Not Guilty Just Pleasure - It Just Doesn't Happen

It's Friday which means that I get to share any song I like just because I like it.  In the case of today's song, I LOVE it. It's another new Destroyer song, "It Just Doesn't  Happen" from the forthcoming album "Have We Met" (out on January 31, 2020 - mark your calendars!!).

If the opening lines of the song, "You’re looking good, In spite of the light" don't draw you in, well I don't know what will. I'm really excited to hear the rest of this record. I don't think I've been this excited about a new release since I heard that the Muffs were putting out a new record earlier this year ("No Holiday" - get your copy  NOW!!). For now, I just keep listening to this on repeat, it's one of those songs, for me it is anyway.

Give "It Just Doesn't Happen A Listen" and watch the video... it's intriguing and looks super Canadian. Happy Friday kiddos xo

I find

The silence

Unbearable

What does that say about the silence?

Cancon Thursday - Roses Are Falling

Howdy kids. Once again it's Cancon Thursday so I'm sharing a song with you today by a Canadian artist.

This week, I'd like to listen to this pretty live version of "Roses are Falling" by Orville Peck. I grew up in a house (as we're fond of saying) where two kinds of music were played regularly, "Country AND Western." I like what Orville is doing, I love the darky spooky cowboy sound and his voice is pretty incredible.

If you haven't already, check out his album "Pony" which was released earlier this year on SubPop

Hope you enjoy it xo

You Know darling, you bring out the worst in me

Sometimes, when I'm around you, i feel like pure evil

I guess they say nobody's perfect

But they've never met a devil like you

Way Back Wednesday - Driving Away From Home

When I look back at the music I was listening to the year I graduated from high school, it was pretty much a mixed bag of stuff and that hasn't really changed in the 33 years since.

One song that caught my ear at the time (and I just loved it, what a delicious earworm it was!!), was "Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune)" by It's Immaterial. I'm sharing it with you today for Way Back Wednesday.

It was a single from the Liverpool band's 1986 album, "Life's Hard and Then You Die."

I don't recall if this video was played a lot on Much Music but I know I had it on a VHS tape so I watched it a lot. Hope you enjoy it.

Happy Hump Day kittens xo

I'll tell you what

Why don't we cross the city limit

And head on down the M62

It's only thirty nine miles

And forty five minutes to Manchester

And that's my birth-place, you know

Because It's Tuesday - week of November 26

It's already the last Tuesday of November. It feels beautifully mild and spring like outside and I'm so happy about that.

Because it's Tuesday, I'm sharing a cover with you fine folks today. It's a cover of a song I've loved for many years, In the Aeroplane Over The Sea. This version is by the mighty fine singer / song writer, Dan Mangan. 

I had the privilege of seeing and hearing Mr Mangan perform last night at the Grand Theatre here in Kingston. This was my first time seeing him live. I have to say, it was quite a show. He played with Ocean Potion who were simply amazing.  All in all, it was another fantastic night of music at our beautiful Grand Theatre. If he's coming to a town near you, I would suggest picking up some tickets if you can.

So, here you go kids, hope you enjoy this. I think it's just beautiful. xo

All secrets sleep in winter clothes

With the one you loved so long ago

Now he don't even know his name

Cancon Thursday - Home For A Rest

A few years ago, when I heard the news that John Mann, from Spirit of the West had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, my heart just sank. Alzheimer’s disease has touched my family and the early onset version of it scares the shit out of me. I felt so bad for him, and his family,
because I understood all too well what the road ahead of them looked like.  At the time, I remember seeing an interview with John and he was so graceful in the face of an awful situation. I was never a giant fan of Spirit of the West but I always appreciated what they did and the devotion of their fans.

I’m not sure (pretty confident it wasn’t) if this was just a Queen’s / Ontario thing but in the 1990’s, you could not be in a campus pub for an evening and get out without hearing “Home For A Rest” and witnessing a crazy stampede to the dancefloor.  Folks just lost their shit over that song. Again, not something that particularly floated my boat but I did love to watch the joy on the faces of the dancers, stumbling around, beers in hand, singing as loudly as they could, stomping their feet in unison.

Last night, the news broke that John Mann had passed away.  The news was not unexpected, but it was heartbreaking all the same. He was only 57, way too young to go “home for a rest.”

Today, for Cancon Thursday, I’m going to share that foot stomping favourite by Spirit of the West.  Hugs your loved ones folks, as often as you can. Tell folks how you feel about them, all the fucking time. Life is short, too short to keep that shit to yourself xo

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best

I've been gone for a week, I've been drunk since I left

These so called vacations will soon be my death

I'm so sick from the drink, I need home for a rest...

Way Back Wednesday - Alone Too Long

So, once again, it's Way Back Wednesday. It's basically an excuse for me to share an old song that I like.

Today's song is definitely older, it was released as a single in 1975 by Hall and Oate
s.  I had never heard it though until it was used as the opening theme song for Stephen Merchant's brilliant but short-lived HBO series, "Hello Ladies." It features John Oates on vocals. Most of the Hall and Oates songs are sung by Daryl Hall, this is a nice change and, I think, a great song.

Enjoy kittens and have a very happy hump day xo

Another pretty face another body ache still awake three-thirty

Dial another number -- No one home

So then he wastes his time with TV

And he wonders if he lost the only one

And wonders if he's free

Too afraid to see

How alone he could be

Because It's Tuesday - week of November 19

I'd like to wish my "baby" brother Patrick a very happy Birthday.  I'll not be seeing him today (I'm in Kingston and he's in Ottawa) but I sure hope he has a fantastic time, celebrating the anniversary of the day that I became a big sister to a very cool brother.

For our cover today, because it is Tuesday, I'm sharing a very pretty cover of the very pretty Crowded House classic (from their 1988 album Temple of Low Men), "Better Be Home Soon."

Enjoy Tim Minchin's version kiddos and have a happy day xo

Stripping back the coats

Of lies and deception

Back to nothingness

Like a week in the desert

Cancon Thursday - Looking For You

How are you coping with this lovely January weather we're experiencing in November?  I normally don't hate winter at all.  I enjoy the cool temperature and the brightness of snow but this sudden deep freeze when I haven't even finished raking my leaves yet is annoying. Also, pretty sure that that cold snapped something in my vehicle so it's in the shop.  Not a lot of fun.

Not all is bad though. I may have found something which will help thaw you out for a little while. It's Thursday so I'm sharing a Canadian song with you.  Once again, it's by my girl Ralph.  I'm not a huge fan of this genre but I love her voice and think her writing is fantastic. I haven't heard a song of hers yet that I didn't like and I've almost worn out her "Good Girl" CD listening to it in my vehicle. 

She's got a new EP out this week, "Flashbacks and Fantasies." It contains three songs she'd released recently (No Muss No Fuss, Gravity and Last Time) and three new ones.  I'm sharing the video for "Looking For  You" today.

As always, the video is beautiful. The song is sweet and clever. The video ending will have you on the edge of your seat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did xo

let them kiss me cuz I'm bored

passing time until I'm yours

am I blind? 

when will I find you?

Way Back Wednesday - We Walk The Same Line

This year, I've been reminded, time and time again, at what a wonderful year 1994 was for music and other stuff.

Just this past week, I realized that 25 years ago, Everything But The Girl released "Amplified Heart." It's such a great record. I've been a fan of theirs since the first time I heard Tracey Thorn's voice (probably on The Paris Match by the Style Council but maybe not). This was EBTG's 8th studio album and it's beautifully laid back and yet it grabs you, well it grabbed me all those years ago when I first heard it and it still does today.

It's pretty much, to me, a perfect pop records.  Simply gorgeous.  Today, for Way Back Wednesday, I'm going to share my favourite song from it, "We Walk The Same Line."

Also, in honour of it's 25 anniversary, Amplified Heart is now available on vinyl. Just saying...

Enjoy kittens xo

And if these troubles

Should vanish like rain on midday

Well I've no doubt there'll be more

And we can't run and we can't cheat

Cause babe when we meet

What we're afraid of

We find out what we're made of

Because It's Tuesday - week of November 12

I'm Canadian so of course, I participate in a lot of talk about the weather. It's not even the middle of November, we're already into stupid winter storms. This doesn't make me feel great about where the rest of the fall / winter seasons are going.  Driving to work yesterday in the ice was no fun at all. I love this country deeply, I love cold weather but I hate snow and ice when I have to travel it. Seriously, dangerous driving conditions can just suck it.

As today is Tuesday, once again I am sharing a cover with you fine folks.  "Don't Change" was the first international single by Australia's INXS from their 1982 album "Shabooh Shoobah." It's been covered by many folks over the years but this particular version of it is my favourite.  It's by the amazing and talented (and just very nice!!) Ottawa based singer-songwriter, Chris Page and you can get a copy of it and so many other awesome Chris Page recordings by visiting his bandcamp page. Chris is involved with other terrific musical things including Expanda Fuzz (you may recall I shared one of their songs here earlier this year).

Hope you enjoy this and other stuff by Chris, stay warm kiddos xo

I found a love I had lost

It was gone for too long

Hear no evil in all directions

Execution of bitterness

Message received loud and clear

Cancon Thursday - Station Out of Range

Before I get into my weekly cancon song, I wanted to bring to your attention / remind you that the annual funding drive for our local campus / community radio station, the beloved CFRC, is happening right now.  Truthfully, they will accept a donation any day of the year but right now, during the funding drive, your donations really count.This year, perhaps more than any other year in recent memory, your support is greatly needed. 

From the CFRC website: "As you are undoubtedly aware, the Ontario Provincial Government’s Student Choice Initiative is expected to have a significant impact on CFRC’s operational capacity.  Fees that were once mandatory are now optional.  We anticipate significant reductions in our collected student fees over the next few years. These reductions threaten the station’s ability to operate and to provide programming, services, and broad/podcast training opportunities to our campus and Greater Kingston communities."

Your gift to CFRC not only helps keep producing unique content, it will help ensure that the station remains on the air to celebrate it's 100th Anniversary in 2022.  You can donate online by clicking this link.

So, today's Cancon Thursday tune is "Station out of Range" by Matt Mays.  It's a great song and the beautiful video was filmed not far from here, in Picton at the Hayloft.  Matt will be at the Grand Theatre tonight. Tickets were still available when I checked yesterday.  It'll be a great show so if you like "Station out of Range," head down to the Grand for an excellent night of music.  There are really no bad seats in the place and the sound is always fantastic.

I lost my love to silence

She lifted the needle one day

And anyone who knows true love knows

It takes a soundtrack to make it's soul sway

Way Back Wednesday - Penthouse In The Woods

I can remember the exact moment that I heard today's song for the first time. I was in the bedroom of an apartment I lived in from 1990 to 2000.  It was a weekend evening and I know this because Mr David Wisdom played the song on his CBC radio show. Until that moment, I was unfamiliar with the Scud Mountain Boys but I didn't move from the radio, waiting to hear the name of the band or artist who was responsible for the most wonderful things my ears had heard in a while.  It was 1996 (the year the song was released on their Massachusetts album) and as I type that, it seems incredible that it's been over 23 years since that magic moment on College Street.

As it happened, the whole album was (and still is) fantastic. The songs have a timeless quality about them. The best songs always do.

For Way Back Wednesday, I'm sharing "Penthouse in the Woods" by the Scud Mountain Boys.  I hope that when you hear it, you're as struck by it as I was back in 1996.

Happy hump day kittens xo

I didn't sleep last night
I didn't sleep the night before
I'm pretty wound tight
I couldn't empty out my head
All the serious questions
Seem to eat my time away

Because It's Tuesday - week of November 5

Well, it's Tuesday again, the first Tuesday of November.  The year is just slipping away folks, to paraphrase Homer Simpson, I hope it's going somewhere good.  Actually, I have no complaints, my year has been a lot more up than down and it's been a while since I've been able to say that.

So, today, I'm sharing a cover. When this song was originally released, I was in (I think) 7th grade.  I remember it was very popular in general and particularly with my school chums and me. I'm pretty sure we just liked the sentiment of the title and were sort of oblivious to the inspiration for the song.  I know that years later, Bob Geldof (the song's writer) admitted that he'd regretted writing it because it made the shooter famous.

If you haven't figured it out by now, today's cover tune is "I Don't Like Mondays." Originally released in 1979 by The Boomtown Rats, the version I'm sharing today was recorded by one of my all time favourite singer songwriters, Ron Sexsmith.  I swear, I would buy three copies of Ron Sexsmith singing the phone book.  I love his voice and he is an amazing writer.  I love his interpretation of this classic song and hope you do too.

Happy November kittens xo

All the playing's stopped in the playground now

She wants to play with her toys a while

And school's out early and soon we'll be learning

And the lesson today is how to die

And then the bullhorn crackles

And the captain tackles

With the problems and the how's and why's

And he can see no reasons

'Cause there are no reasons

What reason do you need to die, die

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Standing Back Up

Hey, it's November.

Hope you're all doing well and not rolling around moaning and clutching your stomach after indulging into too many mini-chocolate bars.  As it's Friday, I'm sharing a song I really like, just because I can.  Recently, and I mean over the past couple of weeks, so many folks I truly love have been releasing new songs that it's been tough to decide which one to share here. Hope you like the one I finally landed on for this week.

Free 3D Glasses!

While goodness knows I'm not a disillusioned millennial (good old Gen-Xer here) I enjoy the "earnest disco music" of Camino 84.  A few weeks ago, Camino 84 released his latest single, "Standing Back Up." Last week, a video was released (see below).  You'll need to have some old school 3D glasses to properly enjoy it.  Bonus, if you live in the US, Camino 84 will send you some, for free, you just have to ask!! 3D or not, this is a solid tune with a great message. I listened to it on repeat for a while and it continues to grow on me with each listen.

Hope you have a great weekend kittens xo

Well it's been a couple of fucked-up years

I lost some friends and gained a couple of fears

But now it's time to turn around

I'm picking myself up

Off the ground