The Laissez-Faire System is not quite working right

That is Novillero. Holy great stuff! I ordered a CD of theirs earlier this year but it was not the latest-Aim Right For The Holes In Their Lives. I knew I liked them the first time I heard them on The Verge last December but finally got the newer Mint release (which I could not find in NS or TO) Two nights ago I put it on while editing and it make a huge impression. Just really well done power pop, clever lyrics, different arrangements and good crunch! I am hooked~but I knew I was from the first listen.

I am exploring a few of the newer purchases I had yet to listen.
The first Meligrove Band CD "Let it Grow" is way too much of a copy of the Sloan led Halifax scene circa 1994. However, "Planets Conspire" has been a soundtrack of 2006 for me. I suspect a high entry in the LMC Tops of 2006.

This summer, thanks to "Skinny Boy" by Amy Millan I have been led into the world that is Stars. I have documented my love for Amy's "Honey from the Tombs" but have yet to mention how I fell in love with Torquil Cambell after hearing an interview with him on Jian Ghomeshi's "Sounds like Canada in the summer” His material with Memphis is a breath of fresh air even though I have yet to get my hands on the new CD. It was time to take the steps to get into Stars since I have individual admiration for them both. Last night, once again while editing, I popped in my newly purchased "Set yourself on fire" and was transformed. I certainly knew a few of the songs off the radio but...what a musical journey those two voices can take you on.

The next listen in the last few weeks has been local darlings The Format. I certainly liked their material but always classified them as more of one of Dan's bands than mine. I had picked up "Dog Problems" when it came out for Dan but he had yet to listen to it. I pulled it out the other night while we were both on our computers. I don’t think he paid attention but I did knowing that one of Redd Kross' MacDonald brothers produced and I think The Format had been studying Jellyfish's "Spilt Milk" The record is very gorgeous in it's orchestration. It is a departure for them as they are known for their catchy sing along style, not these dense numbers. It is one that needs to grow on me but it has all sorts of potential.

Finally in the changer is Sloan's "Never hear the end of it" Once you get it, the 30 tracks and the transition between the many personalities of that 4 songerwriter axis, there is no listening to it in pieces...It is a whole sitting, it becomes one song with many different changes. It is not really meant for singles because the songs seem lonely on their own, without their lead in and out. Originally I felt there were some weak inclusions but now, I can't imagine the sequencing without them. To me, the CD really needs to be played in order live but without a separate drummer; I can't see how they could. It will be my CD of the year but not just because it's my fave rave, etc...It is because it is that amazing. I have not had an entire CD grip me like this in years.

Angels Tonight

Reprint from LJ-

Once upon a time, I was a Tempe music scenster. I went out to shows 5-6 nights a week, knew everybody, was pretty much friendly to everyone, saw most every band in town at one point or another. The scene, like any other had it's share of drama. I stayed away from most of it because I didn't go to the after parties or sleep with any of them. I did have one thing a few of the musicians *may* have used me for. Airplay. I question now whether one boy I was very, very fond of actually hung out with me for that title of mine-Music Director at the only Alternative radio station in town. He was the only fell for full force in all my scenster days. Once he was in a signed band, he didn't need me anymore. The reason I speak of all this is because I started reading a book this week. It had slipped to the back of the book shelf, I forgot I had it. It is by the former bass player of The Refreshments. http://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Outside-Phoenix-Arthur-Edwards/dp/0595281095/sr=8-1/qid=1163319427/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0134975-7805677?ie=UTF8&s=books I didn't really know him but I KNEW other members in his band (read a few sentences back) This book is making me gasp outloud, often. It is a fiction story but you bet your bottom dollar everybit of it is the Tempe scene-1990-when I was a scenster. First thing that had me laughing was the local band that played Chuy's every Friday night to frat guys. Jejune July in the book, sounding a Hella lot like a certain August Red. I remember we had to kinda keep it a secret that we actually went to August Red shows, fans of orginal music did NOT go to August Red shows. We would wander down the street from the Blossoms at Wongs to Chuy's so I could get a fix of my crush. Next up in the book by Arthur Edwards is the obvious band that was the money maker in town, about to get signed, played packed gigs that made over a grand a night-of course his version of the Blossoms. Going along, the main character is at Wong's (called Richmond's in the book) and the server is described just like Sara then he starts talking to the only other guy in the bar, the guitarist for The Prior Angels (Blossoms) YUP, of course a Hopkins character! MY GOD, the author quoted things Doug said to me a zillion times. This book is like reading my journals only with some altered names. IT is flipping me out. Today, the main character is talking about a band who has a hit on KUKQ-YES, he uses KUKQ...My KUKQ, my first radio job. Not only is this book tripping me out for the obvious recount of the scene I lived in also but for another reason, Bay Window. Let's face it, while it maybe based in Halifax, everything I write about as far as a music scence goes and as far as a band developing goes is Tempe, not Halifax.. So what Arthur knows and wrote about are similar to my own expereinces. There were times when I thought my main male character had Hopkins quotes coming out of his mouth also. Surprisingly there doesn't appear to be a character in it similar to the boy I adored (yet) I think the Robin character is about to be introduced (singer of the Prior Angels(LOL)

One other thing of interest to me in this book is the use of names. As mentioned, he uses no real band names except signed, well know acts like The Replacements, Jane's Addiction, etc.. As for the Tempe scene, he uses real bar names but only of ones that are long since closed. If the bar is still open, he uses a fake name. I assume this is due to law suits? It has me perplexed. Even the Mesa Ampitheater, he doesn't call it that. I really need to know this as I use many real names in Bay Window. I wonder what is legal.

Chris and Jay were on the radio today, I caught the last hour assuming I could listen again later...but it wasn't on later and I am so lame because I am depressed, it appears they are done with it. I shouldn't be surprised, Murphy already said Ruhee and I were the only listeners anyway. He told me he didn't want to do it anymore but Jay did...guess Murph got his way. I don't understand why he didn't enjoy it, radio is a breeze for personalities like him. It is ridiculous but I am genuinely sad that it is over.