Archive for the ‘Iron And Wine’ Category
Who’s on tour in Toronto November 2008
Are you mourning the end of Halloween and the beginning of snowfall and the frigid Canadian winter? Fear not, November has a great lineup of show! You’ll be so busy getting your groove on and beating up preteens in the moshpit that you’ll forget that you’ll forget all about how miserable the coming months are going to be.
November 5
Polysics
Horseshoe/ 19+ / $11.50
The Japanese are famous for a few things: anime, technology, weird porn, and noise. Polysics was formed after a high school student decided to divert his interests from soccer to Devo. I think Polysics is a little more accessible than some of the other Japanoise bands out there. For the price of a movie ticket, you can’t lose – go go go!
November 7
Glass Candy
Wrongbar/ 19+ / $15.00
I’ve got to give a shoutout to shermstixx for introducing me to Glass Candy waaaay before they became as popular as they are now. Glass Candy as the innocence of Freezepop, Ladytron’s ubiquity, and the classiness of Nico. They also remind me of Fan Death (or vice versa). If you’re into electropop/nu rave/dance punk, this is a show you can’t miss.
In Flames
Sound Academy/ All Ages / $35.00
My days of thoroughly enjoying death metal are long behind me but for those of you still fightin’ the man (or whatever), I recommend checking this out. A Sense of Purpose received mixed reviews but with In Flames’ everchanging sound, that was to be expected.
In Flames – Eraser
In Flames – Abnegation
November 12
Girl Talk
Kool Haus/ 19+ / $21.50
I was decidedly a Girl Talk hater until Feed the Animals came out. Who but Girl Talk can put the Carpenters and Nine Inch Nails and Janet Jackson and Metallica on one track and make it seem it so natural? I have class that night so please, go to the show so I can live vicariously through you.
Girl Talk – No Pause
Girl Talk – Hands in the Air
November 13
Boris
Lee’s/ 19+ / $15.00
And they’re back! I went to the show in July on a whim and wow, let me tell you, Boris does not fuck around (pardon my French). You are guaranteed a rockin’ good time. But, word to the wise: if you feel like you can’t breathe and start seeing purple spots, go outside for some fresh air and water because you WILL pass out – Lee’s Palace is not that big.
Eagles of Death Metal
Mod Club/ 19+ / $24.00
I think Rolling Stone had it right with this comment: “There are more important rock groups than Eagles of Death Metal, but are any of them this much fun?” The answer is, of course, no. Heart On is a decent album, not as good Death by Sexy but still worth your $12.
Eagles of Death Metal – Cheap Thrills
Iron and Wine
Phoenix/ 19+ / $25.00
Your favourite indie folk star will soon be in town to wow you with his critically acclaimed 2007 album The Shepherd’s Dog. I’m actually not a fan of folk music at all so that’s all I have to say about that.
Iron and Wine – Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Jack’s Mannequin
Opera House/ All Ages / $25.00
Jack’s Mannequin is touring in support of their recently released album The Glass Passenger which I thought successfully dodged the “sophomore slump” threat. Read a full review here.
Jack’s Mannequin – The Resolution
November 20
M83
Opera House/ 19+ / $15.00
In 2005, after electronic French duos became too trendy and mainstream, Nicolas Fromageau decided to leave M83, leaving Anthony Gonzalez as the sole member. No, I’m just kidding, that probably wasn’t the reason. Saturdays=Youth contains some of their (his?) best songs to date so buy your tickets for this show, it will probably sell out.
November 27, 28
Broken Social Scene
Sound Academy/ All Ages / $25.00
I love BSS because whenever a Montrealer brags about all the awesome bands that are based in Montreal, I can bring up Broken Social Scene to still ultimately lose the argument but it’s still a pretty strong point.
The Dark Knight Playlist and Review
I dislocated my knee Thursday night so all I’ve got to do is stay at home on my bed. I figured I’m about a week late with the playlist and review, who needs my input? With the extra time “presented” to me, I changed my mind. It also “puts a smile on my face”
The Dark Knight has been a huge critical and financial success, grossing just under $160 million in an opening weekend, critical praise of 95% and becoming the #1 movie on IMDB. So better late then never with my review and playlist?
My playlist tried to involve some key quotes surrounding the movie. Granted the real soundtrack is great but let’s give the movie a good playlist anyway.
1. The Thieves They Are Everywhere by Bridges and Powerlines
2. Pencil Rot by Stephen Malkmus
3. Only Clowns Are Scary by I Love Math
4. Boy With A Coin by Iron & Wine
5. Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers
6. Knights of Cydonia by Muse
7. I’m Your Villain by Franz Ferdinand
8. The Angry Mob by Kaiser Chiefs
9. Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads
10. No Key, No Plan by Okkervil River
11. Black Heroes by Ratatat
Here’s the movie review below (CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!)
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Mixtape for My Week of Hell
My week sucked this week. Organic chemistry exam on Wednesday, Biochemistry exam yesterday and genetics earlies today. I have about 10 days off until my next few exams so it exclaims why Jess was holding down the fort to my world. Traffic has been surprisingly solid but here’s a playlist to give it a little charge (yeah it’s cheap but it’s still fun to do a playlist nonetheless).
They titles are pretty self-explanatory with what I’ve been experiencing.
1. It’s Not Over Yet by The Klaxons
2. I Felt Like Smashing My Face Through A Clear Glass Window by Of Montreal
3. Skip To The End by The Futureheads
4. Date Rape by Sublime - I felt raped after my biochem exam FYI.
5. Wish I Was Dead by The Shout Out Louds
6. The Devil Never Sleeps by Iron & Wine
7. Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying by Belle & Sebastian
8. I Wasn’t Prepared by Eisley
9. I Need Some Sleep by The Eels
I also need a laugh (the annoying devil is related I guess)
Iron And Wine: The Shepherd’s Dog Review
Let me a little honest here. The only true song I listened to by Iron and Wine (aka Sam Beam) was their cover of Such Great Heights by The Postal Service.
Otherwise I just never actively sought out his stuff. Why? No idea but it’s like that for a lot of bands. The Shepherd’s Dog received some great reviews after being released last month. I decided to check it out, it’s not so much hype and more like critical praise.
So for the last month, I really couldn’t get myself to listen to “The Shepherd’s Dog”. Why? Stylistically the soft acoustic and the mellow singing just doesn’t suit my style. Personally I love an artist can sing at the top of his lungs or can add some really good instrumentals. This is always a taste thing as you don’t really see hardcore punk fans digging something acoustic like Jack Johnson.
I can’t really fault this album due to my tastes so I have to as subjective as possible. One thing I did like were the intros to each song. It felt easy to listen to this album even if it couldn’t hold onto me for long.
There really isn’t anything to hate here. Easily listenable (I’m coining this word!), good lyrics and all around very solid. I probably won’t listen to this album much as it just doesn’t fit stylistically but this one is a very solid album. I give it a 4 out of 5.
Here are the two songs that I really liked:
Boy With A Coin by Iron & Wine
