Best of 2007, or Bo2007

A few things that were good for 2007: Beowulf was mega intense and entertained mindlessly. Darjeeling Limited was another warm hearted quiet epic from Wes Anderson, the movie spiritually changed by Owen Wilson's attempted suicide. Simpson's movie was good enough for a long time fan, could have been better, but a worthy effort. Across the Universe made me fall in love with the Beatles again, still could have been better, but great anyhow. Concerts: LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, Girl Talk, MSTRKRFT, Broken Social Scene, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, Square Waves, Bonnaventure James and the Deluxe Belgium. It was all so much fun, let's all work together for a wonderous 2008.

A couple of my favourite songs from 2007:

Intro - RJD2 (From the Album "The Third Hand")
Chores - Animal Collective (From the Album "Strawberry Jam")
Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem (From the Album "Sound Of Silver")
Sandy - Caribou (From the Album "Andorra")
Maybe Lately - Miracle Fortress (From the Album "Five Roses")
No Cars Go - Arcade Fire (From the Album "Neon Bible")
Charmer - Kings of Leon (From the Album "Because of the Times")
TBTF - Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew (From the Album "Spirit If..")
Once Upon a Time - Air (From the Album "Pocket Symphony")

These aren't necessarily the best songs from their respective albums, but some stuff that I thought went well together, as well as a track that I put in there by mistake, but still sounds good I think. I'll do a part 2, and maybe a dance party set as well.
For one week only! One File Only! iPod and giant Archos media player compatible!!!

Labels: 2007, holidays, movies, music

RobotMusic

Reinventing a product? Or Reinventing music. You decide.

Labels: music, video

Bonnaventure James:

If anyone hasn't heard this yet, and you like glitchy electronic shenanigans, check out an EP that I put together last summer. It's named EP for Denton, but that was just so I could get all the songs in the same folder in iTunes. Originally titled "Injury Theatre EP" it's a bunch of old songs, and some new ones are sure to follow. Here are the songs, 320 kbps mp3 files. Available for six more days.

Labels: mp3, music, self promotion

Why the hell not?

Labels: music

I want to move to Montreal

One of the main reasons I would love to live in Montreal is to hopefully, one day see Godspeed You! Black Emperor play. Tonight on LateNightTales I am featuring the album "Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven".

Check out the site, now with embedded video!

Labels: music

Last.FM Video Roundup

Labels: music, video

Labels: canada, links, music, radio

Of ThanksGivings...

Tomorrow morning, at 2 am, I will begin a new journey in radio DJing. Please tune in to CKXU 88.3 FM in Lethbridge, or online at CKXU.com for a new show called "LateNightTales". Ok, I stole the name from the very good compilation series, but the idea is fairly original.

The new show is really late, but it explores the entirety of an album. This week I am starting with "Deloused in the Comatorium" by the Mars Volta. I have two hours, but since I am the last show of the evening, I may go longer or shorter. Please turn on, tune in, and drop out, it should be fun.

Labels: music, radio, self promotion

Eat Or Be Eaten

This Is Cute.
This Features my friends the Square Waves on the new Podcast.
This Is how to make a stenciled shirt with bleach.
This Has Two New Songs

Labels: art, life, mp3, music

What I am Listening To, and Why

I just picked up three new CDs which are making me happy. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam, Caribou - Andorra, MIA - Kala. Each disc brings something really weird, and something super catchy to my stereo, and I must say I am happy to be bobbing my head, rather than sulking this time of year. I know I have been a little depressed in the past with the start of the fall season. I haven't had a chance to listen to them all start to end, but the first tracks just compel me to do good things.

Let's all hope for the best.

That's Panda Bear on the left, two groundbreaking albums in one year? That's what happens when you move to Portugal.

Labels: drunk, music, news

World Mish-Mash Set for Tuesday

Jazz, Reggae, and some other stuff collides on CKXU's "Chewing Gum in the Shower" for the very last time. Thanks for listening, and here is a vague set list:
Selections from
Studio One Groups,
Studio One Scorcher Vol.2,
Studio One DJs Vol.2,
Studio One Lovers,
Brazilian Groove,
Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars,
DJ Spooky's Under the Influence,
Do Right Music's "Ready or Not"

I hope everyone has a good life!

Labels: music, radio

Feelin' lower than the TSX

I woke to find the TSX down 600 points, and was worried that I wouldn't have anything good to report when someone asked "What were you doing when the stock market crashed?". I did however eat Fruity Cheerios, which is not he abomination that I originally expected. If my grandkids ask, I'll just mention the really good Square Waves/The Void/Jasmine Jake show at the Slice tonight.

I also picked up the new Square Waves miniCD, which I can't listen to in my laptop because it is too small. I'm sure I'll use technology to get around this problem.

I took this picture the other night and I'm rather proud of it.

Labels: comedy, music, photography

Brave New World and Daft Punk

I went to see Daft Punk play in Seattle on the 29th of July and I am only now going to blog about it. It's sad, calling myself a "blogger" and never blogging. A little before, and into the trip there, I read Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and I wanted to talk about the two of them side by side.

In the book, entertainment is heightened to the next logical level: adding the other senses in to a movie. Just as sound was added in the early part of the century, and then colour, taste, smell and touch is added in A.F 632. This somehow reminds me of the Daft Punk concert experience.

See for yourself:

The show was out of control, and I think everyone was really impressed. The only complaint I had was that it was getting a little hot, and an air gust here and there was barely cutting it. I would love to see air vents and smells added to things like concerts. Imagine: Patchouli drifting through the air, during a slow portion and then crash! a swirling vortex of citrus from the stage during a more explosive portion.

This however may not be enough for the average person who is suffering from work day woes. Like in the book, I am in favour of a drug like "Soma", however I do not think it should be a mandatory dosage. If we could combine some of the effects of Marijuana, LSD and morphine we could create a audience member that has it's senses artificially heightened.

Drugs tend to have negative impacts on the human body, so most drugs in their current form aren't a feasible option, they are however used illegally and experiments like this take place to this day.

I hope that the makes up for taking so long to post something. If you don't want to read the whole thing just check out this mathematical equation: Daft Punk + Seattle + Myself = Awesome/(good times)+Robots+(the Future)

Labels: books, music, philosophy, road trip, summer

LifeByStereo Is Also A Radio Show

Some do not know this. I don't write about it too much since it sort of feels like I am advertising myself a little too much. However, I have spun together a few tracks for my show (9 to 10:30 pm Mountain), and for a short time you can download it as a mini "DJ Set". Here is the file and here is the track listing:

Bonnaventure James - Jet Pilot Missing
Hot Chip - My Piano
Japan - Ghosts
Junior Boys - In the Morning (Hot Chip Remix)

Download it for a limited time only!

Labels: mp3, music, radio

Experimental in Lethbridge

I did some time in Airdrie, and had a lot of fun. I had a wild dream about Boards of Canada playing a show (with me watching), and I got really inspired. I remembered I haven't talked much about the music project, and that is because it is becoming a little slower going. The more intricate stuff takes longer, and other things are taking up my time. I am releasing a "Digital seven inch" for everyone to download.

The File
Enjoy

Labels: dlb, mp3, music, summer

I'll try to be unbiased

Usually when I write reviews of music, I feel like a jerk. Since I buy/download albums rather than get free promos, I feel like I am defending my purchase, rather than reviewing. This is an attempt to be less like a defender.

Miracle Fortress - Maybe Lately

There is something to be said about the title for this magnificent side project. The name "Miracle Fortress" draws you in, as if He-Man had become a born again christian, and he just got a new pad. With equal potential for being either cute and jovial, or aggressive and anti-social, the name grabs you and commands your attention.

This track grabs you with a hook that will probably jump directly in to your head and swim around a bit. The vocals and multi instrumentation feel like that of a Beach Boys or Belle and Sebastian song, but something about the sound is just a little different. If you have had the pleasure of listening to the song "Strawberries", you will probably notice a similarity. This comes as no surprise, since both bands sound like they count more than a few Shoegazing bands amongst their influences.

Everything is written, performed, recorded and mixed by Graham Van Pelt at "Friendship Cove", which is a Recording Studio/Collective in Montreal. This track is making me smile and steering my interest back towards indie-rock, which is an outstanding achievement considering I listen to little else but IDM and Techno all winter long. Summer has now come, and tracks like this are really setting the mood for the season, I will no doubt be enjoying it throughout. Speaking of summer, Miracle Fortress is said to be playing the Sled Island Festival so be sure to head over there if you want to support this and many similar local and international acts.

Keep it "Real" Jw.

Labels: mp3, music

Horses are still a reasonable mode of transportation

I was driving home from work, and I saw three people on horses casually strolling down the street. It's no big deal, they paid no harm to myself or my vehicle. All is well, if I can skateboard where I please, then they can horse it all they like. I don't mind it, as long as the horses behave in a civil manner, horses should be allowed where they please. Someone mentioned to me that there is a current law in Calgary Alberta which forbids a bar from denying your horse a place to sleep. Actually, according to this (scroll down to Calgary) website, it's just rails for tying up your horse. I guess it's difficult to say, anecdotes are the internet of the past. I'm thinking that should be on a t-shirt.

I went for a nice skateboard down to the local convenience store for a slupree and I am extremely refreshed now. It's getting rather sticky and muggy in my house, and some physical activity is great. I walk around a lot at work, but it's just not the same since it's usually just in mundane circles. Hurrah for participaction! The best part about the skate has to be listening to "Donuts" by JDilla, very cool instrumental hip-hop production. It's too bad we don't have him around anymore, I just fully realized what he had to offer us. I can see this being a very hip-hop oriented summer.

Best Regards folks, Jaronw

Labels: lethbridge, life, music

North American Scum

So yesterday was super cool. After my last blog post I got together with Jocelyn, who I haven't seen since senior year of high school. It was fun seeing her, since she really hasn't changed at all, except she's super hot now. Anyways, she took me to a rather swank gay pub for a few pints of Strongbow and the end of the Canucks game. The bar wasn't really flamingly gay, which made me completely forget that it was a gay bar. However, the giant paintings of cocks on the wall was an ever present reminder of whose house I was in.

After a few casual pints, we decided to go across the street to "Celebrities", which is one spot that I really wanted to hit. Celebrities is also a gay bar, but it's much more of a dance-club than a bar. I was good and buzzed, so after we payed our cover and checked our coats, I was pretty excited to hit the dance floor. However, when we finally got there, it was a bit daunting.

I was a little worried about what could be waiting for me, I've never been to a gay bar before that night, so I felt like an adventurer about to step in to a dense jungle (of sweaty men). I was hesitant until the DJ started spinning Daft Punk (it was sort of a retro night, so he was playing "Around the Word"), and that sent me in to a frenzy of groove. From then on out, the decks were hot with a spicy blend of disco, new wave and techno. I was in sweaty man heaven.

What really has me excited is that on Friday, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (who is playing on Thursday) is doing a DJ set at Celebrities. WHAT? HOLY SHIT! It's going to be James Murphy, Pat Mahoney, and Al Doyle (of Hot Chip). I have been listening to DFA/Hot Chip remixes lately, and I am really excited now. James Murphy two nights in a row! WORD HOMIES!

Labels: adventure, funk, music, vancouver

Successful

I think the show went well, a markable achievement compared to the first show. I'll also be playing the Slice on Thursday. I'm not sure what time, but it will be free. Don't mind the text, I am attempting to add dramatic effect by typing "Center Justified".

How about that Square Waves eh?

Labels: gluttony, lethbridge, music

Square Waves w/ Bonnaventure James LIVE!!!!

Tomorrow, April 20th 2007 is the triumphant (hopefully) return of Bonnaventure James and the Deluxe Belgium to the live stage. I've been working on crap for the past month and have something to show everyone. Let's hope I don't make a complete ass out of myself like I did last time.

Square Waves has a bunch of new songs as well, so we should all be very excited for that as well. The show is at the Tongue n Groove and is 5 bones. Starting around 9, be there and be Square (waves).

Labels: lethbridge, music

New Music

I wanted to point everyone HERE to check out the first ever GleetchLab compilation. The creator of the software I use for a portion of my music put this together and it sounds really good. Very noisy and experimental, you should check it out if those two words get you interested. It's free, and it's rather hard to beat that price. I also put up a new song on my MySpace that I should be performing on April 20th at the TnG. http://www.myspace.com/thedeluxebelgium

Labels: funk, internet, lethbridge, music, news

My House, My House

I have a ticket for Daft Punk in Seattle on July 29th, and I am freaking pumped! A road trip! I'm really excited, to commemorate this joyus occasion, here is a run down of the disco samples that were used in a few Daft Punk songs over the years. My favourite is "Robot Rock".
Palms Out Sounds: Samples Wednesday (Daft Punk edition)

Labels: funk, internet, music, road trip

Leth gets Beat

And boy did we love it. The Grim Beat (some young blokes from Calgary) came down and killed the TnG, and we had a great time. Check them out if they are near you, and check out the pictures by clicking the link.

Labels: funk, lethbridge, music, photography, review

RJD2: The Third Hand

I finally got a listen through of RJD2's new album "The Third Hand" (XL Recordings) and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. I've listened to, and enjoyed "Deadringer" in the past, and was expecting some more samples, and an all around good disc to party to. However, after a first listen, the album sounds more like a porno soundtrack, than a collection of instrumental Hip-hop anthems.

This is not a bad thing. This is in my opinion, possibly the best thing to happen to RJD2, an organic record. Granted, I've only given it a fraction of the listen I have give to "Deadringer", but I am liking the new sound. If you're a big fan, you may be a little disappointed, but then again, it's all up to your ears.

Labels: music, review

It shouldn't be...

But I'm having a terrible time deciding between going to Vancouver for a week to see LCD Soundsystem, or go to the Sasquatch music festival. I don't really want to go to the States all that badly, but I do really want to see Bjork, and the Beastie Boys. How can one decide?

Labels: funk, holidays, music, road trip

Long Time, no Music

Here are some links to my new blog, which is going to get eaten up by this one in a few months. The links contain links to some mixes I made, you can call them "Dance Mixes", but they trancend such foolishness as the old Much Music CD compilations.

The Sound of Sunday Night
Another Saturday Afternoon

Hope you enjoy.

Labels: funk, music

Everything is fine

I put up some really cool pictures from a road trip that I took to the mountains of B.C. I shot them with a Fujica 35mm on Ilford B&W film. Then I scanned the negatives, and the rest is history.

After shooting and printing so much digital lately, it was weird having to leave everything up to chemicals and other scientific stuff I do not understand.

I have a lot of stuff to do for various classes, so blogging is taking a back seat, even though blogging IS one of my assignments... I guess I will never become a "pro" blogger. On a much happier note, I have been in an excellent mood since Thursday and I am listening to a leaked copy of the new Arcade Fire album. I suggest buying it to everyone even if they have a leaked copy. My opinion is to give this band as much money as possible, so we can expect a few more solid albums.

Labels: internet, life, music, photography

Sunrise, Sunset

Days are shooting by like crazy, I am having troubles realizing how fast the weeks are really going by. Thus is the start of a semester I guess, fast and furious.

What I am really get excited for in the next weeks is "These Proportions are Epic" featuring Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. He is travelling from Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton, so if you are in one of those cities, you should check it out.

Labels: funk, lethbridge, music, news

Even though it wasn't that great then...

I'm on a CBC radio binge these days. Not even the hip music shows like "Brave New Waves" or whatever like that. I just really like hearing people talk about stuff. Most interesting is the dearly departed Lister Sinclair who did that show "GO!" up until 1999. His voice is entrancing and entertaining, and his shows are rarely less than informative. While driving to work one morning I caught "Masterpieces of Disco", a comprehensive look at Disco music as a rich art form rather than passing fad. I never thought an old white man could teach me so much about something so soulful, it really changed the way I listen to the CBC.

Also, on some show I didn't catch the name of, people were calling in asking about the value of various items they had in their homes. It reminded me of the antiques roadshow, am I the only one who LOVES the antiques roadshow? Not only does the voice of most Brits delight me to no end, but finding out how much things are worth is awesome. Thank you CBC.

Labels: life, music, radio

Enjoy the Silence

Last night the Slice in Lethbridge was bumping with some sick kareoke action. I must say that Tuesday nights at that establishment, are among the best in the city. We all like to so much in fact that we are throwing a Valentine's Day dance there. The date and bands are tentative, but I assure you it will be a very good time. Stay tuned for more details!

Is it wierd to anyone else that TIME is calling "You" the person of the year? I think it's weird, but it is about damn time. You really make the internet what it is. Way to go! I love you.

Labels: funk, internet, kareoke, lethbridge, music