Wooden Wand - Winter in Kentucky

I don't know much about Wooden Wand. I've been told Wooden Wand is really a guy named James Jackson Toth, and Winter in Kentucky is taken from an album called Briarwood which came out in November on Fire Records. Fine funny lyrics, great organ sound, nice understated guitar, a hint of a Steve Wynn/Bob Dylan vibe...I just played it five times in a row, I'm stuck on it.

Wooden Wand - Winter In Kentucky by FIRE RECORDS

Wooden Wand - Motel Stationary by Cargorecords

Keri Latimer - Liquidation Sale

Nathan's Keri Latimer will be releasing an album called Crowsfeet and Greyskull on April 1, 2012. Here's a preview, Liquidation Sale. Lotsa layered vocals, pretty pop sounds with some Roches-like hints, looking forward to the rest. I saw her open a show by herself once long ago (Bob Mould? Robyn Hitchcock? Can't recall), I've been meaning to give her some attention since. Here it is.

Liquidation Sale by kerilatimer



Here's some more Latimer sounds, don't know if any of these will be on the album or not.

Chop shop by kerilatimer

So long (demo version) by kerilatimer

Mud and slobber demo by kerilatimer

Ray's echo by kerilatimer

John K. Samson - When I Write My Master's Thesis

I dunno about you, but I guessed that John K. Samson solo would mainly be in the folky singer-songwriter vein. Maybe not so much if the new song is indicative of the album - more straightforward than the roads The Weakerguys have been heading down, at least to my possibly gig-damaged ears. Album entitled Provincial out January 24, more info/ purchasing info here.

John K. Samson - When I Write My Master's Thesis by antirecords

Cruise Night by John K Samson by scruffy the yak

John K. Samson - Provincial Road 222 by plaidisrad



Track List:
01. Highway 1 East
02. Heart of the Continent
03. Cruise Night
04. Grace General
05. When I Write My Master's Thesis
06. Letter in Icelandic from the Ninette San
07. Longitudinal Centre
08. www.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/
09. The Last And
10. Stop Error
11. Highway 1 West
12. Taps Reversed

You know, you can leave a comment below, it's fine with me, and no one else cares.

Yuck - What's in a Name?

I ignored Yuck for a while because I can't stand the band's name. This isn't the first time I've deliberately shied away from artists with terrible names (cough*Death Cab for Cutie*cough), but if the music is good enough, I'll get past it. Yuck's seemingly effortless stabs at 90's greats like Dinosaur Jr. or Ride eventually won me over. One of my favourite's of this year. I still don't like Soothe Me, though.

Get Away by Yuck

Milkshake by Yuck

Doctors In My Bed by Yuck

Holing Out by Yuck

Georgia by Yuck

Suicide Policeman by Yuck

Shook Down by Yuck

Soothe Me by Yuck

Rubber (Mogwai Remix) by Yuck

Natsu Nandesu by Yuck

Here's a cover of Smog's It's Rough by Oupa (a side project from Yuck frontman Daniel Blumberg).



You can buy Yuck here.

Sons of York in Brief Dust-Up, Emerge Mostly Unscathed - Video Evidence

Caught this video of Winnipeg's Sons of York mining the Outsiders visual thing once more. Seems they recorded a few tunes in NY with Gus Van Go and Werner F. which are available on iTunes. I'm surprised some label hasn't snagged this band yet, but maybe those days are over. Hey, shouldn't Splendour in the Grass with this band be Splendour in the Grease?





Feel How You Wanna by SONS OF YORK

Splendor In The Grass by SONS OF YORK

Everybody's Breakin Up by SONS OF YORK

Paul Kelly - 8-Disc Set and a Christmas Song!

Paul Kelly is one of the most amazing singer/songwriters ever hatched. Recently I was watching a documentary on Ron Sexsmith and many people were talking about how it was such a crime that he wasn't a superstar. In my opinion, Paul Kelly is another guy that should be revered much more than he has been to date. Kelly's been making exceptional music since the seventies, but I haven't heard anyone nominating him for sainthood. I'm doing that now. Let's start with a holiday song. It's not too late, you can still jump on this bandwagon.

Paul Kelly How To Make Gravy by 1888Media



Anyway, Mr. Kelly has recently releasedthe A-Z Recordings, an 8(!) cd set you may want to check out when you believe in his greatness like I do. You can buy that here.

Paul Kelly Dumb Things by 1888Media

Paul Kelly To Her Door by 1888Media

Paul Kelly From Little Things Big Things Grow by 1888Media

Paul Kelly Every Fucking City by 1888Media

Paul Kelly Nothing On My Mind by 1888Media

Paul Kelly Gathering Storm by 1888Media

Knuckleduster - Ricky from Transcona

I know John K. Samson and The Weakerthans have been showing a few sides of Winnipeg and Manitoba. Here's a completely different element of the town from Knuckleduster.

Forbidden Dimension Rises Again?

I've been trying unsuccessfully to get more info about a supposed new release from Calgary's Forbidden Dimension. All I know is that this tune hit my radar and it seems that a new album is coming out Nov. 22. At any rate, it's the perfect Halloween band, so here you go.

Forbidden Dimension - Chokin' On A Heartache by killbeat music

The Watchmen - Free Live Album, Jets Montage, Grey Cup Show

For a part-time, having a lark reunion band, The Watchmen seem to be more active than many artists that consider themselves a going concern. CBC used Any Day Now as the musical accompaniment to a video montage celebrating the return of the Jets to Winnipeg yesterday, for example. Look closely in that montge and you might see a white-haired kid riding in a convertible for Dale Hawerchuk's signing - is that Scruffy the Yak? Could be.



The band also played their Silent Radar album in its entirety (as well as other fan faves) in September at the Horseshoe Tavern. Now the band is making the whole show available for free download at their website. No fixing it up in the studio, no auto-tuning, just the sounds as they unfolded. Here's a taste.

The Watchmen - BRIGHTER HELL Live Silent Radar Redux by scruffy the yak

The Watchmen have also announced their first show in Vancouver in about 8 years, playing as part of Grey Cup festivities at The Commodore on Saturday, Nov. 26. Tix on sale now. Here's an old one that never made it to an album.

The Watchmen - One of Us (live Moncton 2000) by scruffy the yak


If that ain't enough, somehow some older Watchmen tunes 'The South' and 'Sleep' made their way into the 2011 TIFF selected film "The Whistleblower" starring Rachel Weisz.

Matthew Sweet - Get a Free Mp3, Remind Yourself of His Greatness

You know who is still fine? Matthew Sweet. Very few can pull in influences from the last 4 or 5 decades, twist them into pure power pop genius, and unravel them into consistently spiffy modern aural full course meals. His new one, Modern Art, is no different. Full album review coming soon, I promise. But I never promised you a rose garden.

First two tracks below are from Modern Art, the ones below it you know and love. You should, anyway.

She Walks The Night (Radio Edit) by Matthew Sweet

Matthew Sweet - Late Nights With The Power Pop by The Vinyl District

Sick Of Myself by Matthew Sweet

We're The Same by Matthew Sweet

Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet

Time Capsule by Matthew Sweet

Dave Rave - Anne Marie mp3

It's always funny when I get musical submissions to the blog that reference Scuffy the Yak. You're, uh, missing a letter there. Regular viewer/listener/reader, are you? And the song's not that new either...but Dave Rave's made music with Teenage Head, Daniel Lanois, and Alex Chilton, to name a few. I had to listen to the song he sent. And of course it's just the kind of power pop the world needs today. So listen to it, and feel free to buy it here or here.

Dave Rave - Anne-Marie by daveravemusic

Hüsker Dü : the story of the noise-pop pioneers who launched modern rock by Andrew Earles

Today I woke up and listened to Husker Du's Celebrated Summer. Just finished reading Hüsker Dü : the Story of the Noise-pop Pioneers Who Launched Modern Rock by Andrew Earles. It's a pretty straightforward account from a writer who spoke to Grant Hart and Greg Norton but never interviewed Bob Mould, probably because he was writing his own book. As you might guess from the title of the book, the author spends a lot of his words making the argument that Husker Du was indirectly and indirectly responsible for shaping modern rock/college rock/alternative rock as we know it. I think he makes his point pretty clearly. It's not a gossipy, scandalous, rumour-mongering account, Earles has worked hard to try to stay away from sensationalism and focus on reality. For a guy who was too young to see the band live, Earle has created an edifying, entertaining piece of quality rock journalism.

Husker Du - Celebrated Summer by Draconian Age Music

Hüsker Dü - Never Talking To You Again by Nadir Hassan

Every Everything - Husker Du - Flip Your Wig by bluepumpkin aka antennica

Husker du diane by ybstatusquo

Chartered Trips - Hüsker Dü by chrisleoni

Hüsker Dü - Somewhere by user7714452

Husker Du's influence is clear from the countless covers newer artists have recorded. Here's a few.

13 - Nitrominds - Husker Du - Something I learned Today by nitrominds

Never Talking to You Again (Husker Du cover) by stRts

The Better Half of Husker Dü EP - "Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill" + Alternate Version by thespacebetweenthings

Celebrated Summer (Orig. Hüsker Dü) by disasteradio

Upset Noise - It's Not Funny Anymore husker du cover by theinflated

King Crimson, Adrian Belew and Me

I woke up this morn and blasted King Crimson's Dinosaur (the live version). I don't know what that says about me. Try it tomorrow morning and tell me.



Here's some more King Crimson and Adrian Belew stuff, some of it's kinda unusual - a Pink Floyd cover, a Dead Prez mash-up, a King Crimson disco edit?

Pipeless & Smoking Crack (King Crimson Remix) by 310Threeten


King Crimson - Man with an open Heart - Disco Edit by evansparks

KING CRIMSON's "Starless" digital remake by exm by exm

KING CRIMSON's "Sheltering Sky" Total digital remake by exm by exm

06 Adrian belew and Alan white - Mother (feat. john wetton) by mmmaau

ADRIAN BELEW- House Of Cards by serpentbird

For Only You ( Feat. Adrian Belew) by user5834793

Adrian Belew-Fish Head by lmolmud

ToToM - Bigger than King Crimson (Dead Prez vs. King Crimson) by ToToM

Kevin Max & Adrian Belew - Black Leather and a Microphone by dpulse

New Wilco Streaming Right Now!

Go listen to the new Wilco record right now (and for about 23 1/2 more hours, I think) at the band's site.

This is on the album (although the song is actually entitled Open Mind) but this ain't the studio form.

Jeff Tweedy - "Open Your Mind" (New Song, Live) by TwentyFourBit.com

Also, Nels Cline is some kind of awesome.



Here's some stuff that isn't taken from the album, but I always like to leave you with something you can listen to right here.



Jeff Tweedy & Jay Bennett - Via Chicago (1999) by AnnieHall

Jeff Tweedy - how to fight loneliness by kirmizibasliklikurt

You can pre-order the new album as well as t-shirts, yo-yos, stuff I don't know exactly what it is, etc. here.

Matthew Good, Ryan Dahle, and Megan Bradfield - Seriously Serious mp3 for You

photo by Melissa Dex Guzman

Stumbled into this track the other day, and though I've never been a Matt Good fan, I love this song. It's free for you, hit the download button if you like it as much as I do.

Seriously Serious (with Ryan Dahle and Megan Bradfield - 2005) by Matthew Good

You can buy Matthew Good here or here. Buy Ryan Dahle here.

New Crooked Fingers Tune Typhoon, Album Breaks in the Armor

New Crooked Fingers album Typhoon will be released October 11. First single Typhoon is pretty catchy, no?



Crooked Fingers - Typhoon by MergeRecords

Crooked Fingers - There's A Blue Light by ashgrayproclamation

Here's some older. class Crooked Fingers for ya.





Your Control - Crooked Fingers by Constant Artists

01 Crowned In Chrome - crooked fingers by studiohum

Crooked Fingers: Shelly's Winter Love (Merle Haggard cover) by TheMusicFile

Crooked Fingers - Every Dull Moment - Engineered by Brian Paulson by SoundofMusicRecording

Crooked Fingers - Under Pressure (Queen Cover) by wtfbtw

Crooked Fingers-Carrion Doves by FrankieMancini


Crooked Fingers by Eastern Fiction


04 Sleep All Summer (Crooked Fingers cover) (w St. Vincent) by lahorademandrake

Buy the new Crooked Fingers here.

Feel free to leave a comment below.

New Wilco - I Might and I Love My Label (Nick Lowe!) and Jimmy Eat World Covers Wilco

Wilco is selling pre-orders for their new record The Whole Love, giving away Custom Wilco bicycles and whatnot in order to promote the new long-player. The best promotional tool I've come across is the new song I Might, nice fuzzy guitar, some xylophone, confident vocals from Tweedy and an upbeat feeling all around. B-side is the Nick Lowe cover, since Wilco is now on their own label. Taken from my favourite Nick Lowe Era, it's a fine tune, and both of these Wilco songs are getting me pretty excited for the new release.

Wilco - I Might by chalsroig

Wilco - I Love My Label by The Line Of Best Fit

Here's some older Wilco in case you missed it.

Wilco - I'm Always in Love by ordinary-joe

Wilco - Say You Miss Me by njalmeida

02 She's A Jar / Wilco by jeffreygarofalo

Bull Black Nova by Wilco by benphia

That's Not The Issue - Wilco by StealThisTrack

Wilco - I am Trying to Break Your Heart by mateodesign

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - Impossible Germany by pcagx

Wilco 2004-11-13 Handshake Drugs by jeff s

07 Wilco - Country Disappeared (Wilco) by GDPR1

Wilco-Someday Soon by allmusiclovers

Wilco - One Wing by okannie

Wilco - Any Major Dude (Steely Dan) by harmonica6by2

Wilco - Magazine Called Sunset by rslblog.com

Is this really Jimmy Eat World doing a Wilco tune? Seems weird to me but it's a decent cover.

Jimmy Eat World - You and I (Wilco cover) by DPie

Here's an interesting remix:

Kid Cozmo VS Wilco (Shot in the Arm) by Kid Cozmo

Buy the new Wilco in all of its multi-facteted pre-order package glory here.

Ryan Adams - Lucky Now

Ryan Adams has already amassed a catalog of fine tunes that sometimes seems to be overshadowed by an idiosyncratic, overdriven personality. I think the new song, Lucky Now, is a stripped bare affair that shows he's a great songwriter and performer. I could imagine this one covered by Alison Krauss, Bruce Springsteen or Lyle Lovett. The track is a teaser for Ryan Adams' new album, Ashes & Fire, out October 10.

Lucky Now by ryanadams

Ryan Adams - Lucky Now (Live On BBC Radio 2) by vinyloftheday

Here's a few older Adams tunes I love.

Ryan Adams - "Halloweenhead" by ModernMystery3

Ryan Adams - So Alive by xarpi rio

The Joy Formidable: a Power Trio for Today?

The Joy Formidable are a Welsh trio that is now based out of London. They recently released their first full-length album, The Big Roar. Their sound pulls in pieces from all over the stylistic map - some hazy vocals and fuzzy guitars from shoegaze, frenetic rhythms and reedy guitar from the post-punk era, serious stomp and crash of the so-called grunge sound. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the band is the voice of Ritzy Bryan, which reminds me of a stronger version of a few 90's period UK bands that shall go nameless. Is The Joy Formidable the next big thing? Leave a comment below.

Austere by thejoyformidable


Whirring by thejoyformidable

I Don't Want To See You Like This by thejoyformidable

The Joy Formidable //The Big Roar by welle20

The Joy Formidable - Cradle by NapaIndie

The-joy-formidable the-last-drop by DaButtahNutz

The joy formidable - ostrich by vanyaka

Joy Formidable - The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade by The Drift Record Shop

Joy Formidable - The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade by The Drift Record Shop

The Joy Formidable - Greyhounds In The Slips by Hotcakes.fm

The Joy Formidable - While The Flies by tevito

Austere (The Naked And Famous Remix) by thejoyformidable

The Joy Formidable - Popinjay (Live) by fadedglamourblog

The Joy Formidable - Austere (Live) by Alex Heisler

The Joy Formidable - The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie (acoustic) by morrisday

The Joy Formidable - my beerdrunk soul is sadder than a hundred dead christmas trees by morrisday

The Joy Formidable - Moth's Wings (Passion Pit Cover) by Ernestime









You can purchase the Joy Formidable here.