Sound Salvation Army

There was a number of artists that broke new ground this year after having come a long way already. Here are two singer/songwriters that really hit their stride with their latest albums, a French pop band that people finally started paying attention to after four albums, a punk rocker that underwent a total rebirth, and a Toronto band that actually became a band.

Away we go!

10. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
They’re so French! Have you seen their Take Away Shows episode? Its a brilliant, joyfully ecstatic set that perfectly encapsulates Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The band shows up out of nowhere in front of the frigging Eiffel Tower after achieving fame around the world (several albums into their career) and at first people don’t even seem to believe it’s them. Much like their extremely slow and steady rise to prominence in the States, South America, and elsewhere a crowd starts to grow around them as the genius of their songs starts to become apparent. This band just continues to get better and better and its almost getting ridiculous. Read more here.

09. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Fox Confessor Brings The Flood be damned, this is Neko Case’s best album yet. That is a simple fact. From the first track (found below) Case and her collection of players meld the alt-country she’s best known for with a rock edge, pop hooks, and simply stunning songwriting. She’s completely unfettered here, the incredible singles interspersed with a pair of covers perfectly suited to her, all of it giving way to a final track comprised of nothing but a half hour of frog noises. What more could you ask for? Read more about Neko here.

08. Ohbijou - Beacons
This is an album of love songs for the sake of love songs. Songs filled with deliberate, frequently orchestral arrangements that swirl and sway through the speakers and surround the listener. Casey Mecija’s vocal melodies constantly yearn for weightier gravitas and a bigger emotional response, the warmth of her tone (as well as warmth of the very organic production) helping to counter the chill that pops up in the lyrics due to constant references to winter, snow, and ice. This band should be on soundtracks. Soundtracks to movies about knitting.

07. Chris Wollard and the Ship-Thieves - self-titled
This album is in a bit of a grey area. Some might argue it shouldn’t because a pre-release run of 500 or so copies was pressed on vinyl for a big festival in the states run by his label. But it was technically released in 2009, so I’m including it (incidentally the mp3 below is a vinyl rip of that pre-release version). Regardless, this record is far from what I would’ve expected from the other half of the Hot Water Music songwriting duo. At a time when every punk in North America is picking up an acoustic guitar for some country/folk-inspired solo performances Wollard embraces his inner 90’s alt-rock nerd and makes a nuanced and varied album that has a little bit of everything (including a couple acoustic-based tracks). This is pop rock for grown-ups, done extremely well.

06. Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
One might wonder what the need is for Dan Auerbach, half of the essentially-flawless Black Keys, to record a solo album. Why bother when you already contribute the majority of the writing in a two-man group? Well, regardless of motivation Auerbach made the right decision. He expands the bluesy stomp of the Keys to include a few more instruments and a modicum of funk, throws in a couple contemplative acoustic tracks, and then spends the rest of the album doing what he does best. This isn’t a sea change from the Black Keys sound but when your songs are as perfect as Auerbach’s they really don’t need to be. Just marvellous.

 

 Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You [3:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Phoenix - 1901 [3:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Ohbijou - Black Ice [3:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Chris Wollard - Oh, Whatever: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Dan Auerbach - I Want Some More [3:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Neko Case: Webstore and iTunes.
Phoenix: Webstore and iTunes.
Ohbijou: Doesn’t actually seem to have a place on the web you can buy their physical albums, but MapleMusic still has copies of their split LP with the Acorn available if you dig around. Go digital with iTunes and Zunior.
Chris Wollard & the Ship Thieves: No Idea Records Webstore and iTunes.
Dan Auerbach: Webstore and iTunes.

Pat entries alt-rock, best ofs, blues rock, Canadian content, Chris Wollard, Dan Auerbach, indie, Neko Case, Ohbijou, orchestral, Phoenix, pop rock, rock, year in review

I don’t know why I bother to do my hair for shows at sweaty clubs. It just turns into a limp, shaggy mess. Monday’s show at The Phoenix was no exception.

Yes, I am aware that this comes almost a week late, but I saw Phoenix at The Phoenix. Synergy!

I went with my good friend Sheri and her friend Grant. We’re all show-going veterans and jaded journalists, so I was curious about how we’d all feel about this group live. Grant and I have both been on Phoenix’s jock for years, while Sheri is a relatively new convert.

I don’t want to presume to speak for Grant, but I think we both felt they did a fantastic job of picking a set list and playing a mix of older songs with stuff from the new album.

Grant said it was one of the best shows he’s ever seen. I don’t know about that, but I’m thinking it might make my top ten shows of the year. But it’s early yet.

I think this was the kind of show that is made or broken by the venue. A year ago, I would’ve put Phoenix at The Phoenix. But now? I think the only reason they played there was the name. With their newfound buzz, the group easily could have filled a bigger venue like Koolhaus. But seeing a show there feels like you’re at a concert in an airplane hangar. The Phoenix is… cosy. And by cosy I mean at a show as packed as Monday’s, you will become well-acquainted with the sweaty bodies of other people.

In his recent entry about Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Pat said their keyboards on the album are as comfy as an old worn blanket and that it made him sleepy. I can relate. There was a looong moment when it was so humid in the club I wanted to die and then, to make it even worse, somebody lit a cigarette even though, no, you cannot smoke in Toronto clubs, asshole. At that moment, they were playing old favourite Run Run Run. It morphed into an epic ten minute version that lulled the room into this hypnotic trance. We were waiting, waiting… It felt like when you’re a kid growing up on the prairies and everyone is just dog tired of the heat and holding their breath for rain. And then, the song ended and it felt like we let out our breath and it broke open and showered down rock and roll. Also, I went to get us some beer, which turned out to be the best beer ever.

I was unprepared for just how much energy they would bring to the stage live, but I probably shouldn’t have been. I saw them on SNL earlier this year and was impressed. And they played Letterman last night, proving it was no fluke.

Getting down to brass tacks, I was a little disappointed that they seemed to rush through Rally - my favourite song of theirs - but they made up for it with Run and held back nothing in their performances of Lisztomania and Lasso, not to mention the moody, noodly indulgence of Love Like a Sunset that worked better live than I expected it would. Their set list was practically perfect. They played off all their albums (and played Pat’s favourite, Consolation Prizes) and I got to hear some of my favourite songs. It was missing only Everything Is Everything, which I was a little disappointed they didn’t play, but hey, you can’t have it all. And they wisely held off on 1901, saving the best for last.

I was surpised by the number of dudes there. Not that I’m complaining about the sausage party, but Phoenix doesn’t really seem like the type of band a bunch of brosephs would go to a show for. And yet, they were out in force. Perhaps I should be thanking them. Please, Phoenix! Visit often!

You can check out Pat’s post for info on where to find Phoenix stuff online. In the meantime, here are some of my favourite songs from their previous albums, It’s Never Been Like That (2006), Alphabetical (2004) and United (2000).

 

 Phoenix - Rally: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Phoenix - Run Run Run: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Phoenix - Party Time: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tanis entries Letterman, live music, mp3, Phoenix, The Phoenix, Toronto

That’s right: ask and you shall receive!

I have no idea what prompted it, but on the post regarding the latest Mountain Goats EP a commenter asked for some good pop music. Well, here’s your chance to listen to a few cuts of what will be the single greatest guitar-pop album of the year.

Had this website existed back in 2006, I probably would have thoroughly gushed about Phoenix’s last full-length, It’s Never Been Like That (thankfully released in Canada on Arts & Crafts, netting it a pretty wide distribution). The band craft taught, wiry power pop that stands on its own. Despite three years lapsing between albums, they’ve been mentioned once or twice before as a reference point.

New album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix finds the band in a curious spot. Yes, they played Saturday Night Live and killed it (playing the incredibly rare third song to boot), but nobody knew who they were before that and people still don’t seem to. At the same time Wolfgang is probably their tightest and most well-constructed album yet. Phoenix are like the Snuggie of the indie rock world: they’re sound is so warm, fuzzy, and comforting even in its darkest moments I can’t see how it’d be possible to resist it. Right from “Lisztomania” on through one of their darkest, most brooding and meandering tracks “Love Like A Sunset” the keyboards are unrelenting. The keyboards wash over the entire thing and just make it feel like a comforting old blanket. Gosh I’m sleepy right now.

Lyrically the band writes with a clarity one would not expect from some French dudes writing in English, their second language. Their lyrics come in crisply-penned, short couplets that are surprisingly insightful (when you can make out what they’re saying).

Anyway, here’s a few songs to enjoy; one of them is old and my favourite Phoenix song ever.

 

 Phoenix - Lisztomania [4:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Phoenix - Lasso [2:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Phoenix - Consolation Prize [3:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

North Americans ought to try InSound for physical copies of Phoenix records. iTunes is there for digital consumption as well.

If you have some extra scheckels laying around pick up the ridiculous super-ultra-limited edition release which features vinyl, artwork, special DVD release, and a special vinyl album with 48 fucking demos from the recording sessions for the record. Forty-eight! What the what?

Pat entries Arts & Crafts, guitar pop, Phoenix, pop rock, Saturday Night Live, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix