I don't often say this about music events that you go to Stu, but that looks kind of cool.   I'll check them out.

P.S. Did you discover this band yourself?  he asked skeptically?

Granted i am usually a little on the hyperbolic side, but Saturday night at Lees palace i saw the best live show since Arcade Fire.... Im not sure whether that will translate to their soon to be released album and they may well crack under the pressure of being the perennial  next "greatest band out of the UK"...but The Savages hour long set was loud , raw, extremely angry, but also with great songs with hooks and with a suitably captivating if creepy lead singer who had the kind of stage presence I have only seen rarely in bands like Arcade fire..  The lead guitarist also had this manic anger that  makes you wonder if they will eb around for long or are they too disfunctional......
...dont miss them when they return to tour the first album.....which i know nothing about as they only recently finished recording it.....
here is the only review i can find but it has a photo that kind of captures the moment ......

I like the idea too Mike.    If you're up for it, why don't you kick it off and we'll see if there's any life left in this thing.  

I like the idea Mike. 

Stuart, thanks for the post.  Not always my cup of tea but it's always enjoyable to be nudged to listen to something that someone else digs.  Ergo, my liking Mike's proposal.

Thanks for that, Stuart.  I had never heard of Kevin Ayer.  Reading the description of his work in AllMusic, he sounded a bit like Stephin Merritt.  I'm listening to him as I type this and I wouldn't say that comparison is particularly apt.  Less whimsical and musically much more rock and roll.  I can't help marvelling at the amount of music that is out there.  AllMusic lists 20 albums from  between 1969 and 2007, and in all the time that I've been listening to music and associating with people like you whose combined knowledge of popular music history is truly vast, I can't remember his name ever coming up (I confirmed with a search of Metabeats that had but a single result).  And I like what I'm hearing.  This is clearly the kind of music that I should have come across by now, given my preferences and predilections.

I've also been thinking of posting something for a while - for the interminable period that Brian's challenge for us all to produce our 2012 lists sat there at the top of the pile while the virtual crickets chirped.  So I've developed a concept designed to compel us all to contribute a little more regularly, and also (hopefully) to benefit more directly from this forum.  Here it is for your consideration and refinement (or rejection):

I suggest that each month, on a rotational basis, one of us is responsible for choosing a single album that we want everybody to listen to.  It could be something familiar that we want to create a discussion around, or it could be something more obscure that we want to introduce.  Either way, that person must identify the album  early in the month along with some reasoning for its selection.  The rest of us must commit to actually listening to the album in its entirety at some point during the month and then sending in our own comments.  We can simply say why we like it or don't like it very succinctly, or we can offer a track-by-track review.  But we all have to commit to writing something honest about our reaction to the chosen album.

I'm not suggesting that the blog be limited to this concept - any and all posts about music should be welcome as before.  But this will drive at least 6 posts each month, and more importantly, it will force us all to actually listen to each other's recommendations, and collaborate in a shared experience at least once a month.

What do you think?

I was looking up Kevin ayers on Allmusic to see what other records of his might be worth exploring while listening to joy of a toy.   Somehow I got an alt site stating that he died feb 20.  A shame. He was a true eccentric from the Canterbury music scene that spat out mike old field and Robert Wyatt. He was a founding member of soft machine and he released a fantastic quirky late career cd a few years back that I play a fair bit.  R I P.

Um hello, lists of 2012 favourites?   Stu, perhaps you'd like to show a little leadership here?

Let me give you a teaser:

(1) Damien Jurado

(2) Beachwood Sparks

(3) Woods

Obviously a teaser should start at the bottom of the list and work it's way up.  But I've never been good at teasers. And besides, I have to decide what my next seven are. 

Glad to hear derision, Kyle, discord is a sign of something positive, methinks.   I'd love to hear everyone's favourite songs and/or albums from 2012.   Who's up for the challenge?

Would also be interested, for those whose taste runs in this direction, of a list of 2012 classical or jazz faves.

This Pitchfork list is so in-your-face mediocre, uninspiring that I promptly abandonned investigation of all other lists, plans to post my own. 2012 was a decent year in music but you wouldn't know it after listening into this rat's nest of dreck. Brian, you mentioned that they often compile a list of songs that kinda sound great but aren't really well written or composed songs. With a few exceptions, these don't even sound great. Know it's past Christmas now but: Bah humbug.

Hey Mike (and the rest of you), I saw the Lennie show a couple of weeks ago as well.   I thought it was absolutely remarkable how he sustained hismelf throughout - it's no joke at 78.   He was a very professional performer which I didn't expect for some reason - at times to the detriment of the connection with the audience, as some of the between-song banter sounded pretty canned (and corny).  

My overall reaction (and rating if you will) was very positive but not completely glowing, because I have a strong preference for LC's earlier work (first four records in particular), and he's apparently not really able (or willing) to pull that material off, as it's mostly sung in quite a different (higher, not surprisingly) register  He did play three or four songs from that era (notably Suzanne and So Long Maryanne) but with the strength of the material from that period, I would have liked to hear more.   I find his work since about 1980 to be somewhat monotonous musically, though always enhanced by such depth of lyric that one often doesn't notice.  However when you play six or seven of that era (the second half of his carer, say) in a row, they all sound much the same, and so in a way expose the formulaic side of his songwriting.

I'm embarrassed to say that Leonard Cohen was the only concert I saw in 2012!!   I did see a few bands in bars here and there, but even those were few and far between.  I've got to get out to see live music more often!

Would you say that Cohen was in your top 5 best concerts of the year, Mike?

I ask because: 1) no one has commented or responded to your thoughtful post/mini review of the show in Ottawa and; 2) it's a lazy segue into this article, an argument against the Year End List.

While I agree that many of them can be uninspired and lazy (mine included), I do enjoy the roundup/summary, if only to confirm my own likes or to feel outraged that someone would actually praise a book, film, album I loathed.

Last night I saw Leonard Cohen play the Ottawa stop of his latest world tour.  It was a really great show - he played from 8 until 11:45 with a half hour break in the middle.  The guy's 78 years old!  He looks somewhat gaunt, but he is quite spry.  And his voice sounded great - well, great in a Leonard Cohen context.  He was backed by a 9 piece band full of excellent musicians, and the arrangements of his songs took full advantage of them.  The tour is supporting his latest release, "Old Ideas", which isn't as strong as his older material, despite the very positive reviews that it has received.  He played 3 or 4 songs from that album,  but he focused more on his back catalogue.  The staging was very simple, relying mostly on simple lighting techniques for visual effect, but it was very tastefully done.  But the visuals were understated, drawing attention primarily to the music, which was wonderful.  Cohen's words, sung in his deep and distinctive voice and accompanied by exquisitely played acoustic guitar, electric guitar, violin and organ solos - I enjoyed every minute of it, and the rest of the crowd was equally appreciative.  He's got to be approaching the end of his performing days, and I'm glad I had a chance to see him before he gives it up.

I saw Brubeck just a few years back in Markham ...a pretty good show I'd say.  I also saw him in Paris in '85 ...pretty wicked.  I've always had a strong attachment to his music.   My father was a huge fan, born in the same year.  Time Out came out in the year my sister was born, '59, and i still remember my dad blasting the album on warm spring days in Montreal, the doors and windows open.  I think that the mathematical complexity of the album and its infectious swing were what appealed most to me...it was fresh and complex and to my ear i have always thought it was structure like a good piece of modern architecture.  I'm not saying i understand it ...I just love it.

I'm not a list maker and would not be willing to select a cut off of Time Out as my favourite, suffice to say that it is one of my favorite albums.  Interestingly though, from my perspective, with great jazz musicians you don't often see one particular album or session rise so unequivocally above the rest of the body of their work. ...???

Final Take

Oh, he finally kicked it.  Too bad.   And Derek and I didn't even see his (unintended) farewell tour.   

Favourite DB numbers?  

It's an obvious choice but I love love love Blue Rondo a La Turk.

Quote du jour: " it always take me by surprise how dark it gets this time of year"; First Aid Kit, "The Poet".

Hey gents, anyone giving some thought to a "Best of 2012" list?  

apologies to Derek who invited us all a few weeks ago.... I am a bit clueless perhaps....I will attempt to get a ticket but not likely as it is the hot show now soldout... Let me know where you are going in the event I manage to scrap one up...
s

Do any of you have tickets to Monday nights tame Impala / the Amazing show. Interested if not?
I am thinking I may drop by for . I know you lot like tame Impala , but "the Amazing" has one of my favorite discs this year . I was meaning to throw it out to you... i am surprised they are teamed with tame impala as they have a very different sound... Do you think it likely This show will sell out ? 

Me (That guy who hates lists) is going on record for saying that "dynamite walls" by Hayden is the 2nd best Canadiana song of all time.... If you have ever peered through a half defrosted car window with the defroster mnot working well, driven by yourself through the blasted canadian shield on your way up north, whilst  trying to figure out just what the point of life is......you can relate to these vivid lyrical snapshots..... ( apologies if I am starting to sound like a pitchfork reviewer)

damn I love that song...


PS   in answer to your question "  a case of you " by J.M.


s

Not sure if any of you have discovered Songza. I stumbled on it last week, downloaded their iphone/ipad app to my phone and started using it to stream to my stereo. Very much like Pandora for Canada, with more specialized playlists and 'stations'. I've enjoyed it and some of the categories, subcategories and moods are fun. Suggest you give it a try as it's completely free and kind of fun.