A kind message for anybody who ever visited MountieRock.Blogspot.com

To the 5 people who generously clicked "follow" to read this blog:
Maybe you've noticed my posting slowed down drastically before coming to a dead stop a while ago.  There's a friend who also has a music-centric blog here on Blogspot (so what...) that I like because it looks like a Tumblr blog: Just post the video and forget it.  Instead of reformatting this blog, I want to take the fresh opportunity to no longer limit any posts to just "mountie rock."

Thank you in advance for anybody that checks out the new music blog: TQtv.tumblr.com (RSS feed)
As already evidenced - there will still be a heavy Mountie Rock presence along with other newly named genres such as Beardy Folk, Great Barrier Beats and whatever Maude Lebowski would call "some sort of techno pop."

Destroyer - "Chinatown" (album: Kaputt) FREE MP3 LINK

Download the song "Chinatown" for FREE

Last Friday Pitchfork announced their initial lineup for their 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival.  One of the acts scheduled to appear is Destroyer, the project of Dan Bejar (of the New Pornographers).  The track "Chinatown" was featured as NPR's song of the day a few days ago, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the track available for free on Amazon.  (note: the whole album is a modest $5.99)

Destroyer looks to be performing on the final day (Sunday July 17) of the three day Festival held in Chicago's Union Park.  In a non Mountie Rock related comment, one of my favorite acts Cut Copy will also be there that day with TV on the Radio and Deerhunter as well.  In the past I've had conflicts with Pitchfork's date, and I'm really hoping my usual July priorities will shake out just right allowing me the chance to see Destroyer live... Maybe I'll take the initiative and get to my favorite Lincoln Hall when he comes through town at the end of this month?

Feel free to check out more of the Vancouver based act:

• DestroyerSongs.com
• MySpace
• Merge (record label

Destroyer - Chinatown by tranzmission
One last thing, I mentioned that this song is free - right?  Go get it.

Zeus - "Marching Through Your Head" (album: Say Us)

Available on Amazon for under $6

Zeus, out of Toronto, will be opening for Broken Social Scene for the first leg of their 2011 tour.  Below embedded is one of the videos I pulled from their website (http://www.themusicofzeus.com).  It is from their debut album, Say Us,  which dropped about a year ago.

The foursome was first formed as a backing/touring group for Jason Collett.  I wonder if I saw these guys already when Collett opened for Feist in 2009?  (Zeus and Feist share a producer: Robbie Lackritz)  There is zero underestimating the ever growing reach and influence of Broken Social Scene, or the interconnectedness of the Mountie Rock scene in general.

Broken Social Scene - "Texico Bitches" (NEW VIDEO & Star Slinger Remix download)

Ever since the release of Broken Social Scene's latest album Forgiveness Rock Record, I've gone back and forth between "Texico Bitches" and "Sweetest Kill" for my favorite track off it. It's been a two horse race throughout, even the powerfully awesome "Meet Me in the Basement" video was unable to help the instrumental track crack my personal top two.

My love of these songs is why, when multiple sources on Twitter were announcing the official music video for one of these tracks, I quickly clicked over to watch the video during today's lunch break.

The aforementioned "Meet Me in the Basement" video was very politically charged - it was specifically targeted at (and released just prior to) the G8 Summit held in their hometown of Toronto. This should have led me to expect that the song that targeted Big Oil* would probably be Not Safe/Suitable For Work. However, I am too big of a BSS fan to have waited an extra four plus hours to see the video. Without a doubt I wasn't going to just sit and read countless mini tweet reviews as a tease. Thankfully I have a video enabled phone and was able to watch it covertly making sure nobody could be able to look over my shoulder.

*The album dropped right around the time of the Gulf Spill. An eerie coincidence that made most of us early listeners first gravitate to the ironically upbeat number.

Truth be told, the video isn't too shocking or controversial. It's not near Yeasayer's video for "Ambling Alp" for example. But I think it's safe to warn you if one of more of the following points can make you uncomfortable:

• Clown makeup
• Clown makeup on non clowns
• Wrestling
• Wrestling between two dudes
• Oil Wrestling (not the KY, the BP, kind)
  
• For lack of a better term, general grabass actions
  

Hopefully, I didn't spoil too much of it:


Broken Social Scene wasn't done with their "Texico Bitches" news of the day - they made available a free Star Slinger remix of the track today and also announced quite a few tour dates, but none of them in Chicago (yet). Considering half of the FRR album was recorded in Chicago, and the fact they made two Chicago stops in 2010, I think it's safe to assume 2010 won't be a BSSless year around these parts.

Broken Social Scene - Texico Bitches (Star Slinger Remix) by Arts & Crafts

Feist - "My Moon My Man" (FREE DOWNLOAD of a live version)

Run over to Amazon to download the a free live version of "My Moon My Man" by Feist!

This woman is best known for her iPod counting ability, but loved by yours truly for her involvement with the inspiration behind why I started this effort: Broken Social Scene.

The version you can download today, for free don't forget, is much more down tempo than the version from the album. An album, The Reminder, that I wish would have a follow up effort already!

I'm unable to mention any version of this song without embedding the music video that has gone through my mind every time I'm in an airport - or on a moving sidewalk for that matter... One of these days, I'm going to coordinate a flash mob to reenact it.

Wolf Parade - CONCERT TICKET GIVEAWAY

I've mentioned Wolf Parade before...
They are coming to Chicago (House of Blues) next week, and Lost in Concert is giving away tickets!
CLICK HERE FOR THE SEE THE HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST.

Enjoy the video of Wolf Parade performing "This Heart's on Fire"

Broken Social Scene - "Meet Me in the Basement" (album: Forgiveness Rock Record

I just can't help myself.
Here I am posting another Broken Social Scene song.
But, in the spirit of my last posts, I'm embedding the Best Music Video nominee...

It is quite a powerful video, and the song itself is a nice throwback to BSS's non-lyrical roots:

Hollerado - "Americanarama" (album: Record in a Bag)

The CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award nominations were recently announced.

Here is where being an American loving Canada from afar costs me, for I have no clue what these awards are...

But, I'm listening to a bunch of music I didn't before - which makes it very worthwhile. The following track from an Ontario band that I just heard for the first time today. The below was nominated for Best Music Video.

Coincidentally, this band is coming to my favorite venue a week from Friday. They are opening for Free Energy, a band from Philly. You might wonder why I'd mention that non-Canadian fact here, but watch the video and you'll see why its now noteworthy.

Album on Amazon
Myspace.com/hollerado
Hollerado.com

Stars - "Fixed" (Live Version from Late Night)

Amazon has the latest album by Stars, The Five Ghosts, priced at just $3.99!

The aspect I'm glad the below clip shows: the band's insistence on throwing flowers to their fans. When I saw them live over two years ago I was wondering how much of an expense that must be over the course of a tour, for they must've tossed out three dozens.

It's becoming painfully clear to me that any woman is instantly made more attractive to me when holding a guitar and singing... Which reminds me of a show this Friday that I still haven't decided if I'm going to or not...

More music from Stars is available at the MySpace (www.myspace.com/stars) and official (www.youarestars.com) websites.

Japandroids - "Younger Us" (FREE DOWNLOAD!)

Go over to Amazon.com and download "Younger Us" by Vancouver's Japandroids for FREE!

For more information:
japandroids.com
www.myspace.com/japandroids
www.facebook.com/japandroids

Broken Social Scene - A better concert review from another

Earlier this month was the second time I've ever driven to another State for a concert. Broken Social Scene in Wisconsin is now on the list that used to just consist of Radiohead in Indiana (2008).

I'm yielding the floor to Dan Oberbruner's review... I'm no good at concert blogging. I'm there in the moment, not to detail it later for others.

However, there was one cool moment I've never seen before at a concert that I want to share:
At the end of the last song BSS played, all walked off the stage except Kevin Drew. It was sincerely awesome that Drew wasn't going to partake in the charade of If you cheer loud enough we'll come back out for an encore. He stood up there alone, publicly catching his breath and wasting no time as soon as his bandmates quickly joined him back on stage.

I've already heard rumors that Broken Social Scene will perform again at Lollapalooza next year after not being there this year. If that happens I think I will have no other choice but to finally attend that horde in Grant Park.

(That picture is from yours truly without zoom on my iPhone - I didn't think I would've gotten that close to the stage!)

Broken Social Scene - "Forced to Love" (MINKA KELLY SEXY VERSION!)

Just as I found an excuse to post about Minka Kelly on LeBlogski, I found a way to get her on this blog as well. Thank you, Esquire Magazine, for many things. For example, using a Broken Social Scene song as the background to this video:

Ladies and Canucks, Minka Kelly is your Esquire Magazine Sexiest Woman Alive!

Land of Talk - "Yuppy Flu" (Album: Some Are Lakes)

When I go to a show, I enjoy it.
It's incomprehensible to me how concert bloggers are able to make note of entire set lists.
All I know, for sure, is that they played nearly all the songs I wanted to hear when I saw them at Lincoln Hall last month: including "Yuppy Flu"

It's too bad this band is not popular enough to have had the chance to perform this song live for a television show because the album version (embedded below) doesn't capture how the drum thumps the song through and leaves the audience hanging on with every note Lizzy plays on the guitar.

In my last post I mentioned the underwhelming set of the opener, but they more than made up for it when they joined Land of Talk for almost half of their set. A band that's normally just three people can really give the audience a fresh take on the songs when they more than double the size of musicians. It's clear they've learned well from when they toured with Broken Social Scene (how I first came to know them).

One odd concert tidbit: Lizzy Powell, just like how Kevin Drew did when I first saw them, made special mention of how appreciative they were that concert goers choose to spend money on them during - to use their terms - "a really sucky economy." I can't wait to spend more money on them the next time they come into town.

John Legend & The Roots - "Wake Up" (ARCADE FIRE COVER)

Suuns - "Arena" (album: Zeroes QC)

I tend to download a lot of free music to lisen to at later times. About every two months I gather all my concert update emails from Jam and download all the free downloads for my "Freebies" playlist. If those songs are good, they make the cut into a more established, more listened to, playlist.

Such is the case with "Arena" by Suuns. However, this process also tends to make me forget what is on my iPod. When Suuns opened for Land of Talk I had told others that I had not heard of the band from Montreal (record label: Secretly Canadian). Then they played this song and I had that funny, "I've heard that before / I think it's in my iPod" feeling.

To be honest, the rest of Suuns' set was... not my cup of tea... However, all 4 Members stuck around and performed with the headliner - Land of Talk - for many songs. So although I may not be the biggest fan of Suuns, I appreciate their contribution to the collaborative spirit that makes me like this genre.

Apologies for not reviewing the Land of Talk show. I need to get to that highly wonderful show as soon as I can find a live clip on YouTube worthy of posting.

CONCERT NEWS: Broken Social Scene tickets available!

Would anybody in the Universe like to buy my two tickets to see Broken Social Scene in Milwaukee? I'll give you the Mountie Rock discount of $60 for the pair, which is below face value.

I want to sell these because, after I had purchased these tickets, their Riviera Theatre show the night before was announced. This is a band that I would love to see two times in two days, but not when one of those days involves about 3 hours in a car round trip.

By the way, I don't think Yo Gabba Gabba will be joining them either night.

LIGHTS - ARTIST TO WATCH

I fell in love today, again.
While scanning the upcoming shows at Lincoln Hall, I saw the following:

A half hour later, especially after seeing her YouTube channel and other things like her Facebook and wiki-page, I'm convinced LIGHTS is on the verge of a mammoth breakout. I'm not sure if it'll be in what's left of 2010, but if I were to make a 2011 artists to watch list, she'd be at the top. (She's made me start a list in my mind, starting with her)

I think she'll breakout because:

• She's unquestionably extremely attractive. Her above picture caught my eye and I wanted to learn more. Sadly, but truthfully, that's very key in our world.
• She's working very hard and more smartly with the mediums available to her. It's a must today for artists to become as skillful with social networks as they are with musical instruments. It is not a wonder that her recent acoustic tour was a near insta-sell out with the communication she employs.
• She's talented. In no way is she just a pretty face saying what others are writing for her.
• She's diverse. Don't be tricked by some of her more bubblegum poppy hits. Especially displayed with the acoustic EP and supporting tour, her range is only beginning to be experienced by others. I expect this continued growth will reach out to more people and lead to her packing larger and larger venues.
• She's dedicated. It's tough for me to make a snap judgment on this characteristic, seeing as I just found out about her today. But c'mon: who legally changes their name to Lights if they don't intend to be a force of performance for a lifetime?
• Did I mention she was attractive? With also just the right amount of youth, edge and sexiness?
• She likes Bjork and wants to work with her one day. (Okay, that's more a reason for just me to like her more, not so much a point that she'll breakout soon.)

Who's going to join me on the first Friday in November to see LIGHTS?

Just watch this clip she posted in the a month ago. She will convince you much better than I will.

The New Pornographers - "Crash Years" (album: Together)

It's pretty blasphemous that I've waited this long to post a song by The New Pornographers. By many people's standards, Mountie Rock might have started with them. No question that they inhibit the collaborative spirit of the sound. This band's makeup is very similar to my all time fave Broken Social Scene. For example, along with it's "supergroup" structure they also have their own female breakout star: BSS has Feist - TNP has it's own in Neko Case (Although Ms. Case is not Canadian in her own right, we just won't think about that for the purposes of this blog).

The latest album, Together, was released this past May. It's on sale at Amazon for just under $6. Also, and perhaps more importantly, they are coming to my neck of the woods shortly.

Tickets are still available for their Thursday October 14th show at the Riviera. As far as this genre goes, the $30+ ticket may seem steep, but this show also includes the stellar opening act of Tokyo Police Club, a band you will no doubt here more about right here very soon.

Admittedly, I really missed the boat with The New Pornographers. Thankfully there's still time to catch up and join their growing (in both numbers and in dedication) fan base.

Arcade Fire - "We Used To Wait" (Interactive Music Video)

Holy crap.
Have you heard about the new Arcade Fire "interactive music video?"

No?
Great. It hasn't been spoiled for you yet.

Go to this site: http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/
Now.
NOW!

(follow the instructions - close all your other windows, and if you use Google Chrome, all the better)

Wolf Parade - "Little Golden Age" (album: Expo 86)

A couple months ago one of my Mountie Rock "followers" pointed me in the direction of Wolf Parade (www.myspace.com/wolfparade). However, I was only able to recently acquire their latest album.

I hope you enjoy a small taste, or morsel, of Montreal music as you look ahead to Labour Day ("u" intended).