Arcade Fire make The Suburbs sound appealing

Have you listened to the latest Arcade Fire cd yet? If you haven't, you are depriving yourself from ear joy. Funeral... followed by Neon Bible, were eclectic diversions into an exploratory young mind rebelling from parental constraints and social normalities. They were thoughtful and intuitive, an underground movement into new and undiscovered terrain in music. Clearly I like them. And it was pure ear candy.

How much pressure they must've had to follow up such greatness, such critical acclaim and such attention. So they put out The Suburbs, and in my opinion... sweet success. A band I wish I could've seen in a small Koolhaus venue, but now am stuck in line for arena-rock style sold out venues and fighting scalpers outside Toronto island. This band is scaling new heights and shedding "indie" faster than my long weekend sunburn.

"... the musicians have clearly been digging out their parents' vintage vinyl German art-rock records, especially locked-groove rhythm meisters like Can and Neu! The faster tunes, like "Ready to Start" and "Month of May," are leaner and meaner than you'd expect. Ballads like "Deep Blue" go for the swishy piano pomp of David Bowie's Hunky Dory – which was his own album about the dance between parents and kids. In "Month of May," the band sings about the rock audience turning into a scene where "the kids are all standing with their arms folded tight." It could have been a tiresome get-off-my-lawn screed. But it ends up sounding tender and empathetic instead, because Arcade Fire aren't so far from any of the kids – or parents – on The Suburbs."

- Rollingstone, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/182695

Maybe a percentage of their unwavering success is due to good karma? Régine Chassagne, original co-founder and wife to Win Butler (who looks like he should be in an episode of True Blood... preferably opposite Eric and minimally clothed), has long been a strong supporter of Haiti by previously donating upwards of $22 000 after a series of benefit concerts in 2005. The band has since established a “one dollar, one euro, one pound” touring policy, donating one unit of currency for every ticket sold to Partners in Health, which has raised $800 000.

For tour dates and song previews, check out their myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial

But really, who uses myspace anymore...

Let me know what you think of the Suburbs!! I think it is genius, every song takes me on an emotional journey and when my mother sits next to me reminiscing about the music of the '60s and '70s, proclaiming that music has since died... I put on their album and reassure her: music never died, it just took a siesta.

New album out in September.. I am already in line

Interpol. Last night. Koolhaus. Were you there? I was.

I was the girl swaying the back corner of the crowd, squished in between a pack of fist pumping geeks from a suburb (I'm from a suburb, so I had a soft spot for them) and a guy with one of those sweating conditions you need meds for. The crowd oozed with 9-5ers, out for a night of good music by that band they have on repeat in their Jeep Liberty's. Interpol brought out an interesting crowd into the Koolhaus last night, so while the band stood still on stage singing tracks exactly from my iPod, I was content watching the crowd instead. Black socks with sneakers.. check! Plaid shirts with cargo shorts... check! Skinny pants with dress shoes... check!

Interpol did NOT disappoint. They made the whole ordeal with my car breaking down afterwards, ALMOST worth it. (A moment of silence for my Chevy Malibu please...)

Playing a few tracks from their upcoming album set for Fall '10, Interpol heighened their signature sound and made us cheer for the newbies as we would have for the favourites.

Come September, go out and get their new album... a great car ride cd. His monotone voice is soothing, and the musical genius of every song keeps you interested.

News About # 4

The month of September; summer ends, classes begin. The coming of a new season is in the air as autumn approaches. A time of year when the natural world slips into a slumber, and Interpol releases it’s fourth studio recording. The self titled, self produced, long-player will be available world wide in mid September. We can’t wait to share our new effort with all of you. We’ve just announced some shows and we look forward to see you soon in your neck of the woods.

Kindly,
Interpol

Fav Interpol tracks from me to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaDw4CAcXVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBJSei0XV0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNtGYdm2rOY&feature=related

Snoop D-O- (double) G

Whose Cordozar Calvin Broadus? Oh, that's just Snoop Dogg. Bet you didn't know that... No, of course you didn't. You probably know him as Snoop, Snoop Doggy Dog, Snoopizzle.. whatever name it all boils down to the same person. The same skinny rapper who has dodged bullets to be with us today. And for that I am thankful.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend hip hop is my number one choice for car ambience, but when Snoop slithered on stage last Saturday at the Guvernment, I was as excited as the time I got my first Hootie and the Blowfish cd. (What?? Don't judge me, Hootie had some one hit wonders)

When I walked in on Saturday night, I was highly surprised and convinced the Doggy was not going to show. Why would he? There was a small crowd of maybe 100 people wearing collared shirts or surfer shorts heavy on pockets. I wouldn't play, I would put on my Hootie cd.

Snoop Dog, who actually does resemble a doberman, glided on stage and busted into his killer old tracks immediately. Blinged out mic, slits for eyes and a tightly rolled up joint side stage (this is just mere speculation), Snoop Dogg dropped it like it's hot for close to two hours.

It was a clear representation of talent and showmanship. His bouncers never left his side, and had faces that looked carved in stone. He never actually puffed on a J, much to my amazement, but was sure to talk about the importance of canabis in your everyday life all in between P-I-M-P and Tupac throwbacks. I didn't know him and Tupac were so close, I must've missed that Much More Music documentary.

The best part? Well, looking back it must have been when he did a version of Cyrus' Jump Around, didn't know my Keds had such a bounce to them.

Snoop Dogg, you might not be the cutest rapper around, but you still got swagger, style and a vibe. Oh, you 38 year old Dog Boss, we still dig your dance-able tracks, the lyrics that are burnt in my brain and take me back to high school, the over sized shirts on your frail frame and your words of advice:

"Three things you should do every morning when you wake up: brush your teeth, thank God you made it to another day, and smooooooke weeeeed everrrrydaaaaay".