Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Your Dog

Do you ever hear a song for the first time and it just gives you the chills?

Yeah?

So you listen to it again thinking, yeah, I was just cold.

Chills, again.

Chills on the third listen, the fourth, the twentieth...

Your Dog by Soccer Mommy did/does that for me.  It's got just the most chunky baseline and her voice, well I love her voice.

I've been listening to a lot of female made music recently and am so pleased to discover that there is literally an endless line-up of women who are making just kick ass music.  Good stuff, amazing.

Good and amazing not because they are women, good and amazing because they are talented musicians and song writers.

"Your dog" is an angry song, anger is an excellent thing and it's expressed here very well.  When asked what it's about, song writer Sophie Allison said, "That song is about nobody giving a fuck about you"  Indeed.  Not giving a fuck can be the worst thing you can do to someone sometimes. 

I had already listened to "Your Dog" about 100 times before I saw the video.  It's a pretty fucked up video, I'd say that whatever the guy in the video did to her (or didn't do to her), he probably had it coming.  Yeah, I know, easy to say, but seriously, it's a VIDEO, a piece of art so whether he deserves it or not doesn't really matter because it's fiction. Either way, it makes the video for "Janie's Got A Gun" look like the Blind Melon "bee girl" video.

I'm not a prop for you to use
When you're lonely or confused
I want a love that lets me breathe
I've been choking on your leash

I'm sharing the video, be warned, there is some mild violence in it.  I'd love to know if the song gives you chills like it does me.  Happy Friday kiddos, enjoy some Soccer Mommy xo

Cancon Thursday - Tired of Waking Up Tired

This week I've had this song in my head every morning.

For unknown reasons, I've been sleeping like shit this week.  I may have figured out the reason and am working on sorting it out but at the moment, I'm still very much tired of waking up tired.

Yeah, that's right, for Cancon Thursday this week, I'm sharing a classic Canadian tune by Toronto's The Diodes. For those of you who may be too young to remember, the Diodes were formed in Toronto in the mid-70's at the Ontario College of Art.  When your first gig is opening for Talking Heads, you must be feeling like you're going places. It's interesting to note that at one point, they shared the cover of McLean's magazine with Wayne Gretzy and Conrad Black as Canadian's "we'll soon be talking about"

Without further adieu, I'm going to share "Tired of walking up tired" by the "Best Toronto Band. Ever." (honestly though, my favourite Toronto band ever is probably The Leather Uppers)

Enjoy kittens xo

Way Back Wednesday - Police and Thieves

If I was a smart person or at the very least, paying attention, I'd be sharing this with you on a Tuesday as it is a cover.  It does, however, also fit the criteria for "way back wednesday" so I'm sharing it with you today.

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been slowly listening to the Chuck D Podcast on the Clash this week.  I've loved the Clash since I was a kid and, like most of you, was heartbroken when Joe Strummer passed away in late 2002.

On the first Clash album, they included a cover of the Junior Murvin song, "Police and Thieves."  I found a really sweet live version of it and thought I'd share it with you today.  It was recorded in 1980 so it definitely is old enough to be considered a "way back" tune.

Hope you enjoy it, happy hump day xo

Because It's Tuesday - week of March 26

I took an unplanned hiatus last week.

I'll not bore with you with the reasons why it was necessary, but it was.  Trust me.

I almost did the same thing this week but then I heard this song and though, yeah, I guess I can do at least one post this week.

I had forgotten about today's cover (and yes, it's Tuesday so you know it's a cover) until I was listening to Chuck D's AMAZING podcast about the History of the Clash Spotify.

Ah, the Slits.

So yeah, without any more farting around, here is today's cover, The Slits and their take on "I Heard It Through The Grapevine."

Enjoy kittens xo

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Duet

Happy Friday kids.

We made it to the end of another week and we are that much closer to spring.  You can smell and feel it, it's on it's way and with any luck, we'll be saying good bye to the awful ice for a while.

As you know, on Friday's, I share a song I like or sometimes even love or, at minimum have listened to a lot because it has the ability to spark some joy in my soul.  This week, I'm sharing a song that I actually love.  Admittedly, I'm a bit late to the Frankie Cosmos party.  I only discovered Frankie Cosmos via Dent May's Across The Multiverse.  I loved what I heard and found her bandcamp page and jumped in with both feet. If you like folks like Sidney Gish or Soccer Mommy, you'll like Frankie Cosmos...

The song I'm sharing with you this week is Duet.  I love how she sings the opening lines, "you've got nice eye, they're very blue."  It's been on my regular rotation for a while now and I only just discovered yesterday that there is a beautiful, quirky and sweet video for the song.  So today, I'm going to share with you the video for Duet.

Enjoy and happy weekend kittens xo

Cancon Thursday - People of the Sky

At the beginning of the week, I made a list for myself. It contained the songs I was going to share here this week.  Looking at the list now, I realize that I was way off.  I'm not sticking to the list at all.  I'll not say what was on the list because I may use those songs another week but boy, what I had in mind on Monday was completely different to what I'm sharing now.

Thursday.

Cancon day.

Does it get much more cancon-y than Sloan?  Four lovely lads from Nova Scotia who have been rocking it out for us for almost 30 years.

In the 1990's, I lost of count of how many times I saw them perform.  Each show was awesome for completely different reasons.  I saw them in different cities than my own, on various tours... some shows had gorilla masks, others had parents politely sitting at tables of 10 while their kids danced around.

Forever and ever, my favourite Sloan album will be "Twice Removed."  That was a weird time.  Kept hearing tales that this would be their final album, farewell tour, fuck you Geffen, they were breaking up... super stressful for devoted Sloan fans who feared losing all of the potential kickass music that their favourite band had to offer... all of that drama aside, I have to tell you why I love "twice removed" so much...first of all, I love every single song on that record.  Also, it came along at a time in my life where I was having so much fun in my life.  I had a job I loved, I was going to shows a couple of times a week... I had seriously the best friends on the planet.  I was part of a big tribe of music nerds and there was more new/awesome music coming our way every day than we could listen to... well, almost.

I can't say that I have a favourite song from "Twice Removed." Even if I did, I couldn't say it, that would be like asking a parent which of their children they like best. They probably have a favourite but they wouldn't admit it.

I did have to pick a song so, I'm sharing an Andrew song with you today, "People of the Sky." It's a great song, has a super video and if hearing it inspires you to go listen to the rest of the album, I'll be a happy kid.


enjoy xo

With support all around him
Like a fence or a drink
He realizes in sadness
That now he must begin to think

Way Back Wednesday - Song 2

Happy Wednesday kids.

As it's Wednesday, I'm sharing an older song with you.  It's a bit hard to believe it but today's Way Back Wednesday song is 22 years old.  Yikes.  Makes me feel super old to see that typed out.  Wasn't it just 1997 like, not that long ago?

Back in the mid-1990's, we amused ourselves with the Blur vs Oasis thing.  I was always on team Blur, never really got into Oasis.  The music was okay but I found the shenanigans of the Gallagher brothers beyond annoying and it actually distracted me from their music.  The day I realized that the whole thing was out of hand (Blur vs Oasis) was when it made it into an episode of Coronation Street.  Des Barnes got into it (in a very sweet and funny way) with the daughter of his girlfriend. Years later, I still occasionally listen to those old Blur songs and have found that they have stood the test of time... in my opinion anyway.

So, today, I'm sharing with you, Blur's 1997 grunge parody, Song 2.  It's a foot stomper so be warned, feet will be stomped while you listen to this song.

I got my head checked
By a jumbo jet
It wasn't easy
But nothing is, no

enjoy xo

Because It's Tuesday - week of March 12

I know that I cannot remember a time when today's song wasn't in my ear / head / life.  It's a classic song by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

The version I'm sharing today (because it's Tuesday so it's a cover today) is by The Beat.  I don't know exactly when I first was exposed to the Beat but I remember that the first few records I picked up of theirs were on cassette and lived in my walkman (yikes).  It was released in 1979 and this performance is from a January 1980 episode of Top of the Pops.

While I loved the original, this version is my favourite.  In fact, when I hear the song title, I automatically go to the Beat and not Smokey... my teenage brain was wired to associate it with the Beat.  Not a bad thing at all I would say.

So, because it's Tuesday and I'm still a bit foggy from the time change, I'm sharing The Beat and their version of "Tears of a Clown"

enjoy xo

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Sisters Are Doin It For Themselves

Today is International Women's Day.

When I was in 6th Grade, I had a t-shirt that had a Charlotte Whitton quote on it, “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”  Thinking about that now, 40 years later, it's frustrating to me that the quote still holds true in a lot of places.

Despite my frustration, I'm taking today to celebrate my sisters.  They are beautiful, fierce, powerful, courageous, confident, talented, kick ass women who get up every morning and make the world a better place to live in.  I'm a better woman for having them in my life, they inspire me, make me smile, support me and love me.  Thank you to all the women in my life, I love you all and am so very grateful for your friendship.

In honour of women everywhere, I'm sharing a song by two women with beautiful, powerful, incredible voices.  Here is Aretha Franklin with Eurythmics performing "Sisters Are Doin' it For Themselves" xo

Cancon Thursday - Just Like You

So, how is your week going?

Cold enough for you? Yeah, me too.  I don't remember it being this cold last March but maybe it was. Are you looking for something to warm you up?  Feel like dancing around in your socks to some pretty cheesy music?  Well, I have the tune for you.

Today is Thursday so I'm sharing a Canadian song.  This one is a lovely slice of 80's Fromage by FM... "just like you."  Unlike Tears for Fears, there is nothing timeless about this song or video.  It's so very very 80's.

I never had an opportunity to see FM in their heyday.  I'm pretty sure that when I was in high school they only played in bars here in town.  I did eventually get to see them, at the end of the 80's or beginning of the 90's, at Stages here in town.  It was an undersold show, I'm pretty sure we had free tickets.  Despite the poor attendance I remember the show being really good.  The guys in the band seemed to be having fun and didn't mind that the place was almost empty.  The few folks who were there had a great time too.

So, for no other reason than this is a good song to bop around to if you're cold and in need of a warm up, I'm sharing "Just Like You" with you...enjoy xo

Way Back Wednesday - This Must Be The Place

It's Wednesday.

Happy Wednesday.

It's also Ash Wednesday.  When I realized that this morning, I felt bad because I did not have pancakes for dinner last night.  Talk about a missed opportunity.  One of the nice things about atheism is that I don't have to give anything up for 40 days AND, if I'm so inclined, I can have a Cadbury Easter Cream Egg just because.  Ha! (Thank you to the Friendly Atheist for the graphic!)

For Way Back Wednesday, I'm sharing a song which has been stuck in my head for two days now.  It's a super excellent earworm though so it's totally fine with me.

I'll keep this short but I shall leave you with the Talking Heads (a live performance from Stop Making Sense) and "This Must Be The Place."

Enjoy kiddies xo

The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground, head in the sky
It's okay, I know nothing's wrong, nothing

Because It's Tuesday - Week of March 5

It's a frosty day out there BUT it's really bright and light these mornings so the cold is totally manageable if I'm not driving to work in the dark.

Little things in life make the biggest difference in our day.

So, because it's Tuesday, I'm sharing a cover with you.  This song was a pretty big hit back in the day, it was from a massively successful album but a really talented group of folks who are still out there touring and making music, over 30 years later.  I'm talking about Tears For Fears and their album Songs From The Big Chair.  I think it's one of those records that is truly timeless.  While it was one of the biggest records of the mid-80's, it doesn't have a distinctly 80's sound.

Today's cover is is "Head Over Heels" by Sam Amidon.  I love the simplicity of it, I think Sam's voice is terrific.  I just really like everything about his take on it and hope you enjoy it as well.

Happy Tuesday kids, stay warm!! xo

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Ladies Don't Play Guitar

Happy March folks and Happy Friday.  Lots of happy happening today huh?

I'm trying to make it that way anyway.  Honestly, I'm glad that this week is almost over and while I'm not usually a "working for the weekend" kind of person, I'm looking forward to taking a break!

Because it's Friday, I'm sharing a song with you that I just really like for no particular reason.  Well I'm sharing it for no particular reason, I like it for all kinds of reasons.  First of all, it's a silky smooth piece of pop, performed by Tennis.  Regular readers will know that I am a big fan of Tennis.  Many of their songs remind me of stuff I would hear on the radio when I was a kid in the late 70's / early 80's.  The song I'm sharing today is "Ladies Don't Play Guitar" and it's a live performance from KCRW.

I hope you enjoy it... have a lovely weekend kiddos xo