The Golden Record

This image was sent into space on a golden record. It represents the basic human functions of licking, eating, and drinking. Also on the record are spoken greetings, sounds of earth, more images, and "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry.

For more pictures of Earth, please go here.

Merino at the Duncan Garage Showroom, March 18th, 2006.
James Nelson Photography.
















It was a lot of fun. Thanks a lot to everyone who came and special thanks to Mr. Nelson who rocks photography!

I wanted to make a list of beautiful things, but all I could think of was Leslie Feist.

¡El sorprender! ¡Mire a muchacha! ¡Mamasita!

Be Gentle with Me

What a delightful music video by The Boy Least Likely Too.

Check it out.

Please Enjoy!

So the New Year is almost upon us. This is the time when people start making lists, like lists of favourite music of the past year. I'm not doing that. Instead, I'm just going to list some of my favourite albums over the past however long and maybe include something for you to listen to, as well. Please Enjoy!

Be sure to right click the link and select "Save Link As" or whatever. This thing's been giving me fist-shaking trouble. Please leave some comments!

Apostle of Hustle - Folkloric Feel

Andrew Whiteman of Broken Social Scene fronts Apostle of Hustle. The basic concept of the band and its music came about after he visited Cuba and learned how to play the Tres, a Cuban instrument similar to a guitar. Elements of Cuban music lie in each song, but the band continues to totally rock out.

You want to know the truth? This is one of my favourite albums of all time. You know what else? I suck at describing things?

This album is really neato! You should check it out!

Andrew Whiteman delivers a sort of laid back energy. These songs and their melodies just make you want to dance and sway.

Producer: Dave Newfeld. Thanks Dave! You did great!

Apostle of Hustle - Sleepwalking Ballad
Apostle of Hustle - Energy of Death
Apostle of Hustle - Kings & Queens


Feist - Let it Die

Mushaboom is on my top 5 list of songs that make me feel rediculously happy. Go Leslie Feist! It's amazing!

The voice of Leslie Feist is hauntingly beautiful.

So this album is comprised of many different tracks: a couple super catchy super "I just wanna sing this song!" tracks, a couple tracks that maybe a handsome frenchman might want to play while seducing an equally good-looking french woman, a couple simple songs that radiate with Feist's powerful vocals, (raw power from her voice instead of the lyrics,) and a couple others.

Feist - Mushaboom
Feist - Lonely Lonely


The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat

I remember the first time I listened to this album. Two minutes into it the brother and sister duo had shown me nothing but a distorted beat and minor piano chords repeated over and over with spacy synth laying overtop. I thought to myself "I spent $20 for this?"

But of course things got better, otherwise I wouldn't be talking about this album now AHAHAHA.

Right now I am thinking this: "This album is really hard to write about, so I'll do it later."

So what's so awesome about this? The fricking thing is amazing! Crap! I can't believe how hard this is!

Let me say this: this album requires WORK. You have to WANT to listen to it. otherwise the constantly changing tunes will make you LOST.

Plus you have to be willing to listen to something that won't make all the gangstas holla props at you! YO DAWG! No, indeed. No cool points from The Fiery Furnaces.

Having said that, there are all these crazy awesome awesome details within every track. The instrumentation is unique, but often superb. The stories are fun and sad and exciting at the same time. It contains some of the best examples of dissonance I've ever heard. It's a blast to listen to. MOST IMPORTANT PART: Can listening to an album be an accomplishment? Listen to this a few times and then tell me!

Sure, it's all subjective! Don't yell at me if you feel nothing from this album!

But it's so crazy! So crazy! So crazy you should listen to it!

So why is it crazy? I'm pretty sure Mr. Fiery Furnace has ADD. (I'm not joking.)

Crap, I feel like I'm selling the album short. So please buy it!

The Fiery Furnaces - Quay Cur
The Fiery Furnaces - Straight Street
The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat


Menomena - I am the Fun Blame Monster

"I am the Fun Blame Monster" is an anagram of "The First Menomena Album." Menomena was named after that pair of pink muppets that sang "Menomena. doot doooo, do do doo!" You know the ones!

Sounds quirky? I guess so. Awesome? Of course!

Don't get me wrong, the music isn't the type of quirkiness you'd expect from something like a Weird Al album. Far from it. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the muppet thing.

Menomena totally is awesome. Menomena is totally awesome. Either way.

It's full of really cool stuff.

Menomena - Cough Coughing
Menomena - Strongest Man in the World



Page France - Hello, Dear Wind

I've talked about them here before. Very peaceful awesome stuff. I will say no more!

Page France - Jesus
Page France - Junkyard
Page France - Glue


Stars - Set Yourself On Fire

So Pretty. This is great "Pick me up 'cause you know what? I guess the world isn't so bad if music like this exists!" music. I'm dead Serious!

I mean, sure, there's some parts in the middle, like when they yell at George Bush and wish homosexuality upon his drunken daughters, but the good feelings roll back in at the end. Kind of a soft happiness, I suppose? Maybe I'm just saying that because the music is soft? Huh?

You know what: Apostle of Hustle, Feist, and Stars as well are all "Satelite" bands of Broken Social Scene. You know, they've all got members of BSS in them. Wow cool! So where's the BSS loving on this Blog? What the heck no kidding!

For now, please enjoy yourself with this music!

Stars - Your Ex-Lover is Dead
Stars - Reunion
Stars - Soft Revolution


Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel the Illinoise!

What a strange guy this Sufjan Stevens fellow is. His musical goal is to create an album dedicated to each of the fifty states. Illinois is number 2! Good Luck Mr. Stevens!

But besides that, This album is filled to the brim with dense melodies and counter melodies and harmonies of all different types of instruments. Sufjan pretty much directs an orchestra, although he plays most of the instruments himself. A Choir, although small, is also included and sing quite happy melodies.

So, I bet from that description you understand that this won't be the album you want to play to impress a gun-toting man with your badass taste in music!

In fact, one of my friends described it as "Teletubby Music".

OH MAN SHE WAS DEAD WRONG! Sure, when it's happy it's super happy! So what, huh? The amazing music is worth any cool points you may lose! 'Cause you know what? You'll go up 50 cool points in my heart.

Besides, Sufjan manages to throw out some very moving songs. Check out Casimir Pulaski Day.

Come on, guys! I mean: Come On, Feel the Illinoise!

Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel the Illinoise!
Sufjan Stevens - Decatur
Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day


Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

Many people are calling this the best album of 2005. I can't really say if it's true, but it's really good!

The members of Wolf Parade (all of them? I don't know) come from around these parts here. Apparently the forests around Lake Cowichan inspired the theme of ghosts on the album. Cool!

This album is pretty much pure, unadulterated rock. If you can get past the crazy lead vocalists voices, then you discover awesome. Nay! The Voices ARE PART OF the awesomeness!

Seriously. "I'll Believe in Anything (and You'll Believe in Anything)", like no other song ever, makes me want to sing as loud as I fricking can!

If you haven't already gotten the chance, this is DEFINITELY an album to THOROUGHLY check out!

Wolf Parade - You are a Runner and I am my Father's Son
Wolf Parade - Shine a Light
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything


And Here is a Free For All Grab Bag!
Aloha - Boys in the Bathtub - Aloha Rocks! Everybody Everbody!
Boy Least Likely to - Be Gentle With Me - Too much happy? No Way! This song introduces the ultimate Thanksgiving Album! Why? I don't know!
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Let the Cruel Goddess Rust Away - The same 2 chords repeated over and over never ever sounded so good! Seriously!
Deerhoof - Milk Man - The little-asian-lady vocals are amazing. This band is so crazy.
The Flaming Lips - Slow Motion - Totally this is sweet! The whole album, while telling some sort of end-of-times story (I think or something) gives us awesome groove songs like these.
The Go! Team - Get it Together - YEAH REALLY GET IT TOGETHER! LISTEN UP TO THESE RECORDERS ON THE ALBUM THAT'S SURE TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN NEW YORK CITY!
Holopaw - Igloo Glass - Tone it down with some amazing acoustig guitar and amazing shaky vocals! Finish it off with a childhood favourite!
M83 - Don't Save Us from the Flames - Do NOT listen to this song! Seriously! Go listen to the entire album from start to finish!
Mason Jennings - Crown - Mason Jennings is the first artist to sign on to Isaac Brock's (of Modest Mouse) record label "Glacial Pace." What the heck and who would've thought!?
Mercury Rev - Hudson Line - The Snare Drum sounds like ye olde STEAM ENGINE! Different from the rest of the album, but too much fun!
Broken Social Scene - Almost Crimes - Why didn't I do this Album in the Album Part? It's too hard! This is probably my favourite album of all time!
The Most Serene Republic - Content Was Always My Favourite Colour - This song just makes me want to dance in so many different ways!
The Rosebuds - Wildcat - Sing to me with that sweet voice! Interesting album overall, and this song is real pretty.
Mum - I am Nine Today - I'm not gonna sweat the small stuff 'cause this song is so relaxing!
New Buffalo - I've Got You and You've Got Me - Very interesting use of different instruments and samples. The building (not like the Empire State kind) in this song is really keen.
The Notwist - One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand - Yeah I've got similar comments on this song as the previous one! What the heck double!
Of Montreal - Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games - This song really does make me want to celebrate. Celebrate what? Catchy Music!
Doveman - Honey - This guy is pretty much saying "I'm going to kick your ass with the most gentle song you've ever heard." But of course I'm putting words in his mouth. He also doesn't care that his voice is really whispery.
Vitalic - Wooo - If any of these songs should give you badass points, it would be this. Only in the movie sorta way, though, when the bad guy is walking in slow motion with a mean look. Then maybe his henchmen start dancing. WRONG MOVIE!
The Long Winters - Ultimatum - It seems like there is 5 hours of stories stuck in three and a half minutes! The vocalists giant swells (he does seem like a giant, doesn't he) with the arpeggiated guitar gives me shivers!
Castanets - You are the Blood - This song, for some reason, reminds me of Alberta. What's going on? It's pretty and ugly at the same time.