Category Archives: arcade fire

Not a single one of us has the guts to bear a cross

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The Dears

I had never heard of Montreal based band The Dears before seeing that video. Needless to say, but for the sake of word count, I’m a fan now. You might hear Morrissey in Murray Lightburn’s voice and lyrics. Lightburn has been quoted saying he is “absolutely fucking bored to death” with the comparison. He does sound a little like Morrissey, but can also sound a lot like Marvin Gaye at times.

I am mostly enamoured with the sound and songwriting of the band. It’s reminiscent of everything I love about Radiohead, Broken Social Scene, and TV on the Radio*. Adjectives that apply? Heroic, epic, expansive, dynamic.

The band had broken up after its 2008 release Missles. It regrouped, shed all members keeping only Lightburn’s wife, singer and keyboardist Natalia Yanchak. They brought back previous guitarists Patrick Krief and Rob Benvie and bassist Roberto Arquilla while adding a completely new member in Jeff Luciani on drums. With the reformation compelte they set off to record their latest album Degeneration Street. The new album is by far the best album in the discography, but I woudn’t sleep on their previous efforts. Check out a track from the Degeneration Street:

Click here to play The Dears – Thrones

I felt like the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences really wanted to bless an indie band for the 53rd Grammy Awards that took place this year. That nod went to the mostly undeserving band, Arcade Fire, who happen to also be from Montreal. I believe that The Dears might have been a more deserving nominee. Not that it was nominated. It’s just my opinion. I can also say with 100% certainty that The Dears would have put on a much better performance on Grammy Night.

There IS a reason why our post titled “Arcade Fire Sucks,” written June 2010, has suddenly shot up to the most vistied post on our site since the night of the Grammys. They just kinda suck…

Watch the video below for a glimpse of what MIGHT have been.

A little happy stuff to make everyone feel good

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So I’m writing this feeling quite under the weather right now. And I would’ve loved to have posted a song that sort of fits that theme. The Edmonton band Shout Out Out Out Out just released their second album earlier this year, and I heard the track “Bad Choices” while leaving work last night. And loved it. It reminded me of their track “Chicken Soup For The Fuck You” off of their debut Not Saying/Just Saying. Hence the sick stuff reminding me to maybe post that song.

Well, I unfortunately couldn’t find the latter, but the former, on their new album Reintegration Time, serves to help expose the band to more people, just as well. It’s a beautiful track that reminds me a bit of Holy Fuck’s “Lovely Allen” from 2007. Synth heavy and chugging along, you can’t help but feel uplifted and afterwards happy by the continual upbeat feel. It’s a winner for this year, for sure!

Download Shout Out Out Out Out – Bad Choices

Next up is a track I’m not really sure about. Julian Casablancas – frontman for The Strokes – is set to release his debut album Phrazes For The Young next month. The first single, entitled 11th Dimension, is a catchy, but overall a pretty empty track. The solo careers by so many of these niche rock bands always seems to fall flat. It’s not a bad track, but it’s overly simplistic while trying to be a bit phony about some purported complexity to the song. Bad synth stabs can’t really save this one in the long run. I want to like this track, but am very much on the fence on it.

Download Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension

Last up is a cover of a track I ran across a few years back, and am not sure what reminded me about it, but it could be due to all the talk I’ve come across involving Arcade Fire. This is a cover of “No Cars Go” by fellow Canadian Bryce Kushnier, otherwise known as Vitaminsforyou. I’m not sure what it is about this cover I love so much, but it could be that it is done in a very original fashion while still maintaining the original to an extent that doesn’t trample all over the original. A great cover, and a rather unknown one to most, at that! Take a listen and see if you also like it.

Download Vitaminsforyou – No Cars Go (Arcade Fire Cover)

That is it for this week. Again, please support these artists! Buying even one song you like sends a strong message that you really do support what they are trying to bring everyone!