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I hope you enjoyed last week’s “Springsteen” themed podcast… I had a lot of fun putting it together, and I’m already starting to think about other themes in the future! But this week we return to our usual format: a mixed bag of indie and folk, some new releases from Toronto-area artists and beyond, with plenty of deep tracks from my personal library scattered within.
1. “Map of the World” by Sebastien Grainger from the digital EP “American Names”
This piano-led ballad didn’t appear on Grainger’s full-length release, and I have yet to ever see him perform it live, but with the way his set has been going, it’s possible that this might work as a late break before one final rockout. I actually think it contains some of his better lyrics as well, and a really great “traditional” sounding guitar solo (and you know what, despite what some reviewers at a campus radio magazine in Canada, noodling doesn’t harm a record in anyway. If you think it does, stick to your Silver Jews records).
2. “Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors” by the Editors from “An End Has a Start”
I’ve been meaning to include the Editors in the podcast for a while now… maybe they’re best characterized as a thinking man’s Coldplay, but in truth they do the whole modern-epic post rock/U2 sound better than anyone else. Live, the songs are way more bombastic, but I feel like this record, unlike their first, really captures that. If U2 were smart they would start stealing ideas from these guys, instead of re-writing “Even Better Than the Real Thing” for the seventh or eighth time (at leas when they need a single).
3. “There is no Escape” by Raised by Swans from “Codes and Secret Longing”
I’ve only ever seen this band live once, but it was pretty incredible. On paper, the band might seem like another post-rock kind of band like the aforementioned Editors or say, Bloc Party. But what this Hamilton band does best is keep things simple, but very, very tightly constructed. Here’s some trivia for you: Singer-guitarist Eric Howden used to play the bass in the Gandharvas (which I have a feeling Jared is now going to dig up for his next podcast) and Bassist Andy Magoffin from Two Minute Miracles. Apparently the band have a new record coming out, and will have a couple songs from “Codes and Secret Longings” feature in Atom Egoyan’s new film, “Adoration.” As an aside, I think I mention that the band is from Hamilton, when they are in fact from London, Ontario.
4. “Can’t See the Sun” by Fjord Rowboat from “Saved the Compliments for Morning”
I couldn’t play “Raised by Swans” without playing “Fjord Rowboat,” which I was able to see in an awesome double-bill at the Drake Underground a couple years ago. Their sound is perfectly complimentary, but strikingly similar: dark, spaceous and inherintely rocking. The main difference is Howden’s vocals are sweeter, whereas Craig Gloster’s are more dour. The band is supposedly at work at their followup to the gorgeous “Compliments,” and have also promised a forthcoming 7 inch.
5. “Teeter” by Better Friends than Lovers from “Great Loves”
I apologize for getting all 2007 on this podcast.
6. “We’ll Find Out” by Timber Timbre from “Timber Timbre”
This song is from the third album by Toronto’s “Timber Timbre,” which has been easily described as “cinematic.” Taylor Kirk is the mastermind of the band, and after releasing the album in January, is now headed to Japan for a tour.
7. “Come Back to the Willow” by The Silt from “Cat’s Peak”
Recorded in 2006, “Cat’s Peak” has been a long time coming, and I think you’ll agree that we’re all the better for it. Personally, I love the over the top keyboard solo that sounds a little like an outer-space laser battle, but on second thought, I appreciate that there’s some solid wah-guitar up front on this track too. (Or as I like to call it, the “Agressive Tone Sweep” effect).
8. “Double Suicide (Original Version)” by Sandro Perri from the “European Tour CDR”
Slower and quieter than the version that appears on “Tiny Mirrors,” this version is just slightly more haunting and a little more damaged. This version also features a solo by Ryan Driver (also from “The Silt” and various other Rat Drifting projects in Toronto). According to Perri’s website, he’s in the process of putting out a 7inch with Tony Dekker from the Great Lake Swimmers.
9. “Bullet” by Hayden from “The Closer I Get”
I know that while Hayden has this “hanging at the cottage in the summer” kind of mystique, for me he’s always been a deep-in-winter man, and I can’t go long amid the grey skies and slush filled streets without a few Hayden songs to keep me company. While this 1998 album features alot more instruments and fuller arraingments than his earlier record, “Everything I Long For,” this version is still classic Hayden, with little more than an acoustic guitar and a fairly epic harmonica solo.
10. “Frank Mills” by the Lemonheads from “It’s a Shame About Ray”
I know those last couple songs were pretty big downers, so here’s a short and sweet track to just pep things up a little. I never realized it was a cover before, until I started looking at some background online just now. Go figure!
11. “A Blueprint of Something Never Finished” by Pedro the Lion from “Lost Notes from Forgotten Songs”
I wasn’t sure if this show be classified as a Six Parts Seven song or a PTL song, but because I can’t resist including Dave Bazan in every podcast, I’ll go with this. This song eventually became “Hello Operator” on the Headphones album, but this version is far superior. It’s sparser, darker and complex. I think this was one of those songs that people started to get worried about Bazan, with the whole killing-your-fiance type storyline here.
12. “Things I Did When I was Dead” by No Age from “Nouns”
That’s a lot of racket from just two guys, isn’t it? I can’t put my finger on what I like about this song exactly, but amid all the density, I find it really charming.
13. “Young Liars” by TV on the Radio from “Young Liars EP”
I recently watched “Rachel Getting Married,” which stars TVOTR singer Tunde Adebimpe. But instead of using “Unknown Legend” (a Neil Young song he croons acapella in the flick) as inspiration, I’ll play one of my favourite songs from the band, the totally apoctalyptic and sweeping “Young Liars.” I wish I could make a drum machine set up like this sound so simple and huge.
14. “Can You Tell” by Ra Ra Riot from “The Rhumb Line”
It’s interesting how much Ra Ra Riot shares stylistically with Vampire Weekend… its almost the exact same band, but without the African influences.
Thanks again for tuning in, and I hope you have a great week!
myspace.com/tyronewarner
radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Silver-Speakers
http://www.last.fm/music/Silver+Speakers
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Silver-Speakers/17464575870
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gravenrecords.com
striketheset.net
Previously:
Put Your Heart Into It 005
Put Your Heart Into It 004
Put Your Heart Into It 003
Put Your Heart Into It 002
Put Your Heart Into It 001
