I was initially interested in Heavy Steps because of Wars frontman Chris van der Laan’s involvement. And while Heavy Steps’ atmospheric soundscapes don’t sound much like Wars at all, they’re similarly awesome. I reviewed the band’s excellent You, Conduit for the Georgia Straight this week.
Below is the album track “Jonah Town.” It chose this song because it’s the only one that prominently features van der Laan’s lead vocals. Most of the album is sung by Melissa Gregerson (pictured), and she’s got a great voice, but it’s also neat to hear that hint of Wars in a very different musical context.
Speaking of Wars, it’s almost time to vote for the Polaris Music Prize. Just saying’.
Last weekend, I reviewed some local bands at the Rickshaw for the Georgia Straight. The evening’s highlight was Dirty Spells, who just released their debut EP, Greetings from Hangover City. The sock hopping garage punk tune “Hangover City” is below.
And really, what better day to listen to “Hangover City” than Sunday? Although I’m not hungover in the slightest.
Yesterday, when writing a Dog Day tour story Exclaim!, I developed a fondness for the band’s touring partner, Monomyth. The Halifax band’s self-titled EP is wonderfully shit-smeared slice of sonic sunshine. “Feeling” is hardly the first song from the last few years to pilfer the Beach Boys‘ California pop style and rework it as grimy garage rock, but that doesn’t make it any less effective.
My favourite song from Said the Whale’s Little Mountain is either “The Reason” or this one, “Loveless.” Certainly, this sunnily romantic number has the album’s biggest and best pop hook. When you’re done listening to Little Mountain, this is the chorus that you’ll still be turning over in your head.
So the new Beach House album is pretty fucking great, isn’t it? Much like the last one, Bloom’s passivity makes it unassuming on first listen, but the hazy atmosphere gets under your skin with repeat listens. “Myth” sounds a bit like my brain melting from the side effects of this new acid reflux medication I’m on. Bleh.
As I was reviewing the Black Keys for the Georgia Straight, something occurred to me: I’m pretty sure that I had never reviewed an arena show before that one. I’ve covered plenty of large theatre shows, and the odd large park show, but I don’t think I’d ever written about a gig in Rogers Arena (which is where this one was). I’m a little surprised it took so long to happen, but it was a great show.
It’s pretty predicable that I like DIIV, seeing as how it’s a buzzed about Beach Fossils spin-off that the blogs are eating up right now. Oh well. “Doused” is a pretty incredible slice of threatening, echo-laden jangle pop. Why fight it? The full-length Oshin comes out June 26 on Captured Tracks.
Lately, my life has had a whole lot of Apollo Ghosts in it. I wrote a cover story about them for BeatRoute, and last night I went to their LP release show. That excellent new album is called Landmark and it’s officially out on May 15 through You’ve Changed Records. The short but sweet opening track is called “What Are Your Influences?” and it’s below. “Wo-ho-hoo!”
Prioritizing sucks, and sometimes I must forgo writing thoughtful blogs about deserving music in favour of doing work that actually pays the bills. So I’ll let this song by Vancouver’s Capitol 6 (led by Sun Wizard’s Malcolm Jack) speak for itself. “Cold Ride” appears on the album Pretty Lost, due out June 12 on Light Organ Records.
