Kind

They`ve done it again. Why, god, why? Two years ago these deranged individuals put out a record that I described as "slow torture, a creeping dread, a shrouded evil", and I loved it. In my opinion this one isn't quite as good, but some have argued that it is in fact better. Either way, it's another astonishing adventure into introspective anarchy. You can't listen to this every day, or even once a week, unless your therapist really needs the money.

So why is this here? Look, the world isn't smiles and chocolates. You can't listen to Backstreet Boys all day. If that's you, fine, carry on living the lie. I moved out of the cave a long time ago (the allegory, not necessarily the place). Sometimes you need to expand your mind beyond its comfort zone, and this is the kind of record that does it. In fact let's take that a bit further. There is no other band on the planet who takes you through the metaphysical gauntlet like Swans. Nobody.

Just A Little Boy

Oxygen

To Be Kind

#13

Hey Rosetta!

Second Sight

Close to as completely opposite as it gets from that darkness is the gleaming light of these superb rockers from Newfoundland. It's been three years since their last record and it seems the years have been kind. I liked that last one, but this one is a significant step up in their evolution. The signature strings have largely been set aside for more guitars and a more expansive percussion section, and the rest is a more mature sound and some of their best song writing since "Plan Your Escape".

The first single sounded different at first, and by the time of writing this it's become one of my favorite tracks of the year. There are unmistakable hints of Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon throughout the album, and maybe even a little of The Drones, which is never a bad thing. Pedals and effects have never been overly prevalent, and again they're used sparsely, but they really enhance the ambiance on tracks like "Neon Beyond". It's an excellent album, and again one that could well rank higher on the list after a few more months of reflective absorption.

Kintsukuroi

What Arrows

Harriet

EP #5

Lusine

Arterial

I very nearly moved this up the list at the last second, but I'm going to live with my choices and move on. After hearing the first single from this one I had a feeling it would be there or thereabouts on my list, and sure enough it was a keeper. Jeff McIlwain is an accomplished and industrious producer who has kind of ghosted (pun intended) under the eyes of the mainstream for a while, and though this release is unlikely to change that, it's possibly his most refined work to date. This is more thinking music, glitch-hop IDM at its best. Highly recommended.

Eyes Give In

Quiet Day

Forks

Almost to half time... keep up!

Hey Rosetta! - Soft Offering (For The Oft Suffering)

I'm excited to hear this new album. I have a copy but haven't listened to it yet, weird huh? Anyway I'll get to it today. The last release kind of left me a little underwhelmed, but I'm enjoying this new track. It's a little different sounding, kind of a mix of Peter Gabriel and early (i.e. good) Coldplay. More of a rock feel rather than orchestral. That's not at all a bad thing. Check it out.

Hey Rosetta! - New Sum (Nous Sommes)

This one came out last year but it's snowing out now so it seems appropriate now. Hey look! I'm all caught up. Nice work time machine! Now to keep on schedule...

Hey Rosetta! - Graceland

Another lovely little acoustic cover.

Best of 2011 Part 2

Ok, on to part 2, with part 3 coming right after this one. I got an extra pair of underwear as a late Christmas gift, so I'm in a good mood. Anyone know why they call them a pair? There's various stories on the interwebs, and none of them make any sense. I digress. Here's music.

#18

Wagon Christ

Toomorow

Wagon Christ is one of several pseudonyms employed by English producer Luke Vibert, and under which his best stuff has been published. His specialty is lo-fi hip-hop instrumentals, often with a downtempo breakbeat style. Releasing on a bunch of different labels over the years, this one is on the world class Ninja Tune label, and it's easy to see why.

As a straight album front to back it's a little choppy, but that has more to do with the eclectic style of Vibert rather than misplaced track selection. At any given time there is a mashing of muted horns, chirpy vocal samples, and dreamy synth organs. If you're into trippy, mind-expanding beats, this one could be just the ticket.

Chunkothy

Respectrum

Ain't He Heavy, He's My Brother

#17

Colin Stetson

New History Warfare Vol. 2

You're heard Colin Stetson before, you just don't know it. He's performed with Tom Waits, LCD Soundsystem, The National, and the Arcade Fire, just to name a few. He's a brilliant musician, and if there is any album off this list that will go down as one of the best in future lists, it's this one. The only reason it doesn't make it higher on this list is because it's not something you can just pop in the tape deck and go for a drive with. It takes serious effort to sit and appreciate the eccentricity and splendor contained in it.

It was shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris prize, and by estimation should have won. In terms of pure musicianship and recording innovation, there is nothing even close. Stetson recorded the whole thing live on his bass sax, in single takes, with no dubs or loops, using twenty-odd microphones to record everything from the clicks of the pads to the vibration of his vocal chords. It is a groundbreaking, landmark recording and truly a triumph of modern music. Two thumbs, way up.

Judges

Red Horse (Judges II)

The Righteous Wrath Of An Honorable Man

#16

Hey Rosetta!

Seeds

Tim Baker and Co. have given us their most accomplished album to date, but paradoxically it is my least favorite so far. I say this because it is unquestionably a graduation of sound and depth from their previous work, but it's not nearly as catchy and it's really moved them from merely a really good nu-folk storytelling sort of band into a fully blown epic rock ensemble. After a few more listens, this album will grow on me even more, and it's highly probable that I will eventually prefer this sound to the one I've become accustomed to.

As is the case in these kinds of albums, the most accessible songs on the album are the least impressive. Songs like "Yer Spring" and "Young Glass" are very good but ultimately well surpassed by the rest. If you were previously into the band, like me, you might not appreciate it for all it is yet, but you will. Just give it time. I'm talking to myself again, aren't I...

Yer Fall

Bricks

Parson Brown

EP #6

Mux Mool

Drum EP 2

Brian Lindgren operates out of New York these days, but for a while it seemed like he wouldn't be operating out of anywhere. After contemplating quitting the music scene altogether he was convinced to stick it out a little longer, and thank goodness he did because he's put out a killer EP that will surely lead to even better things in the future. Funky instrumental layers of sonic goodness are awaiting all who pick this six song offering up. Go ahead, you won't be disappointed.

Flying Dreams

The Hundred Dollar Beat

Jen And Soda

Time for snack then back with part 3 in a couple hours.

Monday Mega Post

I took a week's vacation for no good reason other than it seemed like the thing to do. Had a busy weekend, and I've been considering how best to integrate the blog into my new website which began construction today. I think I can figure out how to embed it into the website, so that may be the best route. Anyway it'll be a few weeks yet I think before I get it all sorted, so in the meantime here's a week's worth of tunes to make up for the past week. Oh and by the way I watched Transformers 3 yesterday at the theater, and it sucked. Don't waste your time watching it. You can thank me for the 2.5 hours of your life I've just saved you later.

Ambition - A.M.B.I.T.I.O.N.

Dillon Francis & Diplo - Que Que

Hey Rosetta! - Young Glass [Live @ The Edge]

Ladi6 - Walk Right Up

Oh Land - White Nights [Live @ Big Ugly Yellow Couch]

Retro/Grade - Reset

Thursday - Magnets Caught In A Metal Heart

Walker Barnard - Follow The Smoke

BONUS BEATS!

NAPT - Emotion [Reset! Remix]

Woooo... see ya tomorrow.

Hey Rosetta! - Yer Spring

Well it's been yet another busy, and it's far from over, so I'll just leave you with the brand new Hey Rosetta! video. The new album comes out in a couple weeks. I'm assuming you know who they are because I've posted them before, so listen and enjoy. Thanks to Julie for the heads up.

STUFF YOU SHOULD SEE

Who Killed The Electric Car?

Good documentary, worth watching.

SCIENCE MATTERS

Synthetic Gas, Zero Carbon Emissions

Promising, but will the oil barons allow it?

Potential Cure For Type 1 Diabetes

One down, one to go. Sort of.

Marriage Is Good For You

As long as you like the person.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

Vegan Meal Time

Bacon is better than seaweed. Fact.

Hey Rosetta! - A Thousand Suns

Tonight I will go to the Market and watch Hey Rosetta!! I'm not sure if that second exclamation mark was required or not, because technically there is one at the end of the band's name, but I feel that it's appropriate given that it's very exciting so either way it's staying. In case you've been living under a rock, these guys are one of the very best bands in the world right now. And they're from St. John's, Newfoundland. If you ever get a chance to see them, you should cancel whatever other plans you have, sell your shirt and shoes, and get on down to the show. They're that good.

Can't wait.