CMW... Day No. 2

Buck 65
Call it hip-hop, call it folk, call it whatever you want to, Buck 65's 2005 release Secret House Against The World is one of the most diverse album I’ve ever heard! It features some lovely additions of female vocals that were not present in pervious Buck records. Some songs actually have a Tricky-ish feel to them. On his website, the very humble Buck gave his album a 3 out of 5. (in my opinion, it deserves at least a 4 out of 5!) He described the album as being “totally organic. It sounds like human beings at work - very talented human beings (I'm not talking about myself).” This guy is so talented; I don’t know why he hasn’t hit it big yet?! And yes, Buck 65 is the guy dancing with Feist in the One Evening video.

Sounds like: Atmosphere, Steve Earle, and a little bit of Tricky

Devil's Eyes
The Floor
Wicked & Weird (from Talkin' Honky Blues)
buy Talkin' Honky Blues and Secret House Against The World here


Great Lake Swimmers
GLS’s disc Bodies and Minds is enlightenment. The vocal and melodic sound is light, clear, and perfectly balanced in nature. The timbre is lively and bright, but calming at the same time. The whole album create such a simple, peaceful harmony, it is THE perfect driving CD, especially on a sunny, mid-May drive down the coast of Prince Edward Island. GLS are playing at the Reverb tomorrow night; go to CMW for further information.

Sounds like: early Death Cab, Joseph Arthur, Jens Lekman, Iron & Wine

When It Flows
Various Stages
Bodies and Minds
buy Bodies and Minds here


The Unicorns… Islands
The Unicorns are pretty much the opposite of Great Lake Swimmers. They are out-of-control, funky, funny, weird, and over the top. Their album Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? has some of the craziest off-beat and musically unusual sound I’ve ever heard. Unfortunately, the band has disbanded for a while now. However, members of The Unicorns: Nick Diamonds and J'aime Tambeur formed a new band in early 2005 call Islands. Their full length debut entitled Who Has Return to the Sea? is coming out on April 4.

Sounds like: Atom & His Package?, Architecture In Helsinki? …can’t really pinpoint what The Unicorns or Islands sound like!

The Unicorns - Tuff Ghost
The Unicorns - Les Os
download 2 releases by The Unicorns here
Islands - Abominable Snowman
Islands - Rough Gem
buy The Unicorns' Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? here