THE NATIONAL and other sweet sounds...

Alright folks...another week, another post...hope you enjoy this one...

One of my favourite bands, The National, is releasing a new album this May. Entitled Boxer, it is sure to be critically acclaimed, especially seeing as their major label debut, Alligator, was not given much attention. There are so many things to love about this band. The interplay between instruments is stellar, the lyrics absolutely gorgeous and the way the lead singer's baritone intertwines with the music is utterly captivating. They have released the lead off track for the new album, and it is typical National...a quite somber affair...what is new, however, is the use of a horn and piano section...I love it...a wonderful precursor of things to come...here it is...

The National - Fake Empire

Click on the links below to view acoustic, unfinished versions of two more tracks off the new album...the footage was taken for an upcoming DVD about the band...

The National - Start a War

The National - Ada

The video below is yet another acoustic version of a track (titled 'Gospel') off the new album...



Here's a link to a teaser for yet another new album track, 'Mistaken For Strangers'...this track is gonna soar...

Elvis Perkins - All The Night Without Love - a great track...this guy's backstory is something to check out...

Iko - Hologram - yet another track that would sound great on an episode of Grey's

These next three tracks are from my album of the year thus far, Nux Vomica, by The Veils. The pipes on the lead singer are amazing. He actually has an anatomical anomaly that makes his voice sound that way...most of the music has dark overtones, but this band can change gears with the best of 'em...happy listening...and turn it loud...can't wait for these guys to tour...

The Veils - Calliope

The Veils - Nux Vomica

The Veils - Under The Folding Branches

Pela - Waiting on the Stairs - I posted a track by these guys sometime ago...straight-forward indie rock n' roll...i'm down...

Jeremy Warmsley - Dirty Blue Jeans - this song takes so many different directions...it's awesome...the video floating around on youtube is pretty cool as well...

Tapes n' Tapes - Insistor - one of the most rocking songs of last year, this baby would make breadcrumbs on your counter stand up and shake their ass...

Teddybears - Cobrastyle - what a better song to finish a post with...get up and dance people...

The National- Mr. November - alright, I lied...one more song off their last album, Alligator...this band deserves to be huge!!!

Oh ya...get ready peeps...Toronto FC is coming!!! I'm stoked for the upcoming season...can't wait to get my hands on a sexy new jersey...

And for those of you who love concerts, this summer tis extremely packed with some great shows...I'm currently attending the bloc party show this weekend, in addition to shows by the National (only 19 bucks at the Opera House), Ben Folds, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and THE ARCADE FIRE...still debating whether or not to get tix to the Virgin Festival on the Island...the Pumpkins, Interpol, Tokyo Police Club, Bjork, the Killers, Poalo Nutini, and more...actually, I think i just convinced myself;-)

Enjoy the weekend!!

Better Late Than Never....

Sorry y'all...I've been neglecting this blog thing over the past couple of weeks...not for lack of wanting to post, but rather due to the time constraints imposed by life and its day to day happenings....alright...here's a monster post...my little way of saying i'm sorry...i say those words with a tinge of sarcasm, seeing as i know how insignificant my blog contribution really is to the daily lives of all who are reading this...in any event, for those who occasionally find something on these pages that is to their liking, i hope there's more of the same in today's post...

The National - Lit Up (remix) - I love this band...defnitely one of my favourite finds over the last two years...their new album drops in May and I am super stoked...their musicianship is excellent, but the lyrics are even better...be sure to pick up their 2005 disc titled Alligator...you will not be disappointed...this track is very Arcade Fire-like, although much of their catalogue ain't this rocking...

Arctic Monkeys - Brainstorm (yes...the monkey's are back and they sound slightly different than the last time we heard them, if this track is anything to go by...i dig it...a little more mature musically than their debut, although the lyrics still leave something to be desired...the drumming on this track is relentless)

Here is one of the goals of the week....



But this one takes the cake for me...this boy is absolutely ridiculous...best player on the planet for my money right now...look at the swerve on this beauty...the trick...hit the ball right on the needle with your laces as you cut across the ball...awesome...



And check out this effort from Mr. Ronaldo during a pre-game warmup session...brilliant stuff...knocked the nutella right out of the top corner...



Maximo Park - Our Velocity (a ripping new track from these British lads...a little like old school Blur, but more frenetic)

The View - Same Jeans (very much in the Libertines vein...i like...is nice...)

Brandtson - Earthquakes and Sharks (there's something to be said for music that just makes you feel good...music that may not be the most technical or groundbreaking, but a tune that just wiggles its way into the recesses of your brain and stays there for weeks...this is one such track...makes me think of being a kid all over again...i can see myself having liked this song when i was 8...heck, i like it now...)

Cool New Sounds...

Alright...the music is back...without further delay, here are some tracks that have been getting a lot of play on my Ipod recently...there should be a little something for everyone here...

Muslces - Ice Cream (this track strikes me as the love-child of TV on the Radio and Bloc Party...i can see myself playing this one in the summer with the sunroof open...great stuff)

The Harlem Shakes - A Night (i've already posted a track by these guys...I love their energy...seemingly a cross between the Arctic Monkeys and the Libertines, albeit a bit more poppy)

Battles - Atlas (here's a mp3 version of the video I posted yesterday...I love the musicianship on this track)

Bears - You Can Tell (the soundtrack to the next Zach Braff movie anyone?? Very Shins-esque)

Pela - The Trouble With River Cities (on the topic of music that could accompany the visual medium of television, here's a track that I could definitely see appearing on an upcoming episode of Grey's Anatomy)

Cuckoo Canoe - Aderol (the progeny of the Strokes and Tokyo Police Club...love the guitar work and intensity of this track)

Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything (one of my favourite new bands, this song was by far and away the best track of 2005 for me...cannot wait for their debut disc later on this year...the song really takes off at the 2:22 mark...stunning...I wish more music was this epic)

My Teenage Stride - To Live and Die In The Airport Lounge (for those who like the Smiths and the Cure, this band is for you)

Black Bear - I Believe In Immediacy (I just love this track...this guy is pretty talented...the lyrics in this song are brilliant and the instrumentation accompanies them extremely well)

And what the hell...here are two more new Kings of Leon tracks from their new album, Because of the Times...be sure to get it when it comes out...

McFearless

True Love Way (I heart this effin song!)

Ok...enough for today...i'll try to be a little more regualr in the coming weeks...be safe.

All Apologies...

Yes...I have been lazy recently, albeit only with respect to posting material on this site...life itself has been extremely hectic and as a result, pusuits such as blogging become secondary endeavours...today's post consists of a bunch of interesting youtube tidbits that I've compiled over the last two weeks...i'll try to post some individual music tracks later in the weekend...

Here's a track from a group called Chin Up Chin Up that's been getting a lot of blog love recently...I dig the guitars...as usual..



This next clip is from a band called Battles...i'm not too sure how fond i am of the vocals (although they are growing on me), but the instrumentation is absolutely stellar...a little like Manson's 'Beautiful People', but not as scary...this track gives me chills....and that is always a good thing...



Here's a blast from the past....a little nostalgia never hurt anyone...hope this takes some of you back...



Here's a brilliant video from some chaps at Vanderbilt...I have a particular fondness for this clip as i used to spend hours playing nerf basketball in my 'playroom'...brilliant stuff...



Since we're on a sports kick, check out this clip from the Masters last year...listen very closely to what Vijay says....i guess that's why they show most shots on a tape delay...



This is going to sound very grade 4, but watch how hard this guy gets hit in the nuts (the word nuts being the grade 4 reference)...better still, his reaction is priceless...



Here's my goal of the week for the last two weeks...watch the little move he makes to free up space for a sweet left-footed strike...



Why didn't he do this is the dunk contest????