Podcast: Is This Thing On : Sunday

These songs are great. the podcast as a whole could be better. but i went out last night and don't overly feel like playing the perfectionist today... enjoy.

1) Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero / No Limit
2) Neil Young - Winterlong
3) Nina Simone - Aint Got No / I Got Life
4) The Faces - Flying
5) Elvis Costello - Lip Service
6) The Band - The Weight (last waltz version)
7) Koko Taylor feat. Willie Dixon - Insane Asylum
8) Candi Staton - That's How Strong My Love Is
9) Ray Charles - Lonely Avenue
10) Velvet Underground - Rock n Roll
11) David Bowie - Moonage Daydream

"Is This Thing On" feat. Dan Griffin (Or "JB & DG got a case of the Mondays")

It's been almost an entire YEAR since my last podcast. A year!? How that happened, I just dont know. However, I had the pleasure of collaborating on the first episode of Is This Thing On 2009 with my buddy Dan Griffin. Dan came into my office yesterday morning only a short time after waking up and I was in my office working away / fighting to stay focused as I was out much too late (yes, on a sunday, but it was worth it), and I was exhausted. A great way to start a monday for both of us. However, putting this little episode together over lunch was a nice addition to the otherwise not very awesome day. So, I'd like to thank Dan for chosing the artists and most of the songs, and for taking care of the introduction (again, we're sorry for the mic sound)...

As stated, the theme of this podcast is 'Monday'. ..From waking up on Monday morning to going to sleep on Monday night. We hope you enjoy it.

- JB&DG

1) Yo La Tengo - Little Eyes
2) Nick Rose - Light At Dawn*
3) Bon Iver - Beach Baby
4) Magnolia Electric co. - Hard To Love A Man
5) The Replacements - Can't Hardly Wait (Acoustic outtake)+
6) Arkells - I'm Not The Sun**
7) Paul Westerberg - Dirty Diesel+
8) Loose Fur - Answers to your Questions+
9) Fleet Foxes - Quiet Houses
10)Constantines - St. You


*A big thank you to Nick Rose for sending me "light at dawn" for this podcast. To all of you in Toronto on Jan. 30th, head down to the Riv for his cd release show w/ guest...Dan Griffin :)
**Dan plays in Arkells. See these guys live. so great.
+Really love Paul Westerberg. And Jim O'Rourke.

PODCAST: Is This Thing On? (Feb. 2008)

I didn't realize that I hadn't updated this blog in so long. In light of my neglect and because I'm going to be in Tokyo with the guys until the end of the month, I've decided to provide you with another thrilling episode of "Is This Thing On". My computer mic is angry with me for some reason, so there's only a short introduction and hardly any indication of what songs are featured (see below), but it's a good collection of songs (I think), so check it out. Sayōnara!

1. Sleepless Nights - Got Caught
2. Bonobo - Nitelite
3. Radiohead - Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
4. Wintersleep - Dead Letter & The Infinite Yes
5. Hayden - Worthy of Your Esteem
6. Tom Waits - Big in Japan
7. Sonic Youth - Tokyo Eye
8. The Soft Drugs - Defending the Paint
9. Nathan Lawr & The Minotaurs - Righteous Heart
10. Cuff The Duke - Words (neil young cover)

Podcast: Is This Thing On Ep. 04 (the it's-WAY-too-hot-out mix)

This is a really quick and dirty 'episode', but there are some good songs worth checking out. Track list:

Common - Be
Afghan Whigs - Lost in the Supermarket (Clash Cover)
M. Ward - Right in the Head
Feist - Sea Lion
Billy Bragg & Wilco - Airline to Heaven
Kepler - National Epithet

Download here or from the sidebar. speaking of bar...I have to run. I hear a patio on the waterfront calling my name!

Sonic Podcast: Is This Thing On? Ep. 03

I finally got around to getting another one of these finished. There were many in the works, but I threw this one together in record time. In honor of Summer driving, I give you, Is This Thing On, Episode 3. Featuring:

The Flaming Lips - Fight Test
Yo La Tengo - Little Eyes
The Got to Get Got - Blood Test
Matt Mays - Under My Senses
The Roots - Baby
Jay-Z - Encore
Rick White - Strange To Be Alive
Sloan - I Can Feel It
Nathan Wiley - Getaway

SONIC PODCAST: "Is This Thing On?" Ep 02

I've finally gotten around to making another episode of "Is This Thing On". Thanks to Alan Carr at Darkhorse Radio and my good friend Matt Charlton at That's Fucking Dynamite for the inspiration. You can download it from the "podcast" section in the side bar or just click here.

Track List:
Is This Thing On Theme (By Nathan Wiley)
Wooden Stars - Orphans
The Superfantastics - Oh! How You Used to Know Me Well (Back Then)
Wintersleep - Fog
The Sadies - Why Be So Curious (pt. 3)
Golden Dogs - Yeah!
Indio Saravanja - Northern Town
Neil Young - Don't Cry No Tears
Elvis Costello - Waiting For The End of the World
Willy Mason - Our Town
Belle & Sebastien - This is Just a Modern Rock Song

SONIC PODCAST: "Is This Thing On" Ep. 01

I've made a new podcast featuring songs that I have been listening to in anticipation of Spring. The volume issues are somewhat better, but not totally resolved. Other than that, I'm feeling good about it. Here it is...enjoy!

The Songs:
Songs:Ohia* - I've Been Riding With A Ghost
The Constantines - Thieves
Rocky Votolato - White Daisy Passing
Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
Nathan Wiley - Fist Full of Throttle (demo)
Mike O'Neill - We Live Happily
Led Zeppelin - Boogie With Stu
Matt Mays - Wasn't Meant To Be (unreleased)
Rilo Kiley - A Man / Me / Then Jim
Loose Fur - The Ruling Class
Evan Dando - It Looks Like You
Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio

*"Right off the bat we need to get one thing straight; it’s pronounced ... be Oheea for those who are more phonetically inclined) and not Songs:Ohia" (source)

Also... HAPPY CONSTANTINES DAY:

SONIC PODCAST: "Is This Thing On"? (Episode 0)

Well, I've officially finished my first podcast. We'll call it a TESTcast, perhaps. I might just quit the speaking part altogether. Do you HAVE to talk in podcasts, or can I just make little mixed tapes all the time? The talking freaked me out.

Ten somewhat annoying things to note before I put it out there:
1) I forgot to tell you the actual name of the live BSS track. It's listed below.
2) I'm sure that I pronounced "Will Hoge" incorrectly.
3) It almost sounds like I say "Serge SamPson", when in fact I said "Samson" (no p - I hear he hates that).
4) I called The Acorn just "Acorn".
5) You can hear how badly I edited out some words (it was mostly me saying "uhhhhhhhhh" because I didn't know what to say next).
6) And WHAT is up with all of that AIR!? Really sorry about that.
7) I usually do much better with sequencing, but having to talk to my computer screen in a dark room (my computer room is actually storage closet) through a microphone fucked me up.
8) The speaking volume is really low. but that's ok, right?
9) The intro is lame. It's harder than I thought to get the ball rolling.
10) All of the above should be forgiven since I litterally learned as I went along. I had no help whatsoever from anyone (barring the dude who wrote the website that I used as a mentor), so let's hold back on the bitching about any of the above mentioned issues for now, ok? ;)

Ten GOOD things to note about this podcast:
1) Jenn Grant - Dreamer
2) Wintersleep - Listen [Listen, Listen] live on CJLO's "Hooked on Sonics"
3) Dan Griffin - She's a Drug
4) The Guthries - Season to Leave
5) Jim Guthrie - Nighttime, Anytime (It's Alright) (Constantines cover)
6) The Two Minute Miracles - Stall Tactics
7) Broken Social Scene - Major Label Debut (Live on KCRW)
8) Great Lake Swimmers - Your Rocky Spine
9) The Acorn - Darcy
10) Snailhouse - Daylight

I was going to keep it Untitled for now, but "Is This Thing On?" seemed to fit so well by the end of the experience, that I ended up naming it as such. If someone else is using that name let me know and I will cease and decist. And now... here it is: Is This Thing On? - Episode 0. (click to stream or right click and "save as" to download).