Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Circle The Drain

Happy Friday folks.

We've made it to the end of the week. Actually, we have made it to (almost - cuz leap year) to the end of the month. Was it just me or did February feel like it was 546 years long this year? Either way, March is almost here. I love the beginning of March because March 1 is my nana's birthday.

When I was a little girl, and I watched Captain Kangaroo, he would always have a birthday cake on the show on the first of every month, to wish everyone who was celebrating that month, a happy birthday. I was convinced that it was just for my nana. She's been gone since 1997 but I still think about her daily and miss her like crazy.

Today, I'm sharing a song by one of my favourites, Soccer Mommy. "Circle The Drain" was released earlier this year. Sophie Allison and band have a new album out today which is super exciting. As you know if you read these pages regularly, I've been a tiny bit obsessed with Soccer Mommy since stumbling upon "Clean" on bandcamp. Sophie's lyrics are really relate-able. This song in particular is one I think many folks can identify with at least once in a while. I hope you enjoy Circle The Drain and, if you do, go pick up a copy of their new Color Theory album.

Also, she recently broke the song down for Song Exploder so you should probably check that out too!!

Happy Friday kittens xo

I'm trying to seem strong for my love

For my family and friends

But I'm so tired of faking

'Cause I'm chained to my bed when they're gone

Watching TV alone

'Til my body starts aching

And I think there's a mold in my brain

Spreading down all the way

Through my heart and my body

'Cause I cling to the dark of my room

And the days thin me out

Or just burn me straight through

Cancon Thursday - Piano Blink

Well, as it's Cancon Thursday again, I'm sharing a really lovely song by a terrific Canadian singer-songwriter.

My cancon pick today is "Piano Blink" by Hawskley Workman from his 2008 "Between The Beautifuls" album. It's a sweet sounding song about the promise of a new relationship and the heartbreak that can follow as things break down over time.

I'm keeping this short because for some reason lately, Thursdays have become stupid busy for me.

If you like this (or just generally dig Hawskley Workman), you may want to check him out on tour. He's hitting the road with Sarah Slean and they are stopping here in Kingston on March 14 at the Grand Theatre.

Stay warm out there today kiddos xo

It started innocent at first

It started with some sweetheart words that I strung together

And then we saw each other's eyes (each other's eyes)

And it was like seeing the starry night for the very first time

Way Back Wednesday - You're The Best Thing

On Wednesdays, I usually share an older song and it's typically one that I really like. Interestingly (or not), I had a totally different song in mind to share today. It was was the mid 1990's and was definitely lo-fi, the total opposite of what I ended up sharing.  Today's song is one that I've loved since the first time I heard it, back in 1984.

Listening to it in 2020, it doesn't sound like it was recorded in the 1980's. It's got a timeless quality, I find that to be true with everything Paul Weller does. He's an incredible artist and this is an amazing song. It was released on their "Cafe Bleu" album (which was renamed "My Ever Changing Moods" for it's US release).

Enjoy, and happy hump day kittens xo

I might shoot to win

And commit the sin

Wanting more than I've already got

I could runaway

But I'd rather stay

In the warmth of your smile lighting up my day

Because It's Tuesday - week of February 25

When I was a kid, Saturday Night Fever was a big thing. It was a huge, hit movie, and the soundtrack was literally everywhere.  I think that for most kids my age (id kids born in the late 60's / early 70's) it was the first time we had been exposed to The Bee Gees.  It was a long time after that, when I learned that the The Bee Gees were gigantic in Australia and had released many hit records prior to the release of the Saturday Nigh Fever soundtrack.

Aww kids, we don't know what we don't know. As a 10 year old growing up in suburban Ontario, I certainly had no clue that today's song had been a hit for them.

The song I'm sharing today is a cover of that1967 hit, "Massachusetts" by the wonderful Ladybug Transistor. Originally released in 1998 as a b-side to their "Today Knows" 7", it was also included in the super amazing compilation CD "Oh, Merge: A Merge Records 10 Year Anniversary Compilation" in 1999. I really prefer this version to the one by the Brother's Gibb. I hope you enjoy it too xo

Tried to hitch a ride to San Francisco

Gotta do the things I wanna do

And the lights all went out in Massachusetts

They brought me back to see my way with you

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Peace To All Freaks

Even though it's technically been a short work week this week, it's felt very long. I think that's
because we've been moving offices (well yesterday and today). The beginning of the week was filled with packing and trying to get regular tasks completed with half of your stuff in boxes.

I'm one of the lucky ones, I got into my space yesterday toward the end of the day. I was there long enough to get my computer set up and sort of figure out my new desk. Lots of stuff still sits behind me in boxes but I'm going to take my time and really go through stuff as I unpack it. I didn't think I had that much but I'm going into a space (which is bright and lovely) with significantly less storage than my previous spot. I'll figure it out but it's been a bit tiring, not to mention dusty!!

Today, my not guilty, just pleasure song is by the wonderful Of Montreal. I'm sharing their recently (November 2019) song, "Peace To All Freaks" because I just love it, LOVE IT!! I hope you do too, now, you'll have to excuse me while I try to find my post-it notes!!

Happy Friday kittens xo

Hush, hush

Don't let's be negative

Hush, hush

Don't let's be cruel, oh

Hush, hush

I don't think that I

Can do it for myself

But I can do it for us

Cancon Thursday - Never Quit Loving You

Regular readers of my blog will know that I'm a big fan of the wonderful Jill Barber.

Today, for Cancon Thursday, I'm going to share one of my favourite Jill tunes. "Never Quit Loving You" is a 2008 song from Jill's absolutely stunning album, Chances. Today I'm sharing a sweet live performance from the CBC. Jill's gorgeous voice is just perfect, the band is incredible. It's all just fantastic.

Fortunately for us, Jill tours frequently. If you see that she's playing in your town, you should definitely check her out. Jill's shows are an absolute treat.

I hope you enjoy today's Cancon song as much as I do xo

There will be days

When you get down

And you've got to find ways to keep your feet on the ground

Oh but honey, please remember

Even when I'm feelin' blue

That I will never ever quit loving you

Way Back Wednesday - Northern Sky

Today's Way Back Wednesday song was recorded by Nick Drake for his 1971 album, Bryter Layter. "Northern Sky" is just a beautiful song, in my opinion anyway.

Admittedly, I hadn't listened to Nick Drake in quite a while. Hearing this song at the beginning of "It's A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood" reminded me of how amazing the whole Bryter Layter albums is.

Also, if you haven't seen it yet, "It's a Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood" is pretty good. Tom Hanks does a great job portraying our favourite neighbor, the late Fred Rogers.

I hope you enjoy "Northern Sky." Happy Wednesday kids xo

I've been a long time that I'm waiting

Been a long that I'm blown

I've been a long time that I've wandered

Through the people I have known

Oh, if you would and you could

Straighten my new mind's eye.

Because It's Tuesday - week of February 18

Well once again it's Tuesday (yes, I know that it feels like a Monday but it's actually Tuesday) so I'm sharing a cover with you today.

Today's cover song was written by one of my favourite songwriters, Tom Waits. He wrote the song for his wife, Kathleen Brennan (she was from New Jersey) and he released it in 1980 on his most excellent "Heartattack and Vine" album. Many folks think that this is actually a Bruce Springsteen song (his version is super popular and he is the king of New Jersey so you can see why it would happen).

It's a beautiful, tender song and the version I'm sharing with you today is absolutely lovely. So, without any further yakking by me, here it is today's song, Corinne Bailey Rae's version of the Tom Waits classic, "Jersey Girl." It was released last year on the "come on up to the house - women sing waits" compilation

You know she thrills me with all her charms

When I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms

My little girl gives me everything

I know that some day she'll wear my ring

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - No Pressure

Are you freezing? it's fucking COLD outside today. Apparently, it's this way across the whole province so, long johns and woolly socks for everyone today!!

I'm a sharing a "new to me" song today. It's been a great earworm the past few weeks and I hope you like it. The Kooks are a band I was not familiar with until I watched Gavin and Stacey (way back in the mid to late 2000's). One of their songs, "She Moves In Her Own Way" was featured on the show. I liked that particular song, liked their sound but didn't really get into them any more than that really.

Anyway, today's Not Guilty Just Pleasure song is by the Kooks, was released in 2018, the title track from their album "No Pressure." Recently, it caught my ear and I've been listening to it a fair bit. The video is cute, in particular, I like watching the band play as they all look bored as can be in it. It's cute, I like the song, let's leave it at that.

Happy Friday folks, stay warm today if you can xo

Darling, you give me shelter

From the noise that drowns out the love

And I want to discover

All the things that make you come alive

All the things that make you come alive, oh-oh

Cancon Thursday - Chicken on Clark

I had intended to share this with you last week. For reasons which at the moment I cannot even remember, I did not post on Cancon Thursday last week.  I won't let that happen two weeks in a row!!

Aww, last week, it was a weird weird week. Started out feeling like spring and ended in a big ole snow storm.  The spring feelings had me thinking about the song/video I'm sharing with you today. My head was off in a place where the grass is green, the sky is blue and you can ride a bike without risking sliding under a bus.

I hope you enjoy this song and it's super fun video by the wonderful Lederhosen Lucil. Lucil is actually the alter ego of the talented and beautiful Krista Muir, a Kingston native who now calls Montreal home. A very long time ago, when I owned a restaurant, Lucil performed (she sang for her supper!) for our patrons and us. A German couple who were on holiday in Kingston came to the show because they thought that Lucil was a legit Lederhosen wearing German girl. Even though she was actually a King-Stoner, they enjoyed the show. How could they not? Lederhosen Lucil is super fab!

Check out "Chicken on Clark" and polish up your bike helmet. It'll soon be time to get a new set of streamers for your handle bars!!

Way Back Wednesday - Have Love, Will Travel

When I first met Mark, he told me about his favourite childhood program. He referred to it as "Paladin" because that was the name of the main character. The show was actually "Have Gun, Will Travel." The Paladin character was a hired gun, a mercenary in the wild west. Eventually, I tracked down the first season on DVDs and we watched it together. I can certainly see why a young boy, in the late 1950's / early 1960's would be into a show like this. At some point, for a birthday I think, Mark even got an official Paladin toy guy.

Today's Way Back Wednesday song's title is a play on the title of that old western TV show. "Have Love, Will Travel" was written and originally performed by Richard Berry (who also wrote and originally recorded "Louie Louie"). The version I'm sharing today is probably the best known. Released in 1965 by The Sonics on their "Here are the Sonics" album, it's fuzzy and has the dirtiest sax solo I think I've ever heard. It's just fucking awesome and will get you moving.

Enjoy it kiddos and have a happy hump day xo

Yeah, i'll travel from maine to mexico

Just to find a little girl that loves me so

No matter when, no matter where i'll be

I'm looking for a woman that'll satisfy me

Because It's Tuesday - week of February 11

I would categorize myself as a passive fan of the The Waterboys. In the 80's, I actively sought out their new releases and was really into them. In the years that followed, I stopped
actively looking for their new releases but always enjoyed them when I'd happen to stumble upon them.

Most folks associate the Waterboys with their "hit" 1985 song, "The Whole of the Moon" from the fantastic "This is the Sea" album. I remember that the video seemed to be on Much Music a lot (back in the days when Much Music actually played videos) and I know I had the song on more than one of the mixed tapes I kept in my book bag (awww....remember walkmans?). Anyway, it's a great song and one of I've been fond of for a really long time (almost 35 years now - yikes!).

Today, because it's Tuesday, I'm sharing a cover with  you. Fiona Apple's version of "The Whole of the Moon" is lovely. The video is pretty great too. If you're not familiar with the song, this is a great introduction to it (although I'd encourage you to go listen to the original too).

Hope you enjoy this kids, have a great Tuesday xo

I spoke about wings

You just flew

I wondered, I guessed and I tried

You just knew

I sighed

But you swooned, I saw the crescent

You saw the whole of the moon

The whole of the moon

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Lost In The Supermarket

Today is International Clash Day so, in honour of that (every day is Clash Day around my house I think), I'm sharing "Lost in the Supermarket" from their London Calling album.

Really, the Clash should have an entire month honouring them but at day will have to do for now. If you use spotify and haven't already, I'd suggest that you check out "Stay Free: The Story of the Clash" hosted by the wonderful Chuck Dee. It's a fantastic podcast series about the history of the Clash.

If you're lucky enough to be at home for a snow day today (instead of spending the day at work like I am), play some Clash, super loud and dance around your house. Happy Clash day kids xo

I'm all tuned in, I see all the programs

I save coupons from packets of tea

I've got my giant hit discotheque album

I empty a bottle, I feel a bit free

Way Back Wednesday - The Mole From The Ministry

A very long time ago, so long ago in fact that I can't recall exactly when it was, my brother introduced me to the The Dukes of Stratosphear. He made me a tape that had The Dukes of Stratosphear on one side, and Syd Barrett on the other. I still have that tape, somewhere in my office at home. My brother is a very cool guy and I have always appreciated (and enjoyed) any bands he recommended to me. At the top of the list of bands he's suggested to me over the years is, of course, The Dukes of Stratosphear.

Last week, as I was looking around at stuff on youtube (like you do), I stumbled upon the video for "The Mole From The Ministry." I'm sharing it today for Way Back Wednesday.

For those of you not familiar with The Dukes of Stratosphear, it's basically XTC with Dave Gregory's brother Ian playing too. It was just a one-off thing. They recorded songs in the spirit and flavour of the 1967 / 1968 psychedelic scene in the mid-80's.  I hope you enjoy it because I think it's just fantastic.

I'm the mole from the Ministry

And you'll all bow down to me

I'm the mole in your potting shed

I'm the bad thoughts inside your head

And you won't catch me

Because it's Tuesday - week of February 4

I don't want to jinx anything but it's early February in Kingston and outside, it feels more like late March. It's lovely!

Because it's Tuesday today, I'm going to share a cover song with you.

When I was a little girl, it was almost a guarantee that when you turned the radio on, you would hear a song by ELO within 10 minutes. I always enjoyed "Can't Get It Out of My Head" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman" when they'd come on the radio. When I'd go roller skating with my friends, we'd all make a made dash for the rink whenever the DJ played "Don't Get Me Down."

Thinking about ELO on the weekend, I went looking for some fun covers and found this beautiful version of "Livin' Thing" by Toronto's Dwayne Gretzky.  These guys are famous for their covers and last year they released a bunch of them (thank goodness!).

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did. If  you like what you hear, check them out when they visit your town!

Making believe this is what you conceived

From your worst day (I'm taking a dive)

Oh, moving in line then you look back in time

To the first day (I'm taking, I'm taking)