brain running down along spear from the wound in the eye hole

My favourite holiday is here once again; and just in case you are not prepared, here are a few suggestions to help you spook up this Halloween.

Music:
Scott Walker: The Drift
My third favourite record of last year is a 60 plus minutes journey of weird, dark, and eerie experimental music!

Clara [super-wicked-cool song]
Hand Me Ups [super-wicked-cool song]
The Escape [super-wicked-cool song]

buy The Drift here


Movies:
Planet Terror
This is probably the most entertaining film of the year. The very gorey and funny film pays homage to classic cult horrors such as the Evil Dead series, Re-Animator, and Zombi 2.

30 Days of Night
After seeing this film last Friday, my friend and I have concluded that we have absolutely nothing bad to say about this surprisingly great vampire(/zombie?) film.


Costumes:
I was at Toronto Zombie Walk 2007 a couple of weeks ago; below are some of my favourites, maybe they’ll inspire you.

out this week

Napoleon IIIrd: In Debt To
The highly textualized instrumentations as well as ironic and thought-provoking lyrics make In Debt To one of the best records of 2007. It has been available digitally for many months now over at Brainlove Records, and it is finally out in CD format this week!

This Is My Call To Arms [super-wicked-cool song]
Hit Schmooze For Me [super-wicked-cool song]

buy In Debt To here


Scott Walker: And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball?
A four movement contemporary dance piece for the disabled and non-disabled dance company CandoCo; get it fast because this release is limited to only 2500 copies! Scott Walker is brilliant!

2nd Movement [wicked-cool song]

buy And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball? here


Thursday: Kill The House Lights CD/DVD
A marvelous retrospective package that includes a documentary film, three brand new tracks, plus nine addition b-sides, demos, live recordings, and alternate takes.

Signals Over The Air (Live)
Paris In Flames (Demo) [wicked-cool song]

buy Kill The House Lights here


Saves The Day: Under The Boards
I don’t even know what provoked me to even listen to this record. I am really not a fan of Saves the Day mainly because I absolutely hate Chris Conley voice! ...BUT... I actually enjoy their new record, Under the Boards! It is a surprisingly excellent record and I have nothing bad to say about it whatsoever!

Getaway [wicked-cool song]
Kaleidoscope

buy Under The Boards here



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pumpkin soup as warm as an evening sun

I'm sure most of you Wolf fanatics have read this already; but just incase, Patrick Wolf posted a new message on MySpace this morning entitled "HalloWdreamS":

Dear all

I am setting up my first record label to take care of the digital release
of my back catalogue. I will also be encouraging you to send me music.
so that we can take over the world with new sounds and productions
the first popstar on my label Bloody Chamber Music (BCM) will be
The Craig Template with his new video that was made SONG OF THE DAY on popjustice.com recently. click on craigs Last Nite to get a window into the wonderful world of craig template.

Before that there will be the releases of wind in the wires and lycanthropy
with new digital booklets and videoscapes for you to engage and get lost in sometime in the early 2008.

Thankyou so much to all who gave me such positivity during the american and canadian tour, it was an amazing adventure that I cant wait to repeat again with new songs and messages
to be delivered and shared with you.

I was sent a link to this video today and it encapsulates for me the great joy and magic that passed between you and I on those wonderful evenings so I thought i would share it with y'all. After all... "There's a whole generation with a new explanation
People in motion people in motion"




love and good luck and hair of the dog to all of you good fighters dreamers wishers witches shy creatures magic beasts dirty bastards human treasures.. let your days be full of wonder... im off to the park to see some peacocks and get me some waffles.

to those of you who shared the plague with me.. thankyou. singing with the sense of sound choir and a band of genius musicians has fuelled me with fire to get the next record out of the hermits cave and into our brave new world

ok, must go... dont be afraid of the dark, wrap up warm... halloween is on her way..

xxx patrick

cover song of the moment

Here’s another cover for today. I was pretty much blown away by this track when I first heard it: Tori Amos’ hauntingly brilliant cover of Eminem’s '97 "Bonnie & Clyde", Enjoy!

Tori Amos: Bonnie & Clyde (Eminem cover) [super-wicked-cool song]
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buy Strange Little Girls here

cover song of the moment

When the tracklist for I'm Not There Original Soundtrack was announced a few months back, I was pretty trilled to see most of the musicians onboard for the soundtrack to the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic. Naturally, the song that stood out for me on the list was Cat Power’s cover of "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again". I was extremely eager to hear it because it is my favourite Dylan song and I was fascinated by how she would handle it. The music of Cat Power's cover is very similar to the original except for the fact that the harmonica is taken out completely, the keyboard is more noticeable and horns were added throughout it. The most interesting part about the cover is Chan Marshall trying to sound like Bob Dylan vocally... her attempt was pretty amazing as Marshall managed to still sing like herself, but with Dylan mannerisms. It must be incredibly difficult and terrifying to cover songs from major music icon such as Bob Dylan; nonetheless, Cat Power pulled it off and did a fine job at covering one of the my favourite songs of all time.

Cat Power: Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (Bob Dylan cover)
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I'm Not There Original Soundtrack comes out on October 30th, you can pre-order it here

computers are evil

Sorry for the lack of updates this week, but my laptop gave up on me late Wednesday night and I have been trying to fix it since... anyways, it is back to normal now and I am ready to create some new posts!

It is pretty well known in the music world that Joy Division is one of the most important bands in the last 25 years. The band had such a giant impact that countless musicians today are still influenced by their music. That is definitely the case for Teenager, the dynamic girl/boy duo from Australia. For me, their debut album, Thirteen, sounds like a more upbeat Joy Division record with the experimental style that slightly resembles Suicide (who I think is even more influential than Joy Division, but that’s another story...) Regardless, I wouldn’t say that Teenager is a rip-off band in any way! They have utilized elements from some of the finest music from the past, spiced them up with their own styles, and the result is an outstanding debut record.

Liquid Cement [wicked-cool song]
Breaking Thunder/No Donor [wicked-cool song]
Bound And Gagged [wicked-cool song]
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buy Thirteen here

if madonna wrote it, i can read it

Tori Amos - October 23, 2007 Live @ Hummingbird Centre


Setlist:

Act I: Pip
1. Cruel [wicked-cool song]
2. Bliss
3. Fat Slut [wicked-cool song]
4. Smoke Joe
5. Teenage Hustling
6. The Waitress

7. Professional Widow

Act II: Tori
8. Big Wheel
9. Space Dog
10. Spark
11. Cornflake Girl
12. Liquid Diamonds
13. Glory of the 80s

T & Bö
14. Improv - When Your Kid Is Smarter Than You [wicked-cool song]
15. Take Me With You
16. Winter

17. Horses
18. A Sorta Fairytale
19. Code Red

1st Encore
20. Precious Things
21. Bouncing Off Clouds

2nd Encore
22. Hey Jupiter [wicked-cool song]
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buy Legs and Boots. Toronto Canada. 23.10.07 here

cover song of the moment

Asobi Seksu will release two hot new songs on 7" on November 20th. The tracks are "Stay Awake" and a cover of The Crystals’ "And Then He Kissed Me". Be sure to pick up the 7" for the two wonderful songs as well as the beautiful gatefold picture sleeve.

Asobi Seksu: And Then He Kissed Me (The Crystals Cover) [wicked-cool song]
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Stay Awake/And Then He Kissed Me 7" comes out on November 20th, you can pre-order it here

out this week

Brand New: "(Fork and Knife)"
Known as "Untitled #7" by fans from the leaked demos, Brand New are releasing a new (and better) version of the song under the title, "(Fork and Knife)" this week via various digital download services.

Untitled #7 (demo) [wicked-cool song]

buy "(Fork and Knife)" here


Sigur Rós: Hljómalind 7" Single
New Sigur Rós single from their upcoming double-disc compilation album, Hvarf-Heim. The single will also feature a beautiful live acoustic version of "Starálfur".

Hljómalind [wicked-cool song]

buy Hljómalind 7" here


Say Anything: In Defense of The Genre
The amusingly ironic and sarcastic tones as well as the aggressive and nasty lyrics make this highly anticipated double-album great!

Died A Jew [wicked-cool song]
We Killed It [wicked-cool song]

buy In Defense of The Genre here


Black Dice: Load Blown

Gore
Toka Toka

buy Load Blown here


Coheed and Cambria: Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
Coheed and Cambria present the second half of part four of The Amory Wars with their latest release.

The Running Free
The End Complete IV: The Road and the Damned

buy Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow here

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your eyes: they convey all i despise with one glazed glance in my direction

In just a day, Max Bemis and company are back for Say Anything’s highly-highly anticipated follow-up to their 2004’s masterpiece …Is a Real Boy. For this forthcoming double disc album, In Defense of the Genre, Bemis managed to recruit a very impressive list of helpful hands including Matt Skiba, Gerard Way, Trever Keith, Chris Conley, Chris Carrabba, and Adam Lazzara to just name a few. Although disc one deals with death, drugs, rehab, and betrayal, it contains the same amusingly ironic and sarcastic tone that made the first Say Anything record great. Bemis has a way of juxtaposing his lyrics with unconventional musical styles. The "Juicy Fruit" sample in "No Soul" and the Tin Pan Alley sounding track, "That Is Why" are just two prefect examples. The tone of the second disc seems very different. The music is slightly harder sounding while the lyrics are more aggressive and nasty to chronicle the narrator’s anger, misery and downfall. Personally, I found that many multiple discs releases lack solidness; I feel that there are often too many not-so-great fillers and lazy instrumentation tracks. What I like about In Defense of the Genre is that about 90% of the songs are excellent; thus, making the double disc set an overall brilliant and tremendously entertaining record.

Skinny, Mean Man [wicked-cool song]
That Is Why [wicked-cool song]
Sorry, Dudes, My Bad [wicked-cool song]

In Defense of The Genre [wicked-cool song]
We Killed It [wicked-cool song]
Hangover Song [wicked-cool song]
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In Defense of the Genre comes out tomorrow, you can pre-order it here

deadly walk

The Toronto Zombie Walk will be happening later on today at 3:00pm. What is Zombie Walk? Well... it is just a gathering of normal folks talking a stroll through the streets of Toronto IN THEIR BEST ZOMBIE MAKEUP AND COSTUMES!!!

Visit the official Toronto Zombie Walk website here.

And Just a reminder, the Toronto After Dark Film Festival started on Friday, go to the festival’s website for more information. (The Thailand film Alone looks entertainingly creepy, go check that out if you get a chance!)

Sufjan Stevens - They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh! [wicked-cool song]
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computer, tell me what I am not contempt or in love with a simple feeling

I immediately identified To My Boy’s similarity to The Futureheads right from the very beginning of the duo’s debut full-length, Messages meanly for their vocal style and 80s retro-inspiring sound. Although Messages is supported by a single vocalist for the most part, the record ended sounding very much like the triple-threat a cappella style of The Futureheads... and sometimes even like the 80s supergroup, Men Without Hats! Further, the mega eletro dance music makes Messages catchy as hell and unbelievably fun. While they are not the first group to do so, To My Boy successfully took an old genre and resurrected and enhanced it with the help of laptop technologies; and in the end, the duo’s debut effort is truly, positively mesmerizing.

Tell Me, Computer [wicked-cool song]
Model
I Am Xray [wicked-cool song]
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buy Messages here

i know which side you're on

Without a doubt, Thursday is one of the most important and most influential contemporary punk rock/post-hardcore bands in the past decade. On October 30, the band will release a retrospective DVD/CD entitled Kill The House Lights. The DVD/CD package includes a documentary film, three brand new tracks, plus nine addition b-sides, demos, live recordings, and alternate takes. This astonishing collection is ultimately a gift for older Thursday fans. For long time fans like myself, not only am I overly thrilled to hear the original mix for "How Long is the Night?" as well as demo versions of "Paris In Flames" and "Wind-Up", but there is also a nostalgic feeling when I hear these songs. As mentioned earlier, Kill The House Lights also features three brand new Thursday songs. Of those three, the highlight would have to be the opening track, "Ladies And Gentlemen My Brother, The Failure" as it resembles the fast-tempo and aggressive energy from the band’s War All The Time period. The CD portion of Kill The House Lights is absolutely satisfying and I cannot wait to watch the DVD part of this marvelous retrospective package!

Ladies And Gentlemen My Brother, The Failure [wicked-cool song]
How Long is the Night? (Original Introduction Mix) [wicked-cool song]
Panic On the Streets of Health Care City [wicked-cool song]
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Kill The House Lights comes out on October 30th, you can pre-order it here

so hard for me to just embrace the lens

If you are a fan of The Blow’s ultra additive album, Paper Television, there is a pretty good chance that you may get a kick out of The Bird and the Bee’s self-titled debut LP as well. The reason: like Paper Television, The Bird and the Bee more or less obtains that fun electronic/dance indie pop sound with hip-hop and R&B elements... and of course, the lyrical content is highly entertaining and often humorous also!

Fucking Boyfriend [wicked-cool song]
I Hate Camera
Because
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buy The Bird and the Bee here

out this week

Thrice: The Alchemy Index: Vol. I & II: Fire & Water
The first two volumes of Thrice’s most ambitious project are out this week. Volumes three and four of The Alchemy Index will be out in April of 2008.

from Fire:
The Messenger
The Arsonist

from Water:

Lost Continent [wicked-cool song]
The Whaler [wicked-cool song]

buy The Alchemy Index: Vol. I & II: Fire & Water here


Jimmy Eat World: Chase This Light
I haven’t liked a JEW record since Clarity... but then, how can you top such an influential album. Chase This Light is not half bad, although many of the emotionally genuine qualities the band once had are now transfixed into cheesy pop songs.

Big Casino
Gotta Be Somebody's Blues

buy Chase This Light here

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i'd kill for an adventure

Bloc Party fans are so lucky: this year alone, they have been spoiled with a world-class sophomore album, an extensively handsome list of b-sides and remixes; on November 12, the band will release a brand new non-album single entitled "Flux". Fans can get this electrifying dance party song on CD, 7” and 12” in the UK... and apparently, North America gets a special EP... pretty sweet eh?

Flux [wicked-cool song]
Emma Kate's Accident (from Flux CD Single)
The Once And Future King (from Flux 7"Single)
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stay tuned for pre-order details

diamonds on display to the hungry and confused

Bishi’s debut album, Nights At The Circus is one of the most original records of the year. Bishi’s style is quite extraordinary: she mixes Indian folk music with pop/dance elements... indeed, (other than The Beatles’ "Within You Without You") there is probably nothing in your music library that sounds even remotely similar to anything on Nights At The Circus. I have known about Bishi for a long time now simply because Patrick Wolf had mentioned about her in numerous occasions; however, it was not untill exactly a week ago that I got to hear/witness her remarkable talent when she opened for Patrick Wolf. I have been listening to Bishi’s debut record non-stop since then because it is just so refreshing and catchy! Listen to the opening track, "Nights Circus" just a few times and I can assure you that the sitar melodies as well as the lyrics "nights at the circus, day at the fair, take me there, take me there" will be struck in your head for days. Be cautious, you will fall madly in love with Bishi as Nights At The Circus is a perfect pop sensation!

Nights Circus [wicked-cool song]
Never Seen Your Face [wicked-cool song]
On My Own Again [wicked-cool song]
Namaste [wicked-cool song]
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visit Bishi's MySpace here
buy Never Seen Your Face Singles here

no life at all in the house of dolls

For those of you (including myself) who missed The Arcade Fire/LCD Soundsystem tour because they failed to schedule to play at your town/city/country, you also missed their exclusive Tour Split 7” with The Arcade Fire covering a Serge Gainsbourg song and LCD Soundsystem covering a Joy Division track. Nonetheless, since the internet is a great source for exclusive/hard-to-get materials, you too can enjoy the split 7” below!

The Arcade Fire - Poupee de Cire/Poupee de Son
LCD Soundsystem - No Love Lost
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i'm a survivor, keep on survivin

Thanks to Victoria/Melba (sorry, I don’t know who took the video), you can watch Patrick Wolf’s Toronto performance of "Bloodbeat", "Survivor" by Destiny's Child, "Saturday Night" by Whigfield, "Ooh Aah Just a Little Bit" by Gina G, and "Scatman" by Scatman John.



Here's the audio version of the performance:
Bloodbeat with Survivor, Saturday Night, Ooh Aah Just a Little Bit, and Scatman (Live at Lee's Palace in Toronto, Ontario, October 6, 2007) [wicked-cool song]

out this week

Radiohead: In Rainbows
People, it’s new Radiohead!!!

15 Step [wicked-cool song]
Bodysnatchers [wicked-cool song]
All I Need [wicked-cool song]
Faust Arp [wicked-cool song]

buy In Rainbows here


Bishi: Never Seen Your Face Single
First single from Bishi's forthcoming album Nnights at the Circus (review coming soon). Note that if you play "The Three Ravens" from the 7" at the wrong speed (33 rpm), Bishi sounds identical to Antony from Antony & The Johnsons!

Never Seen Your Face [wicked-cool song]

buy Never Seen Your Face Singles here


Beirut: The Flying Club Cup
Beirut brings forth a bigger, more romantic, and more ambitious approach than Gulag Orkestar. The new record is notably epic and dramatic, the sound is grand and it gives the effect of an overall communal feeling. Zach Condon’s immeasurable vision has made The Flying Club Cup a musical spectacle!

Cliquot [super-wicked-cool song]
Forks And Knives (La Fete) [wicked-cool song]

buy The Flying Club Cup here


A Wilhelm Scream: Career Suicide
Unforgettable guitar riffs, lightning fast rhythms, and aggrieve vocals make Career Suicide the best punk record of the year so far.

I Wipe My Ass With Showbiz [wicked-cool song]
Cold Slither II [wicked-cool song]

buy Career Suicide here


Band of Horses: Cease To Begin
Ben Bridwell’s magnificent controlled vocal and the melodic instrumentations work perfectly together to create some electrifying and triumphant sensations.

Is There a Ghost? [super-wicked-cool song]
The General Specific [wicked-cool song]

buy Cease To Begin here


Scout Niblett: This Fool Can Die Now
The four lovely duets with Will Oldham is a good enough reason to buy this record.

Do You Wanna Be Buried With My People [wicked-cool song]
Kiss [wicked-cool song]

buy This Fool Can Die Now here


Jens Lekman: Night Falls Over Kortedala

If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)
Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

buy Night Falls Over Kortedala here


Sunset Rubdown: Random Spirit Lover

Up On Your Leopard, Upon the End of You Feral Days
Trumpet, Trumpet, Toot! Toot! [wicked-cool song]

buy Random Spirit Lover here

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