Pick // Litter Launch!

Well, Well, Kiddos..

This is a first for me. I’m gonna start doing a monthly mixtape for y’all full of all the sweet tunage that’s been my personal soundtrack for the preceding month. I figure that this is a really good way to share new music, maybe some of you’ll get inspired to do the same? ‘Cause that’d be fucking awesome. I started out thinking that this’d be something quick and easy – man, was I wrong. It’s taken me the better part of the evening to chop the list down to something that fits onto a bloody CD. In the process, though, I’ve managed to come up with something that (I think, anyway) kicks all kinds of ass. I’ll apologize only for the terrible cover art, but as you all know, I’m a Photoshop retard.. plus, I’m in a huge rush – big things on the go tonight. More on that maybe tomorrow. So, with any further adieu -


Lonelily - Damien Rice
B-Sides EP (2004)
Introduced to this guy by a friend of a friend in a conversation at pub one night and ended up picking up his entire catalog not long after. His debut offering, ‘O’, is one of the better releases I’ve heard in awhile.

A Record Year For Rainfall - The Decemberists
Always The Bridesmaid: Vol. III (2008)
The Decemberists serial EPs ‘Always The Bridesmaid’ are a unique concept in music right now. Originally started in support of Barack Obama’s campaign for the Presidency, the band did a small tour in support of the albums. Expect most, if not all, of the tracks to be included on the upcoming ‘The Hazards of Love’. I’ve been mostly a part-time fan up until now, but after the ‘Bridesmaid’ EPs and a good solid listen to the ‘5 Songs’ EP (word to Danny Black) they’ve cemented themselves as perennial iTunes Top 25 finishers.

Blood Bank - Bon Iver
Blood Bank (2009)
Damn near impossible to follow-up 2008’s ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ which was widely touted on the internet as the best release of the year, Bon Iver’s sophomore tease-offering is a solid listen.

Talking In Code - Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos
The Dust of Retreat (2006)
I gotta be honest here – I haven’t really given the rest of ‘Dust’ an honest listen because I just can’t stop listening to this track. iTunes shows a disgustingly ridiculous playcount of 98 this month alone (I reset the PC monthly so that I can remember what I’ve been listening to).

I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris - Morrissey
Single (2009)
Rule: New Morrissey singles get included on every playlist. Always.

Love Will Save The Day - David Usher
Live @ Apple - Montreal (2009)
Here’s the rub – there’s been alot of hating on David Usher going on lately, and I won’t abide it anymore. Not only is the ‘Live @ Montreal’ release easily top of the iTunes releases this month, it’s a hell of a set. Personal note here – I wasn’t really a fan of Dave or Moist until I saw them live with Matt Good a few years ago, and the show they put on is top 10 lifetime performance (which is saying alot considering how many shows I’ve been to).

Walcott - Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend (2008)
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Vampire Weekend are a flash in the pan. They’re the band that musical dilettantes reference when trying to show off how progressive their tastes are. Trust me, I’ve heard all about. That being said, this track is infectious, kinda the way Britney Spears singles are – annoying as shit, but everyone knows all the words (don’t even try to deny it).

Rich Girls (The Twelves Remix) - The Virgins
Single (2008)
Where to start with The Twelves? They’re a remixing tandem out of Brazil that consistently makes me wanna shake my sweet ass. If you haven’t heard the remix the do of Black Kids’ ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’, you need to get on that. Right Away.

Help, I'm Alive - Metric
Single (2008)
Not a huge Metric fan, but always like to stay on top of what they’re up to. While this isn’t their best work, it’s catchy enough to land a spot here, in spite of becoming seriously annoying after extended listening.

Lights And Music - Cut Copy
In Ghost Colours (2008)
If you missed ‘In Ghost Colours’ in 2008, I highly recommend it. The electropop trend is hot like fire right now, and these Aussies’ve got that shit on lockdown. Check out the video for ‘Going Nowhere’ for some sweet interpretive dance.

Epic Last Song (Lifelike Remix) - Does It Offend You, Yeah?
You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into (2008)
Much, MUCH better than the original album version.

Everyday I Work On The Road - Voicst
Single (2008)
Dutch indie rockers caught my attention after landing on a dozen or so ‘Best of..’ lists from 2008.

Again And Again - Keane
Perfect Symmetry (2008)
Picked up Keane’s debut after falling in love with ‘Nothing In My Way’ off the FIFA ’08 OST, which I played entirely too much of (Thanks WH and TD). Perfect Symmetry hit #1 on the UK and Mexican charts, and as high as #7 on the Canadian and US charts. In spite of that success, I still haven’t heard anything from them on any radio station. Ever.

You, Me, & The Bourgeoisie - The Submarines
Honeysuckle Weeks (2008)
Yeah, you know this song. It was the iPhone 3G launch track. Plus, lead singer Blake Hazard’s got an absolutely amazing voice. Interesting trivia – Hazard is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great-granddaughter.

What's Your Problem? - The Zutons
You Can Do Anything EP (2008)
Just because I’ve been wondering it often lately.

White Diamonds - Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires (2008)
A buddy turned me on to this track in early December and it’s been a staple since.

Listen To Your Friends - New Found Glory
Not Without a Fight (Spring 2009)
No lies here either – NFG are truly bad, but they’ve been a guilty musical pleasure of mine for probably 10 years now. The new single attempts to move them back to the more classic stuff off their sophomore self-titled disc and follow-up ‘Sticks and Stones’.

The Rake's Song - The Decemberists
Single (2009)
This’s been available as a free download on the Decemberists website for about a month now, and is classic stuff from them.

Colly Strings - Manchester Orchestra
I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child (2006)
In. Love. With. This. Album. The End.

Notable Album Releases This Month:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Beirut - March of The Zapotec
Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
Erin McCarley - Love, Save The Empty
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Matt & Kim - Grand
The Boxer Rebellion - Union

I’m stoked about the Matt & Kim release, been waiting awhile. They’ll be in Toronto with Cut Copy in a few weeks and I will be there with bells on.

I’m outta here. Have a great weekend everyone!

Godspeed, Mr. President

Here we are, kiddos, arguably the most significant day in the history of American politics. Sometime between now and 12:00 EST, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.

There's been much discussion over the past few weeks about the shift that Obama represents in the American paradigm. I haven't really weighed in on this up until now, and I think today would be a fitting time to do so. While the issue of race has been a hot topic, I don't believe that it should factor in such a prominent role in what is really going on here. The fact is that the American people have rejected entirely the policies and doctrine of the Bush Administration, and are standing today united in the belief that they are better than what they've been for the past 8 years. That thought alone moves me almost to tears. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking away from what's been accomplished here in the arena of race relations - I mean, to go from segregation to an African-American in the White House in just three generations is absolutely astonishing - it restores my faith in us as a people, and warms my heart in ways that I have no words to explain. It makes me proud to be alive in a time when simply being alive is frightful.

What gets me though, is how throughout the campaign, race was not an issue, and was seldom brought up by the punditry. That in and of itself is evidence enough that the American people were searching for someone to lead them back to where they belong. Based on that belief, what they've done is elect a leader who is honest and trustworthy. From the outset of his campaign he's been up front on issues, and spoken the truth even when what he was saying was not popular. He's a man of conviction, but who is not above asking for help when it's needed. He listens to dissenting voices; encourages open discussion on issues that are important; engages the electorate through open and easy access; is understanding in an age of intolerance; and the list goes on. They've elected a man who, in my estimation, is the embodiment of everything that they hope to be as a people, and I don't think they could have made a finer choice. To that end, his race or creed is of little import - he is simply a good man. To be constantly cast as a 'good black man', I think, does him, and indeed us all, quite a disservice.

And so on this historic day, let us all stop for a moment and consider how far we've come together. And while the implications here are not nearly what they will be in the United States, I am proud of our American neighbours again, and I wish them all the best. It's been awhile since I've been able to say that.

To Mr. Obama - I know it means little coming from just me, but good luck, sir, we need you now.. all of us.

Cheers.

EDIT - Stuck at work, so I didn't get to see the inauguration, but I just read the text of it and wept like a small girl. Excerpt:

'As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.'

Full Text Here

Too Much Excitement

I'm remembering now why it is that I got away from this to begin with - perpetual writer's block. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a concern, but when your life is as mind-numbingly boring as mine's been lately, it's a bit problematic. Here's the issue: I've been trying out this 'ten-bucks-a-day' living strategy that really is hit and miss, and really doesn't leave a whole lot of wiggle room for anything that resembles fun. I was kinda hoping that the end justifying the means would motivate me properly to succeed, but I'm finding it a bit of a tough go.. especially when you factor in things like gas and (until very recently) smokes. I'll keep at it though, and keep you posted on how it's going.

The stress combined with the not smoking is creating a mental state that's been... unique. And I'll admit now that I've slipped twice, which doesn't really do much for resolve, but I'm managing. In other news, I'm still procrastinating on the whole 'get the apartment in order' initiative. This weekend I shirked my domestic responsibility in favour of a chicken shawarma sandwich and Legend of Zelda on Super Nintendo (ahhh.. memories). I also watched Pride and Glory with Ed Norton and Colin Farrell and, while I didn't expect much, I was pretty surprised.. it turned out to be a decent time killer.

Plus, Ed Norton is always awesome.

I did manage to get through about 75% of my laundry though, so it wasn't a complete write-off.

More Bauer tonight.. I'm stoked.

Back to work.

We're not Gods, We're Just Hacks

It's time that we collectively smarten up.

At present, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are waging an imperial war of aggression against the people of Gaza and disguising it as an anti-terror campaign. The reality here is that they are attacking a densely populated civilian area using indiscriminate targeting and morally objectionable weaponry. The US has twice used it's veto power on the UN Security Council to block a ceasefire resolution in spite of the fact that civilian casualty estimates are approaching 4,000. Of the close to 800 dead, the UN is reporting that as many as 260 were children, with an additional 1,800 injured kids - do THAT math.

The kicker in this bullshit is that there have only been 20 Israeli deaths from Hamas rocket fire originating from Gaza in the past 8 years. So you tell me, is the response measured? Is it appropriate? No chance.

We all sit here and watch, some of us don't even do that much. It boggles my mind that this type of thing is tolerated by Western society - my question: where does it end? What chance do we have as a civilization if the good people in the world sit idly by while our fellow man is faced with the constant fear of random death. For no reason.

It's heartbreaking.

That's my rant for the day.

Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

All Work and No Tweets Make Jeff Something Something

This blog is seriously irking me lately. I really wanna make the move to something nicer, but I just don't have the time right now - I've been all over the damned place.

They've blocked Twitter @ work, so life here is getting seriously boring, and it's starting to gnaw at my nerves. Yesterday, I decided that I'd try to work the word 'delicious' into conversation as much as possible just to kill time. I managed it 36 times during the course of my shift.. no one even noticed, so I spent most of the day just chuckling to myself. People here probably think that I'm losing it.

Added to that, I've had an incredibly annoying day. To keep myself amused, I substituted the default Twitter question 'What are you doing?' with 'Do you Have To.. ?' and have been tweeting myself all day.

Yep, I'm very busy..

(This is what happens when I'm bored, sorry.)

Why Life is Way Sweeter Before 08:00:

Coworker slips on the wet floor in front of me, and the first thing that runs through my head is 'my god, I'm gonna have to drop this coffee to catch him!'

//

MM: it's such a shame.
JB: what's that?
MM: there's only one good-looking girl that works in here, and she's on afternoons.
JB: story of my life, sir: pretty girl, bad timing.
MM: I love watching her walk by.
JB: you are a dirty, dirty old man. Isn't she like 19?
MM: [Laughing hysterically]
JB: I aspire to level of dirty-old-man-scumbaggery some day.. y'know, walking around with a cane lifting up skirts, cackling wildly..
MM: why wait?
JB: don't have a good enough reason to carry a cane at such a young age.

//

SC: ..actually, I was at the bike show last year and they had a vintage Vespa from 1965 or something. They pretty much look exactly the same now as they used to.
MC: if I lived in the city, I'd probably get a little scooter to boot around on.
JB: of course, you'd have to buy a frilly pink dress to wear while you drove that thing around, Sally.
MC: oh, I've already got one of those. I like the feel of the wind on my nether-regions.. maybe some ass-less chaps..
JB: crossing lines here in dispatch today, are we? No taboo left unbroken?
MC: dispatch without borders.
PM: like that TV channel, what is it? Showcase? Television without borders?
MC: pfff. Give me some anal action, then we'll talk about television without borders.

//

MC: 'What's my name? What's MY name? Fuck you, that's my name!'

//

Do you srsly have to..

.. put a sweater on your dog?
.. order your Starbucks coffee so timidly? You came in here knowing that you were gonna have to sound like a homo ordering, so just man up.
.. honk at a red light?
.. so ardently support the preposterous notion that 'My Chemical Romance' is the greatest band in the history of music?
.. respond to every question on Fridays with 'Y'know.. it's Friday'? ie: 'Hey, how are ya?', 'Y'know, it's Friday'. And similarly -
.. break social convention by actually telling me about your life when said question is asked? Just say 'Fine, you?' like everyone else, and move along.
.. always say 'oh, thank you!' and reach for my coffee whenever I come in from Timmy's?
.. say shit like 'working hard, or hardly working?'
.. bum a smoke off me on payday? I know you've got a job, ffs.
.. wear white socks with your dress shoes?
.. walk so slowly through the crowded mall in an aimless, zig-zag pattern?

That's all I got, kiddos.. Hit the pub, you say? Brilliant!

Call Dr. House

So Strange.

My right ring finger has been trying to turn the rest of my into some sort of undead beast for most of the day. On the upside, it's back to normal now, so that's pretty cool. I went to the doctor to get his opinion, and the following conversation ensued:

Fink: Oh.
Me: That doesn't sound good.
Fink: Well..
Me: ......
Fink: I dunno, seems strange
Me: (I'll say)
Fink: I think we should take some blood.
Me: I don't think that's the best idea right now.
Fink: Take this form to the front.
Me: That's it?
Fink: In the meantime, stay out of the cold.

Yeah. It's Winter. In Canada.

I should've asked for a note to get out of work now that
I think about it ;)

Sweet Justice

It's all downhill for rest of the day for me, kiddos, and I couldn't be happier about it.

There are times in life that, in spite of being a staunch athiest, make me want to believe in a higher power. Today was one of those days. Having been neglecting my responsibilities on the homefront lately, so much so that my place reminds me of being in University (if you lived in rez, or seen Animal House, you know what I mean). So I got up early and headed over to the grocery to pick up a few things that I was out of, or running alarmingly low on (toilet paper, mouthwash.. food). As I'm about to go inside, there's a guy coming out, so I hold the door for him to go first - and when he does, he doesn't even nod in acknowledgement of the gesture, nevermind a 'thanks, man'. Anyway, that really grinds my gears, so as I pass him I mumble something like 'no problem, asshole, anytime', and doesn't he hear me. Instead of ignoring it and carrying on with his day, he decides that he wants to make an issue out of it - presumably so he can look tough in front of his fat wife so he might get laid again sometime in his miserable life.

'What'd you say to me?'. Now, instead of just being perturbed, I'm outright pissed.
'You fucking heard me, jackass'
'So you're a tough guy, huh?'

Man, if you were civil to begin with, we'd be cool. Besides, this guy doesn't know me from a hole in the ground, so it's pretty plain to me that it's him, and not me, who thinks he's a tough guy. Here we go.

'Listen, you tit, it's people like you..', and just when I was about to launch into a tirade about civility, the death of manners, and generally why he's a shitty dude - which is always fun because my vocabulary increases 1000% when I'm pissed off - god smiled on me.

Are you ready for this?

A low-flying pigeon swoops down at mach 2 and SMASHES. INTO. HIS. FACE. His FACE! Honest to christ, right between the eyes. I'm not sure whether it was force of the impact, or the jarring fear, but the guy falls down. The pigeon looks around, shakes his head a few times and flies away.

There wasn't really anything I could say to the guy at that point - he'd just been served by Mother Nature.

I peed my pants laughing. Y'know those laughs that are so hard that no sound comes out? Like that, but complete with tears rolling down my face and the feeling like I was gonna have a heart attack.

The best part? Now that I think about it, I could swear that the pigeon winked at me before he flew off.

I didn't even go in the store, I just turned around and went home, my day's already hit it's high point.

Turning Points

So, January 1, huh? I still feel the same.. things are pretty much back to normal again, though, and I gotta say that I'm happy to be back in the driver's seat - I work way better that way.

Bold claim alert - there probably isn't anyone in this city who's happier to be rid of the scourge that was 2008 than me. Let's quickly recap (I'm gonna do this in short, bullet-style sentences because I'm tired, and the bathrrom isn't gonna clean itself) -

Jan 2, 2008 - lost my job after 10 years over some bullshit that it's probably safe to talk about now.

Feb 1, 2008 - After incessant nagging, utter insensitivity, and downright asshole-ry from my Ex during a time of complete emotional #fail, finally packed my shit and buggered off after 6 years. 4 years later than I should've.. which led me to year lesson #1: your brain is usually much smarter than your heart (unfortunately). So now what? Well, obviously, having no job and no other outs, it was time to move back home. I'm sure that's not a totally ominous prospect for alot of you, but I've been away from home since I was 15 and the entire idea of it scared the bejesus outta me.

Feb & March - In a pit of self-loathing and self-pity - year lesson #2: that shit is a complete waste of time.

April - Kicked a certain largest courier company in Canada's ass at arbitration for wrongful dismissal. Got fat cheque. Started shitty new job because I had to get out of the house, still stuck there. Year lesson #3 - I rock.

May - August - Living with my mother 2 miles from where I went to high school. 2 bedroom apartment in Etobicoke with my mom, brother, and my mom's boyfriend. Situation deplorable. Drank too many pints, but was starting to come on again, so things were tolerable (for the most part). Spent most of the time trying to figure out how I'd come up so short, and decided that I'd never be in that boat again. Ego returned. Turned 30 in August, and to those of you who said it was catastrophic, you were wrong..

September - ...and then you were suddenly right (#win, but bite me). Breaking point. Snapped. British government approved my Right of Abode, and it was decision time - stay, or leave? Decided that escapism is for the weak, spent most of the money I'd been sitting on in an attempt to right the listing ship that was my life. Bought a car, got a new apartment - back on Roncesvalles, baby, where god intended me to be ;).

October - moved. Thank Christ. Found love. Reinstated social life to level unseen since Guelph when I was 19.

November - Love. This is how it was meant to be, not that clusterfuck that I was embroiled in for all those years. It wasn't just about her, though, it was the boy, her life, her friends.. everything. Although the words were never spoken, our eyes knew it, and they said it often. Getting to know that level of intimacy again would make the pain that was about to be heaped on more than worth it. Year lesson #4: Love love.

December - Lost love, and experienced heartbreak for the first time - 'bout time, dontcha think?. Strangely stoic about it once an explaination was given. Utter mess while waiting for explaination, though. Funniest thing about it was that I'm sure she just got scared and pulled away.. can't blame her, given the circumstances on her end of things. Went a little nuts. Happiness still unfound at the bottom of a bottle, not that alcohol has ever been any kind of appropriate coping mechanism, but it led me to a few other realizations.

Year lesson #5: No matter how wicked-cool they are, women are fucking strange.
Year lesson #6: Heart goes on sleeve. Always.
Year lesson #7: Keep faith.
Year lesson #8: Things can always be worse, at least you're still alive.

Waited for year to end.

That said, I look back over 2008 and kinda smile. I mean, as bad as things were, the ride was incredible, and the lessons invaluable (run-on sentence? you decide..too many commas, I think). I've got some pretty serious things on the go these days, and 2009 holds so much promise - I can't wait to see where this road goes next.

All the best this year to y'all and your loved ones, all good things - even when things aren't so good.

Cheers, kiddos.

J