Remix/Song of the Day: Cut Copy – Need You Now (Architecture in Helsinki Version)

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Ricky in Song of the Day | Leave a comment

Toronto – Rarely is a remix of a song better then the original. After listening to the mellow Roy Orbisonesque remix of Cut Copy‘s Need You Know by fellow Australians Architecture in Helsinki, I am compelled to tell you this might just be the case. The band takes the song and stripes it of the dance beats and replaces it with a laid back lo-fi sound. The results are stunning and takes this song to another level. Architecture in Helsinki has a new record coming out Moment Bends, which is out May 3rd. They’ll be at Toronto’s Mod Club on June 11th.

Here are some other tour dates
06/01: Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
06/02: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
06/03: San Francisco, CA @ Slims
06/04: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
06/05: Vancouver, BC @ Venur
06/06: Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
06/09: Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
06/10: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
06/11: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
06/12: Montreal, QC @ Le Tulipe
06/13: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
06/15: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
06/16: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
06/17: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
06/18: Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live

Concert Review: Sharon Van Etten, April 12, The Drake Hotel

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Paul in Concerts | 1 Comment

Toronto – “I Love Canada.”  So said Sharon Van Etten during her show at The Drake and she said it more than once.  It’s a sentiment echoed by many American musicians who come to our fair country, but Van Etten took it a step further, offering up her hand in marriage to anyone willing to give her citizenship while also relocating to New Jersey.  I’m sure there was many a concertgoer (myself included) who’d be willing to take her up on that offer.  A friend who was at the show put it best: “She’s so endearing.”  It’s true.  Sharon Van Etten will charm you.  Not only is she a great performer whose beautiful voice and strong songwriting are equally impressive, but her stage banter and personality really is so … endearing. 

For those not in the know, Van Etten plays a form of mellow (yet intense) and at times slightly sombre folk-rock, though more recently, she’s been augmenting the rock side of her sound slightly.  I remarked that if she actually were Canadian, the CBC would be all over her.

A few songs in, Van Etten invited a very pregnant Julie Fader onstage to sing harmonies on several songs.  At one point, Fader commented that this was the first time she’d seen Van Etten use a tuner onstage.  “Well, I turned 30,” replied Van Etten, adding that she’s trying to do other “adult” type things, like buying dresses (good ones, with pockets) and brushing her teeth regularly.  I can attest to the growing importance of dental care as one gets older.  I personally try to floss and stuff more often nowadays.  Plaque buildup is a bitch, I tell you. 

All in all, Sharon Van Etten put on a great show, highlighted by the songs off her latest release, Epic.  She also played a cover of late Texas singer-songwriter Blaze Foley’s “Oooh Love,” which she dedicated to anyone in the house with blue eyes.  This was the third time I’d seen Van Etten live and she seems to get better every time (although I did enjoy her SXSW set at the IFC House slightly more just because it was more intimate).  It’s pretty much guaranteed that I’ll see her every time she comes through town from now on. 

03 Save Yourself by GOLDSTARPR

Song of the Day: Sophie Ellis Bextor – Starlight

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Ricky in Song of the Day | Leave a comment

Toronto – If you read any of my posts, you will know that I have a certain fascination with female fronted uk electro/dance pop acts. What’s there not to like? The music is pretty damn good and you can argue one of the pioneers of this genre is Sophie Ellis Bextor.

I have loved Sophie Ellis Bextor since her inaugural track – “Murder on the Dance Floor” – and despite taking her time between records, she is back once again with new material. The new track is called “Starlight.” A straight up dance track featuring Sophie Ellis Bextor’s posh voice, this is a solid return to form to the SEB tracks of old. Kinda reminds me of Usher’s “DJ Got Us Falling in Love” for some reason. This is a single off her upcoming album Make a Scene which will be released on June 6th, along with the single. Check it out.

Song of the Day: Code Pie – North Side City View

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Ricky in Song of the Day | 2 Comments

Toronto – Welcome to a new maybe daily series called Song of the Day, which is what we’ll post if we can’t find anything to post/are too lazy to write up anything more then a few lines. Those social media expert types say you should post every day if you want to be popular, so here we are, comprising quality for quantity. ONLY NOT, because this song right here is one of quality.

A band of the Montreal variety, Code Pie have been around for a few years releasing albums here and there. Their latest release is Love Meets Rage off Indiecater Records. I have only heard this one track, but it seems like a toe tapping extravaganza with upbeat notes of piano, the occasional horn and strings (personal fav) and a slow rising coda that I may or may not use as my new morning alarm clock sound. Check out this tune, it goes pretty well with all this spring time stuff that’s going on.

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