AGAIN YOU SAY, WELL THIS IS WHAT I SAY...

COME ON REALLY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. SO I GUESS THE GUYS AT UNIVERSAL (and really any of the last major's they are left standing). THEY DON'T REALLY LIKE PEOPLE PROMOTING THERE STUFF, HOW MUSIC IS BEING PROMOTED IN THE DIGITAL 2.0 AGE.

WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT YOU MIGHT ASK, WELL I JUST GOT AN E-MAIL LETTING ME KNOW THAT; YET AGAIN ANOTHER ON OF MY POST HAVE BEEN DELETED; YES I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS COPY WRITTEN MATERIAL IN ON THE SITE BUT LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WANT THE LINK TAKEN OFF, AND I'LL TAKE IT DOWN WITHIN 24 HOURS AND IF I DON'T DO THAT THEN TAKE IT DOWN!

I find this really funny looking at where they are coming from, and a friend (Shawn Lefebvre if you want anything produced or engineered he is the man to go to) and I were talking about this (and the new EP that we are doing with the guys in Dancing With Paris [get ready for dance parties meeting in the middle of "core" pits]) and how the remaining majors are like the Titanic:

Shawn:
it's like the Titanic the bitch's are going down. and they're the ones to blame

Piers
And our job is to come in and try and save it right at the end, but we will get there a little to late and all will be lost but a few straggles... and we'll save them.... and ya we'll feel bad that the ship sunk... but really we can make a new ship that will float way better and withstand hits from icebergs way bigger then that!!!

Now I like that analogy!

Shawn:
hahaha I dig it! Piers let's build an Arc. We'll grab 2 bands of each genre.

Piers
you don't have to go any further I'm there! And we will rule the world, and I'm putting that analogy up on my blog, I just fell in love with myself and you a little more hahaha

Shawn:
hahahahahaha

So if you love major labels and think that they are still the answer good luck you you I hope that we get there to save you fast enough, and to all these that are sad that they missed "the infamous Titanic" don't worry we are working on building a bigger and better ship that everyone can go on a ride for!

If you are looking for either the Lights EP or MSTRKRFT's Fist Of GOD let me know and I'll toss you a link for it.

Other than that keep coming back cause I'm still going to put killer Canadian content on here!

Pee's

MSTRKRFT - Fist Of God

Well after almost 3 year in hiatus the boys in MSTRKRFT are back and better then ever. This time around with more ass shaking tunes, heavy bass, some killer guests and yes of course the classic electronic sounds that they brought last time around. The fist time listening through new LP all I could think about was what better time then now to drop an album like this, the summer heat is coming back, the late night dance parties are on the forefront, people are ready to spend their days by the water and with all this happening this album is going to be part of everyone's soundtrack for the summer.

If you are unfamiliar with these guys they are two guys that have been a part of the Canadian music scene is more ways then one. Jess was in a band that some of you may have heard of, Death From Above 1979? After the release of "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" and playing countless tour, appearing on such late night shows as David Letterman and playing with heavy hitters NIN, Queens Of The Stone Age (too name a couple), Jess decided to create a remix album of "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" with fellow MSTRKRFTer Al-P or Alex Puodziukas. To me this was MSTRKRFT's first unofficial release because when listening to "Romance Bloody Romance: Remixes & B-Sides" you can hear a lot of the MSTRKRFT sound that you have learned to love.

Enough of the history lesson if you want to learn more about D.F.A. look it up that's what the Interweb is for right? I'll be posting their album later so if you want to get your hands on it keep checking back, but until then you are going to have to live with this one, and I know that you will have no problem with that. Right from the get-go this album is balls to the walls, and you don't need a sub to feel the bass pounding through your body, but if you have access to a killer system I STRONGLY RECOMMEND LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM ON IT. The theme that I kept feeling throughout this album is, dance your asses off until you are soaked in sweat, than dance some more, which is perfect for the summer season. Another thing that I love about this album is that they have thrown some great sing alone songs into the mix. The one that stands out the most is "Heartbreaker" which features R&B's John Legend....



AND THAT'S ALL I GOT BLOGGER ALREADY TOOK THIS DOWN ONCE FOR HAVING IT UP AND DOWNLOADABLE (read this and I explain the situation).

IF YOU WANT THIS ALBUM COMMENT THIS POST (with you e-mail address) AND I'LL THROW YOU THE ALBUM.

Alexisonfire - Young Cardinals

So where is the new track that Alexis released last week. The album is going to be out on June 23d, but I'll probably get my fingers on it before then and I'll throw it your way, so keep looking back here for that, as well as more Canadian content oh snap!

After listening to this track a couple of times I'm still a little unsure about what to think of this. I know that when they were recording this album Wade was saying that they were writing some of their heaviest stuff to date, but listening to this I'm getting a punk vibe rather then a heavy Alexis. And I'm going to warn you now, that is George in the verses, not Wade.

Well enjoy and let me know what you think.
NEW ALEXIS HERE

Farewell To Freeway - Only Time Will Tell

So this album has been out for about a week now and I've gone through it a handful of times but I am still waiting for it to really catch me. There just hasn't been anything that has caught me off guard and that is one of the tings that I love about listening to new albums the chill factor and the "what was that".

So far (and it isn't looking to good) the only tracks that I really keep going back to are "Years" and "Waking The Giant". In "Years" there is motion in the track, it isn't the same feel throughout the entire track with no dynamics; unlike the 5 songs before it. The last 1/3 has a killer lead tapping line that brings everything together for the final "chapter of the song". For me this is one of the stronger sections of the entire album and I wish that they had done something more with it, maybe a lead into the following track? For "Waking The Giant" it has a similar feel (you will notice this a lot throughout the album) as the last part of "Years" but isn't as captivating and ear pleasuring. It almost seems as though they came up with this section and couldn't put it to any other songs on the album so they made it into it's own instrumental track.

I touched about this above briefly but I feel that this album has a lot of reoccurring themes, parts, songs, throughout my listing time with it. I first noticed this after a couple times through, especially when you throw the album on loop. The first (No Fate, No End) and the last songs (Portrait) have a very identical chorus, I actually tried putting them back to back so I knew I wasn't going crazy. The way they change it up is in "No Fate, No End" they put a little break/groove in after the first time the chorus plays and then back into the chorus they go but the last chorus comes back to you (if you are listen to the album on loop or if you have listened the album a bunch). This is just one of the many things that you will start to notice once you give this album a solid listen, and makes a lot of the tracks mesh all into one track.

I really want to love this album but it just isn't happening for me, there isn't one track on here that has gave me chills or turned my head. I look back and remember the first track I heard from these guys (In These Wounds) it had it all the drive, the emotion in everything, each track you could tell everyone stood 100% behind it. Again listening back through that entire EP every track has that same feel, but there are ten-thousand more things happening throughout the EP, if you haven't heard their first EP let me know and I'll hook you up. I'm really not a hater of these guys and gal, they all are killer people and have done A LOT for the Canadian hardcore/post-hardcore, whatever you want to call it scene and I respect them for everything they have done. To me it looks like once they got signed to Victory (and amazing on them) that Victory looks at it's bands for quantity vs quality and this album looks like they went that route (like they do with a lot of other bands), it seems rushed and not enough song structure lovin' was put into it. Everything else is there, production, levels, performance (I would have liked a little more of their live feel like on In These Wounds) but it is missing that chill factor that gets me and other people digging bands, but I guess Only Time Will Tell how this album is taken.

I could be wrong about all this and you might think that this is the best thing that they have released to date, take a listen and you be the judge. Who knows live this stuff might slay, and speaking of live; EAST COAST they are head out your way right now with Kingdoms and Greeley Estates then it's WEST COAST lovin! So look out for them and when they do hit your town/city go out peep the show tell me how this stuff is live, I didn't get a chance to catch them when they pasted through Toronto.

ENJOY and support these guys however you support your favorite bands or bands in your scene (suggestions, buy music, merch, go to shows, give them a meal, a place to lay their head, there are some ideas)


Farewell To Freeway - Only Time Will Tell
Release Date: April 14th 2009

No Fate, No End
The Last Thing I’ll Ever Say
Smoke Signals
When We Hit The Ground
The Dude
Years
Here As One
Waking The Giant
Cemetary Dates
Portrait

DOWNLOAD

NEW TUNES SOON?

Well hell yes there will be, don't you worry. I know that it has been a week now with nothing new for your ears but I'm still stuck on the Vanna album and with all this warm weather Lupe was calling my name. I have some great stuff coming your way in the next few posts here are a couple of bands that you are going to see: Farewell To Freeway, NORRIS, K'naan and much much more.

This week I'll throw up the new FTF, and the reason why I haven't do so already is cause I haven't had the time to sit down and really listen to the new album as a whole, but if you want your fix of sooner and you are in the eastern part of Canada they are heading out your way with Kingdoms and Greeley Estates so look out for them!

Other than that go back and listen to the new Vanna album cause I know you haven't listen to it enough yet!

See you soon!



(don't know if everyone has seen this video but I'm throwing it up cause it is said to see Mike leave the band but I totally respect his decisions. If you want to know why he is leaving there is a bog up about it on their myspace and guidelines to fill his spot if you are interested and this is the song they are getting people to rock for them. (click me!!)

Vanna - A New Hope

Alright, I know that these guys aren't Canadian, and 90% of everything that is up here is Canadian so why would I put it up? Well to justify putting them up on the blog and giving them some MAJOR love is that they are coming across the border with tour mates, The Human Abstract, Oh, Sleeper, and IWRESTLEDABEARONCE to kill Toronto and Montreal, so if you are in either city or near the city's head to any of the bands myspace's to see when they are coming your way and get out there!

I was so lucky to get my listening ears to this album before it come out (unknowingly) and fell in love pretty much intently. before this album I had never heard of Vanna but I'm so glad I stumbled upon them, it has been something refreshing to the ears. I say this knowing (after you listen to the album once or twice you see what I mean) these guys have not written something that is so original and something that has never heard of before, BUT for all the true music lovers you are going to fall for this one. I may only be saying this because most people don't pick apart each song, guitar lick, transition, vocal melody... apart the way I do when a band/artist truly catches my attention.

The majority of the songs on the album are structured in a way that is refreshing and captivating from the fist time you listen to the album to the twentieth time through. Most bands that are in this scene today I feel do not have this much talent under their belts, Vanna has the screeams, dissonant break downs, pop your hips breaks, catchy melodies and excellent song structure (the only thing I'm wondering is, is it the magic of Steve Evetts or are these guys killer song writers?). Listening through this album you can hear that these guys listen to much more then just metal and hardcore from the way their pre-chorus' and verses lead into the chorus' (Into Hell's Mouth We March) has actual from and isn't part after part. After going through this album (now 30 times) I am still finding new things out about it. For example, it wasn't until I through my head phones on did I notice some of the suttle leads ("The Same Graceful Wind", listen during the first "drop out part right side) that Nick and Evan through behind some of the heavy grooves and "breakdowns".

Once again another way to turn peoples heads in this scene is melodies, vocal and guitar. Now a days bands seem to be scared of melodies but need to remember you don't have to sing to have melodies in songs, use those higher strings on the guitar. With Vanna they have captured the melodies and the ball braking, Harley riding riffs. I can see why bands tend to steer away from this because it is harder to fall into the scene that embraces you the best. I do know this is how a lot of bands get lost or don't get to show their full potential because they aren't teamed up with the right bands or tours. That being said this tour that these guys are on now will really make them shine and I can't wait to see them.

Enough of this, take a little sample listen and head out to get this album YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED, and if you are come over to me at the show and kick me in the nuts.




Vanna - A New Hope
Release: March 23rd, 2009

Let’s Start An Earthquake
Into Hell’s Mouth We March
The Same Graceful Wind
Like Changing Seasons
Trashmouth
Safe To Say
We Are Nameless
Sleepwalker
Where We Are Now
Ten Arms
Life and Limb
The Sun Sets Here

DOWNLOAD

**A Little Update, the guys told me that when it does come to the studio magic, although Steve is an amazing man he only helped with the small things, these boys did all the hard work***

Cancer Bats - Hail Destroyer

I know that this isn't a new release (but in the UK a limited addition has just been released, just some random info for you) but a couple of people have been asking me to post it up so they can get a feel of the whole album, and hey if you want it I'm sure I already have it and have no problem putting it up!

When listening to any of their albums I have never truly been pulled in, compared to when seeing these guys live, for me this is where they truly shine. Because of this reason I never really was sold on them, until I saw them back in 2007 when they were touring with The Architects, The Gorgeous and Johnny Truant. But saying that, this album definitely has a much better live feel and a more intense sound compared to their first major release Birthing The Giant. Another thing that seems to come up all the time (not just recently) is how grounded and down to earth these guys are, and seeing some of the artists that they got out for this album it really shows that everyone has made love for Cancer Bats. They have Tim McIlrath of Rise Against on Harem of Scorpions, Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire on the track Deathsmarch and Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent on the track Smiling Politely, out of these tracks my favorite is Smiling Politely because it has a French Immersion (their "breakout" song off of Birthing The Giant) feel to it with a little twist.

Overall this album is a easy listen to, if you grew up listening to punk rock and hardcore you are going to eat this up like it's been your first meal for a week! And you can expect to see these guys around your town a lot more, after playing all of Taste Of Chaos this year they have really started to make a name for them selves south of the boarder and already have a huge following in our homeland as well as our European family to the east! I know this is a little shorter entree but it will have to do.

ENJOY!


Cancer Bats - Hail Destroyer
Release: April 22nd 2008

Hail Destroyer
Harem of Scorpions (feat. Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)
Deathsmarch (feat. Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire)
Regret
Bastard's Waltz
Sorceress
Lucifer's Rocking Chair
Let It Pour
Smiling Politely (feat. Benjamin Kowalewicz of Billy Talent)
Pray For Darkness
PMA 'Til I'm DOA
Zed's Dead, Baby

DOWNLOAD

The Holly Springs Disaster - The Home Alone

I think that it's time to give you something that will get you riled up again, and who better to do this non other then the boys in The Holly Springs Disaster. After seeing these guys for the 7th time last week all I need to say is they keep getting dirtier, tighter, and more intense. It was awesome to hear the new stuff that they have been working on and let me tell you it's still the same old Holly, sweet sing-a-longs (sounds like there is even an actual chorus in the song King Kong), awesome dynamics, similar song structures to Motion and when it came to their set structure killer like always and still feeding the kids what they want!

For anyone that has no idea what I'm talking about here's a little run down. Holly Springs Disaster are 5 dudes that come from the little Saskatchewan town of Weyburn and started to playing together after most of their past bands fell apart (Away From Here, Prevail and Short Story). From there they created this little know EP The Home Alone. From there the guys took to the road to show what they had to offer and right from the get-go they where turning heads. On this EP alone the guys had a couple of runs at Canada but always headed home to write a couple new tracks then it was right back out again. After their fifth run and a new demo My Pet Monster (and if anyone has that demo toss it my way!!!!) they were picked up by Underground Operation, who released their first real EP, Motion, Sickness, Love which I'm guessing most people have, or have at least heard of. On Motion they went back to their demo's and re-recoded a couple of songs to create the story of Motion, Sickness, Love. On this EP you can hear their first recorded version of A Nice Night For A Neck Injury, for me this is awesome to hear cause you can really see the progression of these guys if you compare the new vs the old.

So I guess for all you Holly fans here are two new tracks that you might not have heard and one that shows you where this all started. Well I hope this ties you over until their new FULL LENGTH comes out, and it shouldn't be to much longer because they start recording it April 20th, 4/20... if you know the guys you will know the significance of the date.

(Also just on a side note, if you wonder why these guys are SO tight live think of the number of times that these guys have played some of these songs. Practice makes PERFECT!)


The Holly Springs Disaster - The Home Alone
Release: 2005

A Nice Night For A Neck Injury
Get Out Of Here You Nosey Little Pervert Or I'm Gonna Slap You Silly
Say It Again, Maybe It'll Happen

DOWNLOAD