Top 8 of 2008

Alrighty. It's the end of the year, so if I want to call myself a 'blogger', it's about time I submit the obligatory best albums of the year list. As I sit down to write this, I have NO idea what is about to pour out. I don't think I've listened to THAT many new releases this year. I meant to, but didn't really get around to it. For instance I still haven't listened to the new Mogwai record. Which is ridiculous. So, I'm not sure how exactly I will work this out....

While I'm thinking, I shall distract myself from the task for a little while longer and give you various other 2008 JB favourites lists to look over....

Best 8 Shows, 2008
1 - Leonard Cohen. May. Rebecca Cohn, Halifax (1st night). Best show of the year. and tied for my very favourite show ever. A-MAZING
2 - Neil Young. November. Metro Centre, Halifax. Wilco opened. prettay pretttayyy good. nay, great.
3 - Wintersleep. January. Phoenix, Toronto. Technically, they walked off stage at midnight Feb 1st, which made it Tim's birthday also. I've seen many a Wintersleep show, but they KILLED it this night like i'd never seen before. Runner up Wintersleep show(s): February. Cyclone, Tokyo.
4 - Daniel Lanois. October. Marquee, Halifax.
5 - Boxer The Horse. June. Baba's, Charlottetown. My first time seeing Boxer. I walked in hoping and praying that they were as good as I hoped they'd be. They were better.
6 - The Sadies. May. Marquee, Halifax. Ah, The Sadies. Just so good.
7 - Steve Poltz. July. The Carlton, Halifax. I wasn't even going to go to this night #3 of 3 show, but am I ever glad I did. this dude knows how to entertain. Go for the tunes, stay for the insane stories. including the one that goes with this: http://www.poltz.com/blognews/stevejewel23.jpg
8 - Inbreds. October. Marquee, Halifax. Inbreds. live.

There are a bunch of other good ones... Runners up include Black Keys at Summersonic, MMET at the q104 show and NG Jubilee, Boxer's first Seahorse show, Ryan Cook at NSMW, Hayden at the Metro Centre, David Myles CD release in the casino ballroom, Bloodsport and the Lodge on some wharf in the country, um... oh yeah, and Bob Dylan at the Metro Centre. i didn't really love that show, but I do love Dylan.

Best Trip of 2008.
Most definitely Japan.
"What are you going to do tonight?" "go to karaoke with you..."



Runner up: Junos in Calgary. Just because I liked being there to see the boys win. I jumped up and yelled with arms raised high in the air if I remember correctly. Then came lots of champaign and beer.

Favourite Songs of 2008.
These weren't all necessarily released this year, but they are likely the ones I've listened to the most this year. Or rather, 8 of the ones I've listened to the most this year.

1- Fleet Foxes - Mykonos. From the Sun Giant EP. So very good. see #12 on their myspace
2- Boxer The Horse - Rock n' Roll Band. Smart. catchy. cute. Just like the band. AND it's my ringtone. hear it on sonicbids.
3- The Replacements - Alex Chilton. Honestly, I've been on a HUGE Replacements kick in the past 6 months or so. I have all 8 albums on my ipod (or HAD.. now they are just on my iTunes as i managed to lose my ipod), and listen to 7 of them all of the time. I chose "Alex Chilton" here, but I could have also listed "Seen Your Video", "If Only You Were Lonely", "Buck Hill", "You Lose", "Can't Hardly Wait", "Anywhere's Better Than Here"... you get it. Love the 'Mats. everyone should listen to them WAY more.
4- MGMT - Electric Feel. My summer dance party song.
5-Neil Young - White Line. From Ragged Glory. An oldie but a real goodie.
6-Beyonce - Single Ladies. I became a little obessed with this song. I don't know how it happened, but I don't think I'm really over it yet.
7- Snailhouse - Salvation Army. mmmmm.
8- L'il Wayne - Got Money. I only just started listening to this two days ago. but i like it. i like it a lot.

Others: Black Mountain's "Stormy High", Mays' "Stand and Deliver" (it do), "Oh My Darling" by Basia Bulat, Superfriendz' "Come Clean", "Sometimes" by Lanois...

Best 8 Albums of 2008
1- Boxer The Horse - The Late Show EP (Like you didn't know I was going to say that...)
2- Snailhouse - Lies On The Prize (Love. love love)
3- Contrived - ___,___,___. (Contrived!)
**the other 5 in no particular order**
- The Roots - Rising Down
- Black Mountain - In The Future
- The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
- Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Mostly because i don't want to be the only blogger not picking this as a top record of the year. Just kidding. sort of. "White Winter Hymnal" makes it worth it.)
- Smothered In Hugs - The Healing Power of Injury

Others: Matt Mays & El Torpedo - Terminal Romance, Hayden - In Field & In Town, Lay Low - Farewell Good Night's Sleep (mellow and pretty), Portishead's Third...

Right on. Done. Happy Holidays!
JB

Lala Lanois

On Saturday afternoon and evening I had the pleasure of attending two Daniel Lanois events. The first, an interview / question and answer session lead by our friend Bob Mersereau. The second, a live show at The Marquee.

It was during these two events on Saturday, between the hours of 5PM and 11:30PM that I became slightly obsessed with Daniel Lanois. I would marry him tomorrow if he so asked. I'll leave that there...

A fan-in-the-crowd video of the messenger. More for me than for you. 2 minute mark on is my favourite...

Concerts Announcement: Summersonic Festival

We're excited about this! I, personally, am excited for Wintersleep to come home and to see Black Keys again. For two dudes, they can certainly make themselves heard. I saw them twice before while opening up for Radiohead in a Montreal theatre and thought they were pretty fun... You?

Black Keys:

Sonic Concerts Announcement: Bloc Party

Sept 14 & 15. Info and tickets: http://www.sonicconcerts.com/

And tonight... The Sadies!
Watch this video of them backing GORD DOWNIE, singing one of my very favourite Iggy & The Stooges songs. This is almost too much goodness. Be prepared... (just pretend the sound was better).

SONIC CONCERTS Announcement: MM&ET Return

So I heard some songs off of the new record coming from Mike's office. There's some good stuff about to come out from these guys... Debuting songs from the new album, Terminal Romance... Matt Mays & El Torpedo. Marquee. June 6. Tix at mattmays.com.

SONIC CONCERTS Update / Album of the Week

We're home from Japan, which is both nice and sad. Always good to be home, but Tokyo was amazing. I still can't believe how clean it was in Shibuya. This district boasts the world's busiest intersection and is the entertainment district of Tokyo and despite all of that, it was STILL cleaner than any city (or town for that matter) that I've ever visited. I saw exactly two pieces of garbage the entire time. I'll post some photos when I get a chance to upload them...

On to new things:

More info on this Halifax show and other sonic concerts around Atlantic Canada, as always, can be found at: http://www.sonicconcerts.com/ . (***UPDATE*** This show is now sold out...)

Album of the Week:
Do you like Greg Dulli / Afghan Whigs? Do you like Mark Lanegan? I sure do, and as a result, I can't stop listening to The Gutter Twins.

"Have you ever seen a _____ singing with a ____...."

Terri and I used to watch this clip every Friday afternoon. If you've not seen The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne singing "we built this city on rock n' roll" karaoke with a puppet, then you've truly been missing out. Especially if you like Wayne Coyne and puppets. "WAYNE!"



Also, Sloan is back in the 'fax and will be playing the marquee tonight. I would go, but I'm off to Evolve to see the first official show featuring the new Wintersleep line up. I might rethink my plans, however, if I knew this kid would be there...

White Stripes Secret Show in Halifax

You'll never guess who made it in to the secret show at Halifax's Locus Bar. Yeah, it was me (with a few of my good friends, which made it all the better). Steph shot some footage for CBC. If it looks like she was extremely close, that's not just because of a zoom lense. it's because she was close. only a few feet away. and i was just behind her.

SONIC CONCERTS ANNOUNCEMENT

White Stripes tickets go on sale tomorrow. See www.sonicconcerts.com for details.




Dates:
July 13: Halifax, NS @ Cunard Centre
July 14: Glace Bay, NS @ Savoy Theatre*
*10th Anniversary Show!

Rainy Days and Things to Say

We've been getting harassed by rain and wind here in Halifax for the entire week. I realize today is but Tuesday, but weeks that start off in such a way make for longer weeks and work days. That being said, there have been a few things that are getting me through:

#1) My upcoming trip to London to visit one of my greatest friends for her birthday. I understand that going to London England to escape rainy days is ridiculous, but as soon as I find enough money for the airfare, I'm booking the trip anyway.

#2)Dan Griffin's new album Stars and Satellites. I've been playing this record for a little while now (loudly so that the office can hear it), and decided that for everyone's sake, I'd retire it for a bit. But then the rain came, and I put it back on. On repeat. All Day. Sometimes I switch to the (wicked) new Wilco, and sometimes to Dylan or Low, but for the most part, it's DG all the way. Pure pretty singer-songwriter goodness.

#3)I got word today that Sonic Concerts is bringing DJ Champion to The Marquee on Sept. 14. This could very well make history as our first Sonic Concerts dance party. yeis.

#4) The Wintersleep guys are hard at work recording songs for their new record. From what I can hear coming through the floorboards, it should be pretty great. Listen for my guest appearance on handclaps. It wouldn't be a proper Wintersleep record without me weaseling my way onto it somehow, now would it? Also, I'm proud to announce that they will be going back on tour with The Tragically Hip next month. Dates are here.

#5) The release date for Nathan's new record has been finalized (May 29, 2007). And although I've been taking the blame for holding up production, I'm proud to announce that 'Fistful of Throttle' has been mastered and added to the end of the album. Oh shoot... did I just post a not-yet-released Nathan Wiley song? And am I about to do it again? Damn straight. (North American Dream)

SONIC CONCERTS ANNOUNCEMENT:

THE TRAGICALLY HIP!




WITH THE SADIES!!




DATES (more info)
Sept. 8 - Mile One, St.John's NL
Sept. 11 - Aitken Centre, Fredericton NB
Sept. 12 - Harbour Station, Saint John, NB
Sept. 13 - Metro Centre, Halifax NS

SONIC Concert of the Month: THE CONSTANTINES!

The Constantines are one of my favourite bands in the entire universe. Next friday is the Constantines / Jon Rae & The River / Shotgun & Jaybird show at the Marquee. I've been counting down the days for roughly 52 days now. Only 9 more to go...