The Acorn do Gowan. Seriously.

photo from here

Weirdest cover I've heard in a while? Stereogum informed me about The Acorn doing Gowan's Strange Animal. Not that it's a weird version (it's pretty faithful), just a weird choice of song to record. It's part of Paper Bag Records' 7 year anniversary celebration, and you can download 12 covers of artists such as Nirvana, OMC, Beck Dylan, Bats for Lashes, and Outkast done by PaperBag artists at their site. Stereogum explains:

"In 2002, Toronto's Paper Bag Records had an auspicious first year by releasing a new millennial indie rock touchstone in Broken Social Scene's You Forgot It In People, one of the decade's most acclaimed albums, and one that helped shape thoughts and expectations of what indie rock could look and sound like in the '00s: sentimental and anthemic but still rooted in the raucous guitar rock of the '90s, all while featuring more members than an intramural softball team. Years later, the label still earns plaudits for curating a solid roster -- most recently given NOW magazine's award for Best Toronto label ..."

The Acorn - Strange Animal

What's next for covers of Canuck '80s artists? Platinum Blonde? Helix? Honeymoon Suite? Corey Hart? Hopefully Boys Brigade and The Box get their due soon. The Hold Steady already did Bryan Adams Run to You with Malcolm Middleton, you can get that at Stereogum if you really must. Here's some goofy videos (the Pukka Orchestra is a cover already, but maybe we'll get cover of a cover, it wouldn't be the first time).

Ryan Dahle is the new deal

I've been trying to get around to posting about Vancouverite Ryan Dahle. He recently released his first solo album, Irrational Anthems, and now there's a new video for Beta King Stilts. Dahle may still be better known for his time in Age of Electric (remember Remote Control? Ugly?) or his time fronting the under-appreciated Limblifter, but his new record is a different animal. (An aside: a relative of mine once appeared in an Age of Electric video swinging her red tresses around shamelessly; were any of you in that one too?) More art-rock or quirky pop than his other vehicles, some of the songs are reminiscent of a a bizarro-world New Pornographers, which is interesting considering that brother Kurt also played in Age of Electric and Limblifter before hooking up with the New Pornos. I'm not big on video, but the song's a fine example of the new Dahle (New Deal?); an arrangement that lets each instrument have its own space (dig those trumpet sparks!), vocals that seem wickedly strong and preciously fragile in the same breath, melodic bassline, perfectly underplayed piano, propulsive without going over-the-top geetar...Scruffy eats this up.


Find more videos like this on R Y A N D A H L E


I don't think this is an official video, some fan just posted it on YouTube. Neverthess, Chop Chop is a good indicator of the kind of sleeper Dahle seems to be able to write in his sleep. I can imagine him waking up with a fully-realized track in his head, and the more he tracks in the studio, the more it hits the bullseye. "Okay, just THINK of Keith Moon, don't play exactly like him...brighter guitar sound, check, exquisite backing vocals, check, clearly-audible inscrutable lyrics, check..." Listen to it three times and it will live with you forever.



Limblifter - Vicious (download mp3 here)


Limblifter - Ariel vs. Lotus (download mp3 here)


Limblifter - Drug Induced (download mp3 here)


If you're quick you can win signed vinyl and a nifty tote bag by going here.

http://www.ryandahle.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ryandahle

Silversun Pickups: Hot, or Not?

Spinner.com says this is the "sexiest game of musical chairs ever played", but I don't get it. The bandmembers ain't that good-looking. I mean, the sunburst guitar is definitely hot, and the translucent sky blue drums might turn you on, but otherwise? It's the same old quality dream-rock you can expect from the Pickups, a bit like the Smashing Pumpkins but with better vocals and less drama.



Anyhow, here's one of the band's more popular songs if you missed out. I think it's a brilliantly-crafted piece of moody post-Pumpkins joy, nothing's wasted, every instrument or voice adds to its triumph.



Here's one more, no concept to this video, but you should know by now I don't care too much about the visuals, it's the sound I love. This one gives you more of the heavy psychedelic-influenced pop/rock the band is so good at creating, with punishing drums and slashing guitars carving out a path to a somehow always intimate-sounding voice.



What the hey, here's one more. Supposedly this one was directed by Joaquin Phoenix.

Free Pixies EP

Pixies are giving away 4 live mp3s, track listing is Do the Manta Ray, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Crackity Jones, Gouge Away. Recorded in Paris on October 16th, the sound is all snap-crackle-pop in the best way: snappin' percussion, cracklin' vox from Black Francis, poppin' bass (and audible backing vox!) from Ms. Deal. I am gutted that I can't catch any of the Doolittle shows. I've loved that record for 20 years, it's still my favourite Pixies album (one of my all-time favourites by anyone, actually). However, I'm still a little sad that the band can't put out a new one after getting back together and playing shows for years now. Video from last night on Conan below:



At any rate, Black Francis/Frank Black has been putting out fine recordings since the last Pixies studio album, so I can't really complain. Did you know he has also put out a fun little eighties-style pop record with his wife Violet Clark? Grand Duchy offers up synth-happy art-pop with male and female voices trading off, and it ain't necessarily what you'd expect from one of the guys who set the stage for Nirvana et al, but that's why it's cool.


Grand Duchy - A Strange Day (download mp3 here)

Halloween hangover mixtape 09

Photo from emergencyfan 2000


Ah, Halloween. So many songs, so little time. Technical difficulties prevented this post from getting out on time (I had to do it twice!), so here's a halloween hangover mix. Kudos to Condemned to Rock 'N' Roll, snuhthing/anything, and Some Velvet Blog for adding to my arsenal.

White Stripes do Tegan and Sara and it sounds pretty much the same. Spooky?

White Stripes - Walking With a Ghost (download mp3 here)


I wonder what Halloween is like in the UK, can someone leave a comment and edify me? Do they celebrate it in Japan?

Japan - Halloween (download mp3 here)


We've all had spooky girlfriends, haven't we? Luckily I've never had one on Halloween, but we also know someone who has, right?

Elvis Costello - Spooky Girlfriend (download mp3 here)


Mr. Carroll is now one of those people who died, but his ghost may be watching you right now. Look behind you.

Jim Carroll - People Who Died (download mp3 here)


Dream Syndicate and head dreamer Steve Wynn deserve your attention. Though DS is long gone, Wynn still consistently puts out quality.

Dream Syndicate - Halloween (download mp3 here)


Ultra-catchy in an 80's style, this should have been a huge hit, and I can see M83 becoming the next big thing from France.

M83 - Graveyard Girl (download mp3 here)


Don't know a thing about That Ghost, but they sure got the Velvets/Dream Syndicate drone and jangle thing going on.

That Ghost - Never Have Fun (download mp3 here)


Screaming Tribesmen had a fine tune called She's a Living Vampire, but this girl vampire track is some kinda all right too. I'm a sucker for garage-pop from Oz with goofy band names, how about you?

Screaming Tribesmen - Date With a Vampyre (download mp3 here)


Not a very scary song unless you fear profanity, but wouldn't this have been a vampire weekend? Just another song I don't mind recommending again.

Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma (download mp3 here)


I almost forgot some Can-con, didn't I? For shame.

The Tragically Hip - I'm a Werewolf, Baby

Watchin' You

The Winnipeg Free Press has seen fit to name Scruffy the Yak a blog to watch. Weird, huh? Still, cause for celebration, as well as good reason to offer up a song by one of my favourite bands of all time, Hardship Post. The band only released one album, Somebody Spoke, on Sub Pop in 1995. The Post was scooped up by Sub Pop after a couple of singles and an ep, with the vital music coming out of Canada's East coast at the time (Sloan, Eric's Trip, Thrush Hermit). None of them really fit the grunge mold, and HP maybe least, with sharp pop hooks, a sly sense of humour, and not a lot of evident ambition to be rock stars. Somebody Spoke is a great little record, but after a subsequent tour the band all but dissolved, and a follow-up never materialized. I'm still waiting, Sebastian Lippa.

Hardship Post - Watchin' You (download mp3 here)



I don't know if Sub Pop still really sells this disc, but it's still listed, including the LP for $7.00. If I was rich I'd buy 50 of 'em and try to start the Bring Back Hardship Post movement. Well, I'm trying anyway, you'll hear about these guys again on this blog. Here's a few more "Watching" tunes.

Dayliner - What are You Watching (download mp3 here)



thenewno2 - Choose What You're Watching (download mp3 here)



The Rascals - People Watching (download mp3 here)

SubCity Turn it Up

Winnipeg's own Subcity (formerly SubCity Dwellers) recently held a raucous release party for their new album Where's the Noise, as well as completing a thorough tour of Western Canada.

The album's almost like a cool mix tape, the tunes fit well together but contain too many styles and genres to name. And that's just how I like my mixes, varied extensively, each song cool in its own way. Opener Too Loud for the City is a rollicking rock song that might be kissin' cousins to a few Rancid tunes. Drag Me down sounds like sped-up Tom Waits with extra desperation (never thought it possible, didja?) Elsewhere we get Tin Pan Alley-meets-overdriven riffs in a smoky alley, then get hammered with gritty post-punk agitation (Silence), skatown ballads with rocksteady chorus vocals (Sweet Misery), reggae-rock that could turn into a wicked dub mix (Temper), menacing guitar, organ and distorto-vox that add up to the sounds of a house burning down (Gasoline), and more Waitsian vocals on top of funky blues throwdowns (The Hounds pt II). Some songs make me think the "Sub" in SubCity refers to a labyrinthian set of dark, forgotten tunnels deep under Winnipeg, while others cause me to wonder if it refers to Winnipeg's inferiority complex and the band's ability to blow it away. Give it a listen, whaddaya think?

SubCity - Too Loud For This City (download mp3 here)



SubCity play the West End Cultural Centre on Friday October 30, check it out. Buy the disc here.
http://www.myspace.com/subcitydwellers