Delicious Shower Thoughts

I hate the new Chrome bookmarks. Who makes these decisions?

They should consult wise master Cookie Monster. 

Sesame Street - Game of Chairs

Even Grover is in on the hype.

Best of 2014 Part 5

Movin' right along...

#9

Big Wreck

Ghosts

I was super excited when I heard a new album from these guys was on the way, and it delivered in spades. For me this is their best work, in either incarnation (i.e. Thornley), since their first album way back in '97. The crunchy guitars, soaring choruses, and epic harmonies are all over this release. Ian's singing sounds great, the song writing is there, and don't forget his signature guitar solos. 

Thankfully they've eschewed radio hits for longer, more meaty songs, with only one clocking in under four minutes, and only two others under five. There are some truly memorable moments on this record, not least in the terrific album closer, "War Baby". It's crazy that these guys still aren't bigger than they are. In a world full of indie alternative experimental glitch step, decent rock bands are fewer and farther between. Here's to one of the very best.

Hey Mama

Come What May

Ghosts

#8

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Give The People What They Want

So what do you do when you get bile duct cancer, have half your digestive system removed, and lose all your hair from god-awful chemo treatments? Well, you kick cancer's ass and get back on the damn road pronto, of course. At least that's what Sharon Jones did. She delayed the release of this album until she got better so she could tour properly, and man did she do it right.

This is a super album, comparable to her excellent 2010 release "I Learned The Hard Way", absolutely stuffed with modern Motown masterpieces. Of course it helps that she has the best backing band in the business, but why not? The music suits them to a tee. Check out these clips, and this video, and tell me you wouldn't love to see their live show. Two thumbs way up.

Stranger To My Happiness

Now I See

Get Up And Get Out

#7

Todd Terje

It's Album Time

It's been a long time coming, and well worth the wait. Terje Olsen has been around the disco house scene for the best part of a decade, and this is his first full length release. It's hardly a surprise that he knocked it out of the park. Every note in every song seems charted to perfection, and his crazy keyboard licks keep it just that little bit unpredictable.

Upbeat, fresh, funky, bouncy, mesmerising. It makes you want to get up and go for a jog in the middle of the night. Or dance down the cheese aisle at the supermarket. Vocal samples are used fleetingly, mostly indiscernible from the other blips and bloops, and only one song features actual singing of any kind. Amazingly Terje has found a way to take his act to the live stage, and the performance of "Inspector Norse" seen below is just awesome. 

Delorean Dynamite

Inspector Norse

Leisure Suit Preben

EP #3

Vulfpeck

Fugue State

What a refreshingly bright sound these cats have. It's just so much funk, so much jazz. I'm sure you're familiar with their big hit by now. If not, you should be. I mean it's physically impossible to listen to this stuff without a smile on your face and your head nod on. Got a classy house gathering coming up? Here's yer guys. FollyFest? Hey... you know what... now we're on to something!

First Place

Sky Mall

Fugue State

Hot diggity, just two days to go in 2014!

Baby Cookie Monster

Still in the moving-in process, but the work space is good to go so things should start happening a little quicker. Now here's a picture of Cookie Monster as a baby.

The mystery box of Sesame Street

I watched the new Muppet movie the other night, and it was pretty awesome. A very pleasant surprise indeed. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out. Here's a reminder of what kind of sillyness is involved.

The Muppets respond to Fox News

Kermit and Miss Piggy refute this nonsense.

Sesame Street breaks it down

I don't think I've posted this before. If I have, it's worth the double post.

Oscar the Grouch on Q

Who knew Oscar was a New Brunswicker? Inspirational.

Kermit the Frog remembers Jim Henson

Aw jeez.

Kermit the Frog on Q

The new Muppets movie comes out this week and Kermit decided to stop in to the Q studio to have a few words with Jian Ghomeshi.

Dang I miss Jim Henson.

Ben Caplan - Stranger

It's snowmageddon, take nine, here in sunny Freddy Beach again, so it's a good day so sit in and do some reading about crazy science news. You should also listen to this great performance from Ben Caplan, who is from Halifax and happens to be playing at Folly Fest this year. It's another from that great Southern Souls website, but it's quite different from any other I've seen. Actually I think it's probably the best one I've seen on that post, not just for it's uniqueness in style and location, but as a single individual performance it's fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Very fine. Better than that. Fine is ok... who invited Statler & Waldorf to that party?

Ben Caplan - Stranger

SCIENCE MATTERS

Willingness To Listen To Music Is Biological

I personally think music education is possibly more significant.

Placebo Effect Works Both Ways

Once again, it's all in your head.

Napping May Help With Blood Pressure

Might I suggest a good night's sleep?

Happy Children Make Happy Adults

This seems kind of obvious.

Billion Year Old Water Discovered

Of course these are estimates...

Former Canadian Defense Minister Blasts UFO Coverup

To anyone following this topic, this is old news.

The Muppets - Bohemian Rhapsody

Today I am blissfully hungover and so I have few words except... what a show! I can't clearly remember all of it but it was an evening of pure madness and good times. Before the show the guys had on some music videos and this was one of them. I'm almost embarrassed to say that I hadn't seen it before. I'm sure you'll love it just as much as I do.

Amazing.