CHMA 106.9 FM Record Review: The New Pornographers / Challengers

There's been a lot of complaints around the internet music reviewosphere that The New Pornographers' newest record, Challengers, is bad or worse than previous release than Twin Cinema. This isn't entirely true. While critics are quite right to point out that Twin Cinema doesn't measure up in breadth or depth to its predecessor, it's not simply because the songs are boring or less interesting.

As with most other New Pornographer releases, this record is built around the vocal and melodic talents of its primary members, not to mention the pop hooks and melodic talents for which Carl Newman has become rather well known, not to mention a backing band that adds enough depth to the pop melodies to make them into rock and roll songs.

The main difference here is not so much that the New Pornographers are playing slow songs. The problem here is that all the catchy and showy vocal melodies, which actually serve as excellent window dressing for a band that is actually made up of some very talented musicians and a very brilliant songwriter in Carl Newman, really don't have as much depth to them as records past. Newman even gave his backing musicians on his solo release, The Slow Wonder, more wiggle room than this. Here his band seems underused, even bored.

Every New Pornographers release gets old after the melodies are worn out after a few listens, and Challengers offers the exact same feeling of exhiliration upon first listen. The difference here is that this just gets old quicker than most New Pornographer records.

holy h, check out that list of September shows

boy, there sure is a lot going on this September. check it out over there, to the right.

Sappy Records Preview Show on CHMA 106.9 FM

A week of interviews and songs by artists performing at next week’s Sappy Records Music Festival, held right here in yours and mine dear Sackville, NB. Tune in your radio to 106.9 on your FM dial next week as the CHMA music library takes you through what everyone is doing next weekend.

Schedule

Monday: Forest City Lovers, Evening Hymns, Peter and the Wolf
Tuesday: Baby Eagle/Constantines, Sarah Hallman, The Stance
Wednesday: They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Ohbijou
Thursday: Dog Day, Snailhouse
Friday SPECIAL IN-STUDIO FESTIVAL KICK-OFF SPECTACULAR: Chad VanGaalen, Calvin Johnson

All this and a possible guest interviewer? You bet.

who to see and who to play at the Sappy Records Music Festival

the second annual Sappy Records Music Festival is fast approaching. officially, you should go see as many artists as you possibly can, but here's some highlights from the CHMA music library. these CD's are currently being played extensively at the station, as well as those not listed here. for the complete schedule, please go here.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3
Calvin Johnson: ex-Beat Happening dude. plays slow indie music acoustically.

Snailhouse: think a male version of Julie Doiron; solo-electric, heartfelt, folk-rock music.

Constantines: need any more be said? one of the best live bands ever. Springsteen rock updated for 20-somethings with "feelings".

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?: a collection of rock songs with back up music that makes the main dude sound like he's playing from the inside of a circus tent.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4
Sarah Hallman: singer-songwriter pop that doesn't sound out of place at this festival? this performance is going to be a breath of fresh air (literally and metaphorically).

Mt. Eerie: acoustic music that bleeds sincerity and directness. sackville is lucky to have him here.

The Paramedics: a brand new band featuring a combination of two seemingly opposite, but equally brilliant musicians: Mike from Snailhouse and Bry Webb of the Constantines.

Chad VanGaalen: everything a solo performer should be.

Ohbijou: folk music with a backing band.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
Evening Hymns: like all those acoustic guys you listen to on your discman: Great Lake Swimmers, Iron and Wine. reminds me of simpler times.

John Tiell's Metal Kites: I don't know much about this, but I know I love Clark the Band (their former name). loud, energetic, and catchy pop songs.

The Stance: a revival of a revival? The Stance play the rock music that made The Strokes my favourite band in the 00's, except this is easier to get moving for and appears at your local roadhouse.

Dog Day: one of the catchiest releases of 2007 is "Night Group". a fraction of that, translated into a live performance, should make for a wild ride.

Eric's Trip: "Canada's underground indie darlings" from the 1990's, all united under the same roof once again. before my time, so it's a good thing this reunion thing keeps happening.


finally, GO BUY YOUR TICKETS and spin the CD's on CHMA. Thank you.

julie doiron nominated for the Polaris Prize

sackville's own Julie Doiron has been nominated for the Polaris Prize, awarded annually with criteria based solely on artistic merit as opposed to album sales. Dorion's "Woke Myself Up" was released in January and here appears alongside other artists such as Arcade Fire, Feist, and Junior Boys. but don't let me tell you about it. sackville friend Chad VanGaalen is also there. Julie will appear on Boardwalk Radio on CHMA 106.9 FM this friday between 12:30 and 2:00 PM to tell you all about it.

CHMA Charts, week ending July 3, 2007

Hey Everyone, happy Canada Day! CHMA played lots of Canadian artists again this week, because that's just how patriotic we are. Wooden Stars topped the charts this week, in support of their show with Julie Doiron and the Hylozoists here next Friday. Also, Wax Mannequin plays a house show here tomorrow and Tanya Davis will perform at Struts on Thursday. Things continue to be hyped for Sappyfest, as more artists performing at this year's festival were on the charts this week.

And now:

CHMA Charts, week ending July 3, 2007
*1. The Wooden Stars - People Are Different (Sonc Unyon)
*2. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock (MapleMusic)
*3. Nich Worby - Oh, how? (Ford Plant)
*4. Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up (Endearing)
5. Calvin Johnson and the Sons of Soil - Calvin Johnson and the Sons of Soil (K)
*6. Wax Mannequin - Orchard and Ire (Infinite Heat)
*7. Andre Ethier - On Blue Fog (Blue Fog)
*8. Code Pie - The Most Trusted Name in Yous (Flagless)
*9. The Ghost is Dancing - The Darkest Spark (Sonic Unyon)
*10. Feist - The Reminder (Arts and Crafts)
*11. Tanya Davis - Make a List (Independent)
*12. David Trenaman - Success! (Independent)
13. The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me (Universal)
*14. Jim Bryson - Where the Bungalows Roam (Kelp)
*15. Dog Day - Night Group (Black Mountain Music)
*16. Entire Cities - Centralia (Independent)
*17. Sarah Hallman - Sarah Hallman (Busted Flat)
*18. Baby Eagle - Baby Eagle (Independent)
*19. Dick Morello - RCPMRIEFTMAS (Independent)
20. Koop - Remixes by Christian Prommer, Sirs, and Beanfield (Compost)
21. The White Stripes - Icky Thump (Universal)
22. Battles - Mirrored (Warp)
*23. Miracle Fortress - Five Roses (Secret City)
24. Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races EP (Polyvinyl)
*25. Love and Mathematics - Love and Mathematics (Independent)
*26. Shapes and Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner (Asthmatic Kitty)
*27. Tokyo Police Club - Smith (Paper Bag)
*28. Lightning Dust - Lightning Dust (Jagjaguwar)
*29. The Phonemes - There’s Something We’ve Been Meaning To Do (Blocks)
*30. Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian (Scratch)

* denotes Canadian content.

Charts compiled by Mark Brownlee, music director.

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: Andre Ethier / On Blue Fog

Artist: Andre Ethier
Album: On Blue Fog
Label: Blue Fog
Rating: 4.5/5

Andre Ethier is timeless: he straddles a space that is at once new and old. On “The Pride of Egypt,” this record’s closer, Either sounds as though he could have been right alongside Bob Dylan in 1966, tearing a hole in the world of folk music and ripping through a nation’s subconscious. After a record full of medium tempo laments, “Egypt” stands like a lighthouse on the rocks in the middle of a full-blown storm that is threatening to make the whole thing fall apart. There’s a few minutes in this song in which it seems like Ethier has his finger on the pulse of rock and roll music.
Elsewhere, as noted, Ethier meanders through a record of half-tempo pseudo-acoustic ballads that at times recall an age gone by, one in which everyone sat down at their instrument to record, and once the record button was pushed and the songwriter strums the first few chords on his guitar, everyone played. There were no pauses for effect, nothing was orchestrated, and everyone simply focussed on what they were doing, all while listening to what everyone else was doing.
Above all, On Blue Fog is about something of a revival, but it is also about tearing down the revival. It is about mutating the revival to the point where it’s barely recognizable, to the point where the only thing that is recognizable from 1966 is the shape. It’s what is inside, however, that has changed shape.

Standout Tracks: 9, 6, 8, 2, 4. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.

Saturday July 14: The Wooden Stars, Julie Doiron, The Hylozoists

Presented by Festival by the Marsh
in conjunction with Remarkably Enthusiastic Promotions.

THE WOODEN STARS (first Maritime show in eight years!)
JULIE DOIRON
HYLOZOISTS

George's Fabulous Roadhouse: Sackville Summer Party Central
9:00 DOORS
$8 students / $10 otherwise

The Wooden Stars are an iconic Canadian band; they've been playing since the early nineties and have been very influential in the development of the early 2000's indie rock sound. You can hear the Wooden Stars' off-kilter guitars and inventive drumming in bands like Wintersleep, Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade today. Even the Rheostatics listed them as an influence. In addition to laying the groundwork for today's Can-Indie explosion, they were rewarded in their own time with a Juno win -Best Alternative Album for their collaboration with Julie Doiron in 2000.

This show reunites them with Julie Doiron, a homegrown songwriting sensation and Jagjaguwar/Endearing recording artist. If you are unfamiliar, Julie has toured Europe, Canada, the US and Japan repeatedly and used to play bass in all your favourite bands: Eric's Trip, Herman Dune, Gordon Downie's "Country of Miracles" sideproject, and Shotgun & Jaybird. Julie is a local treasure; this is probably her second-last show before she moves to Montreal.

The Hylozoists are led by Paul Aucoin, producer and vibraphonist to the stars (Fembots, Sadies, Cuff the Duke, Jon-Rae & The River, Golden Dogs...). They're an ensemble featuring members of Cuff the Duke, Old Soul, Bicycles, Heavy Blinkers & many more. Paul grew up in halifax and played in several bands there before moving to the big smoke. They play symphonic, orchestral indie rock that sounds like what would happen if ennio morricone composed Do Make Say Think's songs. Check out their dual-vibraphone attack and sweet jams on this jam-packed Saturday Sackville Summer night.

Websites:

www.thewoodenstars.com / http://www.myspace.com/thewoodenstars
www.juliedoiron.com / http://www.myspace.com/juliedoiron
www.thehylozoists.com / http://myspace.com/hylozoists

CHMA Charts, week ending June 26, 2007

CHMA Charts, week ending June 26, 2007

*1. Jim Bryson - Where the Bungalows Roam (Kelp)
*2. Dog Day - Night Group (Black Mountain Music)
*3. Nich Worby - Oh, how? (Ford Plant)
*4. David Myles - Things Have Changed (Little Tiny)
*5. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock (Maplemusic)
*6. Entire Cities - Centralia (Independent)
*7. Superfantastics - Pop-Up Book (Independent)
*8. Peter Mansbridge and the CBC’s - Love in the Country Songs (Independent)
9. The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me (Universal)
*10. The Financial Group - Goldmining (Independent)
*11. Old Man Luedecke - Hinterland (Black Hen)
12. Elliott Smith - New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
*13. The Ghost is Dancing - The Darkest Spark (Sonic Unyon)
14. Calvin Johnson and the Sons of Soil - Calvin Johnson and the Sons of Soil (K)
*15. Sleepless Nights - S/T (No Scene)
*16. Km Barlow - Champ (Jericho Beach)
*17. Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up (Endearing)
*18. Ghettosocks - Get Some Friends (Droppin’ Science)
*19. Metric - Grow Up and Blow Away (Last Gang)
*20. Dick Morello - RCPMRIEFTMAS (Independent)
*21. Port City All-Stars - Mish Mash (Independent)
*22. Bonshah - The Mighty Mastadon (Deadbeats)
*23. David Trenaman - Success! (Independent)
*24. Barmitzvah Brothers - The Century of Invention (Permafrost)
25. The Clientele - God Save the Clientele (Merge)
26. The National - Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
27. Los Campesinos - Sticking Fingers Into Sockets (Arts and Crafts)
*28. Shotgun Jimmie - The 6000 True Stories of Love (Independent)
29. The White Stripes - Icky Thump (Universal)
*30. Tokyo Police Club - Smith (Paper Bag)
*31. Wax Mannequin - Orchard and Ire (Infinite Heat)

* denotes Canadian content.

Charts compiled by Mark Brownlee, Music Director.

CHMA charts, week ending June 19, 2007

Hey Everyone, Entire Cities wrestled top spot away from Feist this week in support of their show here at George's Fabulous Roadhouse this past friday. Dog Day moved itself up with their excellent latest release, and great new releases from Elliott Smith and The National also cracked the top ten. Peter Mansbridge and the CBC's and Jim Bryson also continue to do well in support of their upcoming shows here this week.

Here it is:

CHMA charts, week ending June 19, 2007
*1. Entire Cities - Centralia (Independent)
*2. Dog Day - Night Group (Black Mountain)
*3. Feist - The Reminder (Arts and Crafts)
*4. Code Pie - The Most Trusted Name in Yous (Flagless)
5. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers (Nonesuch)
6. Elliott Smith - New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
7. The National - Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
*8. Ohbijou - Swift Feet for Troubling Times (Independent)
*9. Peter Mansbridge and the CBC’s - Love in the Country Songs (Independent)
*10. The Choir Practice - S/T (Mint)
*11. Les Petits - The Mighty Song of Antlers EP’s
*12. Jeff Healey - Among Friends (Stony Plain)
*13. Sarah Hallman - S/T (Busted Flat)
*14. Jim Bryson - Where the Bungalows Roam (Kelp)
*15. Shapes and Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner (Asthmatic Kitty)
*16. The Ghost is Dancing - The Darkest Spark (Sonic Unyon)
17. The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me EP (Universal)
*18. Immaculate Machine - Fables (Mint)
*19. Kathleen Edwards - Back to Me (Maple Music)
*20. Carolyn Mark - Nothing is Free (Mint)
*21. David Trenaman - Success! (Independent)
*22. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness (Domino)
*23. Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up (Jagjaguwuar)
*24. Yellow Jacket Avenger - We Are Geoffrey Pye (Independent)
25. The Clientele - God Save the Clientele (Merge)
*26. Miracle Forttress - Five Roses (Secret City)
27. Battles - Mirrored (Warp)
28. The Rosebuds - Night of the Furies (Merge)
29. The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (Fat Cat)
*30. Living With Lions - Dude Manor EP (IDefine)
31. Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races EP (Polyvinyl)

Charts compiled by Mark Brownlee, music director.

* denotes Canadian content

Have a great week and watch out for the floods,

Mark

Sunday June 24: Living With Lions, The Chorus Leaves, Joel Carr and his Schmacket Smatchers, Shotgun Jimmie

matinee rock show at George's Fabulous Roadhouse. Vancouver's Living With Lions headline, playing their unique of melodic brand of pop-punk, not unlike a skate-board video. takes me back to my high school days. also playing will be a cornucopia of local artists, from rockers The Chorus Leaves, to the folk rock of Joel Carr, to former Shotgun & Jaybird-er Shotgun Jimmie, who has planted himself firmly in between the two (not literally, of course). things get going at 4:00 PM, and are all-ages.

Friday, June 15, 2007: Entire Cities, Nich Worby, Nathan Richards

tonight at George's Roadhouse (the first one in a while), Entire Cities play their brand of raucous country indie-pop, complete with seven different members on seven different instruments. Nich Worby will (probably) be playing a solo set of his unique brand of indie-ified jams, and local guitar stalwart and legend Nathan Richards opens up. don't worry folks, he can play guitar better than he can hit a baseball. things get going at 10:00 and they also cost $5. checkkkk it.

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: Battles / Mirrored

Artist: Battles
Album: Mirrored
Rating: 4.5/5
Label: Warp Records



I guess, in retrospect, it’s about time somebody reinvented math rock. And who better to do it than a band whose members include someone who played a major role in inventing the genre in the first place.
Starting from revolutionary beginnings in Don Caballero, math rock was soon to be found in pretty much every basement or indie rock club this side of Halifax. Suddenly, it was the fun-loving, undepressed way for indie rockers to have a good time without slowing everything down to 30 beats per minute and singing lyrics wrapped in pretension and literary confusion. Math rock quickly became the populist indie rock: anyone could play it who wanted to (not everyone did), and it was pretty hard for those on the sidelines not to get into the sheer intensity of it all.
However, this is where things started to get a bit iffy. I once heard Jeremy Gara, formerly of the now-defunct Ottawa math band Weights and Measures and now of indie rock superstars/reinvention postter boys, remark that what held his side project together was the sheer intensity of each member when performing. While it was impossible not to marvel at this, math started to sound the same. As great as intensity was (and it really was refreshing in indie rock), it didn’t seem to make up for the other end of the music; the creativity side.
Thus did Battles become formed. Boasting a former member of Don Caballero, the band makes use of all the elements that made math what it is, but there is something clearly different going on here. The frame is still there, but there is something altogether original and evolutionary about Mirrored.
Here, the band makes use of keyboards on almost every song, and often trades in intensity for artistic creativity, without betraying the fundamental principles. Nevermind the fact that it makes for a less accessible listen.
This is something that those in math rock and beyond will be listening to, not to mention drawing influence from, for years to come.

Standout Tracks: 9, 3, 4, 5, 6. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.

CHMA charts, week ending june 12, 2007

Hey Everyone, not one, but two hip-hop artists actually cracked the top ten this week! Surely a CHMA first. Apart from that Feist's dominance continues unabated. As well, Code Pie (who have released an excellent record), rose near the top to number two this week. A lot of great records on (and off) the charts this week.

In addition, I seem to be having trouble entering these into !earshot this week. Anybody else experiencing something similar?

CHMA Charts, Week Ending June 12, 2007
*1. Feist - The Reminder (Arts and Crafts)
*2. Code Pie - The Most Trusted Name in Yous (Independent)
3. Herman Dune - Giant
*4. Bonshah - The Mighty Mastodon (Deadbeats)
5. The National - Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
6. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers (Nonesuch)
*7. Stephanie Hardy - Brand New Skin (Independent)
*8. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness (Domino)
*9. Abdominal - Escape From the Pigeon Hole (Do Right)
*10. Jim Bryson - Where the Bungalows Roam (Kelp)
*11. Immaculate Machine - Fables (Mint)
*12. The Superfantastics - Pop-Up Book (Independent)
*13. Old Man Luedecke - Hinterland (Black Hen Music)
*14. Ghettosocks - Get Some Friends (Independent)
*15. Dog Day - Night Group (Black Mountain)
*16. Jenn Grant - Orchestra for the Moon (Paris 1919)
*17. Peter Mansbridge and the CBC’s - Love in the Country Songs (Independent)
*18. Various - Friends in Bellwoods Compilation (Out of this Park)
19. Mavis Staples - We’ll Never Turn Our Back (Anti-)
20. Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer’s Block (V2)
21. Yukon - Mortar (Terra Firma)
*22. Various - You and Yours: Burnt Oak Records Compilation (Burnt Oak)
*23. Sarah Hallman - S/T (Busted Flat)
24. Elliott Smith - New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
25. The Clientele - God Save the Clientele (Merge)
*26. The Choir Practice - S/T (Mint)
27. Los Campesinos - Sticking Fingers Into Sockets (Arts and Crafts)
*28. Joel Plaskett - Ashtray Rock (Maple)
*29. Woodem Stars - People Are Different (Sonic Unyon)
*30. Young Galaxy - S/T (Arts and Crafts)
31. Battles - Mirrored (Warp)

* denotes Canadian content

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: Les Petits / The Mighty Song of Antler EP's

Artist: Les Petits
Album: The Mighty Antlers of Song EP’s
Label: Saved by Radio
Rating: 3/5

Across an expanse of acoustic guitars and little else, Les Petits manage to weave an intricate web of shimmering and atmospheric folk-pop songs. At times gentle and drony, The Mighty Antlers of Song EP’s stands on the brink between folk-pop brilliance and epic instrumental. At times, the sparse instrumentation gets instrumentation gets annoying, and with a number of songs clocking in at or below one minute, and with no song over 4 minutes, there is little depth to this ten-song full-length, a combination of two EP’s. It is only when the two main participants are joined by a band, such as with “Boy Before the Woods (it’s a prequel)” that Les Petits really get the chance to show themselves off. Still, there’s plenty more on offer here than the depth of this release would initially suggest.

CHMA charts, week ending June 5, 2007

*1. Feist - The Reminder (Arts and Crafts)
*2. David Myles - Things Have Changed (Little Tiny)
*3. Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts - From the Photographs (Just Friends)
*4. Malajube - Trompe L’Oeil (Dare to Care)
*5. Dog Day - Night Group (Black Mountain)
*6. Wooden Stars - People Are Different (Sonic Unyon)
*7. Peter Mansbridge and the CBC’s - Love in the Country Songs (Independent)
*8. Various - Friends in Bellwoods (Out of this Park)
*9. Shotgun & Jaybird - Trying to Get Somewhere (Sappy)
10. Jonas Bonnetta - Farewell to Harmony (independent)
*11. Superfantastics - Pop-Up Book (Independent)
*12. The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (Sub Pop)
*13. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness (Domino)
*14. David Trenaman - Success! (indie)
15. Maria Muldaur - Naughty Bawdy and Blue (Stony Plain)
16. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Epic)
*17. Al Tuck - My Blues Away (Independent)
*18. Rich Aucoin - Personal Publication EP (Independent)
*19. Jim Bryson - Where the Bungalows Roam (Kelp)
*20. Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up (Endearing)
*21. Jenn Grant - Orchestra for the Moon (Paris 1919)
*22. Shapes & Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner (Asthmatic Kitty)
*23. Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars - S/T (Sappy)
*24. Handsome Furs - Plague Park (Sub Pop)
*25. Young Galaxy - S/T (Arts and Crafts)
*26. The Phonemes - There’s Something We’ve Been Meaning to Do (Blocks)
*27. Financial Group - Goldmining (Independent)
28. Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer’s Block (V2)
*29. The Acorn - Tin Fist EP (Paper Bag)
*30. The Ponys - Turn the Lights Out (Matador)
*31. Code Pie - The Most Trusted Name in Yous (Independent)

* indicates Canadian content

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: Feist / The Reminder

Artist: Feist
Album: The Reminder
Label: Arts & Crafts
Rating: 5/5

Writing about something you like or find interesting is always really difficult for some reason, while straightforward things always roll onto the page with great ease and are usually end up being boring. Occasionally, though, something comes along that is interesting, complicated, and yet easy to write, something that is easy to connect with fundamentally. The Reminder is one of these.
Ranging from her participation in Toronto’s Broken Social Scene music collective to the half-covers, half-originals of her previous release, Let It Die, Feist has covered a lot of musical ground. Yet, her music has never sounded at once as varied and emotionally concentrated as it does on The Reminder.
The sheer complexity of this record is cause for introspection. Feist seems to be doing everything at the same time within the span of thirteen songs. It’s all here, from the indie pop of “I Feel it All,” to the slowly meandering yet heart-wrenching acoustic track that is “The Park,” to the jazz of “The Limit to Your Love.” The songwriting here is only matched by the complexity of the instrumentation.
Nevertheless, Feist’s voice stands above it all and makes her a one-woman wrecking crew. In addition to its immediate beauty, the emotional intensity of her singing voice make this album what it is, and add levels of complexity beyond simple songwriting or instrumentation. To hear her voice quiver and then gain leverage while singing the words “but now I know I want to win the war” during “I Feel It All”, is enough to send shivers up the spine of any listener.
This is the one thread that weaves together a diverse tapestry of musical offerings. Despite the varied nature of its tracks, The Reminder ranges from undeniably catchy pop hooks, of which “I Feel It All” is the centerpiece, to complete album filler. This album somehow manages to add up to a complete listen.
Infinitely complex and yet accessible, I do declare The Reminder to be not only Feist’s best outing yet, but also the best release, so far, of 2007.

Standout Tracks: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: Dog Day / Night Group

Artist: Dog Day
Album: Night Group
Label: Black Mountain Records
Rating: 4/5




Dog Day do melodic indie pop, and they do it to perfection. The makeshift band featuring members of other now-defunct Halifax bands such as The Burdocks truly achieve something special with their release of Night Group. This record is so concise, with so many hooks and catchy melodies, not to mention two and three minute songs, that it is difficult to listen once through without hitting the repeat button at least once. However, that which makes Night Group so appealing in the first place is also what makes it so shallow, and leaves Dog Day among the middle echelon of indie pop groups: these songs tend to get repetitive and tiresome on repeat listens and reveal little depth. Nevertheless, anyone who has ever had a song stuck in their head before will understand this band. A stellar achievement, Night Group puts Dog Day on the map.

Standout Tracks: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: The Joel Plaskett Emergency / Ashtray Rock

Artist: The Joel Plaskett Emergency
Album: Ashtray Rock
Label: Maple Music Recordings
Rating: 4/5



Sometimes the line between artistic value and rock and roll music is a fine one that most artists find difficult to tiptoe. Joel Plaskett and the Emergency, on Ashtray Rock, don’t even bother with the whole thing. In something of a departure from his other albums, Plaskett sings songs that don’t pay any mind to what anyone (be they music critics, boyfriends, or anyone who doesn’t like to fight) might have to say about them.
That said, from beginning to end, Ashtray Rock nevertheless does something of a shift of attitude, if not a complete u-turn. While the album starts with the sound of basketballs in a high-school gym (which, coincidentally enough, sound like fireworks), giving way to a strummed guitar with a melody and chord progression lamenting the death of his band. Thirty seconds later, Plaskett is singing about starting a fight, taking a piss, and drunk teenagers puking their guts out.
Somehow, though, Plaskett manages to make the two seemingly polar opposites come together somewhere in the course of this record, as he seems to do with any number of polar opposites on this record. First, musically: “Face of the Earth” weds emotional touchy-feely lyrics and an acoustic guitar with full-band rock and roll arrangements. Second, emotionally: the “Chinatown/For the Record” and “the Instrumental Suite” sees Plaskett undergoing some kind of a temporal and emotional shift in his life. All I can think of when hearing these two songs is the sound of basketballs in a high-school gym, and possibly a graduation ceremony. He’s wondering what happens after this: “where you will be when the smoke all clears?” Minutes later, once again, enter the electric guitars, but Plaskett doesn’t sing on this one. Instead, we hear a girl starting to talk of air smelling like flowers and her parents making her sell her car. Suddenly, in the span of two songs, this record is beginning to make sense and reminds you of why Plaskett is truly one of Canada’s rock gems.
This record has been made a thousand times before; basically just think of any coming-of-age movie and you’ve got the basic atmosphere. Plaskett’s approach, however, sets this apart from other rock records in that it somehow manages to wed artistic value with rock and roll, all with an effortlessness that doesn’t really seem to notice.

Standout tracks: 2, 7, 10, 11. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.

CHMA 106.9 FM CD Review: The Wooden Stars / People Are Different

Artist: The Wooden Stars
Album: People Are Different
Rating: 3/5
Label: Sonic Unyon Records



Their first album in eight years, Canadian music scene mainstays The Wooden Stars are back for another go around the bend. Not much is really new here, but The Wooden Stars themselves have always been different enough already that they don’t really need to reinvent themselves on every song. For the older fan, it’s all here: time signature shifts, melodic indie beats, and bouncy guitars. That said, the Wooden Stars aren’t about to make any new fans with this record, and they certainly aren’t breaking any of the new ground in a similar manner to what they did when first arriving on the scene in the 1990’s.This, however, isn’t all that bad: the best songs on this record see them retreading older ground and following a familiar path. “Microphone” is truly a stellar achievement, as its pounding guitars combined with Mike Feuerstack’s oddly sincere-sounding singing voice provide a retread of the elements that have The Wooden Stars so influential in the first place. “Blackouts” achieves a similar result using a different method. The band achieves less success elsewhere, as other tracks range from boring to uninteresting. The Wooden Stars, nevertheless, show that they still have it.

Standout Tracks: 2, 3, 4, 8. Now Playing on CHMA 106.9 FM.

the day the music died: part one

it is with a heavy heart and sad typing fingers that i must announce the death of a sackville institution. shotgun & jaybird, after morphing from two kids with a broken car into four adults with a record that topped the earshot! charts for months on end while continuing to be the soundtrack to a town of 5,000, have announced they are calling it quits after however many years. their last show will be at the capitol theatre in moncton (moncton?! wtf) this may fifth, after performing their final show in sackville last wednesday as a two-piece alongside the fembots.

more on this will appear later. for now, just go to the show.