Better late than never

This past Saturday, I spent the better part of the day painting and repairing in my home to the docile sounds of CBC Radio 1. From about 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, my radio dial was set to 99.1 (in Toronto) and my ears were set to sponge-mode. It’s rare that I can spend a whole Saturday like that listening to the radio non-stop and definitely a treat . Their Saturday program line-up is awesome, and I was treated to a wonder episode of Fuse, broadcasting out of Ottawa. The Acorn teamed up with classical musicians Denise Djokic on cello and David Jalbert on piano for a beguilling performance of indie pop gems and classical pieces. Of note was a spot-on cover of Belle & Sebastian’s “The Fox In The Snow”. Alas, I wasn’t able to “capture” the magic for repeated listens, but I’m definitely glad I was finally introduced to The Acorn and their music. How did I manage to miss this band for so long?

The Acorn “Blankets” (from the Blankets EP, 2005)

The Acorn “Plates and Saucers” (from the Blankets EP, 2005)

The band’s new album, Glory Hope Mountain is now available through Paper Bag Records. Their previous, The Pink Ghosts, is available through eMusic here.

++The Acorn
>>official
>>myspace
>>hype machine
>>elbo.ws
>>buy the Acorn’s Glory Hope Mountain here

4PLAY vol. 28

Hot for teacher

By day, she’s an a mild mannered school teacher; after hours she’s Cannonball Jane, the coolest one-woman band you’ve never heard of (until now).

It’s as if the 60s and the 90s happened simultaneously on Cannonball Jane’s Knees Up! It’s hip hop! It’s girl-group pop! Hey, if all my music teachers were as cool as Jane, …then, school would have been pretty cool, too.

Cannonball Jane “Take It To Fantastic” (from Knees Up!, 2007)

++Cannonball Jane
>>official
>>myspace
>>hype machine
>>elbo.ws

Division Kent

Division Kent are from Switzerland, but their sound is far from neutral. They instantly remind me of a more serious-minded Goldfrapp, with subtle touches of elegance, style, and gravitas that make them more diverse and deep than most electro-duos fronted by a sultry female chanteuse.

Division Kent “Pat The PanAm Pilot” (from the album Gravity, 2007)

Division Kent “Rooftop Rallye” (from the album Gravity, 2007)

++Division Kent
>>official
>>myspace
>>hype machine
>>elbo.ws
>>buy Gravity by Division Kent here

Today will be better, I swear!

Though you’re reading this on Tuesday, it’s actually Monday night as I write this, and I have to tell you–Monday has been a shitty day. I’m standing in my house looking at the not-quite-yet finished renovations that were started back in June, wondering when I’m going to get around to putting up the blinds I custom ordered in the wrong size in the living room windows, and when I’m going to finish painting the trim work around the doors and baseboards, and where the hell is my debit card which I seem to have misplaced, and how am I going to get rid of the infestation of mice I seem to have in my back patio, and what for the life of me, and I going to write about and post for tomorrow (which is actually today for you).

So, first off: Congrats to Carla F. from Seattle who’ll soon be shaking her ass off to a brand new copy of Chris Price’s CD, Post Pop Parade.

Second: Today is Tuesday so it’s new release day, and I’m sure there’s a ton of great stuff out there, and sooner or later I’ll get around to writing about it.

Thirdly: Last night (which is actually tonight for me) they handed out the second Polaris Music Prize in Toronto. I think The Besnard Lakes should win. I think posting this song is fitting, in light of the terrible day I’ve had:

The Besnard Lakes “Disaster” (from the album, The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse, 2007)

I also think that Julie Doiron made a solid album, too, and I’m glad she got a Polaris Prize nomination, too. I think that this song is fitting, in light of the great day I’m going to have:

Julie Doiron “I Woke Myself Up” (from the album Woke Myself Up, 2007)

++The Besnard Lakes
>>official
>>myspace
>>hype machine
>>elbo.ws

++Julie Doiron
>>official
>>myspace
>>hype machine
>>elbo.ws

EDIT: It’s now Tuesday morning, and the dust has settled and Patrick Watson’s Close To Paradise has emerged as the Polaris Music Prize winner for 2007. Congratulations to the Montreal band (whom I talked about here).

Patrick Watson “Giver” (from the album Close To Paradise, 2007)

++Patrick Watson
>>official
>>myspace
>>hype machine
>>elbo.ws