Everything But The Girl: Downhill Racer

Resolve....

Inspiring story this morning on CBC Radio One, on the special program entitled "Resolve". The story I listened to was with Kristin Millar, a Winnipeg woman who carries her heart around in her purse, - she's waiting for a heart transplant - why she says she's not sick, she's just accessorized.



Make it go away or make it better
Isn’t that what love is supposed to do?
Make it go away or make it better
Cause I would do either one for you

This is not the way you should see me
This is not the face I recognize
Could I lay my head down here for a moment?
Would you sing to me like I’m your child?

Cause I’m not angry I’m not crying
I’m just in over my head
You could be the angel that stayed on my shoulder
When all of the other angels left

Make it go away
Cause I am weak and
This is more than one should have to take
If you do this for me then I will promise
I’ll make it go away for you someday

There are reasons with silver linings
There are lessons but I don’t care
Cause I just need a hand that I can hold onto
When it’s darker than death out there

Oh, and I’m so cold
And so far away from my home
But tonight you’re
You’re where I belong
You’re everything right
When I’m everything wrong

So make it go away or make it better
Isn’t that what love’s supposed to do?
Just make it go away or make it better
Cause I would do either one for you

Mika with Imogen Heap....By the Time

Things to do post full time employment

It's Friday and day 3 of being out of my position with the Mayor's Office. A fantastic opportunity it was, but alas, my fearless leader had made her decision to not run for re-election. Not an easy gig - particularly in the fashion she ran her Administration - on high octane, to an impeccable standard, and to the very best of level of democracy.

As 2011 comes to a close and I begin to suss out a new post, hopefully in the political realm, I will take it easy on myself. Going forward sans Blackberry, hours in front of a small screened PC, millions of details to cope with and negotiate through on a daily basis, these are the things I am looking forward to...

Snow Patrol's "A Hundred Million Suns"

This is a throw-back post written almost three years ago to the day. In light of the fact that Snow Patrol's new album "Fallen Empires" isn't out for Christmas - not being released until January 10th (a colossal marketing mis-step), I thought I'd remind people of this album. At the time I gave it a 7 out of 10.

Album: A Hundred Million Suns
Artist: Snow Patrol
Label: Polydor/A & M
Released: October 28, 2008
Rating: 7 out of 10
Review by: Stephanie Kiernan

Don’t expect to fall in love upon the first go around of “A Hundred Million Suns” – I’ve personally renamed Snow Patrol’s fifth album “A hundred million Starts” since that’s about how many plays it took for me to warm up to it and wipe off its monochromatic veneer.

Nevertheless, despite the repeated starts of the album in my car and on my iPod, it eventually wedged itself into my psyche. Irish-Scottish ensemble Snow Patrol resumes their clean-cut, soft-alternative sound, while lead-singer-lyricist Gary Lightbody fortifies the band’s tried and true post-Coldplay formula for a perfectly pleasant offering without any surprises.

And while surprises might be vital in satiating the iPod generation, Snow Patrol’s music is nevertheless cheerfully alternative, in addition to having the underpinning of distinguished Irish Producer, Garret “Jacknife” Lee; who’s pixie dust has illuminated other alternatives like Weezer, Kasabian, The Hives, and Bloc Party.

“A Hundred Millions Suns” stamps out 11 sashaying originals, including sixteen marathon-minute “The Lightning Strike” which swoons and flares with echoing high-tempo. Snow Patrol has mastered mellowness with extractions like track 7, “Set Down Your Glass” and track 8 “The Planets Bend Between Us” and yet plodded optimism strikes through “Engines” – a highlight of the release.

This Snow Patrol offering would make a decent Christmas stocking stuffer. Just add this review disclaimer to the wrapping.

Reaching into the heart of the darkness for the tenderness within

She was a friend to me when I needed one
Wasn't for her I don't know what I'd done
She gave me back something that was missing in me
She could of turned out to be almost anyone
Almost anyone--
With the possible exception
Of who I wanted her to be

Running into the midnight
With her clothes whipping in the wind
Reaching into the heart of the darkness
For the tenderness within
Stumblin' into the lights of the city
And then back in the shadows again
Hanging onto the laughter
That each of us hid our unhappiness in

Talk about celestial bodies
And your angels on the wing
She wasn't much good at stickin' around--but
She could sing...

In the dead of night
She could shine a light
On some places that you've never been
In that kind of light
You could lose your sight
And believe there was something to win
You could hold her tight
With all your might
But she'd slip through your arms like the wind
And be back in flight
Back into the night
Where you might never see her again

The longer I thought I could find her
The shorter my vision became
Running in circles behind her
And thinking in terms of the blame
But she couldn't have been any kinder
If she'd come back and tried to explain
She wasn't much good a saying goodbye--but
That girl was sane

The Power of Orange Knickers

The power of orange knickers
The power of orange knickers
The power of orange knickers
Under my petticoat
The power of listening to what
You don't want me to know

Can somebody tell me now who is this terrorist
Those girls that smile kindly then rip your life to pieces?
Can somebody tell me now am I alone with this?
This little pill in my hand and with this secret kiss
Am I alone in this...



A matter of complication
When you become a twist
For their latest drink
As they're transitioning

Can somebody tell me now who is this terrorist
This little pill in my hand that keeps the pain living
Can somebody tell me now a way out of this -
That sacred pipe of red stone could blow me out of this kiss
Am I alone in this...

Shame shame time to leave me now
Shame shame you've had your fun
Shame shame for letting me think that I would be the one

Can somebody tell me now who is this terrorist
This little pill in my hand or this secret kiss
Am I alone in this kiss
Am I alone in this kiss

Tift Merritt, Trouble Over Me

You're not my boyfriend, I don't want a boyfriend
Just make a little trouble over me
In your kitchen, on the way to your window
Walking down your hallway
Make some trouble over me

I'll play hard to get but if I mean it
Just make a little trouble over me
Leave me alone. Do what you want to
See, I got some things on my mind

Don't treat me bad, that's not what I'm asking
Look out your window, everyone's in line
Paper truth in strings, hearts and broken things
Love goes for quite a price
I don't want you for mine. Oh, but don't we get along fine

Tell me a secret before you meant to
Worry what I'll do. Trouble over me
If you touch me, it's only by accident
Oh, wrists and fingertips. Trouble over me

In your kitchen, on the way to your window
Walking down your hallway, make some trouble over me
Button my coat up, stumble with your words some
Let me think that you might go to a little trouble over me

Just a little
Just a little trouble
Just a little trouble over

Ryan Adams: Please DO NOT confuse him with Bryan Adams

And streets that only turn to boulevards
And houses with back yards
and it's raining like hell on the cars
And everybody knows the way I walk
And knows the way I talk
Knows the way I feel about you
It's all a bunch of shit
And there's nothing to do around here
It's totally fucked
I'm totally fucked
Wish you were here

And if I could have my way
We'd take some drugs
And we'd smile
We'd smile
We'd smile
But not tonight, my dear
Wish you were here


Flippin brilliant. One of my desert island artists. Bar none.

Back to basics with the Tragically Hip on my iPod

Although "In Violet Light" is my new Hip favourite album (playing "Leave" 20 times a day), I'm reminded of their In Between Evolution hit here. Also, "Are We Family" is a goodie.

And then there's this...


When the colour of the night
and all the smoke for one life
gives way to shakey movements,
improvisational skills,
a forest of whispering speakers
let's swear that we will
get with the times,
in a current heath to stay
let's get friendship right
get life day-to-day
in the forget-yer-skates dream
full of countervailing woes
in diverse-as-ever scenes
proceeding on a need-to-know
in a face so full of meaning
as to almost make it glow

O' for a good life, we just might have to weaken
and find somewhere to go
go somewhere we're needed
find somewhere to grow
grow somewhere we're needed.

I need a girl like you like a stolen car

One day you're gonna miss me. One day you're gonna wake up cold.
Then you'll wish that you could kiss me when you're old and you're alone.

So cry if you want to.
Yeah, you can come undone but you've gotta have a heart to have a broken one.
You can take your accusations. You can have all your records back.
You can have an opinion or a heart attack,
'cause if you lose a kindred spirit, you'll find another one.
But you've gotta to pull the trigger to have a smoking gun.

Oh my girl, it must be so tight in your skin 'cause there's no room to breathe- this fantasy you're living in.

I need a new perpective, I need a fresh start.
I need a girl like you like a stolen car
Cause we all love the joyride until you wind up dead.
You see, you don't need a heart to have a swollen head

The Talent of Jimmy Fallon - the History of Rap.

Lucinda Williams...need I say more?

Baby, sweet baby, you're my drug
Come on and let me taste your stuff

Baby, sweet baby, bring me your gift
What surprise you gonna hit me with

I am waiting here for more
I am waiting by your door
I am waiting on your back steps
I am waiting in my car
I am waiting at this bar
I am waiting for your essence

Baby, sweet baby, whisper my name
Shoot your love into my vein

Baby, sweet baby, kiss me hard
Make me wonder who's in charge

Refrain:
I am waiting here for more
I am waiting by your door
I am waiting on your back steps
I am waiting in my car
I am waiting at this bar
I am waiting for your essence

Baby, sweet baby, I wanna feel your breath
Even though you like to flirt with death

Baby, sweet baby, can't get enough
Please come find me and help me get fucked up

I am waiting here for more
I am waiting by your door
I am waiting on your back steps
I am waiting in my car
I am waiting at this bar
I am waiting for your essence
Your essence

Dustin Bentall and his cute girlfriend Kendel Carson on the Shore 104

Locally we've held his Dad Barney Bentall in great esteem, but in recent years, young Justin has done his family name proud and carried on their musical tradition. The fiddler is Kendal Carson. Thanks to my friend Rod, I'm going to be paying much more attention to her and her own music career.

This next video is not official, but this is how I first heard the song "Crash Hard", in its studio recording version. Love this music - which I refer to as roots rock.

Back in 82 and the Couples' Skate

This morning while playing iTunes Radio, All Chilled 181.FM, a re-make of Hall & Oates' 1982 single "One on One" came on. Dreadful cover. There's nothing like Daryl Hall's sexy voice on this recording. Reminds me of night skating at Karen Magnussen Arena when I'd haul in all my vinyls so that they could play them while we glided around and around the rink and waited for the couples' skate. The lighting at the 8:45pm to 10:15pm skate was turned down and the "mood" lighting was on. Even at 14 years old, I understood and valued my lighting.

Multi-Talent Wouter De Beacker, aka Gotye, from Bruges, Belgium

You don’t get burned
(’Cause nothing gets through)
It makes it easier
(Easier on you)
But that much more difficult for me
To make you see…

Love ain’t fair
So there you are
My love

Your heart’s a mess
You won’t admit to it
It makes no sense
But I’m desperate to connect
And you, you can’t live like this

Sarah Harmer.

I see my mouth moving when I talk to you,
I do,
I see my lips and I feel like a kid
I can't keep something hid
Cause I've been under the paper you were writing on
you left your impression long after you'd gone
on me,
marks only I can see.

Brigitte Bardot, Mr. Sun

Beach House, Real Love

Beach House is the duo, Real Love is the Single

BEACH HOUSE: REAL LOVE from matt amato on Vimeo.

Velvet Morning

Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold

Thanks to S W E E T P E A, I have discovered Tim Chaisson...The East Coast of Canada as always, brings us such goodness in music.

Smiths

I found a new blog and a kindred spirit...Door 16 is a great blog and she obviously has great taste in music.

Bob Welch and a little bit of 1970's history

I couldn't find any "official" Hypnotized video but I found these two interesting little gems. The first is someone's handy video work with the actual soundtrack, which would be perfect playing on a large screen and if only smoked illegal substances. Which I don't.

The second is a live version which looks like it's from a Bob Welch concert in the mid 1980's.

Ryan Adams - Two

If you take me back
Back to your place
I'll try not to bother you I promise
'Cause it's cold in here
And I wish it was hot
The sink's broke, it's leaking from the faucet

And i'm fractured from the fall
And i wanna go home
But it takes two when it used to take one
It takes two when it used to take only one

Well, my money's no good when i'm up to no good
No good ever comes from it, honest
I got a really good heart
I just can't catch a break
If i could i'd treat you like you wanted me to i promise

But i'm fractured from the fall
And i wanna go home
I'm fractured from the fall
And i wanna go home

But it takes two when it used to take one
It takes two when it used to take one
It takes two when it used to take only one

Pyro, by the Kings of Leon

Single book of matches,
Gonna burn what's standing in the way.
Roaring down the mountain,
Now they're calling on the fire brigade.
Bury all the pictures,
and tell the kids that I'm okay.
If'n I'm forgotten,
You'll remember me for today.

I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I...

All the black inside me
Is slowly seeping from the bone.
Everything I cherish
Is slowly dying, or it's gone.
Little shaken babies
And drunkards seem to all agree,
Once the show gets started,
It's bound to be a sight to see.

I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I don't wanna be here holding on.
I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I...

Watch her roll,
Can you feel it?
Watch her roll,
Can you feel it?

Watch her roll,
Can you feel it?
Watch her roll,
Can you feel it?

I won't ever be your cornerstone.
I don't wanna be here holding on.
I won't ever be your cornerstone.

Parental Discretion is Advised: Language*

Dwight Yoakam is Doyle Hargraves in Sling Blade. This is classic.

CAKE: You break up the band, flimsy as it is, it's open-mic punk rock

"Cake epitomizes the postmodern, irony-drenched aesthetic of '90s geek-rock"



you turn the screws
you tear down the bridge
flimsy as it is, it's business like
you shake my hand
you break up the band
flimsy as it is, it's open-mic punk rock
red white and blue

you twist the knife then go home to kiss your wife
a bigger better slice is what you'd like
you kick the sand, you get the upper hand
you sell it to japan
it's natural punk rock
red white and blue


you turn the screws
it's what you choose to do
you think that i
must turn them too
you think that i must be so satisfied
i stay inside
i wonder why

Everybody Knows, Ryan Adams...

You come for me in the worst of places
You come for me, you come and try to take me home
I'm always in need and it's hard to be reciprocating
The fabric of our life gets torn
And everything's changing so how i am to know
How i'm going to hold on to you when i'm spinning out of control
You an i together
But only one of us in love
And everybody knows
He says her name, it echoes in my head like it was a canyon
He says her name, he says it and i know what's up
You come to me sometimes when i'm thinking like a cannonball shooting out a canyon
And i forget whatever it was i was thinking about
With everything changing how am i to know
How i'm going to hold on to you when i'm spinning out of control
With out and i together
But only one of us in love
And everybody knows

THIS SUMMER, by Squeeze

Squeeze is still a fav anytime of year.