Great Lake Swimmers (Ontario band)

John gave me The Great Lake Swimmers, - their Ongiara CD.  It's simply easy to listen to - Sunday morning music that reminds me of Neil Young.  I'd classify it as folk and my favorite song on the album would have to be this one: 

Out of Tune and Off Key-Who Cares?

Flickr Credit



In the history of music, why are there still people who complain about “bad singers”? Bob Dylan doesn’t sound like Andrea Bocelli, but who cares? Bad singers are among my most loved and adored. I’ve had this conversation with a few people in “the know”; people who know music – who wouldn’t be caught dead with Bryan Adams or Beyonce in their iTunes library.

My first example would be Bob Dylan. I don't think I need to type anything more on that. Second, Mick Jagger isn't exactly singing like an angel either. Doesn't stop us from playing Rolling Stones' classics does it?

Feature example: The Arcade Fire’s lead singer, Win Butler, has the vocal timbre that leaves you scrumaging through your purse for Ricola cough drops – at least DB thinks he “needs a cough drop”. Hey dude, that’s the lovable characteristic of the Arcade Fire sound – so what - it’s indulgent and it’s different.

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips sings off key in most of his songs. Take that “A Change At Christmas” song for starters. Who cares – again I underline this is delectable on their part. Playful and yet very cool at the same time.

just because

Find out for yourself

Remembering Dan Fogelberg...

Well there's too many windows
in this old hotel
And rooms filled with reckless pride
And the walls have grown sturdy
And the halls have worn well
But there is nobody living inside
Nobody living inside...

Gonna pull in the shutters
On this heart of mine
Roll up the carpets and pull
in the blinds
And retreat to the chambers that
I left behind
In hopes there still may be
Love left to find
Still may be love left to find.

Seek inspiration in daily affairs
Now your soul is improper
and requires repairs
And the voices you hear at the
top of the stairs
Are only echoes of unanswered prayers
Echoes of unanswered prayers.

Well there's too many windows
in this old hotel
And rooms filled with reckless pride
And the walls have grown sturdy
And the halls have worn well
But there is nobody living inside
Nobody living inside... 

Got Morrissey?

They say there's too much caffeine in your blood stream And a lack of real spice in your life



Last night I had John, the construction handy man in to fix one of my dimmer lights (yes I really do have a strong conviction for dimmer switches) and he noticed my Morrissey albums on the hallway table. "Oh who's M-o-r-r-ees-y?" Oh God I thought. This guys got to be at least 50 and he doesn't know who Morrissey is? And even worse, he didn't know who The Smiths were, adding further frustration in my attempt to explain who Morrissey was. I know. There's so much ignorance in the world it's shocking. I pointed to my refrigerator door where my beloved is stuck and then I took him over to the iMac and pulled up some classic Smiths for him to hear - you know, in hopes that something might jog loose in his brain. But nothing did. Poor old soul. This got me thinking this morning about a list of favorite Smiths' songs. A list of must haves and "must get" - as in "do you get it?".

So here goes in no particular order (other than scrolling through my iTunes and the fact that I placed "There Is A Light" last because it really is my absolute favorite Smiths' single), song titles and album:


Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (Louder Than Bombs)
The Headmaster Ritual (Meat Is Murder)
Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours (Strangeways, Here We Come)
Well I Wonder (Meat Is Murder)
Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Queen Is Dead)
I Know It’s Over (The Queen Is Dead)
This Charming Man (The Smiths)
Hand In Glove (The Smiths)
Still Ill (The Smiths)
Half A Person (Louder Than Bombs)
What Difference Does It Make? (The Smiths)
Ask (Louder Than Bombs)
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (The Queen Is Dead)
Shoplifters Of The World Unite (Louder Than Bombs)
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore (Meat Is Murder)
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Queen Is Dead)

The More You Ignore Me

Classic Moz.

The Best Of 2007

Friday afternoon Mr. Goodman at the NSN emailed me to let me in on his annual list of Top Ten Albums. The lists will be published in the December 14th issue.

These are NOT in order - it's hard enough to narrow things down to ten selections you'd recommend as "must-haves", never mind giving them priority or preference. But I will clarify that the reason LCD Soundsystem makes my list is that James Murphy is a brilliant musician and songwriter whom deserves recognition for this 2007 critically acclaimed recording. It's certainly not for everyone.

If you must surrender to the loathsome consumerism of the season, then I recommend straightening out someone's horrendous music collection with anyone of these gems.

1. "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank", from Modest Mouse - released March 07


2. "Cease To Begin" from Band of Horses - released October 07


3. "In Rainbows" from Radiohead - released October 07


4. "Hospital Music" from Matthew Good -July 07


5. "Shine" from Joni Mitchell - released September 07


6. "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" from Spoon - July 07


7. "The World Is Yours" from Ian Brown -September 07


8. "Neon Bible" from Arcade Fire - March 07


9. "The Reminder" from Feistk - March 07


10. "Sounds Of Silver" from LCD Soundsystem - March 07