Friday, always a fun day for me. I get to share something with you, lovelies, that I'm particularly enjoying. It could be old or new (or just new to me) but ordinarily, it's something that makes my toe tap or gives me a delicious ear worm.
So, yeah, Tennis. How fucking awesome are they? Pretty awesome I'd say. Recently, I'd say sometime in the last 8 months or so, I found out about them. They have a super fun retro look and a pop sound I adore (as you know if you have spent any time reading my blog I'm a big fan of poppy stuff).
Tennis have been around for a while now, since 2010 or so. They are from Denver, Colorado and are a married couple, Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. They make super fun, twee indie-pop and have several albums of material out there if you're interested in exploring the yummy sweetness that is Tennis.
So for your Friday listening pleasure, enjoy Needle and a Knife by Tennis. It's from their Ritual in Repeat album xo
Only your lonely love can devour you
But when when you're lonely, the same love empowers
you, yeah
You could say that I'm a casual fan of Blue Rodeo. I have their first few records on vinyl and am pretty sure that anything of theirs that it's the house on CD belonged to Mark (he and his ex-wife Mimi fed Blue Rodeo for a lot of years in Toronto).
I'm sharing with you today my favourite (I'll argue that it's their best) Blue Rodeo song, Floating. It's a long song and it's one you can absolutely get lost in. It features the amazing keyboards of Mr Bob Wiseman and listening to it always reminds me of the first time I saw Blue Rodeo play.
I remember it was summer and I was wandering around the Market Square with a friend. It was that time of day just after dinner but before things in the bars started to get going so we were just walking and talking and looking for something to do. A guy was handing out flyers and passes to a show up at Stages. Stages hadn't been open very long, this might have been the first or second summer for them. Anyway, we decided to check it out. Mid-week in Kingston, no cover charge, it was pretty much a no-brainer for us.
We walked in and the place was practically empty. It was early though and over the next little while, a small crowd assembled. I don't recall a lot about the specific playlist but I do remember that I liked their sound and we were all mesmerized watching Mr Wiseman. He performed like no one I'd ever seen before. He appeared to be completely engrossed in what he was doing and didn't really notice that we were even there. I thought it was just about the coolest thing I had ever witnessed and heard. His playing was outstanding and completely memorable. After he left the band, I couldn't bring myself to see them again. For me, I knew it wouldn't be the same.
Anyway, listening to this song takes me right back to that summer night 30 or so years ago. Hope you enjoy it xo
So now every night
You insist on reminding me
Of my lost possibilities
And the stains on the wall.
Time to share an oldie but a goodie with you lovely reader.
This week's Way Back Wednesday tune is "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" by the Kinks. I found this fun TV performance (apparently from 1973 - "let's have a laugh, noone's here for art.")
I never got into the Kinks in a big huge way but I do like to listen to them from time to time, in the mix so to speak. This is a little bit of fun for a mid-week break. Enjoy your trip down Carnaby Street lovelies xo
For some reason, around this time last summer, I was listening to "Damn The Torpedeos" a lot. A friend and I had been debating the merits of Tom Petty (I would never call myself a fan, my friend considered himself to be a mid-sized fan). The only record of Mr Petty's that I ever really cared for "Damn the Torpedeos."
Even though I wasn't much of a fan of his, I was deeply saddened for his family when he died last year. It was a completely preventable thing which makes it all the tougher to cope with. I hope that they are well supported as they navigate through the mucky bogs of grief.
On a lighter note, today's cover is a Tom Petty tune. It's not a song from "Damn The Torpedeos" and not a song I particularly even like (it's tolerable) but this version, by Anthony D'Amato is pretty and quite enjoyable xo
On Sunday, I got a notification on my YouTube app that our father, who arts just fine, had released a new video. This time, for "Date Night." It's my not guilty, just pleasure pick for the week.
I keep listening and listening to "God's Favourite Customer." I listen to it at work, at home, in the car... it's everywhere I need to be and, just like previous Father John Misty records, I can't pick a favourite song. I suppose it's like not being able to pick a favourite child. They all have their quirks and idiosyncrasies. They are all lovely on their own and together, well, that's just something special.
This video, directed and animated by Chad Van Gaalen, is a perfect compliment to this song. "Date Night" contains one of my favourite lines from this album, "I didn't get invited but I know where to go" (another favourite line - perhaps one of my top 3 favourite opening lines for a song - is from "Disappointing Diamonds are the rarest of them all" - "Like a pervert on a crowded bus, A glare of love bears down on us.")
Listen, watch, enjoy, don't overthink it too much. How does this make you feel kittens? xo
I knew earlier in the week that I would be sharing Terra Lightfoot's "You Get High" (from her "New Mistakes" album) with you as my CanCon Thursday pick. At that time, I was hoping that I could also share the news that the album was short listed for the Polaris Music Prize (it was on the long list - the short list was announced on Tuesday this week). Alas, it did not make it to the short list. Some seriously good stuff did though. Ms Lightfoot was in some good company. I have no idea how they can decide which records move forward. They are all pretty awesome in different ways.
Her talent is boundless. She's got a fantastic voice and is great musician (and no, she's no relation to that other famous Canadian Lightfoot guy).
Anyway, here is a lovely live version of You Get High that was recorded for CBC Radio's Q back in March. You can hear the whole interview and a couple of other songs here: Q with Tom Power
When you think about what he accomplished by the time he died at the tender age of 22, you can't help but feel a little sad about what we all missed out. His sweet voice, and incredible arrangements, have stood the test of time. Almost 60 years after his death, Buddy Holly's music is still relevant, it's timeless.
Today, for Way Back Wednesday, I'm sharing "Everyday" with you. It was released as the B-Side to "Peggy Sue" in 1957. I hope you enjoy this classic as much as I do. No matter how many times I listen to it, goosebumps always happen. xo
Apparently, this was originally released as a secret track on certain versions of "Whatever and ever amen" but I first heard it on a compilation called "Lounge-A-Pa-Looza" which was released in 1997. In addition to this song, it included such gems as Steve and Eydie's take on "Black Hole Sun" and Fastball channeling their inner Burt Bacharach.
I've always been a fan of Ben Folds (Five or otherwise) and his amazing piano playing. This version of the Flaming Lip's "She Don't Use Jelly" is just a super fun slice of loungy pie. I couldn't find a video of the this performance but the audio from this live performance of it is fantastic. Hope you think so too kiddies xo
There are certain artists who are universally accepted as being major influencers, musicians musicians, songwriters songwriters. John Prine is definitely one of those folks. His career spans 50 years and his writing gets better and better.
I've been listening to his most recent release, Tree of Forgiveness, a lot lately. I won't say I have a favourite song, because I can find something to love about each track, but I did find myself playing a couple of them more than the others: Summer's End and Boundless Love. I went looking for a clip of Summer's End and found this one, Mr Prine with Sturgill Simpson and Brandi Carlile. It's a great performance, I think so anyway.
It's supposed to be a scorcher this weekend and definitely not close to the end of the season but enjoy Summer's End all the same lovelies xo
After two solid weeks of Canadian music, you may have thought that it would be a challenge for me to find another beloved song by a Canadian artist.
Oh it's no challenge at all. I love so many Canadian songs, it's easy to find another goodie to share with you. Today, it's a live version of Destroyer's "Looters' Follies."
This is a favourite song of mine. I don't generally read too much into lyrics but this seems like a big fuck you to critics and hipsters who can't make anything remotely resembling art but have no problem tossing shit at stuff they either don't like or don't get. Mr Bejar is an amazing poet and I've yet to meet a Destroyer song that I couldn't get along with.
Give it a listen and, if you like it, let me know.
"Why can't you see that a life in art and a life of mimicry - it's the same thing!?!"
So, I'm a fan of Spotify. In particular, I like how they generate playlists for me and, at the end of the year, provide me with a list of my most listened to songs from the previous 12 months. Because of Spotifty, I have gotten back into buying music again in a big way (I've always been a record purchaser but it had tapered off a bit during Mark's illness). I wanted to say that because some folks hate music services like that because they say that it stops folks from buying new records, not true for this girl.
Last week, they generated a playlist called "Your Summer Rewind" and one of the songs on my list was Rupert Holmes' Escape (The Pina Colada Song). I decided to share it here for Wayback Wednesday. This version of it features the previously mentioned Solid Gold Dancers.
Hope this puts a little cheesy smile on your face. Enjoy kiddies xo
A couple of years ago at Christmastime, I was listening to CBC Radio in the morning and heard a song called "Christmas on the Beach" by Barbra Lica. I was not familiar with her at the time but I really liked her Christmas song and checked her out. She's a pixie-ish Toronto singer. I got to know some of her non-Christmas music and was quite impressed.
Now, about today's cover. It's a Ron Sexsmith song. He is, without a doubt, one of my all time favourite singer-songwriters. Barbra Lica recorded a version of his beautiful, "Secret Heart" for her "I'm Still Learning" album. I'm sharing it with you today. I hope you enjoy it. It's a little bouncier than Ron's version, it's quite different actually. Let me know what you think... xo
So, today's post is last in my two weeks of Canadian Content posts.
And it's not like I don't post Canadian content regularly (particularly on Thursday) but it's been fun shining a little light on the awesomeness that is Canadian music.
For my "not guilty, just pleasure" track this week, I've chosen a track by Sarah Harmer. I think she's a mighty fine songwriter and her voice is just beautiful, she can give me goosebumps sometimes. So lovely.
Back in the long ago, when we had our restaurant, we used to play her
"Songs for Clem" and "You Were Here" albums, constantly. It was in heavy rotation along with
some of our favourites... I always thought it was fun to play "You Were Here" after we'd just played "Wish You Were Here." I think I may have mail ordered by copy of "Songs for Clem" directly from her. I remember sending off a money order and must not have calculated the amount correctly because when the CD arrived in the mail, my change, a toonie, was taped inside the CD case.
Captive is from her "Oh Little Fire" album. Hope you enjoy it kiddies xo
"Hold me to this thing, darling And bring a ladder we'll climb to the rafters As long as there's a view to look to Fence me in and keep me close to you"
It's the Canada Day (week 2) edition of Way Back Wednesday.
In keeping with my promise to only include Canadian songs, today I'm sharing with you Hawaii by the Young Canadians. It's a great song, I hadn't heard it in a long time and listening to it this week put a smile on my face.
If you're looking for some fucking suggestions about where to fucking go on your fucking vacation, I would suggest checking out this classic Canadian song. Enjoy kiddies xo
Well it's the morning after the Canada Day weekend before.
Did you enjoy the long weekend? Hope you were able to stay cool and hydrated.
In keeping with my Canada Day theme, I'm going to share another Canadian cover with you. It's Jill and Matthew Barber's version of The Hardship Post's "Your Sunshine." It's a sweet interpretation of the original and it was recorded for the 2011 compilation album "Have Not Been the Same - Vol. 1: Too Cool to Live, Too Smart to Die." The album featured Canadian artists covering songs which were originally recorded by other Canadian artists from 1985 to 1995.
Anyway, I hope this helps you ease back into your routine today (oh, btw, it's not an official video, I just found it on YouTube). Enjoy it kiddies xo
