Kyle’s Six Pix - Vol. 68
Nov 27, 2008 Besnard Lakes, Frightened Rabbit, Portishead, Steel Pole Bath Tub, The Hold Steady, Tomboyfriend
Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Edition
6. Steel Pole Bath Tub – “Train To Miami”, This is from the early 90’s, yes I’m still stuck in nostalgia-land. You may recognize part of this track because it’s being used in the commercial for “Left 4 Dead”. I will be taking a shotgun to zombies while I await the next Romero movie. This is not a video at all, but it was the best version I could find.
5. The Hold Steady – “Stay Positive”, I think I first heard this band on the soundtrack to “I’m Not There” and I’ve been listening to them since then. You should check out (on Wiki) how many Pix favourites they have played with; it’s too many to list here. This is their new single, it’s pretty powerful and their lyrics get better with every album.
4. Besnard Lakes – “Devastation”, It just wouldn’t be an edition of the Pix without an animated video…These guys were 2007 Polaris prize runners up. This band was created by a husband and wife team and named themselves after a lake in Saskatchewan. They are friends with Stars and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, which makes me wish they were my friends.
3. Frightened Rabbit – “Set You Free”, I’ve been singing praises of this band for a while now; Barnudio and Honey Bee watched these guys with me a while back. They blew people away! This is a cover of a song by N-Trance, who I honestly had never heard of because (holy crap) they suck balls. I’m trying to figure out if this is ironic or not.
2. Portishead – “Magic Doors”, If I was in a coma, all you would have to whisper in my ear to wake me up is “new Portishead single”. Of course I’d know if you were lying and if it takes them ten more years to record; it would be a lengthy coma. This is absolutely fantastic!
1. Tomboyfriend – “End Of Poverty”, These guys are as indie as it gets; they have fewer than 300 friends on their MySpace page, they still make home made concert posters and they enlist their artist friends to make video collages. This video was put together by Margaux Williamson, who I had the pleasure of working with at Aboveground Art Supplies many moons ago. Not only is she a talented artist, but a really nice person too. She took other peoples’ dancing videos and cut them together to make this, this project was featured on CBC.ca, pretty sweet!
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Kyle’s Six Pix - Vol. 66
Nov 13, 2008 Army Navy, Brendan Canning, Sebadoh, Silver Jews, The Books, The Raconteurs
Crashing And Burning Edition
6. Sebadoh – “Flame” & “Not Too Amused”, So the Pix had a group formed on Crackbook before I joined; I had reservations about joining because there are a lot of crazies out there. Some blasts from the past have contacted me and I’ve been feeling slightly nostalgic for the 90’s due to it. “Not Too Amused” is my all time favourite Sebadoh song and this is an odd version of it. Sorry for the minute long gap between songs, but enjoy the trip down mix-tape memory lane.
5. The Raconteurs – “Old Enough”, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever get sick of Jack White. This is less radio friendly than their previous stuff, but the guitar work is really good. I heard a rumour that there will be a different version of this track released soon with Ashley Monroe featured on it. If you haven’t heard her, she’s a 22 year old reincarnation of Dolly Parton.
4. Silver Jews (re-imagined by The Failed Bands of Oklahoma) – “Strange Victory”, I saw the S.J. a while back with Barnudio and they kicked some serious ass for being so serious on stage. So this track was reworked by the F.B.o.O. It’s pretty odd, but I’ve been humming it all week.
3. The Books – “Classy Penguin”, This is one of the weirdest new discoveries I’ve made. Actually I had help with the band, but I found this track on my own. It’s amusing to me that they play a lot of instrumental songs; without words, like the ones you might find in books. This is an official video for this band, but I don’t know if it’s found footage or their own home movies. Weird.
2. Army Navy – “My Thin Sides”, As much as I am a huge music geek for the hard to find stuff, sometimes straight up danceable power pop is what I crave. I’ve been a fan of these guys for a while now and as far as I know this is their new single. If you recognize the joker in the video, it’s because he’s on MTV’s Human Giant. I’m thankful the nudity got blurred out…
1. Brenden Canning – “Churches Under The Stairs”, Speaking of power pop, here we go! I’m still loving the solo projects by the Broken Social Scene kids and this track is no exception. You have to love the “battle of the bands” feel this video has too.
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Kyle’s Six Pix - Vol. 65
Nov 6, 2008 Fleet Foxes, Hello Seahorse!, Sigor Ros, Stephen Malkmus, The Brighton Port Authority, The Watson Twins
Contrived Attempt At Composure Edition
6. Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks with Blitzen Trapper – “Funk 49”, This is just pure, unadulterated fun. I’m going to see Blitzen Trapper next week; I doubt they’ll play anything like this because they’re opening for Iron & Wine. This is a James Gang cover from last week by the way…
5. Fleet Foxes – “Silver City”, These guys were supposed to open for Malkmus when he last played Toronto, but didn’t. They did open for Blitzen Trapper the last time they were here though. This is a brand new track that they been asking the fans not to record and post. Sorry guys, but it’s a beautiful song.
4. The Brighton Port Authority – “Seattle”, Emmy The Great joins the ranks of Iggy Pop, Norman Cook and David Byrne by adding her voice to this collective. This is a cute, straight up pop song. The album is supposed to be released next year, should be interesting.
3. Sigur Ros – “Vio Spilum Endalaust”, Seeing these guys this year was my favourite concert of the season. The live version of this track blew me away. Confetti and fireworks seem fitting for this band. This video may induce seizures though.
2. The Watson Twins – “Just Like Heaven”, I have to admit I get a bit weak in the knees from their voices; I’ve liked the twins since I heard them with Jenny Lewis. This is a really great cover, they made it their own. Someone I know was feeling blue this week and I sent this track to them because it always puts me in a better mood. The twins are currently opening for Billy Bragg and playing a lot of radio gigs, so don’t be surprised if they end up on the Pix again soon.
1. Hello Seahorse! – “Won’t Say Anything”, This is apparently a year old, but it’s new to me. These guys are from Mexico and they perform in English and Spanish; this track is ridiculously catchy. I’m going to have to track down their albums because I’m hooked. I also have a soft spot for seahorses.
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