CHARTattack:Interact Feed

Pumping: 21 Tandem Repeats - No Junk Mail Please

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:10:01 -0600

This Vancouver folk-rock band's third album passed by pretty unobtrusively until the eighth of its 10 songs, "On Frozen Pond." It's about hockey. We like hockey songs.

Pumping: Stacy Lloyd Brown - Automatic EP

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:01:10 -0600

This is actually a combination of Brown's 10-song Automatic EP and the five-track Mosquito Bite EP by his collaboration with Paul Maclean, Goodbye Generation. There's not a whole lot to get excited about on either one.

Pumping: Royally Sparked

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:47:41 -0600

This 16-song compilation features tracks from artists on the Sparks Music roster and is highlighted by Spiral Beach's "New Clouds Hot Clouds" and "Rocket Fuel," as well as Jay Sparrow's "Chopper" and The Two Koreas' "Cheeky Snaps." Songs by Key Witness, The Priddle Concern, Son Of Dave, Nathan Lawr And The Minotaurs and Yonder are also included.

Pumping: Cale Sampson - Cale Sampson

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:36:30 -0600

This member of Toronto's Rhythmicru goes solo on this two-CD set comprised of "The Album" and "The Demo." Sampson is an adept rapper who lays down some solid beats and adds a handful of samples to complement his mic skills. Add Sampson's name to the list of top Canadian hip-hop artists.

Pumping: Quatre Tete - Art Of The State

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:57:58 -0600

This Chicago trio plays math rock with a hint of prog thrown in and I suppose it's OK, if you're into that sort of thing. I'm not.

Pumping: Kevin Fox - Songs For Cello & Voice

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:08:47 -0600

Toronto's Fox is best known as an accompanist and session musician for the likes of Dolores O'Riordan, Kathleen Edwards, Celine Dion, Raine Maida, Chantal Kreviazuk, Shaye, Tom Cochrane and many others. But this recently released second solo album focuses on just his cello and voice, which explains the title. The eight original songs don't inspire, nor does the cover of The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams," leaving his version of Kate Bush's "Army Dreamers" as the album's highlight.

Pumping: Hot Panda - Volcano... Bloody Volcano

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:06:41 -0600

I was weeding out my iTunes songs at home and saw that I had two Panda-related bands in my collection. This Edmonton group could be a third, but probably only for album opener "Cold Hands/Chapped Lips." There was nothing wrong with the other songs, but they just didn't grab me as much.

See you next year

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:18:45 -0600

I'm off to have Christmas dinner with friends this evening, and will do likewise with my mom while spending a few days with her (and maybe some old high school friends) in Stratford, Ont. starting on the 24th. I won't be rating those dinners along with all the other holiday-related events I attended this month, but I look forward to relaxing and rejuvenating before returning to CHARTattack headquarters again on Jan. 5.

All the best to you and yours,
Steve

King-Cohen-Aubrecht Holiday Open House And The Skydiggers

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:23:26 -0600

I missed last year's open house and arrived eight-and-a-half hours past the noon start time of this one, and therefore missed a lot of people who had already come and gone. I also missed some of the food, including Diana's famous east coast chowder, but still managed to enjoy some salmon Wellington and chicken fingers while passing on the ham, bread, vegetables, dip, cheese, pate, crackers, other appetizers and desserts. I brought my own beer, but there was lots that I could have drank if I hadn't. However, I had to sample the contents of the punch bowl. It was very tasty, but I couldn't detect the tequila. Tara's homemade Sambuca packed more of a punch than the punch.

There were lots of friends, and some people who were new to me, in attendance. And everyone was asked to either bring food or cash to donate to the Daily Bread Food Bank, so the event was held for a good cause.

A few of us headed to the Horseshoe Tavern for one of The Skydiggers' annual holiday season shows. The band have some great songs, Andy Maize is a fine frontman (and one of the nicest people around) and we had a great vantage point from the Horseshoe office, where I got to talk to the guys, Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and others afterward. It's a tradition to hear The Skydiggers perform "Good King Wenceslas."

Horseshoe co-owner Craig Laskey invited me back to his place for a couple of nightcaps and gave me a Fred Sanford "You big dummy" T-shirt for Christmas since he knew I was a fan and got ripped off when trying to order something similar online a few years ago. Thanks again, Craig and Natalie.

I walked out the back entrance of the building and was forced to climb a chain-link fence to escape before walking home in the snow and cold and getting home around 4:30 a.m. It was a good night.

CHARTattack's Holiday Schedule

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:42:48 -0600

It takes a lot of energy to work up the collected fanbases of Matthew Good, David Usher and Thornley into such a lather.

As such, the CHARTattack staff will be taking a break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 5 and will be publishing on a relaxed schedule. [For you industry types, this also means none of us are going to be around during this time.]

You still be able to get your 'Attack fix in a number of ways, though.

* Starting Dec. 24 we'll be previewing the New Year's Eve parties in seven different cities.

* On Christmas Day our friend D-Sisive will be giving out a free, exclusive mixtape through the site, The Complete '08 Comeback Special.

* On Dec. 29 we'll publish the complete top 10 album lists from all of our contributors. Then, using that same list, we'll be publishing our CHARTattack staff's top 20 favourite records of the year on Dec. 30.

* Then, on Jan. 1 we'll be unveiling our 2008 artist of the year. It's a controversial one.

If none of that's enough excitement for you, you can always go to our 14th Annual Year-End Readers' Poll and incite the David Usher fans.

Happy Holidays,

CHARTattack

Pumping: Meat Dbeatles Vol. 1

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:02:18 -0600

This is a compilation of Beatles covers by DMusic.com or Lost Gold Records artists. I've never heard of any of them, but they run the gamut from pop to rock and reggae to country. I still prefer the original versions.

Pumping: The Breakmen — When You Leave Town

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:06:02 -0600

This Vancouver quartet plays root-driven pop with folk and country influences. It's a little mellow, but not bad.

Pumping: Cut Off Your Hands — You & I

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:56:16 -0600

You & I was produced by former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, who was inspired by Johnny Marr. So maybe it's not a huge surprise that some of this sounds like The Smiths meets The Cure.

Pumping: Gentleman Reg — Jet Black

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:09:26 -0600

If you've seen Toronto's Gentleman Reg, you know that the last thing he is is Jet Black. Jet Black is also the 70-year-old drummer of The Stranglers. I like this album, but I like The Stranglers more.

Pumping: Mike Bones — A Fool For Everyone

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:00:17 -0600

Bones' second album features contributions from members of Zwan, Antony & The Johnsons, Favourite Sons, Jah Division and Sian Alice Group. His voice sometimes reminds me of Dave Bidini's.